The Science
Bioenergy crops like switchgrass can pull carbon dioxide from the air and store it in soil while also providing a source of sustainable fuel. But gains in productivity are needed in order to be commercially viable. So researchers combined genetic data with field measurements taken at 10 sites across the central United States to show how large field experiments can be used to improve production.
The Impact
Plans to slow climate change call for increased use of sustainable plant-based fuels and chemicals to replace fossil fuels and petrochemicals, especially in sectors like aviation where electric motors are impractical. Switchgrass and other energy crops can be grown in large parts of the United States on land that isn't good for growing food crops and can be used to make biofuels. This study will directly impact switchgrass productivity by identifying ideal strains for cross breeding.
Summary
This study reports an analysis of a large set of field experiments with a switchgrass diversity panel planted at sites from South Texas to South Dakota. Researchers with the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and other partners, conducted modeling that combined genome sequencing data with trait measurements in the field to predict the performance of different switchgrass genotypes across geographic space.
Through these analyses, the researchers found that using traits, such as height and flowering time, at just a few sites could accurately predict general plant productivity. Results will now be used to predict which switchgrass genotypes to select for future breeding efforts to develop new high-yielding cultivars for different regions of the United States.