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Title: Can chilling tolerance of C4 photosynthesis in Miscanthus be transferred to sugarcane?

Author
item GLOWACKA, KATARZYNA - University Of Illinois
item AHMED, AASIFUDDIN - University Of Illinois
item SHARMA, SHAILENDRA - University Of Illinois
item Abbott, Thomas
item Comstock, Jack
item LONG, STEPHEN - University Of Illinois
item SACKS, ERIK - University Of Illinois

Submitted to: Global Change Biology Bioenergy
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/29/2015
Publication Date: 7/29/2016
Citation: Glowacka, K., Ahmed, A., Sharma, S., Abbott, T.E., Comstock, J.C., Long, S.P., Sacks, E.J. 2016. Can chilling tolerance of C4 photosynthesis in Miscanthus be transferred to sugarcane?. Global Change Biology Bioenergy. 8:407-418

Interpretive Summary: The data clearly demonstrates that chilling tolerance of Miscanthus was transferred to some progeny of sugarcane and Miscanthus as determined by growth and efficiency of photosystem II. Incorporation of Miscanthus germplasm into sugarcane may help extend the range in which sugarcane can be grown in the United States. Furthermore, crossing sugarcane and Miscanthus spp. may help develop bioenergy crops as well.

Technical Abstract: The goal of this study was to investigate if chilling tolerance of C4 photosynthesis in Miscanthus can be transferred to sugarcane. Net leaf CO2 uptake (Asat) and the maximum operating efficiency of photosystem II ('PSII) were measured in warm conditions (25 °C/20 °C), and then during and following a chilling treatment of 10 °C/5 °C for 11 d in controlled environment chambers. Two out of three tested miscanes, ‘US 84-1058’ and ‘US 87-1019’, did not differ significantly from the chilling-tolerant M. ×giganteus ‘Illinois’ (Mxg), for Asat, and FPSII measured during chilling. For Mxg grown at 10 °C/5 °C for 11 days, Asat was 4.36 µmol m-2 s-1, while for miscane ‘US 84-1058’ and ‘US 87-1019’, Asat was 5.65 and 3.53 µmol m-2 s-1, respectively. These two miscanes acclimatized well to chilling, and they also quickly recovered gas exchange parameters after transfer back to 25 °C, indicating that they were undamaged by the cold treatment. In comparison to its sugarcane parent, miscane ‘US 87-1019’ had no significant differences in Asat and 'PSII when grown at warm temperature but had significantly higher leaf photosynthetic gas exchange on the 11th day of chilling treatment. Chilling tolerance of ‘US 84-1058’ was further confirmed under autumn field conditions in southern Illinois. The selected chilling tolerant miscanes have particular value for biomass feedstock and biofuel production and at the same time they can be a starting point for extending sugarcane’s range north of current production regions.