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This study estimates the energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions for the production and the processing for thermal use of Giant reed (Arundo donax L.), a second-generation perennial energy crop. The agronomic study took place in Buenos Aires (Argentina) under humid to subhumid climatic conditions. Rhizomes and in vitro micropropagated plantlets were employed and cultivated under both fertilization and rainfed conditions during 2018–2022. The yield demonstrated a substantial increase from 3.8 t/ha to 23.1 t/ha from implantation to crop setting. Throughout this period, the energy input escalated from 23 to 70 GJ/ha, with the planting phase exhibiting the highest energy intensity. This surge can be attributed to the use of herbicides, accounting for 44.1%–61.3% of the energy consumed. Energy outputs were 17 (±0.19) MJ/kg as the low heating value obtained from the biomass elemental composition. The net energy yield for the 10-year lifecycle resulted in 2851.3 (±20.2) GJ/ha, and the output/input ratio varied from 41 (for pellets) to 126 (for chips). Carbon emissions ranged from 343.9 (for plantlets) to 371.9 (for rhizomes) kg CO2e/ha during the implantation stage, resulting in 208.3, 397.6, and 859.6 kg CO2e/ha for chips, bales, and pellets, respectively. This study reinforced the knowledge about the farming of this energy crop and displayed a promising scenario for the sustainable development of the Arundo donax L. based value chain. JEL Classification Q4, Q43, Q56 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arundo donax is widely used as an ornamental plant in landscape gardening because of its adaptability to varying degrees of waterlogged conditions. However, to date, little information is available about the adaptive mechanism of A. donax under waterlogging stress. The results showed that long-term mild waterlogging efficiently induced the formation of adventitious roots (ARs) and further promoted root aerenchyma development, and that the activity of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, POD, and CAT) in Ars also was greatly enhanced after waterlogging. At the transcriptomic level, the expression of genes related to apoptosis, the regulation of cell division, ethylene biosynthesis, alginate synthesis, auxin signaling pathways, and anaerobic respiration was mostly up-regulated after the occurrence of waterlogging stress but genes involved in the abscisic acid signaling pathways were partly down-regulated, which indicated a preferential and favorable transcriptional response in regulating adventitious root development. Taken together, this study definitely advances our knowledge of the morphological, physiological, and transcriptomic responses of A. donax under waterlogging stress and sheds new lights on its adaptive mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In response to the EU's REPowerEU initiative (COM (2022) 108) which encourages an increase in biogas production by 20% in member states by 2030 to boost energy independence, it has become essential to identify sustainable alternatives to traditional feedstocks for biogas production, especially in the EU Member states where there is still high dependence on corn silage as the main raw material in biogas plants. While corn silage, predominantly used in the European biogas plants today, serves primarily for the livestock sector, alternative sources need to be explored. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the potential of Arundo donax, a perennial energy crop, as an alternative feedstock in a continuous anaerobic process. The biogas yield and its quality, characterized by CH4, CO2, H2S and O2 content, were determined during a continuous process with A. donax, compared with two mixed feedstocks of A. donax and corn silage over a 5‐month period in a continuous anaerobic digestion process. The results revealed that A. donax exhibits a biogas yield and methane content comparable to corn silage, indicating its potential as a viable and sustainable alternative feedstock for biogas production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In response to the EU's REPowerEU initiative (COM (2022) 108) which encourages an increase in biogas production by 20% in member states by 2030 to boost energy independence, it has become essential to identify sustainable alternatives to traditional feedstocks for biogas production, especially in the EU Member states where there is still high dependence on corn silage as the main raw material in biogas plants. While corn silage, predominantly used in the European biogas plants today, serves primarily for the livestock sector, alternative sources need to be explored. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the potential of Arundo donax, a perennial energy crop, as an alternative feedstock in a continuous anaerobic process. The biogas yield and its quality, characterized by CH4, CO2, H2S and O2 content, were determined during a continuous process with A. donax, compared with two mixed feedstocks of A. donax and corn silage over a 5‐month period in a continuous anaerobic digestion process. The results revealed that A. donax exhibits a biogas yield and methane content comparable to corn silage, indicating its potential as a viable and sustainable alternative feedstock for biogas production.

Arundo donax is widely used as an ornamental plant in landscape gardening because of its adaptability to varying degrees of waterlogged conditions. However, to date, little information is available about the adaptive mechanism of A. donax under waterlogging stress. The results showed that long-term mild waterlogging efficiently induced the formation of adventitious roots (ARs) and further promoted root aerenchyma development, and that the activity of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, POD, and CAT) in Ars also was greatly enhanced after waterlogging. At the transcriptomic level, the expression of genes related to apoptosis, the regulation of cell division, ethylene biosynthesis, alginate synthesis, auxin signaling pathways, and anaerobic respiration was mostly up-regulated after the occurrence of waterlogging stress but genes involved in the abscisic acid signaling pathways were partly down-regulated, which indicated a preferential and favorable transcriptional response in regulating adventitious root development. Taken together, this study definitely advances our knowledge of the morphological, physiological, and transcriptomic responses of A. donax under waterlogging stress and sheds new lights on its adaptive mechanisms.

Abstract 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.

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]

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]

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]

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]

Applying microbial fertilizer to assist phytoremediation using high production energy crops is a promising method to improve the removal efficiency of metals contaminated soils. The study was conducted to evaluate the effects of Earth Total Support (ETS, a complex microbial agent) in enhancing the phytoremediation of Arsenic (As) in soils using Arundo donax L, which were grown in mesocosms with As at 20 mg kg-1. The results showed that the addition of ETS significantly increase the biomass of A. donax L by 27.27 %–37.04 %. Additionally, ETS was found to mitigate the adverse effects of As stress on A. donax L by enhancing net photosynthetic rate and transpiration, increasing the activities of superoxide dismutases and peroxidases, and decreased malondialdehyde content. Moreover, the addition of ETS led to a 99.25 % increase in As content in roots and a 7.10 % increase in stems. These findings suggest that ETS agents hold promise in improving the remediation efficiency of low concentration As contaminated soil by significantly increasing the biomass of A. donax and facilitating As extraction.

