Durum wheat is a crucial crop in the Mediterranean Rim, deeply rooted in the region’s history and traditions. Unlike bread wheat, which shows partial resistance to Fusarium foot and root rot (FFRR), an important soil borne disease, many modern durum wheat varieties remain susceptible, highlighting the need for reliable resistance sources. This study screened 100 Tunisian durum wheat landraces for resistance to FFRR at both maturity over two successive years (2021 and 2022) and seedling stages, comparing them against modern durum wheat cultivars and a resistant bread wheat check. Results indicated that 55
Understanding the nutritional ecology of threatened ungulates can guide habitat management in heterogeneous Mediterranean landscapes. We assessed the nutritional quality and potential energetic adequacy of key spring forage plants consumed by the vulnerable Cuvier's gazelle in Djebel Messa & acirc;d forest (north-central Algeria). Based on prior diet analyses, we sampled 12 forage species and quantified dry matter, ash, fibre fractions and crude protein. We then predicted dry matter digestibility and metabolisable energy from published equations and compared predicted energy content with published allometric estimates of gazelle energy requirements for maintenance and higher-cost states (activity and lactation). Nutritional profiles varied strongly among species. Grasses dominated by Stipa species showed high fibre and low crude protein, whereas several dicotyledons and the grass Koeleria vallesiana had comparatively higher protein and lower digestibility constraints. Multivariate ordination indicated only weak grouping by forage category, highlighting species-level nutritional complementarity within the forest mosaic. Predicted metabolisable energy ranged from 6.2 to 9.3 MJ kg-1 of dry matter, suggesting that spring forage can generally support maintenance requirements, whereas meeting lactation or high-activity demands may depend on access to higher-energy species. These results highlight the conservation value of maintaining habitat heterogeneity in Mediterranean forest mosaics to provide complementary forage resources during spring.
This study aimed to provide an overview of recent progress in utilizing polysaccharides derived from date kernels as raw materials for encapsulating Myrtus communis essential oil, investigating its potential as an effective approach for insect control in stored food products, particularly against Cryptolestes ferrugineus infesting semolina. Most studies in this field have relied on single-method approaches, which are prone to overconfidence and lack sufficient validation across repeated trials, raising concerns about their robustness. To address these limitations, this research explores the use of polysaccharide encapsulation as a sustainable and efficient strategy for controlling insect pests in food storage, with a focus on enhancing the stability and efficacy of essential oil-based treatments. Myrtus communis essential oil was primarily composed of α-pinene (43.94%). Encapsulation efficiency reached 35.7%, with a loading capacity of 3.65%. The encapsulated oil caused 100% mortality and complete emergence inhibition in C. ferrugineus adults. Date kernel solution showed moderate attractancy (Class III), while the essential oil and microcapsules performed better (Class IV). Encapsulated oils minimally affected semolina properties, whereas crude oil reduced protein by 2.32%, decreased ash by 10.98%, and increased moisture by 2.56% after 45 days. This study highlights an innovative and sustainable approach for valorizing date pit waste by extracting polysaccharides and incorporating them into encapsulation processes, offering a dual benefit of waste management and the development of eco-friendly bio-pesticides. This strategy provides a practical solution for formulating effective pest control agents, demonstrating the potential of resource-efficient practices in agricultural applications.
This study investigates the prevalence and genetic characterization of Grapevine Fleck Virus (GFkV) in major Algerian vineyards. A total of 430 grapevine samples from 12 regions were analyzed using serological (DAS-ELISA), molecular (RT-PCR), and high-throughput sequencing (Illumina-NGS) methods. The results revealed a high overall infection rate of 65.8%, within the central and western regions showing the highest prevalence, while no infections were detected in the southern regions. Significant differences in infection rates were observed among grapevine cultivars. Genetic analysis of Algerian GFkV isolates confirmed the presence of conserved genomic regions and identified new sequence data submitted to GenBank. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the Italian and Algerian isolates are related. These findings underscore the importance of integrating virus monitoring into national certification and plant health programs to safeguard the sustainability and productivity of Algeria's viticulture. Continued research and collaboration will be essential to mitigate the impact of viral diseases and ensure the long-term resilience of the country's grapevine industry.
Contamination by metals from anthropogenic activities has significant consequences for ecosystems and human health. Indeed, these elements, by nature are non-biodegradable, have a high ecotoxicity, and could be involved in many pathologies. The genus Atriplex is well adapted to extreme environmental conditions and exhibits heavy metal accumulation properties. This study aimed to examine the response of halophytic plant (Atriplex hortensis) in soil polluted with toxic elements. To address this, we measured plant growth parameters, chlorophyll fluorescence parameters of optimal (Fv/Fm), PSII quantum yield (phi PSII), and stomatal conductance (g(S)). By applying this metallic stress to the A. hortensis plant during 2 months of growth, morphological analyses show no reduction in the leaf area, elongation of the stems and roots, and dry matter compared to controls grown on sand. Biochemical and physiological analyses show a slight decrease in the content of foliar chlorophyll pigments (chlorophyll total) and carotenoids as a function of time in soil contaminated with heavy metals. In these experiments, we investigated the photosynthetic rate and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters; the results indicated that on polluted and sandy soil, the values of chlorophyll fluorescence parameters of optimal (Fv/Fm), effective quantum yield of photosystem II photochemistry (phi PSII) and stomatal conductance (g(S)) have no significant difference. The results obtained in our study show that A. hortensis can grow in environments heavily polluted by metals, such as zinc, lead, and cadmium. As a result, the cultivation of these species, often recommended for the phytostabilization of sites polluted by metals, could be established. The results obtained are in favor of the involvement of Atriplex hortensis in a phytoremediation project to clean up contaminated soils.
