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Development of seed based new hybrids for Miscanthus
Project
Project code: JKI-PB-08-1278, 22016016
Contract period: 01.02.2019
- 01.01.2022
Purpose of research: Applied research
Keywords: miscanthus species, breeding, hybrid propagation
Through the development of improved populations and crosses between miscanthus species and subsequent selection, new high-yielding hybrids will be developed. The aim is to propagate the new lines through seed and thereby significantly reduce costs of establishment in comparison to rhizome planting. Low cost establishment of miscanthus reduces the risk for the farmer and is regarded as an essential contribution to extend the Miscanthus cultivation in the future. First, a population improvement is achieved by recurrent selection of different miscanthus species. Secondly, hybrid lines with a high biomass potential will be produced by pairwise crossing (hybrid crosses) of selected parent lines that are selected from the populations. In addition, seed yield and germination of the hybrid lines are tested. Both parameters are crucial for the cost-effectiveness of propagating miscanthus over seeds. Crossing work is carried out depending on the requirements of genotypes on temperature and day length in greenhouses or on propagation areas in the field. The outdoor crossings are carried out in Catania, Sicily, on a site maintained by the Universities of Aberystwyth and Catania, where all miscanthus species are flowering and developing seeds. The seeds are sown in greenhouses in Braunschweig and Aberystwyth and planted as pre-grown seedlings ('plugs') on the experimental site in Braunschweig. A comparison site will be established at the University of Aberystwyth. The plants of the populations are grown in so-called observation nurseries for single plant selection, while the hybrid lines are grown in yield plots with replicates.
Section overview
Subjects
- Plant Breeding
- Specialised crops