Frank Dohleman
UIUC Plant Biology P.h.d Student
B.S in General Biology with a minor in Chemistry
1201 W. Gregory Drive
379 ERML
MC-051
Urbana, IL 61801
(217) 244-6317
dohleman@uiuc.edu
Research Poster
The University of Illinois has run experiments comparing two potential biofuel species, namely Miscanthus (Miscanthus x giganteus) and Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) since 2002, and yield trials have shown that Miscanthus is at least twice as productive as Switchgrass under Illinois climatic conditions. The focus of my research is to determine photosynthetic mechanisms which could account for this difference in yield. I plan to use diurnal photosynthesis measurements, coupled with A/Ci and A/Q measurements to help explain differences in carbon assimilation between the two species. I also plan to use biochemical techniques to determine carbon and nitrogen budgets of Miscanthus and Switchgrass on a diurnal time scale. Eventually, I hope to help make the vision of a cleaner, more energy efficient U.S. into a reality.