Moroccan Journal of Agricultural Sciences
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Sustainable intensive cropping to reduce irrigation-induced erosion: Intercropping systems under surface irrigation practice
Get PDFThe objective of this paper was to compare between the effects of two production packages on the applied irrigation amount, crop yield and soil organic matter contents as indicators of the existence soil loss under surface irrigation. These packages were: farmer practices (FP, resulted in application of large amount of irrigation water), which applied to wheat and sunflower and improved management practices (IMP, reduced the applied irrigation water), where pea and cowpea intercropped with wheat and sunflower, respectively. The results indicated that using the IMP resulted in irrigation water saving by 23 and 22% and yield increase by 13 and 14% for wheat monoculture and intercropped, respectively compared to the FP. Similarly, the water saving for sole and intercropped sunflower was 21 and 20% and yield increase was 11 and 17%, respectively when IMP was implemented. Soil organic content was increased after the fourth growing season by 11%, when intercropping systems were implemented, compared zero-time. Land equivalent ratio values were 1.37 and 1.53 for wheat and sunflower intercropping systems averaged over the two season. In conclusion, using raised beds and intercropping systems in IMP package reduce applied water can be useful in reducing soil loss under surface irrigation practice
Sanitary selection of four virus-tested fig (Ficus carica L.) cultivars in Morocco
Get PDFFig (Ficus carica L.), a fruit tree widely grown in Morocco, is affected to a very large extent by fig mosaic disease (FMD), a complex with which eight viruses of different taxonomic position are associated. In order to select virus-free fig cultivars in Morocco, field surveys were conducted, between 2014 and 2018, in 11 different commercial orchards located in four regions (Azilal, El Jadida, Moulay Driss Zarhoune and Taounate). A total of 44 leaf samples representing 11 fig cultivars, without FMD symptoms, were prospected and collected for laboratory analyses. Total nucleic acids were extracted from leaf veins and tested by PCR for the presence of FMV, FLMaV-1, FLMaV-2, FMMaV, FLV-1, FBV-1, FFkaV and FCrV using specific primers. Among the 11 tested cultivars, only four (Chetoui, Rhoudane, Elquoti Lebied and Embar Lekhel) were free from the tested viruses. This study allowed the identification of at least one “virus-tested” candidate clone from four different fig cultivars which can represent the potential mother plants for propagating materials in order to establish new fig nurseries and orchards.
Keywords: Fig, sanitary selection, viruses, Morocco
Seasonal changes in chemical composition and fatty acids of sardines (Sardina pilchardus) from the Dakhla coast (Morocco)
Get PDFThe sardine (Sardina pilchardus) is the most important pelagic fish on the Moroccan coasts. This study was conducted to evaluate the chemical composition and fatty acids profile of sardines caught off the Dakhla coast on a monthly basis over a one-year period (February 2017 to January 2018). The results showed that the total lipid content varied significantly with catching season, being low in winter (1.71 % w/w) and high in summer (16.10 % w/w). These lipids have important nutritional characteristics due to their high level of n-3 fatty acids, especially eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5 n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6 n-3). The sum of EPA and DHA varied from 26.4 % to 31.3 % of total fatty acids. Moreover, sardine flesh contained between 36.4 % and 41.6 % of polyunsaturated fatty acids while saturated fatty acids ranged from 32.8 % to 38.9 %. During the one-year period, the protein and ash contents remained constant with average values equal to 18.7 % and 1.46 %, respectively, unlike moisture, which was inversely proportional to fat content. Thus, this species provides a year-long adequate diet element by offering a good source of fat and marine proteins and contributing to n-3 fatty acids intake.
