Abstract
BackgroundWheat straw, one of the most abundant agricultural residues worldwide, can be used to produce biogas, which is considered one of the most efficiently produced renewable energies. Wheat grown with the dual-purpose of producing food and biogas should display simultaneously high grain and straw yields, low lodging susceptibility and high conversion efficiency of straw into biogas. The aims of this study were to determine the best food-fuel dual-purpose wheat candidates among 36 wheat genotypes—including French, CIMMYT and local (Criollo) germplasm—used in breeding programs in Argentina and to gain some insights into the relationships between key traits relevant for dual-purpose wheat genotypes.ResultsHigh variability in individual key traits for dual-purpose wheat ideotype has been found. Genotypes of French origin displayed the highest grain yield, and those of CIMMYT origin, the lowest straw yield. Genotypes of Criollo origin showed the highest lodging susceptibility, and French ones, the lowest. Straw yield was positively correlated with grain yield in all genotypes, and negatively correlated with plant height in genotypes of Criollo origin. Straw conversion into biogas was measured in terms of the biogas potential production and kinetic parameters Bmax (maximum specific biogas production) and k (first-order kinetic constant) were analyzed. All key traits were analyzed together by a principal component analysis. Baguette 31 and SNR Nogal, two genotypes of French origin, showed high grain yield, high-to-very high straw yield, low lodging susceptibility, and moderate-to-high Bmax and k. Buck Guapo and Buck Baqueano, two genotypes of Criollo origin, displayed good values for grain yield, straw yield and Bmax and k. However, their high lodging susceptibility precludes their production in shallow soils or high-input systems. Lastly, some old genotypes (e.g. Klein Atlas) harbored a good combination of all key traits and could prove valuable to be included in future breeding programs for dual-purpose wheat.ConclusionsWhile none of the genotypes excelled in every key trait, a few candidates showed potential for dual-purpose ideotype, particularly Baguette 31 and SNR Nogal. The challenge lays in gathering all attributes for food and 2G fuel in the same genotype.
Highlights
Wheat straw, one of the most abundant agricultural residues worldwide, can be used to produce biogas, which is considered one of the most efficiently produced renewable energies
In genotypes of French origin, both grain and straw yields increased at the same rate with plant size, but for genotypes of CIMMYT and Criollo origins, higher grain yield (GY) was attained at the expense of SY, consistently with previous reports [19, 55]
We found that the association between plant height and SY differed among genotypes of different germplasm origin: while a negative correlation exists in genotypes of Criollo origin, no correlation was found in genotypes of the other two origins
Summary
One of the most abundant agricultural residues worldwide, can be used to produce biogas, which is considered one of the most efficiently produced renewable energies. The contribution of fossil fuels to global climate change and the growing demand for energy are the main drivers for worldwide biofuels development [1]. In this context, biomass emerges as one of the most important resources of energy for the sustainable development of societies, in Gabbanelli et al Biotechnol Biofuels (2021) 14:85 a context of circular economy and environmental protection [2]. As mentioned by Townsend et al [14], an ideal genotype (ideotype) for these purposes would be characterized by high grain and straw yields, good lodging resistance and high straw digestibility
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