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To contribute to the use of bio‐based materials in the building sector, a novel bio‐based wall panel, with a high thermal performance level, is proposed in this work. The panel is based on an ancient rural technique, widely diffused in southern Italy, which makes use of Arundo donax L. canes combined with gypsum plaster to build walls and ceilings of rural buildings. The enhancement of the thermal capacity of these panels by means of the introduction in the canes of a natural wax oleogel (WO) is proposed in this paper. A specific experimental campaign aiming at the comparison of traditional and innovative panels was carried out to assess the enhanced thermal performance of the proposed solution. The maximum value of heat flow absorbed from the panel with WO was 61.08 W/m2 around a mean panel temperature of 24°C, corresponding to the melting temperature range of the WO. The panel without WO at the same temperature absorbed an incoming heat flow of 34.64 W/m2 which is about 57% of the panel with WO. The panel with WO released at a temperature of about 27.5°C, a heat flow of 43.42 W/m2. At the same temperature of about 27.5°C, the panel without WO released a heat flow of 34.38 W/m2 which is about 80% that of the panel with WO. The results highlighted that the addition of natural WO has enhanced the thermal capacity of the panel facilitating heat dissipation through the borders. These characteristics make the panel a suitable component for internal partitions of controlled temperature zones such as residential rooms, storage food areas, livestock buildings, and where it is necessary to obtain a constant environmental temperature. In particular, the null or low toxicity of the panel's materials allows for partition use, also in hygienically safe environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to investigate the effects of water level changes on the growth and physiology of Arundo donax var. versicolor and to understand its adaptive mechanisms to water level fluctuations, this study was conducted. A. donax var. versicolor was selected as the experimental species, and a dual-pot method was employed to simulate both rising and falling water level conditions. The study analyzed morphological characteristics (plant height, stem diameter, leaf traits, root traits), biomass, and photosynthetic features (chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, chlorophyll a + b, carotenoids) of A. donax var. versicolor under these two water level conditions. The results revealed that (1) under the condition of rising water level, the morphological characteristics and chlorophyll content showed an overall trend of increasing initially and then decreasing with the increase of the rate. The growth rate of 0.2–0.4 cm/d groups were better, while exceeding its tolerance range led to a decrease in photosynthetic pigment content and even cell inactivation. (2) falling water level were more complex, with plant height, stem diameter, leaf length, leaf width, and leaf area being higher in the 0.8–1 cm/d groups, but values for leaf number and root characteristics were lower. This suggests that moderate stress can promote the growth of A. donax var. versicolor, but in the later stages, it can lead to leaf yellowing, root shrinkage, and even death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was aimed to evaluate the ability of Meyerozyma guilliermondii P14 to produce bioethanol from pretreated biomass of giant reed (Arundo donax). The wild yeast was isolated from its natural habitat and identified by phylogenetic analysis. Arundo donax biomass was sequentially pretreated by acid and alkali treatments to break the recalcitrant structure. The pretreated biomass was analysed by FTIR spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy to observe the structural changes in the biomass. Pretreated biomass was then enzymatically saccharified, and the resultant broth was used to produce ethanol by M. guilliermondii P14. The fermentation parameters such as pH, temperature, composition of media, and agitation rate were optimized prior to saccharified broth-based fermentations. The results of this study revealed that the dual pretreatment of biomass could make 90.56% cellulose accessible for enzymatic attack. Subsequently, saccharification of pretreated biomass with two enzyme variants resulted in conversion efficiency of 85–87%. Fermentation of saccharified broth resulted in 32.89 g/L final ethanol concentration at 72 h. This has corresponded to 0.48 g/g of ethanol yield and 0.456 g/L/h volumetric productivity. M. guilliermondii is known to utilize both pentose and hexose sugars unlike Saccharomyces cerevisiae which makes it a major player in cellulosic ethanol production. This study provides a significant evidence to the information pool of second-generation bioethanol production from unconventional glucose fermenting yeasts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the potential of micro-magnetic resonance imaging (μ-MRI) for identifying archaeological reeds found in the tomb of Tutankhamun. Reed plants had various historical uses in the past, with ancient Egyptians extensively employing them for crafting a wide range of items. The distinct cross-sectional characteristics of Arundo donax (giant reed) and Phragmites australis (common reed) are observed and described via optical microscopy and μ-MRI in this study. While optical microscopy offers higher resolution, μ-MRI provides advantages for studying archaeobotanical specimens, as it eliminates the need for mechanical sectioning and potentially damaging fragile samples. The application of μ-MRI on a selected archaeological reed allowed us to identify it as Phragmites australis, showing that μ-MRI can yield clear images, maintaining the integrity of the sample. In contrast, diagnostic features appeared greatly deformed on the thin section observed via optical microscopy. Despite the limitations related to the sample size and the need for sample soaking, μ-MRI presents a valuable tool for analyzing archaeological remains in the field of cultural heritage, with the potential for broader applications. Overall, this study contributes to expanding the toolkit available to researchers studying plant remains, providing insights into reed identification and preservation in archaeological contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marginal land exploitation devoted to versatile crops, such as giant reed, is related to the degree of land marginality. Two experiments were conducted in two sites of Sardinia (Italy) to investigate the effects of management on dry matter yield and water productivity (WP). Experiment 1 compared four crop evapotranspiration restoring treatments (100%, 75%, 50%, 25%, and a rainfed control) over 5 years. Experiment 2 lasted 7 years and investigated zero-input supply on crop response. Experiment 1, notwithstanding well-watered conditions (Irr100), showed a higher value of biomass production during the last year monitored, but yielding only 13.5 Mg DM ha−1 and with no significant difference from Irr75. Moreover, being equal the average dry matter yield, in the Irr100, we would save 3630 m3 of irrigation water by achieving the same WP recorded in the Irr25 (25% ETc restoring). Experiment 2, being equal rainfall amount, raised WP values that picked 8.2 kg m−3 during 2018. Results indicate that in less favourable soils as the Experiment 1, well-watered conditions do not ensure better crop growth and productivity, whereas in deep soils (Experiment 2) promising productive results, as well as ecosystem services, could be obtained without any input supply. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article, titled "A Protein from the Aerial Part of Arundo donax and its Hypoglycemic Activity," discusses the research conducted on the protein content and amino-acid composition of Arundo donax, a perennial cereal plant used in Eastern folk medicine. The study found that the protein composition of A. donax contains 17 amino acids, including essential amino acids. The protein was also found to have a hypoglycemic effect in hyperglycemic rats, reducing blood sugar levels by up to 38.4% compared to the control group. The results suggest that the protein from A. donax could be beneficial for the treatment of diabetes mellitus. [Extracted from the article]

This article provides an analysis of the lipids and polysaccharides found in Arundo donax, a plant commonly used in Eastern folk medicine. The study focused on the leaves and roots of the plant, determining their fatty acid compositions and the composition of polysaccharides. The results showed that the leaves contained 2.65% lipids, while the roots contained 1.29% lipids. The polysaccharides in both the aerial parts and roots were primarily composed of pectins and hemicelluloses, with varying ratios of monosaccharide residues and degrees of esterification. The study concluded that the polysaccharides in A. donax were heteropolysaccharides and low-esterified pectins. [Extracted from the article]

