Towards high-biomass yielding bioenergy crop Silphium perfoliatum L.: phenotypic and genotypic evaluation of five cultivated populations

Cup plant (Silphium perfoliatum L.) represents a promising alternative to silage maize as an energy crop for biogas production. This non-food plant possesses a highly ecological value due to its long blooming period, ability to grow in low-input agriculture and positive influence on soil structure. So far, there have been almost no breeding attempts for the cup plant, and all field experiments showing its high biomass yield were conducted by using only a few cultivated populations of unclear ancestry.