Moroccan Journal of Agricultural Sciences
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Phytochemical screening and assessment of various weed extracts for the management of Alternaria solani infecting Solanaceous crops
Full text linkOne of the major diseases of Solanaceae family is early blight caused by Alternaria solani which lowers the yield with reduction of plant health and seed quality. The current study assessed the presence of secondary metabolites in the extracts of selected weeds such as Cannabis sativa, Parthenium hysterophorus, and Lantana camara using phytochemical screening and their antifungal interactions with the target pathogen Alternaria solani. The results of phytochemical screening showed that P. hysterophorus was particularly rich in amino acids, which were not found in the aqueous and ethanol extracts of C. sativa and L. camara. Proteins were detected in all extracts except those from P. hysterophorus. Tannins were absent only from L. camara, but present in the other extracts. P. hysterophorus also had a substantial amount of flavonoids, which were absent from the ethanol extract of L. camara but present in other extracts. Phytosterols were found in every extract of C. sativa, L. camara, and P. hysterophorus. Food poison method and Agar disc diffusion method were used to investigate the antifungal behavior of weeds extracts against Alternaria solani. The food poison method produced significantly better results than the agar-disc diffusion method. However, the order of effectiveness of weeds using these two methods were: C. sativa > L. camara > P. hysterophorus. Moreover, maximum inhibition was observed in the aqueous extract of C. sativa after seven days of incubation. The outcomes of this study could lessen the need for artificial fungicides and aid in controlling the emergence of disease resistance and hold substantial significance in the realm of sustainable agriculture and disease management.
Keywords: Agar disc diffusion method, Disease management, Food poison method, Secondary metabolite
Indigenous ecological knowledge, conservation status, and spatial distribution of Sterculia setigera in Togo
Full text linkIndigenous knowledge of plant resources is very useful for their sustainable management. The present study aimed at understanding the indigenous knowledge for sustainable management of Sterculia setigera in Togo. In particular, it collected information on the ethno-ecological knowledge of S. setigera, its habitat, population dynamics, traditional management and spatial distribution in Togo. Data were collected through semi-structured individual and focus group interviews with 376 informants (almost all Togolese ethnic groups: 29), coupled with direct field observations. A total of 553 occurrences were recorded during the field observations. The results showed that knowledge of the species' habitat and population dynamics varied by geographical area, while management was sometimes influenced by socio-cultural considerations and use values. Human activities were identified as a major threat affecting the population dynamics of the species. The projection of these on the Togolese eco-floristic map showed that eco-floristic zones I and III were identified as areas with a high occurrence of S. setigera, while the species is almost absent in the semi-deciduous forest zone (eco-floristic zone IV). Further research on how climate change affects the species' habitat, propagation and planting should be encouraged.
Keywords: Sterculia setigera, ethno-ecology, distribution, Tog
Prevalence and risk factors for gastrointestinal parasitosis of small ruminants at the end of the rainy season in peri-urban livestock farms in Tahoua, Niger
Full text linkIn the Sahelian regions of Niger, gastrointestinal parasites are considered one of the main causes of suboptimal productivity in small ruminants. This study aims to analyze the groups of gastrointestinal parasites involved, the factors influencing variations in parasite load, and their prevalence. The methodology was based on a questionnaire survey conducted in nine (9) villages and a coprological analysis carried out using the Mac Master method on 270 faecal samples from caprine and ovine species. Logistic regression was used to highlight the risk factors associated with each type of parasitism encountered. The most widespread farming system was still traditional, with feed based mainly on natural grazing. The coprological results identified a prevalence of nematode eggs (79.3%), cestodes (7.8%), coccidian oocytes (58.9%) and co-infection of 49.3%. Average parasitic egg excretions were quantified as follows: 1,527 nematode eggs/g faeces, 928 cestode eggs/g faeces and 3,485 coccidian oocytes/g faeces. These parasite loads and their prevalences varied significantly according to species, breed, sex, age, body condition, and the nature of the water source used to water the animals. These animal-related characteristics were the main risk factors for parasitosis, and their impact was highly significant. The extent of the parasite infestation reported in this study opens up the question of how to manage gastrointestinal parasitism on our farms, which has hitherto been considered a minor disease.