Keywords: Sardine, Sardina pilchardus, season, polyunsaturated fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaenoic aci
Identification of the likely orthologues of RCD1 within the plant family Brassicaceae
Get PDFRCD1, Radical-induced Cell Death 1, is a signal transduction factor binding protein that gateways a myriad of developmental and stress-related pathways. It was first reported in the wild plant A. thaliana. Brassica napus is a cultivated member of the family Brassicaceae, in which the presence of this gene was reported. Using the homology data of these two family-related species, gene for this protein was mined within the genomes of Brassica carinata, Brassica juncea and Brassica oleracea, using sets of degenerate primers designed on homologous portions of the A. thaliana and B. napus orthologues. The newly identified sequences were then compared and studied using in-silico means and their 3D structures were modelled for having an estimate on their functions. Results demonstrate intergeneric conservation of this protein’s domains on structural and functional levels. The newly found orthologues show potential to be regulated under salinity and oxidative stresses apart from being involved in several developmental stages. These homologues are in-stable in-vivo and bear motifs for binding a wide-variety of transcription factors. The structure superimposition studies suggest that these Brassica orthologues bear the WWE domains having transferase activity, the fact that can dramatically increase the survival of these agriculturally important crop plants amid the adverse environmental conditions.
Keywords: RCD1, SRO, PARP, WWE, RST, de-novo gene finding
Organoleptic quality and consumer’s acceptability of Clarias gariepinus raised in the Batran agricultural water reservoir (Benin) and decontaminated in tanks
Get PDFTo allow the production of healthy fish in the numerous water reservoirs available in Benin in spite of their exposure to agricultural pesticides, a decontamination phase has been integrated in the farming techniques. This study was conducted to assess the effect of this decontamination on organoleptic quality and acceptability by consumers in Clarias gariepinus produced in the Batran water reservoir. Fish produced in this water reservoir and those decontaminated were smoked and presented to the panel of assessors. Evaluation was based on five sensory parameters and many attributes on an intensity scale. Results show that the odour of smoke, golden colour, oily and dry general aspect, firm texture at manual handling, soft taste and the juicy and fibrous texture in the mouth characterize both types of fish. The mean values of the attribute intensity scales are mostly greater than 3 and close to the maximum limit of 5, indicating a good acceptability by consumers. For all the intensity scales, there is no significant difference between the two types of fish (p > 0.05). Therefore, the decontamination do not negatively affect the organoleptic quality and the acceptability by consumers of Clarias gariepinus produced in the cotton basin water reservoirs in Benin.
Keywords: African catfish, sensory quality, northern Benin water reservoirs, consumer’s preferenc
Efficient transformation of cereals mediated by Agrobacterium tumefaciens
Get PDFSeeds from wheat were tested for their aptitude to be transformed at early stages of germination by Agrobacterium tumefaciens, which promotes singular integration patterns, entailing lower mutational consequences for the transgenic plant and limited transgene silencing. Seeds were processed at different stages of germination by a cassette containing the GUS reporter gene under the control of a high molecular weight glutenin subunit promoter. Transgene integration and expression into the host organism were followed by PCR and by histological staining. Results showed that the cereals used could be effectively transformed by this method and that the foreign gene behaviour in the progenies was similar to that reported from the standard method, which uses explants and tissue culture. This simplified protocol is easy to use and allows savings in time and reagents. Moreover, it avoids the complex stages of tissue culture and plant regeneration. Because seeds are the main form of planting material for crop production, this technique can be extended to virtually any plant carrying orthodox seeds.
Keywords: Agrobacterium tumefaciens; Cereals; Monocotyledons; Transgenic; Transformation; Wheat
Resource competitive interactions as mechanism of date palm Bayoud disease suppression
Get PDFIn Morocco, soils that are naturally suppressive to date palm Bayoud disease have long been discovered. Although suppressiveness was attributed to biological activities of indigenous microbes, our knowledge on the specific mechanisms underpinning this property remains limited. In this study, we investigated nutrient competition between Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. albedinis, the causal agent of Bayoud disease, and saprophytic Fusarium as a factor of disease suppressiveness/conduciveness in suppressive and conducive soils. Growth of pathogenic and saprophytic Fusarium isolates from one suppressive and one conducive soils on 95 carbon sources was assessed. Fusarium isolates exhibited distinct nutrient use profiles and varied significantly with soil in carbon utilization. Isolates from the suppressive soil had significantly the greatest resource use efficiency, followed by the pathogenic isolates that grew significantly faster than the isolates from the conducive soil. Data on nutrient niche overlap showed that the pathogen is outcompeted by saprophytic Fusarium populations in the suppressive soil and outcompetes those in the conducive soil. Taken together, our results provide insight into the role of competition for carbon resources among pathogenic and saprophytic Fusarium communities as a driving factor in soil suppressiveness/conduciveness. This finding may also open novel research paths and offer opportunities for the development of biocontrol techniques against Bayoud disease in Moroccan date palm groves.
