Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) is typically slow and difficult to establish. Field experiments evaluated switchgrass establishment and the response of warm-season grass weeds (large crabgrass [Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop.], broadleaf signalgrass [Urochloa platyphylla (Munro ex C. Wright) r.D. Webster], Johnsongrass [Sorghum halepense (L.) pers.], and Texas panicum [Urochloa texana (Buckl...

BACKGROUND Switchgrass is C4 perennial grass species that is being developed as a cellulosic bioenergy feedstock. It is wind-pollinated and considered to be an obligate outcrosser. Genetic engineering has been used to alter cell walls for more facile bioprocessing and biofuel yield. Gene flow from transgenic cultivars would likely be of regulatory concern. In this study we investigated pollen-m...

A linear knife grid device was developed for first-stage size reduction of high- and low-moisture switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.), a tough, fibrous perennial grass being considered as a feedstock for bioenergy. The size reduction is by a shearing action accomplished by forcing a thick packed bed of biomass against a grid of sharp knives. The system is used commercially for slicing forages for...

Background Genetic engineering has been effective in altering cell walls for biofuel production in the bioenergy crop, switchgrass (Panicum virgatum). However, regulatory issues arising from gene flow may prevent commercialization of engineered switchgrass in the eastern United States where the species is native. Depending on its expression level, microRNA156 (miR156) can reduce, delay, or elim...

BACKGROUND Feedstock recalcitrance is the most important barrier impeding cost-effective production of cellulosic biofuels. Pioneer commercial cellulosic ethanol facilities employ thermochemical pretreatment and addition of fungal cellulase, reflecting the main research emphasis in the field. However, it has been suggested that it may be possible to process cellulosic biomass without thermochem...

Goal. To determine the productivity of switchgrass as a raw material for production solid types fuel when it is grown on slopes with different row widths. Methods. Field — to find out effect width spacing switchgrass; laboratory content dry matter; statistical assess reliability obtained results; comparative-calculation energy efficiency. Results. Phenological observations conducted during grow...

Abstract Switchgrass ( Panicum virgatum L.) is a promising candidate species for sustainable biofuel feedstock production on marginal land. Soil salinity one of the significant factors that limits agricultural worldwide including substantial reduction in biomass yield switchgrass. This study was designed to assess genetic variation lowland switchgrass and identify genomic regions contributing a...

In the first part of the thesis, chemical analyses were conducted for four populations of switchgrass, SW1-SW8. Each population consisted of 69% leaves, 27% internodes, and 4% nodes. The variations in carbohydrates, lignin, extractives content, Higher Heating Value (HHV), and syringyl:guaiacyl (S:G) ratio were determined among the populations and the morphological portions. The experimental res...

Switchgrass is a large, North American, perennial grass that is being evaluated as a potential energy crop. There is a need to assess genetic diversity in stored accessions and in remaining native stands to assist breeding and conservation efforts. Marker development will also be necessary for genetic linkage mapping. Toward this end, 32 switchgrass genic di-, triand tetranucleotide repeat micr...