Can chilling tolerance of C4 photosynthesis in Miscanthus be transferred to sugarcane?

Authors

Katarzyna Glowacka, University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignFollow
Aasifuddin Ahmed, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Shailendra Sharma, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Tom Abbott, USDA, Agricultural Research Service
Jack C. Comstock, USDA, Agricultural Research Service
Stephen P. Long, University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignFollow
Erik J. Sacks, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Date of this Version

2016

Citation

GCB Bioenergy (2016) 8, 407–418

Comments

© 2015 The Authors.

Open access

doi: 10.1111/gcbb.12283

Abstract

The goal of this study was to investigate whether chilling tolerance of C₄ photosynthesis in Miscanthus can be transferred to sugarcane by hybridization. Net leaf CO₂ uptake (A_sat) and the maximum operating efficiency of photosystem II (Ф_PSII) were measured in warm conditions (25 °C/20 °C), and then during and following a chilling treatment of 10 °C/5 °C for 11 day in controlled environment chambers. Two of three hybrids (miscanes), ‘US 84-1058’ and ‘US 87-1019’, did not differ significantly from the chilling tolerant M. xgiganteus ‘Illinois’ (Mxg), for A_sat, and Φ_PSII measured during chilling. For Mxg grown at 10 °C/5 °C for 11 days, A_sat was 4.4 μmol m^-2 s^-1, while for miscane ‘US 84-1058’ and ‘US 87-1019’, A_sat was 5.7 and 3.5 μmol m^-2 s^-1, respectively. Miscanes ‘US 84-1058’ and ‘US 87-1019’ and Mxg had significantly higher rates of A_sat during chilling than three tested sugarcanes. A third miscane showed lower rates than Mxg during chilling, but recovered to higher rates than sugarcane upon return to warm conditions. Chilling tolerance of ‘US 84-1058’ was further confirmed under autumn field conditions in southern Illinois. The selected chilling tolerant miscanes have particular value for biomass feedstock and biofuel production and at the same time they can be a starting point for extending sugarcane’s range to colder climates.