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Research is needed to look for plants or lines that can thrive on soils affected by water deficit or other constraints. The present work investigated the potentiality of Saccharum spontaneum L. spp. aegyptiacum (Willd.) Hack., a lignocellulosic, perennial, rhizomatous, no-food crop in semi-arid Mediterranean area. A 3-year field trial was carried out with the aim to evaluate its physiology, biomass yield, water use efficiency, and biomass quality under different soil water availability. During 2011/2012, 2012/2013, and 2013/2014 growing seasons (hereinafter referred as 2011, 2012, and 2013, respectively), three levels of maximum evapotranspiration restitution (ETm) were compared: I 100 (100% ETm restitution), I 50 (50% ETm restitution), and I 0 (rainfed condition). Net photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, and transpiration rate were strictly related to the available soil water content (ASWC), with maximum gas exchange at field capacity. However, gas exchange between plants and atmosphere was also measured when ASWC was close to wilting point. Biomass dry matter (DM) yield and main morpho-biometric traits (e.g., stem height and basal stem diameter) were significantly affected by ASWC. A non-linear model showed that maximum DM yield, 37.86 Mg ha −1 , can be achieved when 1150 mm of water were used by the crop. Water use efficiency (WUE) was always highest in rainfed condition ( I 0 ), however, only in 2013 I 0 was significantly higher than I 50 and I 100 (5.89 g L −1 vs 4.26 and 3.33 g L −1 ). Within the variables employed, a linear model showed that WUE was negatively related to crop water use (CWU). The fiber content was not affected by the irrigation treatments. In the average, hemicellulose, cellulose, and lignin accounted for 23.9 (% w/w), 35.0 (% w/w), and 19.9 (% w/w), respectively. On the other hand, moisture and ash content, bulk density, low heating value, and ash melting point resulted significantly affected by the treatment. Present results suggested that S. spontaneum spp. aegyptiacum possesses a range of agronomically desirable traits of biomass crop: C4 plant, high biomass yield, active assimilation rates during drought–stress periods, able to use water efficiently, and satisfactory biomass quality.

No study has investigated the variations in stable isotope ratios (SIRs) of bioelements within a Protected Designations of Origin (PDO) cheese and few studies have focused on the dietary background of animals. For traceability purposes, it is important to know how and whether these issues affect SIRs in a PDO cheese.Thirty-six Pecorino Siciliano cheese samples were collected in three east-Sicilian areas in seasons in which green herbage was present or absent in the diet of the animals. The determination of C, N and S SIRs was performed using an isotope ratio mass spectrometer coupled with an elemental analyser. The H and O SIRs were measured using an isotope ratio mass spectrometer equipped with a thermal conversion elemental analyser pyrolysis unit.The C, N, H, O and S SIRs measured in defatted cheeses were subjected to a multivariate stepwise discriminant analysis to verify if cheeses could be distinguished based on their geographical origin and on the animals' feeding regimen. Sulfur and nitrogen SIRs allowed the best discrimination among the three areas (97.2% correct classification of the cheeses). The discrimination of the feeding system, to check the presence or not of fresh forage in the diet of the animals, correctly classified 86.1% of the cheeses. The C and O SIRs were the most effective parameters.This study demonstrates that the variability in C, H, O, N and S SIRs can allow discrimination between cheeses produced in a narrow geographical region within a PDO area. This may lead to the search for new tools in authentication studies such as the creation of specific isoscapes. Moreover, this study confirms that SIR determination can also discriminate cheeses obtained from animals fed in stalls from those produced when animals have access to green forage, with benefit in terms of environmental impact, animal welfare and product quality. Copyright © 2017 John WileySons, Ltd.

A general obstacle to the development of perennial grasses is the relatively high cost of propagation and planting. The objective of the present study was to investigate new propagation and planting methods of giant reed (Arundo donax L.), miscanthus (Miscanthus x giganteus Greef et Deuter) and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.). Field and open-air pot trials were carried out in four different locations across Europe: hydro-seeding of switchgrass was tested in field trials at the experimental farm of the University of Bologna, Italy; stem propagation and bud activation methods of miscanthus were evaluated in field experiments in Péteri, Hungary; giant reed rhizome and stem propagations were compared in a field trial in Aliartos, Greece; finally, an open-air pot trial was carried out in Catania, Italy, using single-node stem cuttings of giant reed. Hydro-seeding emerged as a feasible and promising technique for switchgrass to ensure prompt seed emergence and weed control during plant establishment. Direct stem plantings of miscanthus were successful, and activated stem-buds were able to sprout in field conditions; however, timely stem transplant was determinant for shoot density and biomass yield. In giant reed, rhizome propagation showed a higher stem density and biomass yield than stem propagation; however, the yield gap was not significant from the second year onwards. Single-node rooting was mainly driven by air temperature. Nodes from basal stems showed higher rooting rates than median and apical ones. Growth regulator pretreatments enhanced rooting rate only at transplanting times under suboptimal air temperatures. In general, these experiments provided insights into propagation strategies aimed at enhancing the establishment phase of perennial grasses.

