Biomass and grain oil yields in Cynara cardunculus L. genotypes grown in a Mediterranean environment

Cardoon (Cynara cardunculus L.) is a Mediterranean perennial plant. Studies were conducted on cardoon for biomass production, in order to assess the plant as an alternative low input management crop in a Mediterranean environment. The grain oil has similar composition to sunflower or saffron oils and can be easily extracted. In this work, the results of cardoon biomass and grain oil production under Sicilian (South Italy) low input conditions are shown. In a completely randomized block, during 1998–2001, 14 genotypes of C. cardunculus L., five cultivated cardoons and nine wild cardoons, were evaluated for lignocellulosic biomass production, grain yield and chemical composition of the grain. The results showed, on average for the genotypes, a 3-year cumulative aboveground biomass of 47.4 t ha⁻¹ DM, the 6.3% of which was grain. Differences within the 3 years of cultivation were observed, due to varying water availability (rainfall differences) and age of the crop. The results showed some genotypes are very promising for biomass, grain and oil production. Moreover, the good range of variability observed among genotypes is important for developing cultivars suitable for varying cropping systems in breeding programs.