title: Tassel removal positively affects biomass production coupled with significantly increasing stem digestibility in switchgrass.
abstract: In this study, tassels of Cave-in-Rock (upland) and Alamo (lowland) were removed at or near tassel emergence to explore its effects on biomass production and quality. Tassel-removed (TR) Cave-in-Rock and Alamo both exhibited a significant (P<0.05) increase in plant heights (not including tassel length), tiller number, and aboveground biomass dry weight (10% and 12%, 30% and 13%, 13% and 18%, respectively by variety) compared to a control (CK) treatment. Notably, total sugar yields of TR Cave-in-Rock and Alamo stems increased significantly (P<0.05 or 0.01) by 19% and 19%, 21% and 14%, 52% and 18%, respectively by variety, compared to those of control switchgrass under 3 treatments by direct enzymatic hydrolysis (DEH), enzymatic hydrolysis after 1% NaOH pretreatment (EHAL) and enzymatic hydrolysis after 1% H2SO4 pretreatment (EHAC). These differences were mainly due to significantly (P<0.05 or 0.01) higher cellulose content, lower cellulose crystallinity indexes (CrI) caused by higher arabinose (Ara) substitution in xylans, and lower S/G ratio in lignin. However, the increases of nitrogen (N) and sulphur (S) concentration negatively affects the combustion quality of switchgrass aboveground biomass. This work provides information for increasing biomass production and quality in switchgrass and also facilitates the inhibition of gene dispersal of switchgrass in China.
authors: Beijing Research and Development Center for Grass and Environment, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing, China; College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.
authors: Chunqiao
authors: C
authors: Zhao
authors: Beijing Research and Development Center for Grass and Environment, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing, China.
authors: Xifeng
authors: X
authors: Fan
authors: Beijing Research and Development Center for Grass and Environment, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing, China.
authors: Xincun
authors: X
authors: Hou
authors: Beijing Research and Development Center for Grass and Environment, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing, China.
authors: Yi
authors: Y
authors: Zhu
authors: Beijing Research and Development Center for Grass and Environment, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing, China.
authors: Yuesen
authors: Y
authors: Yue
authors: Beijing Research and Development Center for Grass and Environment, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing, China.
authors: Shuang
authors: S
authors: Zhang
authors: Beijing Research and Development Center for Grass and Environment, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing, China.
authors: Juying
authors: J
authors: Wu
mesh_terms: D018533:Biomass; D001709:Biotechnology; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000737:chemistry*; D002482:Cellulose / Q000378:metabolism; D008897:Panicum / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D018547:Plant Stems / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002482:Cellulose