Giant Grass Research Articles

Community Empowerment Through Bamboo Laminate Technology as Part of Disaster Conservation and Mitigation in Wonokerto, Turi, Sleman, Yogyakarta

Bamboo is included in the classification of grasses, but because of its large size compared to other types of grass, bamboo is also called "giant grass". Bamboo has the ability to grow fast which reaches 30-100 cm per day. The target that is the focus of this service is the empowerment of the DIY SAR Team in Wonokerto to become a transfer agent for laminated bamboo technology through the training provided. The approach taken in community service is based on research that has been carried out in universities (Research base community development) by involving potential communities in the community (community based) as social agents and based on assets or potential (assessed base community development) in the community at the same time. support the government's program to realize Merapi as a National Strategic Area (KSN). Based on the overall implementation and analysis of the successful understanding survey, it can be seen that 60% of respondents can correctly answer questions regarding the definition of the stages of technology application, definition of interest, definition of natural resources, definition of product modification, things needed in bamboo laminate.Bamboo is included in the classification of grasses, but because of its large size compared to other types of grass, bamboo is also called "giant grass". Bamboo has the ability to grow fast which reaches 30-100 cm per day. The target that is the focus of this service is the empowerment of the DIY SAR Team in Wonokerto to become a transfer agent for laminated bamboo technology through the training provided. The approach taken in community service is based on research that has been carried out in universities (Research base community development) by involving potential communities in the community (community based) as social agents and based on assets or potential (assessed base community development) in the community at the same time. support the government's program to realize Merapi as a National Strategic Area (KSN). Based on the overall implementation and analysis of the successful understanding survey, it can be seen that 60% of respondents can correctly answer questions regarding the definition of the stages of technology application, definition of interest, definition of natural resources, definition of product modification, things needed in bamboo laminate.

Storage Stability of Sugarcane Stalks

Background: Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) is a giant grass, belonging to the Poaceae family, and is considered as a crop of economic importance. It is the second largest agro based industry involving nearly 50.00 million farmers, their dependent and a large mass of agriculture labours. It is also known as noble cane, due to its high sucrose content and is mostly used for manufacturing of jaggery and crystalized sugars. Its consumption is very popular worldwide but there are few studies that focus on post-harvest storage of sugarcane stalks. The objectives of this study was to evaluate the quality of stored sugarcane stalks as well as fresh juice extracted from stored canes. Methods: During the investigation sugarcane variety Co238 were cleaned and grouped into bundles containing 5 stalks for each replicate (3) and then stored under both ambient (17-22°C temperature and 45-52% RH) and refrigerated temperature (4±1°C temperature and 60-65% RH). The parameter studied were weight loss, juice yield, total soluble solids, titratable acidity and pH at every 15 days interval for 120 days. Result: Study showed that among both the storage, refrigerated condition for storage of sugarcane stalks was found better to retain the maximum juice yield (40.09%) with minimum weight loss (5.15%) and maintain the quality for longer period as compared to ambient storage condition.

Bamboo marketing management (case study around PT Toba Pulp Lestari concesion)

Bamboo belongs to the gramineae family (grasses), also called Giant Grass, clumps and consists of a number of stems (reeds) that grow gradually, from bamboo shoots to young stems and mature at the age of 4-5 years. And bamboo can be made into many products The purpose of this research is to analyze the marketing strategies of the community around the area of PT. Toba Pulp Lestari. The research method used in this study is descriptive qualitative because it aims to describe the situation on the ground. The results showed that from the analysis of the IFAS, EFAS, and Matrix SWOT shows that bamboo business has opportunities that can be utilized by the community. The strategy (W-O) that must be applied to the research location is to form farmer groups and cooperatives at the village level, provide market information to farmers, improve access/roads to and from villages and improve human resources.

