Biofuel Plant Research Articles

Bioinoculation Strategies for Enhanced Growth and Development of Economically Important Dalbergia latifolia Roxb

The present experiment was conducted to evaluate the plant growth properties of the native rhizospheric microflora of Dalbergia latifolia, an important medicinal, timber and biofuel plant. A systemic isolation, characterization and identification of rhizospheric soil, collected indigenously, initially produced 45 numbers of fungi and 3 numbers of bacteria. Both groups of organisms were characterized for their extracellular useful activity, especially phosphate solubilisation potential, and presented in terms of solubilisation index and solubilisation efficiency. Two fungi and two bacteria with good phosphate solubilization activity, along with NPK and organic manure, were selected and used in a pot culture experiment to promote the growth and development of Dalbergia latifolia under nursery conditions. Data recorded on 90 Days of plant growth exhibited the growth promotion of inoculated plants over control uninoculated experimental set. Results obtained on morphological and physiological growth parameters exhibited that the application of Aspergillus flavus followed by Burkholderia territorii + org. manure showed maximum shoot height and inoculation of Burkholderia anthina + Aspergillus sp. + NPK was significantly higher leaf area. Significantly longer root has been observed in Burkholderia territorii. However, a difference was observed in the number of leaves in Aspergillus flavus. + Org. manure and higher numbers of branches were observed in Aspergillus flavus only as compared to uninoculated control. Coinoculation of Aspergillus flavus + Penicillium simplicissimum showed better performance in fresh and dry shoot biomass as compared to other treatments. Burkholderia territorii + Org.manure produced higher fresh biomass of roots and coinoculation of bacteria Burkholderia territorii + Burkholderia anthina helped in enhancing root dry biomass. Dual inoculation of Aspergillus flavus + Penicillium simplicissimum gives better result in both fresh biomass of leaves and dry biomass of leaves. Application of Aspergillus flavus + Penicillium simplicissimum enhanced the total fresh biomass of the seedlings whereas supplementation of Burkholderia anthina + Penicillium simplicissimum enhanced the total dry biomass. Coinoculation of Aspergillus flavus + Penicillium simplicissimum showed higher RGR and coinoculation of Burkholderia anthina + Aspergillus flavus + NPK showed quite higher Leaf area ratio (LAR cm2gm-1). Co inoculation of Burkholderia territorii + Burkholderia anthina + Organic Manure showed highest root-shoot ratio and Coinoculation of Penicillium simplicissimum + Org. manure showed higher Net assimilation rate (NAR). However, Bacterial and fungal inoculants were also used as potent bioinoculants for the growth and establishment of crops of forest tree species.

Tissue-Specific Accumulation Profiles of Phorbol Esters in Response to Abiotic and Biotic Stresses in Jatropha curcas

Jatropha curcas L. (J. curcas), a shrub plant of the Euphorbiaceae family, has received enormous attention as a promising biofuel plant for the production of biodiesel and medical potential in ethnopharmacology. However, the tumor-promoter toxin phorbol esters present in J. curcas raise concerns for health and environmental risk as its large-scale cultivation limits the use of meal obtained after oil extraction for animal feed. Here, we determined the variation of phorbol ester profiles and contents in eight J. curcas tissues by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and found phorbol esters present in all parts of the plant except the seed shell. We showed tissue-specific patterns of accumulation of phorbol esters and associated terpenoids at the transcriptional level with high transcript levels in reproductive and young tissues. Genes involved in the same module of terpenoids biosynthesis were positively correlated. We further present diverse abiotic and biotic stresses that had different effects on the accumulation of transcripts in terpenoids shared and branched terpenoid pathways in plant seedlings. The fine-tuning of terpenoids biosynthesis may link with ecological functions in plants under extreme environments and defense against pathogens.

