Cynara cardunculus L. as a Potential Industry Crop

Abstract

Fourteen Cynara cardunculus L. accessions were compared in order to evaluate fresh total aboveground biomass production as well as its partition into leaves, stalks and capitula at the anthesis stage. For each botanical variety, percentages of dry matter were also calculated. An ANOVA was performed and mean values were compared by Duncan’s test. Euclidean distances were calculated and a cluster analysis was performed. Total fresh biomass and all its components showed significant differences among accessions (p<0.001). The total fresh biomass ranged between 1188 and 3235 g/plant and its partitioning was strongly affected by the botanical variety. Cluster analysis showed three main groups, one including two cultivated cardoons, a second one, three globe artichoke cultivars, whereas a third one, grouping all wild cardoons together with three cultivated cardoons and two globe artichoke accessions. In both cardoon cultivars, the percentage of dry matter ranged between 30 to 35% for all components of aboveground biomass, whereas in globe artichoke values ranged between 20% for capitula to 40% for leaves. The low inputs management required, adaptability to the local conditions, and the results obtained in the present study suggest the suitability of C. cardunculus as a source to be exploited as an industry or energy crop