Keywords: Parasitosis, Co-infection, Risk factors, Breeding practices, Small ruminant
Essential Oils: Antifungal activity and study methods
Full text linkEssential oils (EOs) are natural, volatile compounds extracted from plants, known for their diverse biological properties, including potent antifungal activity. This review explores the antifungal mechanisms of EOs, their efficacy against human and plant fungal pathogens, and their applications in medicine, agriculture and food preservation. EOs disrupt fungal cell membranes, inhibit ergosterol biosynthesis, induce oxidative stress and interfere with mitochondrial function and enzymatic pathways, leading to fungal cell death. Their broad-spectrum activity makes them promising alternatives to conventional antifungals, particularly in the face of rising antifungal resistance. Synergistic effects with conventional drugs, such as azoles and polyenes, further enhance their therapeutic potential. However, challenges such as variability in composition, stability, sensory impact and regulatory hurdles limit their widespread adoption. Advanced delivery systems, including nano-encapsulation and emulsification, are being explored to improve EO stability and efficacy. In agriculture, EOs show promise as biocontrol agents against crop pathogens, while in food preservation, they inhibit spoilage fungi and extend shelf life. Future research should focus on optimizing EO formulations, conducting in vivo and clinical studies, and developing regulatory frameworks to facilitate their integration into mainstream applications. By addressing these challenges, EOs can emerge as safe, sustainable and effective antifungal agents, offering innovative solutions across multiple industries.
Keywords: Antifungal activities, essential oils, study method
Artificial intelligence for enhancing supply chain management in agribusiness
Full text linkThe global agribusiness industry faces increasing complexity and challenges in supply chain management (SCM). These challenges arise from volatile market demands, environmental unpredictability and the necessity to ensure sustainability. Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformative technology to enhance SCM through advanced analytics, real-time decision-making and optimization. This review explores recent advancements in AI applications for agribusiness SCM, highlighting their theoretical and conceptual foundations. The discussion emphasizes AI's role in demand forecasting, logistics optimization, risk mitigation and sustainability. Policy implications and recommendations for integrating AI into agribusiness SCM conclude the paper, offering pathways for maximizing its potential.
Keywords: AI, Agribusiness, Supply chain, Managemen
Effects of seeding rate on growth parameters and yield components of soft wheat in a no-till system in the Saïs area of Morocco
Full text linkCereals are the main basic food commodity in Morocco. Yields are affected by various farming factors, among them tillage and seeding rates. Because of the changes in rainfall amounts and trends, many farmers are starting to switch to no-till systems as a conservation measure, but are still adopting high seeding rates, often exceeding 200 kg.ha-1, in an attempt to maximize yields. The present study aims to evaluates the effect of seeding rate on growth, yield and economic return of soft wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under a no-till system in the Saïs area (Meknès, Morocco). The trial was conducted during the 2023/24 cropping season at the Experimental Farm of the National Agriculture School of Meknès. Four seeding rates: 80 (T1), 120 (T2), 160 (T3), and 200(T4) kg.ha-1, were arranged in a randomized complete block design with four replications. The 2023-24 season was considered a drought season with only 409 mm rainfall. At emergence, the higher seeding rates T4 achieved a plant density of 499 plants/m², followed by T3 (387 plants/m²), T2 (387 plants/m²) and T1 (222 plants/m²). At tillering stage, the highest stem density (734 stems/m²) was recorded for (T4), but this density decreased to 364 stems/m² at heading, with a stem mortality rate of 27%. In contrast, the lowest seeding rate (T1) maintained an average of 0.5 tillers/plant. Plant height varied significantly across growth stages, with the T1 treatment exhibiting the tallest plant height of 71.7 cm by the end of the growing season, while the T4 treatment was the shortest with 33.5 cm, highlighting the strong impact of competition on growth. Total dry matter per plant was highest for T1, reaching 5.0 g compared to 2.0 g for T4. Spike density was significantly influenced by seeding rate, with T4 yielding an average of 364 spikes per square meter, whereas T1 produced 269 spikes/m². Chlorophyll content varied among treatments, with the 120 kg/ha seeding rate showing the highest value (39.1 µg/cm²) while the 200 kg/ha treatment had the lowest (33.5 µg/cm²). Grain yields were 30.5 quintal/ha for T1, 31.4 quintal/ha for T2, 28.4 quintal/ha for T3 and 31.0 quintal/ha for T4. Biological yields were 50.5 quintal/ha for T1, 51.2 quintal/ha for T2, 50.4 quintal/ha for T3, and 54.7 quintal/ha for T4. The economic analysis showed that despite the strong competition at higher seeding rates, the 200 kg/ha seeding rate offered the highest net returns, primarily due to the high price of straw during the drought season, which compensated for the lower grain yield per plant.
