Matching cell-wall composition with conversion processes
Lead Research Organisation:
Aberystwyth University
Department Name: IBERS
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
Technical Summary
The aim of the project is to enable the matching/ engineering of lignocellulosic feedstocks in which composition and cell wall architecture are optimised for conversion efficiency by biological and thermochemical processes. This work will deliver knowledge of cell wall structure and biosynthesis in Miscanthus as a strategically important energy crop and identify favourable alleles as targets for variety improvement to match feedstock to end use. We will exploit existing genomic resources in models and other grasses to translate cell wall composition knowledge to Miscanthus. High-throughput methods (e.g. infrared spectrometry) and chemical analysis will be used to characterise composition to: generate QTL for cell wall associated traits, test the effect of planting density and harvest time, identify new variation, and assess transgenic manipulations. In addition we will use infrared and micro-Raman spectrometry, and immuno-labelling approaches to explore the linkage between the expressions of specific genes, and chemical composition at the cellular level. We will also investigate the effect of differences in biomass chemistry on pre-processing and downstream conversion. Combined with genotyping, this will enable the genetic dissection of the cell wall in Miscanthus through the identification of QTL, haplotypes and expression markers associated with cell wall composition. We will also functionally test by transgenesis candidate genes. Plants will be phenotyped using a Lemna-Tec facility at Aberystwyth and infrared spectrometry. Collectively these studies will advance our limited understanding of cell wall biogenesis in grasses and enable the genetic improvement of Miscanthus for efficient biomass conversion.
Planned Impact
unavailable
Organisations
Publications
Valentine J
(2011)
Food vs. fuel: the use of land for lignocellulosic 'next generation' energy crops that minimize competition with primary food production
in GCB Bioenergy
Allison G
(2012)
Effect of nitrogen fertiliser application on cell wall composition in switchgrass and reed canary grass
in Biomass and Bioenergy
Slavov G
(2013)
Advances in the genetic dissection of plant cell walls: tools and resources available in Miscanthus.
in Frontiers in plant science
Bosch M
(2013)
Lignocellulosic feedstocks: research progress and challenges in optimizing biomass quality and yield.
in Frontiers in plant science
Ings J
(2013)
Physiological and growth responses to water deficit in the bioenergy crop Miscanthus x giganteus.
in Frontiers in plant science
Da Costa RM
(2014)
Genotype, development and tissue-derived variation of cell-wall properties in the lignocellulosic energy crop Miscanthus.
in Annals of botany
Bhatia R
(2014)
Transcriptional regulators of Arabidopsis secondary cell wall formation: tools to re-program and improve cell wall traits
in Frontiers in Plant Science
Slavov GT
(2014)
Genome-wide association studies and prediction of 17 traits related to phenology, biomass and cell wall composition in the energy grass Miscanthus sinensis.
in The New phytologist
| Description | 1) Immunofluorescence-based techniques with cell wall-directed antibodies have revealed that the cell wall sugar distribution and molecular architecture in different Miscanthus species are highly heterogeneous. These cell wall sugars can now be dissected in newly created crosses in wide crosses of different Miscanthus species. 2) Establishment of Raman spectroscopy with chemometric modelling is enabling the spatial dissection of cell wall components in grasses. Genes identified as differentially expressed in elongating and non elongating nodes are being manipulated to test their impact on cell wall structure. This is initially being tested in maize and is revealing cell wall architectural changes. 3) A comprehensive and detailed picture of the Miscanthus cell wall has been assembled, including a reference cell wall glycome, highlighting development and tissue-derived variation of cell wall properties which will help steer Miscanthus breeding and engineering strategies. 4) Correlation analyses between the results from various digestibility assessment methods and the cell wall compositional analysis highlight the limited predictive power of single compositional traits, including lignin content, as indicators of cell wall recalcitrance. 5) Results indicate that high cell wall carbohydrate content is not synonymous with high saccharification efficiency. Generating less recalcitrant varieties, even at the cost of biomass yield reductions, could allow substantial savings in transport and downstream biomass processing. |
| Exploitation Route | The information generated will help in the development of Miscanthus varieties aimed at different end uses for example heat and power vs. biofuels or industrial biotechnology. |
| Sectors | Agriculture Food and Drink Energy Environment |
