Miscanthus Sacchariflorus Research Articles

Development of energy plants from hybrids between Miscanthus sacchariflorus and M. lutarioriparius grown on reclaimed mine land in the Loess Plateau of China.

Miscanthus, a promising bioenergy plant, has a high biomass yield with high cellulose content suitable for biofuel production. However, harsh climatic and poor soil conditions, such as barren lands or abandoned mines, pose a challenge to the survival and yield of Miscanthus feedstock on the marginal land. The selection from the interspecific hybrids of Miscanthus might combine high survival rates and high yield, which benefits energy crop development in multi-stressful environments. A total of 113 F1 hybrids between Miscanthus sacchariflorus and M. lutarioriparius together with the parents were planted and evaluated for multiple morphological and physiological traits on the mine land of the Loess Plateau of China. The majority of hybrids had higher establishment rates than M. sacchariflorus while M. lutarioriparius failed to survive for the first winter. Nearly all hybrid genotypes outperformed M. lutarioriparius for yield-related traits including plant height, tiller number, tiller diameter, and leaf area. The average biomass of the hybrids was 20 times higher than that of surviving parent, M. sacchariflorus. Furthermore, the photosynthetic rates and water use efficiency of the hybrids were both significantly higher than those of the parents, which might be partly responsible for their higher yield. A total of 29 hybrids with outstanding traits related to yield and stress tolerance were identified as candidates. The study investigated for the first time the hybrids between local individuals of M. sacchariflorus and high-biomass M. lutarioriparius, suggesting that this could be an effective approach for high-yield energy crop development on vast of marginal lands.

Evaluation of Pre-Emergence and Post-Emergence Herbicides for Weed Management in Miscanthus sacchariflorus and Miscanthus sinensis

Miscanthus, is a promising bioenergy crop, considered superior to other bioenergy crops because of its higher water and nutrient use efficiency, cold tolerance, and higher production of biomass. Broadleaf weeds and grass weeds, cause major problems in the Miscanthus field. A field experiment was conducted in 2018 and 2019, to assess the effects of pre-emergence (alachlor and napropamide) and post-emergence herbicides (nicosulfuron, dicamba, bentazon, and glufosinate ammonium) on broadleaf and grass weeds in M. sinensis and M. sacchariflorus fields. The weed control efficiency and phytotoxicity of pre- and post-emergence herbicides were evaluated at 30 days after treatment (DAT) and compared to those of the control plots. The results showed wide variations in the susceptibility of the weed species to the treated herbicides. Treatment with nicosulfuron 40 g.a.i.ha−1 provided the most effective overall weed control (with 10% visual injury), without affecting the height and biomass of neither Miscanthus species in the field. Post-emergence herbicides such as glufosinate ammonium 400 g.a.i.ha−1 and dicamba 482 g.a.i.ha−1 were effective and inhibited the growth and density of the majority of weeds to a 100%; however, they showed significant phytotoxicity (toxicity scale of 1–10) to both species of Miscanthus. The application of glufosinate ammonium caused severe injuries to the foliar region (90% visual injury) of both Miscanthus sps. Comparatively, M. sinensis showed a slightly higher tolerance to the herbicides nicosulfuron, bentazon and napropamide with 10% visual injury at the recommended dose than M. sacchariflorus. The present study clearly showed that infestation of broadleaf and grass weeds in Miscanthus fields can cause significant damage to the growth and biomass of Miscanthus and applying pre-emergence and post-emergence herbicides effectively controls the high infestation of these weeds.

