221
Conclusions and Recommendations
as adding soil carbon have both soil benefits and global value because of
climate benefits, there is a need to include all benefits in making decisions.
Taking a wide overview of the materials in the present volume, it is becoming clear that Miscanthus production is developed to the stage that it can
be treated more like a commodity than a specialty crop. Technologies are
well developed for reproduction of rhizome propagules, and micropropagation has become routine. There is a good understanding of the water and
weed management needs for successful establishment of fields. Weather
and climate change remain uncontrollable factors but genetic technologies
are available to address both cold and heat injuries to plants. While there is
legitimate concern for dangers of invasiveness in seed reproduction of crops,
transformation of apical meristem tissues or somatic embryos (Kim et al.,
2010), followed by regeneration of a single clone, should be feasible.
An additional tool in the kit of molecular biologists is the CRISPR-Cas system, the recently discovered, Nobel prize winning, DNA editing enzyme
system, which can be used to edit in or out various gene sequences. No trace
of the tool remains in the product, so that it behaves as if a random spontaneous mutation. This will allow one to edit out pollen function, for instance, to
convert an optimal tetraploid M. × giganteus into a sterile hybrid. One might
also alter the flowering locus C system (Ruelens et al., 2013) or its equivalent
to delay flowering time, or fully disrupt flower development in a desirable
CV, so that it fails to bloom either at most latitudes of interest, or entirely.
This should significantly enhance biomass yields at lower latitudes, where
early flowering seems to limit biomass, as discussed in Chapter 5. We recognize that in the European context some might raise objections to these
technologies, although they introduce no foreign DNA by any means other
than conventional hybridization. As a strictly nonfood crop, Miscanthus is
exempt from such strictures in many countries. Time and necessity may also
change minds.
12.2 Recommendations
Ideally all land should be used for beneficial purposes. Improving soil health
and increasing organic carbon in soil should be high priorities because of
both local and global benefits. Further research and development of phytotechnologies with biomass production is recommended, including additional
research with Miscanthus. An important issue is how best to use Miscanthus
biomass not only for energy production but also for conversion to different bioproducts. High yields with prominent content of lignocellulose, low
requirement for nutrient inputs, and low susceptibility to pests and diseases
make Miscanthus an excellent feedstock for producing fiber based materials
such as construction or paper industry products. Future research and practice
Conclusions and Recommendations
as adding soil carbon have both soil benefits and global value because of
climate benefits, there is a need to include all benefits in making decisions.
Taking a wide overview of the materials in the present volume, it is becoming clear that Miscanthus production is developed to the stage that it can
be treated more like a commodity than a specialty crop. Technologies are
well developed for reproduction of rhizome propagules, and micropropagation has become routine. There is a good understanding of the water and
weed management needs for successful establishment of fields. Weather
and climate change remain uncontrollable factors but genetic technologies
are available to address both cold and heat injuries to plants. While there is
legitimate concern for dangers of invasiveness in seed reproduction of crops,
transformation of apical meristem tissues or somatic embryos (Kim et al.,
2010), followed by regeneration of a single clone, should be feasible.
An additional tool in the kit of molecular biologists is the CRISPR-Cas system, the recently discovered, Nobel prize winning, DNA editing enzyme
system, which can be used to edit in or out various gene sequences. No trace
of the tool remains in the product, so that it behaves as if a random spontaneous mutation. This will allow one to edit out pollen function, for instance, to
convert an optimal tetraploid M. × giganteus into a sterile hybrid. One might
also alter the flowering locus C system (Ruelens et al., 2013) or its equivalent
to delay flowering time, or fully disrupt flower development in a desirable
CV, so that it fails to bloom either at most latitudes of interest, or entirely.
This should significantly enhance biomass yields at lower latitudes, where
early flowering seems to limit biomass, as discussed in Chapter 5. We recognize that in the European context some might raise objections to these
technologies, although they introduce no foreign DNA by any means other
than conventional hybridization. As a strictly nonfood crop, Miscanthus is
exempt from such strictures in many countries. Time and necessity may also
change minds.
12.2 Recommendations
Ideally all land should be used for beneficial purposes. Improving soil health
and increasing organic carbon in soil should be high priorities because of
both local and global benefits. Further research and development of phytotechnologies with biomass production is recommended, including additional
research with Miscanthus. An important issue is how best to use Miscanthus
biomass not only for energy production but also for conversion to different bioproducts. High yields with prominent content of lignocellulose, low
requirement for nutrient inputs, and low susceptibility to pests and diseases
make Miscanthus an excellent feedstock for producing fiber based materials
such as construction or paper industry products. Future research and practice