Abstract The expected increase of sustainable energy demand has shifted the attention towards bioenergy crops. Due to their know tolerance against abiotic stress and relatively low nutritional requirements, they have been proposed as election crops to be cultivated in marginal lands without disturbing the part of lands employed for agricultural purposes. Arundo donax L. is a promising bioenergy crop whose behaviour under water and salt stress has been recently studied at transcriptomic levels. As the anthropogenic activities produced in the last years a worrying increase of cadmium contamination worldwide, the aim of our work was to decipher the global transcriptomic response of A. donax leaf and root in the perspective of its cultivation in contaminated soil. In our study, RNA-seq libraries yielded a total of 416 million clean reads and 10.4 Gb per sample. De novo assembly of clean reads resulted in 378,521 transcripts and 126,668 unigenes with N50 length of 1812 bp and 1555 bp, respectively. Differential gene expression analysis revealed 5,303 deregulated transcripts (3,206 up- and 2,097 down regulated) specifically observed in the Cd-treated roots compared to Cd-treated leaves. Among them, we identified genes related to “Protein biosynthesis”, “Phytohormone action”, “Nutrient uptake”, “Cell wall organisation”, “Polyamine metabolism”, “Reactive oxygen species metabolism” and “Ion membrane transport”. Globally, our results indicate that ethylene biosynthesis and the downstream signal cascade are strongly induced by cadmium stress. In accordance to ethylene role in the interaction with the ROS generation and scavenging machinery, the transcription of several genes (NADPH oxidase 1, superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase, different glutathione S-transferases and catalase) devoted to cope the oxidative stress is strongly activated. Several small signal peptides belonging to ROTUNDIFOLIA, CLAVATA3, and C-TERMINALLY ENCODED PEPTIDE 1 (CEP) are also among the up-regulated genes in Cd-treated roots functioning as messenger molecules from root to shoot in order to communicate the stressful status to the upper part of the plants. Finally, the main finding of our work is that genes involved in cell wall remodelling and lignification are decisively up-regulated in giant reed roots. This probably represents a mechanism to avoid cadmium uptake which strongly supports the possibility to cultivate giant cane in contaminated soils in the perspective to reserve agricultural soil for food and feed crops.

Photo-fermentation offers a promising roadmap for hydrogen production through their ability to harness light energy, however, its lower conversion efficiency is the major bottleneck for its realization. This study investigates the catalytic role of wideband gap nano-photocatalysts (SiC, ZnO, and SnO 2) in enhancing hydrogen generation from Arundo donax L. Physio-optical characteristics of SiC, ZnO, and SnO 2 nano-photocatalysts were assessed through SEM, XRD, and FT-IR which confirmed that incorporated nano-photocatalysts are spherical with uniform size distribution and there is no secondary phase. Hydrogen production experiments with varying nano-photocatalyst concentrations revealed that the maximum hydrogen yield of 104 and 98.83 mL/g was achieved with SiC and ZnO, respectively, at loading concentration of 200 mg/L, whereas 69.30 mL/g were observed with 100 mg/L of SnO 2. The incorporation of SIC, ZnO, and SnO 2 nano-photocatalyst permitted to increase the hydrogen content in overall gas production by 41 %, 37.34 %, and 18.26 % as compared to the control group. The increase in hydrogen production is related to the enhanced e-h pair separation lifetime of SiC, confirmed from PL spectroscopy. Addition of SiC caused a longer availability of electrons that helped to increase the metabolic rate by 38 % and 40.29 % in energy conversion efficiency (ECE). ANOVA results revealed significant differences between the control and maximum values of CHP, HC%, byproducts, and ECE. Tukey pairwise comparisons showed that SiC and ZnO had non-significant differences at 200 mg/L but both significantly outperformed SnO 2 at 100 mg/L. Thus, the selection of suitable catalysts photocatalysts with enhanced e-h pair separation lifetime may offer promising prospects for sustainable energy technologies by enhancing biohydrogen production. [Display omitted] • The incorporation of photocatalysts significantly enhanced PFHP from Arundo donax L. • SiC, ZnO, SnO 2 increased H 2 production by 41 %, 37.34 %, 18.26 % compared to control. • SiC's enhanced e-h pair separation led to 38 % higher metabolic rate and 40 % increase in ECE. • Tukey test: SiC and ZnO at 200 mg/L showed no significance difference but outperformed SnO2 at 100 mg/L. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arundo donax , one of the most invasive plants in the world, but also a promising source of lignocellulose materials was employed as a feedstock for a biorefinery process. Water-extracted Arundo donax samples were subjected to one-step biphasic fractionation in catalyzed media containing water and 1-butanol, an environmentally-friendly solvent. The effects of selected operational variables (catalyst concentration, temperature and reaction time) on the measured effects (solid recovery yield and compositions of the solid, aqueous and organic phases resulting from treatments) were assessed using statistical methods. The results allowed a quantitative discussion on aspects regarding the selectivity of component separation (lignin, glucan, and hemicelluloses), the overall recovery of valuable products, and the selection of operational conditions enabling extensive delignification (around to 90 %) and high recovery rates of glucan and hemicellulose-derived sugars (above 80 % and 75 %, respectively). This study provides new insights into biphasic fractionation, highlighting the selective separation of hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin into a single and sustainable process, thereby by enhancing biomass resource while reducing environmental impact. [Display omitted] • New insight into biphasic systems for the selective separation of AD constituents. • Single process for the efficient separation of hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin. • Extensive delignification and high recovery rates of glucan and hemicellulose. • Aqueous phase with high concentration xylose as mono- or oligosaccharide. • Lignin of high purity and highly reactive for further valorization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes the properties of composite particleboards made from a mix of giant reed with gypsum plaster and starch as binders. Experimental boards were manufactured with a 10:2 weight ratio of giant reed/gypsum plaster particles and different amounts of starch. Giant reed particles used were ≤0.25 mm. The mix was pressed at a temperature of 110 °C with a pressure of 2.6 MPa for 1, 2, and 3 h. The results showed that the boards manufactured with longer times in the press and with 10 wt.% starch achieved the best physical and mechanical properties, obtaining a modulus of rupture (MOR) of 17.5 N/mm2, a modulus of elasticity (MOE) of 3196 N/mm2, and an internal bounding strength (IB) of 0.62 N/mm2. Thickness swelling (TS) at 24 h of the panels was reduced from 36.16% to 28.37% when 10 wt.% starch was added. These results showed that giant reed–gypsum–starch particleboards can be manufactured with physical and mechanical properties that comply with European standards for use in building construction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The vegetation development in riverbeds creates obstructions to the regular water flow with the flooding hydraulic risk increase. Giant reed (GR) (Arundo donax L.) is one of the most successful invasive species of riparian ecosystems in Mediterranean semi-arid climate conditions, with significant public administrations costs for its removal and disposal. At the meantime, due to its high biomass yield and adaption capacity to several conditions, GR is a very promising no-food crop to produce biogas by the anaerobic digestion (AD). The research activity provides for the involvement of territories belonging to the inner areas of Sicily, especially Calatino one, in which the SIMBIOSI Consortium operates an AD plant fed with agricultural by-products from other close agro-industrial companies. The aim of the study was to map and to quantify the actual spatial distribution of GR in watercourses embankments through Remote Sensing (RS) techniques applied in a Geographic Information System (GIS) environment. In this regard, a method based on the automatic supervised classification, was applied on three different combinations of spectral bands (True Color Image – TCI; Near-Infrared, Green and Blue – NGB; Vegetation Red Edge – VRE) of Sentinel-2 satellite images related to the summer season (11th August 2019), with the aim of identifying the most suitable classification to map the GR. The results showed that the VRE composition is the most accurate combination of spectral bands for the identification of GR, followed by the NGB image. The worst performance was obtained by using the TCI combination. A further elaboration was carried out combining the three classified images, in order to obtain a more accurate localization and quantification of GR. The final thematic map allowed to correctly classify GR for the 46 % of the cases, with an overall accuracy of 85.02 % and a high Kappa Coefficient of Agreement value equal to 0.81. Finally, the surface covered by GR in the study area (computed in the GIS environment) was about 2 km2 and the estimated GR biomass, available for the biomethane production, obtainable from watercourses embankments maintenance interventions would amount to about 11,780 tons year−1. The study could contribute to the development of a watercourses maintenance plan with the aim to reduce the risk of streams flooding in valley areas and at intersections with infrastructure works. Furthermore, the proposed methodology can be used by stakeholders in marginal areas, for the watercourses management, offsetting its costs through the energy use of the collected biomass.

