327-4 Interspecific Hybridization Between Elephantgrass and Pearl Millet and Selection of Hybrids With High-Biomass Production and Enhanced Biosafety.

Poster Number 815

See more from this Division: ASA Section: Agronomic Production Systems
See more from this Session: General Bioenergy Systems: II

Wednesday, November 6, 2013
Tampa Convention Center, East Exhibit Hall

Baskaran Kannan, Agronomy Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, Elide Valencia, Agronomy Department, University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez, Mayaguez, PR and Fredy Altpeter, Agronomy Department, Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, Genetics Institute, University of Florida - IFAS, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Poster Presentation
  • ASA Elephantgrass_PMN hybrids_2013_Baskaran_103013.pdf (2.1 MB)
  • Abstract:
    Elephantgrass (Pennisetum purpureum) is one of the best adapted, warm season perennial grasses for subtropical and tropical regions of the world. It is a C4 monocot and has the ability to produce large amounts of biomass. The biofuels industry has identified elephantgrass as one of the most productive feedstocks for lignocellulosic biofuel production in the southern US. However, elephantgrass is listed as invasive in Florida by the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council. Plant propagation and establishment of new elephantgrass plantings occur through vegetative plant parts. Therefore, unlike most seeded crops, seed production is not necessary for elephantgrass biomass production and its suppression will significantly reduce its potential for invasiveness. Interspecific hybridizations between elephantgrass (2n=4x=28) and pearl millet (2n=2x=14) results in genotypes that display male and/or female sterility due to their triploid (2n=3x=21) nature. We produced more than 3000 triploid, interspecific hybrids between elephantgrass and pearl millet. Phenotypic variability present in these hybrids allowed selecting lines which produced similar or higher biomass amounts as the seed producing elephantgrass cultivar Merkeron. We will present data describing the biomass yield and the sterility of interspecific hybrids evaluated in replicated field trials.

    See more from this Division: ASA Section: Agronomic Production Systems
    See more from this Session: General Bioenergy Systems: II