Biofuel production utilizing black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens): a sustainable approach for organic waste management

This study investigates the potential of biodiesel production from Black Soldier Fly (BSF) larvae using organic waste. The aim of this research is to assess the feasibility of biodiesel production and its economic viability from BSF larvae. Specific objectives include analyzing organic waste quantity, moisture content, dry matter, BOD content, and biodiesel conversion efficiency. Our findings reveal that under various scales, biodiesel production from BSF larvae shows promise. For instance, in a small-scale urban biofuel plant, we estimate the production of approximately 122.73 liters of biodiesel per day from 1 ton of organic waste. Moreover, our calculations demonstrate the potential for medium-scale rural and large-scale industrial biofuel plants to produce 1,678.85 and 22,272.73 liters of biodiesel per day, respectively. These results highlight the significant biodiesel potential of BSF larvae. In conclusion, this study provides valuable insights into the biodiesel production potential of BSF larvae. It underscores the feasibility of utilizing organic waste for biodiesel production, contributing to sustainable biofuel development. Our research contributes to the knowledge base by offering quantitative assessments of biodiesel potential. We have incorporated quantitative data to provide a clearer understanding of the biodiesel potential and its economic implications.

Comparative analysis of lipid and flavonoid biosynthesis between Pongamia and soybean seeds: genomic, transcriptional, and metabolic perspectives

BackgroundSoybean (Glycine max) is a vital oil-producing crop. Augmenting oleic acid (OA) levels in soybean oil enhances its oxidative stability and health benefits, representing a key objective in soybean breeding. Pongamia (Pongamia pinnata), known for its abundant oil, OA, and flavonoid in the seeds, holds promise as a biofuel and medicinal plant. A comparative analysis of the lipid and flavonoid biosynthesis pathways in Pongamia and soybean seeds would facilitate the assessment of the potential value of Pongamia seeds and advance the genetic improvements of seed traits in both species.ResultsThe study employed multi-omics analysis to systematically compare differences in metabolite accumulation and associated biosynthetic genes between Pongamia seeds and soybean seeds at the transcriptional, metabolic, and genomic levels. The results revealed that OA is the predominant free fatty acid in Pongamia seeds, being 8.3 times more abundant than in soybean seeds. Lipidomics unveiled a notably higher accumulation of triacylglycerols (TAGs) in Pongamia seeds compared to soybean seeds, with 23 TAG species containing OA. Subsequently, we identified orthologous groups (OGs) involved in lipid biosynthesis across 25 gene families in the genomes of Pongamia and soybean, and compared the expression levels of these OGs in the seeds of the two species. Among the OGs with expression levels in Pongamia seeds more than twice as high as in soybean seeds, we identified one fatty acyl-ACP thioesterase A (FATA) and two stearoyl-ACP desaturases (SADs), responsible for OA biosynthesis, along with two phospholipid:diacylglycerol acyltransferases (PDATs) and three acyl-CoA:diacylglycerol acyltransferases (DGATs), responsible for TAG biosynthesis. Furthermore, we observed a significantly higher content of the flavonoid formononetin in Pongamia seeds compared to soybean seeds, by over 2000-fold. This difference may be attributed to the tandem duplication expansions of 2,7,4ʹ-trihydroxyisoflavanone 4ʹ-O-methyltransferases (HI4ʹOMTs) in the Pongamia genome, which are responsible for the final step of formononetin biosynthesis, combined with their high expression levels in Pongamia seeds.ConclusionsThis study extends beyond observations made in single-species research by offering novel insights into the molecular basis of differences in lipid and flavonoid biosynthetic pathways between Pongamia and soybean, from a cross-species comparative perspective.

Octoploids Show Enhanced Salt Tolerance through Chromosome Doubling in Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.).

Polyploid plants often exhibit enhanced stress tolerance. Switchgrass is a perennial rhizomatous bunchgrass that is considered ideal for cultivation in marginal lands, including sites with saline soil. In this study, we investigated the physiological responses and transcriptome changes in the octoploid and tetraploid of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L. 'Alamo') under salt stress. We found that autoploid 8× switchgrass had enhanced salt tolerance compared with the amphidiploid 4× precursor, as indicated by physiological and phenotypic traits. Octoploids had increased salt tolerance by significant changes to the osmoregulatory and antioxidant systems. The salt-treated 8× Alamo plants showed greater potassium (K+) accumulation and an increase in the K+/Na+ ratio. Root transcriptome analysis for octoploid and tetraploid plants with or without salt stress revealed that 302 upregulated and 546 downregulated differentially expressed genes were enriched in genes involved in plant hormone signal transduction pathways and were specifically associated with the auxin, cytokinin, abscisic acid, and ethylene pathways. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) detected four significant salt stress-related modules. This study explored the changes in the osmoregulatory system, inorganic ions, antioxidant enzyme system, and the root transcriptome in response to salt stress in 8× and 4× Alamo switchgrass. The results enhance knowledge of the salt tolerance of artificially induced homologous polyploid plants and provide experimental and sequencing data to aid research on the short-term adaptability and breeding of salt-tolerant biofuel plants.

