Silicon alleviates antimony phytotoxicity in giant reed (Arundo donax L.)

The increasing interest in<em> Arundo donax,</em> a perennial lignocellulosic species only reproducing by propagation, requires the setup of cheap, simple and reliable techniques. Considering these targets, stem cutting offers considerable advantages. The present investigation aimed to compare: i) plants obtained by different propagation methods (by rhizome and micropropagation mother plants); ii) plants obtained by stem cuttings from basal, central and apical parts of the stem; iii) different planting periods (spring, summer, autumn). The obtained results showed that the number of new shoots from stem buds was: i) higher in the spring and lower in the summer planting period; ii) higher from cuttings obtained by micropropagated than rhizome mother plants, both in spring and summer plantings; iii) decreasing passing from the basal to the apical stem portion; iv) partly unexpressed in the autumn planting period; v) lower from one-year stem cuttings as compared to two-year stem cuttings.

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Agronomic and physiological response of giant reed (Arundo donax L.) to soil salinity

Italian Journal of Agronomy ◽

10.4081/ija.2018.995 ◽

2018 ◽

pp. 31-39 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Ida Di Mola ◽

Gianpiero Guida ◽

Carmela Mistretta ◽

Pasquale Giorio ◽

Rossella Albrizio ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Soil Salinity ◽

Relative Yield ◽

Metal Structure ◽

Arundo Donax ◽

Giant Reed ◽

Yield Losses ◽

Psii Photochemistry ◽

Salinity Increase ◽

Four Levels ◽

Arundo Donax L

The soil salinity increase in the Mediterranean basin is one of the consequences of the climate change. The aim of this study was to evaluate the adaptability of giant reed (Arundo donax L.) to salinity, in conditions of higher temperatures, in order to hypothesise the future use of giant reed under these conditions. The trial was carried out in pots under a permanent metal structure, open on the sides and with a clear PE on the top. Four levels of soil salinity in the range 3.3-15.5 dS m–1 were imposed. The stem number of the most stressed treatment was about 45% lower than the control and also the stem height was lower than in all other treatments. The green and yellow leaf number decreased as the soil salinity increased, and their sum was significantly lower in the two most stressed treatments. Osmotic potential of the leaf sap was not affected by salinity. Leaf water potential and stomatal conduc- conductance in the saline treatments were lower than in the control. tance Assimilation rate showed similar pattern of stomatal conductance. Intrinsic WUE remained almost stable until July and increased during August under the most stressful conditions. PSII photochemistry was not affected by soil salinity. Biomass yield was not different from the control until to soil ECe 12.0 dS m–1: only the most stressed treatment (15.5 dS m–1) caused yield losses (50%). Tolerance threshold to salinity was 11.2 dS m–1 and the relative yield losses were 11.6% per dS m–1.

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