Project Details
Description
A PhD is available in collaboration with Ceres Inc. The Bioenergy Crop Company to develop high impact seed-based propagation in the bioenergy crop Miscanthus.
Miscanthus is a perennial crop that has a number of characteristics that make it an excellent sustainable source of bioenergy. Miscanthus grows well in temperate regions but the major block to rapid uptake is the time and expense required to generate rhizome for crop establishment. We have demonstrated useful variation in seed germination in Miscanthus and the potential impact this may have in establishing the crop (Clifton-Brown et al., 2011). This project will extend this work to develop effective seed-based propagation in collaboration with our industrial partner Ceres Inc.
At IBERS we have a dynamic team developing a new crop species, in an area of global significance. The PhD would be part of a multidisciplinary team studying different aspects of bioenergy crop production including next generation genotyping, physiology, yield, crop quality, conversion technologies and biorefining and would be one of several studies focussed on propagation in Miscanthus (website: http://www.aber.ac.uk/en/ibers/research/bec/energy_crop_biology/).
The study will focus on several areas of research including 1. Determine variation and heritability of the germination phenotype in Miscanthus: Controlled environment and field studies will establish the factors limiting germination in Miscanthus. 2. Establish a field protocol to improve germination of Miscanthus seed. New approaches to seed-based field establishment will be tested including seed coating. 3. Model the application of new propagation technologies. The impact of seed-based propagation on crop establishment will be determined and models will be used to test the broader impacts of the technologies developed.
Outcomes and Impact: We will improve our knowledge of germination in this crop and develop new propagation technologies allowing low energy, low cost propagation of Miscanthus which will facilitate the rapid uptake and deployment of this crop.
Miscanthus is a perennial crop that has a number of characteristics that make it an excellent sustainable source of bioenergy. Miscanthus grows well in temperate regions but the major block to rapid uptake is the time and expense required to generate rhizome for crop establishment. We have demonstrated useful variation in seed germination in Miscanthus and the potential impact this may have in establishing the crop (Clifton-Brown et al., 2011). This project will extend this work to develop effective seed-based propagation in collaboration with our industrial partner Ceres Inc.
At IBERS we have a dynamic team developing a new crop species, in an area of global significance. The PhD would be part of a multidisciplinary team studying different aspects of bioenergy crop production including next generation genotyping, physiology, yield, crop quality, conversion technologies and biorefining and would be one of several studies focussed on propagation in Miscanthus (website: http://www.aber.ac.uk/en/ibers/research/bec/energy_crop_biology/).
The study will focus on several areas of research including 1. Determine variation and heritability of the germination phenotype in Miscanthus: Controlled environment and field studies will establish the factors limiting germination in Miscanthus. 2. Establish a field protocol to improve germination of Miscanthus seed. New approaches to seed-based field establishment will be tested including seed coating. 3. Model the application of new propagation technologies. The impact of seed-based propagation on crop establishment will be determined and models will be used to test the broader impacts of the technologies developed.
Outcomes and Impact: We will improve our knowledge of germination in this crop and develop new propagation technologies allowing low energy, low cost propagation of Miscanthus which will facilitate the rapid uptake and deployment of this crop.
| Status | Finished |
|---|---|
| Effective start/end date | 28 Jan 2013 → 31 Jan 2017 |
Collaborative partners
- Aberystwyth University (lead)
- Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This project contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy -
SDG 15 Life on Land
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Research output
- 2 Article
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Using k-NN to analyse images of diverse germination phenotypes and detect single seed germination in Miscanthus sinensis
Awty-Carroll, D., Clifton-Brown, J. & Robson, P., 17 Jan 2018, In: Plant Methods. 14, 7 p., 5.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile22 Citations (Scopus)285 Downloads (Pure) -
Progress in upscaling Miscanthus biomass production for the European bio-economy with seed-based hybrids
Clifton-Brown, J., Hastings, A., Mos, M., McCalmont, J., Ashman, C., Awty-Carroll, D., Cerazy, J., Chiang, Y.-C., Cosentino, S., Cracroft-Eley, W., Scurlock, J., Donnison, I., Glover, C., Golab, I., Greef, J., Gwyn, J., Harding, G., Hayes, C., Helios, W. & Hsu, T. W. & 36 others, , 01 Jan 2017, In: GCB Bioenergy. 9, 1, p. 6-17Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile184 Citations (Scopus)331 Downloads (Pure)