Exposure to resistant fungi across working environments and time

Antifungal resistance has emerged as a significant health concern with increasing reports of resistant variants in previously susceptible species. At present, little is known about occupational exposure to antifungal-resistant fungi. This study aimed to investigate Danish workers' occupational exposure to airborne fungi resistant to first-line treatment drugs. A retrospective study was performed on a unique collection of personal exposure samples gathered over a twenty-year period from Danish working environments, in sectors including agriculture, animal handling, waste management, and healthcare. A total of 669 samples were cultivated at 37 °C and fungal colonies were identified using MALDI-TOF MS. Subsequently, identification was confirmed by amplicon sequencing the genes of calmodulin and beta-tubulin to unveil potential cryptic species.Infectious fungi (495 isolates from 23 species) were tested for resistance against Itraconazole, Voriconazole, Posaconazole, and Amphotericin B. Working environments were highly variable in the overall fungal exposure, and showed vastly different species compositions. Resistance was found in 30 isolates of the species Aspergillus fumigatus (4 of 251 isolates), A. nidulans (2 of 13), A. niger complex (19 of 131), A. versicolor (3 of 18), and A. lentulus (2 of 2). Sequence analysis revealed several cryptic species within the A. niger complex including A. tubingensis, A. luchuensis, and A. phoenicis. Among the resistant A. fumigatus isolates, two contained the well-described TR34/L98H mutation in the cyp51A gene and promoter region, while the remainder harbored silent mutations.The results indicate that the working environment significantly contributes to exposure to resistant fungi, with particularly biofuel plant workers experiencing high exposure. Differences in the prevalence of resistance across working environments may be linked to the underlying species composition.

Biomass production and fuel characteristics from long rotation poplar plantations

There is an increasing demand for biofuel to replace fossil fuels. One of the key elements in this transition is the securing of a large supply of sustainable biomass. In this study, the feedstock potential of long rotation poplar plantations (12–30 years with diameter of 15 of 30 cm) was determined and the properties of poplar biomass fuel were analyzed with the aim of using thermochemical conversion methods to produce biofuel. Our results demonstrate that Sweden has great potential for producing biofuels from long rotation poplar plantations, with a total of 1.8 million hectares (ha) consisting of arable (0.5 million ha) and forested arable land (1.3 million ha). Based on available land and biomass production potential, our results indicate that 10 million Mg DW could be produced annually. Regions in mid/southern Sweden have the largest potential (larger areas and higher biomass production. Our results further suggest that poplar biomass from these plantations has fuel characteristics similar to forest fuels from other conifer tree species, making the biomass suitable as feedstock for biofuel production based on thermochemical conversion methods. If 25% of the available land were used, 7.6 TWh methanol biofuels could be produced annually from 16 biofuel plants, using 160,000 Mg DW yr−1, primarily located in the southern part of Sweden. Two counties (Skåne and Västra Götaland) would be able to support their biofuel plants using poplar plantations as feedstock. Stable biofuel production in the other counties would depend on collaborating with neighboring counties.

Technoeconomic and Environmental Assessment of Biomass Chemical Looping Gasification for Advanced Biofuel Production

Chemical looping gasification is a promising biomass conversion technology that could produce sustainable liquid transportation fuels on a large scale to reduce fossil fuel dependency. The current paper examines the technical, economic, and environmental performance of a biomass-to-liquid (BtL) process based on chemical looping gasification and Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. Two biomass feedstocks, i.e., pine forest residues and wheat straw, are selected for assessing the complete BtL production chain. The results of process simulations showed that both biomass types are suitable gasification feedstocks, with an overall energy efficiency of 53% and 52% for pine residues and wheat straw, respectively. The economic results show that the breakeven selling prices (BESP) are €816 and €781 per m3 for the pine forest residues and wheat straw pellets, respectively. However, if low-grade excess heat valorisation and CO2 credits are considered, the BESPs could meet or become lower than the target value of €700 per m3, making the BtL plant competitive with other biofuel plants. The CO2 avoidance cost is estimated at €74.4/tCO2 for pine residues and €61.3/tCO2 for wheat straw, when replacing fossil fuels. The results of the life cycle assessment study showed that the produced biofuels fulfil the requirements of the EU Renewable Energy Directive II, achieving the reduction in greenhouse gases emissions of up to 79% without carbon capture and storage (CCS) and up to 264% with CCS compared to fossil fuels.