In Slovakia, maize silage is preferred as the input material for biogas production whereas it should be used primarily as feed for cattle. The purpose of this paper is to point out the possibilities of using the fast-growing giant reed Arundo donax L. that is not used as fodder and can be grown on low-quality agricultural land. The experimental stand of A. donax L. used in the study provided a yield of 60.8 t ha-1 of fresh biomass in the third year of cultivation. Part of the biomass produced was ensiled as maize and later the silage was co-fermented with cattle excrements and pig slurry. The resulting biogas can be used as fuel for internal combustion engines. The average content of CH4 and CO2 is 52% and 44%, respectively. These values are very similar to the composition of maize silage biogas. The average hydrogen sulphide content in the biogas from A. donax L. was 730 ppm. The disadvantage is that the biogas production is 46% lower compared to maize silage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fossil-based fuels while supply the energy needs of the world, on the other hand release greenhouse gases, especially carbon dioxide, into the atmosphere. In the last quarter century, biomass energy has gained importance, particularly in direct combustion systems. The continuity of raw material is an important matter in biomass energy production. At this point, giant reed (Arundo donax L.), a perennial C3 plant that can be easily grown in different ecological conditions, has drawn considerable interest in various countries of the world, mainly in Southern Europe and Costa Rica. The calorific value of the giant reed, which can deliver up to 100 tons of biomass per hectare under suitable conditions, is between 17,200 – 20,600 kj/kg. In this study, the usability of the giant reed, this unable to exceed the local usage in our country, in combustion systems was examined in the light of the studies in the literature. This review had been compiled under three main frameworks as general properties and usage areas, chemical characterization, biomass amount and calorific value of the giant reed. Thus, it had been tried to form a technical basis for the industrial usage of giant reed in combustion systems.

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.

The expected increase of sustainable energy demand has shifted the attention towards bioenergy crops. Due to their know tolerance against abiotic stress and relatively low nutritional requirements, they have been proposed as election crops to be cultivated in marginal lands without disturbing the part of lands employed for agricultural purposes. Arundo donax L. is a promising bioenergy crop whose behaviour under water and salt stress has been recently studied at transcriptomic levels. As the anthropogenic activities produced in the last years a worrying increase of cadmium contamination worldwide, the aim of our work was to decipher the global transcriptomic response of A. donax leaf and root in the perspective of its cultivation in contaminated soil. In our study, RNA-seq libraries yielded a total of 416 million clean reads and 10.4 Gb per sample. De novo assembly of clean reads resulted in 378,521 transcripts and 126,668 unigenes with N50 length of 1812 bp and 1555 bp, respectively. Differential gene expression analysis revealed 5,303 deregulated transcripts (3,206 up- and 2,097 down regulated) specifically observed in the Cd-treated roots compared to Cd-treated leaves. Among them, we identified genes related to "Protein biosynthesis", "Phytohormone action", "Nutrient uptake", "Cell wall organisation", "Polyamine metabolism", "Reactive oxygen species metabolism" and "Ion membrane transport". Globally, our results indicate that ethylene biosynthesis and the downstream signal cascade are strongly induced by cadmium stress. In accordance to ethylene role in the interaction with the ROS generation and scavenging machinery, the transcription of several genes (NADPH oxidase 1, superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase, different glutathione S-transferases and catalase) devoted to cope the oxidative stress is strongly activated. Several small signal peptides belonging to ROTUNDIFOLIA, CLAVATA3, and C-TERMINALLY ENCODED PEPTIDE 1 (CEP) are also among the up-regulated genes in Cd-treated roots functioning as messenger molecules from root to shoot in order to communicate the stressful status to the upper part of the plants. Finally, the main finding of our work is that genes involved in cell wall remodelling and lignification are decisively up-regulated in giant reed roots. This probably represents a mechanism to avoid cadmium uptake which strongly supports the possibility to cultivate giant cane in contaminated soils in the perspective to reserve agricultural soil for food and feed crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes the properties of composite particleboards made from a mix of giant reed with gypsum plaster and starch as binders. Experimental boards were manufactured with a 10:2 weight ratio of giant reed/gypsum plaster particles and different amounts of starch. Giant reed particles used were ≤0.25 mm. The mix was pressed at a temperature of 110 °C with a pressure of 2.6 MPa for 1, 2, and 3 h. The results showed that the boards manufactured with longer times in the press and with 10 wt.% starch achieved the best physical and mechanical properties, obtaining a modulus of rupture (MOR) of 17.5 N/mm2, a modulus of elasticity (MOE) of 3196 N/mm2, and an internal bounding strength (IB) of 0.62 N/mm2. Thickness swelling (TS) at 24 h of the panels was reduced from 36.16% to 28.37% when 10 wt.% starch was added. These results showed that giant reed–gypsum–starch particleboards can be manufactured with physical and mechanical properties that comply with European standards for use in building construction.

