Dr Iain Donnison

Research into perennial crops

Transcript

1. Dr Iain Donnison Environmental Impact Team Leader, Aberystwyth University
2. Iain Donnison Research into perennial crops
3. Bioenergy Research Strategies 1. New uses for existing crops and residues 2. Develop new crops: Miscanthus 3. Span the entire bioenergy chain 4. Scale from plot to field
4. • Biomass yield components • Crop resource use efficiency • Stress tolerance • Carbon partitioning • Chemical composition • Processing/ Conversion • Biofuel characteristics • Sustainability & life cycle assessments Need integrated research
5. Domestication of a New Crop: Miscanthus
6. Miscanthus genetics M. sacchariflorus M. sinensis X Short (1- 2m), frost resistant, mid- season flowering, thin stems, high stem density. Tall (>3m), frost sensitive, very late flowering, thick stems, low stem density, spreading. M. x giganteus tetraploid diploid triploid
7. • High Yields, persistence and stability • High Quality, stable composition • Sustainability (low inputs, marginal land, seed establishment, nitrogen fixation, GHG balance) Miscanthus Breeding Objectives
8. • Collect and characterise genetic diversity • Population based varieties • Wide hybrids and introgression Breeding strategies
9. Genetic resources after Hodkinson & Renvoize et al. 2001, and Clifton-Brown, Yu-Chung
10. Phenotyping Target traits •Flowering time •Emergence •Senescence •Morphology •Architecture •Biotic and abiotic stresses •Plant chemistry •Post harvest biology •Saccharification and fermentation
11. High-throughput phenotyping: controlled environments to field studies Controlled environment: conveyor-based imaging system: visible, near IR, thermal IR, fluorescence, laser scan. Field-based imaging near IR, laser scan. Interpolation
12. • Extending the growing season • Improving canopy architecture • Improving carbon partitioning
13. Yield (t ha-1) 30 Temperature to support growth Lethal temperatures kill new growth Lethal temperatures to stop growth Effective growing period End of reproductive phase Day of year Variation in start time Variation in end time 20 0 10
14. Canopy duration as a determinant of yield DW Yield per plant and Canopy duration Yield 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 Canopy Duration 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 Progression of early season vigour and senescence in Miscanthus Day 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 Category (No Units) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Day vs Establishment Day vs Senescence
15. Architecture M. x giganteus
16. Architectural traits to improve light capture in Miscanthus 6% 23% 6% 7% 1% 19% 1% 2% 1% 0 1% 33% Range of Average Leaf Area in population 2TT Accessions 0 50 100 150 200 250 300 Leaf Area (cm2 (0.74xLxW)) 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 Leaf Area Plant Architecture (leaf & stem)
17. 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200 1 8 15 22 29 36 43 50 57 64 71 78 85 92 99106 113 120 127 134 141 148 155 162 169 176 183 height cm stems Line 2, n=188 Mb 111,… 0 50 100 150 200 250 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Stems Line 1, n=19 Stem height & number: more than one way to be high yielding 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 210 220 number of stems Stem Height (cm) Line 1 Line 2
18. JUNE JULY AUGUST SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER Tallest flower height > 4m Shortest flower height 0.75m 1m 2m 3m 4m Miscanthus flowering time 0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 Jan Mar May Jul Sep Nov canopy height (cm) Growing season as affected by flowering time early flowering late flowering
19. % of plants that flowered in a trial of 244 Miscanthus genotypes at Aberystwyth over 3 years (thin line, 2007; thick line, 2008; dotted line, 2009) Jensen et al., GCB Bioenergy 3: 387- 400. 2011
20. Relationship of Flowering time in Aberystwyth to location of origin Jensen et al., GCB Bioenergy 3: 387- 400. 2011
