Quantifying phenotypic and genetic diversity of Miscanthus sacchariflorus to facilitate knowledge-directed improvement of M. ×giganteus (M. sinensis × M. sacchariflorus) and sugarcane (Final Report)

Bioenergy crops help reduce America’s reliance on fossil fuels, and mitigate global warming. Miscanthus ×giganteus (Mxg) is a promising bioenergy crop because it produces high yields, needs few inputs, and grows well during the cool weather of early spring and late fall when few other warm-season grasses can. However, only a single, sterile vegetatively propagated cultivar of Mxg is currently avai…