Arundo donax ranks among the world’s 100 most invasive weed species, posing significant threats to native biodiversity, agriculture, and natural ecosystems. Global climate change, characterized by increasing temperatures and increased human activities, is projected to amplify the risk of A. donax invasion worldwide. In this study, species distribution modeling via the maximum entropy algorithm was employed to predict the potential distributions of species under current and future climate scenarios on the basis of the following shared socioeconomic pathways (SSPs): SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5. Our study revealed that the human influence index (HII), annual mean temperature (Bio1), and ultraviolet radiation (UV-B) were the top contributors to the model output, with contribution rates of 59%, 23.6%, and 7.3%, respectively. Currently, approximately 10.15% of the total land mass is invaded by A. donax , with 21 countries, including France, Croatia, Italy, and Spain, identified as exhibiting more than 75% of their territories at high risk of invasion. However, the future projections for 2041–2060 and 2081–2100 indicated substantial expansion in suitable habitats, covering land mass proportions of 18.40% and 24.26%, respectively, under SSP2-4.5 and 19.39% and 25.66%, respectively, under SSP5-8.5. Notably, 41 countries (SSP2-4.5) and 42 countries (SSP5-8.5) were projected to shift from low to high or very high invasion risk categories from 2081–2100. Moreover, invasion risk was projected to increase across all continents, with Africa demonstrating the most significant increase (312.08%). These findings highlight the escalating threat of A. donax under global climate change and human activities, emphasizing the urgent need for proactive management strategies, including enhanced quarantine measures and effective control programs, to limit its spread and mitigate associated risks.

ABSTRACT This paper explores plant agency in State bordering. Drawing on posthumanism and new materialism, bordering is understood as a material and more-than-human process through which the motion of interacting material entities, both human and nonhuman, is regulated and ordered. The paper examines a case study of the entanglement between a plant (carrizo cane, Arundo donax), human bodies, border infrastructure, and terrain at the US-Mexico border. Using a qualitative methodology, findings show that this reed disrupts US bordering by obstructing the vision and mobility of border officers, the configuration of a visible perimeter, and the maintenance of border infrastructure and technology. Plant agency challenges anthropocentric understandings of bordering (the privilege of human agents and the hegemony of sight and the terrestrial), and of plants (resource and risk).

Using Arundo donax as Agricultural and Industrial Waste as Expanded Polystyrene in the Production of Cement Bricks

Giant reed (Arundo donax L.), a perennial plant with a lignocellulosic structure, has become increasingly important in bioenergy production in recent years. Due to its wide natural and cultivated distribution worldwide, high biomass yield, and calorific value comparable to that of wood and other energy crops, giant reed represents a promising raw material for bioenergy production. For biomass production, it is essential in terms of raw material continuity that the product be harvested in a short time. Consequently, this study aimed to determine the chemical and thermal characterization and calorific values of naturally grown giant reed obtained at different harvest times (6th month - late summer, 9th month - autumn, and 12th month - winter). The chemical properties were found to differ according to the harvest season. The thermal characters of samples were investigated by thermogravimetric analysis (TG) both in air and under an inert atmosphere. It was revealed that the thermal character of the giant reed was similar in autumn and winter harvest seasons. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis was performed to investigate the changes that may occur in the chemical structure of the giant reed during this six-month period. Higher heating values (HHV) of the giant reed harvested at different times was found experimentally as 17 583 kJ/kg - 18 822 kJ/kg - 18 523 kJ/kg, respectively. The ash contents were determined as 5.72% - 4.59% - 4.48% during the harvest periods.

The impact of pollutants in urban wastewater on Constructed Wetlands (CWs) rhizoplane microbial communities remains quite understudied. Our study explores how civil wastewater influences the structure and ecological stability of rhizoplane microbial communities associated with three macrophytes: Nerium oleander L., Arundo donax L., and Juncus conglomeratus L. in simulated conditions as in the case of CWs. Therefore, a pot experiment was set up, using wastewater repeated exposure of the three macrophytes, to assess the microbial (bacteria and fungi) resistance and resilience by means of next-generation sequencing. The results showed that all three macrophytes contributed to pollutant removal; however, the effects on microbial communities were taxon-specific. In general, the rhizobacterial community exhibited moderate resilience and low resistance to wastewater, indicating a partial recovery post-disturbance. The fungal community showed high resistance (ResI = 0.99), in contrast with limited resilience (RI < 1), suggesting a stable but less dynamic response to the wastewater exposure. Effluent repeated addition positively influenced the relative abundance of certain bacteria taxonomical groups, specifically Firmicutes and Actinobacteria, but also of some fungal taxa. Our findings underscore the key role of microbial communities in CWs, where complementary resistance and resilience strategies contribute to system stability, plant health, and pollutant attenuation.

