Das Projekt "Gensammlung von Wildleguminosen im Chaco Central, Paraguay" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Universität Hohenheim, Fakultät III Agrarwissenschaften I, Institut für Pflanzenproduktion und Agrarökologie in den Tropen und Subtropen, Fachgebiet Biodiversität und Landrehabilitation in den Tropen und Subtropen durchgeführt. Germplasm of wild legumes with forage potential is a valuable source for the improvement of natural pastures. This study had the objective to contribute to the conservation of wild legumes with forage potential from the Chaco Central, Paraguay. In total, 209 seed samples representing 44 species were collected. For all collected material the collection sites were described in terms of soil, climate and vegetation.
Das Projekt "Optimizing Miscanthus Biomass Production (OPTIMISC)" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Universität Hohenheim, Institut für Kulturpflanzenwissenschaften, Fachgebiet Nachwachsende Rohstoffe in der Bioökonomie (340b) durchgeführt. Miscanthus is a C4 perennial rhizomatous grass originating from Eastern Asia that has become a leading candidate crop for production of lignocellulosic feedstocks due to its rapid biomass accumulation in temperate climates. There is currently a single commercial clone, M. x giganteus which has a number of limitations. Research over the past 20 years has shown that a few key species and their interspecific hybrids have a high yield potential whilst requiring low inputs. Partners within this consortium have been working with these species for many years and are able to supply diverse and promising germplasm to form the basis of this project. The overall objective of this project is to optimize the miscanthus bioenergy and biopoduct chain by: trialling elite germplasm types over a range of sites across Europe, Ukraine and Russia; analysing the key traits that currently limit the potential of miscanthus; identifying high-value bioproducts; and modelling the combined results to provide recommendations to policy makers, growers and industry. The outcomes of the project will include screened germplasm and knowledge which will provide solutions to key existing bottlenecks. The plants used in these studies will be propagated through tissue culture or through seeds to generate sufficient homogenous plantlets (WP2) for experiments and trials on laboratory, agronomic plot and near-commercial scales. The specific topics tackled in these trials are (1) dissection of the traits underpinning tolerance to the abiotic stresses drought, salinity, cold and freezing (WP3), (2) yield and quality in a wide range of environments, taking into consideration traits such as senescence, nutrient re-cycling and nutrient-use efficiency (WP4), (3) process-ability of biomass to convenient fuel formats (WP5) and added-value products (WP6). Data gathered in WPs 3-6 will be integrated through the development of modelling parameters needed to build up life-cycle analysis models and other decision support tools to identify optimum production scenarios in the EU, Ukraine and Russia (WP7). Recommendations will be provided to miscanthus developers on appropriate genotype selection, propagation and processing methods to maximize the environmental, economic and social benefits. The development of the full potential of miscanthus through OPTIMISC will contribute to Europes transition to a sustainable biobased economy.