FTIR screening to elucidate compositional differences in maize recombinant inbred lines with contrasting saccharification efficiency yields

With a high potential to generate biomass, maize stover arises as an outstanding feedstock for biofuel production. Maize stover presents the added advantage of being a multiple exploitation of the crop as a source of food, feed, and energy. In this study, contrasting groups of recombinant inbred lines (RILs) from a maize multiparent advanced generation intercross (MAGIC) population that showed variability for saccharification efficiency were screened by FTIR-ATR spectroscopy to explore compositional differences between high and low saccharification yielders. High and low saccharification efficiency groups differed in cell wall compositional features: high saccharification RILs displayed higher proportions of S subunits, aromatic compounds, and hemicellulose as opposed to low saccharification efficiency groups in which FTIR predicted higher proportions of lignin, more precisely lignin being richer in subunits G, and greater proportions of crystalline cellulose and acetyl methyl esters. The application of FTIR-ATR spectroscopy in this material allowed us to obtain a rapid and broad vision of cell wall compositional features in contrasting groups of saccharification efficiency. These results helped us to deepen our knowledge into the relationship between cell wall composition and biorefining potential; they also allowed us to establish new targets for future research regarding lignocellulosic bioconversion.Portugal Centro 2020 | Ref. CENTRO-01-0145-FEDER-000007Plan Estatal de Ciencia y Tecnología de España | Ref. RTI2018–096776-B-C21Plan Estatal de Ciencia y Tecnología de España | Ref. RTI2018–096776-B-C22Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia | Ref. UIDB00070 / 202