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Contaminated land, that is unsuitable for food production, represents an alternative option for crops producing feedstock for bioproducts and bioenergy, which would otherwise be in competition with food production. It has been estimated that there are more than 10 million major contaminated sites worldwide, while in the European Economic Area (EEA)-39 countries the registered contaminated sites are up to 650000. Even though often perceived solely as a problem, contaminated areas could instead become a real asset that needs to be valued. One of the aims of MAGIC project was to screen the most promising industrial crops for cultivation on contaminated and saline soils. The effects of the heavy metals Cd, Pb, Ni and Zn on fifteen industrial crops were examined, namely on: biomass sorghum, camelina, cardoon, castor bean, crambe, Ethiopian mustard, giant reed, hemp, lupin, miscanthus x giganteus, pennycress, safflower, switchgrass, tall wheatgrass, and wild sugarcane (African fodder cane). The experiments were conducted following the same methodology and protocols by all partners involved.

Additional file 6: Figure S5. Three-dimension PCA for RNAseq correlation. Principal Component coordinates were calculated using sample read counts. Figure S6 - Hierarchical clustering map for differential expression genes.

Additional file 3: Figure S3. Flowchart of sequencing and de novo assembly of A.donax leaf and root transcriptome under cadmium treatment.

Additional file 4: Figure S4. Length distribution of transcripts and unigenes.

Additional file 2: Figure S2. Effect of cadmium treatment on morpho-biometric and physiological parameters of A. donax G10 ecotype. A) Main stem height per pot. B) Biomass dry weight. C) Net photosynthesis efficiency.

An article about an applied theatre research project in Rehab Centres and Youth Centres in Italy. The research projects which ran over a number of years used Greek Tragedy and theatre processes as a means of communal therapy., Immaginate di entrare in una stanza scarsamente illuminata con alcune candele disposte in semicerchio e, al centro, un giovane alto e snello con capelli castano chiaro, leggermente spettinati, seduto su uno sgabello, che suona la più triste delle melodie su una vecchia chitarra acustica vintage, colore di uno sprazzo di sole. L’uditorio è in silenzio e pienamente immerso nell’atmosfera creata dalla musica. Lui guarda le sue dita sul manico della chitarra e la fa piangere. Il giovane chiude gli occhi per un momento, mentre le sue dita navigano attraverso una complessa improvvisazione che porta a termine la musica. Silenzio. Ha gli occhi ancora chiusi e, improvvisamente, alza lo sguardo direttamente sull’uditorio che siede sul pavimento vicino a lui, appena oltre il semicerchio di candele. Sembra che il suo sguardo sia diretto a ciascuno dei presenti. Poi, con una voce profonda e gentile, si prende il suo tempo per rivelare la sua storia intima., peer-reviewed

Figure S6. Phylogenetic relationship among A. donax salt responsive clusters and orthologues belonging to different plant sources. a cluster 14,027–155,903 homolog of Phramites australis Na+/H+ antiporter (NHX1). b cluster 14,027–181,583 homolog of Arabidopsis thaliana Na+/H+ exchanger 2 (NHX2). c cluster 14,027–182,899 homolog of Oryza sativa CBL-interacting protein kinase 1 (CIPK1-SOS2-like). d cluster 14,027–182,899 homolog of Oryza sativa CBL-interacting protein kinase 24 (SOS2). e cluster 14,027–54,233 homolog of Setaria italica cation transporter (HKT9). f cluster 14,027–231,386 homolog of Arabidopsis thaliana persulfide dioxygenase (ETHE1). (DOCX 171 kb)

Figure S1. Effect of salt stress upon G2, G18 and G20 ecotype morpho-biometric and physiological parameters. . a Leaf number per pot. b Stem number per pot. c Main stem height. d SPAD. e Net photosynthesis. f Dry biomass (PDF 97 kb)

Table S2. Distribution of KEGG pathways for DEGs in the three sample sets. (DOCX 15 kb)

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.

Side by side biomass productivities, harvesting time (autumn vs. winter) and frequency (annual vs. biennial) of three perennial grasses were compared under northern and southern Mediterranean climates. Miscanthus ( Miscanthus × giganteus Greef et Deu.) was compared to giant reed ( Arundo donax L.) in Catania (37°24′N, 15°03′E), and to switchgrass ( Panicum virgatum L.) in Bologna (44°55'N, 11°45′E). Generally, giant reed produced about 50% higher biomass than miscanthus in Catania. Miscanthus almost halved biomass productivity in the driest year, while giant reed reduced biomass yield by only 30% under the same conditions. In Bologna, miscanthus and switchgrass produced similar amounts of cumulative biomass over 6 years. Switchgrass kept more stable annual yields than miscanthus, which, however, evidenced a higher potential under favorable climate conditions. Autumn harvest significantly reduced biomass productivity and quality (moisture content, ashes, cellulose and hemicellulose), particularly under South Mediterranean climate. In Catania, autumn biomass was 50% (giant reed) to 85% (miscanthus) lower than winter biomass, while in Bologna, autumn cut reduced switchgrass yield by 20%. Biennial harvesting resulted in almost 40% lower cumulative biomass yield than annual cut, after 6 years.