The general aim is to study how the genetic diversity in key biomass quality traits of hybrid aspen and willow can be best utilised to obtain superior raw-materials for novel products and functional applications.
The following questions will be addressed: Q1. What are the key structural and chemical traits of aspen and willow woody biomass in producing design biochar, novel biocomposites, and bioactive applications based on bark-extracts? Q2. What is the magnitude of genetic diversity for these traits? Q3. How do growing conditions quantitatively alter the key traits? Q4. How do the raw-material characteristics affect the properties and functionalities of novel end-products?