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This study compares photosynthesis, growth, 13C and 15N labelling patterns of two biomass crops (Arundo donax L. and Panicum virgatum L.) grown under water stress in greenhouse conditions. Plants were exposed to three water stress levels: control (C, 100% Pot Capacity), mild stress (MS, 50% PC) and severe stress (SS, 25% PC). Photosynthesis, fluorescence parameters and relative water content were measured at the beginning (Ti) and the end of the experiment (Tf). Biomass parameters were measured at Tf. Short-term double labelling with 13C and 15N stable isotopes was performed in both species. Isotopic analyses of total organic matter, total soluble sugars and the CO2 respired were undertaken at T0 (prelabelling), T1 (24h after labelling) and T2 (7 days after labelling). Immediately after the 13C and 15N labelling, stems and rhizomes seemed to be the main sinks for labelled carbon and nitrogen in both species. Moreover, not all of the labelled carbon and nitrogen substrate was used by plant metabolism after seven days. Decreases in photosynthesis parameters were observed as a consequence of the increase in water stress (WS) in both species, with a greater magnitude decline in giant reed than in switchgrass. A decrease in height, number of green leaves and total dry weight due to WS was observed in both species. Both species were more 13C-enriched and more 15N-depleted during the increases in WS due to lower stomatal conductance and transpiration. In general, WS accelerated plant phenology and, consequently, the accumulation of storage compounds in the rhizome occurred in response to stress. This effect was more clearly visible in switchgrass than in giant reed, Objectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::12 - Producció i Consum Responsables, Objectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::13 - Acció per al Clima, Postprint (published version)

Purpose. To define morphological peculiarities of the different types of shoots of switch grass (Panicum virgatum L.) in the context of introduction in the Right-Bank Forest-Steppe and Polissia zones of Ukraine.Methods. Morpho-physiological and ontogenetic analysis, morphometric technique, statistical evaluation.Results. It was found that P. virgatum plants were producing the following types of shoots: vegetative-generative short or long rhizomatous ones (they appeared as in the underground part of a maternal shoot in «the area of shortened internodes» and in the base of its aboveground part); vegetative underground and aboveground ones (they are forming both in the axils of scales of the underground part of a maternal shoot and in the axils of cauline leaves); generative aboveground shoots (borne in the axil of cauline leaves). Morphological parameters and features of morphogenesis of reproduction, resting and secondary buds have been described.Conclusions. During flowering phase of maternal shoot, P. virgatum reproduction buds were on the organogenesis phase I–II, their bursting occured after maternal shoot has flowered. The correlation of internodes length, leave blades and sheaths has been established. The maximum values of the above parameters were observed in the middle part of the prefloral zone of the stem. In the context of introduction, panicle earing came in the third decade of July, flowering began in the first decade of August. It was revealed that complete flowers are bloomed faster than the staminate ones.

Switchgrass is one of the most promising energy crops and only recently has been employed for biofuel production. The draft genome of switchgrass was recently released; however, relatively few switchgrass genes have been functionally characterized. CENH3, the major histone protein found in centromeres, along with canonical H3 and other histones, plays an important role in maintaining genome stability and integrity. Despite their importance, the histone H3 genes of switchgrass have remained largely uninvestigated. In this study, we identified 17 putative switchgrass histone H3 genes in silico. Of these genes, 15 showed strong homology to histone H3 genes including six H3.1 genes, three H3.3 genes, four H3.3-like genes and two H3.1-like genes. The remaining two genes were found to be homologous to CENH3. RNA-seq data derived from lowland cultivar Alamo and upland cultivar Dacotah allowed us to identify SNPs in the histone H3 genes and compare their differential gene expression. Interestingly, we also found that overexpression of switchgrass histone H3 and CENH3 genes in N. benthamiana could trigger cell death of the transformed plant cells. Localization and deletion analyses of the histone H3 and CENH3 genes revealed that nuclear localization of the N-terminal tail is essential and sufficient for triggering the cell death phenotype. Our results deliver insight into the mechanisms underlying the histone-triggered cell death phenotype and provide a foundation for further studying the variations of the histone H3 and CENH3 genes in switchgrass.

Switchgrass intercropped with loblolly pine plantations can provide valuable feedstock for bioenergy production while providing ancillary benefits like controlling competing vegetation and enhancing soil C. Better understanding of the impact of intercropping on pine and switchgrass productivity is required for evaluating the long-term sustainability of this agroforestry system, along with the impacts on soil C dynamics (soil CO2 efflux; RS). RS is the result of root respiration (RA) and heterotrophic respiration (RH), which are used to estimate net C ecosystem exchange. We measured RS in intercropped and monoculture stands of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.). The root exclusion core technique was used to estimate RA and RH. The results showed pure switchgrass had significantly higher RS rates (July, August and September), root biomass and length relative to intercropped switchgrass, while there were no significant changes in RS and roots between intercropped and monoculture loblolly pine stands. A significant decrease in switchgrass root productivity in the intercropped stands versus monoculture stands could account for differences in the observed RS. The proportions of RS attributed to RA in the intercropped stand were 31% and 22% in the summer and fall respectively, indicating that the majority of the RS was heterotrophic-driven. Ancillary benefits provided by planting switchgrass between unutilized pine rows can be considered unless the goal is to increase switchgrass production.