The aim of the present work was to assess the leaf area duration (LAD) and the radiation use efficiency (RUE) of six warm-season perennial biomass grasses (PBGs) in a two-year field trial in the semiarid Mediterranean climate under different soil water availability. Two ecotypes of giant reed (Arundo donax L., ARCT and ARMO), one ecotype of African fodder cane (Saccharum spontaneum L. subsp. aegyptiacum (Willd.) Hack., SAC) and three hybrids of Miscanthus (the commercial M. × giganteus J.M. Greef, Deuter ex Hodk., Renvoize, M × G, and two new seed-based hybrids, GNT9 and GNT10) were compared under three levels of soil water availability: rainfed, 50% and 100% of maximum crop evapotranspiration (ETm) restoration. The determination of RUE of perennial plants is controversial and has led to contrasting results in past studies. In the present work, LAD and RUE differed among crops and irrigation regimes, being positively affected by supplemental water inputs. SAC, ARCT and ARMO showed both high LAD and RUE, which determined the high biomass yield than both the commercial M × G and the improved Miscanthus hybrids GNT9 and GNT10. RUE was particularly high and less affected by soil water availability during the mid-season, while the effect of irrigation and the differences among the genotypes were larger during the late season. Adequate biomass yield can be achieved by sub-optimal soil water availability, thus reducing the water footprint and increasing the sustainability of these biomass perennial grasses selected for the Mediterranean climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study evaluates the potential of Arundo donax L., a perennial herbaceous that can grow in wide varieties of soils with minimal water and nutrient requirements, as a solid biofuel for the production of thermal energy. The biomass was characterized in terms of proximal, chemical, and elemental analysis using standard techniques. The combustion behaviour and thermal efficiency were evaluated by using a domestic stove through the Water Boiling Test. The gaseous emissions from the combustion of Arundo donax L. were measured with a portable device and compared with those from other conventional biomasses such as pine pellets, corn cobs, and commercial firewood. The results showed a higher heating value of 17.36 ± 0.171 MJ/kg and an elemental composition based on more than 45% carbon. The WBT revealed both, the shortest time (27.8 min) and the specific fuel consumption (1.1 kg/L), and the highest burning rate (88.8 g/min) for Arundo donax L. compared to the rest of the biomasses studied. The flue gas profile revealed CO2 emissions of 2.6%, similar to pellets and commercial firewood (1.3 and 1.9%, respectively), a percentage of CO lower than corn cobs, although somewhat unstable, and NOx emission of around 197 mg/Nm3 only higher than pine pellets. These results revealed the technical viability of Arundo donax L. as a biofuel for thermal energy production, at least at residential level, contributing to the diversification of renewable sources of bioenergy in a sustainability scenario against climate changes effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

None of our investigations have identified stress in response to the HSP70 and HO-1 proteins in metals under stress in our study, which aimed to understand the genetic basis of the metal tolerance of Arundo donax. Thus, the present work aimed to investigate the levels of expression of two important stress-related proteins, HO-1 and HSP70, in A. donax after exposure to various metals. The plants were collected from uncontaminated sites in Abbottabad, Pakistan. Their rhizomes were grown in Hoagland solution, and upon attaining suitable biomass, the plants were used to investigate the effects of metals on protein expression. The metal treatments were carried out with synthetic wastewater containing four Cr treatments (0, 34, 66, 134, and 267 mgL-1), namely, Cd, As, Pb, Cu and Ni (0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 mgL-1), and the plants were grown for three weeks. The treatments were applied according to a randomized block design (RBD) based on hydroponics. The selected protein expression was examined after 10 days of metal exposure. For the HSP70 and HO-1 protein studies, leaves were separated following a previously reported standard procedure. The maximum level of HO-1 and HSP70 expressions was noted at 66 mgL-1 of Cr, and then it slightly declined. Significantly, high protein expression was observed at Cd exposure concentrations of 50 to 100 mgL-1. For Cu, As and Ni, significantly high HO-1 and HSP70 expressions were noted at metal exposure concentrations of 75 to 100 mgL-1. The expression levels of these two stress-related proteins showed a linear increase with increasing metal exposure in the giant reed. It is clear from the present research that HSP70 and HO-1 proteins may contribute significantly to plant tolerance to metal stress, in addition to other possible tolerance mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work describes a systematic method for the analysis of the attrition and residual morphology of natural fibers during the compounding process by twin-screw extrusion. There are several methods for the assessment of fiber lengths and morphology, although they are usually based on the use of non-affordable apparatus or time-consuming methods. In this research, the variation of morphological features such as the length, diameter and aspect ratio of natural fibers were analyzed by affordable optical scanning methods and open-source software. This article presents the different steps to perform image acquisition, refining and measurement in an automated way, achieving statistically representative results, with thousands of fibers analyzed per scanned sample. The use of this technique for the measurement of giant reed fibers in polyethylene (PE) and polylactide (PLA)-based composite materials has proved that there are no significant differences in the output fiber morphology of the compound, regardless of the fiber feed sizes, extruder scale, or the polymer used as matrix. The ratio of fiber introduced for the production of composites also did not significantly affect the final fiber size. The greatest reduction in size was obtained in the first kneading zone during compounding. Pelletizing or injection molding did not significantly modify the fiber size distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the microbial oil production by three selected strains, Mortierella isabellina, Cunninghamella echinulata, and Thamnidium elegans, after fermentation of an enzymatic hydrolysate from alkali pre-treated giant reed biomass, in comparison to a semi-synthetic medium, at three increasing nitrogen supplementation levels (0.14, 0.25, and 0.47 g/L). M. isabellina showed the fastest sugar consumption, the highest final cell and oil concentrations (10.9 and 5.6 g/L, respectively), as well as the highest cellular oil content, oil yield/g sugar consumed, and oil productivity (63.4%, 0.19 g/g, and 1 g/L/day, respectively) in the giant reed hydrolysate. The oil yield tended to decrease with an increasing nitrogen content in the cultures. Oleic acid was the most copious fatty acid in the oil for all the fungi. On the contrary, T. elegans exhibited the poorest performances. In particular, M. isabellina showed, respectively, the highest and lowest values of oleic and γ-linolenic acid (52.2 and 3.1%, on average). In comparison, C. echinulata and T. elegans showed much higher γ-linolenic acid content (15.3 and 21.6%, on average). Notably, the C. echinulata cultures showed by far the highest γ-linolenic acid concentration in both substrates (345 and 595 g/L in the giant reed hydrolysate and in the synthetic medium, respectively). Finally, the estimated biodiesel properties of all the oils fell within the limits of the U.S. standards, while the oil of M. isabellina only respected the tighter limits fixed by the E.U. regulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on investigating the impact of environmental stresses, including drought and salinity, on the growth and development of Giant Reed (Arundo donax) under the climatic conditions of Mashhad city. The topics include the significance of drought and salinity as key environmental challenges, the effects of climate change on agriculture, and the need to understand the relationship between environmental factors.

