human

1
plant

animal

human
2
Novel Biofuel / Biofeedstocks to Redefine
Bioenergy Production Economics

• Dr. John Mullet, Biochemistry Texas AM
• Dr. David Stelly, Soil and Crop Sciences, Texas
  AM
• Dr. William Rooney, Soil and Crop Sciences, Texas
  AM
• Dr. J. Michael Gould, Texas Agrilife Research,
  Weslaco, Texas

3
Sorghum Wide Hybridization -- A Platform for
Novel Biofuel/Biomass Crops
NEW, NOVEL CROPS
EXISTING CROPS
2 species
Sorghum derivatives
SorCanes
Sor---
Sugarcane derivatives
3 species
Miscane derivatives
SorMisCanes
Sor---
Other derivatives
4
Sorghum Wide Hybridization
Sorghum Sugarcane (e.g.)
Most are likely to be sterile
Sorcanes
backcrosses
backcrosses
New sorghums
New sugarcanes
Type of Crop?
Vegetative crop
Seed crop
Other
Sugar and Biofuel
Biomass
Both
5
Normal Reproduction in Sorghum

• Self-pollination is common.
• Pollen readily germinate on the stigmas and grow
  down the styles.

S. bicolor normal
Hodnett et al. 2005
6
Wide Hybridization / Introgression

• In 2005, pollen germination and growth were
  identified as critical barriers to wide
  hybridization (Hodnett et al. 2005).

S. bicolor normal Alien pollen
7
Wide Hybridization / Introgression
S. bicolor normal
S. bicolor promiscuous
In 2006, we established a means to sidestep this
barrier and thus create new interspecific hybrids
(Price et al. 2006).
8
Wide Hybridization / Introgression
S. bicolor (2n20) F1 Hybrids
S. macrospermum (2n4x40)
S. angustum (2n2x10)
S. nitidum (2n4x20)
9
S. bicolor / S. species
S. bicolor S. macrospermum
S. bicolor
S. macrospermum
2n40
2n30
2n20
In these hybrids we then looked for evidence of
genetic recombination and to see if they could be
used for backross introgression.
10
Given our success within Sorghum, the next
question was obvious
Can we make inter-generic crosses beyond the
boundaries of the Sorghum genus?
11
Why Not Sorghum/Sugarcane?
The first attempts

• 2007/2008
• 40 pollinations
• Produced about 500 seed
• Potted 35 confirmed F1s
• Kept 3 very vigorous hybrids in greenhouse

12
(No Transcript)
13
Sorghum/Sugarcane 2008/2009
Second attempts

• 170 pollinations
• Produced 12,000 seed
• Potted 1350 confirmed F1s
• Transplanted 400 to Field Space Plant Nursery

14
Current and Long-Term Work

• Establishing Range of Application
• Evaluating Agronomic Potential
• Improving Sorcane Hybrid Production
• Seed Parent and Pollinator Parent
• Developing Stable and Productive Sorcane Hybrid
  Seed Production Systems
• Molecular Characterization of Promiscuous Sorghum
  and other mutants

15
2009 Field Activities

• Space Plant Nursery
• 400 F1 Hybrids
• Vigor and Growth
• Winterhardiness
• Biomass Composition
• Replicated Testing
• Selections from 2007/2008
• Establish Yield and Composition relative to
  Sorghum and Cane

16
Enhancing Seed Production

• Pollinator Parent

• Sorghum Seed Parent

• Steady Improvement in Seed Production
• Pollinator affects
• Seed Set
• Progeny Recovery
• Progeny Quality
• Cytological manipulations to improve seed set and
  progeny

• Tx3361 - Genetic Male Sterile finished in 2007
• A/B Tx3361 - CMS steriles completed in 2009
• Hybridized to numerous sorghum seed parents
• Traditional
• Sweet sorghum

17
Why Not Sorghum other Grasses?
First attempts

• Miscanthus
• Zea sp.
• Panicum virgatum
• Erianthus sp.
• Pennisetum sp.
• Arundo sp.
• Andropogon sp.

• Successful pollination and fertilization for most

Sorghum/Miscane
18
Opportunities/Impact

• New Crop(s) Sorcane with benefits such as
• Seed-planted version of Sugarcane
• Expanded range of production
• Improved Sugar Storage Systems
• Stress Tolerance (Drought, WUE, NUE)
• Annual or Perennial Crop
• Introgression Platform
• Sorghum and/or Crossable species
• Genetic Platform for GM
• Sorghum Genomic Platform Applications

19
Sorghum Wide Hybridization
Sorghum Sugarcane (e.g.)
Most are likely to be sterile
Sorcanes
backcrosses
backcrosses
New sorghums
New sugarcanes
Type of Crop?
Vegetative crop
Seed crop
Other
Sugar and Biofuel
Biomass
Both