Initiatives that stimulate the use of renewable resources to replace fossil sources in pursuit of the energy transition gain visibility in the context of global warming, the main planetary environmental challenge. In the study, a comprehensive technical approach was applied to evaluate the energy potential of Giant reed (Arundo donax L.), a herbaceous plant of Asian origin, considered a species of good biomass yield per hectare. From randomized block designs and standardized techniques, agronomic trials were carried out in the SE of the Province of Buenos Aires, obtaining yields between 5 and 11 t/ha, higher at higher planting density. The technological characteristics of the biomass showed an average cellulose content of 53 % and a higher calorific value between 4000 and 4500 kcal/kg, confirming its potential as an energy crop. The results on the production and use of the biomass demonstrated the availability of technological capacities for its exploitation without impacting soils and taking advantage of its potential as a renewable energy resource. Thus, we reflect on the value chain of the species that allows promoting localization processes of projects that activate complementarities between singular territories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Intramolecular interactions are responsible for different rates of atropisomerism. • The intramolecular charge transfer nature of the S n ← S 0 transitions was revealed. • The geometry of the excited state shows dramatic changes. • The fluorescence spectra show a band in the blue-green region. • Intramolecular EET may be responsible for fluorescence quenching. Three optically active natural alkaloids were computationally investigated. The electronic ground state was found to be characterised by numerous intramolecular interactions, among which a hydrogen bond. These interactions are responsible for the different rate constants of the kinetics of conversion from one atropisomer to the other. The complex molecular electrostatic potential reveals a strong polar nature of these compounds, which strengthens when the electronic excited states are populated. The absorption spectra were interpreted and the intramolecular charge transfer nature of the S n ← S 0 transitions was revealed. The ECD spectra for the different atropisomers of these compounds indicate that the assignment proposed in the literature for 1 should be revised. The geometry of the excited state shows dramatic changes with respect to the ground state; some intramolecular interactions get lost. The fluorescence spectrum, proposed for the first time, shows de-excitation energies in the blue-green region (488 nm to 518 nm). Internal Conversion and intramolecular Electronic Energy Transfer may be fluorescence quenching channels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In the present study, anthelmintic activities of Arundo (A.) donax L., Areca (Ar.) catechu L., and Ferula (F.) assa-foetida L. were determined. Leaves of A. donax L., latex of F. assa-foetida L. and seeds of Ar. catechu L. in different solvent fractions were subjected to in vitro (egg hatch assay; EHA, and adult motility assay; AMA) and in vivo (faecal egg count reduction test; FECRT) tests of anthelmintic activity using Haemonchus contortus model. In the AMA, crude aqueous methanol extracts (CAME) and ethyl acetate fractions of F. assa-foetida at 10 hr post-treatment showed maximum mortality of H. contortus at 12.5-50 mg mL-1. In the EHA, CAME of F. assa-foetida was identified as a potent ovicide based on its low LC50 (16.9 µg mL-1), followed in order by Ar. catechu and A. donax. Results from the FECRT also showed the extract of F. assa-foetida L. to be more effective than those of Ar. catechu L. and A. donax L., against the gastrointestinal parasitic nematodes. Chloroform and ethyl acetate fractions showed better anthelmintic activities against the adult worms in vitro, while CAME of these plants were better than their crude powders in vivo. It is recommended to document and investigate indigenous knowledge of possible medicinal plants to plan scientific trials that may justify their endorsement.

A new bis-indole alkaloid, named arundaline (1), a new phenylpropanoid, named arundalcohol (2), and four known alkaloids, N-acetyltryptamine (3), trans-N-(p-coumaroyl)serotonin (4), trans-N-feruloylserotonin (5), and tuberosine B (6), were isolated from 70% aqueous ethanol extracts of the rhizomes of Arundo donax L. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis and comparison of the data with literature values. Compounds 3–6 were isolated from the genus Arundo for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, there is a growing need to reduce the environmental impact generated by the use of inorganic materials for building applications.The aim of this work is to investigate the bio-lime based mortar flexural toughness improvement due to the addition of common reed fibers (Arundo donax L.) in order to evaluate their possible application as ductile eco-compatible prefabricated bricks or laying and joint mortars for masonry.Different sets of specimens were tested by varying the fiber weight content and the fiber length. Moreover, chemical treatments with Linseed Oil and Polyethylene glycol (PEG) were performed to improve the physical and mechanical properties of the fibers as well as the fiber/matrix interfacial adhesion.The Mechanical characterization of the neat and treated fibers was performed through Single Fiber Pull-out Test and Single Fiber Tensile Test. The quasi-static mechanical properties of the composites were evaluated through Three-Point Bending and Compressive tests. Finally, an analytical model proposed in the literature has been used to evaluate the parameters that influence the post-fracture behavior of the composites.Overall, the findings of this study are valuable to understand the flexural behavior of new eco-compatible natural fibers reinforced mortars for masonry application providing scientific evidence of the effectiveness of giant reed fibers in the manufacturing of green building materials, as bricks or laying mortars.

Increasing energy demands and fossil fuel consumption causing global warming has motivated research to find alternative energy sources such as biofuels. Giant reed (Arundo donax L.), a lignocellulosic, perennial, rhizomatous grass has been proposed as an important bioenergy crop for advanced biofuel in the Mediterranean area. Anaerobic digestion for advanced biomethane seems to be a promising approach. However, the presence of lignin in lignocellulosic biomass represents the main obstacle to its production (due to its recalcitrance). Thus, to use effectively lignocellulosic biomass in anaerobic digestion, one or more pretreatment steps are needed to aid microorganisms access to the plant cell wall. To this end, the present study investigated the effect of fungal pretreatment of giant reeds obtained from two different harvesting time (autumn and winter) on biomethane production by anaerobic digestion using two white rot fungi (Pleurotus ostreatus and Irpex lactus, respectively). The highest biomass lignin degradation after 30 days incubation with P. ostreatus in both autumn (27.1%) and winter (31.5%) harvest time. P. ostreatus pretreatment showed promising results for anaerobic digestion of giant reed achieving a cumulative yield of 130.9 NmL g−1 VS for the winter harvest, whereas I. lacteus showed a decrease in methane yield as compared with the untreated biomass (77.4 NmL g−1 VS and 73.3 NmL g−1 VS for winter and autumn harvest, respectively). I. lacteus pretreatment resulted in a loss of both holocellulose and lignin, indicating that this strain was less selective than P. ostreatus. Further studies are necessary to identify white rot fungi more suitable to lignocellulosic biomass and optimize biological pretreatment conditions to reduce its duration.

