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An efficient system for high-quality large-scale micropropagation of Miscanthus × giganteus plants

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Abstract

Miscanthus × giganteus is a perennial grass considered to be one of the most promising biofuel and bioenergy crops because of its high biomass and quality, and low requirement for fertilizers and pesticides. Market demand for Miscanthus is rapidly increasing. However, M. × giganteus is a triploid that cannot produce viable seeds, and it has traditionally been propagated through rhizome division, which is low throughput and labor-intensive. Plant tissue culture provides the potential to propagate M. × giganteus in vitro while maintaining the original plant characteristics. Although protocols exist for M. × giganteus micropropagation, the multiplication rate and plant quality need to be improved to meet commercial demands. For this research, we have assessed callus induction, callus multiplication, plantlet regeneration, shoot multiplication, shoot quality improvement, rooting, plant acclimatization, and survival in the greenhouse and in the field. Through these studies, we have developed an efficient system for high-quality, large-scale micropropagation of M. × giganteus. The plants produced from our protocol exhibited more than 99% survival in soil due to the production of vigorous shoots and roots.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Dr. Barry Flinn and Mr. Scott Lowman for their critical suggestions and revisions for the manuscript. This work was funded through Special Grants (2003-38891-02112, 2008-38891-19353, and 2009-38891-20092) and HATCH funds (Project No. VA-135816) from the United States Department of Agriculture, and operating funds from the Commonwealth of Virginia to the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Sustainable and Renewable Resources, Institute for Advanced Learning and Research, 150 Slayton Ave., Danville, VA, 24540, USA

    Seonhwa Kim, Kedong Da & Chuansheng Mei

  2. Department of Horticulture, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA

    Chuansheng Mei

  3. Department of Forest Resources & Environmental Conservation, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA

    Chuansheng Mei

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  1. Seonhwa Kim
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  2. Kedong Da
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  3. Chuansheng Mei
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Correspondence to Chuansheng Mei.

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Editor: Zeng-Yu Wang

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Kim, S., Da, K. & Mei, C. An efficient system for high-quality large-scale micropropagation of Miscanthus × giganteus plants. In Vitro Cell.Dev.Biol.-Plant 48, 613–619 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11627-012-9472-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11627-012-9472-x

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