Establishment of Miscanthus Rhizomes in Mediterranean Environment

The triploid hybrid Miscanthus x giganteus Greef et Deu is one of the most studied species dedicated for lignocellulosic biomass production with bioenergy aims. The establishment of Miscanthus requires agamic propagation through rhizome cuttings because of its unfruitfulness. A field experiment research was carried out during 2011-2012 years in Sicily region (Southern Italy) to evaluate the ability of rhizomes to establish new Miscanthus plantings in relation to the presence of only nodal buds initials (dormant buds) or terminal buds (new shoots). For this purpose four treatments were evaluated: rhizome cuttings with 3 ready to shoot terminal buds (T1), 1 ready to shoot terminal bud (T2), pieces 10 cm long with nodal buds initials (dormant buds) (T3) and 5 cm long with nodal buds initials (dormant buds) (T4). The rhizome planting was carried out manually on May 18th 2011. The research pointed out that rhizome size can lead Miscanthus x giganteus to a best performance in the year of planting. The rhizome with more weight led to, in the case of rhizome cuttings with ready to shoot terminal buds (T1), a higher shoots performance and aboveground biomass production; in the case of pieces 10 cm long with only dormant buds (T3), a higher rhizome development.