Nowe gatunki obce i rodzime rozprzestrzeniające się w północno-wschodniej Polsce poza granicami swoich pierwotnych zasięgów

The paper presents data on 32 alien plant species as well as seven ones native for other regions of the country which had not been recorded in NE Poland before or were known so far from only a few sites. The most important source of the spread of alien species in the initial stages of colonization is their intentional introduction into cultivation. Ornamental plants constitute 48.7% of recorded new species. The railway routes allowed spontaneous colonization of nine species (23%). The remaining species (28%) were most likely introduced by road transport of people and goods. The vast majority of alien species (77%) begin colonization in highly disturbed man-made habitats, especially ruderal ones in urban areas, as well as roadsides and embankments along communication routes, and so far they have appeared only in the sites of such types in the region. Only a few plants of alien origin are able to colonize forest habitats (i.a. trees and shrubs spreading by birds: Crataegus coccinea, Malus toringo and Rubus laciniatus). The expansion of Miscanthus sacchariflorus may pose the greatest risk of entering semi-natural habitats and naturally valuable areas in the near future. Predictions regarding the possibility of an explosive spread of Iva xanthiifolia did not come true. This may also apply to Erechtites hieraciifolius.

Phytochemical profiling and biological activity of the extracts obtained from green biomass of three Miscanthus L. species using supercritical carbon dioxide extraction

Taxa belonging to the genus Miscanthus L. (silvergrass) are non-invasive plants that can grow on marginal land that are not suitable for food production. These species give high yields of lignocellulosic biomass, being a rich and renewable source of organic matter for the production of second-generation biofuels (ethanol) and for other practical purposes, such as raw material for paper production. The most promising species of the genus Miscanthus L., in terms of practical use in industry and agriculture, are M. sinensis, M. sacchariflorum and their hydride - M. × giganteus. In this study, extracts obtained from the green biomass of these Miscanthus L. species underwent detailed phytochemical investigation and multidirectional biological evaluation. The extracts were prepared using supercritical fluid extraction with water as co-solvent. The qualitative RP-HPLC/PDA analysis of the extracts after their purification with solid-phase extraction confirmed their similar phytochemical profiles. Six free phenolic acids ( p -hydroxybenzoic, isovanillic, syringic, p -coumaric, ferulic and isoferulic) and one trans -cinnamic acid derivative were identified and determined. The antimicrobial, antiviral, anthelmintic and anticancer activity of the supercritical extracts of Miscanthus L. species studied was revealed for the first time. Moreover, the extracts possessed low cytotoxicity against normal cells. This screening evaluation showed that, besides giving high yields of lignocellulosic biomass, these grasses could also be a source of valuable bioactive compounds for the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. • Supercritical carbon dioxide extracts of silvergrasses had similar phenolic profiles. • All slivergrass extracts showed antibacterial and antifungal activities. • Amur and giant silvergrass extracts revealed anthelmintic (nematocidal) effects. • Chinese and giant silvergrass extracts inhibited herpes simplex virus type-1 cycle. • Amur silvergrass extract was selectively cytotoxic against melanoma cells.

Properties and Hydrolysis Behavior of Celluloses of Different Origin.

The present paper is a fundamental study on the physicochemical properties and hydrolysis behavior of cellulose samples differing in origin: bacterial, synthetic, and vegetal. Bacterial cellulose was produced by Medusomyces gisevii Sa-12 in an enzymatic hydrolyzate derived from oat-hull pulp. Synthetic cellulose was obtained from an aqueous glucose solution by electropolymerization. Plant-based cellulose was isolated by treatment of Miscanthus sacchariflorus with dilute NaOH and HNO3 solutions. We explored different properties of cellulose samples, such as chemical composition, degree of polymerization (DP), degree of crystallinity (DC), porosity, and reported infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy results. The hydrolysis behavior was most notable dependent on the origin of cellulose. For the bacterial cellulose sample (2010 DP, 90% DC, 89.4% RS yield), the major property affecting the hydrolysis behavior was its unique nanoscale reticulate structure promoting fast penetration of cellulases into the substrate structure. The study on enzymatic hydrolysis showed that the hydrolysis behavior of synthetic and Miscanthus celluloses was most influenced by the substrate properties such as DP, DC and morphological structure. The yield of reducing sugars (RS) by hydrolysis of synthetic cellulose exhibiting a 3140 DP, 80% DC, and highly depolymerization-resistant fibers was 27%. In contrast, the hydrolysis of Miscanthus-derived cellulose with a 1030 DP, 68% DC, and enzyme-accessible fibers provided the highest RS yield of 90%. The other properties examined herein (absence/presence of non-cellulosic impurities, specific surface, pore volume) had no considerable effect on the bioconversion of the cellulosic substrates.