This study developed an efficient protocol for the in vitro propagation of giant reed (Arundo donax L.) biomass, defining a complete cycle of the induction of somatic embryogenesis from immature inflorescences, followed by the maturation of somatic embryos and the subsequent multiplication of the derived shoots in liquid culture in a temporary immersion system (TIS). The best explants were found to be 30 cm long immature inflorescences, preferably collected in spring. Such an explant type was easy to decontaminate, and the spikelets isolated from it provided over 100 embryogenic callus lines. Among the callus induction media tested, gelled MS medium supplemented with 1.1 mg/L 2,4-D provided the highest percentage of responsive spikelets and the highest density of embryogenic callus. Maturation of the embryogenic callus was easily triggered on gelled MS medium devoid of plant growth regulators. The obtained shoots could be further multiplied on previously optimized gelled DKW medium supplemented with 30 g/L sucrose, 5 mg/L BA, 0.1 mg/L IBA, and 6.8 g/L plant agar. Subsequent high multiplication of the developed shoots was achieved in liquid culture in TIS using a Plantform™ bioreactor, with an immersion cycle of 12 min every 8 h. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bioremediation of pharmaceuticals has gained large research efforts, but there is still a need to improve the performance of bioremediation systems by selecting effective organisms. In this study, we characterized the capability to remove clarithromycin (CLA) and diclofenac (DCF) by the bacterium Streptomyces rochei, and the fungi Phanerochaete chrysosporium and Trametes versicolor. The macrolide antibiotic CLA and the non-steroid anti-inflammatory DCF were selected because these are two of the most frequently detected drugs in water bodies. Growth and content of the PhCs and a DCF metabolite (MET) by the energy crop Arundo donax L. were also evaluated under hydroponic conditions. The removal rate (RR) by S. rochei increased from 24 to 40% at 10 and 100 µg CLA L−1, respectively, averaged over incubation times. At 144 h, the RR by P. chrysosporium was 84%, while by T. versicolor was 70 and 45% at 10 and 100 CLA µg L−1. The RR by S. rochei did not exceed 30% at 1 mg DCF L−1 and reached 60% at 10 mg DCF L−1, whereas approached 95% and 63% by P. chrysosporium and T. versicolor, respectively, at both doses. Root biomass and length of A. donax were strongly affected at 100 µg CLA L−1. CLA concentration in roots and shoots increased with the increase of the dose and translocation factor (TF) was about 1. DCF severely affected both shoot fresh weight and root length at the highest dose and concentration in roots and shoots increased with the increase of the dose. DCF concentrations were 16–19 times higher in roots than in shoots, and TF was about 0.1. MET was detected only in roots and its proportion over the parent compound decreased with the increase of the DCF dose. This study highlights the potential contribution of A. donax and the tested microbial inoculants for improving the effectiveness of bioremediation systems for CLA and DCF removal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The construction sector plays an important role in climate change. Thus, there is a pressing need to construct buildings that reduce heat losses, use natural and local materials, exploit renewable sources and ensure high comfort levels with a minimum environmental impact. Reed, considered carbon-neutral and a carbon dioxide sink material, has been used for centuries for diverse uses. Its properties and high availability made it a popular building material, as seen in Portuguese vernacular architecture. Knowing the properties of the reed is a crucial step to ensure successful heritage conservation, optimising these materials, and developing innovative solutions. This paper studies the potential of using giant reed from different Portuguese regions as a thermal insulation material. Giant reed board prototypes (15 x 15 x 5 cm, about 235 kg/m3) were built. Their thermal performance was tested in a hotbox, according to ASTM C1363‑19. The results show that the giant reed harvested on the northern coast of Portugal has better thermal performance than reeds from other regions. However, regardless of the region of the country where the giant reed was harvested, it has a satisfactory thermal resistance (Re ≥ 0.30 (m2.ºC)/W), allowing its use as a thermal insulation material in the buildings.

This study presents an unexplored method to produce formaldehyde-free MDF. Steam exploded Arundo donax L. (STEX-AD) and untreated wood fibers (WF) were mixed at different mixing rates (0/100, 50/50, and 100/0, respectively) and two series of boards were manufactured, with 4 wt% of pMDI, based on dry fibers, and self-bonded. The mechanical and physical performance of the boards was analyzed as a function of the adhesive content and the density. The mechanical performance and dimensional stability were determined by following European standards. The material formulation and the density of the boards had a significant effect on both mechanical and physical properties. The boards made solely of STEX-AD were comparable to those made with pMDI, while the panels made of WF without adhesive were those that performed the worst. The STEX-AD showed the ability to reduce the TS for both pMDI-bonded and self-bonded boards, although leading to a high WA and a higher short-term absorption for the latter. The results presented show the feasibility of using STEX-AD in the manufacturing of self-bonded MDF and the improvement of dimensional stability. Nonetheless, further studies are needed especially to address the enhancement of the internal bond (IB). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural fibers were used to modify alkali-activated fly-ash mortars. Arundo donax is a common, fast-growing, widespread plant with interesting mechanical properties. Short fibers of different lengths (from 5 to 15 mm) were added at a 3 wt% ratio to the binder amount to the alkali-activated fly-ash matrix. The possible effects on the fresh and cured properties of the mortars deriving from the different lengths of the reinforcing phase were investigated. The flexural strength of the mortars increased by up to 30% at the longest fiber dimensions, while the compressive strength remained almost unchanged in all of the compositions. The dimensional stability was increased slightly upon the addition of the fibers, depending on the fiber length, while the porosity of the mortars was reduced. Moreover, contrary to what was expected, the water permeability was not increased by the fibers' addition, irrespective of their length. The durability of the obtained mortars was tested through freeze–thaw and thermo-hygrometric cycles. The results obtained so far underline a fair resistance to the changes in temperature and moisture and a better resistance to the freeze–thaw stresses of the reinforced mortars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