Impact of large-scale Bio-CCS deployment on forest biomass competition and forest industry production

This study investigates the implications of large-scale Bio-CCS deployment on forest-based biofuel, kraft pulp, and district heating production, focusing on the resulting biomass competition. Using the Nordic Forest Sector Model (NFSM) with a Bio-CCS add-on, we integrate negative emission trading into the EU Emissions Trading System across a range of CO2 price levels. The findings reveal that biofuel production increases with higher carbon dioxide prices, with different technologies demonstrating profitability at different price points. As CO2 prices rise, the competition for high-quality biomass intensifies between the biofuel and kraft pulp sectors, while district-heating biomass boilers serve as important buffers. Notably, The deployment of Bio-CCS in kraft pulp mills and biofuel plants significantly raises the demand for pulpwood, while district heating remains unaffected. As a result, district heating systems consume more forest residues and industrial residues. Consequently, increased use of Bio-CCS results in higher pulpwood and sawdust prices. The extreme test with a carbon price of 300€/tCO2 reveals a higher risk of carbon sequestration leakage, while the increased harvest levels in the studied areas remain sustainable. This modeling approach and its main conclusions offer valuable insights for other forest-based economies.

Fuzzy robust flexible programming with [formula omitted] measure for electric sustainable supply chain

Electricity as a source of energy, is one of the most essential part in our life. In recent time, it is noted that the temperature of earth increases in compare to the previous years. It is caused due to burning of the conventional energy sources such as gas, oil, and coal from thermal power plant and other sources, which brings about global warming. Bases on this fact, we propose a multi-objective mixed-integer programming model to design an electric sustainable supply chain network by considering resiliency and responsiveness. In order to formulate the environmental issues, a power-to-gas (P2G) technology is considered as an environment-friendly system. The presence of P2G can reduce the carbon level and it has some major advantages, i.e., it collects carbon dioxide (CO2) from thermal power plant and then converts CO2 to hydrogen (H2) with the help of water (H2O) and methane (CH4) gas. The drawbacks in addressing the uncertainty of the parameters are overcome by proposing a novel fuzzy robust flexible programming approach based on Me measure. Thereafter, a new approach namely, multi-choice conic goal programming with utility function is introduced to solve the proposed multi-objective model. Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) in India is considered as a case study about electric network that envisages the sustainable issues of an electric supply chain. Finally, experimental results show that one bio-fuel plant, one photovoltaic plant, one air turbine plant, and two mixed-cycle power plants are build at the end of the scheduled period.

The economic impact of biofuel policy on the agricultural sector in the Great Plains region, 1997–2017

Abstract Global biofuel production has increased over tenfold since 2000 and numerous biofuel production plants have been built in the Great Plains region. We estimate the impact of biofuel plants on the agricultural economy with county-level data on the number of farm operators, net farm income (NFI), and agricultural land values during 1997–2017 for 798 counties in twelve Great Plains states. We find that biofuel production facilities have a small negative association with the number of farm operators, but positive associations with NFI and farmland values in the county where the biofuel plant is located and neighboring (adjacent) counties. Sustained positive associations of biofuel production with farm income and land values are likely to depend on the continuation of national and state government programs of ethanol blend mandates and tax credits. Diminished government bioenergy support could lead to declining farm income and land values in areas near plants.