Over the past decades, the important topic of environmental sustainability, impact, and security of the fossil fuel supply has stimulated interest in using lignocellulosic feedstocks as biofuel to partially cover energy demands. Among energy no-food crops, giant reed (Arundo donax, L.), a perennial rhizomatous grass has been identified as a leading candidate crop for lignocellulosic feedstock, due to its positive energy balance, and low ecological/agro-management demands. The aim of the present study was to characterize the physiological response of Arundo donax (L.) to artificial soil contamination with three different Cu levels (200, 400, and 800 ppm), and to assess the relationship between plant Cu tolerance and S assimilation rate. The present study not only confirms the ability of Arundo donax L. to cope with Cu stress and therefore to grow in marginal, degraded lands abandoned by mainstream agricultural, but also shows that plant performance might be likely ascribed to a modulation of sulfate metabolism resulting in increased thiols content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study assessed the behavior of four clones of Arundo donax L. (giant reed) as a perennial rhizomatous grass of increasing interest due to its high biomass production and great adaptability to stress conditions. In this study, a molecular, physiological, and biomass characterization was performed in greenhouse conditions on four Mediterranean clones. The majority of physiological and biomass parameters were not significantly different between clones. However, it was possible to observe large differences in the chromosome count for the four clones. In this way, we detected different numbers of chromosomes for each clone (98 to 122), but surprisingly, no correlation was observed between their chromosome numbers and their physiological and biomass responses.

Lignocellulosic biomass is one of the dominant renewable energy resources suited for the production of sustainable biofuels and other energy purposes. This study was focused on weed management strategies that can improve the establishment of six lignocellulosic crops. The studied crops included: giant miscanthus, switchgrass, giant reed, cardoon, sweet sorghum, and kenaf. Delayed planting, increased planting densities, and mulching techniques can suppress weeds in giant miscanthus. Weed competition is detrimental for switchgrass establishment. Seedbed preparation and cultivar selection can determine its ability to compete with weeds. Giant reed is unlikely to get outcompeted by weeds, and any weed control operation is required only for the first growing season. Competitive cultivars and increased seeding rates maximize the competitiveness of cardoon against weeds. Several cultural practices can be used for non-chemical weed management in sweet sorghum and kenaf. For all crops, pre-emergence herbicides can be applied. The available safe post-emergence herbicides are limited. Mechanical weed control during crucial growth stages can provide solutions for sweet sorghum, kenaf, and perennial grasses. Further research is required to develop effective weed management strategies, with emphasis on cultural practices, that can improve the establishment of these prominent lignocellulosic crops.

