Yield gaps and nutrients use efficiency of apple tree (golden delicious/MM106) in the middle Atlas Mountains of Morocco

The main objective of this work was to evaluate use efficiency of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium and magnesium in adult apple orchards in the Middle Atlas of Morocco and to establish preliminary reference norms for fertilizing this crop under local conditions. The study was based on soil and leaf analysis and data with regard to farming practices and yield on forty apple orchards (cv. Golden delecious/MM106) where nineteen are growing on silty-clay soil and twenty-one on sandy-loam soil. The results showed significant correlations between leaf content for each nutrient and yield level following polynomial equations, thereby indicating local reference norms for apple leaf analysis. Moreover, correlations were significant between leaf and soil contents that permitted to determine apple needs in nitrogen fertilizer and references norms for soil richness in phosphorus, potassium, calcium and magnesium to obtain yield potential in the study region. However, the found norms are less than International standards because of feebleness of yield level in the study region, largely related to deficient cultural practices adopted by farmers. In addition, investigation of leaf nutrients ratios N/K, N/Ca, K/Ca, K/Mg and Ca/Mg showed that there was disharmony in uptake of these nutrients originating particularly from high soil richness in Ca and Mg. Taking into account these considerations, the found references norms can be applied only under the adopted farming practices. Nevertheless, by improving local practices, reference values may change

Amélioration génétique et optimisation des techniques de production du caroubier (Ceratonia siliqua L.) : vers la promotion d'une culture résiliente au changement climatique

Le Maroc est parmi les grands producteurs de caroubes à l’échelle mondiale, au côté du Portugal, l’Italie et l’Espagne.  Le volume annuel moyen de gousses produit s'élève à environ 60 000 T sur une superficie de 21 202 Ha. Dans le cadre de la nouvelle stratégie « Génération Green », le Maroc a positionné le caroubier comme culture stratégique pouvant apporter une solution alternative face au changement climatique et à la raréfaction des ressources hydriques. Ainsi, un objectif de 125 000 Ha est fixé en termes d’extension de cette culture à l’horizon 2030 (MAPMDREF, 2020). A l’origine de cette ambition stratégique, la résilience et le pouvoir adaptatif de l’espèce à la sècheresse et aux sols pauvres, combiné à la demande accrue en caroubes par les industries alimentaires et cosmétiques, aussi bien à l’échelle national qu’internationale. Les rendements enregistrés ainsi que la qualité des caroubes produites sont étroitement liés aux génotypes plantés et à la qualité des techniques culturales pratiquées. Comparativement aux autres spéculations arboricoles, les études sur le caroubier, à l’échelle nationale et internationale, sont rares. Ainsi, le présent article met l’accent sur les principaux travaux de recherche relatifs à l’amélioration génétique et à l’optimisation des techniques de production du caroubier. Pour chacun des aspects traités, les résultats obtenus dans les autres pays producteurs sont cités puis un focus est mis sur l’expérience marocaine en la matière

Predicting current and future potential habitat distribution of fig tree (Ficus-Carica) in Morocco using Maxent Modeling

Climate change scenarios predict that fruit tree production will be impacted mainly by drought and high temperatures. The fig tree is considered as a hardy tree resistant to drought which makes it, in the context of climate change, a good alternative to trees that consume too much water and are very demanding in terms of cold. This work was carried out with the objective of delimiting the areas suitable for the fig tree currently and by 2050 to guide the new plantations of the fig tree. To do this, we used current and future climate data from the Worldclim climate database and the Maxent model based on the maximum entropy principle to map the distribution area of the fig tree in Morocco. The results show that the environmental variables that most impact the distribution of the fig tree in Morocco are the precipitation of the coldest quarter (bio 19) the mean diurnal deviation (bio2) and the isothermality (bio3) and that fig tree area will decrease under the impact of climate change and will be limited to the North of Morocco mainly in the provinces of El Hoceima and Chefchaoun. Efforts to develop this sector must therefore focus on improving production techniques and choosing varieties that are better adapted to future climatic conditions