Thermochemical conversion of agricultural waste to hydrogen, methane, and biofuels: A review

With the depletion of fossil fuels, the energy crisis can now be visualized shortly. At the same time, waste production in various fields is also on the rise. This has led to a global waste management challenge. Agricultural wastes are produced in abundant amounts in various parts of the world, and they offer a potential substitute for fossil fuels. Agricultural wastes can be used to produce Methane, Hydrogen and biofuels along with various useful chemicals. This review provides insight into the composition of agricultural waste, the process of gasification, gasification agents, and challenges in the process. The fuels made from agricultural wastes, the pretreatment of agricultural waste and its challenges and future of energy production from agricultural waste are also discussed. The paper discusses in depth the reactions involved in the gasification process and the various types of gasifiers, their advantages and disadvantages. Energy production from agricultural waste is already being employed in few countries, but further research needs to make the processes more environmentally benign and eco-friendly. The logistics cost to transport the agricultural waste to biofuel plants is a major challenge that needs to be tackled. The feasibility of installing biofuel plants closer to agricultural fields is much better. For a smart usage of agricultural waste and to meet the sustainability criteria, it is necessary to integrate the available waste streams with local technical solutions.

Costs of Gasification Technologies for Energy and Fuel Production: Overview, Analysis, and Numerical Estimation

During recent years, gasification technology has gained a high potential and attractiveness to convert biomass and other solid wastes into a valuable syngas for energy production or synthesis of new biofuels. The implementation of real gasification facilities implies a good insight of all expenses that are involved, namely investments required in equipment during the project and construction phases (capital expenditures, CapEx) and costs linked to the operation of the plant, or periodic maintenance interventions (operational expenditures, OpEx) or costs related to operations required for an efficient and sustainable performance of a gasification plant (e.g., feedstock pre-treatment and management of by-products). Knowledge of these economic parameters and their corresponding trends over time may help decision-makers to make adequate choices regarding the eligible technologies and to perform comparisons with other conventional scenarios. The present work aims to provide an overview on CapEx associated with gasification technologies devoted to convert biomass or solid waste sources, with a view of reducing the carbon footprint during energy generation or production of new energy carriers. In addition, an analysis of technology cost trends over time using regression methods is also presented, as well as an evaluation of specific capital investments according to the amount of output products generated for different gasification facilities. The novelty of this work is focused on an analysis of CapEx of existing gasification technologies to obtain distinct products (energy and fuels), and to determine mathematical correlations relating technology costs with time and product output. For these purposes, a survey of data and categorization of gasification plants based on the final products was made, and mathematical regression methods were used to obtain the correlations, with a statistical analysis (coefficient of determination) for validation. Specific investments on liquid biofuel production plants exhibited the highest decreasing trend over time, while electricity production became the least attractive solution. Linear correlations of specific investment versus time fitted better for electricity production plants (R2 = 0.67), while those relating the product output were better for liquid biofuel plants through exponential regressions (R2 = 0.65).

A chromosome-level genome assembly for Erianthus fulvus provides insights into its biofuel potential and facilitates breeding for improvement of sugarcane

Erianthus produces substantial biomass, exhibits a good Brix value, and shows wide environmental adaptability, making it a potential biofuel plant. In contrast to closely related sorghum and sugarcane, Erianthus can grow in degraded soils, thus releasing pressure on agricultural lands used for biofuel production. However, the lack of genomic resources for Erianthus hinders its genetic improvement, thus limiting its potential for biofuel production. In the present study, we generated a chromosome-scale reference genome for Erianthus fulvus Nees. The genome size estimated by flow cytometry was 937 Mb, and the assembled genome size was 902 Mb, covering 96.26% of the estimated genome size. A total of 35 065 protein-coding genes were predicted, and 67.89% of the genome was found to be repetitive. A recent whole-genome duplication occurred approximately 74.10 million years ago in the E. fulvus genome. Phylogenetic analysis showed that E. fulvus is evolutionarily closer to S. spontaneum and diverged after S. bicolor. Three of the 10 chromosomes of E. fulvus formed through rearrangements of ancestral chromosomes. Phylogenetic reconstruction of the Saccharum complex revealed a polyphyletic origin of the complex and a sister relationship of E. fulvus with Saccharum sp., excluding S. arundinaceum. On the basis of the four amino acid residues that provide substrate specificity, the E. fulvus SWEET proteins were classified as mono- and disaccharide sugar transporters. Ortho-QTL genes identified for 10 biofuel-related traits may aid in the rapid screening of E. fulvus populations to enhance breeding programs for improved biofuel production. The results of this study provide valuable insights for breeding programs aimed at improving biofuel production in E. fulvus and enhancing sugarcane introgression programs.

