1. Biochemical Characterization of Cuticular Wax Variants in Switchgrass (Panicum Virgatum L.)
- Author
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Jenks, Matthew A., Kubota, Chieri, Ottman, Mike, Weaver, Joshua Micheal, Jenks, Matthew A., Kubota, Chieri, Ottman, Mike, and Weaver, Joshua Micheal
- Abstract
Taxonomic distinction of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) as Lowland (L-) or Upland (U-) ecotypes is made in reference of their distinct morphology, regions of adaptation and ploidy level. Widely adapted to southern latitudes, below 45°N, of the United States, L- ecotypes possess a number of favorable agronomic traits, including resistance to flooding, high yield, tall stems, thick stems, delayed anthesis and pathogen resistance, which are generally considered more useful as an herbaceous bioenergy crop. The overall objective of this research was the identification, propagation and characterization of natural variants in L- switchgrass cv. Alamo plants possessing valuable agronomically important traits. Our experiments focused on the identification and characterization of traits including self-fertility/apomixis and cuticle wax formation. In the present study, we attempted to introduce variation by creating a population of 1,849 M1 plants. We observed sectored leaves on a number of M1 plants indicating that the mutagenesis treatment was successful. While several plants were identified in the first generation that set more seeds after bagging individual plants, they were not confirmed in the second year and the screen for self-fertility/apomixis was deemed unsuccessful. We turned our attention to the natural variation that existed in this population of plants. In scoring these plants in the field during development, we identified plants that had 1) more or fewer tillers, 2) narrow or wide leaves, 3) shorter or taller tillers, 4) thicker tillers, 5) variegation and 6) plants with altered amounts of visual glaucousness. Plants having changes in visible glaucousness (Non-Glaucous (NG), Reduced Glaucous (RG) and Highly Glaucous (HG)) that differed from Standard Type (ST) became the focus of this study. To propagate a larger number of each variant plant for subsequent testing, we developed a custom Deep Flow Technique “DFT” style raft-type hydroponics system for the noda
- Published
- 2018