Population structure and functional diversity of mycorrhizal fungi and Pseudomonas fluorescence in different growth forms of Dendrocalamus strictus

Bamboo, called as the poor man’s timber, is one of the fastest growing giant grass species. Having shallow root system and fast growth rate, the dependability of the plant on the rhizospheric microbial web cannot be denied. The study was conducted to explore the population and seasonal variations of indigenous mycorrhizal fungi as well as the functional diversity of plant growth promoting bacteria, especially fluorescent pseudomonas from the different growth forms of Dendrocalamus strictus, the most commonly present bamboo species in Indian sub-continent. In a past study, it was established that the growth forms of D. strictus which developed over time in their respective locations, were genetically varied. The present research further explores the variations in their respective rhizospheric microbes and looks for the role of plant selection phenomenon. Considerable variation in mycorrhizal structures and in the functional diversity of Pseudomonas fluorescence was registered. Nutrient deficient conditions, especially low soil phosphorous (P), maybe created a niche or condition that could promoted the occurrence of high numbers of P solubilizers which, in turn, boosted the mycorrhizal as well as bamboo growth.

Ability of Three Pleurotus Species for Effective use of Giant Grass Compost

Abstract Pennisetum sinese is a giant grass with a fast-growing and high rooting rate, high sugar, protein content, and high biomass yield, which causes it to be an efficient and economic energy crop of high productivity, application in phytoremediation, and fodder production. The composting system of this grass that is adapted to the simplest formulation is easy and economically feasible in small farms for cultivating oyster mushrooms. In this study, giant grass compost was employed as a substrate for cultivating three Pleurotus species: P. florida, P. pulmonarius, and P. ostreatus to assess their enzyme activities, growth, and yields. Lignin peroxidase (LiP) was the most active enzyme in each species, while other enzymes were differently expressed between species and developmental phases. The average mass of fruiting bodies formed on the giant grass compost was 173.4 g, 166.5 g, and 152.2 g. The biological effectivity was 82.6%, 78.6%, and 72.5% for P. pulmonarius, P. ostreatus, and P. florida, respectively. The obtained results indicate the usefulness of giant grass compost for the cultivation of the three studied Pleurotus species.

Effects of different microbial pretreatments on the anaerobic digestion of giant grass under anaerobic and microaerobic conditions

Microbial pretreatment to lignocellulosic biomass for anaerobic digestion (AD) has achieved increased attention; however, the low efficiency and unclear mechanism of oxygen parameter affecting this process performance limit its practical application. In this study, five readily available microbial consortia were developed to analyze the influences of various oxygen concentrations during pretreatment process upon methane conversion efficiency and microbiota within AD of giant grass. Results found that anaerobic pretreatment by liquid or straw composting inoculant, along with microaerobic pretreatment by cow manure at 10 mL/g VS oxygen concentration, obtained 23.1%, 24.4%, and 16.0% higher methane yields (275.3, 279.8, and 265.3 mL/g VS) than corresponding untreated group, respectively. Microbial community analyses showed that microbial responses to oxygen varied significantly with microbial consortium, which consequently caused different AD performances. The findings will enrich theoretical knowledge of microbial pretreatment and provide a technological guidance for efficient utilization of giant grass and other lignocellulosic biomasses.

Pennisetum sinese: A Potential Phytoremediation Plant for Chromium Deletion from Soil

Chromium is one of the major pollutants in water and soil. Thus, it is urgent to develop a new method for chromium removal from the environment. Phytoremediation is a promising approach for heavy metal pollution recovery. As a perennial giant grass with a fast growth rate, Pennisetum sinese has been widely used as livestock feed, mushroom culture medium and biomass energy raw material. Interestingly, we have found a high adsorption capacity of P. sinese for chromium. P. sinese was treated with different concentrations of chromium for 15 days. Results showed that P. sinese plantlets grew well under low concentrations (less than 500 μM) of chromium (VI). The plantlet growth was inhibited when treated with high concentrations of chromium (more than 1000 μM). Up to 150.99 and 979.03 mg·kg−1 DW of chromium accumulated in the aerial part and root, respectively, under a treatment of 2000 μM Cr. The bioaccumulation factor (BCF) of P. sinese varied from 10.87 to 17.56, and reached a maximum value at the concentration of 500 μM. The results indicated that P. sinese showed strong tolerance and high accumulation capability under Cr stress. Therefore, the chromium removal potential of P. sinese has a great application prospect in phytoremediation.