The effects of urban land use on energy-related CO2 emissions in China

Land use change caused by urbanization is widely believed to be the primary way human activities affect energy use and, thus, CO2 emissions (CEs) in China. However, there is a limited understanding of the role of land use with detailed categories in energy-related CEs is still absent. This paper aims to narrow the knowledge gap using multi-dimension metrics, including land use scale, mixture, and intensity. These metrics were derived from three years of sequential POI data. A GWR analysis was carried out to examine the associations between land use change and energy-related CEs. Our results show that (1) the scale of most land use types exerted a bidirectional effect on CEs, demonstrating apparent spatiotemporal heterogeneity; (2) land use mixture of mature city agglomerations had a significant suppressive effect on CEs, suggesting mixed land use be advocated in the urbanization process; (3) Land use intensity had a bi-directional association with CEs in most cities, but its adverse effect gradually spread from the west to the northeast. Therefore, systematically regulating land transaction to control land scale, appropriately interplanting biofuel plants, and utilizing renewable energy are encouraged to reduce energy footprints and mitigate CEs in China. The findings and conclusions of this paper enhance our knowledge on the relationship between land use and CEs and present the scientific basis for policy-making in building low-carbon cities in the context of rapidly urbanizing China.

Phytoremediation Potential of Sorghum as a Bioenergy Crop in Pb-Amendment Soil

Lead contamination is among the most significant threats to the environment. The phytoextraction approach uses plants that can tolerate and accumulate metals in their tissues. Lately, biofuel plants have been recommended to be suitable for remediation and implementation of potentially toxic elements (PTEs)-polluted soil. This research assessed the Pb phytoremediation potential of three Sorghum bicolor [red cultivar (S1), white cultivar (S2) and shahla cultivar (S3)]. A pot experiment with five treatments (0, 100, 200, 400 and 800 mg Pb/kg soil) was carried out to assess the potential possibility of using these cultivars to remediate the soil of Pb. The potential possibility of using these plants to phytoremediate the soil of Pb was also assessed. The results emphasized that all the examined cultivars could attain growth to maturity in high Pb spiked soil. However, Pb influenced morphological and chlorophyll contents, especially in plants grown in soil amended with 800 mg/kg. The S1 cultivar had the most significant reduction in total chlorophyll with an average of 72%, followed by the S2 and S3 cultivars (65% and 58% reduction, respectively). The highest Pb content in root (110.0, 177.6 and 198.9 mg/kg, respectively) and in-plant shoot (83.9, 103.6 and 99.0 mg/kg, respectively) were detected by sorghum (S1, S2 and S3, respectively) grown in soil enriched by 800 mg/kg of Pb. From the calculated results of the contamination indices, contamination factor (CF), translocation factor (TF), plant uptake (UT) and tolerance index (TI), none of the investigated cultivars were considered Pb hyperaccumulators, but all were identified as particularly ideal for phytostabilization.

The location and capacity-dependent price impacts of biofuel production and its effect on the forest industry

Forest-based biofuel stands out as a promising solution to avoid fossil emissions in parts of the transport sector. Biofuel production will need large amounts of forest biomass, collected from a large area. Roundwood is costly to transport compared with other goods. Therefore, the location of forest-based biofuel production is a crucial part of an investment decision. This study analyses the optimal location of biofuel plants in Norway and the implications for the traditional forest sector in the Nordic countries. We test different numbers of production units, different sizes of the units, and various raw materials. The study applies a partial equilibrium model that covers the Norwegian and Nordic forest sectors, with 356 regions in Norway. The results indicate that small biofuel plants have the potential to turn exporting regions into importing regions. Larger biofuel plants are suitable for areas with large harvest activity today or regions with access to harbour or timber terminals along railways. We find that forest owners close to a biofuel plant will profit the most from biofuel production. Policymakers and investors should take into account that different locations and production capacities have different impacts on the forest sectors.