| Description | The information generated in this project will help in the development of Miscanthus varieties aimed at different end uses for example heat and power vs. biofuels or industrial biotechnology. The most immediate impact is likely to be with heat and power industries given the markets currently exist but in the future greater matching to new markets as they emerge. The tools to measure cell wall parameters faster and at low cost, eg. by infra-red spectroscopy, have been published. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2012 |
| Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Energy,Environment |
| Impact Types | Societal Economic |
| Description | BBSRC iCASE: Investigating the feasibility of a multi-conversion Miscanthus bioenergy crop |
| Amount | £95,042 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/M017389/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2016 |
| End | 04/2020 |
| Description | BBSRC: [16- FAPESP-BE] An integrated approach to explore a novel paradigm for biofuel production from lignocellulosic feedstocks |
| Amount | £1,491,030 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/P017460/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 12/2016 |
| End | 11/2020 |
| Description | BEACON+ Biorefining Centre |
| Amount | £8,000,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | European Commission |
| Department | European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | Belgium |
| Start | 06/2015 |
| End | 12/2019 |
| Description | Horizon 2020 BBI; Growing advanced industrial crops on marginal lands for biorefineries (GRACE) |
| Amount | € 15,000,851 (EUR) |
| Funding ID | 745012 |
| Organisation | European Union |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | European Union (EU) |
| Start | 05/2017 |
| End | 05/2022 |
| Description | Optimising biomass conversion on Miscanthus for bioenergy and industrial materials (Taiwan) |
| Amount | £25,304 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/L003953/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 05/2013 |
| End | 06/2016 |
| Description | RCUK-CONFAP Newton Fund: UNDERSTANDING CELL WALL STRUCTURE AND HYDROLYSIS OF TWO LEADING C4 BIOENERGY CROPS TO IMPROVE SECOND GENERATION BIOETHANOL PRODUCTION |
| Amount | £27,720 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/M029212/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2015 |
| End | 06/2016 |
| Description | Real time control of gasifiers to increase tolerance to biomass variety and reduce emissions |
| Amount | £999,756 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EP/M01343X/1 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2015 |
| End | 03/2018 |
| Description | BBC Wales Science Cafe: The Welsh Science Wishlist |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | An interview for BBC Radio Wales Science Cafe. The programme was ahead of the Welsh Government Elections in May 2016 and was to articulate The Welsh Science Wishlist for the incoming government. Iain Donnison gave the interview on wishes for the future environmental policy. Science votes The Welsh Government believes that science in Wales is world class. And on this programme we frequently trumpet the pioneering research at our universities. But is enough being done to build a strong and successful scientific community? Many in Wales are concerned that we are failing on science education and in preparing for the digital future. In this special edition of Science Café scientists reveal, for the policy makers, their wish lists. And ahead of next month's elections, the political parties outline their scientific priorities. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0776lxj |
| Description | Bioeconomy conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Germany are leaders in the development of the bioeconomy, and three of the Aberystwyth and Terravesta team were heavily involved in the feedstock supply side of this event. I was a session chair. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://biooekonomie-bw.uni-hohenheim.de/startseite |
| Description | Engagement with Young Farmers Groups |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Engagement through talks, tours and discussions with Young Farmers groups on what agricultural research is taking place at IBERS, Aberystwyth and how this can impact farming now and in the future. Requests for visits/ tours and for repeat visits from larger groups. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013,2014 |
| Description | Royal Welsh Show |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Annual displays and activities based on agriculature and environmental green issues, including on the planting of energy crops, non-food use of plants, use of grass to make ethanol and plastics. Activities sparked discussion with farmers, and public of all ages Visit to activities at Royal Welsh Show leads to subsequent requests for information and visits to IBERS in Aberystwyth. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2007,2008,2009,2010,2011,2012,2013,2014 |