Keywords: Date palm, Bayoud disease, nutrient competition, disease suppressio
Prevalence, incidence and severity of apple powdery mildew infecting apple trees in the Fes-Meknes Region, Morocco
Get PDFApple powdery mildew, Podosphaera leucotricha (Ell. And Ev.), highly infects apple trees in the Fes-Meknes region in Morocco. A disease survey was carried out during fruit set stage of apples in late spring 2018. Three most popular cultivars in the region were assessed for the incidence and severity of the disease. It was obvious that the cultivars were highly susceptible to powdery mildew (Starking Delicious: 17.1%; Golden Delicious: 13.5% and Gala: 11.1%). The correlation between powdery mildew incidence and its severity was highly positive (r =0.90). We recorded the highest disease incidence in Tigrigra (21.5%) and the least in Sidi El Makhfi (4.1%). In view of ensuring good plant protection practices, we recommend that apple farmers carry out disease scouting and consider the action threshold before applying fungicide sprays.
Keywords: Disease survey, Apple powdery mildew, Fes-Meknes regio
Key pests and diseases of citrus trees with emphasis on root rot diseases: An overview
Get PDFCitrus fruits are among the most consumed fruits in the world. However, the world production of citrus fruits is faced with several constraints which hinder its development. Furthermore, the spread of pests such as mealybugs, mites and Mediterranean fruit fly has impacted negatively on citrus quality and yield. Therefore, the main objectives of this review were to identify the key harmful organisms to the citrus crops and to highlight the appropriate methods to manage them. In this paper, more attention was given to root rot and dry root rot diseases caused by Phytophthora spp. and Fusarium spp., respectively. It was concluded that the control of citrus pests was relied on the use of chemicals. The use of integrated orchard management methods remains the best practice to minimize the adverse effects of pesticides on the environment. Two fungicides, Fosetyl-Al and Metalaxyl, were widely curatively used to control Phytophthora root rot. Moreover, the control of dry root rot disease due to Fusarium spp. requires the optimization of irrigation and fertilization inputs. In addition to the use of sanitation practices, scouting and monitoring the appearance and development of key pests and diseases help to strengthen the control methods and reduce the use of pesticides.
Keywords: Citrus, pests and diseases, root rot, Phytophthora spp., Fusarium spp., integrated pest management strategy, Morocc
Effects of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) on Citrus macrophylla rootstock
Get PDFCitrus is one of the largest fruit crops grown in Morocco. Citrus crops gain in importance due to the jobs generated during the production process of fresh or processed fruit. Intensive agriculture is characterized by the excessive use of inorganic fertilizers and pesticides. This production system has generated serious environmental contamination problems, thus, it is necessary to implement sustainable production strategies to reduce the use of synthetic chemicals and contribute to soil and water conservation. In this context, Seventy two Rhizobacterial isolates of fluorescent Pseudomonas were isolated from rhizosphere soil of Citrus in the Sapiama nursery. These isolates were tested on germination and growth of Citrus macrophylla rootstock. The results obtained showed that the isolate C11 significantly stimulated germination 16 days after seed inoculation. The C26, C6 and C24 isolates showed PGPR effects improving significantly the growth parameters of C. macrophylla rootstock. They significantly promoted plant height, collar diameter and root length. This study concluded that the Pseudomonas isolates could be potential alternative biofertilizers to chemical products and could be considered as a promising main component for sustainable agriculture development strategy in Citrus farming.
Keywords: Citrus macrophylla, Pseudomonas, PGP