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Switchgrass (Panicum Virgatum L.) Pollen-Mediated Gene Flow And Transgene Bioconfinement Strategies, Reginald Millwood

Doctoral Dissertations

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) is a native North American grass under development as a bioenergy feedstock. Genetic engineering has been employed to introduce transgenic traits for economical biofuel production. However, potential transgene movement from switchgrass raises regulatory and environmental concerns. Experimental studies are needed to determine the potential for transgene flow from switchgrass. The aims of this research are to estimate pollen dispersal and pollination distances for transgenic switchgrass, and evaluate genetically engineered male sterility as a transgene bioconfinement strategy. A three-year field experiment was performed to estimate switchgrass pollen dispersal and pollination distances using a modified Nelder wheel design. …