This study is part of a larger collaborative effort to determine the overall environmental sustainability of intercropping pine (Pinus taeda L.) and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.), both of which are promising feedstock for bioenergy production in the Lower Coastal Plain in North Carolina. We measured soil CO₂ efflux (RS) every six weeks from January 2012 to March 2013 in four-year-old monoculture and intercropped stands of loblolly pine and switchgrass. RS is primarily the result of root respiration (RA) and microbial decomposition of organic matter (RH) releasing CO₂ as a by-product and is an important and large part of the global carbon (C) cycle. Accurate estimates of the two components of total soil respiration (RS) are required as they are functionally different processes and vary greatly spatially and temporally with species composition, temperature, moisture, productivity, and management activities. We quantified RA and RH components of RS by using a root exclusion core technique based on root carbohydrate depletion, which eliminates RA within the cores over time. We determined the relationship between RS, RA and RH measurements and roots collected from the cores. We took fresh soil cores in July 2012 to compare root productivity of loblolly pine and switchgrass in monoculture versus the co-culture. Additionally, CH₄ and N₂O fluxes were monitored quarterly using vented static chambers. Pure switchgrass had significantly higher RS rates (July, August, September), root biomass and root length in the top 0-35 cm relative to switchgrass in the co-culture, while loblolly pine with and without switchgrass had no significant changes in RS and roots. Correlations between RA and roots showed significantly positive correlation of RA to grass root biomass (r = 0.37, p ≤ 0.001), fine (r = 0.26, p ≤ 0.05) and medium root surface area (r = 0.20, p ≤ 0.1). The estimated portions of RS attributed to RA in the intercrop stand were 31% and 22% in the summer and fall, respec

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) is a candidate bioenergy crop. Somatic embryogenic (SE) calli are used for genetic transformation in switchgrass. A superior switchgrass line, HR8, was developed using recurrent tissue culture selection from cv. Alamo. HR8 SE calli were genetically transformable using Agrobacterium at an efficiency of ~12%. We used HR8 somatic embryogenic calli for genetic improvement of switchgrass. The lignin content of feedstock has been proposed as one key trait impacting biofuel production. 4-Coumarate: Coenzyme A ligase (4CL) is one of the key enzymes involved in the monolignol biosynthetic pathway. Two homologous 4CL genes, Pv4CL1 and Pv4CL2, were identified in switchgrass. Gene expression patterns and enzymatic activity assays suggested that Pv4CL1 is involved in monolignol biosynthesis. Stable transgenic plants were obtained with Pv4CL1 down-regulated. RNA interference of Pv4CL1 reduced extractable 4CL activity by 80%, leading to a reduction in lignin content with decreased guaiacyl unit composition. The transgenic plants had uncompromised biomass yield. After dilute acid pretreatment, the low lignin transgenic biomass had significantly increased cellulose hydrolysis (saccharification) efficiency for biofuel production. Erect leaf is a desirable trait to adjust the overall plant architecture to perceive more solar energy and thereby to increase the plant biomass production in a field population. We overexpressed an Arabidopsis NAC transcriptional factor gene, LONG VEGETATIVE PHASE ONE (AtLOV1), in switchgrass. Surprisingly, AtLOV1 induced smaller leaf angle by changing morphologies of epidermal cells in the leaf collar region, affecting lignin content and monolignol composition, and also causing delayed flowering time in switchgrass. Global gene-expression analysis of AtLOV1 transgenic plants demonstrated an array of genes has altered expressions. Potential downstream genes involved in the pleiotropic phenotypic traits of the transgenic pla

The purpose of this study was to determine seeding rates for establishing switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) and debearded big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii Vitman) when atrazine [6-chloro-N-ethyl-N-(1-methylethyl)-l,3,5-triazine-2,4-diamine] is used as a preemergence herbicide. The high seed cost of these grasses makes it uneconomical to use higher seeding rates than necessary. The study was conducted on four eastern Nebraska sites during the period 1981 to 1985. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with six replications. Treatments were grasses (big bluestem and switchgrass) and seeding rates [107, 215, 325, and 430 pure live seeds (PLS) m-2] in a factorial arrangement. Plots were seeded in late spring with a plot seeder with double disk openers on a clean, firm seedbed, and broadcast sprayed with 2.2 or 3.0 kg ha-1 atrazine the day after seeding. Stands and forage yields were measured the first (Year 1) and second year (Year 2) following establishment. The 107 PLS m-2 seeding rate resulted in thinner, but still acceptable, stands (10-20 plants m-2) than the higher seeding rates in Year 1 and at two of the sites in Year 2. The stands from the higher rates, in general, did not differ within a site and were good to excellent (>20 plants nv-2). The lowest seeding rate produced lower forage yields than the other rates in Year 1, but these differences were significant at only one site. There were no differences for Year 1 yield for the other rates or for Year 2 yields for all rates.