Marker development and genetic diversity in saccharum and miscanthus

The demand for alternative fuel sources for oil has been increasing in recent years. From 2000 to 2010, worldwide ethanol fuel production has increased from 4.49 billion gallons to 19.5 billion gallons. A large source of this ethanol comes from sugarcane produced in Brazil. Brazil is the second largest producer of ethanol fuel, accounting for 37.7% of the total ethanol fuel used globally. While sugarcane is an important crop for tropic and subtropic regions, an alternative feedstock is needed for cooler climates. Miscanthus is considered a promising source for cellulosic ethanol production in Europe and more recently the United Sates. Sugarcane and Miscanthus belong to the Andropogoneae, a tribe of C4 grasses that are known for their high efficiency of photosynthesis and biomass production. Understanding of the genomes of these two crops is important for finding ways to improve them for agriculture. Both sugarcane and Miscanthus have large complex genomes that are the result of polyploidization, that hinders genomic their research. For genetic mapping and genome assembly, a large number of DNA markers are needed. Due to the relatedness of these two species, markers can be designed that work in them both. Chapter one deals with an SSR marker analysis in sugarcane, and Chapter 2 deals with the comparison of Miscanthus and sugarcane and an assessment of the variation within and between the two species.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Plant Biology

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2010

Author dc:creator

• James, Brandon T.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Ming, Ray R.

• sugarcane
• miscanthus
• Simple sequence repeats (SSR)
• Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP)
• genetic markers
• Saccharum

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2010 Brandon T. James

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/16149

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/16149