Wheat dust, an underutilized agro-industrial by-product, is rich in nutrients and may serve as a sustainable soil amendment. This study evaluated its effects on wheat (Triticum durum L.) growth, nitrogen metabolism, and drought tolerance. Two greenhouse experiments were conducted. First, a dose–response trial (0, 2, 5, 10, 20% w/w) assessed biomass, chlorophyll content (SPAD), and expression of nitrogen-related genes (NR, NRT1, NRT2, GS2). Second, a factorial experiment (0, 10, 20% × well-watered or 50% water capacity) examined growth, yield components, oxidative stress markers (MDA), antioxidant enzymes, soil enzymatic activities, and multivariate responses. Wheat dust elicited concentration-dependent, context-specific effects. Under well-watered conditions, 10% was optimal, increasing shoot biomass (+39%) and chlorophyll (+10–15%), accompanied by upregulation of NR, NRT1, and NRT2, indicating enhanced nitrogen acquisition. Under drought, 20% produced the strongest effects: biomass increased by +313%, seed number per spike by +3900%, and seed weight per spike by +1650% relative to the stressed control. Lipid peroxidation declined by 83%, while chlorophyll increased by +215%, reflecting strong protection of membrane integrity and photosynthetic capacity. Soil biological activity was markedly stimulated at 20% under drought, with FDA hydrolysis (+1320%) and protease activity (+8250%) indicating enhanced microbial functioning and nitrogen cycling. Principal component analysis confirmed a systemic shift from stress-dominated profiles in controls to growth- and metabolism-oriented profiles at 20%, with convergence of stressed and non-stressed plants. Thus, wheat dust improves productivity at moderate doses and confers pronounced drought resilience at higher rates, supporting its valorization within climate-resilient, circular agricultural systems.

Water deficit stress poses significant challenges to chickpea production, affecting plant growth, physiological parameters, and overall crop yield. This study aimed to identify drought-tolerant chickpea genotypes and evaluate the potential of grape by-product amendments to alleviate water deficit stress. Two trials were conducted. The first one investigated the agronomic evaluation of eight chickpea genotypes (G1–G8) cultivated in three different soils to identify drought-tolerant genotypes and the poorest soil. Three chickpea cultivars, G2 (Nour), G3 (Rebha), and G4 (Bochra), were selected for their identified moderate drought tolerance and their status as widely available commercial genotypes in Tunisia. In the second trial, two grape by-product amendments were tested for their ability to enhance the drought tolerance of the selected chickpea genotypes in the poorest-performing soil. Under water deficit conditions, the stalk amendment increased the relative water content (RWC) of the drought-tolerant genotype Nour by approximately 61% compared with the non-amended treatment and a 90% improvement in SPAD chlorophyll readings in Nour under water deficit conditions. Among the tested genotypes, Nour maintained the highest photosynthetic efficiency under drought, with Fv/Fm reaching approximately 0.62 following stalk amendment, indicating improved preservation of PSII functionality. Polyphenol profiling indicated that both drought stress and soil amendments modulated the accumulation of phenolic compounds. Enhanced polyphenol levels, particularly under stalk amendment and water deficit, suggest activation of antioxidant and protective metabolic pathways involved in plant stress defense. Thus, grape by-products, especially stalk residues, demonstrate potential as sustainable soil amendments to mitigate drought stress effects in chickpea through improvements in plant–water status, photosynthetic efficiency, and stress-responsive metabolism.

Increasing water scarcity poses significant threats to crop production and agricultural sustainability. Water deficit and the environmental impacts of synthetic nitrogen fertilization necessitate the development of sustainable cropping systems that enhance resource use efficiency while mitigating climate and economic risks. This study investigates the effects of Mesorhizobium ciceri inoculation (CMG6 strain (SI-DP 40653)), varying water–nitrogen regimes, and a potato-chickpea intercropping system (IC) on plant performance, metabolic responses, rhizospheric microbial diversity. Field trials, located in northeastern Tunisia, showed that IC combined with efficient M. ciceri inoculation significantly outperformed sole cropping (SC) across all physiological parameters. Under standard conditions, this synergy bolstered chickpea biomass and photosynthetic capacity. Notably, under reduced nitrogen input, inoculated intercropping (IC) boosted chickpea shoot biomass by more than twofold compared with sole cropping (SC). Intercropping also improved drought resilience, reducing stress-induced metabolic decline by approximately 40

