Miscanthus

Miscanthus is a genus of about 15 species of C4 perennial grasses. Public varieties of Miscanthus giganteus, sterile hybrids between M. sinensis and M. sacchariflorus, have been trialed as a bioenergy feedstock source in Europe since the early 1980's. It can grow to heights of more than four meters and yield greater than 10 dry tons per acre per year in most US climactic regions. Propagation of the public varieties is through rhizome cuttings, and therefore, is slow and expensive.

Mendel has developed high-performing elite varieties of Miscanthus that are competitive in yield with the public varieties but which can be propagated and scaled much more efficiently. With these advancements, Mendel can offer a genetically diverse set of varieties that provide increased reliability of feedstock production. The genetic diversity and ease of establishment of our product offerings will continue to increase substantially over the next several years.

The rapid growth, low mineral content and high biomass yield of Miscanthus make it a favorite choice as an energy crop. It can be harvested dry (<16% moisture), baled and stored under cover. Once burned for energy or converted into biofuels, the resulting CO₂ emissions are equal to the amount of CO₂ that the plant used up from the atmosphere during its growing phase, and thus the process is greenhouse gas-neutral, excluding any establishment or production inputs, which are relatively low compared to annual crops. When co-fired with coal, it can be used in some current coal-burning power plants with minimal modifications.

Mendel's breeding program includes a diverse germplasm collection from both Europe and Asia. The genetics in the China nursery cover a diverse range of climatic conditions and phenotypic differences. Mendel will exploit this diversity to commercialize custom-tailored feedstocks for different regions, growing conditions, and end use.