Characterization of different Arundo donax L. Clones from the Mediterranean region

Abstract

The present study assessed the behaviour of a tour ecotypes of Arundo donax L. (giant reed) as a perennial rhizomatous grass with an increasing interest due to its high biomass production and great s adaptability to stress conditions. In this study we perform a molecular, physiological and biomass characterization in greenhouse conditions on four mediterranean ecotypes. Not large significant differences were found in physiological and biomass parameters. However, it was possible to observe large differences in the chromosome count for the four ecotypes. In this way, we detected different number of chromosomes for each ecotype (98 to 122), but surprisingly, no correlation was observad between their chromosomes number and their physiological and biomass responses.