Methane Production from Pennisetum giganteum z.x.lin During Anaerobic Digestion

Due to an approaching energy crisis, new energy sources with low pollution and high energy density are being urgently sought. Energy plants, as a new option, were widely studied and considered. In this work, the characteristics and biomethane production performance of giant grasses (Pennisetum giganteum z.x.lin) with different harvest times were studied. The results implied that the solid content and lignin content in giant grasses both increased with growth time. The anaerobic digestion (AD) of giant grasses harvested in December initiated faster. Cumulative methane yield of the giant grass harvested in July was higher, reaching 267.9 mL/gVS at an organic loading of 15 gVS/L. A first-order model and a modified Gompertz model were used to fit and evaluate the AD process of these two giant grasses, and the results showed that both models can describe the process well. The results of this study indicated that the harvest time of the giant grass had a large impact on the biomethane production, which also provided a theoretical basis for the future utilization of giant grass and other energy plants.

IDENTIFIKASI JENIS BAMBU (Poaceae) DI HUTAN TEMBAWANG DERET JAT, DESA PERUAN DALAM KECAMATAN TAYAN HULU KABUPATEN SANGGAU

Bamboo belongs to the Gramineae family (grasses) also called Giant Grass. Bamboos live in clumps, consisting of a number of stems (reeds) that grow gradually, starting from bamboo shoots, young and adult stems at the age of 4-6 years. The stem of this plant is cylindrical, sectioned, segmented, occasionally having massive hollow, hard-walled, in each section there are buds or branches. This study aims to find out the type and to identify the type of bamboo that is in the Tembawang Deret Jat Forest of Peruan Dalam Village in the District of Tayan Hulu, Sanggau Regency. This research will be carried out with a survey method using sampling techniques in a systematic sampling method in the form of making paths. The path used is not determined by the number of lines with a width of 20 meters and the length of the path is not determined and the distance between the lines is 50 meters. In the area of Tembawang Deret Jat Forest of Peruan Dalam Village in Tayan Hulu Subdistrict, 7 types of bamboo were found, namely Gigantochloa robusta, Gigantochloa balui, Schizostachyum zollingeri, Schizostachyum sp, Dendrocalamus asper, Schizostachyum brachycladum, Schizostachyum silicatum, and 3 bamboo genera Dendrocalamus, Gigantochloa, Schizostachyum, Schizostachyum, Schizostachyum and one Poace family.Keywords : Bamboo, Bamboo shoots, Clump, Reed, Tembawang forest.

Antidiabetic activity of giant grass Bambusa tulda

Antidiabetic activity of giant grass Bambusa tulda

Lipopeptide produced from Bacillus sp. W112 improves the hydrolysis of lignocellulose by specifically reducing non-productive binding of cellulases with and without CBMs

BackgroundSurfactants have attracted increasing interest for their capability to improve the enzymatic hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass. Compared to chemical surfactants, biosurfactants have a broader prospect for industrial applications because they are more environmentally friendly and more effective in some researches. Commercial cellulase preparations are mainly composed of endoglucanases (EGs) and cellobiohydrolases (CBHs) that possess carbohydrate-binding modules (CBMs). However, the effects of lipopeptide-type biosurfactants on enzymatic saccharification of lignocellulose and adsorption behaviors of cellulases with CBMs remain unclear.ResultsIn this study, we found that Bacillus sp. W112 could produce a lipopeptide-type biosurfactant from untreated biomass, such as wheat bran and Jerusalem artichoke tuber. The lipopeptide could enhance the enzymatic hydrolysis of dilute acid pretreated Giant Juncao grass (DA-GJG) by fungal and bacterial enzymes. The enhancement increased over a range of temperatures from 30 to 50 °C. Lipopeptide was shown to be more effective in promoting DA-GJG saccharification than chemical surfactants at low dosages, with a best stimulatory degree of 20.8% at 2% loading of the substrates (w/w). Lipopeptide increased the thermostability of EG and CBH in commercial cellulase cocktails. Moreover, the dual effects of lipopeptide on the adsorption behaviors of cellulases were found. It specifically lowered the non-productive binding of cellulases to lignin and increased the binding of cellulases to cellulose. In addition, we investigated the influence of lipopeptide on the adsorption behaviors of CBHs with CBMs for the first time. Our results showed that lipopeptide reduced the adsorption of CBM-deleted CBH to DA-GJG to a greater extent than that of intact CBH while the non-productive binding of intact CBH to lignin was reduced more, indicating that lipopeptide decreased the binding of CBMs onto lignin but not their combination with cellulose.ConclusionsIn this study, we found that lipopeptide from Bacillus sp. W112 promoted the enzymatic hydrolysis of DA-GJG at relative low loadings. The stimulatory effect could be attributed to increasing the cellulase thermostability, reducing non-productive adsorption of cellulases with CBMs caused by lignin and enhancing the binding of cellulases to cellulose.

