Abstract
AbstractMiscanthus is a genus of C4 perennial grasses capable of high biomass potential even in temperate regions making it an ideal industrial crop for the renewable supply of energy and chemicals. Yield is strongly linked to water availability, and many environments have limited water supply where otherwise irradiation and temperature are favourable. A total of 47 Miscanthus genotypes, diverse regarding collection site and genotype, were screened in a high‐throughput phenomics facility under drought to generate high‐quality time‐course data for biomass accumulation and water use. Plants were subjected to three treatments: a watered control, mild drought (20% of field capacity) and a severe drought (water completely withdrawn). Daily visual spectrum images were calibrated to harvested biomass and used to assess biomass accumulation over the experiment. Image analyses were used to determine growth and senescence as functions of time and treatment, plant survival and to relate responses to geographical data. An accurate prediction of plant biomass (R2 = 0.92***) was made by comparing actual harvested biomass and projected shoot area. Dynamic responses in senescence between the multiple genotypes under the three treatments demonstrated stay‐green and senescence responses were not associated with species. Microclimate/geographical modelling indicated that origin of genotype was associated with drought tolerance and this helped explain the different responses within the same species. Water‐use efficiency (WUE), the amount of dry biomass accumulated per kg of water, correlated with summer rainfall. Phenomic analysis of drought responses was shown to have the potential to improve the selection of breeding candidates in Miscanthus and has identified interesting Miscanthus genotypes combining high biomass and high WUE for further characterization.
Highlights
A major challenge is to improve and sustain living standards associated with industrialization while limiting the atmospheric effects of industrial emissions of gases such as CO2
Different growth trajectories were calculated from projected shoot area measurements; responses to treatments included a rapid decline in growth and moderate differences in growth trajectories when compared with control plants (Fig. 2)
Mean fresh weight under mild stress decreased by 18% (P < 0.001), projected shoot area and average height decreased by 11% (P < 0.05) and Water-use efficiency (WUE) for all the plants within the treatment increased by 14% (P < 0.01)
Summary
A major challenge is to improve and sustain living standards associated with industrialization while limiting the atmospheric effects of industrial emissions of gases such as CO2. Dedicated perennial energy crops produced on existing, lower grade, agricultural land offer a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels with significant savings in greenhouse gas emissions and soil carbon sequestration when produced with appropriate management (Crutzen et al, 2008; Hastings et al, 2008; Cherubini et al, 2009; Dondini et al, 2009; Zatta et al, 2014; Richter et al, 2015). It has been reported that M. x giganteus exhibits poor water-use efficiency (WUE) compared with some genotypes of the parental species (Clifton-Brown & Lewandowski, 2000) and that drought stress negatively impacts on its yield
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