Colonization and phytoremediation potential for Miscanthus sacchariflorus in copper tailings

ABSTRACT A pot experiment was conducted to explore the effects of copper (Cu) tailings with various proportions in the substrate on seed germination and morphological traits of the plant. Concurrently, to identify the adaptive and tolerance strategies of the plant to Cu tailings, the uptake and accumulation of the plant to heavy metals, variations in soil enzymatic activities, and metal speciation in the blank, rhizospheric, and non-rhizospheric soils were estimated. Cu tailings at 25% proportion in the substrate exerted no significant negative effects on seed germination and seedling growth. However, Cu tailings at higher proportions (≧50%) inhibited seed germination and disturbed the plant physiological metabolism and growth. More biomass allocated to the plant roots could contribute to more heavy metals being immobilized, arresting their translocation from roots to shoots. This was accepted as a crucial defense mechanism for the plant against heavy metal co-contamination. The plant can improve the biological properties of Cu tailings in terms of enhanced invertase and phosphatase activities. And in turn, this can effectively alleviate heavy metal phytotoxicity. Simultaneously, it markedly decreased exchangeable Cu and Zn content in the rhizosphere in 25% Cu tailings treatments. In 50% Cu tailings treatment, no differences were observed in Zn speciation between rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soils. In 75% Cu tailings, compared to the non-rhizosphere, an obvious reduction in exchangeable Cu in rhizosphere occurred, while an opposite tendency was demonstrated in carbonate-bound Zn. The plant could successfully colonize in Cu tailings, and represent a phytoremediation potential in Cu tailings.

Succession of the Abandoned Rice Fields Restores the Riparian Forest.

The vegetation changes in the abandoned rice fields with different abandonment histories were analyzed across the country of South Korea. The successional process was confirmed by changes in vegetation profiles and species composition. The vegetation profile showed the process of starting with grassland, passing through the shrub stage, and turning into a tree-dominated forest. DCA ordination based on vegetation data showed that the process began with grasslands consisting of Persicaria thunbergii, Juncus effusus var. decipiens, Phalaris arundinacea, etc., then partially went through shrubland stages consisting of Salix gracilistyla, S. integra, young Salix koreensis, etc., and ultimately changed to a Salix koreensis dominated forest. In order to study the relationship between the succession process of the abandoned rice paddies and riparian vegetation, information on riparian vegetation was collected in the same watershed as the abandoned rice paddies investigated. Riparian vegetation tended to be distributed in the order of grasslands consisting of Phragmites japonica, Miscanthus sacchariflorus, P. arundinacea, etc., shrubland dominated by Salix gracilistyla, S. integra, etc., and a S. koreensis community dominated forest by reflecting the flooding regime as far away from the waterway. The result of stand ordination based on the riparian vegetation data also reflected the trend. From this result, we confirmed that the temporal sequence of the vegetation change that occurred in the abandoned rice fields resembled the spatial distribution of the riparian vegetation. Consequently, succession of the abandoned rice fields restored the riparian forest, which has almost disappeared in Korea and other Asian countries that use rice as their staple food.

