Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of Miscanthus sinensis

In order to breed improved cultivars of the bioenergy grass Miscanthus ×giganteus, it will be necessary to obtain and characterize broad germplasm collections of its parent species, M. sinensis and M. sacchariflorus.  We have genotyped a large collection of M. sinensis from its native range in East Asia, including China, South Korea, and Japan, as well as ornamental cultivars and naturalized populations from the United States, using restriction site associate DNA sequencing (RAD-seq) SNPs, GoldenGate SNPs, and chloroplast microsatellites.  Patterns of genetic structure in East Asia appear to have been driven primarily by the sequence of warming and revegetation since the last glacial maximum.   Genetic data also reveal that nearly all ornamental cultivars of M. sinensis originate from Southern Japan, and naturalized populations in the United States are derived from a subset of ornamental cultivars.  The genetic clusters that we have identified will facilitate germplasm conservation, association analysis, and identification of potential heterotic groups for the improvement of Miscanthus as a bioenergy crop.  Additionally, our RAD-seq markers will be placed on the previously published M. sinensis map so that they may be used as a resource for low-cost high-density genotyping by the Miscanthus community.