JUNCAO, as energy grass, was used in mesophilic anaerobic digestion (MAD) to produce methane, which has a huge market potential in biomass energy. This study was conducted to evaluate the characteristics of MAD of Arundo donax cv. Lvzhou No.1 (Lvzhou No.1) and Pennisetum giganteum z.x.lin (P. giganteum) (the growth cycle of 5 months), and explore the relationship between microbial community structure and its function during MAD process. The results showed that cumulative biogas production and cumulative methane content Lvzhou No. 1 (370.37 mL/g VS and 280.08 mL/g VS) with richer nutrition were higher than those of P. giganteum (313.04 mL/g VS and 233.78 mL/g VS) within 30 days of MAD. And the maximum methane concentration could increase to 78% and 75%, respectively. The volatile fatty acid (VFA) of Lvzhou No. 1 and P. giganteums showed a trend of increasing at first then decreasing, and reached the production peak on the first day (1372.40 mg/L) and second day (1061.18 mg/L), respectively. Hemicellulose of both was preferentially degraded with the highest degradation rate (48.27~77.45%). At last, the microbial community analysis suggested that the dominant bacteria in the MAD system at the phylum level belonged to Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Euryarchaeota. Among them, unidentified_Clostridiales and Ruminofilibacter exhibited dominance in the production of acidic substances in this system, and methanogenic function was mainly associated with Methanosaeta. In conclusion, this study would provide new evidence for MAD of JUNCAO as new energy resources, which would pave the way for large-scale MAD of energy plants in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The selection of non-food crops for bioenergy production in limiting environments is a priority for energy security and climate change mitigation. Therefore, more studies are needed on the interactions between species and environmental factors in specific sites which allows their selection for biomass production. The objective of this work is to study the impact of drought on the morpho-physiological parameters of perennial rhizomatous grasses Panicum virgatum L., Miscanthus × giganteus, and Arundo donax L. in the Mediterranean environment. Plants were grown on field and trials were carried out under support-irrigation and rainfed conditions during two consecutive years. Morpho-physiological parameters were measured in May, June and August, and dry biomass at the end of the experiment. Under rainfed conditions, A. donax presented the highest photosynthesis rate (25, 15 and 10 CO2 m−2 s−1), relative water content (85–90%), and dry biomass (~4500 g plant−1) compared with P. virgatum (20, 5 and 5 CO2 m−2 s−1, 65–85% RWC and ~1400 g plant−1) and Miscanthus (18, 4 and 0 CO2 m−2 s−1, 80–10% RWC and ~260 g plant−1). It is concluded that A. donax would be the best perennial rhizomatous grass to be used as bioenergy crop under Mediterranean conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Promising green technologies that can overcome the challenges associated with the use of fossil fuels require microorganisms that can effectively ferment lignocellulosic hydrolysate for biochemical production with reduced sensitivity to toxic chemicals derived from the pretreatment process. In this study, a sequential adaptation approach was developed to obtain new bacterial lines from Basfia (B.) succiniciproducens strains, which are adapted to inhibitory compounds of the Arundo (A.) donax hydrolysate or those that accumulate during the fermentation process. The early adaptation stages resulted in newly adapted B. succiniciproducens bacterial lines that can tolerate fermentation end-products such as acetic, lactic, and succinic acids, as well as toxic compounds such as furfural and hydroxymethylfurfural. These adapted bacterial lines were further investigated to assess their ability to produce succinic acid in an MHM medium supplemented with a filtrate of A. donax hydrolysate. Batch growth tests on a small laboratory scale showed that bacterial lines 2E and 4D produced 5.80 ± 0.56 g L−1 and 5.81 ± 0.39 g L−1 of succinic acid, respectively, after 24 h of fermentation. Based also on its growth rate, the adapted bacterial line B. succiniciproducens 4D was selected for tests in a lab-scale fermenter, where it was able to synthesize up to 17.24 ± 0.39 g L−1 of succinate (corresponding to YSA/gluc 0.96 ± 0.02 g g−1 and to YSA/(G + X) 0.48 ± 0.01 g g−1) from MHM medium added with A. donax hydrolysate. Experiments showed an increase of ~17% compared to the control strain. The overall results demonstrate the potential of adapted bacterial lines for succinate production from A. donax hydrolysate and the development of improved technologies for bio-based succinic acid production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Concrete is a material that is strong in compression but weak in tension. To overcome this issue, reinforcement must be used to improve the tensile strength of the concrete. However, it is acknowledged that steel has its drawbacks, such as the fact that it has a high cost and corrosion potential, and the rebar is heavy, non-renewable, and non-environmentally friendly. Thus, this experimental study investigates the potential product of economical reinforced concrete slabs using eco-friendly materials. Firstly, to enhance the concrete properties, a compressive, tensile, and flexural test, also a concrete with the addition of polypropylene fiber outlasted the control mix design in terms of strength and durability. The results included the control mix (CM), F1 0.25%, F2 0.50%, F3 0.75%, and F4 1%. The specimen with the highest compression and tensile strength was 24.28 MPa and 3.15 MPa, respectively, for the F1 specimen with 0.25% short fibers. Secondly, the bending test was carried out on ten slabs to check the structural behavior of these slabs reinforced with reed rods as the eco-friendly material. The good results of the bearing capacity of a partially reinforced concrete slab with a reed have been obtained at 23.8 kN. Meanwhile, to obtain better results, this research has enhanced the behavior of the concrete slab by improving the concrete's properties by adding polypropylene synthetic microfiber to the mixed concrete. In addition, giant reeds treated with epoxy increase the bonding strength with concrete, improve tensile strength properties, and reduce the absorption of reeds. Therefore, the bearing capacity results of the reed-reinforced concrete slab became the best, which were 35.83 kN. Thus, reinforcement of one-way slabs by reed partially with appropriate diameters could be substituted to obtain good performance in the reconstruction of low-cost buildings. As a result, economical reinforced concrete slabs have been produced using eco-friendly materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alien invasive species (AIS) and non-native species are a prominent and extended problem in a wide range of areas in Europe and around the world. Centered in the Umia's riparian forest, in Galicia, we found at least three main AIS needing to be controlled and harvested to preserve the biodiversity of the area. Previous studies probed that leaves and bark of selected species—Tradescantia fluminensis, Arundo donax, and Eucalyptus globulus—have important antioxidant properties, suitable for use in pharmaceutical and industrial contexts. A comparison of four solid-liquid extraction methods—Soxhlet extraction, ultrasound assisted extraction, thermal agitator, and infusion—was conducted in order to define the most efficient method in correlation within antioxidant (anthocyanins and total phenols) extraction. Water was selected as solvent, providing a sustainable research background without implying any chemical additives. The best extraction yields were obtained with Soxhlet extraction for all raw matter, with best results for Tradescantia fluminensis (41.89%) and Eucalyptus globulus leaves (39.35%); followed by the ultrasonic assisted extraction method, with better yield performed with Eucalyptus leaves (27.07%). On the contrary, Tradescantia fluminensis showed better efficiency with thermal agitator (35.07% compared to 23.19% from ultrasound extraction). After extractions, identification and quantification of total phenolic compounds and anthocyanins were carried out using spectrophotometric determination and acid hydrolysis in butanol method. In general, the best extraction yield in correlation with higher antioxidant content was performed by thermal agitator method, and Eucalyptus globulus leaves were demonstrated to be the better anthocyanins (6.18 ± 0.82 mg CC/g) and total phenols containers (172.40 ± 44.53 mg GAE/g). Studies provided promising possibilities for the residues of the three non-native species analyzed, as a source of antioxidants, favoring circular economy systems, as well as taking care of biodiversity in affected environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The massive biomass availability generated by the common giant reed (Arundo donax L.) motivates the research for its possible industrial use for high-added-value products through a biorefinery approach. The literature demonstrates the potential of common cane to obtain different high-value compounds, such as levulinic acid, oligosaccharides, fermentable sugars, highly digestible fiber for animal feed, polyphenols, and natural fibers for composite materials, among others. Arundo can also provide valuable lignocellulosic