Panicum virgatum L. – promissing introduced crop in M.M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden of the NAS of Ukraine

Results of many years of introduction research on Panicum virgatum L. (Poaceae) in M.M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden of the NAS of Ukraine are presented. The biomorphological characteristics, biochemical composition of the plant, crop yield of the above ground plant mass and seed are determined. The yield of valuable compounds and energy efficiency of the crop are identified. High-yield forms with assigned features of crop yield, sugar content of plant biomass, total energy yield and biofuel output per one square unit are created. We proved that in the condition of crop introduction almost all forms of Panicum virgatum undergo full cycle of plant development – from the seed to the seed during one growing season, starting from the first-year. A phase of a seed maturation in the early developed plant forms begins in the third decade of September, in late developed forms until the middle of October, some forms have their growing season until the beginning of winter frosting. The major morphological features of plants are dependent on the forms and crops variations and ripening phase. Total harvest of the above ground mass and general output of the plant up till the flowering phase increases, where at the end of growing season decreases. We showed that plant forms with retard development had a high yield of above-ground mass for 58.0–115.6 % greater than the early developed plants. Increment in the dry matter content of plants from tiller to seed ripening phase is demonstrated. However, the percentage of sugars, ascorbic acid, carotene, and lipids is diminished. During the same growing season we did not observe any correlation between lignin and fiber accumulation. Similar results were acquired for the heat capacity harvest of above ground mass. High-yield Panicum virgatum crop provide substantial output of the dry mass, ethanol, and energy throughout all development phases of the plant. Among studied plant samples the top productivity was supplied by Zoryane cultivar