Measurement of foliar H2O2 concentration can be an indicator of riparian vegetation management

Riparian vegetation is frequently exposed to abiotic stress, which generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) caused by strong differences in a river’s hydrological conditions. Among different ROS, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is relatively steady and can be measured appropriately. Thus, the quantification of plant H2O2 can be used as a stress indicator for riparian vegetation management. The current study examines the spatial distribution of plants by riparian vegetation communities across the elevation gradient of riparian zones through quantification of environmental stress using foliar H2O2 concentration. The trees Salix spp., Robinia pseudoacacia, Ailanthus altissima with Juglans mandshurica, and the herbs Phragmites australis, Phragmites japonica, and Miscanthus sacchariflorus were selected for this study. Leaf tissues were collected to analyze H2O2 concentration, meanwhile riparian soil was sampled to measure total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and moisture content. The H2O2 concentration of tree species increased with higher soil moisture content, which was negatively correlated for Salix and herb spp., in which H2O2 concentration always decreased with high soil moisture. In this study, we found a unique significant interaction between soil moisture content and H2O2 concentration, both positively or negatively correlated relationships, when compared with other parameters, such as TN or TP concentrations or TN: TP in riparian soil. The species-specific distribution zones can be explained by the H2O2 concentration in the plant for gravelly and sandy channels on a theoretical range of soil moisture. Each species’ H2O2 concentration was estimated through derived equations and is directly related to an elevation above the channel. The comparison with the observed distribution of plant elevations in the field indicated that all species showed a spatial distribution that acts as species-specific elevations where H2O2 concentrations stayed below 40 μmol/gFW. Hence, the present study suggests that foliar H2O2 concentration can be a useful benchmark for the distribution potentiality of riparian vegetation.

Bioengineering and Molecular Biology of Miscanthus

Miscanthus is a perennial wild plant that is vital for the production of paper and roofing, as well as horticulture and the development of new high-yielding crops in temperate climates. Chromosome-level assembly of the ancient tetraploid genome of miscanthus chromosomes is reported to provide resources that can link its chromosomes to related diploid sorghum and complex polyploid sugarcane. Analysis of Miscanthus sinensis and Miscanthus sacchariflorus showed intense mixing and interspecific hybridization and documented the origin of a high-yielding triploid bioenergetic plant, Miscanthus × giganteus. The Miscanthus genome expands comparative genomics functions to better understand the main abilities of Andropogoneae herbs. Miscanthus × giganteus is widely regarded as a promising lignocellulosic biomass crop due to its high-biomass yield, which does not emit toxic compounds into the environment, and ability to grow in depleted lands. The high production cost of lignocellulosic bioethanol limits its commercialization. The main components that inhibit the enzymatic reactions of fermentation and saccharification are lignin in the cell wall and its by-products released during the pre-treatment stage. One approach to overcoming this barrier could be to genetically modify the genes involved in lignin biosynthesis, manipulating the lignin content and composition of miscanthus.

Transcriptomic Characterization of Miscanthus sacchariflorus × M. lutarioriparius and Its Implications for Energy Crop Development in the Semiarid Mine Area.

Miscanthus interspecific hybrids have been proved to have better adaptability in marginal lands than their parents. Miscanthus sacchariflorus and Miscanthus lutarioriparius were used as the parents to develop hybrids. We performed the transcriptome for 110 F1 hybrids of Miscanthus sacchariflorus × Miscanthus lutarioriparius and their parents that had been established on the Loess Plateau mine area, to estimate the population’s genetic expression variation, and illuminate the adaptive mechanism of the F1 population. The result speculated that the F1 population has mainly inherited the stress response metabolic pathway of its female parent (M. sacchariflorus), which may be responsible for its higher environmental adaptability and biomass yield compared with male parents. Based on PopART, we assembled a leaf reference transcriptome for M. sacchariflorus (LRTMS) and obtained 8116 high-quality transcripts. When we analyze the differential expression of genes between F1 population and parent, 39 and 56 differentially expressed genes were screened out in the female parent and male parent, respectively. The enrichment analysis showed that pathways of carbohydrate metabolism, lipid metabolism, biosynthesis of secondary metabolites and circadian rhythm-plant played a key role in resisting the harsh environment. The carbohydrate metabolism and lipid metabolism were also significantly enriched, and the synthesis of these substances facilitated the yield. The results provided an insight into breeding Miscanthus hybrids more suited to the harsh environment of the Loess Plateau.

