Awards issued prior to january 20, 2025, were funded under previous administrations and may not reflect the priorities and policies of the current administration.** plant biomass and seed oils…

Awards issued prior to january 20, 2025, were funded under previous administrations and may not reflect the priorities and policies of the current administration.** plant biomass and seed oils represent a significant, energy-rich source of renewable hydrocarbons. However, due to low crop yield, competition with food production, and limited arable land availability, current supplies of these energy-rich compounds are limited. Switchgrass (panicum virgatum l.) is a perennial, warm-season, dedicated bioenergy crop capable of producing higher biomass suitable as a bioenergy feedstock. In switchgrass, trait improvement by traditional breeding is hampered due to genetic complexity and the availability of resources. Biotechnology, however, enables the genetic enhancement of switchgrass by focusing on the desired traits that are not present in nature. Our goal is to increase photosynthesis and biomass production in switchgrass by the ectopic introduction of a foreign gene and also to enhance plant resilience to stresses. With the potential to develop breakthrough technology for an important bioenergy crop, this project will strengthen educational programs at west virginia state university (wvsu) and contribute to the field of bioenergy research.