fibers with an application as composite reinforcement, which is the aim of this review. The work is split into different sections: fiber obtaining, mainly done by mechanical procedures, fiber characterization (composition, thermal degradation, "mechanical properties", and crystallinity), and properties of composites with reed fiber. Most authors refer to producing board panels with insulating properties, followed by introducing reed fibers or ground materials in thermoset resins. Few papers focus on the production of thermoplastic composites with Arundo, which shows the opportunity for deepening research in this area. PRISMA flowchart has been followed to perform the literature review. Different sources have been used, and retrieved results have been combined to obtain the core studies assessed in this review, evaluating the options of using Arundo fibers to obtain polymer composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High biomass energy plants are a promising alternative to hyperaccumulators for the remediation of heavy metals (HMs). Arundo donax L. (A. donax) is a rapidly growing rhizomatous grass with high biomass production. However, the feasibility of using A. donax for the phytoremediation of combined mercury (Hg) and cadmium (Cd) pollution under neutral conditions is unclear. In this study, a hydroponic experiment was performed to investigate the impact of Hg–Cd stress on the growth and physiological properties of A. donax and HMs accumulation and transformation. Either single Hg or Cd stress slightly enhanced stem height, fresh biomass, and chlorophyll content, whereas combined Hg–Cd stress reduced these parameters. Furthermore, combined Hg–Cd stress increased the leaf content of malondialdehyde in A. donax, indicating that the combined pollution aggravated oxidative stress in A. donax. Hg volatilization was observed during the 10-day experiment, implying that a portion of the Hg2+ was transformed into Hg0 by A. donax. The bioaccumulation factor (BAF) values of A. donax were far greater than 1 for both Hg and Cd, whereas the translocation factor (TF) values were less than 1, indicating that phytovolatilization and phytostabilization rather than phytoextraction contributed to the remediation of Hg and Cd by A. donax. The solution pH decreased at the beginning of the experiment, suggesting that acidic root exudates of A. donax facilitated the accumulation and transformation of Hg under neutral conditions. Overall, the effects of Cd on Hg accumulation and transformation by A. donax followed the rule of "low promotion and high inhibition." This study demonstrates that A. donax is a potential candidate for the phytoremediation of combined Hg–Cd pollution under neutral conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Giant reed (Arundo donax) is a prevalent invasive plant in desert riparian ecosystems that threatens wildlife habitat. From 2008 to 2018, under a United States–Mexico partnership, prescribed burns and herbicide applications were used to remove giant reed and promote native revegetation along the Rio Grande—Río Bravo floodplain in west Texas, USA, and Mexico. Our goal was to explore the effects of the removal efforts on butterfly and bird communities and their habitat along the United States portion of the Rio Grande—Río Bravo floodplain in Big Bend National Park, Texas. During spring and summer, 2016–2017, we surveyed butterflies, birds, and their habitat using ground‐collected and remotely sensed data. Using a variety of generalized linear and N‐mixture modeling routines and multivariate analyses, we found that the initial giant reed removal efforts removed key components of riparian habitat leading to reduced butterfly and bird communities. Within several years following management, giant reed levels remained low, while riparian habitat conditions and butterfly and bird communities largely rebounded, including many disturbance‐sensitive butterfly species and riparian‐associated bird species. Butterflies were most consistently associated with forb and grass cover, and birds with a remotely sensed index of greenness (the normalized difference vegetation index), several vegetation cover types, and habitat heterogeneity, habitat elements that were most common in locations that had the longest time to recover following management actions. Our results suggest that prescribed burns and herbicide applications, when used following protocols to minimize risk to wildlife, can limit the spread of giant reed in desert riparian systems and introduce habitat conditions that support diverse and abundant butterfly and bird communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using invasive plants as non-conventional forage in livestock production can contribute to meeting climate change targets and provide a competitive advantage in a global market. This study evaluated the nutritional potential of several non-conventional plants: Pennisetum setaceum, Ricinus communis, Arundo donax, Acacia melanoxylon, Opuntia ficus-indica, Agave americana, Pittosporum undulatum, and Hedychium gardnerianum. Chemical composition, in vitro digestibility, gas production, and energy estimates were determined. Opuntia showed the lowest DM value (6.65%), while the highest was found for Acacia (39.43%). Ricinus recorded the highest levels of CP (23.56% DM), RFV (273.86), and in vitro gas production at 24 h (43.49 mL/200 mg DM). The highest NDF (80.39% DM), HEM (39.03% DM), and CEL (36.81% DM) values were observed for Pennisetum. Agave produced the highest amount of gas from the start to the end of incubation (22.68 to 48.99 mL/200 mg DM), while Acacia produced the least (3.83 to 14.78 mL/200 mg DM). The highest ME (8.72 MJ/kg DM) and NEL (5.06 MJ/kg DM) estimates were obtained for Agave. Correlations between the chemical compositions and feed quality indices of the plants were observed, showing strong negative correlations between ADF and DMD, OMD, and DMI (r > 0.86, p < 0.01). We can conclude that all these non-conventional plants have potential as an alternative feed for ruminants when there are fodder shortages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we present the morphology, taxonomy, anatomy, and palynology of Arundo donax. A detailed morphological description and illustrations of the species are provided, along with information about the identification, distribution, the specimens examined, habitat and ecology, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) conservation assessment, phenology, etymology, vernacular name, and uses. The species can be distinguished by its large, tall rhizomatous perennial reed; cauline leaves; an open, large, plumose panicle inflorescence; subequal glumes as long as the spikelets; glabrous rachilla; all bisexual florets; and a lemma with a straight awn and with long white hairs outside below the middle part. In this study, two names were lectotypified: Arundo bifaria and A. bengalensis, which are synonyms of A. donax. The culm internodes in the transverse section have numerous vascular bundles scattered in the ground tissue, and the parenchyma cells have significantly lignified cell walls. Vascular bundles are composed of phloem and xylem and are enclosed in a continuous sclerenchymatous bundle sheath. The chloroplasts in the transverse section of the leaf blades are found only in the mesophyll cells but are absent in the bundle sheath cells, which indicates that it is a C3 grass. The leaves have stomata on both surfaces and are confined to the intercostal zones. The stomata are typically paracytic, with two lateral subsidiary cells placed parallel to the guard cells. The stomatal density is higher on the abaxial surface [450–839/mm2 (606.83 ± 72.71)] relative to the adaxial surface [286–587/mm2 (441.27 ± 50.72)]. The pollen grains are spheroidal or subspheroidal [polar axis length/equatorial axis length ratio (P/E ratio) = 0.89–1.16 (1.02 ± 0.07)] with a single pore surrounded by a faint annulus, and the exine sculpturing is granular. