Introduzione di colza (Brassica napusvar.oleifera) e carinata (Brassica carinata) in sistemi colturali mediterranei

Interest in the production of biomass by means of energy crops has increased over the last 40 years in Europe. In particular, the growing of rapeseed (Brassica napusvar.oleiferaD.C.) and Ethiopian mustard (Brassica carinataA. Braun) as oilseed crop for bioenergy production in Southern Europe has gained new concern, following the implementation of policies aimed at increasing the production of locally produced bio-fuels. Experiments presented in this thesis were undertaken to study adaption of rapeseed andBrassica carinatain the Mediterranean type environments in Sardinia. Firstly, to identify the effects of genotype on the phenology, growth, dry matter production, seed yield and yield components of rapeseed andBrassica carinata. Secondly, six genotype ofBrassicaspp. (four genotype of rapeseed and two ofBrassica carinata) were used to study biomass production, contribution of the pre-anthesis assimilates to the seed yield, and their relationship to seed yield. Thirdly, to study dose-response curves development for the control of garland, lamb’s-quarter, common field poppy, sow-thistle and wild mustard in rapeseed for a range of metazachlor doses and to determine from the dose-response curves the dose of metazachlor required for greater than 90% control of these selected weed species that offers the best crop safety in rapeseed. According to our results, both rapeseed andBrassica carinataare adapted to the environments tested being able to produce acceptable seed yields. Higher rainfall during the post-anthesis phase resulted in improved yields as consequence of pods photosynthetic activity.