• A. donax showed the highest aboveground biomass and rhizomes production. • CO 2 and CH 4 emissions were affected by operating year and season. • Plant presence and species significantly influenced bed CO 2 emissions. • Plant presence and species did not influenced beds CH 4 emissions. • A. donax was the most environmentally friendly species in terms of CO 2(eq) budget followed by P. australis. The aim of this research was to evaluate the role of constructed wetland (CW) horizontal sub-surface flow pilot-plant beds vegetation, comparing four perennial herbaceous plant species with an unvegetated bed, on carbon dioxide (CO 2) and methane (CH 4) emissions, and CO 2(eq) budgets. The research was conducted from April 1st to November 30th in 2012 and 2013 in a pilot plant located in San Michele di Ganzaria (Sicily, Italy) that treated urban wastewaters, studying Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud. (common reed), Arundo donax L. (giant reed), Chrysopogon zizanioides (L.) Roberty (vetiver) and Miscanthus x giganteus Greef et Deu. (miscanthus). Results showed a greater aboveground biomass yield in the second experimental year than the first one for all species except vetiver, which showed a 10.5% reduction. Considering CWs gases emission, a significantly higher CO 2 emission (+52.5%) was monitored in 2013 than 2012 whereas CH 4 had the opposite trend (−97.0%). Seasons and plant species influenced gases emission. The lower CO 2 emission (median value 5.2 g m−2 d−1) was monitored during the spring seasons when instead was monitored the highest CH 4 emission (median value 0.232 g m−2 d−1). Opposite CO 2 and CH 4 emissions were found in fall. A. donax , M. giganteus and P. australis determined significantly higher (2.9 times) CO 2 emission than C. zizanioides and unvegetated bed. Vegetated beds showed a positive CO 2(eq) total balance with the best results calculated for A. donax whereas, as expected, it was negative for the unvegetated bed, with a cumulative CO 2(eq) emission of 6.68 kg m−2. Obtained results confirm the active and key role of plant species used in the CW systems and indicate A. donax as the most environmentally friendly species to use under Mediterranean climate conditions, followed by P. australis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • A. donax gave the highest ethanol (3.9 Mg ha−1) and methane (9056 m3 ha−1) yields. • M. giganteus produced 3.1 Mg ha−1 of ethanol and 4325 m3 ha−1 of methane. • Methane transformation showed higher energy output than ethanol. • A. donax and M. x giganteus were the most interesting bioenergy species. Abstract The research aimed to study and characterize, in a four-year study, thirteen pluri-annual herbaceous species for their potential bioethanol and biomethane production. The highest biomass yield was obtained with Arundo donax followed by Miscanthus x giganteus. Biomass cellulose content had median values ranging from 23.1% (Symphytum x uplandicum) to 45.4% (Lythrum salicaria), hemicellulose from 9.4% (Iris pseudacorus) to 36.8% (Glyceria maxima) and lignin from 2.6% (G. maxima) to 14.5% (Helianthus tuberosus and L. salicaria). The best ethanol and methane median yields were achieved by A. donax (3.5 Mg ha−1 and 8227 m3 ha−1, respectively) followed by M. x giganteus (3.2 Mg ha−1 and 4446 m3 ha−1, respectively). Methane transformation showed a higher energy output than ethanol with values ranging from 1 GJ ha−1 (Phalaris arundinacea) to 508 GJ ha−1 (A. donax) and from 1 GJ ha−1 (P. arundinacea) to 624 GJ ha−1 (A. donax) for ethanol and methane, respectively. Results showed that A. donax and M. x giganteus are the most interesting species for bioethanol and biomethane production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Co-planting with multiple plant species has great value for the remediation of soil co-contaminated with metal(loid)s. A pot experiment has been conducted to study the growth, phytoextraction of metal(loid) and complementarity by co-planting Pteris vittata L. with three metal(loid)-tolerant species with large biomass (namely Arundo donax L., Morus alba L., and Broussonetia papyrifera L.) on soil co-contaminated with As, Cd, Pb, and Zn. The results showed that the co-planting can favor the growth and uptake of As in hyperaccumulator P. vittata L., and improve comprehensive extraction of metal(loid). The total biomass and content of As in the roots of P. vittata L. under the co-planting system were significantly (p < 0.05) improved by 117.5% and 122.0%, respectively, compared with that in monoculture, while the content of As, Cd, Pb and Zn in the tissues of A. donax L., M. alba L. and B. papyrifera L. was slightly increased. The comprehensive accumulation amounts for As, Cd, Pb, and Zn by the four plants co-planting in contaminated soil were higher than that in part of plant's monoculture. Moreover, availability of As, Cd, and Zn in the contaminated soil was decreased in the co-planting system, meanwhile soil urease and acid phosphatase activities in soil significantly (p < 0.05) promoted as compared to the monocultures. The results suggested that positive interaction between hyperaccumulator and three metal(loid)-tolerant species can effectively enhance the growth of P. vittata L., regulate the comprehensive metal(loid)s accumulation capacity, and improve the environmental quality of contaminated soil, which drives high phytoremediation potential for metal(loid)s-contaminated soil by the co-planting. Graphical abstract fx1 Highlights • Co-planting P. vittata L. with metal(loid)-tolerant plants used for phytoextraction. • Woody plants can provide a shade for the growth of herb plants. • Uptake of As by P. vittata L. was enhanced by the co-planting. • Comprehensive of total metal(loid) extraction was strengthened by co-planting. • Co-planting can further improve soil enzyme activity as compared with monoculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • The giant reed and the cork are good natural insulation materials and their use is an excellent solution to reduce agricultural waste. • The saved energy by the use of agglomerated cork walls for the envelope of buildings is more than 75% of the energy spent than building with brick walls. • The environmental effects of the disposed wastes of building components in giant reed or cork are lower than other building materials. • CO 2 production for heating and cooling the building was: 2517 kg for brick walls, 623 kg for cork walls and 1905 kg for giant reed walls. Abstract The environmental impact of buildings has to be assessed not only in reference to the energy consumed by their use but also with reference to the energy inside materials with which they are made of. The "Sick Building Syndrome" (SBS) is increasing. It was discovered that the major causes are linked to chemical contaminants from indoor sources such as building materials, inadequate ventilation, excessive use of Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The insulation building materials have a relevant role in the SBS for the capacity, not only to limit the use of HVAC but also to limit the emission of pollutants inside a building environment. The present paper reports an up- to- date review of some innovative uses of wastes deriving from agricultural production in order to build walls and partitions for Mediterranean houses. Some test methods of building elements, made with giant reed and agglomerate cork which are two typical natural materials of the Mediterranean area, are illustrated. These vegetal materials are often residues deriving from agricultural production, the agricultural residues are often a problem for farmers or firms because the organic wastes are considered dangerous and the disposal of such material is very expensive, therefore the reuse of the wastes is the best way to recycle these materials. This paper analyzes a cavity wall panel made with a wood skeleton on which two double crossed layers of giant reed stems were fixed and a multilayer agglomerated cork wall with a double cavity multilayer BOTH 20CM THICK. The dynamic thermal analysis carried out for the houses with the proposed walls highlights a better environmental performance of buildings with agglomerated cork and with giant reed walls rather than brick walls. The production of CO 2 for the indoor environmental thermal control of the house with giant reed walls is less than 1/2 and the house with agglomerated cork walls is less than 1/4 compared to the brick wall house. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The biogas production through the anaerobic digestion (AD) of giant reed (Arundo donax L.) biomass has received increasing attention. However, due to the presence of lignin, a low CH4 yield can be obtained. Aiming to improve the CH4 yield from giant reed biomass, the effectiveness of a thermo-chemical pre-treatment based on KOH was evaluated in this paper. The usefulness of a washing step before the AD was also assessed. The pre-treatment led to a specific CH4 yield up to 232 mL CH4 g−1 VS which was 21% higher than that from untreated biomass; the maximum daily rate of production was improved by 42%, AD duration was reduced by 10%, and CH4 concentration in the biogas was increased by 23%. On the contrary, the washing step did not improve the AD process. Besides, washing away the liquid fraction led to biomass losses, reducing the overall CH4 production. The use of a KOH-based pre-treatment appears as a good option for enhancing the AD of giant reed, also presenting potential environmental and agronomical benefits, like the avoidance of salty wastewater production and the likely improvement of the digestate quality, due to its enriched K content.

The complete valorisation of all biomass components represents a crucial strategy for developing new biorefinery schemes. This study completed a cascade biorefinery process for the exploitation of holocellulose and lignin fractions of the non-food biomass giant reed (Arundo donax L.). The residual lignin-rich solid fraction, obtained after the selective conversion of hemicellulose and cellulose fractions to valuable bioproducts, was characterised and activated by KOH treatment into microporous activated carbon (AC), to be proposed for CO 2 adsorption. The production of AC was optimised by the Design of Experiments technique. Under the optimised process conditions (630 °C, KOH/lignin 3.0 wt/wt, 60 min) the AC yield was 34.4 wt% and the CO 2 uptake reached 72.3 mg/g, confirming the promising application of this biomaterial. Moreover, the obtained AC showed similar CO 2 uptake values over 10 cycles of adsorption/desorption tests, demonstrating its good recyclability, keeping its pristine CO 2 uptake capacity. [Display omitted] • The biorefinery of lignocellulosic Arundo donax L. biomass was completed. • Microporous activated carbon was obtained from the residual lignin-rich fraction. • A chemometric approach was used to optimise the production of activated carbon. • Yields in activated carbon and carbon were 34.4 and 40.6 wt%, respectively. • The CO 2 uptake was 7.2 wt%, kept over 10 cycles of adsorption/desorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of this work was to further analyze the optimization of the production factors of Arundo donax L. fiberboards obtained without adhesives. The production of boards derived from Arundo donax L. without added adhesives and with high mechanical performance has already been demonstrated. This present study explored a modification in the production process through a final curing thermal treatment (final heat treatment, FHT). Since pressing time is an influential factor in the production cost, it is expected that curing allows a reduction of this time. This study compared the results obtained by three panel-production alternatives: long pressing time (tp) without curing and long and short tp with FHT. Of the two factors analyzed, pressing pressure (Pp) was the most important production factor in both the modulus of elasticity (MOE) and modulus of rupture (MOR), while curing was the most important factor for the internal bond (IB). The study shows that a FHT facilitates the distribution of lignin and a possible improvement in the quantity and quality of bonds between lignin and cellulosic fibers. As a consequence, it improves the IB, produces boards with more homogeneous physical and mechanical properties and thereby makes them more hydrophobic. The curing thermal treatment allows high performance panels to be obtained in a manner which is more ecological, quicker, and cheaper.

