Chilling and frost tolerance in Miscanthus and Saccharum genotypes bred for cool temperate climates

Abstract

SummaryTriploid Miscanthus hybrids have superior chilling tolerance across Miscanthus and Saccharum genotypes bred for cool temperate climates.

Chilling tolerance and early vigour-related characteristics evaluated in two Miscanthus genotypes

“…These findings contrast with our study, where Giganteus showed lower F v /F m but also higher growth and photosynthesis than Goliath under chilling stress. Similarly, Friesen et al (2014) and Głowacka et al (2015) measured F v /F m on several Miscanthus genotypes after cold stress in the field. As expected, values tended to be lower in more coldsensitive genotypes, but in both studies, the genotypes were identified with relatively high F v /F m values and relatively low CO 2 -assimilation rates.…”

“…For example, Dohleman and Long (2009) concluded that M. × giganteus produces 59% more biomass than maize in the American Midwest because its growing season is ---substantially longer and it thus absorbs more radiation. Miscanthus can grow at lower temperatures than most other C 4 crops (Farage et al 2006, Friesen et al 2014, Głowacka et al 2014 and it is able to actively assimilate carbon at temperatures well below those tolerated by most other C 4 species (Long and Spence 2013). For example, the base temperatures for shoot emergence as determined by Farrell et al (2006) on four Miscanthus genotypes ranged between 6.0 and 8.…”

“…In temperate and continental climates, a critical aspect to achieve a long growing season is early emergence combined with good chilling tolerance and early vigour. Several studies have investigated the genotypic variation available for chilling tolerance in the genus Miscanthus on the basis of growth rates (Clifton-Brown and Jones 1997, Farrell et al 2006, Purdy et al 2013, Głowacka et al 2014, photosynthesisrelated characteristics (Purdy et al 2013, Friesen et al 2014, Głowacka et al 2014, and/or soluble sugar contents (Purdy et al 2013). With the exception of the study of Yan et al (2011), who analysed plant growth in field trials at different locations, most studies have mainly focused on the comparison of plants grown at optimal conditions with plants at low temperatures in controlled environments.…”

“…This ambiguity migth explain some of the apparent contradictory conclusions about the chilling tolerance of M. x giganteus in literature, as the link between field performance of a particular genotype and physiological aspects that might be responsible for chilling tolerance has rarely been explored using the same source material. Notable exceptions are the studies by Friesen et al (2014) and Głowacka et al (2015), who compared photosynthesis under a controlled environment with measurements of the quantum efficiency of PSII (F v /F m ) of clonal replicates in the field, but only with a rather limited set of field measurements. In the experiments presented here, we used clonal replicates of two high yielding Miscanthus genotypes to deepen our understanding of the relationship between chilling tolerance characteristics and biomass accumulation in the field.…”

Ecological characteristics andin situgenetic associations for yield-component traits of wildMiscanthusfrom eastern Russia

“…data). Several studies have also shown that, although M. Âgiganteus '1993-1780' has higher growth and photosynthesis at temperatures below 14 C than other species in the tribe Andropogoneae, there is variation for these traits among and within Miscanthus species (Purdy et al, 2013;Friesen et al, 2014;Głowacka et al, 2014). Thus, a major goal of Miscanthus breeding is the production of biomass cultivars with improved cold hardiness and chillingtolerant photosynthesis.…”