Impact of legumes and cereals on olive productivity in the South Mediterranean

Intercropping of trees with crops on the same piece of land at a given time has been hypothesized to: enhance crop yield, increase land-use and improve land equivalent ratio (LER). To address this hypothesis, we evaluated two legumes faba bean, lentil and three cereals durum wheat, soft wheat and barley grown in olive (Olea europea) agroforestry during two growing seasons (Y) with contrasting weather (Y1: 2015-2016 and Y2: 2016-2017) under a Mediterranean climate of north western Morocco. We assessed the effect of annual crops on olive growth and yield; the effect of trees on annual crop growth, yield components, and final yields; finally, we calculated the land equivalent ratio (LER) of olive agroforestry to assess the productivity of the associations. Legumes had no effect on olive growth and yield, while cereals negatively affected shoot elongation and olive yield compared to olive in sole crop. Olive limited crop growth and yield of all associated crops and yield reduction was around 33 % for legumes and 47 % for cereals in agroforestry than sole crop. The magnitude of reduction was higher in Y1 than Y2. Similar responses were found when comparing crops at different distances from trees. Annual crops generally had lower biomass and yield, near the trees compared to the middle of tree inter-rows, causing significant spatial heterogeneity in crops. The LER reached 1.36 with lentil and 1.33 with faba bean, the lowest LER was recorded with durum wheat in both years with 1.01 in Y1 and 1.02 in Y2, and the highest LER with cereals was registered with soft wheat and reached 1.19 in Y1

Carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.) cultivation, processing, and industrial applications: A review

Carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.), an evergreen tree native to the Mediterranean basin and a member of the Leguminosae family, boasts a rich mosaic of ecological, historical, and economic significance. Beyond its valuable role in the ecosystem and cultural heritage, carob is renowned for its seeds, from which the prized locust bean gum is extracted. This natural thickening and stabilizing agent has garnered substantial attention for its versatile applications across diverse industries, particularly in the food and pharmaceutical sectors. This review delves into the botanical characteristics of carob, highlighting its significance as a source of locust bean gum and exploring its potential industrial applications. Recent advancements and challenges in the extraction and utilization of locust bean gum are critically examined, emphasizing its contribution to sustainable practices within modern industrial processes. The review further investigates the multifaceted role of carob beyond gum production, including its nutritional value, potential in animal feed, and emerging applications in biofuel production. Through this comprehensive analysis, the review aims to illuminate the pivotal role of carob and its derivatives in driving innovation and sustainability across the global market landscape. Carob's unique properties and diverse applications position it as a valuable resource with the potential to address contemporary challenges in food security, sustainable production, and environmental consciousness

Determination of the extent area of interactions between the olive trees and cereals in an alley cropping system in Morocco

Paper presented at the 13th North American Agroforesty Conference, which was held June 19-21, 2013 in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada.In Poppy, L., Kort, J., Schroeder, B., Pollock, T., and Soolanayakanahally, R., eds. Agroforestry: Innovations in Agriculture. Proceedings, 13th North American Agroforestry Conference, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada, June 19-21, 2013.In an Agroforestry system, interactions between annual crops and perennial ones are complex. In the objective of elucidating the resultant of those interactions on the performances of the system olive tree - cereal crops, barley (Hordeum vulgare), durum wheat (Triticum turgidum) and soft wheat (Triticum aestivum) were cultivated between the rows of olive trees (Olea europaea) (10 x 10 m) under rainfed conditions. Cereals were sown according to two orientations: North - South and East - West. At maturity, assessment of cereals productions (yields and their components) was realized at various distances from olive tree rows. Under the weather conditions of the year (rainfall: 300 mm), the experiment showed that the height of plants (H) of various cereals is the parameter which illustrates the best representation models of its evolution in relation with distance (D) from olive tree row. The cereals with sowing realized according to the orientation East � West were the most successful. The models developed under this orientation were, respectively for barley and durum wheat H = -5.33D2 + 56.36D - 110.89 (R_ = 0.74) and H = -2.89D2 + 29.70D - 40.738 (R_ = 0.75). For cereals sown according to the orientation North � South, the models developed respectively for barley, durum wheat and soft wheat are: H = -1.39D2 + 16.99D - 22.245 (R_ = 0.75), H = -2.33D2 + 27.44D - 56.13 (R_ = 0.73) and H = -2.22D2 + 25.63D - 47.15 (R_ = 0.76).Khalid Daoui (1), Walid Khaddi (2), Zain El Abidine Fatemi (1), Rachid Razouk (1), Abderazak Bendidi (1) and Mustafa Ouknider (2) ; 1. Unit� de Recherche Agronomie et Physiologie V�g�tale, Centre R�gional de la Recherche Agronomique de Mekn�s - BP. 578 Mekn�s, Marocco. 2. D�partement d�Agronomie, Ecole Nationale d�Agriculture de Mekn�s B.P. S/40 Mekn�s Marocco.Includes bibliographical references

Lipidomic profiling reveals phenotypic diversity and nutritional benefits in Ficus carica L. (Fig.) seed cultivars