The triploid hybrid Miscanthus x giganteus Greef et Deu is one of the most studied species dedicated for lignocellulosic biomass production with bioenergy aims. The Miscanthus crop is established by planting mechanically divided rhizomes or plantlets micropropagated in tissue culture. A field experiment research was carried out during 2011-2012 years in Sicily (Southern Italy) to evaluate the ability of rhizomes to establish new Miscanthus plantings in relation to the presence of only nodal buds initials (dormant buds) or terminal buds (new shoots). For this purpose four treatments were evaluated: rhizome cuttings with 3 ready terminal buds to shoot (T1), 1 ready terminal bud to shoot (T2), pieces 10 cm long with nodal buds initials (dormant buds) (T3) and 5 cm long with nodal buds initials (dormant buds) (T4). The rhizome planting was carried out manually on May 18th 2011. The research pointed out that rhizome size can lead Miscanthus x giganteus to a best performance in the year of planting. The rhizome with more weight led to, in the case of rhizome cuttings with ready terminal buds to shoot (T1), a higher shoots performance and aboveground biomass production; in the case of pieces 10 cm long with only dormant buds (T3), a higher rhizome development., Proceedings of the 21st European Biomass Conference and Exhibition, 3-7 June 2013, Copenhagen, Denmark, pp. 330-333

In the frame of OPTIMA project (Optimization of Perennial Grasses for Biomass production, 289642) four perennial grass species (Saccharum spontaneum spp. aegyptiacum, Sorghum halepense, Oryzopsis miliacea and Cimbopogon hirtus) were established at the Experimental Field of Catania University (Catania plain, 10 m a.s.l., 37°27'N, 15°03'E) in spring 2010 in a Mediterranean environment. Gas exchange measurements, using a gas exchange chamber (LICOR 6400 system, LI-COR Bioscience), have been carried out in the dry season between spring and summer 2012, therefore before the water stress (May), during water stress (June-July) and severe water stress (August), respectively, while productive measurements in winter 2011 and 2012. A long term plantation of giant reed managed in the same condition and grown in the same experimental field has been used as reference crop. Giant reed has been chosen as the reference crop since something is already known about this species regarding physiological traits in south Mediterranean environments. During the measurement time (May, June, July and August) the air temperature, relative humidity, intercepted PAR and soil moisture at 0-30, 30-60 and 60-90 cm were recorded. Cymbopogon and Oryzopsis behaved differently respect to giant reed, even though a decrease in net photosynthesis was observed from May to August. Before the water stress those two species reached 10 µmol CO2 m­ 2 -1-2 -1 s , while only 5 µmol CO2 m s during the severe water stress condition. Saccharum and Sorghum showed, instead, the same trend of the reference crop during the measurement time. Saccharum reached the highest value -2 -1 before the water stress (24-26 µmol CO2 m s ), while it was about two unit value lower than both Sorghum and -2 -1 giant reed during severe water stress (16 vs 14.5 µmol CO2 m s ). It is worth to mention that during the measurement of July and August the leaf temperature was close to 41 °C. Saccharum was the significantly highest yielding species both at the first and second year (9.8 and 18 t DM ha-1, respectively), while Sorghum, Cymbopogon and Oryzopsis were all not significantly different both at first and second year harvest (2.7 and 5.5 for Sorghum, 2.6 and 4.0 for Cymbopogon, 3.5 and 3.6 t DM ha-1 for Oryzopsis). These results show that there are significant differences among the wild perennial grasses both in terms of physiological and productive characters. Water and severe water stress lead to a reduced gas exchange of water transpired to the CO2 uptaken. Further studies need to be carried out to understand physiological mechanism of these new species., Proceedings of the 21st European Biomass Conference and Exhibition, 3-7 June 2013, Copenhagen, Denmark, pp. 326-329