Dynamics of dissolved organic carbon turnover and microbial communities reconstruction associated with giant reed during the soil-like formation in bauxite residue.

Exploring the anti-fibrotic potential of gramine in a UUO-induced rat model of chronic kidney disease: A network pharmacology and molecular docking approach with experimental validation.

ABSTRACT Addressing the poor stem‐leaf separation of Arundo donax , this study analyzed aerodynamic characteristics through theoretical and experimental methods to optimize air separation parameters. Suspension velocity tests using a custom bench revealed significant differences between whole stems and leaves, while velocities overlapped for split stalks and leaf sheaths. Velocity exhibited a quadratic relationship with material length, enabling determination of the optimal separation velocity range. A three‐factor, three‐level response surface methodology experiment was conducted on a sorting device, with material length, outlet angle, and airflow velocity as test factors, and the rate of leaf content in the stem and the rate of stem content in the leaf as response values. Results showed airflow velocity was the most significant factor for both the rate of leaf content in the stem (order of significance: airflow velocity > material length > outlet angle) and the rate of stem content in the leaf (airflow velocity > material length). The optimal parameters were: 7 cm material length, 5° outlet angle, 30 m·s −1 airflow velocity, yielding 18.91% rate of leaf content in the stem and 16.55% rate of stem content in the leaf. This represented reductions of 7.56 and 9.37 percentage points in the respective rates compared to pre‐optimization, significantly improving separation. Model reliability was confirmed with less than 5% relative error between predicted and measured values. The study provides a reference for mechanical harvesting material characteristics and wind separation device design for Arundo donax .

Different composites of polyethylene and two fillers (ignimbrite dust and Arundo donax fibers) were obtained by rotational molding. Both fillers were also combined among them to produce hybrid composites. The blends, prepared by dry-blending, were later rotomolded to determine the effect of such fillers into the tensile properties of the materials, before and after subjecting them to accelerated weathering on a UV chamber for up to 500 h. No significant differences are observed in the mechanical behavior of the different sample series, regardless their type or ratio of filler (5 or 10% by weight), due to the modifications only taking place on the sample surface and the rotomolded items having a thickness of nominally 4 mm. The carbonyl index was obtained from the FTIR spectra, determining an increase in this parameter with irradiation time. The samples with the Arundo fibers exhibit a lower carbonyl index, showing the potential stabilization effect of this lignocellulosic filler against UV, while the composites with the mineral powder tend to increase the oxidation of the samples when included at high loadings (10%).

Energy-saving potential in buildings by cement bricks made with date seed aggregates and Arundo donax fiber with thermal and mechanical assessment

The design and operation of constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment depends, inter alia, on their water balance, which is, in turn, dependent on precipitation and water loss via evapotranspiration. This work outlines a comparative water loss assessment of vegetated Sealed Mesocosms (evapotranspiration, ET) and their respective controls (evaporation, Ev) for urban wastewater treatment in a coastal semi-arid Mediterranean climate. Potential evapotranspiration (PET) is estimated at 2431mm.year-1, with a daily average of 6.659 ± 4.168mm.day-1, and is much more closely linked to dry winds, reducing average relative humidity. Average of the evapotranspiration capacity of the atmosphere (ℇ) is measured 17.41 ± 15.30mm.d-1; planted SFCW-mesocosms (surface flow constructed wetlands) have the highest actual evapotranspiration (AET), 23.21 ± 15.54mm.d-1. Planting mesocosms does not generally result in significant changes in daily AET, whereas during the vegetative period, ℇ in most mesocosms is significantly higher with respect to vegetative rest. The AET of Arundo donax mesocosms and the SFCW second-level Phragmites australis mesocosms exceed twice the Ev of their respective controls. Lemna gibba exceptionally produces 4.702g of dry matter per liter of ET water loss, provided the biomass is harvested regularly over the year. The results of this study will help guide the design of extensive wastewater treatment processes in Mediterranean climates, depending on the context of applied water restitution and/or macrophyte biomass valorization.