21. Asia NW Europe Matching collections to target geographies UK 2010
22. M. x giganteus Hi Tech Hybrid Hastings et al. Global Change Biology Bioenergy 2009 Modelling informing breeding: Abiotic stress
23. Scaling up - trial networks
24. Variation in composition of 244 Miscanthus genotypes Moisture content 12-50% Lignin (ADL) 6-13% Cellulose 31-55% Hemicellulose 25-38%
25. Scale up to: • demonstrate technology & feasibility • generate sufficient materials for industry
26. Natural Products Biotransformation & composites Biorefining Centre of Excellence
27. Secondary Processing BIOCONVERSION: Fermentation, Enzyme digestion (SSF) ISOLATION: Chromatography, Ultrafiltration, SCF extraction, Ionic liquids, membranes CONSOLIDATION / STORAGE: Ensiling, Pelletizing, Evaporative concentration Primary Processing MECHANICAL: Chopping/ macerating, Milling PHYSICOCHEMICAL: Steam/heat, Chemical/biological, drying CRUDE FRACTIONATION: Juicing, Centrifugation Feedstocks GREEN: BROWN BLUE NEW
28. Target Market / End Users Chemical/ Engineering Food / Feed Pharma/ cosmetics Packaging/ composites Textiles/ Building Biofuel / Energy KTC / SME interaction Secondary Products (including new biomass) Complex sugars Platform chemicals Fuels Oils & fats Enzymes / proteins Lignin - aromatics Lignin – fibre Pro & pre- biotics Primary Fractions / Products Water soluble sugars Ligno-cellulosic fibre Crude protein Oils & fats Additives etc. Phenolics/ antioxidants
29. Carbon number Platform chemical Applications 2 Acetic acid Ethanol • Fuels and fuel additives • Polyethylene and PVC • Solvents • Polymers • Bleaches • Antimicrobials 3 Lactic acid 3-Hydroxypropionic acid 1,3-Propanediol Glycerol • Solvents • Packaging, fibres and textiles • Coatings, adhesives and sealants • Plasticisers • Lubricants • Surfactants and cosmetics • Antifreeze • Water treatment and paper making • Pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals • Engineering plastics 4 Succinic acid Fumaric acid Aspartic acid 1-Butanol 1,4-Butanediol • Fibres and textiles • Engineering plastics and nylons • Polyurethanes and elastomers • Food additives and sweeteners • Solvents (THF in particular) • Lubricants • Fuels oxygenates • Dyeing • Water treatment and corrosion inhibitors • Detergents • Plasticisers • Chemical intermediates 5 Xylose / Arabinose Levulinic acid Furfural • Explosives • Sweeteners • Antifreeze • Solvents • Fuel oxygenate • Plasticiser • Pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals • Resins, elastomers and polyurethanes • Chemical intermediates 6 2,5-Furandicarboxylic acid Sorbitol 5-Hydroxymethylfufural Adipic acid • Polyesters, polyamides and polyurethanes • Sweetener, humectants, emulsifiers and antioxidants • Surfactants and cosmetics • Cosmetics • Phenolic resins • Solvents, lubricants and plasticisers • Fibres Lignin • Benzene, Toluene, Xylene, Phenol, Aryl ethers, Vanillin, Cresols, Catechols, Resorcinols, Quinones Potential Products from a Bio-refinery
30. high-value products processing transport crop development separation technology fermentation technology transport & storage densification harvesting cultivation pre-processing polymer technology platform conversion agriculture bioscience haulage engineering chemistry bioscience logistics plant science feedstock biocatalysts Spanning the Bioenergy pipeline Adding value to biomass along the chain Biomass handling & processing Natural products & materials Bio and chemical transformations Matching varieties to end user requirements
31. Acknowledgments Physiology & Morphology: Kerrie Farrar, Paul Robson, Elaine Jensen, Sarah Purdy Breeding: John Clifton-Brown, Richard Webster; Jeff Gwyn & Charlie Rogers (Ceres Inc.) Chemistry & cell wall biology: Gordon Allison, Ed Hodgson, Maurice Bosch Modelling: Chris Davey; Pete Smith & Astley Hastings (Aberdeen) Statistics: Gancho Slavov BSBEC: Angela Karp (Rres), Paul Dupree (Cambridge), Richard Murphy (Imperial College), Tim Swaller (Ceres)