Non-chemical methods, including mechanical and manual weed management are important for improving crop yields and preserving soil microbial diversity. In Tunisia, chickpea cultivation uses a combination of these methods to suppress weeds. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of weeding practices on chickpea ( Cicer arietinum L. cultivar REBHA) yield and soil microbial diversity. Field experiments were conducted at the Technical Center for Biological Agriculture in Essaida, Tunisia, using six plots with manual and no weeding treatments. Chickpea yield was measured, and soil samples were collected for metagenomic analysis. Floristic surveys identified 13 weed species, with Chenopodium album L., Rumex acetosa L., and Urtica dioica L. being the most dominant. Seed yield ranged from 23.2 to 26.2 qls/ha in non-weeded plots and from 25.1 to 30.1 qls/ha in weeded plots, showing an increase in yield (11.75%) with manual weeding. Soil metagenomics revealed changes in bacterial community composition between the two treatments. The dominant phylum was Pseudomonadota , whose relative abundance increased from 24.88% in non-weeded plots to 34.76% in weeded plots. Alpha diversity indices showed lower species richness and diversity in weeded soils, with 62000 OTUs in weeded plots compared to 43202 OTUs in non-weeded plots. Betaproteobacteria and Alphaproteobacteria exhibited higher OTU counts in weeded soils. The Simpson diversity index was lower in non-weeded soils (0.025) than in weeded soils (0.075), indicating a more irregular microbial distribution in non-weeded plots. Thus, manual weeding improved chickpea yield and altered the soil bacterial community, increasing diversity in key microbial taxa. This study highlights the complex interaction between weed management practices and soil microbial ecosystems, which may influence crop productivity.

Dried fruits are renowned for their nutritional value, particularly their seeds. However, their skins, shells, and hulls also hold significant nutritional and commercial potential, yet remain largely unexplored for their bioactive compounds. This study examines the teguments and shells of three types of dried fruits - hazelnut, peanut, and two almond varieties. Ethanol extracts from these by-products reveal a variety of phytochemicals with antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral properties, confirmed through in vitro and in vivo assays. Teguments contain higher polyphenol levels compared to shells, with 24 compounds identified via HPLC analysis. The Achak almond tegument extract demonstrates strong antiradical activity, significant antimicrobial effects, and notable antiviral properties at a low concentration. Moreover, extracts from Achak almond tegument and hazelnut shells exhibit notable anti-inflammatory properties. This underscores the potential of utilizing dried fruit by-products to create innovative, value-added products, supporting environmental sustainability and boosting the competitiveness of the dried fruit industry.

The conventional intensive use of chemical fertilizers poses significant threats to agro-ecosystem sustainability, leading to soil deterioration and environmental pollution. This study explores the potential of utilizing phosphate-rock mining wastewater (MWw) as a sustainable alternative for fertigation in chickpea cultivation. The investigation, conducted under both greenhouse and field conditions, evaluates the impact of raw and diluted MWw on chickpea growth, yield, and soil microbial diversity. In greenhouse experiments, chickpea plants subjected to MWw fertigation exhibited enhanced root and shoot growth, increased seed and pod production, and improved chlorophyll content. The inclusion of the Mesorhizobium mediterraneum strain "C11" further augmented these positive effects. Principal component analysis revealed a clear positive influence of MWw and inoculation on chickpea yield. Field trials conducted in a semi-arid region demonstrated that MWw fertigation significantly increased shoot dry weight, with variations observed between chickpea cultivars. Meta-genomic analysis of soil microbial communities indicated a substantial impact of fertigation on bacterial phyla composition, particularly an increase in Proteobacteria abundance. The induced and inhibited bacterial spectra highlighted the influence of MWw on specific bacterial families, including Rhodanobacteraceae and Dongiaceae. The MWw used in the study exhibited slightly alkaline pH and contained essential micronutrients. The study emphasizes the potential of MWw, combined with microbial inoculation, as a sustainable source of water and nutrients for chickpea cultivation. The positive effects on plant growth and soil microbial diversity suggest that MWw fertigation could contribute to more environmentally friendly agricultural practices. Overall, this research provides valuable insights into utilizing phosphate-rich wastewater for sustainable agriculture, particularly in regions facing water scarcity and environmental challenges.