Critical Analysis of World Status of Research on the Development of High Yielding Strains of Jatropha Curcas L

It is almost 45 years since the mission Jatropha started for the development of high-yielding strain for commercial exploitation as a source of biofuel plant. A massive amount of literature has been accumulated on almost all aspects of Jatropha. It is now very important to evaluate the results related to the selection/development of novel strains. No preferable strains have been developed either through intra-and inter-specific hybridization or induced mutagenesis. Literature survey indicates that the quantum of work towards the development of new variety under the Jatropha mission is very negligible in comparison to other works. Maximum activities are not in synchronization with the exact mission of the project. It is now very important to choose the correct path to escalate Jatropha to industrial status within a reasonable time. Breeders may intelligently think about the selection of the best available strain, periodical pruning, and induced mutagenesis for commercial exploitation before doing further experiments with Jatropha. It is now high time to prepare need-based planning considering ongoing and on-coming research areas.

Effects of Biofuel Crop Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) Cultivation on Soil Carbon Sequestration and Greenhouse Gas Emissions: A Review.

Under the macroenvironmental background of global warming, all countries are working to limit climate change. Internationally, biofuel plants are considered to have great potential in carbon neutralization. Several countries have begun using biofuel crops as energy sources to neutralize carbon emissions. Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) is considered a resource-efficient low-input crop that produces bioenergy. In this paper, we reviewed the effects of switchgrass cultivation on carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Moreover, the future application and research of switchgrass are discussed and prospected. Switchgrass has huge aboveground and underground biomass, manifesting its huge carbon sequestration potential. The net change of soil surface 30 cm soil organic carbon in 15 years is predicted to be 6.49 Mg ha-1, significantly higher than that of other crops. In addition, its net ecosystem CO2 exchange is about -485 to -118 g C m-2 yr-1, which greatly affects the annual CO2 flux of the cultivation environment. Nitrogen (N) fertilizer is the main source of N2O emission in the switchgrass field. Nitrogen addition increases the yield of switchgrass and also increases the N2O flux of switchgrass soil. It is necessary to formulate the most appropriate N fertilizer application strategy. CH4 emissions are also an important indicator of carbon debt. The effects of switchgrass cultivation on CH4 emissions may be significant but are often ignored. Future studies on GHG emissions by switchgrass should also focus on CH4. In conclusion, as a biofuel crop, switchgrass can well balance the effects of climate change. It is necessary to conduct studies of switchgrass globally with the long-term dimension of climate change effects.

Comparative Study of Biochemical Composition of Paulownia tomentosa (Thunb.) Steud. Genotypes

The review of previous studies on Paulownia spp. showed that these plants are valuable raw materials with polyfunctional use among which are medicinal, forage, energetic, etc. This study demonstrated the accumulation of selected biochemical components in the different parts of Paulownia tomentosa (Thunb.) Steud. genotypes plants by the end of vegetation collected from experimental collections of M. M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. The accumulation of selected nutrients in the leaves was the following: a dry matter of 24.09–29.44%, lipid content of 5.01–8.58%, total sugar content of 5.51–9.82%, mono sugar content of 1.73–6.17%, ash content of 1.09–8.96%, phosphorus content of 0.47–1.60%, calcium content of 1.41–3.43%, and heating value of raw material of 4,083.09–4,353.11 Kcal.kg-1. In the branches of investigated genotypes on average accumulated 37.5–46.0% of dry matter, 3.69–6.52% of lipids, 6.66–19.96% of total sugar content, 1.95–5.75% of mono sugar content, 1.43–2.93% of ash content, 0.38–0.89% of phosphorus content, 0.515–1.61% of calcium content, and 3,911.45–4,290.78 Kcal.kg-1of heating value. The trunks had 40.09–51.5% of dry matter, 2.0–6.14% of lipids, 6.44–20.48% of sugars, 1.6–3.67% of mono sugars, 1.18–2.53% of ash, 0.22–0.40% of phosphorus, 0.37–0.63% of calcium, and 4,073.45–4,525.28 Kcal.kg-1 of heating value. A very strong correlation was found between sugars and mono sugars content in the leaves (r = 0.859), lipids and phosphorus (r = 0.864) in the branches, heating value, and calcium (r = 0.820) in the trunks. Due to the increasing interest in the growth and use of P. tomentosa during the last time, this study can be useful for further breeding work with this species as biofuel, forage, and medicinal plants.