High resolution cell wall structure and polymer analysis of Populus natural variants
EMSL Project ID
47834
Abstract
Bioenergy crops not only provide biofuel that offsets fossil-fuel greenhouse gas emissions but also sequester carbon in the soil through extensive root systems. Plant cell wall characteristics have important implications in both saccharification of lignocellulosic biomass and interaction with microbes. However, it is currently unknown whether reduced stem recalcitrance resulting from altered cell wall characteristics that is favorable for biofuel conversion in bioenergy crops (such as Populus) will impact cell wall properties belowground. For simultaneous applications directed towards enhanced biofuel production and increased carbon sequestration, it would be desirable to have reduced recalcitrance in stems while enhancing recalcitrance in non-harvested roots. We propose to utilize X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Helium Ion Microscope to analyze cell wall structure and polymers in the stems and roots of natural variants of bioenergy crop Populus. We target our analysis to natural variants with contrasting lignin content phenotypes (extreme high or extreme low). The high surface sensitivity and high resolution imaging provided by these instruments will enable us to pinpoint the impact of aboveground (stems) cell wall chemistry on belowground (roots) cell wall structure and chemistry and inform the development of sustainable feedstock for both biofuel production and carbon sequestration.
Project Details
Project type
Large-Scale EMSL Research
Start Date
2013-10-01
End Date
2014-09-30
Status
Closed
Released Data Link
Team
Principal Investigator
Co-Investigator(s)