A5073825320- Bioenergy crop production and management
- Biofuel production and bioconversion
- Forest Biomass Utilization and Management
- Seedling growth and survival studies
- Crop Yield and Soil Fertility
- Plant Water Relations and Carbon Dynamics
- Agronomic Practices and Intercropping Systems
- Botany and Plant Ecology Studies
- Microbial Metabolic Engineering and Bioproduction
- Sugarcane Cultivation and Processing
- Food composition and properties
- Irrigation Practices and Water Management
- Hibiscus Plant Research Studies
- Bioeconomy and Sustainability Development
- Catalysis for Biomass Conversion
- Plant Stress Responses and Tolerance
- Soil erosion and sediment transport
- Agroforestry and silvopastoral systems
- Plant and fungal interactions
- Genetics and Plant Breeding
- Biodiesel Production and Applications
- Leaf Properties and Growth Measurement
- Greenhouse Technology and Climate Control
- Wheat and Barley Genetics and Pathology
- Plant Ecology and Soil Science
University of Messina
2022-2024
University of Catania
2012-2021
Forest Products Laboratory
2010
This study deals with approaches for a social-ecological friendly European bioeconomy based on biomass from industrial crops cultivated marginal agricultural land. The selected to be investigated are: Biomass sorghum, camelina, cardoon, castor, crambe, Ethiopian mustard, giant reed, hemp, lupin, miscanthus, pennycress, poplar, reed canary grass, safflower, Siberian elm, switchgrass, tall wheatgrass, wild sugarcane, and willow. research question focused the overall crop growth suitability...
Abstract Genetic improvement through breeding is one of the key approaches to increasing biomass supply. This paper documents progress date for four perennial crops (PBCs) that have high output–input energy ratios: namely Panicum virgatum (switchgrass), species genera Miscanthus (miscanthus), Salix (willow) and Populus (poplar). For each crop, we report on size germplasm collections, efforts phenotype genotype, diversity available scale work as indicated by number attempted crosses. We also...
The growing bioeconomy will require a greater supply of biomass in the future for both bioenergy and bio-based products. Today, many cropping systems (BCS) are suboptimal due to either social-ecological threats or technical limitations. In addition, competition land between bioenergy-crop cultivation, food-crop biodiversity conservation is expected increase as result continuous world population growth severe climate change effects. This study investigates how BCS can become more...
This review describes the multiple utilization of perennial grasses as resilient crops for a multifunctional agriculture. Beyond its role producing food, feed and fiber, concept agriculture includes many other functions, such ecosystem services, renewable energy production contribution to socio-economic viability rural areas. Traditionally used feed, some grasses—known (e.g., miscanthus—Miscanthus × giganteus Greef et Deuter, giant reed—Arundo donax L., switchgrass—Panicun virgatum reed...
Abstract Growing industrial crops on marginal lands has been proposed as a strategy to minimize competition for arable land and food production. In the present study, eight experimental sites in three different climatic zones Europe (Mediterranean, Atlantic Continental), seven advanced crop species [giant reed (two clones), miscanthus ( M . × giganteus two new seed‐based hybrids), saccharum (one switchgrass variety), tall wheatgrass hemp (three varieties) willow (eleven clones)], six...
Interest in white lupine has increased recent years animal nutrition due to its balanced protein and lipid content, phytochemical compounds, low alkaloid content. Agronomic traits, nutrients, antioxidant phenols of six lupin genotypes grown a Mediterranean area were explored. Genotypes significantly differed growth stages life cycle length (from 172 204 days after sowing), plant height 36.1 97.2 cm), seed yield 1.02 3.50 Mg ha−1), components. Seed was positively correlated with the number...
In this paper the suitability of three perennial, herbaceous, lignocellulosic grasses (Arundo donax, Saccharum spontaneous spp. aegyptiacum and Miscanthus x giganteus) for production second-generation bioethanol in semi-arid Mediterranean environment was studied. Crops were established spring 2002, supplying irrigation nitrogen fertilization up to 2004/2005 growing season. Subsequently, crops grown without any agronomic input harvested annually. Data reported refers 2008/2009 2009/2010...
Abstract Genetic analyses have suggested that the clonal reproduction of Arundo donax has resulted in low genetic diversity. However, an earlier common garden phenotyping experiment identified specimens A. with contrasting biomass yields (ecotypes 6 and 20). We utilized same well‐established stands to investigate photosynthetic stress physiology ecotypes under irrigated drought conditions. Ecotype produced largest both treatments. The exhibited identical high leaf‐level rates photosynthesis...
Abstract The European Union (EU) has set quite an ambitious goal for biofuels contribution to the makeup of renewable energy mix in next decades. While substantial efforts have been made develop technologies transformation biomass into biofuels, it is still uncertain what extent EU will be able generate needed meet its targets without compromising domestic food security. Using a bottom‐up approach, this review addresses one key elements: potential availability land non‐food crops EU....