Studying the Physiological Reactions of C4 Grasses in Order to Select Them for Cultivation on Marginal Lands

One of the problems of sustainable agricultural land management (SALM) is the competition between food production and biomass production. For this reason, marginal lands with unfavorable agrotechnical conditions have been proposed for non-food crops in recent years. To this end, a better understanding of the impact of environmental factors on crop development and yield is needed. The objective of the study was to investigate the effects of soil water availability on selected morphological, physiological and growth characteristics of four C4 grass species (Miscanthus × giganteus, Miscanthus sacchariflorus, Miscanthus sinensis and Spartina pectinate) growing under different water and fertilizer conditions. A pot experiment was conducted under greenhouse conditions with four grass species, three different water rates (100, 85 and 70%) and three fertilizer rates (270, 180 and 90 kg NPK ha−1). The study showed that water stress, regardless of plant species, increased the chlorophyll content index without affecting the photosynthetic efficiency of the plants. Water stress significantly decreased plant fresh and dry mass, shoot number and length, and shoot/leaf ratio. The response to water deficit depended on the plant species. Miscanthus sinensis was the most sensitive to water deficit and Spartina pectinate the most tolerant (reduction in dry mass of 41.5% and 18%, respectively). Water stress (85% and 70%) reduced the number and the length of shoots without affecting the average diameter of shoots of the tested grasses, resulting in a significant reduction in biomass production of plants grown under optimal conditions with mineral NPK fertilization (180 kg NPK ha−1). Miscanthus sacchariflorus showed the highest dry matter under the worst growing conditions (70% and 90 NPK) and therefore could be recommended for cultivation on marginal lands with unfavorable agrotechnical conditions. It should be emphasized that the high yield of this species was not due to the photosynthetic efficiency, but better growth stem parameters (length and number). It appears that, for long-term agricultural land management, it is preferable to determine fertilizer rates for each crop species based on soil water availability. It should also be emphasized that increasing the yield of potential lignocellulosic crops for energy purposes while reducing environmental impact appears to be one of the viable answers to the difficulties of conventional energy production.

Specific shoot formation in Miscanthus saccharif lorus (Poaceae) under different environmental factors and DNA passportization using ISSR markers.

The generic complex Miscanthus Anderss. (Poaceae) is a unique example among herbaceous plants characterized by high values of growth of aboveground vegetative mass and practical use as a valuable source of alternative energy. Miscanthus is one of the most eff icient solar energy accumulators, and since phytomeliorative use implies the cultivation of these resource plants in inconvenient and semi-shady areas, the question about the effect of insuff icient lighting on the productivity of Miscanthus arises. As a result of a long-lasing introduction effort, the Central Siberian Botanical Garden SB RAS created a population of Miscanthus saccharif lorus (Maxim.) Benth., which has good prospects for growing under the conditions of the forest-steppe area in Western Siberia. The goals of our study were: (1) to determine the peculiarities of shoot formation, (2) to assess the cellulose and lignin accumulation in M. saccharif lorus populations under different lighting conditions and (3) to perform a DNA passportization of the Miscanthus population by ISSR marking. Evaluation of shoot formation and the amount of accumulated cellulose and lignin in plants was carried out under different degrees of illumination: one variant was grown in a sunny area, and the other, in partial shade. As a result of analysis of variance, it was found that the number of shoots does not depend on environmental conditions, but on the age of the plant, while environmental conditions have a signif icant effect on plant height. Although the samples of both M. saccharif lorus variants were characterized by different rates of creation of a continuous projective cover, plants in semi-shaded areas formed up to 89.34 % of shoots compared to their peers in illuminated areas, which did not affect signif icantly the size of the aboveground mass and the cellulose content in it. As a result of ISSR-analysis of genomic DNA in the M. saccharif lorus population, unique molecular polymorphic fragments were identif ied, which can be used for identif ication and DNA passportization at the inter-population level. Thus, the complex use of M. saccharif lorus as a valuable meliorative and bioenergetic culture is due to the high adaptive potential of this species. It was found that the illumination factor has virtually no effect on the amount of the cellulose content in the shoot, and a reduced content of the technologically undesirable lignin was observed in plants growing in the partial shade conditions.

