Variation in energy sorghum hybrid TX08001 biomass composition and lignin chemistry during development under irrigated and non-irrigated field conditions

McKinley, Brian A.; Olson, Sara N.; Ritter, Kimberley B.; Herb, Dustin W.; Karlen, Steven D.; Lu, Fachuang; Ralph, John; Rooney, William L.; Mullet, John E.

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0195863

Variation in energy sorghum hybrid TX08001 biomass composition and lignin chemistry during development under irrigated and non-irrigated field conditions

Journal Article · Mon Apr 23 00:00:00 EDT 2018 · PLoS ONE

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0195863· OSTI ID:1459514

^[1]; Olson, Sara N. ^[2]; Ritter, Kimberley B. ^[2]; Herb, Dustin W. ^[3]; Karlen, Steven D. ^[4]; Lu, Fachuang ^[5]; Ralph, John ^[5]; Rooney, William L. ^[6]; Mullet, John E. ^[7]

Texas A & M Univ., College Station, TX (United States). Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics; Department of Energy Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center (United States); Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Texas A&M University, College Station
Texas A & M Univ., College Station, TX (United States). Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics
Oregon State Univ., Corvallis, OR (United States). Department of Crop and Soil Science
Department of Energy Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center (United States); Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison, WI (United States). Department of Biochemistry, the Wisconsin Energy Institute
Department of Energy Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center (United States); Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison, WI (United States). Department of Biochemistry, the Wisconsin Energy Institute
Texas A & M Univ., College Station, TX (United States). Department of Soil and Crop Sciences
Texas A & M Univ., College Station, TX (United States). Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics; Department of Energy Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center (United States)

This study was conducted to document the extent and basis of compositional variation of shoot biomass of the energy Sorghum bicolor hybrid TX08001 during development under field conditions. TX08001 is capable of accumulating ~40 Mg/ha of dry biomass under good growing conditions and this genotype allocates ~80% of its shoot biomass to stems. After 150 days of growth TX08001 stems had a fresh/dry weight ratio of ~3:1 and soluble biomass accounted for ~30% of stem biomass. A panel of diverse energy sorghum genotypes varied ~6-fold in the ratio of stem structural to soluble biomass after 150 days of growth. Near-infrared spectroscopic analysis (NIRS) showed that TX08001 leaves accumulated higher levels of protein, water extractives and ash compared to stems, which have higher sugar, cellulose, and lignin contents. TX08001 stem sucrose content varied during development, whereas the composition of TX08001 stem cell walls, which consisted of ~45–49% cellulose, ~27–30% xylan, and ~15–18% lignin, remained constant after 90 days post emergence until the end of the growing season (180 days). TX08001 and Della stem syringyl (S)/guaiacyl (G) (0.53–0.58) and ferulic acid (FA)/para-coumaric acid (pCA) ratios were similar whereas ratios of pCA/(S+G) differed between these genotypes. Additionally, an analysis of irrigated versus non-irrigated TX08001 revealed that non-irrigated hybrids exhibited a 50% reduction in total cell wall biomass, an ~2-fold increase in stem sugars, and an ~25% increase in water extractives relative to irrigated hybrids. This study provides a baseline of information to help guide further optimization of energy sorghum composition for various end-uses.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER) (SC-23)

Grant/Contract Number:: SC0006930; SC0018409

OSTI ID:: 1459514

Journal Information:: PLoS ONE, Journal Name: PLoS ONE Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 13; ISSN 1932-6203

Publisher:: Public Library of ScienceCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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09 BIOMASS FUELS
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
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