Pulse crops have become more important in food production and consumption systems for the transition towards sustainability. We present an agroecological dataset from 304 samples from 12 legume field trials in five locations across three countries in the Mediterranean. The field trials were established in the seasons 2021/22 and 2022/23 and tested different lentil or chickpea cultivars, inoculants, intercropping and weeding regimes. The dataset encompasses detailed information on wild flora diversity, grain yield, associated management practices, soil texture and weather during the growing period. Wild flora diversity was recorded by conducting a vegetation survey in 1 × 2 m sample plots. Grain yield was determined at the crop maturity stage, with full plots harvested in Spain, while samples were taken in Croatia and Tunisia. Environmental variables were via laboratory analysis or bottle testing of soil samples and analysis of local weather data. The comprehensiveness of the dataset, including all relevant agroecological information, enables other researchers to employ the dataset for various statistical analyses of agroecosystem processes, such as plant-environment interactions or biodiversity-yield trade-off analysis.

Achieving sustainability goals in agricultural value chains includes, among others, recycling agro-industrial solid waste into effective bio-fertilizers that reduce reliance on chemical inputs. Prickly pear seed cake (POC) and date seed cake (DOC) are wastes from agro-industrial processes that have the potential to be valorized as biofertilizers due to their high organic matter content. However, this potential appears constrained considering the high content of phenolic compounds. Here, we hypothesized that the inoculation with laccase-producing bacteria could reduce the phenolic content of oil cake and allow its valorization as bio-fertilizer. The experiment was done to evaluate the effect of two doses of POC and two doses of DOC as organic amendment alone and in combination with selected laccase-producing bacteria on soil quality and durum wheat plant growth. Results highlight for the first time the potential of Bacillus pumilus T314 to reduce phenolics content in soil amended with POC. Although it contains phenolic compounds, POC may be used directly in the soil as organic fertilizer in combination with Bacillus pumilus T314. POC amendment combined with T314 inoculation, 5 weeks before the sowing date, significantly enhanced soil water-holding capacity (+ 50

Oat production is usually menaced by the presence of overwhelming pathogens worldwide.Oat crown rust disease causes significant yield losses in cultivated oat.Characterization of the genetic components underlying disease resistance is highly relevant for resistance breeding programs.Interspecific crossing was made between the resistant ecotype, spontaneous oats (Avena sterilis) and a susceptible cultivated oat (Avena sativa).Resistance to crown rust was assessed using the area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC) for each individual plant.Parents were not only contrasting by their reaction to the phytopathogen, but also by their kernel morphology.In spontaneous oat flowers, the lemma is easily dislodged and showed single long twisted geniculate awn, whereas cultivated lines were having opposite characters.Kernel phenotype analysis among F2, F3 and BC1S1 plants showed that each awn development pattern could be encoded by one semi-dominant factor.Recessive homozygote genotype meant awnless, While, heterozygosis genotype showed an intermediate phenotype.Diversity in awn length and awn number in F2 and F3 kernels could be explained by all the possible recombination's of the two factors.Analysis of resistant and susceptible ratio in F2 and F3 hybrids using Chisquared (χ2) test showed that resistance to oat crown rust of JT0 seemed to be oligogenic and may be encoded by three dominant genes with epistatic effects.Whereas, JT5 resistance trait could be encoded by a single dominant gene.Combination of these genes in a local oat cultivar could be an efficient way to reduce losses caused by crown rust disease.

