Project Number: 1907-21000-029-02
Project Type: Reimbursable

Start Date: Aug 01, 2007
End Date: Jul 31, 2010

Objective:
1) Assemble association panels of diverse populations and linkage populations for switchgrass and reed canarygrass. 2) Trait evaluation for key biofeedstock characteristics in these panels. 3) Develop high density SNP markers in switchgrass. 4) Genotype association panels and linkage populations in switchgrass. 5) Evaluate population structure and germplasm diversity in switchgrass. 6) Establish association mapping and estimate marker based breeding values in switchgrass.

Approach:
Association mapping in polyploid biofuel grasses with limited genetic resources requires the establishment of diverse germplasm collections, the collection of phenotypic data in these populations, and the development of genetic markers. This project will focus all of its marker development efforts on switchgrass, while establishing both switchgrass and reed canarygrass founder populations. The expertise gained in this project in SNP marker development and the analysis of these data in switchgrass can then be applied to other polyploid perennial species, such as reed canarygrass, for which we will already have well-established founder populations and a set of phenotypic data.