Bioenergy grass [Erianthus ravennae (L.) Beauv.] secretes two members of mugineic acid family phytosiderophores which involved in their tolerance to Fe deficiency

ABSTRACTRavenna grass, Erianthus ravennae (L.) Beauv. (E. ravennae) is a potential high biomass-energy crop with low input requirements. Iron (Fe) deficiency in calcareous soils is a widespread agronomic problem which reduces crop yields. Fe is sparingly soluble under aerobic conditions at high soil pH, such as in calcareous soils; therefore, plants cannot take up enough Fe. Increasing crop productivity of giant grasses, such as Ravenna grass in calcareous soil, has a positive effect by alleviating environmental problems. However, the growth character in calcareous soil and Fe homeostatic trait of Ravenna grass are largely unknown. In this study, we analyzed characteristics of Ravenna grass. The growth of E. ravennae plants were impaired in calcareous soil compared to those in the normal soil. In calcareous soil, the growth of E. ravennae plants differ among the water and fertilizer conditions; E. ravennae plants were grown better in the submerged condition adding micronutrient among conditions. These results suggested that impaired growth of E. ravennae in calcareous soil might be micronutrient shortage. We found that E. ravennae roots possess Fe reductase activities which were upregulated under Fe-deficient conditions. E. ravennae produced and secreted mugineic acid (MA) and deoxymugineic acid (DMA) to acquire Fe from the soil. The amount of MA was higher than that of DMA. Thus, E. ravennae might have both partial Strategy-I and Strategy-II Fe uptake systems. E. ravennae intercropped with transgenic rice plants producing and secreting MA through the introduction of the barley MA synthase gene showed improved growth compared to monocropped E. ravennae plants, suggesting that the increased amounts of MA enhanced their tolerance to Fe deficiency. Our results suggest that there is a considerable potential to improve the growth of E. ravennae plants in calcareous soils by enhancement of their Fe uptake systems through increase of MA production.

Bioenergy crops and farmland biodiversity: benefits and limitations are scale-dependant for a declining mammal, the brown hare

Biomass energy crops are prompting major land-use changes in agricultural and marginal land in an effort to reduce dependency on fossil fuels. Miscanthus × giganteus, a perennial giant grass, is one of the main such crops in Europe but few studies exist of its interaction with farmland wildlife, particularly mammals. Understanding ecological impacts of bioenergy planting schemes is vital for mitigating potential negative effects on already declining farmland biodiversity and for maximising any benefits from these low-management, structurally diverse crops. We assessed in a mixed farming area in the UK the impact of Miscanthus crops on the brown hare (Lepus europaeus), a widespread but declining farmland species of conservation concern. We intensively radio-tracked hares in Miscanthus blocks of contrasting size and analysed hare diet for evidence of the consumption of Miscanthus. Home ranges differed starkly averaging 10.5 versus 49.6 ha in the small and the large Miscanthus blocks, respectively. Despite entirely avoiding the crop as food, hares appeared able to exist and even thrive in areas planted with Miscanthus though their populations may be significantly limited by reduced food availability and increased energy use where dense Miscanthus is planted over a wide area. As a component of a mixed farming landscape, Miscanthus may provide biodiversity benefits by increasing spatial heterogeneity and refuge areas for declining farmland species like brown hares but any effect is likely to be strongly scale-dependant.

Physiological and Biochemical Responses of <i>Miscanthus </i><i>sacchariflorus</i> to Salt Stress

Miscanthus sacchariflorus is a typical perennial giant grass of East Asia as a biofuel feedstock. However, the mechanism of its salt tolerance is not well understood. In this study, chlorophyll a, b and total chlorophyll content, soluble protein content, MDA, proline content, POD, SOD, and CAT of M. sacchariflorus under salt stress were investigated with five NaCl concentrations ranging from 0 to 180 mmol.l-1. The results showed that the chlorophyll content decreased with increasing NaCl stresses, whereas soluble protein content, MDA, proline content, POD, SOD and CAT increased with increasing NaCl stresses. Low salt stress (30 and 60 mmol.l-1 NaCl) had almost no effect when comparing with the control under early stage (before 14 days) of salt stress treatment. However, treatment with high salt stress (90 and 180 mmol.l-1 NaCl) promoted MDA, proline, and antioxidant enzymes increasing markedly.