Background: The voice is a prominent tool allowing people to communicate and to change information in their daily activities. However, any slight alteration in the voice production system may affect the voice quality. Over the last years, researchers in biomedical engineering field worked to develop a robust automatic system that may help clinicians to perform a preventive diagnosis in order to detect the voice pathologies in an early stage. Method: In this context, pathological voice detection and classification method based on EMD-DWT analysis and Higher Order Statistics (HOS) features, is proposed. Also DWT coefficients features are extracted and tested. To carry out our experiments a wide subset of voice signal from normal subjects and subjects which suffer from the five most frequent pathologies in the Saarbrucken Voice Database (SVD), is selected. In The first step, we applied the Empirical Mode Decomposition (EMD) to the voice signal. Afterwards, among the obtained candidates of Intrinsic Mode Functions (IMFs), we choose the robust one based on temporal energy criterion. In the second step, the selected IMF was decomposed via the Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT). As a result, two features vector includes six HOSs parameters, and a features vector includes six DWT features were formed from both approximation and detail coefficients. In order to classify the obtained data a support vector machine (SVM) is employed. After having trained the proposed system using the SVD database, the system was evaluated using voice signals of volunteer's subjects from the Neurological department of RABTA Hospital of Tunis. Results: The proposed method gives promising results in pathological voices detection. The accuracies reached 99.26% using HOS features and 93.1% using DWT features for SVD database. In the classification, an accuracy of 100% was reached for "Funktionelle Dysphonia vs. Rekrrensparese" based on HOS features. Nevertheless, using DWT features the accuracy achieved was 90.32% for "Hyperfunktionelle Dysphonia vs. Rekurrensparse". Furthermore, in the validation the accuracies reached were 94.82%, 91.37% for HOS and DWT features, respectively. In the classification the highest accuracies reached were for classifying "Parkinson versus Paralysis" 94.44% and 88.87% based on HOS and DWT features, respectively. Conclusion: HOS features show promising results in the automatic voice pathology detection and classification compared to DWT features. Thus, it can reliably be used as noninvasive tool to assist clinical evaluation for pathological voices identification. (C) 2019 AGBM. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Crown rust, caused by the fungus Puccinia coronata f. sp. avenae, is a widespread and damaging disease of oat. Spontaneous oat species are an important and abundant source of new rust resistance genes. Two Tunisian resistant spontaneous oat accession JT(0) and JT(5) (Avena sterilis) was characterized using 21 RAPD primers and compared to the differential lines Pc38, Pc39 and Pc68 (Avena sativa L.), which showed previously a high resistance level to the local population of crown rust. The effectiveness of molecular markers could be evaluated through such parameters as the polymorphic information content (PIC), marker index (M1), heterozygosity (H) and the resolving power (Rp). Banding patterns obtained by RAPID analysis revealed polymorphism between accessions & RAPD profiles showed 33 common bands, 4 markers specific to A. sterilis accessions and 3 markers specific to A. sativa species. JT(0) showed the lowest RAPDs number (61) among oat accessions. The Neighbor-Joining dendrogram inferred from the Slatkin's pair wise distances (F-ST) showed that JT(0) accession was clearly separated from the other accessions. JT(5), Pc68, Pc38 and Pc39 were clustered in one group. It's interesting to state that an A. sterilis line (JT(5)) would be more closely related to 3 A. sativa lines than a fellow an A: sterlis line. JT(0) and JT(5) could be an interesting provider of a genetic control of the resistance to oat crown rust. A crossing between the spontaneous accessions and the differential lines needs to be done to conclude about the originality of the resistance genetic control in JT(0) and JT(5).

Sertoli cell junctions, such as adhesion junction (AJ), gap junction (GJ) and tight junction (TJ), are important for maintaining spermatogenesis. In previous studies, we showed the inhibitory effect of crude garlic (Allium sativum, As) on spermatogenesis and steroidogenesis. The aim of this work was to complete our investigation on the impact of this plant, especially on Sertoli cell junctional proteins (SCJPs). During 1 month, 24 male rats were divided into groups: group control (0% of As) and treated groups fed 5%, 10% and 15% of As. Light and electron microscopy observations were performed to localise junctional proteins: connexin-43, Zona Occluding-1 and N-cadherin (immunohistochemistry) and to describe junctions. We showed that the specific cells involved in the localisation of the SCJP were similar in both control and treated groups, but with different immunoreactivity intensity between them. The electron microscopy observation focused on TJs between Sertoli cells, constituting the blood-testis barrier, showed ultrastructural changes such as fragmentation of TJs between adjacent Sertoli cell membranes and dilatation of rough endoplasmic reticulum saccules giving an aspect of scale to these junctions. We concluded that crude garlic consumption during 1 month induces perturbations on Sertoli cell junctions. These alterations can explain apoptosis in testicular germ cells previously showed.

Hedysarum coronarium L. cultivated on calcareous soil in Northern Tunisia was the subject of a trial attempted under field condition, to figure out the effect of nitrogen fertilizer and Rhizobium inoculation on their growth, nodulation and mineral content. Rhizobium inoculation enhanced significantly all growth parameters compared to the nitrogen fertilization especially at the flowering stage. No significance difference was shown between the uninoculated check and the nitrogen fertilized plants concerning the nodule number per plant at all plant stage. At 154 DAS (Day After Sowing) and 174 DAS, Rhizobium inoculated plants set a high mean nodule number (86.33 and 77.77 respectively). Nodule weight per plant was high in Rhizobium inoculated plants compared to the uninoculated check and the nitrogen fertilized plants especially at 123 DAS, 154 DAS and 174 DAS. Concerning nutrients content in shoot of sulla at flowering stage, Nitrogen fertilization significantly enhanced nutrients content. However rhizobial inoculation has almost doubled nutrients uptake compared to the nitrogen fertilized control.

