“Non-food Crops-to-Industry schemes in EU27” WP1. Non-food crops D1.2 Fibre crops that can be produced in EU27 Lead beneficiary: INSTITUTE OF NATURAL FIBRES AND MEDICINAL PLANTS (INF&MP), POZNAN, POLAND Authors: Krzysztof Heller, Przemyslaw Baraniecki, Maria Talarzyck Co-beneficiaries: CRES-Center for Renewable Energy Sources Authors: Myrsini Christou, Efthymia Alexopoulou Co-beneficiaries: UNIBO – University of Bologna Authors: Andrea Monti, Lorenso Nissen February 2012 The project is a Coordinated Action supported by Grant agreement no. 227299 1 Table of contents INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................... 5 1 BANANA (Mussa spp L.) Fam. Musaceae ......................................................... 7 1.1 Plant anatomy ............................................................................... 7 1.2 Domestication and area of origin ...................................................... 8 1.3 Growing conditions ........................................................................ 9 1.4 Logistics: harvesting/handling ......................................................... 9 1.5 Production-Yields ........................................................................... 9 1.6 Applications: current/potential ...................................................... 11 1.7 Restricting factors ........................................................................ 11 1.8 References .................................................................................. 12 2 FIBER FLAX (Linum usitatissimum L.) Fam. Linaceae ................................... 13 2.1 Fibre flax morphology & anatomy ................................................... 13 2.2 Area of origin and current cultivation .............................................. 16 2.3 Fibre flax growing conditions – input requirements ........................... 19 2.4 Fibre flax logistic (harvesting – handling) until industrial plant gate ... 23 2.5 Yields ......................................................................................... 24 2.6 Quality ....................................................................................... 30 2.7 Applications: current – potential .................................................... 32 2.8 Main directions of utilization of raw materials obtained from flax ....... 32 2.9 Factors restricting growth and yielding potential .............................. 35 2.10 Research gaps ............................................................................. 35 2.11 References .................................................................................. 36 Research gaps ...................................................................................... 40 3 GIANT REED (Arundo donax L.) ..................................................................... 42 3.1 Plant anatomy ............................................................................. 42 3.2 Domestication and area of origin .................................................... 43 3.3 Growing conditions ...................................................................... 43 3.4 Logistics: harvesting/handling ....................................................... 44 3.5 Production-Yields ......................................................................... 44 3.6 Applications: current/potential ...................................................... 44 3.7 Restricting factors and research gaps ............................................. 45 3.8 References .................................................................................. 45 4 FIBRE HEMP (Cannabis sativa L.) Fam. Cannabinaceae ................................ 47 4.1 Fibre hemp morphology and anatomy ............................................. 47 2 4.2 Area of origin and current cultivation .............................................. 49 4.3 Fibre hemp growing conditions – input requirements ........................ 50 4.4 Fibre hemp logistics (harvesting, handling) until industrial plant gate . 53 4.5 Yields ......................................................................................... 57 4.6 Quality ....................................................................................... 59 4.7 Application: current – potential ...................................................... 59 4.8 Factors restricting growth and yields .............................................. 62 4.9 Research gaps ............................................................................. 63 4.10 References .................................................................................. 64 5 KENAF (Hibiscus cannabinus L.). Fam Cannabinaceae .................................. 69 5.1 Plant anatomy ............................................................................. 69 5.2 Domestication and area of origin .................................................... 70 5.3 Growing conditions ...................................................................... 71 5.4 Logistics: harvesting/handling ....................................................... 71 5.5 Production-Yields ......................................................................... 76 5.6 Applications: current/potential ...................................................... 79 5.7 Restricting factors ........................................................................ 82 5.8 Research gaps ............................................................................. 82 5.9 References .................................................................................. 83 6 LOOFAH (Luffa cylindrica L.) Fam: Cucurbitaceae L. ..................................... 84 6.1 Plant anatomy ............................................................................. 84 6.2 Domestication and area of origin .................................................... 84 6.3 Growing conditions ...................................................................... 85 6.4 Logistics: harvesting/handling ....................................................... 85 6.5 Production-Yields ......................................................................... 85 6.6 Applications: current/potential ...................................................... 86 6.7 References .................................................................................. 87 7 MISCANTHUS (Miscanthus x giganteus GREEF et DEU) ................................ 88 7.1 Plant anatomy ............................................................................. 88 7.2 Domestication and area of origin .................................................... 88 7.3 Growing conditions ...................................................................... 89 7.4 Logistics: harvesting/handling ....................................................... 91 7.5 Production-Yields ......................................................................... 91 7.6 Applications: current/potential ...................................................... 92 7.7 Restricting factors and research gaps ............................................. 92 7.8 References .................................................................................. 92 3 8 Nettle (Urtica dioica). Fam. Urticaceae ......................................................... 95 8.1 Nettle morphology & anatomy ....................................................... 95 8.2 Area of origin and current cultivation .............................................. 96 8.3 Growing conditions – input requirements ........................................ 96 8.4 Fibrous nettle logistic (harvesting-handling) until industrial plant gate 97 8.5 Yields ....................................................................................... 101 8.6 Quality ..................................................................................... 102 8.7 Applications: current – potential .................................................. 102 8.8 Factors restricting growth and yielding potential ............................ 104 8.9 Research gaps ........................................................................... 104 9 REED CANARY GRASS (Phalaris arundinaceae L.) ....................................... 106 9.1 Plant anatomy ........................................................................... 106 9.2 Domestication and area of origin .................................................. 107 9.3 Growing conditions .................................................................... 108 9.4 Logistics: harvesting/handling ..................................................... 108 9.5 Production-Yields ....................................................................... 108 9.6 Applications: current/potential .................................................... 109 9.7 Restricting factors and research gaps ........................................... 109 9.8 References ................................................................................ 109 10 YUCCA (Yucca gloriosa L.) ....................................................................... 110 10.1 Plant anatomy ........................................................................... 110 10.2 Domestication and area of origin .................................................. 111 10.3 Growing conditions .................................................................... 111 10.4 Production-Yields ....................................................................... 111 10.5 Applications: current/potential