Energy crops are not easily converted by microorganisms because of their recalcitrance. This necessitates a pretreatment to improve their biodigestibility. The effects of different pretreatments, as well as their combination on the enzymatic digestibility of Arundo donax L. were systematically investigated to evaluate its potential for bioconversion. Dilute alkaline pretreatment (ALP) using 1.2% NaOH at 120 °C for 30 min resulted in the highest reducing sugar yield in the enzymatic hydrolysis process because of its strong delignification and morphological modification, while ferric chloride pretreatment (FP) was effective in removing hemicellulose and recovering soluble sugars in the pretreatment stage. Furthermore, an efficient two-step ferric chloride-alkaline pretreatment (FALP) was successfully developed. In the first FP step, easily degradable cellulosic components, especially hemicellulose, were dissolved and then effectively recovered as soluble sugars. Subsequently, the FP sample was further treated in the second ALP step to remove lignin to enhance the enzymatic hydrolysis of the hardly degradable cellulose. As a result, the integrated two-step process obtained the highest total sugar yield of 420.4 mg/g raw stalk in the whole pretreatment and enzymatic hydrolysis process; hence, the process is a valuable candidate for biofuel production.

Abstract Arundo donax L. (A. donax) plant, which are naturally grown, is capable of removing heavy metals, toxins and dyes from the environment. In addition the cell structure A. donax enable the whole to make phytoremdation for the most of environmental pollutions. For that reasons, the A. donax cells were obtained and dispersed in polymer compost to form what is called bio-chemical/dye removing system. In details; Polymeric beads were fabricated from natural low cost materials of chitosan (Cs), A. donax (cells), gelatin (GP) and poly vinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) to be applied as a powerful sorbent for CI Basic Red 14 dye. The morphological structure of the fabricated beads was investigated by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and the results revealed that most immobilized A. donax cells into beads and micro-clusters are formed inside the beads. The effect of experimental variables such as sorbent dose, initial dye concentration, pH, and contact time were investigated. Freundlich and Langmuir isotherm models were applied to describe sorbent–dye sorption system. Equilibrium isotherms of CI Basic Red 14 dye on the fabricated beads were obtained, where the first-order rate model is more appropriate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maize silage contributes to biogas production in Lombardy Region (400 anaerobic digestion plants) employing 47,000 Ha (Production Model – PM1). Reducing the area devoted to this energy crop is a goal to free soil for food production. Double cropping (PM2) and Arundo donax L. (PM3) have been proposed and tested to measure the impacts for the three Production Models by Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). The impact category related to Climate Change remained stable for PM2 while it decreased by 17% for Arundo donax L. (PM3) in comparison with PM1. Impact categories related to nutrient management (acidification, particulate matter eutrophication) showed an increase in the range of 3–5% for PM2 in comparison with PM1, while Arundo donax L. allowed the same impact categories to be reduced by 31%, 24%, 17% and 33%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The response of giant reed (Arundo donax L.) to selenium (Se), added as selenate, was studied. The development, stress response, uptake, translocation, and accumulation of Se were documented in three giant reed ecotypes STM (Hungary), BL (USA), and ESP (Spain), representing different climatic zones. Plantlets regenerated from sterile tissue cultures were grown under greenhouse conditions in sand supplemented with 0, 2.5, 5, and 10 mg Se kg−1 added as sodium selenate. Total Se content was measured in different plant parts using hydride generation atomic fluorescence spectroscopy. All plants developed normally in the 0-5.0 mg Se kg−1 concentration range regardless of ecotype, but no growth occurred at 10.0 mg Se kg−1. There were no signs of chlorosis or necrosis, and the photosynthetic machinery was not affected as evidenced by no marked differences in the structure of thylakoid membranes. There was no change in the maximum quantum yield of photosystem II (Fv/Fm ratio) in the three ecotypes under Se stress, except for a significant negative effect in the ESP ecotype in the 5.0 mg Se kg−1 treatment. Glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity increased as the Se concentration increased in the growth medium. GPx activity was higher in the shoot system than the root system in all Se treatments. All ecotypes showed great capacity of take up, translocate and accumulate selenium in their stem and leaf. Relative Se accumulation is best described as leaf ˃˃ stem ˃ root. The ESP ecotype accumulated 1783 μg g−1 in leaf, followed by BL with 1769 μg g−1, and STM with 1606 μg g−1 in the 5.0 mg Se kg−1 treatment. All ecotypes showed high values of translocation and bioaccumulation factors, particularly the ESP ecotype (10.1 and 689, respectively, at the highest tolerated Se supplementation level). Based on these findings, Arundo donax has been identified as the first monocot hyperaccumulator of selenium, because Se concentration in the leaves of all three ecotypes, and also in the stem of the ESP ecotype, is higher than 0.1% (dry weight basis) under the conditions tested. Tolerance up to 5.0 mg Se kg−1 and the Se hyperaccumulation capacity make giant reed a promising tool for Se phytoremediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the possibility of producing all-lignocellulosic fiberboards from Arundo donax L. as a source of lignocellulosic fibers with no synthetic binders. This raw material was steam exploded with a thermomechanical aqueous vapor process in a batch reactor. The Arundo donax raw material and its obtained pulp were characterized in terms of chemical composition and the results were compared to other lignocellulosic materials. The chemical composition of steam exploded Arundo fibers showed high cellulose and a moderate lignin content suggesting it was a good raw material for fiberboard production. The all-lignocellulosic fiberboards were produced on laboratory scale; using the steam exploded Arundo donax by means of a wet process. The effects of pressing pressure on physical and mechanical properties were evaluated and the conditions that optimize the responses were found. The analyzed properties were density (d); water absorption (WA); thickness swelling (TS); modulus of elasticity (MOE); modulus of rupture (MOR); and internal bond strength (IB). The tested levels of the pressing pressure range from 0.35 to 15 MPa. The optimum IB; MOE; MOR; WA and TS were 1.28 MPa, 7439 MPa, 40.4 MPa, 17.6% and 13.3%, respectively. The obtained fiberboards were of very good quality and more than satisfy the requirements of the relevant standard specifications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A life cycle assessment (LCA) was carried out to investigate the environmental constrains of Arundo donax L. (common name giant reed) feedstock cultivation, for biorefinery purpose, treated with different amount of nitrogen fertilizations: 50 and 100 kg ha −1 of N as urea (low input- LI and high input- HI, respectively). The analysis was addressed for a cultivation of giant reed (GR) under Mediterranean conditions, considering primary data for the first eight years of cultivation and further modeled for the whole life cycle (15 years). The goals were, to ascertain and compare the environmental profile as well as to identify the hotspots for both investigated N- management techniques. Results highlighted a potential higher environmental performance for the LI giant reed cultivation, due to the reduced up-stream and direct field emissions linked to urea application. LI impacts resulted to be 24% lower than HI impacts, as averaged values for all impact categories. Crop yield represented a driving parameter and the lower biomass productivity under N low input management partially counteracted the entailed benefits of the lower fertilization rates. Through the inclusion of soil carbon storage, after seven years of harvesting, the whole crop phase revealed a net greenhouse gases sink and also differences between LI (−0.21 kg CO 2 eq) and HI (−0.09 kg CO 2 eq) appeared amplified. This was due to the enhanced C accumulation rate in LI trials (about 7.7 ton C ha −1 at the end of the seventh harvest year of GR cultivation), likely promoted by reduced soil organic matter mineralization at lower nitrogen availability. Nevertheless, in order to provide a full and comprehensive picture of the environmental performance of GR feedstock under different N-fertilization, further studies are needed encompassing the whole production chain: from the cultivation, through selected efficient conversion processes towards the co-production of added value products in the framework of the BioPoliS project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy metals are taken up by the vascular plant root system from water solutions in cationic forms. Subsequently, during both short and long distance transport to other plant tissues, cation forms are incorporated to many bioorganic compounds differing in stability, ionic character and physico-chemical properties such as solubility in lipid structures and mobility across cell membrane systems. Many sequential and single step extraction methods have been elaborated for characterization of the role of individual components of plant cells components in transport and detoxication of heavy metals. In our study, dry biomass of giant reed (Arundo donax L.) grown in hydroponic media spiked with 65ZnCl2 and 109CdCl2 was treated with dithizone solutions as complexing ligand in order to convert free Zn2+ and Cd2+ ions to corresponding dithizonates. Treatment with dithizone showed that up to 67 % of the total plant Cd and 56 % of the total plant Zn were transformed to dithizonate complexes extracted with chloroform. Extraction of biomass with Folch reagent showed that up to 48 % of the total root cadmium and up to 18 % of the total shoot cadmium is bound in lipid fraction. Zinc was not found in lipid fraction of root and shoot. Derivatization of the dried root and shoot lipid fraction by dithizone showed that two third of Cd in root and practically all Cd in shoot lipid fraction could be transformed to Cd-dithizonate. Methods of biomass treating with complexing ligands and a method of sequential extraction procedures with non-polar organic solvents and radiotracer methodology seem to be useful methods for the study of metal speciation and distribution in vascular plants