Assessing the cultivation potential of the energy crop Miscanthus × giganteus for Germany

AbstractThe European Union in general and Germany in particular want to lead the way to substantially expand renewable energies for power production. Considering the extremely ambitious objectives of the German Federal Government, a strong, nationwide increase in cultivating energy crops can be anticipated. However, the expansion of biomass production, which is already in progress, has led to several environmental and ecological objections. Aside from competing for land, for food and feed production, the expansion of monocultures for biomass and biofuel production with a concentration on maize (Zea mays) and rapeseed (Brassica napus) can be problematic for biodiversity conservation. To face these challenges, the provision and cultivation of additional crop species and cultivars for biomass production would help to avoid these problems. The designated energy crop Miscanthus × giganteus represents an alternative species for extended biomass production. This giant grass is characterized by a broad range of possible applications and a high potential in producing and providing biomass in a sustainable way. In our study, we conducted a Geographic Information System (GIS)‐based analysis of the cultivation potential of M. giganteus in Germany. As a result, we generated digital maps that display preferential regions for the cultivation of M. giganteus where a high productivity and quality of biomass is expected. Combining different climate‐ and soil‐dependent scenarios, a total acreage potential of 4 million ha is predicted for Germany.

Evaluation of bamboo genetic diversity using morphological and SRAP analyses.

Bamboo is an important member of the giant grass subfamily Bambusoideae of Poaceae. In this study, 13 bamboo accessions belonging to 5 different genera were subjected to morphological evaluation and sequence-related amplified polymorphism (SRAP) analysis. Unweighted pair-group method of arithmetic averages (UPGMA) cluster analysis was used to construct a dendrogram and to estimate the genetic distances among accessions. On the basis of morphological characteristics, the 13 accessions were distinctly classified into 2 major clusters; 3 varieties, PPYX, PGNK, and PLYY were grouped as cluster A, and 10 accessions were categorized under cluster B. Similarity coefficients ranging from 0.23 to 0.96 indicated abundant genetic variation among bamboo varieties. Approximately 38 SRAP primer combinations generated 186 bands, with 150 bands (80.65%) showing polymorphisms among the 13 accessions. Based on SRAP analysis, 13 bamboo accessions were grouped into 3 major clusters. Five species comprised Cluster I (PASL, PLYY, PTSC, SCNK, and BMAK), which belongs to genus Phyllostachys. Cluster II consisted of 5 varieties, PASL, PLYY, PTSC, SCNK, and BMAK; Cluster III included 3 varieties, PGNK, PLSY, and BMRS. Comparison of the results generated by morphological and SRAP analyses showed that the classification based on SRAP markers was more concordant to the taxonomic results of Gamble than that performed using morphological characters, thus suggesting that SRAP analysis is more efficient in evaluating genetic diversity in bamboos compared to morphological analysis. The SRAP technique serves as an alternative method in assessing genetic diversity within bamboo collections.

Genetic divergence among accessions of Axonopus jesuiticus x A. scoparius based on morphological and agronomical traits

This study had the objective of assessing the genetic divergence in giant missionary grass (Axonopus jesuiticus x A. scoparius) germplasm based on morphological and agronomic traits. Five accessions were evaluated in the field: V14337, V14403, V14404, V14405 and V14406. Three contrasting groups were formed using the UPGMA clustering method: V14337 and V14404 formed one group, V14403 and V14405 formed another, and V14406 was isolated from the other accessions. The most striking traits for the identification of the accessions were the height of the plant and the change color of the leaf. Only V14406 accession had purplish green leaves. The other four accessions differed with regards to plant height and dry matter production, with superiority of V14337 and V14404 accessions. The high similarity, as assessed by the mean Euclidean distance, suggests that V14337 and V14404 share the same genotype. The genotypic variability among accessions indicates their potential use in breeding programs.