Keywords: seeding rate, no-till, soft wheat, growth parameters, grain yield, Morocc
Biotechnological valorization of citrus sorting rejects into bioethanol and acetic acid using indigenous microorganisms in Morocco
Full text linkThe expanding citrus industry in Morocco generates large volumes of underutilized by-products and sorting rejects. Rich in fermentable sugars and bioactive compounds, these residues offer potential for biotechnological conversion. This study focused on valorizing citrus sorting rejects by isolating native microorganisms for bioethanol and acetic acid production. Juices from sorting rejects of four citrus varieties were used as fermentation substrates. Yeast and acetic acid bacteria were isolated from Moroccan sourdough and traditional vinegars, then screened for fermentation efficiency. Yeast strain L4 and acetic acid bacteria strain AV22 showed superior performance compared to a commercial Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain. L4 produced 4.03% (v/v) ethanol from Sanguinelli juice without sucrose, and 11.4% with added sucrose. The fermented must yielded 8.40 L of vinegar containing 5.56% (w/v) acetic acid in a 10 L bioreactor, and was successfully scaled up to 80 L of vinegar with 7.0% (w/v) acidity in a 500 L pilot-scale acetifier. Sensory evaluation by 51 untrained panelists confirmed the vinegar’s high acceptability. This work demonstrates the potential of indigenous strains in converting citrus waste into value-added products, promoting sustainable waste management and circular bioeconomy practices. Future research will focus on process optimization, scaling up, and co-product recovery to improve economic feasibility.
Keywords: Yeast, acetic acid bacteria, bioethanol, acetic acid, citrus by-products, screening, fermentation, citrus vinegar, waste valorizatio
Women and carbon farming cooperatives: A model for climate-smart agriculture
Full text linkThe intersection of gender empowerment, cooperative farming, and climate resilience offers a promising model for sustainable agriculture. This review explores the role of women-led carbon farming cooperatives as a vehicle for promoting climate-smart agriculture (CSA). By synthesizing recent empirical studies and theoretical advancements, the article illustrates how gender-inclusive cooperative models contribute to soil carbon sequestration, climate resilience, and sustainable livelihoods. It underscores structural and institutional challenges while advocating for policy interventions that enhance women’s participation and leadership in CSA cooperatives. The review reveals that empowering women through cooperatives not only bridges gender gaps in agriculture but also accelerates the global transition to climate-resilient food systems.
Keywords: Agriculture, Climate, Development, Gender, Resilience, Rural, Sustainabilit
Perception of disease transmission risks associated with domestic rats in Kinshasa households
Full text linkDomestic rats, also known as black rats (Rattus rattus), coexist with humans in various ecological settings, thereby facilitating the transmission of pathogens through multiple routes. In low- and middle-income countries, several anthropogenic factors exacerbate this risk. In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), few studies have examined community perceptions of this threat. The present study aimed to assess household perceptions of disease transmission risks associated with domestic rats in four neighborhoods of Ngaliema Commune, Kinshasa. This was a cross-sectional and descriptive study conducted among randomly selected households located near waste disposal sites, following oral consent from household heads or their representatives. Findings showed that the presence of rats was reported in 98% of households, mainly due to garbage accumulation (47%) and kitchen waste (44%). Moreover, 89% of respondents were aware of the potential for disease transmission. Although 98% of households reported practicing rat control, only 12% did so specifically to prevent disease risks. In conclusion, while knowledge of rat-borne disease transmission was relatively high among respondents, their attitudes and practices toward effective prevention remained limited.
Keywords: Perception, risk, transmission, disease, domestic rat, DR
Microbiological safety of the main unconventional animal resources consumed as meat in Benin
Full text linkUnconventional animal resources such as bushmeat, amphibians, reptiles, rodents, and wild birds represent an important part of local diets in Benin. This study aimed to assess the microbiological safety of the main unconventional animal resources consumed as meat in Benin. Therefore, 5 fresh compsites samples of deer, grasscutter, partridge, monitor lizard (Varanus exanthematicus), frog (Hoplobatracus occipitalis), shea caterpillars (Cirina butyrospermi) and grasshoppers (Zonoceros variegatus) were collected for microbiological analysis according to the specific ISO Standards. The results showed that in mammalian meat, total aerobic mesophiles were comparable between grasscutter (4.93 × 10⁶ CFU/g) and deer (4.59 × 10⁶ CFU/g), as were total coliforms (3.93 × 10² vs. 3.59 × 10² CFU/g) and fecal coliforms (2.38 × 10² vs. 2.30 × 10² CFU/g). In insects, shea caterpillars showed higher total coliforms (3.70 × 10² CFU/g) compared to grasshoppers (1.78 × 10² CFU/g), while other microbial counts were similar. Among amphibians and reptiles, microbial loads varied significantly according to the species with total aerobic mesophiles ranged from 1.68 × 10⁶ CFU/g in frog to 5.03 × 10⁶ CFU/g in monitor lizard, total coliforms ranged from 1.05 × 10² to 3.99 × 10² CFU/g, and fecal coliforms from 0.48 × 10² to 2.53 × 10² CFU/g. Staphylococcus aureus and E. coli counts followed similar patterns. No Salmonella spp. was detected in any sample. Effective hygiene practices are essential to ensure microbiological safety of these unconventional animal resources consumed as meat.
Keywords: Benin, game meat, insect, frog, monitor lizard, microbial safety