The influence of transplanting time of Arundo donax L. in relation to vegetative clone plant propagation systems was studied for two subsequent growing seasons (2008-2011) at the Experimental farm of Catania University (Italy). A factorial experiment was carried out combining three times of transplanting (November 5th 2008, March 17th 2009, April 30th 2009), two clone propagation methods (rhizome cuttings and stem cuttings) at two soil water availability (irrigation only at the transplanting dates and irrigation from transplanting dates to end of summer). At each transplanting dates 23 mm of water were applied; in the irrigated treatment, from May to end of August, other 250.0 mm of water were applied. The time span between planting to emergence of the first stems has been 168 days (first planting dates), 41 days and 24 days for second and third planting dates respectively. Stem cuttings have shown a good plant establishment in the first and second planting dates; furthermore in all planting dates showed a positive effect on planting density due to supplementary irrigation whereas rhizomes did not. On the contrary rhizomes have a good establishment in the second and third planting dates. Generally speaking the second planting dates was the best for all propagation methods., Proceedings of the 20th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition, 18-22 June 2012, Milan, Italy, pp. 527-530

Three Italian genotypes of Brassica carinata A. Braun (ISCI7, CT 207 and CT 204) were compared over two cropping seasons (2007­08 and 2008­09) in two representative localities (hilly and plain) of southern Italy. The trials were sown in autumn­winter period (from October to December) arranging the genotypes in the field according to a randomised­blocks design with three replicates. During the growing seasons, the main phenological stages were measured and seed yield was determined at harvest time. Grain samples were analysed for oil, protein and glucosinolate content. Moreover, the amount of field residues released by the crop and N content in this residual dry biomass were evaluated. Overall, the results indicated that the earlier genotypes, CT 204 and to a minor extent ISCI 7 produced better in quantitative (grain yield) and qualitative (oil, protein and glucosinolate yields) terms, providing also a greater amount of field residues per unit area rich in N. Nevertheless, owing to the significant combined effect among the year, site and genotype factors, the biological and productive behaviour of the genotypes was markedly conditioned by the different weather conditions occurred during the trials. For this motive, further research is necessary in order to establish the feasibility of introducing Ethiopian mustard in farming systems of southern Italy obtaining an advantage in reducing N fertilisers as well as the agrochemicals for the control of pest and disease also in other crops in rotation., Proceedings of the 19th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition, 6-10 June 2011, Berlin, Germany, pp. 649-655

The influence of transplanting time of Arundo donax L. in relation to vegetative clone plant propagation systems was studied in 2009 at the Experimental farm of Catania University (Italy). A factorial experiment was carried out combining three times of transplanting (November 5th 2008, March 17th 2009, April 30th 2009), three clone propagation methods (rhizome cuttings, horizontal stem cuttings and vertical stem cuttings ) at two soil water availability (irrigation only at the planting dates and irrigation from planting dates to end of summer). At each planting dates 23 mm of water were applied; in the irrigated treatment, from May to end of August, other 250.0 mm of water were applied. The time span between planting to emergence of the first stems has been 172.8 days (first planting dates), 50.3 days and 40.1 days for second and third planting dates respectively. Horizontal stem cuttings produced the significantly highest stem density (4.2 stem m-2); horizontal stems have shown, in all planting dates, a positive effect on planting density due to supplementary irrigation whereas rhizomes and vertical stems did not. Generally speaking the second planting dates was the best for all propagation methods. Horizontal stems have shown a good plant establishment in the first and second planting dates; on the contrary rhizomes in the second and third while vertical stems have shown the worst establishment rate., Proceedings of the 18th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition, 3-7 May 2010, Lyon, France, pp. 522-525

The stem cuttings of giant reed crop with a certain number of dormant viable buds are suitable to produce new plants (by growth of node shoots and development of adventitious roots); preliminary studies show that the uses of stem cuttings is less expensive than rhizome cuttings. However in the semi-arid Mediterranean environment the soil water content can be a limiting factor. Bearing this is mind, an experimental research was carried out in spring-summer 2009, in the Catania plain (Southern Italy) to compare sprouting rate of giant reed cuttings from basal (BS), median (MS), apical (AS) area and a mix (XS) of them, in two soil water conditions: Irrigated (100% ETm restoration from transplant to end of dry summer season, 267.5 mm); Rainfed (irrigation only at the planting date, 17.5 mm ). The results indicate that the number of sprouted nodes at the end of August were 0.7 nodes m-2 (11.53% of the buried nodes), without any difference between part of the stems while in percentage of buried nodes, significantly higher in BS portion (17.88%) than in AS portion (6.27%). The sprouted nodes were significantly higher in the well watered condition (0.95 viable nodes m-2) than in rainfed ones (0.45 viable nodes m-2); equally stem density at the end of the number of stems per square meter emission was significantly affected by soil water conditions (1.63 and 4.28 stems m-2 in rainfed and irrigated condition respectively). Moreover the research allowed to point out that the minimum water requirement for stem sprouting was 25% of the available soil water content., Proceedings of the 18th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition, 3-7 May 2010, Lyon, France, pp. 518-521