Publication Date
1989
Description
INTRODUCTION Several herbaceous species have shown promise as feedstocks for energy production. The University of Florida/Gas Research Institute co-funded program has tested herbaceous species since 1981. Tall grasses such as corn (Zea mays L.), sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench.], napiergrass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum.), and sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) are among the most efficient plants in converting solar energy to biomass (Schank, 1987). All have shown promise as feedstocks for energy production with average annual yields of 20 to 40 metric tons/ha (Prine et al., 1988). However, napiergrass has been selected as having the greatest potential in Florida with dry matter yields over a five year period, of 35.8 metric tons/ha. In addition, hybrids of pearl millet and napiergrass have also performed very well in Florida (Schank and Dunavin, 1988). The genetic improvement of Pennisetum has involved the interspecific hybridization of napiergrass with pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) which allows the genes of napiergrass to be expressed (Muldoon and Pearson, 1979). A major problem with the hybrid plants is the unbalanced chromosome number (triploidy) and sexual sterility. This necessitates the vegetative propagation of the triploid Fl hybrids. The triploid nature of these hybrids permits restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) genetic markers of napiergrass to be expressed and linkage mapped directly in spite of the complexities of the napiergrass genome (Chowdhury and Smith, 1988; Smith et al., 1989). The purpose of this research is to evaluate Pennisetum introductions, breeding lines and hybrids, 1) for plant morphological and composition traits that improve biomass yield and bioconversion to methane, 2) for traits that improve propagation efficiency, and 3) to develop methods utilizing RFLPs to measure genetic variability and assist in breeding efficiency.
Citation
Schank, S C.; Smith, R L.; and Russo, Sandra, "Characterization of Genetic Variability Among Accessions and Crosses of Napiergrass, Pennisteum purpureum" (2025). IGC Proceedings (1989-2023). 22.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1989/session3b/22
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Characterization of Genetic Variability Among Accessions and Crosses of Napiergrass, Pennisteum purpureum
INTRODUCTION Several herbaceous species have shown promise as feedstocks for energy production. The University of Florida/Gas Research Institute co-funded program has tested herbaceous species since 1981. Tall grasses such as corn (Zea mays L.), sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench.], napiergrass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum.), and sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) are among the most efficient plants in converting solar energy to biomass (Schank, 1987). All have shown promise as feedstocks for energy production with average annual yields of 20 to 40 metric tons/ha (Prine et al., 1988). However, napiergrass has been selected as having the greatest potential in Florida with dry matter yields over a five year period, of 35.8 metric tons/ha. In addition, hybrids of pearl millet and napiergrass have also performed very well in Florida (Schank and Dunavin, 1988). The genetic improvement of Pennisetum has involved the interspecific hybridization of napiergrass with pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) which allows the genes of napiergrass to be expressed (Muldoon and Pearson, 1979). A major problem with the hybrid plants is the unbalanced chromosome number (triploidy) and sexual sterility. This necessitates the vegetative propagation of the triploid Fl hybrids. The triploid nature of these hybrids permits restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) genetic markers of napiergrass to be expressed and linkage mapped directly in spite of the complexities of the napiergrass genome (Chowdhury and Smith, 1988; Smith et al., 1989). The purpose of this research is to evaluate Pennisetum introductions, breeding lines and hybrids, 1) for plant morphological and composition traits that improve biomass yield and bioconversion to methane, 2) for traits that improve propagation efficiency, and 3) to develop methods utilizing RFLPs to measure genetic variability and assist in breeding efficiency.
