002){ref-type="fig"}).

![The concentration of non‐structural carbohydrates in a mixed population and a mapping family of *Miscanthus* in July and October and the % change between the two dates. N = 3 ± SE.](GCBB-9-1122-g002){#gcbb12419-fig-0002}

###### 

Statistical analyses of non‐structural carbohydrates (NSC). The effect of harvest date and genotype on NSC. Tests are a two‐way [anova]{.smallcaps} with date and genotype as factors. *P* = ≤ 0.05

                              *F* pr   
  ------------------ -------- -------- --------
  Mixed population                     
  Genotype           \<0.01   0.012    \<0.01
  Date               \<0.01   0.062    \<0.01
  Geno × Date        0.001    \<0.01   0.02
  Mapping family                       
  Genotype           \<0.01   \<0.01   \<0.01
  Date               \<0.01   \<0.01   \<0.01
  Geno × Date        \<0.01   \<0.01   \<0.01

John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

Biomass yield {#gcbb12419-sec-0021}
-------------

The highest yielding plants in spring 2014 (following the 2013 growing season when plants were sampled for NSC in July and October) were the four hybrid genotypes of the mixed population at 3--5 kg DW plant^−1^ (Fig. [3](#gcbb12419-fig-0003){ref-type="fig"}). The highest yielding hybrids of the mapping family were similar in final yield to Sin 1--5 of the mixed population. The lowest yielding plant was Hyb 21 at 0.07 kg (70 g) DW plant^−1^. The *M. sacchariflorus* genotypes were also generally low yielding, especially Sac 2--4 (Fig. [3](#gcbb12419-fig-0003){ref-type="fig"}).

![Final yield (kg plant^−1^) for a mixed population and mapping family harvested in spring 2014 following the 2013 growing season. N = 3 ± SE.](GCBB-9-1122-g003){#gcbb12419-fig-0003}

The samples used for the analysis of carbohydrates were taken from single stems harvested in July and October 2013. To project the yields of total carbohydrate in July and October, sequential harvests were taken from a separate field site over a two‐year period (Table