Abstract
In order to limit the smoking tobacco sector crisis, a new non-GMO Nicotiana tabacum L. cv. Solaris was proposed as oil seed crop. Residues of oil extraction were successfully used in swine nutrition. The aim of this study was to explore the full potential of this innovative tobacco cultivar as multitasking feedstock non interfering with the food chain. In the triennium 2016–2018, samples from whole plant, inflorescence and stem-leaf biomass were collected in three experimental sites and analysed for chemical constituents, including fibre fractions, sugars and starch, macro-minerals and total alkaloids. The KOH soluble protein content and the amino-acid profile were also investigated as well as the biochemical methane potential. All the analyses were performed according to official methods and results were compared with values reported in literature for conventional lignocellulosic crops and agro-industry residues. The average protein content, ranging from 16.01 to 18.98 g 100 g−1 dry matter respectively for stem-leaf and whole plant samples, and their amino-acid profile are consistent with values reported for standard grass plant. These findings suggest the potential use of cv. Solaris in industrial food formulations. Moreover, considering the average content of both fibre available for fermentations (72.6% of Neutral Detergent Fibre) and oils and fats (7.92 g 100 g−1 dry matter), the whole plant biomass of cv. Solaris showed good attitude to anaerobic fermentation, confirmed by the biochemical methane potential of whole plant (168 Nm3 t−1 organic matter). Similarly, results allow to define the cv. Solaris biomass as a good quality forage apt to ensiling for its chemical composition. The low total alkaloids content of cv. Solaris, in average 0.3 g 100 g−1 dry matter, was previously reported not to affect growth performances and welfare traits of dairy heifers. These are the first results showing the multitasking potential use of cv. Solaris biomass, that could allow the recovery of tobacco cultivation know-how especially in marginal areas.
Highlights
The European Nicotiana tabacum L. cultivation has decreased considerably in recent years because restriction of subsidies[1] and smoking tobacco production is reported to account for about 219,243 tons[2]
Tobacco cultivation in Italy is concentrated in Campania, Umbria, Veneto and Toscana regions, where a strong cultivation know-how is available in terms of both technique and agricultural machinery
In order to limit the crisis affecting the tobacco sector in Italy, thanks to 15 years of research, a new cultivar of Nicotiana tabacum L. was developed for maximizing the production of seeds with high content of oil used as biofuel or biomass source[1]
Summary
The European Nicotiana tabacum L. cultivation has decreased considerably in recent years because restriction of subsidies[1] and smoking tobacco production is reported to account for about 219,243 tons[2]. In order to limit the crisis affecting the tobacco sector in Italy, thanks to 15 years of research, a new cultivar of Nicotiana tabacum L. was developed for maximizing the production of seeds with high content of oil used as biofuel or biomass source[1]. This cultivar, named Solaris, is a non-GMO developed and patented as “energy tobacco” (PCT/IB/2007/053412)[3,4], registered in 119 countries and granted in over 75 countries, including USA, all Africa, EuroAsia, Italy, Russia and Australia. Solaris compared with smoking tobacco varieties contains low levels of nicotine and maximizes the production of flowers/seeds, reducing leaf growth (Fig. 1)
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