U.S. flagAn official website of the United States government
                    Here's how you know **Official websites use .gov**
                            
                            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
 **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                            
                            A **lock** (                            
                              A locked padlock                                                      
                            
                            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Menu Agricultural Research Service
						
                    U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 Plant Science Research: St. Paul, MN
 close



    Research

                    Research Projects
                                    Publications
                                    Collaborations
                                    News
                People

                    Staff Listing
                                    CareersSearch small
                    Search
            
            ARS Home
                                About ARS
                                Contact Us




ARS Home Midwest Area St. Paul, Minnesota Plant Science Research Research Publications at this Location





- ARS National Programs
- Search for a scientific manuscript
- Search for a research project
- ARS Software
- Programs and Projects
- Collaborations
- Subjects of Investigation
- Publications

Title:   Author  item
                                            Yang, Sukitem
                                            Lamb, Joannitem
                                            Jung, Hans Joachimitem
                                            Samac, Deborah

                                                         - *Debby*item
                                            Vance, Carrollitem
                                            Gronwald, John
  Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
                                    Publication Type: Abstract Only
                                    Publication Acceptance Date: 10/28/2010
                                    Publication  Date: 11/16/2010
                                    Citation: Yang, S.H., Lamb, J.F., Jung, H.G., Samac, D.A., Vance, C.P., Gronwald, J.W. 2010. Using genomics to develop alfalfa as a biomass crop [abstract]. In: 2010 Minnesota Forage Research Symposium, November 17-18, 2010, St. Cloud, Minnesota. p. 23.Interpretive Summary:
                                Technical Abstract: Alfalfa is frequently overlooked as a biomass feedstock for cellulosic ethanol production. However, alfalfa has a number of advantages compared to other potential feedstocks. Alfalfa is a perennial, non-food crop that fixes atmospheric nitrogen, improves soil quality, and provides environmental benefits. And biomass alfalfa cultivars could easily be incorporated into a rotation with corn. The model that we propose involves using the leaves as a protein supplement for livestock and the stems as a feedstock for cellulosic ethanol production. Scientists at the USDA-ARS Plant Science Research Unit at St. Paul, MN, have developed a large-stemmed, non-lodging, biomass-type alfalfa experimental germplasm. When this germplasm is grown under a biomass management system, biomass production increased by 40% and theoretical ethanol yield doubled compared to hay-type alfalfa grown under a hay management system. An important next step in developing alfalfa as a cellulosic feedstock is modifying the composition of the cell walls in stems. Alfalfa stems that have more cellulose and less lignin in their cell walls will yield more ethanol. However, because alfalfa is a perennial with a large, complex genome, selecting for these traits in a conventional breeding program is a slow process requiring many years of selection. The time required to improve alfalfa as a cellulosic feedstock could be shortened if we were able to identify key genes regulating cellulose and lignin production in stems. However, finding these genes is difficult because alfalfa is estimated to have more than 40,000 genes. Our functional genomic approach involves examining gene expression in alfalfa clonal lines that exhibit distinct differences in lignin and cellulose content in stems. To measure differences in gene expression, we are using gene arrays and ultra high-throughput sequencing (RNA-Seq). From the analysis of the results obtained using these genomic tools, we have identified candidate genes whose expression is correlated with desirable changes in cellulose and lignin content of stems. The next step is to evaluate the relative importance of these candidate genes by using transgenic approaches to determine the effect of up-regulation and down-regulation on cellulose and lignin content in alfalfa stems. From the evaluation of candidate genes, we will select those that hold the most promise for increasing cellulose and decreasing lignin in alfalfa stems. Knowledge of these genes can be used to speed up selection of high cellulose/low lignin cultivars in our conventional breeding program. In addition, we can use the tools of molecular biology to genetically engineer alfalfa cultivars to increase expression of key cellulose genes and decrease expression of key lignin genes. Both approaches should shorten the time required to develop a biomass alfalfa cultivar that yields higher levels of ethanol.


Return to top


Connect with ARS Sign up


ARS Home
                            USDA.gov
                            Plain Writing
                            Policies & Links
                            Civil Rights Statements
                            FOIA
                            Accessibility Statement
                            Privacy Policy
                            Non-Discrimination Statement
                            Quality of Information
                            USA.gov
                            WhiteHouse.gov