159 THE EVALUATION OF THE BIOMASS QUALITY OF CARDOON, Cynara cardunculus, AND PROSPECTS OF ITS USE IN MOLDOVA Victor ŢÎŢEI “Alexandru Ciubotaru” National Botanical Garden (Institute), 18 Padurii Street, MD 2002, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova Corresponding author email: vtitei@mail.ru; vic.titei@gmail.com Abstract Asteraceae is one of the largest families of flowering plants, which are the most promising from economic point of view. We investigated some biological peculiarities and the quality of the biomass of the introduced perennial species Cynara cardunculus var. altilis in the National Botanical Garden (Institute), Chişinău. Research data demonstrated that cardoon, Cynara cardunculus, in the second and next growing seasons, was characterized by intensive growth and development rate that allowed obtaining up to 44-71 t/ha fresh mass and 10-14 t/ha dry matter. It was established that the concentration of nutrients in the prepared silage was 12.5% protein, 28.0% cellulose, 23.0% hemicellulose, 2.6% lignin, 8.4% ash; the dry matter digestibility was 72.3%. The biochemical methane production potential of Cynara cardunculus silage substrate reached 348 l/kg organic matter. The dry biomass, after harvesting the seeds, can be used to produce solid biofuel. The specific density of the briquettes reached 918 kg/m 3 , with 19.0 MJ/kg gross calorific value, the ash content in briquettes was 2.8%. We consider that Cynara cardunculus var. altilis is an excellent source of nectar and pollen for honeybees, and its biomass may be valuable fodder and feedstock for renewable energy production. Key words: biological peculiarities, biomethane, Cynara cardunculus, fodder value of silage, physical and mechanical characteristics of dry biomass. INTRODUCTION Asteraceae or Compositae is one the largest families of flowering plants, consists of 1911 accepted plant genera and 32913 species. In addition to its large size, the family has a great diversity in growth form, ranging from annual and perennial herbs, dwarf shrubs, shrubs, trees, climbers, succulents, aquatic plants, rosette plants, cushion plants, ericoid, prostrate, grass-like and spine scent. From a human perspective, it is highly relevant because it includes economical, culinary, medical plants as well as numerous ornamentals, but also a great number of weedy representatives. The Plant List (2013) includes 44 named species from the genus Cynara, subfamily Tubuliflorae, family Asteraceae, 11 of which are accepted species names. Since ancient time, Cynara species have been used in traditional medicine for their recognized therapeutic effects: hepatoprotective, anticarcinogenic, antioxidative, antibacterial, diuretic, anticholesterol and antihyperglycemic. Cynara cardunculus is an accepted species, native to the Mediterranean region, the Middle East, north-western Africa and the Canary Islands, and has been introduced and has spread in many temperate regions of the world. Recent studies regarding the classification of the genus Cynara have sparked debate, on the basis of the study of morphology and phytogeography, it was concluded that wild cardoon is the ancestor of the cultivated globe artichoke and cardoon. The Plant List, 2013, recognized a single species and these plants as varieties: globe artichoke Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus (L.) Fiori, the wild cardoon Cynara cardunculus var. sylvestris (Lam.) (L.) Fiori and the leafy cultivated cardoon Cynara cardunculus var. altilis DC. Cynara cardunculus is a perennial C 3 plant species, with diploid chromosome number (2n = 2x = 34) and annual growth cycle, usually growing 75-150 cm tall, but occasionally reaching up to 2 m in height. The root system is very developed, consists of the main taproot can grow to the depth of 2 m with variable number of secondary fibrous roots as well as of a rhizome, more or less expanded, containing buds, both single and gathered in groups. The stem is erect and branched in its upper part, Scientifc Papers. Series A. Agronomy, Vol. LXII, No. 2, 2019 ISSN 2285-5785; ISSN CD-ROM 2285-5793; ISSN Online 2285-5807; ISSN-L 2285-5785