Investigation of ethanol producing potential of five halophyte species at different phonological stages in Hormozgan province

Utilization of saline lands with the aim of producing lignocellulosic biomass, which has no nutritional value and can be converted to ethanol and at the same time has no effect on human food production, seems necessary. Halophytes and salt-tolerant plants that produce high biomass using saline resources (saline water and soil) can be considered as an important alternative in this regard. For this purpose, this study with the aim of investigation of ethanol producing potential of five species of Auluropus lagopoides, Atriplex leucoclada, Desmostachya bipinata, Halopyrum mucronatum and Halocnemum strobilaceum was conducted in Hormozgan province in 2016. Plant samples were collected at three phenological (vegetative, flowering and seeding) stages from two saline lands in Zaminsang and Sirik, Hormozgan province and three parameters of lignin, hemicellulose and cellulose were measured. Data analysis of variance was performed as a factorial experiment  based on the completely randomized design with three replications and comparison of means with Duncan's multiple range test in SPSS-14 software. The results showed that Halopyrum mucronatum had the potential to produce ethanol in all three vegetative stages. Halocnemum strobilaceum had the potential for ethanol production only at the vegetative growth stage and Aeluropus lagopoides and Desmostachya bipinata had the potential for ethanol production only at the seed ripening stage.