Low-ILUC risk feedstock requires genotype selection with climate change and abiotic stress resilient traits to cope unsuitable sites for food crops. Giant reed is a C3 warm-season perennial energy grass that has received great attention for drought prone areas of southern Europe. Although phenotypic variability exists in giant reed, the restricted genetic diversity, inability to produce viable seeds and highly polyploidy of this species basically precludes breeding effort. This study compared 12 giant reed clones obtained at the University of Bologna (Italy) from mutagenesis .-irradiation of in vitro cell cultures. Preliminary observations at the University of Bologna identified a subset of 12 mutant clones with positive alterations in shoot morphology and architecture (increased plant height, higher number of stems per plots, erect habitus) when compared with giant reed wild type. To this end, twelve mutant clones were selected and compared side-by-side in fiend, in a semiarid environment in southern Italy (University of Catania, Italy) for yield and morphology. First year results of biomass yield and morphology under non-limiting water conditions are reported here, and compared with a local clone of giant reed grown in a complementary field experiment aside.

Proceedings of the 30th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition, 9-12 May 2022, Online, pp. 125-128