Short Rotation Woody Crops Program: Annual progress report for 1988

This report synthesizes the technical progress of research projects in the Short Rotation Woody Crops Program (SRWCP) for the year ending September 30, 1988. The program is sponsored by the US Department of Energy's Biofuels and Municipal Waste Technology Division and has the goal of developing a viable technology for producing renewable feedstocks for conversion to biofuels. The most significant accomplishment has been the attainment of outstanding productivity rates by a Populus hybrid in the Pacific Northwest (43.5 Mg{center dot}ha{sup {minus}1}{center dot}year{sup {minus}1}), highlighting the potential gains achievable with breeding. Genetic improvement studies are broadening species performance within geographic regions and under less-than-optimum site conditions. Advances in physiological research are identifying key characteristics of species productivity and response to nutrient applications. Recent developments utilizing biotechnology have achieved success in cell and tissue culture, somaclonal variation, and gene-insertion studies. Productivity gains have been realized with advanced cultural studies of spacing, coppice, and mixed-species trials. The implications of global warming and climate-change effects on SRWC technology and applications are discussed. The early success of several monoculture viability trials is also presented. 43 refs., 12 figs., 10 tabs.