IntroductionFicus carica L. seeds are a substantial source of minor oil with high unsaturation levels and potent antioxidant properties. The study aims to evaluate the mineral composition, lipodomic profile, and vibrational fingerprints of 22 fig genotypes utilizing FTIR-ATR techniques and chemometrics.MethodsFTIR-ATR spectroscopy and chemometric techniques were employed to examine the phenotypic diversity of fig seeds. The investigation was performed in detail. The research analyzed twenty-two fig genotypes to assess their nutritional properties, genetic relationships, and potential applications.ResultsThe results demonstrate substantial nutritional benefits related to fig seeds, which could serve as genetic resources for selection programs for extracting vegetable oil and functional ingredients. Additionally, a detailed lipodomic profile analysis led to the categorization of the genotypes into four unique clusters. The study uncovered new insights regarding the nutritional composition of the samples, while also highlighting significant similarities and differences. The findings showcased the phenotypic diversity within the studied fig germplasm, which is likely attributed to underlying genetic factors. These accessions offer a valuable gene pool for future breeding programs and diverse applications involving fig seeds.DiscussionThis work contributes to the selection of potential genotypes for scientific and industrial purposes. Furthermore, the application of FTIR and chemometrics revealed a noteworthy diversity of patterns, emphasizing the previously underestimated significance of this aspect in evaluating the chemodiversity of the species

Survey of phenolic acids, flavonoids and antioxidant potency between figs peels and pulps: Chemical and Chemometric Approach

peer reviewedIn the present study, chromatic coordinates, phenolic acids, flavonoids and antioxidant capacity assessed by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate (ABTS) and lipid peroxidation inhibition capacity (LPIC) essays and their relative IC50 were investigated in 25 fig cultivars growing in Morocco. The aims of this study were to determine (i) the variation in these compounds among light and dark-colored cultivars, (ii) their partitioning between fruit peel and pulp and (iii) to display network connections among these variables. Twelve phenolic compounds (PCs) were isolated in peel extract versus eight in pulp samples. Anthocyanins, mainly cyanidin-3,5-diglucoside and cyanidin-3-O-rutinoside, were the predominant compounds in peels, where the mean concentrations were 75.90 ± 18.76 and 77.97 ± 18.95 µg/g dw, respectively. On the other hand, (−)-epicatechin and cyanidin-3-O-rutinoside were the major compounds in the pulp extracts, where the mean values were 5.23 ± 4.03 and 9.01 ± 5.67 µg/g dw, respectively. A two-dimensional hierarchically clustered heatmap was applied to the dataset to explore correlations in the dataset and similarities between cultivars, without dimensionality reduction. Results showed that anthocyanins, particularly pelargonidin-3-O-rutinoside, cyanidin-3,5-diglucoside and cyanidin-3-O-rutinoside, were the main contributors to the peels’ free radical scavenging capacity. This capacity was particularly higher in the peel of dark-colored figs compared to the fruit pulp. The local cultivar “INRA 1301” showed the most promising phenolic profile due to its very high levels of almost all detected PCs, especially (−)-epicatechin, quercetin-3-O-rutinoside, quercetin-3-O-glucoside, cyanidine-3,5-diglucoside, cyanidine-3-O-rutinoside and pelargonidin-3-O-rutinoside (54.66, 141.08, 35.48, 494.08, 478.66, 12.56 µg/g dw, respectively). Having the darkest figs in the collection (L* = 25.72, c* = 22.09 and h° = 20.99), this cultivar has also combined promising IC50 values, which were of 19.85, 40.58 and 124.78 µg/mL for DPPH, ABTS and LPIC essays, respectivel

Response of Peach, Plum and Almond to Water Restrictions Applied during Slowdown Periods of Fruit Growth

Water restrictions management for fruit rosaceous during slowdown periods of fruit growth can increase water use effi- ciency and improve fruit quality without reducing significantly their yield. In this context, two water restriction levels were tested during four consecutive seasons (2007-2011) in peach, plum and almond trees during slowdown periods of fruit growth corresponding to stage II for peach and plum and to stages II and III for almond. Water was applied by drip irrigation to produce different water-application treatments of 50% ETc (T50) and 75% ETc (T75) of non-stressed trees irrigated at 100% ETc (T100). The response of trees is presented only for the last season of the experiment (2010-2011) where the effect of the applied water stress is more pronounced. Results show that the effect of water restrictions varied depending on the species. Yield and fruit size were reduced significantly for peach only under treatment T50. Fruit qual- ity was improved for this species with an increase of brix refractometric index and a decrease of acidity. These parame- ters were evolved in the same manner for plum but the observed differences were not significant. For almond, kernel quality remained unaffected by water restriction at T75. However, the epidermal wrinkles of kernels were more em- bossed, in response to treatment T50, which affected their appearance. Except leaf area, the evolution of shoots growth, chlorophyll content and leaf temperature showed that the physiology of all species was affected by water stress created by the application of the two irrigation treatments but without profound influence, particularly in plum. In conclusion, irrigation-water may be economized during slowdown periods of fruit growth without major negative effect up to 25% ETc for peach and almond and up to 50% ETc for plum