Cereal production is an important component of agriculture. Powdery mildew (Erysiphe graminis f. sp tritici Em. Marchal), caused by Blumeria graminis (DC.) E.O Speerf. sp. tritici (Bgt), which is one of the most worldwide devastating diseases of durum and common wheat specially in Tunisia. Several works have discussed plant resistance to mildew and its potential risks but, it was neglected or no study was reported for that in Tunisia. There is an increasing need for studies that address the potential side effects of mildew to different wheat cultivars and their outcome and behave via disease criteria. This study focuses to compare the behave of ten Tunisian wheat cultivars to powdery mildew under field conditions during two successive cropping seasons 2011-2013. Using the 5 disease criteria (infected leaf number, pustules per stem and per leaf, number of spores produced per pustule and AUDPC “Area Under the Disease Progress Curve”, based on pustules per leaf) to investigate the plant disease resistance, specially the AUDPC parameter, durum wheat showed susceptibility to natural infection of powdery mildew specially the cultivar Souabaa Eljia with mean AUDPC value of 583.8, while common wheat, the cultivar Hydra, showed resistance with mean AUDPC value of 52.1,while, the improved durum cultivars Nasr and Karim showed an intermediate reaction. Principal Components Analysis (PCA) showed that the variables were grouped in two principal components that explained 76.65% of the total variance. The projection of the point-cloud representing the populations on the plan formed by the principal components «Fact.1» (49.65%), in abscissa, and «Fact.2» (27%) in ordinate, permitted to distribute the accessions in several groups. Two common wheat cultivars (Hydra and Bysra) showed on one hand a high level of resistance to Bgt and on other hand this fungus behaves differently on these cultivars via the conidia production. The cluster analysis suggested that these two cultivars are genetically similar, but the PCA distribute each one in a distinct single group. Hydra affect all the component of resistance tested and seems more efficient than Bysra

Many medicinal plants are designed to improve health but their mechanism of action remains not clear. Among these plants, garlic (Allium sativum) has attracted particular attention of modern medicine because of its widespread use for the prevention and treatment of some human diseases such as cardiovascular diseases and cancer. However, the impact of garlic on the male reproductive system has not been clearly defined. Some studies have reported that garlic improves male sexual function and has beneficial effect in the recovery of testicular functions. However, other authors have shown that this plant impairs testicular functions (such as inhibition of testosterone production) and has spermicidal effect on spermatozoa. In this review, we attempt to clarify the current ambiguity regarding the effects of garlic and its preparations on the male reproductive system.

At present, the greatest interest resides with the development and application of specific biocontrol agent for the control of diseases on plant and this form the focus of this work. Several soil bacteria were evaluated in vitro for their effectiveness on the basis of their ability to suppress fungi in plate inhibition assays. 51 strains of 12 bacterial species were performed against 12 strains of 10 phytopathogenic mould species. Almost all soil bacteria species; but about 50% of the bacteria strains, showed an antagonistic activity against at least one phytopathogenic fungus. Sphingomonans spp was the only specie that did not show any antagonistic effect to all fungi. Bradyrhizobium japonicum could highly inhibit the mycelial growth of five moulds (Botrytis cinerea, Phoma medicaginis, Fusarium verticilloides, Rhizoctonia solani and Phytophtora infestans) with a growth inhibition varying between 12.38 and 37.61%. 12 Bacillus strains and five Pseudomonas strains were antagonistic to the major phytopathogenic moulds used in this trial. Bacillus subtilis exhibited strong antagonism against fungi both from cultural medium and from sterile filtrate. Results show that bacterial suspension and bacterial supernatant did not operate in the same way. Supernatant from bacterial strains seemed to be efficient against phytopathogenic moulds. The mycelial growth of R. solani, P. medicaginis and F. verticilloides was inhibited by 12-fold dilution of the supernatant from B. japonicum. The latter draws a conclusion that bacteria isolated from soil are promising natural biocontrol agents and should be further studied and tested for the control of numerous plant diseases. Additional studies are required to definitively determine their mode of antifungal action, safety and biocompatibility.