The Role of Iron Plaque in Miscanthus sacchariflorus Seedling Growth, Cadmium Uptake, and Translocation

The Role of Iron Plaque in Miscanthus sacchariflorus Seedling Growth, Cadmium Uptake, and Translocation

Reference gene selection for quantitative RT-PCR in Miscanthus sacchariflorus under abiotic stress conditions.

Reference genes are necessary for quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis and their stability can directly influence the accuracy of gene expression result. Miscanthus sacchariflorus, a perennial C4 grass that serves as promising biofuel plant for temperate climates, has not been explored for the identification of stable reference genes yet. Nine potential reference genes (ACT, EF1a, FBOX, GAPDH, PP2A, SAND, TIP41, TUB and UBC) of M. sacchariflorus under different abiotic (salinity, drought and cadmium) stresses, as well as in two tissues (roots and leaves) were evaluated. The expression stability of these genes were analyzed by four commonly used software programs (geNorm, NormFinder, BestKeeper, ΔCt method and RefFinder). Our results found that FBOX and SAND are the most stable genes among all tested samples. FBOX and EF1a are suitable for gene expression normalization of cadmium-treated samples and salinity-treated leaves. FBOX and PP2A are appropriate reference genes for salt-stressed roots and PEG-treated leaves. The traditional reference gene ACT and GAPDH exhibited the most variable pattern, which would not be recommended for qRT-PCR analysis under different abiotic stresses. Furthermore, the expression levels of PIP2, NHX1 and MT2a under drought, salt and cadmium treatment were detected with above reference genes. This work identified the appropriate reference genes for qRT-PCR in M. sacchariflorus and FBOX was recommended to be effective internal control for gene expression normalization in M. sacchariflorus in response to different abiotic stresses.

Carbon and nitrogen dynamics as affected by land-use and management change from original rice paddies to orchard, wetland, parking area and uplands in a mountain village located in Shonai region, Northeast Japan

ABSTRACT This study investigated the effect of land-use and management change (LUMC) on carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) dynamics after 15–40 years. LUMC constituted change from rice paddies to chestnut orchard, wetland, and buckwheat upland fields in Shonai region, Yamagata Prefecture, Northeast Japan. Soil samples were collected from the top – (0–15 cm) and sub-layers (15–30 cm) for analysis of soil organic C (SOC) and its δ13C value, total N (TN), and their stocks. C decomposition (Dec-C) and net N mineralization (Net Min-N) were determined according to the production of CO2 and NH4 + + NO3 – by aerobic incubation and CO2 + CH4 and NH4 + by anaerobic incubation, respectively. The results reveal that 40 years after change from rice paddy to orchard and wetland, the SOC and TN contents in the top-layer were not significantly altered. However, in buckwheat upland fields and in the parking area where vegetation was absent, the SOC content decreased significantly. Conversion of rice paddies to amur silver grass wetland altered the soil δ13C the most, leading to an increase of 5.1‰ and 2.9‰ for the top – and sub-layers, respectively. In general, the incubation experiment results revealed that a change to orchard and wetland did not significantly decrease the Dec-C and Net Min-N. Whereas, the change from rice paddies to parking area significantly decreased the Dec-C and Net Min-N in both aerobic and anaerobic conditions. We conclude that LUMC over decades had various effects on the SOC and TN contents and stocks as well as their mineralization potentials.

