Jerusalem Artichoke (Helianthus Tuberosus L.): a Versatile and Sustainable Crop for Renewable Energy Production in Europe
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agronomy Review Jerusalem Artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus L.): A Versatile and Sustainable Crop for Renewable Energy Production in Europe Francesco Rossini, Maria Elena Provenzano, Ljiljana Kuzmanovi´c and Roberto Ruggeri * Department of Agricultural and Forest Sciences (DAFNE), University of Tuscia, Via San Camillo de Lellis, 01100 Viterbo, Italy * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +39-0761-357-561 Received: 31 July 2019; Accepted: 6 September 2019; Published: 10 September 2019 Abstract: Recently, biofuels have become a strategic focus to reduce vehicle emissions and increase sustainability of the transport sector. However, the sustainability of biofuels production has been questioned owing to its implications for future land footprint. In this respect, the EU Commission has very recently classified as low indirect land-use change (ILUC)–risk biofuels those obtained by crops grown on marginal lands and with low external inputs. Only few crops can reach high yields under both of these conditions across Europe. From this point of view, Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus L.) is certainly a species worthy of remark since it has all the attributes to accomplish the aims of the updated EU Renewable Energy Directive (RED II). Starting from physiological aspects, the present review examines and summarizes literature on the ecology, genetic resources, agronomic practices and sustainability of this species. The goal is to point out the recent advances of research in Jerusalem artichoke (JA) potential as alternative biofuel feedstock and to identify what is still needed to better characterize its environmental benefits and agronomic performance. Keywords: energy crop; Jerusalem artichoke; land-use change; sustainable feedstock; topinambur 1. Introduction Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus L.) is native of North America and it has been introduced in temperate areas where it has become a naturalized plant, within a latitudinal range from 40◦ N to 55◦ N[1,2]. Jerusalem artichoke (JA) is widely adapted to diverse and often marginal environments [3]. Its stalks and tubers have high inulin content with potential for producing ethanol to be used as biofuel. While the attention for this species was drawn mainly due to physiological aspects, breeding work and agronomical practices are still not well developed [2,4]. This species is known to be highly polymorphous (Figure1) and, due to its high adaptability to disparate environments, agronomic practices have been poorly investigated [2,5]. JA is a multi-purpose crop used for human food consumption (directly tubers or to obtain sweeteners), pharmaceutical applications, biomass and bioenergy (bioethanol and biogas) production [2,6,7]. Additionally, similarly to other Asteraceae plants such as chicory and safflower, JA has potential also as forage crop [8–10]. Interestingly, due to the rising success of craft the beer industry [11], JA tubers are also used to produce a sweet and fruity-tasting beer [12]. Looking at its potential as an energy crop, JA converts solar energy into plant tissues using few inputs. Biofuels are carbon-based energy sources derived from biological material. Agronomy 2019, 9, 528; doi:10.3390/agronomy9090528 www.mdpi.com/journal/agronomy Agronomy 2019, 9, 528 2 of 22 Agronomy 2019, 9, x FOR PEER REVIEW 2 of 23 FigureFigure 1. 1.Plants Plants (small (small letter) letter)and and tuberstubers (capital(capital letter)letter) of of four four Jerusalem Jerusalem artichoke artichoke (JA) (JA) genotypes genotypes growngrown in in Viterbo, Viterbo, central central Italy: Italy: ((a,Aa,A)) cloneclone “D19HS2”;“D19HS2”; ( (b,Bb,B)) clone clone “K8HS142”; “K8HS142”; (c,C (c,C) clone) clone “CU3B”; “CU3B”; (d,D(d,D) cultivar) cultivar “Violette “Violette de de Rennes”. Rennes”. Particularly,Particularly, organic organic compounds compounds (such (such as inulinas inulin and and cellulose) cellulose) and and sugars sugars are processedare processed to obtain to ethanol,obtain throughethanol, fermentationthrough fermentation and distillation. and distillation. Considerable Considerable work has work been has done been in done the lastin the 20 last years in20 improving years in improving biomass conversionbiomass conversion to fuel. to However, fuel. However, the first-generation the first-generation biofuels biofuels (bioethanol (bioethanol and biodieseland biodiesel derived derived from food from crops) food havecrops) been have produced been produced from only from few only crops few with crops di ffwitherent different efficiency ofefficiency converting of solarconverting radiation solar into radiation chemical into energy chemic (biomass).al energy (biomass). Particularly, Particularly, biofuel feedstock biofuel feedstock produced worldwideproduced areworldwide mainly rapeseed,are mainly palm rapeseed, oil and palm soybeans oil and for soybeans biodiesel for and biodiesel sugar cane,and sugar maize, cane, sugar beetmaize, and sugar sweet beet sorghum and sweet for sorghum bioethanol for [bioethanol13]. Moreover, [13]. Moreover, not all the not biomass all the biomass is harvestable is harvestable (i.e., the below(i.e., groundthe below plant ground biomass plant biomass is usually is usually left in theleft in soil) the so soil) that so netthatcarbon net carbon capture capture is reducedis reduced and and inefficiencies in feedstock processing rise further. For these reasons, plant species for next inefficiencies in feedstock processing rise further. For these reasons, plant species for next generation generation biofuel production systems are expected to overcome some of those limitations, especially biofuel production systems are expected to overcome some of those limitations, especially if they have if they have harvestable below-ground biomass (i.e., roots or tubers). Furthermore, since agricultural harvestable below-ground biomass (i.e., roots or tubers). Furthermore, since agricultural land-use is land-use is already intensive in most regions of the world, bioenergy crops should be already intensive in most regions of the world, bioenergy crops should be environmentally sustainable environmentally sustainable to avoid additional pressures on agricultural biodiversity, soil and towater avoid resources. additional pressures on agricultural biodiversity, soil and water resources. ResearchResearch is is going going in in the the direction direction ofof newnew generationgeneration biofuel biofuel energy energy production production systems systems with with lowerlower impact impact on on the the environment, environment, greater greater productivityproductivity and and greater greater energy energy return return on on investment investment [14] [14 ] oror reduced reduced land-use land-use competition competition withwith foodfood andand feedfeed crops [15–17]. [15–17]. Lignocellulosic Lignocellulosic biomass biomass from from dedicateddedicated bioenergy bioenergy crops crops and and agricultural agricultural wasteswastes has been been considered considered as as a asustainable sustainable resource resource for for bioenergybioenergy production, production, but but hydrolysis, hydrolysis, using using cellulolytic cellulolytic enzymes, enzymes, isis aa technique technique moremore cumbersomecumbersome to accomplishto accomplish and and expensive expensive than than using using starch- starch- or or molasses-based molasses-based biomass feedstock. feedstock. In In this this respect, respect, amongamong the the most most attractive attractive next next generation generation biofuelbiofuel systems there there are are algae algae and and few few additional additional plant plant speciesspecies such such as as the the tuber-producing tuber-producing JAJA thatthat cancan be also grown grown and and harves harvestedted using using the the existing existing infrastructuresinfrastructures and and machinery machinery used used for for similarsimilar cropscrops (i.e., tuber crops). crops). TheThe characteristics characteristics whichwhich makemake JAJA aa worthyworthy energy crop include: include: a arapid rapid growth, growth, a high a high carbohydratescarbohydrates content, content, a relevant relevant total total dry dry matter matter per unit per land unit area land [18,19], area the [18 ability,19], the to use ability nutrient- to use nutrient-richrich waste water waste [20], water pathogen [20], pathogen resistance/tolerance resistance/tolerance,, ability to abilitygrow easily to grow with easily minimal with external minimal externalproduction production costs [18] costs and [18 in] marginal and in marginal lands [2]. lands [2]. ThisThis latter latter aspect aspect promises promises to to be be pivotalpivotal forfor the fu futureture of of biofuels biofuels in in Europe. Europe. As As foreseen foreseen byby the the recast Renewable Energy Directive (RED) adopted by the European Parliament and Council recast Renewable Energy Directive (RED) adopted by the European Parliament and Council (Directive (Directive 2018/2001), the EU Commission has recently adopted a delegated act setting out criteria 2018/2001), the EU Commission has recently adopted a delegated act setting out criteria both for both for (i) determining the high indirect land-use change (ILUC)-risk feedstock for which a (i) determining the high indirect land-use change (ILUC)-risk feedstock for which a significant indirect significant indirect expansion of the production area into land with high-carbon stock is observed expansion of the production area into land with high-carbon stock is observed and (ii)