Genetic improvement of napiergrass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum.) has included both intraspecific and interspecific hybridization. Our main thrust has been on interspecific hybrids between P. glaucum (L.) R.Br. (pearl miller) and P. purpureum, but we have also studied intraspecific hybrids between USDA PI 300086 (cv. Kinggrass) and PI517947 (cv. Mott). Overall objectives were: (1) to breed higher quality and /or higher yielding napiergrass types that can be planted from seed; (2) to assess the large amount of genetic variability among accessions and hybrids and evaluate traits that can lead to low-cost yield of convertible biomass for energy production, Twenty napiergrass selections were evaluated for bioconversion to methane. These studies included analyses of plant parts for lignin, crude protein and biochemical methane potential.