Miscanthus bioprocessing using HNO3-pretreatment to improve productivity and quality of bioethanol and downstream ethylene

Miscanthus, which can grow on marginal lands and capture CO2, has great potential as an industrial crop. A complete cycle to convert Miscanthus sacchariflorus, grown in Western Siberia (Russia), into bioethanol has successfully been implemented on a pilot scale and employed in downstream ethylene production for the first time. The Miscanthus bioprocessing technology involved mechanical comminution; HNO3-pretreatment; hydrolysis with commercial enzyme preparations CelloLux-A and BrewZyme BGX with cellulase–glucanase–xylanase action; pre-saccharification with substrate feed; simultaneous saccharification and fermentation with delayed inoculation (dSSF) with non-GMO Saccharomyces cerevisiae Y-1693 supplemented with or without (NH4)2SO4, KH2PO4 and yeast extract; rectification; and alumina-catalyzed dehydration to ethylene. Here we discussed pulp reactivity, yield and composition of Miscanthus products at each step (including ethylene), and compared the quality of the bioethanol obtained in the study with published data. The pulp feeding from 80 to 100 g/L resulted in a bioethanol concentration of ~40 g/L. It is the HNO3 pretreatment that provided pure bioethanol with an impurity content as low as 6.5 g/L. Bioethanol (92%-w) contained ~0.85 g/L impurities, mainly n-propanol and isobutanol; the latter weakly influenced the catalyst activity in ethylene production. The supplement slightly increased the yields of bioethanol and fusel alcohols, thereby reduced the yield of byproducts and improved the ethylene quality. The achieved yields of bioethanol and ethylene were 260 L/ton and 115 kg/ton Miscanthus, respectively. The expected yield of absolute ethylene under pilot-scale conditions can be 122 kg/ton Miscanthus.

Methods of Increasing Miscanthus Biomass Yield for Biofuel Production

The lignocellulosic perennial crop miscanthus, especially Miscanthus × giganteus, is particularly interesting for bioenergy production as it combines high biomass production with low environmental impact. However, there are several varieties that pose a hazard due to susceptibility to disease. This review contains links showing genotype and ecological variability of important characteristics related to yield and biomass composition of miscanthus that may be useful in plant breeding programs to increase bioenergy production. Some clones of Miscanthus × giganteus and Miscanthus sinensis are particularly interesting due to their high biomass production per hectare. Although the compositional requirements for industrial biomass have not been fully defined for the various bioenergy conversion processes, the lignin-rich species Miscanthus × giganteus and Miscanthus sacchariflorus seem to be more suitable for thermochemical conversion processes. At the same time, the species Miscanthus sinensis and some clones of Miscanthus × giganteus with low lignin content are of interest for the biochemical transformation process. The species Miscanthus sacchariflorus is suitable for various bioenergy conversion processes due to its low ash content, so this species is also interesting as a pioneer in breeding programs. Mature miscanthus crops harvested in winter are favored by industrial enterprises to improve efficiency and reduce processing costs. This study can be attributed to other monocotyledonous plants and perennial crops that can be used as feedstock for biofuels.

Sewage sludge, digestate, and mineral fertilizer application affects the yield and energy balance of Amur silvergrass

Sewage sludge and digestate can be applied as fertilizers to reduce the use of mineral fertilizers and reliance on non-renewable resources in their production. A field experiment was conducted in north-eastern Poland (2016–2018) to evaluate the biomass yield and the energy efficiency ratio (EE) of Amur silvergrass [Miscanthus sacchariflorus (Maxim.) Hack] in production technologies that differed in the form and rate of nitrogen fertilization: (i) unfertilized control; (ii) 100 kg N ha−1 applied as mineral fertilizer; (iii) 100 kg N ha−1 applied as sewage sludge; (iv) 100 kg N ha−1 applied as digestate; (v) 160 kg N ha−1 applied as mineral fertilizer; (vi) 160 kg N ha−1 applied as sewage sludge; (vii) 160 kg N ha−1 applied as digestate. The application of 100 kg N ha−1 increased dry matter yield (DMY) by 15% relative to the control treatment (8.5 vs. 9.7–9.8 Mg ha−1). An increase in the nitrogen rate to 160 kg N ha−1 did not increase biomass yields. The yield-forming effects of digestate and sewage sludge were comparable with those exerted by mineral fertilizers. The energy inputs (EI) in the production technology involving mineral fertilizers ranged from 16.3 (100 kg N ha−1) to 20.9 GJ ha−1 (160 kg N ha−1). Organic wastes decreased EI in the production of Amur silvergrass by 34–40% (sewage sludge) and 41–48% (digestate). Energy output (EO) peaked when M. sacchariflorus was supplied with 100 kg N ha−1, regardless of fertilizer type. Energy gain (EG) was highest (131 GJ ha−1 y−1) when Amur silvergrass was fertilized with digestate at a rate equivalent to 160 kg N ha−1. Nitrogen fertilization decreased the EE of biomass production by 25–32% (sewage sludge and digestate) to 54–65% (mineral fertilizer). The EE was highest in the production technology involving digestate (13.2–14.4), followed by sewage sludge (11.4–13.0), and it was lowest under the influence of mineral fertilizers (6.7–8.8).