The adsorption characteristics of Arundo donax L.(AD) biochars for ammonium(NH -N) were investigated. Absorbents were characterized through scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analyses. AD-500 and AD-800 were produced from raw AD and pyrolyzed from room temperature to 500 and 800 °C, respectively. PD-500 was prepared by impregnating AD with a mild alkali solution and pyrolyzing from room temperature to 500 °C. The feasibility of the use of AD-500, AD-800, and PD-500 removing NH -N from an aqueous solution was examined. The adsorption system followed the pseudo-first-order model. Results showed that the adsorption capacities of AD-biochars for NH -N were enhanced after the final pyrolysis; temperature was increased or the mild alkali pretreatment was administered. When the initial NH -N concentration was changed from 4 to 8 mM, the NH -N sorption capacity of the biochar increased from 23 to 51%, with the final pyrolysis temperature increasing from 500 to 800 °C. The improved ratios were 12 to 33% when the biochar was prepared at 500 °C after the mild alkali pretreatment, and NH -N sorption was enhanced due to ion exchange in the PD biochar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the accumulation and distribution of nickel inArundo donaxL. parts to assess the potential use of this plant in phytoremediation of Ni-contaminated soils. The effect of ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid (EDTA) and nutrient solution containing NPK on the plant was proped. A 35-day pot experiment was performed in the laboratory and the pots were irrigated with Ni-contaminated solution combined or not with EDTA and NPK. The growth of plants was evaluated at the end of the experiment. The accumulation of Ni was analyzed by atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). The obtained results indicate that the plant was able to survive with high Ni content. The growth and the concentrations of Ni in the plant tissues were less affected. In the absence of the amendments, Ni was accumulated in the stems and leaves. However, the addition of NPK significantly reduced Ni concentration in the stems and leaves. The application of EDTA enhanced Ni uptake in roots. The translocation factor (TF) was greater than 1, which categorizesA. donaxL. as a great candidate for Ni phytoextraction.A. donaxL. is suitable for phytoremediation of Ni. This investigation contributes to the studies on the potential of phytoremediation technologies in Algeria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 2-year pot experiment was carried out to examine the aging effect of biochar (B), alone or combined with iron grit (Z), on Cu stabilization and plant growth in a contaminated soil (964 mg Cu kg − 1 ) from a wood preservation site. The experiment consisted in 3 soil treatments, either planted with Arundo donax L. ( Ad ) or Populus nigra L. ( Pn) : (1) untreated Cu-contaminated soil ( Ad , Pn ); (2) Unt + 1% (w/w) B ( Ad B, Pn B), and (3) Unt + 1% B + 1% Z ( Ad BZ, Pn BZ). After 22 months, the soil pore water (SPW) was sampled and roots and shoots were harvested. The SPW compositions at 3 and 22 months were compared, showing that the SPW Cu 2 + concentration increased again in the Pn B and Pn BZ soils. Cultivation of A . donax enhanced the dissolved organic matter concentration in the SPW, which decreased its Cu 2 + concentration but promoted its total Cu concentration in the Ad and Ad B soils. Adding Z with B reduced both SPW Cu 2 + and Cu concentrations in the pots cultivated by A . donax and P . nigra as compared to B alone. The B and BZ treatments did not enhance root and shoot yields of both plant species as compared to the Unt soil but their shoot Cu concentrations were in the range of common values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]