Abstract
Several species of the genus Miscanthus Anderss. (elephant grass) characterized by a high rate of growth of the aboveground vegetative mass are currently in the focus of attention due to their high practical application as a source of bioethanol and cellulose. The main goals of this study were: (1) molecular genetic identification and (2) histochemical analysis of the genus Miscanthus Anderss. species in the collection of Central Siberian Botanical Garden SB RAS in order to identify the most perspective and technically valuable individuals. To study the collection of Miscanthus samples, a multi-disciplinary approach was applied. To collect the samples of different species from native habitats, traditional systematic and geobotanical methods (comparative morphological and phytocenological) were used. According to the results of the ISSR-analysis, 16 samples of three Miscanthus species were divided into two clades: Sinensis and Sacchariflorus, the former including two subclades. For the samples of M. purpurascens_I and II, a hybrid origin of this species was confirmed by ISSR data. The molecular data obtained from the study allowed us to hypothesize that the samples involved in the subclade I of the Sinensis clade could be used as donors of resistance to adverse environments, and the samples of the subclade II, as donors of high biomass productivity. Based on histochemical analysis, sclerenchyma cells were characterized by the most lignin-rich thickened membranes, so the most appropriate direction in Miscanthus selection should be based on identification and using less lignin-containing samples.
Highlights
Miscanthus is considered to be one of the most efficient solar energy accumulators among representatives of the Earth vegetative kingdom (Dohleman, Long, 2009)
Molecular genetic analysis The study had previously tested 16 ISSR primers, nine of which were used for the analysis (Table 2). They are characterized by the greatest amount and polymorphism of the amplified fragments, and are suitable to investigate the genetic variability of the genus Miscanthus plants at the intraand interspecific levels
The extracts of Miscanthus DNA obtained from dried leaves had 3–24 ng/μl concentration, 1.25–1.83 purity expressed with A260/A280 ratio
Summary
Miscanthus is considered to be one of the most efficient solar energy accumulators among representatives of the Earth vegetative kingdom (Dohleman, Long, 2009). High cellulose content and significant plant biomass make it possible to treat Miscanthus as a promising alternative energy source (Lewandowski et al, 2000; McCalmont et al, 2017; Van Der Weijde et al, 2017). Physiologists and biochemists deem Miscanthus species to be unique highly productive sources of renewable raw materials for producing ethylene and cellulose (Slynko et al, 2013). Miscanthus is a valuable ameliorative culture as well. Unpretentiousness to soil conditions, pronounced drought resistance have contributed to Miscanthus wide use to stabilize and reduce the intensity of soil erosion processes (Kahle et al, 1999, 2001). In the late 20 century, many domestic and foreign botanical gardens started introducing M. sacchariflorus and M. sinensis into the culture as decorative cereals. In the 21st century, the above-mentioned species, as well as M. × giganteus, are recognized by the world scientific community as the main resource species for elaborating the alternative energetics sphere
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