The effect of low-dose, commercially available wastewater sludge compost (WSC; 15 t ha-1) treatment was examined with or without arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) inoculation on the nutritional status, heavy metal (HM) concentration and the rhizosphere activity of giant reed (Arundo donax L. var. BL clone (Blossom)) plants. Funneliformis mosseae (BEG12; AMF1), F. geosporum (BEG11; AMF2) or their combination (AMFmix) were applied as AMF treatments in a short-term pot experiment. The physiological and growth parameters of the host plants, the AMF root colonization and the microbiological enzyme activity of the mycorrhizosphere were examined. We assumed that the combined treatment (WSC + AMF) enhances the fertility of low-fertility acidic sandy soil. Neither the WSC treatment nor the AMF inoculations changed the extent of root colonization. Based on the results of root electrical capacitance and the phosphorous uptake, plant nutritional status was improved by WSC addition, without any negative impacts among the measured parameters. AMF treatments increased the enzyme activity in the soil and decreased the concentrations of the potentially toxic HMs (Cu, Mn, Pb, Zn) in roots, but that mitigation of Cu and Zn was compensated in shoots. According to the results of MicroResp™ measurements, the catabolic activity profile of the soil microbial community was changed in case of the AMF2 treatment. The efficient regulatory mechanism of giant reed might be able to adjust optimal/maximal colonization rate, and to select the preferential AMF partners, this supposed mechanism might be responsible for its invasiveness and tolerance to a wide range of environmental conditions.

For its rapid growth, high yield, and broad adaptability, Arundo donax is widely used in various applications, yielding considerable economic and ecological benefits. However, widespread cultivation is challenging because A. donax can only be propagated asexually. In this study, a tissue culture method was developed using the clustered bud proliferation pathway. The explant type, disinfection method, induction medium, proliferation medium, and rooting medium were optimized to efficiently harvest high-quality A. donax seedlings. Using axillary buds with whole cane fragments as the most suitable explants, they were first sterilized with 75% alcohol for 30 s and then disinfected with 0.1% mercuric chloride for 5 min. 97.8% of explants could successfully form clustered buds on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 5.0 mg/L 6-benzylaminopurine (6-BA) and 1.0 mg/L 3-indolebutyric acid (IBA). Each individual bud achieved efficient propagation with a proliferation coefficient as high as 33.3 on MS medium supplemented with 4.0 mg/L 6-BA and 1.0 mg/L IBA. In addition, all buds were capable of rooting on 1/2 MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/L 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). The resultant rooted seedlings survived and developed into plantlets, averaging 44.84 cm in height and 2.54 mm in thickness, following a 30-day acclimation period. This protocol provides a robust foundation for the large-scale, high-quality propagation of A. donax, supporting its broader application in ecological restoration and bioresource industries.

In recent years, second-generation perennial energy grasses have gained attention for their potential role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. However, the possible health risks associated with their large-scale cultivation remain insufficiently addressed. This paper presents a narrative literature review of the potential allergenic effects of the main perennial grass energy crops (Phalaris arundinacea, Phragmites australis, Miscanthus × giganteus, Arundo donax), with Zea mays used as a reference first-generation energy crop. A structured search was conducted in major electronic databases using predefined keywords related to bioenergy crops, pollen dispersal, and allergenicity. The search identified a wide body of literature on crop biology and bioenergy potential, but only a limited number of studies addressed allergenic outcomes directly. The evidence suggests that, except for P. arundinacea, most second-generation grasses are late-flowering species. If cultivated on a larger scale near urban centers, these crops could alter the seasonal pattern of allergenic pollen exposure by shifting the allergic burden toward the late growing season (August-October). While the expected overall impact on the annual pollen load appears modest-potentially reducing the June peak typical for Europe while slightly increasing exposure later in the season-these changes warrant consideration in land-use and public health planning.

Effect of bed material on agglomeration of bed particles in CFB burning pellets from Arundo Donax

Different control strategies of the invasive plant Arundo donax L. have taxon-specific effects on above- and belowground biodiversity.

Effects of the invasive riparian plant Arundo donax on riverine fish: a call for action?

