Biomass characterization of wild and cultivated cardoon accessions and estimation of potential biofuels production

Cardoon is considered an interesting raw material to obtain second-generation biofuels, due its perennial culture condition and rare use as food. In addition, cardoon, being a rustic species, requires few inputs has fast growth high lignocellulosic biomass production. However, despite large genetic variability worldwide, both cardoon botanical varieties were subject only (cultivated cardoon)/zero (wild cardoon) breeding programs. The aims of this study (I) characterize quality quantity genotypes wild cultivated in order produce different types biofuels (II) identify the most promising accessions be included programs for bioenergy characteristics or incorporated local agro-productive system. performance twelve Cynara cardunculus L. (six cardoons six cardoons) was compared through biometric, chemical, energetic characteristics. Moreover, potential bioethanol biomethane yields energy potentially generated from direct combustion calculated each variety. Significant differences found between several biometric traits, but not chemical traits except ash content. Results indicate that biomass, especially make species candidate grown purposes under very low crop edapho-climatic conditions. our screening identified accession stands out based on yield, composition, biofuels/bioenergy.