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Giant reed (GR) and reed canary grass (RCG) have emerged as promising perennial industrial crops for providing sustainable bioenergy from marginal land. However, there is great uncertainty among farmers and researchers about where these crops can be grown in the future due to climate change, which complicates a timely transition to a bioeconomy. Therefore, this study quantifies marginal land and suitable cropping areas for GR and RCG in Europe, as well as their overlap. To derive these areas, the present (1991–2020) and future (2071–2100, RCP8.5) growing degree days, growing season length, annual precipitation, and aridity index were analyzed using the E‐OBS observational dataset and EURO‐CORDEX regional climate simulations. The study concludes that while marginal land will decrease by ~18%, GR and RCG will profit from the changing European climate, increasing by ~24% and ~13%, respectively. Looking at regions of overlap between marginal land and the selected crops, a decrease of ~87% and an increase of ~462% is projected for RCG and GR, respectively. This is due to marginal land shifting southward, benefitting the warm‐season grass GR, while RCG prefers cooler climates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The giant reed (Arundo donax) is a fast-growing plant adapted to different climatic and soil conditions; although its origin is Asian, the species has spread throughout the world. During its development, it consumes three times more water than typical native vegetation and is responsible for changing the landscape of riparian areas; the high biomass productivity and the annual harvest period make this crop an alternative to produce and/or extract industrial bioproducts. The main objective of this research was to evaluate the feasibility of using giant reed in a bioprocess that produces enzymes by a solid-state fermentation experiment, four fungal species were tested (Aspergillus niger GH1, Aspergillus niger PSH, Trichoderma harzianum, and Rhizopus oryzae); enzyme activities were performed using reported methodologies varying only reaction volumes. The A. niger GH1 and PSH strains were the best adapted to the plant material, A. niger GH1 was capable to produce 4 of the 5 evaluated enzymes (cellulase-endoglucanase (174.39 ± 19.62 U/L), xylanase (1313.31 ± 39.25 U/L), invertase (642.22 ± 23.55 U/L), and polyphenol oxidase (6094.01 ± 306.54) while A. niger PSH was able to produce 3 of the 5 evaluated enzymes (cellulase-endoglucanase (147.09 ± 13.88 U/L), xylanase (1307.76 ± 31.40 U/L), and invertase (603.92 ± 3.14 U/L).

The internal structures and the hygroscopicity of bio-based boards consisting of giant reed (Arundo donax L.) and hazelnut shells as bio-aggregates, and a sodium silicate solution as the adhesive, were investigated. The aim was to evaluate the influence of each material (the bio-aggregates and adhesive) and their distributions in the boards on the final performance. By carrying out X-ray computed tomography, the internal structures and the porosities of the boards were determined, allowing important considerations of their hygroscopicity. The voids’ percentages were between 26% and 36% of the total volume of the composites. Both the materials and the composites demonstrated high hygroscopicity. In particular, the mixtures of the bio-aggregates and the sodium silicate allowed reaching a moisture buffering value of 7.44 g/(m2%RH) for the A. donax-based composite, 3.86 g/(m2%RH) for the hazelnut-shell-based composite, and 4.65 g/(m2%RH) for the mixture-based composite. Besides the identification of the contributions of the materials, a detailed discussion of the assessed properties was carried out to use these bio-based boards in vernacular historic construction. The results show how the aggregate type and the adhesive content affected the final behavior, demonstrating the importance of a conscious material choice. Furthermore, helpful information for the future development of these types of bio-based boards and their possible optimization was provided.

Cryptotermes brevis (Walker, 1853) (Kalotermitidae), commonly called the West Indian drywood termite, is an important structural pest in many parts of the world. Almost all records of C. brevis come from timber or furniture inside human structures. Although originally described for Jamaica, this species appears to be native to the coastal desert area of Peru and Chile, where it commonly occurs outdoors in the dead wood of both living and dead trees in riparian habitats and irrigated agricultural areas. Here, we report outdoor records of C. brevis from an agricultural habitat at the western edge of the Sahara Desert, an area climatically similar to their native range in South America. This constitutes the first outdoor report of the invasive termite in the Old World. In Dakhla, Moroccan Sahara, we found these termites living in the dead wood of a Brazilian peppertree (Schinus terebinthifolia Raddi) and the hollow stems of giant reeds (Arundo donax L.). In North Africa, C. brevis is otherwise known only from structural timbers in northern Egypt. Whether this termite become a significant pest in North Africa remains to be seen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The experiment was carried out during the growing season of 2021 in the Sheikhan area,70 km east of Mosul city, near the Koml River, The experiment included two factors, the firstfactor was height cutting level of the Giant reed plant (at the soil surface, 5, 10, 15, 20 cm),and the second factor was the frequency of cutting (once, twice, three times), The experimentwas implemented according to the factorial experiments system, using a CompletelyRandomized Design with three replications, The results showed that, the height of the giantreed plant, leaf width, leaf length, leaf area and shoot system dry weight reduced by increasingcutting number up to three times compared to one cutting by (56.2, 19.3, 34.9, 45.8 and 53.8%).While the stem diameter was not affected by the frequency of the cutting process. In addition,stem height, stems diameter, leaf length and dry weight were decreased by lowers cutting levelcompared with the control, while leaf width and leaf area were not affected by cutting height,The overlap of the cutting levels with the frequency of the cut three times had a clear effect onthe studied characteristics.

This document is a corrigendum for an article titled "Leaf surfaces and neolithization - the case of Arundo donax L." published in Frontiers in Plant Science. The corrigendum addresses an error in the acknowledgments section of the original article, specifically regarding funding sources. The corrected statement provides accurate information about the funding received for the research. The authors apologize for the error and clarify that it does not affect the scientific conclusions of the article. [Extracted from the article]

A correction has been made to the original publication titled "Antidiarrheal and Cardio-Depressant Effects of Himalaiella heteromalla (D.Don) Raab-Straube: In Vitro, In Vivo, and In Silico Studies." The correction involves the removal of a paragraph from the Discussion section and references 33-38, as they are not related to the text. The authors state that this correction does not affect the scientific conclusions of the study. [Extracted from the article]

This work describes an extraction method for giant reed fibers from stems and leaves based on chemical soaking and crushing through a rolling mill. Obtained fibers, together with the shredded plant (stems + leaves), are characterized in terms of chemical composition, thermal stability, morphology, and crystallinity. Mechanical properties of fibers have also been assessed (single fiber tensile tests). The results show that the proposed method allows obtaining fibers with higher cellulose content (near 70%), good thermal stability (10% weight loss over 270°C), higher density, and better mechanical properties than other Arundo fibers previously reported in the literature. Fibers from leaves are thinner and show higher crystallinity than those from stems (72 μm vs. 157 μm, 73% vs. 67% crystallinity, respectively), although mechanical properties are similar for both (around 900 MPa for tensile strength and over 45 GPa for elastic modulus). Analysis of the microstructure shows that fibers consist of microfiber bundles, and the removal of a thin layer of non-cellulosic nature is clear; fibers provide a rougher, cleaner surface than shredded raw material.