Identification of genes differentially expressed during the growth of Bambusa oldhamii

Bamboos are ecologically and economically important grasses, and are distinguished by their rapid growth. To identify genes associated with bamboo growth, PCR-based mRNA differential display was used to clone genes that were differentially expressed in various tissues of bamboo (Bambusa oldhamii) shoots at different growth stages. In total, 260 different cDNA sequences were obtained. These genes displayed complex expression profiles across the different tissues and growth stages as revealed by a cDNA microarray analysis. Notable among them were genes that were temporally up-regulated or down-regulated in the internode-containing region of rapidly elongating shoots. These genes might participate in the rapid elongation of the bamboo culm. Of the 36 up-regulated and 46 down-regulated genes, 16 genes and 8 genes, respectively, were predicted to encode hypothetical proteins or were unknown sequences. Aside from these, genes involved in hormonal signaling and homeostasis, stress responses, peptide processing and signaling and lignin biosynthesis composed most of the up-regulated genes; genes involved in DNA replication, nucleic acid binding and signal transduction were highly represented among the down-regulated genes. These results suggested that genes associated with plant hormonal signaling and homeostasis, peptide signaling, reactive oxygen species signaling and homeostasis, several stress-related genes and a monocot-specific unknown gene, BoMSP41, play important roles in the elongation of bamboo internodes. Multiple signaling pathways might form a complex interconnected network that controls the rapid growth of this giant grass.

Micropropagation and plant regeneration from embryogenic callus of Miscanthus sinensis

Miscanthus sinensis (Poaceae) is a typical perennial giant grass of East Asia. Due to its high photosynthetic efficiency, low input requirements, and high biomass production, M. sinensis shows outstanding potential as a biofuel feedstock. However, the lack of an efficient tissue culture system may limit its utilization potential. Different explants of M. sinensis were evaluated to develop an efficient tissue culture system. Shoot apices from in vitro-germinated seedling explants were tested for adventitious bud proliferation. The highest level of proliferation (multiplication coefficient 6.69) was obtained when shoot apices were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 1.0 mg L−1 6-benzyladenine (BA), 2.0 mg L−1 kinetin, 0.05 mg L−1 α-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA), 3% sucrose, and 0.8% agar. The highest rooting percentage (95.4%) was obtained when adventitious buds were cultured on half-strength MS medium supplemented with 0.2 mg L−1 NAA, 3% sucrose, and 0.8% agar. Significant differences were found in the formation of embryogenic callus among different explant types. The embryogenic callus derived from epicotyls had the highest regeneration capacity when cultured on a medium supplemented with 2.0 mg L−1 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, 0.5 mg L−1 BA, and 0.1 mg L−1 thiamine. Under these conditions, the callus induction percentage was 82%.

Nitrate Paradigm Does Not Hold Up for Sugarcane

Modern agriculture is based on the notion that nitrate is the main source of nitrogen (N) for crops, but nitrate is also the most mobile form of N and easily lost from soil. Efficient acquisition of nitrate by crops is therefore a prerequisite for avoiding off-site N pollution. Sugarcane is considered the most suitable tropical crop for biofuel production, but surprisingly high N fertilizer applications in main producer countries raise doubt about the sustainability of production and are at odds with a carbon-based crop. Examining reasons for the inefficient use of N fertilizer, we hypothesized that sugarcane resembles other giant tropical grasses which inhibit the production of nitrate in soil and differ from related grain crops with a confirmed ability to use nitrate. The results of our study support the hypothesis that N-replete sugarcane and ancestral species in the Andropogoneae supertribe strongly prefer ammonium over nitrate. Sugarcane differs from grain crops, sorghum and maize, which acquired both N sources equally well, while giant grass, Erianthus, displayed an intermediate ability to use nitrate. We conclude that discrimination against nitrate and a low capacity to store nitrate in shoots prevents commercial sugarcane varieties from taking advantage of the high nitrate concentrations in fertilized soils in the first three months of the growing season, leaving nitrate vulnerable to loss. Our study addresses a major caveat of sugarcane production and affords a strong basis for improvement through breeding cultivars with enhanced capacity to use nitrate as well as through agronomic measures that reduce nitrification in soil.