We invite you to read Newsletter #2, which describes the latest activities of the Miscomar+ project.

Newsletter #2

Miscomar+ project results have been published in Scientific Reports:

Krzyżak, J., Rusinowski, S., Sitko, K., Szada-Borzyszkowska, A., Stec, R., Janota, P., Jensen E., Kiesel A.,  Pogrzeba, M. (2023). The effect of combined drought and trace metal elements stress on the physiological response of three Miscanthus hybrids. Scientific Reports, 13(1), 10452. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-37564-5

Abstract

Drought is a serious threat worldwide and has a significant impact on agricultural production and soil health. It can pose an even greater threat when it involves land contaminated with trace metal element (TMEs). To prevent desertification, such land should be properly managed and growing Miscanthus for energy or raw material purposes could be a solution. The effects of drought and TMEs were studied in a pot experiment on three different Miscanthus hybrids (conventional Miscanthus × giganteus, TV1 and GNT10) considering growth parameters, photosynthetic parameters and elemental composition of roots, rhizomes and shoots.

We are delighted to announce a very special opportunity to visit the MISCOMAR+ plot trials at the Reichwalde, in beautiful Saxony, on 5^th July, 2023, from 10.00-14.00.

Our research here takes place on formerly lignite-mined land, which has proven valuable to test new Miscanthus hybrids. There are many stresses associated with revegetating this land, such as high levels of soil compaction, low nutrients, and waterlogging. The area is also subject to late frosts, which of course can damage plants in their delicate early growing stages.

We have evaluated different hybrids, different methods of preparing the plants for establishment, and different agronomical techniques that may aid survival and growth in this harsch environment.  

Dr. Marta Pogrzeba participates in the XVII International Phytotechnology Conference held on May 23-26, 2023 in Chicago, USA. During the conference - Session 3 Metals and Metalloids, in the presentation on "Miscanthus for heavy metal contaminated areas - Polish Case Study - Current Status and Future Perspectives”, the results of the Micomar+ project conducted at the Polish experimental site in Bytom will be presented.

The webinar was held on February 23, 2023 and concerned primarily the practical aspects of business activities in the field of plant biotechnology and energy crop breeding aimed at achieving the intended characteristics of new Miscanthus varieties.

During Project Status Seminar the coordinators of the research projects of the six 3rd FACCE SURPLUS Call and the eigth projects of the 2nd SusCrop Call present their progress and achievements. One of the presented projects is MISCOMAR+ "Miscanthus for Contaminated and Marginal Lands PLUS", carried out under the flag of ERA-NET Cofund FACCE SURPLUS in the frame of the Joint Programming Initiative on Agriculture, Food Security and Climate Change (FACCE-JPI).