The increasing demand for renewable energy, coupled with the urgent challenges posed by climate change, has positioned perennial biomass crops (BPGs) as essential and sustainable alternatives for bioenergy production. This study investigated the impact of irrigation regimes on the physiological performance of three BPG species—Arundo donax L., Saccharum spontaneum, and Miscanthus—with a focus on leaf gas exchange (net assimilation rate and transpiration rate) and instantaneous water use efficiency (iWUE) at varying levels of irrigation input, adopting a split-plot experimental design under the Mediterranean climatic conditions of Sicily (Italy). The results clearly showed that A. donax, a C3 species, outperformed the C4 species S. spontaneum and Miscanthus, exhibiting significantly higher stomatal conductance and net photosynthesis, especially under irrigated conditions. S. spontaneum demonstrated the highest iWUE, particularly in rainfed treatments, reflecting its efficient use of water. Miscanthus showed the greatest sensitivity to water stress, with a more pronounced decline in photosynthesis during drought periods. This study accentuated the role of effective water management and genotype selection in optimizing biomass yield and resource efficiency, providing valuable insights for improving crop productivity in Mediterranean and other semi-arid regions.

The rhizome bud development is governed by light signal, hormonal dynamics, carbohydrate metabolism, and cell cycle regulation in Arundo donax. Rhizomatous plants reproduce asexually through transplantation of rhizome segments bearing buds, which develop into new individuals. However, the regulatory mechanism governing rhizome bud differentiation and development is still unknown. In this study, cytological observations were conducted on rhizome buds of Arundo donax at different developmental stages, and RNA sequencing and differentially expressed gene analysis were performed on rhizomes and preparatory rhizome buds (PR). The results showed that rhizome buds elongated outward from internal structure of the rhizomes. During PR initiation, the far-red light receptor PHYA and photosystem-related genes in the light-signal pathway were significantly upregulated, indicating that far-red light promoted PR initiation. In the IAA signal pathway, transport inhibitor protein 1 (TIR1) and auxin response factor (ARF) genes were significantly upregulated, while in the CTK signal pathway, the cytokinin receptor (AHK), histidine-containing phosphotransfer protein (AHP), and the type-A Arabidopsis response regulator (A-ARR) were significantly upregulated, with the type-B Arabidopsis response regulator (B-ARR) downregulated. These results suggested that IAA and CTK signal promoted cell division and differentiation. In addition, genes responsible for starch degradation into glucose were upregulated during this process, indicating that glucose served as the primary energy source. The cell cycle regulators D-type cyclin (CYCD) and cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) were significantly upregulated, demonstrating active cell division and differentiation activities. This analysis constructed a multi-dimensional regulatory network of rhizome bud development, revealing that PR development is regulated by multiple coordinated pathways, including light signal, hormone dynamics, carbohydrate metabolism, and cell cycle regulation in A. donax.

The overuse of nonrenewable resources has motivated intensive research and the development of new types of green bio-based and degradable feedstocks derived from natural sources, such as cellulose derivates, also in nanoforms. The inclusion of such nanoparticles in bio-based polymers with the aim of providing reinforcement is a trend, which, when associated with the incorporation active compounds, creates active packaging suitable for the packaging of highly perishable food, thus contributing to the product’s shelf-life extension. Chitosan (Ch)/sage essential oil (SEO) bionanocomposite reinforced with nanocrystalline cellulose (CNC) was cast as active packaging for the preservation of fresh poultry meat. Meat samples were wrapped in different bioplastics (pristine chitosan, chitosan with commercial CNC, chitosan with CNC obtained from three different lignocellulosic crops, giant reed (G), kenaf (K), and miscanthus (M), chitosan with SEO, and chitosan with SEO and CNC), while unwrapped samples were tested as the control. Periodically, samples were evaluated in terms of their physicochemical properties and microbial growth. Additionally, bionanocomposites were also evaluated in terms of their in situ antimicrobial properties, as well as migration toward food simulants. Meat samples protected with bionanocomposites showed lower levels of microbiological growth (2–3 logs lower than control) and lipid oxidation (20–30% lower than in control), over time. This was attributed to the intrinsic antimicrobial capacity of chitosan and the high oxygen barrier properties of the films resulting from the CNC inclusion. The SEO incorporation did not significantly improve the material’s antimicrobial and antioxidant activity yet interfered directly with the meat’s color as it migrated to its surface. In the in vitro assays, all bionanocomposites demonstrated good antimicrobial activity against B. cereus (reduction of ~8.2 log) and Salmonella Choleraesuis (reduction of ~5–6 log). Through the in vitro migration assay, it was verified that the SEO release rate of phenolic compounds to ethanol 50% (dairy products simulate) was higher than to ethanol 95% (fatty food simulate). Furthermore, these migration tests proved that nanocellulose was capable of delaying SEO migration, thus reducing the negative effect on the meat’s color and the pro-oxidant activity recorded in TBARS. It was concluded that the tested chitosan/nanocellulose bionanocomposites increased the shelf life of fresh poultry meat.