The objective of this paper was to investigate the mode of heredity for resistance in oats (Avena sp.) to crown rust caused by Puccinia coronata Cda. f. sp. avenae Eriks. Eight generations of 2 crosses were used to estimate genetic effects and narrow-sense heritability (NSH). Separate generation means analysis (GMA) indicated a complex gene action controlling this trait with additive, dominance, epistatic and maternal effects (ME). The genetic model which assumed no epistasis and no ME did not accurately describe the resistance to P. coronata. In both crosses, the digenic epistatic model with ME was sufficient to explain variation in generation means for isolate CRPc58 and isolate CRPc46. Additive dominance and epistatic components were negative in most cases, suggesting that gene effects contributed more to the resistance than to the susceptibility. The estimated values of NSH were 15-99% depending upon the cross and isolates. The results indicated that appropriate choice of maternal parent and recurrent selection would increase resistance to crown rust in oats.

Oat crown rust, caused by Puccinia coronata f. sp. avenae, is considered the most widespread and damaging disease of oat (Avena sativa) in Tunisia. The virulence structure of the natural oat rust population in Tunisia was studied in four areas from 2002 to 2007 using Puccinia coronata resistance genes (Pc-genes). The areas are located in northern Tunisia: Afareg, Bourbia, Sedjnen and Ariana. In this survey Pc38, Pc39 and Pc68 showed a high level of resistance to natural oat crown rust. But the most important finding in 2004 in Ariana was that the rust was virulent on Pc68 (IT '4'). Moreover, in 2002 Sedjnen survey, there was a high degree of virulence to Pc39 (IT '3'). In the other areas and other years, Pc68 and Pc39 were highly resistant to natural oat crown rust. Only Pc38 showed a stable high level of resistance to natural oat crown rust in all four areas and during the six years of the study. Areas showing a high degree of similarity were Sedjnen and Afereg (SI=4.5). Ariana and Bourbia showed little similarity to the other areas, and had the greatest dissimilarity to each other (SI=11.30). The virulence phenotypes of the P. coronata natural population in Tunisia are certainly influenced by the alternate host, Rhamnus lycioides which is abundant in the mountains of northwestern Tunisia. A combination of the Pc38, Pc39 and Pc68 genes will provide a high level of durable protection from crown rust in Tunisia.

Crown rust caused by Puccinia coronata Cda. f. sp. avenae Eriks., is a major fungal disease of cultivated oats (Avena sativa L.) in Tunisia. Six landrace oats (MtK2, JT5, BJ35, GT1, ZN3 and JT0) locally collected and previously screened for their relative oat crown rust resistance were used in this experiment. These accessions were evaluated during a two cropping season in field plots under heavy natural oat crown rust infection. Assessment criteria to crown rust reactions were AUDPC, latent period, uredinia size and number of uredinia per cm2 of infected leaf area. Principal components analysis showed that the variables were grouped in two components. These two principal components explained 83.56% of the total variance. The projection of the point-cloud representing the populations on the plan formed by the principal components ‘Fact 1’ (63.83%), in abscissa, and ‘Fact 2’ (19.73%) in ordinate, permitted to distribute the accessions in several groups. Three landrace oats (MtK2, JT5, and JT0) showed the lowest value of all the components used. These landrace oats might be good sources of effective and durable resistance to crown rust.

Puccinia coronata was not previously described on Rhamnus spp. in Tunisia. Three sites in the northwest of Tunisia, where Rhamnus is reported to be abundant, were surveyed for the presence of pycnia and aecia of oat crown rust caused by Puccinia coronata f. sp. avenae . Two Rhamnus species ( R. lycioides and R. alaternus ) were encountered in the sites. Pycnia with viable pycniospores and aecia with viable aeciospores were found on R. lycioides. However, no characteristic structures of crown rust were found on R. alaternus . Aeciospores collected from leaves of R. lycioides were used to inoculate oat plants usually susceptible to oat crown rust. Typical uredinia containing oat crown rust urediniospores appeared on the leaves of these plants. Moreover, the sixteen Pc -gene differential oat lines, used by oat researchers to study the virulence pattern in oat crown rust populations, were artificially inoculated with aeciospores from R. lycioides . These inoculated lines showed resistance/susceptibility similar to the registered resistance level of these lines to crown rust under field conditions in Tunisia. These results indicate that R . lycioides , a common and endemic part of the vegetation in the northwest of Tunisia, is a new aecial host of oat crown rust. The aeciospores produced on this forest plant could constitute the source of the virulence diversity already detected via the Pc -gene line trials.