Arundo donax L.: How High Photosynthetic Capacity Is Maintained under Water Scarcity Conditions

Elena Sánchez,Xavier Serrat,Pablo Rivera-Vargas,Salvador Nogués

doi:10.3390/agronomy11061089

Abstract

Arundo donax L. (giant reed) is a perennial rhizomatous grass and has been identified as an important non-food biomass crop with capacity for cultivation in marginal and degraded lands where water scarcity conditions frequently occur due to climate change. This review analyzes the effect of water stress on photosynthetic capacity and biomass production in multiple giant reed ecotypes grown in different regions around the world. Furthermore, this review will attempt to explain the reason for the high photosynthetic capacity of giant reed even under changing environmental conditions as well as indicate other morphological reasons that could contribute to maintaining this high photosynthetic rate. Finally, future research in favor of selecting ecotypes with drought tolerance is proposed.

Highlights

IntroductionArundo donax L. (giant reed) is a species belonging to the Arundonoideae subfamily of the Gramineae family [1]
Arundo donax L. is a species belonging to the Arundonoideae subfamily of the Gramineae family [1]
Regarding the use of giant reed as an energy crop, it has been characterized as a good material for combustion [15], its biomass quality is under discussion [16]

Summary

Introduction

Arundo donax L. (giant reed) is a species belonging to the Arundonoideae subfamily of the Gramineae family [1]. (giant reed) is a species belonging to the Arundonoideae subfamily of the Gramineae family [1] It is widely distributed throughout the world [2,3] since it can grow in a wide range of climatic conditions, from warm to cold [1] and highly humid to very dry areas, even those with long drought periods [4,5]. Regarding the use of giant reed as an energy crop, it has been characterized as a good material for combustion [15], its biomass quality is under discussion [16] It has been described as the best-suited species for biogas production due to its high C:N ratio [6], which is within the optimum (25–30) established by Maishanu and Hussani [17]. C3 plants do not have PEP carboxylase to avoid photorespiration, giant reed has been described as a C3 species with a photosynthetic capacity similar to C4 species (like Miscanthus or Panicum virgatum), even on marginal lands [7,12,13,20]

Photosynthesis of Giant Reed in Optimal Growth Conditions

Photosynthesis of Giant Reed under Drought Conditions

Findings

Conclusions