We report a kinetic and equilibrium study in which we examined the removal of perchlorate anions from water by adsorption onto modified reed (MR), an adsorption material constituted by giant reed (GR) particles whose anion adsorption properties have been enhanced by quaternary amine (QA) crosslinking. In particular, we examined how MR adsorption of perchlorate interacts competitively with concomitant adsorption of agriculture-derived phosphate and nitrate contaminants. Equilibrium and pH experiments were first conducted in single-component systems, the results of which were best described by the Langmuir-Freundlich (L-F) isotherm. Subsequent analyses of competitive effects on adsorption showed that although MR had a higher adsorption capacity for perchlorate alone than for nitrate or phosphate alone, the addition of either phosphate or nitrate to a perchlorate solution had a diminishing effect on MR adsorption of perchlorate within a natural-water pH range, with phosphate having the stronger competitive effect. Perchlorate adsorption on MR varied inversely with competing ion concentrations, providing direct evidence of the perchlorate diminution effect being attributable to anion competition. Finally, we developed a multicomponent isotherm model that describes the binary adsorption of perchlorate in the presence of each of these competing anions. The results of this work provide perchlorate removal efficiency information that is directly applicable to the design of water treatment systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arundo donax L samples, before or after aqueous extraction to remove extractives, were subjected to chemical fractionation in H2SO4-catalyzed mixtures of 1-butanol and water. The partial miscibility of 1-butanol and water at room temperature allowed the separation of the three major feedstock components in separate streams (lignin, accumulated in the 1-butanol-rich phase; hemicellulose-derived products, accumulated in the aqueous acidic phase; and cellulose, present in the solid phase). The effects of selected variables (temperature, catalyst concentration, reaction time and 1-butanol content of the reaction media) on variables measuring the solid recovery yield and the compositions of phases from fractionation were measured. Using water-extracted A. donax L as a substrate, the best operational conditions enabled 93.2% hemicellulose removal and 85.4% delignification with limited cellulose solubilization (15%). The experimental results provided key information to assess the proposed process in the scope of biorefineries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Premise: To genetically discriminate subspecies of the common reed (Phragmites australis), we developed real‐time quantitative (qPCR) assays for identifying P. australis subsp. americanus, P. australis subsp. australis, and P. australis subsp. berlandieri. Methods and Results: Utilizing study‐generated chloroplast DNA sequences, we developed three novel qPCR assays. Assays were verified on individuals of each subspecies and against two non‐target species, Arundo donax and Phalaris arundinacea. One assay amplifies only P. australis subsp. americanus, one amplifies P. australis subsp. australis and/or P. australis subsp. berlandieri, and one amplifies P. australis subsp. americanus and/or P. australis subsp. australis. This protocol enhances currently available rapid identification methods by providing genetic discrimination of all three subspecies. Conclusions: The newly developed assays were validated using P. australis samples from across the United States. Application of these assays outside of this geographic range should be preceded by additional testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Future European strategies to reduce dependence on foreign markets for energy supply and energy production will rely on the further exploitation of the primary sector. Lignocellulosic feedstock for bioenergy production is a valuable candidate, and dedicated crops such as giant reed (Arundo donax L.), miscanthus (Miscanthus × giganteus), reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea L.), and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) have been proven to be suitable for extensive cultivation on marginal lands. The present review aimed at providing a comprehensive picture of the mechanical strategies available for harvesting giant reed, miscanthus, reed canary grass, and switchgrass that are suitable for the possible upscaling of their supply chain. Since harvesting is the most impactful phase of a lignocellulosic supply chain in dedicated crops, the associated performance and costs were taken into account in order to provide concrete observations and suggestions for future implementation. The findings of the present review highlighted that the investigated species have a sufficient technology readiness level concerning mechanical harvesting for the upscaling of their cultivation. All the species could indeed be harvested with existing machinery, mostly derived from the context of haymaking, without compromising the work productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arundo donax L. belongs to the family Poaceae. It has been found in the Mediterranean, North Africa, India and Pakistan. It grows in hilly locations in India. It grows up to 2100-2440 m in the Himalayas. Commonly, A. donax L. is known as Giant Reed in English and Narakata in Hindi. Traditionally it is used in the treatment of dropsy and cancer. It is the active ingredient of an Ayurveda formulation, "Virataradi Kashaya," which is used in the treatment of urinary calculi, retention of urine and abdominal pain in homeopathy A. donax L. is used for the treatment of allergic rhinitis. A. donax L. contains many beneficial phytoconstituents such as protein, fat, total carbohydrate, fibers, lignin, a-cellulose, hemicelluloses, alkaloids (tryptamine, bufotenidine, gramine and arundamine), etc. A. donax L. has been found to possess many pharmacological properties like antibacterial and antifungal effects, anthelmintic effects, antifeedant activity, antiproliferative effect, effect on milk production and fattening performance, central nervous effect, hypotensive effect, antispasmodic effect, anti-acetylcholine effect, uterine stimulant effect and neuromuscular blocking activity. It is an essential ingredient of herbal expectorants. This review might be a vital tool for researchers who seek to work in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dark fermentation of lignocellulose hydrolysates is a promising process for the production of hydrogen from renewable sources. Nevertheless, hydrogen yields are often lower than those obtained from other carbohydrate sources due to the presence of microbial growth inhibitors in lignocellulose hydrolysates. In this study, a microbial consortium for the production of hydrogen by dark fermentation has been obtained from a wild methanogenic sludge by means of thermal treatments. The consortium has been initially acclimated to a glucose-based medium and then used as inoculum for the fermentation of Arundo donax hydrolysates. Hydrogen yields obtained from fermentation of A. donax hydrolysates were lower than those obtained from glucose fermentation using the same inoculum (0.30 ± 0.05 versus 1.11 ± 0.06 mol of H2 per mol of glucose equivalents). The hydrogen-producing bacteria belonged mainly to the Enterobacteriaceae family in cultures growing on glucose and to Clostridium in those growing on A. donax hydrolysate. In the latter cultures, Lactobacillus outcompeted Enterobacteriaceae, although Clostridium also increased. Lactobacillus outgrowth could account for the lower yields observed in cultures growing on A. donax hydrolysate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cultivation of perennial biomass crops (PBCs) on marginal lands is necessary to provide feedstock for the bio-based EU economy and accrue environmental benefits through carbon (C) sequestration in soil. Short rotation coppice (SRC) species, e.g., willow, black locust, and poplar, and perennial rhizomatous grasses, e.g., miscanthus, switchgrass, and giant reed, have been tested in many EU projects in the last 10 years to investigate their productive potential and contribution to the mitigation of climate change. A major knowledge gap regarding PBCs is the fate of accumulated soil organic carbon (SOC), once PBC plantations are reverted to arable crops. In this study, the effects of PBCs reversion on SOC and carbon-dioxide emission (CO2) were monitored over a 2-year period in a long-term (11-year) multispecies trial of six PBCs: Three SRC species including poplar (Populus spp.), willow (Salix spp.), and black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia), and three herbaceous rhizomatous grasses including miscanthus (Miscanthus x giganteus), switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), and giant reed (Arundo