Impacts of Improved Switchgrass and Big Bluestem Selections on Yield, Morphological Characteristics, and Biomass Quality

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) and big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii V.) are promising warm-season grasses for biomass production. Understanding the morphological and quality-related traits of these grasses can guide breeders in developing strategies to improve yield and quality for bioindustrial...

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Main Authors: Erik Delaquis, Roger Samson, Philippe Seguin, Arif Mustafa, Huguette Martel
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2014-01-01
Series:Advances in Agriculture
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/192824
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author Erik Delaquis
Roger Samson
Philippe Seguin
Arif Mustafa
Huguette Martel
author_facet Erik Delaquis
Roger Samson
Philippe Seguin
Arif Mustafa
Huguette Martel
author_sort Erik Delaquis
collection DOAJ
description Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) and big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii V.) are promising warm-season grasses for biomass production. Understanding the morphological and quality-related traits of these grasses can guide breeders in developing strategies to improve yield and quality for bioindustrial applications. Elite selections were made in Southern Quebec from four promising varieties of switchgrass and one of big bluestem. Biomass yield, morphological characteristics, and selected quality traits were evaluated at two sites in 2011 and 2012. Significant variation was detected for all measured characteristics, with differences varying by site and year. In some cases the selection process modified characteristics including increasing height and reducing tiller mortality. Switchgrasses reached a similar tiller equilibrium density in both years of 690 m−2 and 379 m−2 at a productive and marginal site, respectively. Differences in yield were pronounced at the marginal site, with some advanced selections having a higher yield than their parent varieties. Switchgrass yields were generally greater than those of big bluestem. A delayed spring harvest date greatly reduced yield but reduced moisture content and slightly increased cellulose concentration. Big bluestem had a higher cellulose content than switchgrass, likely due to greater stem content.
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spelling doaj-art-a60692e6b9bd426fb184af583fae54602025-02-03T05:47:41ZengWileyAdvances in Agriculture2356-654X2314-75392014-01-01201410.1155/2014/192824192824Impacts of Improved Switchgrass and Big Bluestem Selections on Yield, Morphological Characteristics, and Biomass QualityErik Delaquis0Roger Samson1Philippe Seguin2Arif Mustafa3Huguette Martel4Department of Plant Science, McGill University, Macdonald Campus, 21111 Lakeshore Road, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC, H9X 3V9, CanadaREAP Canada, 21111 Lakeshore Road, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC, H9X 3V9, CanadaDepartment of Plant Science, McGill University, Macdonald Campus, 21111 Lakeshore Road, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC, H9X 3V9, CanadaDepartment of Animal Science, McGill University, Macdonald Campus, 21111 Lakeshore Road, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC, H9X 3V9, CanadaMAPAQ, Direction Régionale de l’Estrie, Sherbrooke, QC, J1N 2A5, CanadaSwitchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) and big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii V.) are promising warm-season grasses for biomass production. Understanding the morphological and quality-related traits of these grasses can guide breeders in developing strategies to improve yield and quality for bioindustrial applications. Elite selections were made in Southern Quebec from four promising varieties of switchgrass and one of big bluestem. Biomass yield, morphological characteristics, and selected quality traits were evaluated at two sites in 2011 and 2012. Significant variation was detected for all measured characteristics, with differences varying by site and year. In some cases the selection process modified characteristics including increasing height and reducing tiller mortality. Switchgrasses reached a similar tiller equilibrium density in both years of 690 m−2 and 379 m−2 at a productive and marginal site, respectively. Differences in yield were pronounced at the marginal site, with some advanced selections having a higher yield than their parent varieties. Switchgrass yields were generally greater than those of big bluestem. A delayed spring harvest date greatly reduced yield but reduced moisture content and slightly increased cellulose concentration. Big bluestem had a higher cellulose content than switchgrass, likely due to greater stem content.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/192824
spellingShingle Erik Delaquis
Roger Samson
Philippe Seguin
Arif Mustafa
Huguette Martel
Impacts of Improved Switchgrass and Big Bluestem Selections on Yield, Morphological Characteristics, and Biomass Quality
Advances in Agriculture
title Impacts of Improved Switchgrass and Big Bluestem Selections on Yield, Morphological Characteristics, and Biomass Quality
title_full Impacts of Improved Switchgrass and Big Bluestem Selections on Yield, Morphological Characteristics, and Biomass Quality
title_fullStr Impacts of Improved Switchgrass and Big Bluestem Selections on Yield, Morphological Characteristics, and Biomass Quality
title_full_unstemmed Impacts of Improved Switchgrass and Big Bluestem Selections on Yield, Morphological Characteristics, and Biomass Quality
title_short Impacts of Improved Switchgrass and Big Bluestem Selections on Yield, Morphological Characteristics, and Biomass Quality
title_sort impacts of improved switchgrass and big bluestem selections on yield morphological characteristics and biomass quality
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/192824
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