Possible alternative utilization of Cynara spp. : I. Biomass, grain yield and chemical composition of grain

Abstract

Globe artichoke ( Cynara scolymus L.) and cultivated cardoon ( C. cardunculus L. var. altilis DC.) are horticulturally important crop plants. These species have potential as biomass and oilseed crops. We field tested, for 3 years, two artichoke and two cardoon cultivars and one wild cardoon ( C. cardunculus L. var. sylvestris Lam.) population on the Sicilian plain of Catania (37°27′ N, 15°04′ E, 10 m a.s.l.). On a 3-year average, the dry aboveground biomass resulted about 31 t ha −1 in both cultivated cardoons, 18.8 t ha −1 in wild cardoon, 13.7 t ha −1 in globe artichoke ‘3/10 V.S.’ and 9.9 t ha −1 in globe artichoke ‘374’ F 1. The caloric values of aboveground biomass (except for seeds), which was not significantly different among genotypes, ranged between 16 005 and 17 028 KJ kg −1 of dry matter. The cultivated cardoon ‘Gigante di Lucca’ had the greatest grain yield (on 3-year average, 2.6 t ha −1), whereas the two globe artichokes had the lowest yield (on 3-year average, 0.5 t ha −1). Regardless of genotypes and years, the grains contain 20.1% crude protein, 24.4% oil, 18.5% crude fiber and 4.1% ash (dry weight basis). The grains of globe artichokes showed the highest crude protein content (21.6%), whereas those of cardoons the highest oil content (25.2%).