donax). The SOC change and GHG emissions were then modeled with the ECOSSE model. Two years after the reversion, SOC increased significantly for all PBCs with no significant difference between them. During the PBC cultivation phase, 5.35 Mg SOC ha−1 was sequestered while 10.95 Mg SOC ha−1 was added by reversion, which indicated that 67% of SOC sequestration occurred after the reversion. The ECOSSE model was successfully used to simulate SOC sequestration trajectories (R2 = 0.77) and CO2 emission from soil (R2 = 0.82) after the reversion of the six PBCs. This indicated that the high SOC sequestration rate after the reversion was due to humification of belowground biomass (roots + rhizomes/stumps), which had been mulched and incorporated into the reversion layer (0–30 cm). This occurred in the first 2 months (on average 5.47 Mg SOC ha−1 y−1) and in the first year after the reversion (1.3–1.8 Mg SOC ha−1 y−1). Considering the entire PBCs cultivation cycle (13 years of PBCs + reversion), PBCs showed annual SOC sequestration rates higher than 1 Mg SOC ha−1 y−1, placing PBCs cultivation and reversion as one of the most promising agricultural practices to combine biomass production, with the recovery of marginal lands to agricultural production through increasing the SOC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In August 2020, leaf blight was observed on Arundo donax L. plants in the municipalities of Ahome and El Fuerte, Sinaloa, Mexico. Molecular analysis of seven isolates revealed their identity as Bipolaris yamadae. Morphological characteristics were similar to those previously reported for the species. A pathogenicity test with a representative isolate confirmed this fungus as the causal agent of leaf blight on giant reed. Its virulence was also proved on maize and sorghum under controlled conditions. This is the first report worldwide of B. yamadae causing leaf blight on A. donax. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work sought to understand relation between the variations in chromatic values of biomass during different pretreatments and substrate digestibility. The giant reed (Arundo donax) was subjected to hot water (HW) and dilute acid (DA) aqueous (0.5%, w/w, H2SO4) with elevated temperature. The effects of the pretreatments on the chemical, structure, enzymatic hydrolysis efficiency, and color traits of the giant reed were investigated. Results from the colorimetric system (CIE-L*a*b*) showed that the luminance (∆L*) decreased with temperature for all conditions, and the total color difference (∆E) was dramatically changed during DA pretreatment. The ∆E showed a correlation with the content of the lignin (R2 = 0.76) and xylan (R2 = 0.80). BET (Brunauer-Emmett-Teller) analysis and the images obtained from microscopes confirmed that the porosity of the cell wall increased with the severity of the pretreatments. The 180-DA-pretreated samples exhibited satisfactory enzymatic hydrolysis efficiency with 99.0%. There was a positive correlation between ∆E and enzymatic hydrolysis efficiency, which could serve as rough yet high-throughput judges for predicting the trend of saccharification efficiency of the giant reed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing concern for the reduction of energy needs and the environmental impact of the building sector has placed emphasis on the possibilities offered by natural materials. The adoption of agricultural by-products seems to be promising and in line with the circular economy paradigm. Materials such as hemp and straw have been extensively adopted in contemporary construction, but nevertheless, the potential use of giant reed has not been sufficiently investigated despite being a common infesting plant abundantly available all over the planet. This work focuses on the performances assessment of lime/cement–reeds mixtures as base materials to design a new line of building components (bricks, blocks, panels and loose insulation) that can be used both in new bio-based construction and in existing buildings for energy-efficiency retrofit. The main materials used in the experimental campaign are giant reed by-products, lime, cement and local and recycled aggregates. The evaluation of the physical, mechanical and thermal properties of lime–reed and cement–reed composites are presented. The results of thermal conductivities (between 0.245 and 0.191 W/m K) and mechanical properties (compressive strengths between 0.848 and 1.509 MPa, and flexural strengths between 0.483 and 0.829 MPa) allow meeting the requirements for non-bearing and thermal building blocks. The outcomes show how blocks made with the abovementioned lime–reed mixture have good mechanical performance and thermo-physical behavior when compared to conventional building materials such as hollow clay or hemp blocks with the same thickness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Invasive aquatic vegetation (IAV) is a management challenge in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and the Suisun Marsh that has commanded major resource investment for 4 decades. We review the history and supporting science of chemical, biological, and mechanical control of IAV in the Delta and Suisun March, and in flowing waters outside the region. Outside the Delta, there is a significant history of research on IAV control in lotic systems, but few studies come from tidal environments, and we found no investigations at a spatial scale like that of the Delta. The science of control efforts in the Delta is nascent but has seen marked growth over the recent decade. Since 1983, control of invasive submerged and floating species has been centralized within the California State Parks Division of Boating and Waterways (CDBW). The program relies on herbicides, with an annual budget that has exceeded $12.5 million since 2015. However, the results have been mixed because of the challenge of applying herbicides effectively in a tidal system. In parallel, biological control agents for water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) and giant reed (Arundo donax) have been released but have not provided an appreciable control benefit, likely because they are not suited for the temperate Delta climate. Over recent decades, regulatory complexity has increased, hampering efforts to innovate alternative methods or respond quickly to new invaders. Control efforts for giant reed and common reed (Phragmites australis), the main invasive emergent plants, have not been coordinated under a central program, and studies to investigate control strategies have only recently been permitted. As a result, no local studies have been published on control outcomes for these species. Based on this history and our review of the science, we develop recommendations for leadership and science actions to proactively manage IAV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bio-based and natural building materials can support the building sector to reduce its environmental impact. In this study, experimental research was developed to evaluate the performance of giant reed when used as a building thermal insulation. Reed was chosen due to its high availability and close relationship to Portuguese vernacular architecture. The role of the reed's origin in this context, its physical characteristics and its durability aspects were evaluated. The results showed that the performance of the reed boards was compatible with their use as a thermal insulation material, regardless of the reed's origin. Denser boards showed better results. Under the favourable conditions related to the reed's water content, mould growth could occur. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Giant reed is a non-food, tall, rhizomatous, spontaneous perennial grass that is widely diffused in warm-temperate environments under different pedo-climatic conditions. In such environments, it is considered one of the most promising energy crops in terms of economic and environmental sustainability, as it can also be cultivated on marginal lands. Owing to its complex and recalcitrant structure due to the lignin content, the use of giant reed as a feedstock for biogas production is limited. Thus, pre-treatment is necessary to improve the methane yield. The objective of this review was to critically present the possible pre-treatment methods to allow the giant reed to be transformed in biogas. Among the studied pre-treatments (i.e., hydrothermal, chemical, and biological), alkaline pre-treatments demonstrated better effectiveness in improving the methane yield. A further opportunity is represented by hybrid pre-treatments (i.e., chemical and enzymatic) to make giant reed biomass suitable for bio-hydrogen production. So far, the studies have been carried out at a laboratory scale; a future challenge to research is to scale up the pre-treatment process to a pilot scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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