Genetic Basis of Non‐Photochemical Quenching and Photosystem II Efficiency Responses to Chilling in the Biomass Crop Miscanthus
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- Department of Biochemistry and Center for Plant Science Innovation University of Nebraska‐Lincoln Lincoln Nebraska USA
- Department of Crop Sciences University of Illinois Urbana Illinois USA
- Department of Crop Sciences University of Illinois Urbana Illinois USA, DOE Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation University of Illinois Urbana Illinois USA
- Department of Plant Science University of Cambridge Cambridge UK
- Department of Biochemistry and Center for Plant Science Innovation University of Nebraska‐Lincoln Lincoln Nebraska USA, Institute of Plant Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences Poznań Poland
ABSTRACT Miscanthus holds a promise as a biocrop due to its high yield, perenniality and ability to grow on infertile soils. However, the current commercial biomass production of Miscanthus is mostly limited to a single sterile triploid clone of M. × giganteus . Nevertheless, parental species of M. × giganteus, Miscanthus sacchariflorus and Miscanthus sinensis contain vast genetic diversity for crop improvement. With M. sacchariflorus having a natural geographic distribution in cold‐temperate northeast China and eastern Russia, we hypothesised that it has substantial variation in physiological response to chilling. Using a semi‐high‐throughput method, we phenotyped 209 M. sacchariflorus genotypes belonging to six genetic groups for non‐photochemical quenching (NPQ) and photosystem II efficiency (ΦPSII) kinetics under warm and chilling treatments in three growing seasons. In response to the chilling treatment, all genetic groups exhibited an increase in NPQ induction rate indicating faster activation of NPQ in light. Notably, under chilling, the Korea/NE China/Russia 2x and N China 2x groups stood out for the highest NPQ rate in light and the highest steady‐state NPQ in light. This NPQ phenotype may contribute adaptation to chilling during bright, cold mornings of spring and early autumn in temperate climates, when faster NPQ would better protect from oxidative stress. Such enhanced adaptation could expand the growing season and thus productivity at a given location or expand the range of economically viable growing locations to higher latitudes and altitudes. A genome‐wide association study identified 126 unique SNPs associated with NPQ and ΦPSII traits. Among the identified candidate genes were enzymes involved in the ascorbate recycle and shikimate pathway, gamma‐aminobutyric acid and cation efflux transporters. Identifying natural variation and genes involved in NPQ and ΦPSII kinetics considerably enlarges the toolbox for breeding and/or engineering Miscanthus with optimised photosynthesis under warm and chilling conditions for sustainable feedstock production for bioenergy. Chilling affects the productivity and geographical distribution of most crops. Using a semi‐high‐throughput approach to investigate photosynthesis‐related traits, we characterised variation existing in the bioenergy crop Miscanthus under chilling and warm conditions and identified potential genes associated with it. Under chilling, two genetic groups from the northern edge of Miscanthus distribution stood out for faster activation of photoprotection. This trait may contribute adaptation to chilling in temperate climates, when faster photoprotection would better defend from oxidative stress. Enhanced chilling adaptation could expand the growing season and thus productivity or enlarge the range of growing locations.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- Grant/Contract Number:
- NONE; SC0012379; SC0018420
- OSTI ID:
- 2483915
- Journal Information:
- Global Change Biology. Bioenergy, Journal Name: Global Change Biology. Bioenergy Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 17; ISSN 1757-1693
- Publisher:
- Wiley-BlackwellCopyright Statement
- Country of Publication:
- United Kingdom
- Language:
- English
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