Greenhouse Propagation of Miscanthus x giganteus.

Interest in the use of Miscanthus x giganteus (M. x g.) as a feedstock grass is increasing due to its great biomass yields. Because it is reproductively sterile, new M. x g. plants are produced using rhizome divisions in greenhouse or field settings or by tissue culture. Both methods can be costly. Undergraduate research projects were conducted to investigate M. x g. propagation efficiencies in greenhouse settings. The objective of the first experiment was to determine the smallest sized portion of M. x g. rhizomes capable of greenhouse reproduction using pieces as small as 5 g. The objective of the second experiment was to compare soil mixes for greenhouse propagation of M. x g. The results of these experiments will be presented.