Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) attracts bioenergy researchers because of its potential for high yield under low input conditions, native origin and wide adaptation and is well along in its development and use as a bioenergy crop. Resequencing multiple lines of switchgrass will provide researchers with a uniform set of genomic variation data, hopefully facilitating development of an improved collection of genetic resources. The data could inform the development of switchgrass strains with traits such as improved biomass yield and stress tolerance, increasing the crop’s deployment as a feedstock for second-generation lignocellulosic biofuels.
PI: Laura Bartley, University of Oklahoma