Prospects and methods of polyploid selection of new high-yielding miscanthus clones in the natural climatic conditions of Ukraine

Goal. Expanding the breeding trait collection of breeding genotypes of the genus Miscanthus (Anderson) and the genetic basis for new allotriploid clones by transferring components for hybridization of natural wild species Miscanthus sinensis and Miscanthus sacchariflorus to the tetraploid level.
 Methods. Cytological, biotechnological, fluorescent cytphotometry, field, laboratory.
 Results. The efficiency of polyploidisation for induction of new tetraploid forms of miscanthus in liquid nutrient media supplemented with colchicine (0.05% mass) and for stabilization of myxoploid shoots (0.005% mass) for 6 h of cultivation is examined. The period of exposure for Miscanthus sinensis (2x=2x= 38) and Miscanthus sacchariflorus (2x = 2x = 38) varied from 2 hours to 3 days depending on the genetic origin of the material, with transfer to a hormonal environment. The best indicators of tetraploid induction for Miscanthus sinensis were observed for the exposure period of 2 days with polyploidization efficiency (Db%) of 31.25% and 21.42%, and for Miscanthus sacchariflorus 2 and 6 hours with 35.0% and 27.3%, respectively. The technology of transfering rooted shoots into the soil on the Yaltushkiv Eperimental Breeding Farm was improved and the composition of the soil mixture that provided 99% rooting of culture seedlings at a humidity of 60−70% and air temperature of 35−55°С was found.
 Conclusions. New biotechnological tetraploid lines of Miscanthus sinensis (2xn=4x=76) and Miscanthus sacchariflorus (2xn=4x=76) were created in the conditions of liquid nutrient media supplemented with colchicine (0.05 % mass). It is investigated that flowering of new tetraploid clones in the conditions of Ukraine for the second year of vegetation occurs from late September to early October with formation of fertile pollen grains.

Biomass Potential of the Marginal Land of the Polish Sudetes Mountain Range

Marginal land is the area remaining in agricultural use, which is not suitable for food production because of its unfavorable ecological, anthropological, and economic conditions. A certain amount of such land exists in mountainous areas. An analysis was undertaken on the example of the Polish Sudeten mountain range of energy use. The study aimed to estimate the biomass potential for the efficient use of agricultural land in mountain areas. The characteristics of the Polish Sudeten Mountains mountain range were characterized using Geographic Information System (GIS) methods. The Polish Sudeten Mountains covers an area of 370,392 ha, 95,341 ha of which is arable land, 35,726 ha of which is class 5 bonitation land with a northern exposure of 19,030 ha and southern exposure of 16,696 ha. Depending on the sowing structure, we can obtain 331,639 tons/year of dry biomass (Miscanthus sacchariflorus on the southern and Helianthus tuberoses on northern exposure). Fertilization levels will significantly affect low yielding plants, and water stress significantly reduced yields in all cases. Due to the steep slope of the 5th-grade halves and intensive rainfall in the mountain region, the establishment of perennial plantations is recommended. The research shows that after the first year of cultivation, yields of 9.27 tons/ha of dry matter can be obtained with a low yield of trees, shrubs and perennials.