The Agromorphological characterization of the perfume rose (Rosa damascena Mill.) Of Kelâa M'gouna-Dades (Morocco).

Rosa damascena perfume rose has a considerable place in Morocco. The essential oil, hydrolate (rose water) and dried buds produced in Kalâa Mgouna are intended for export. However, local varieties are not identified. Hence, the objective of our research into the identification of morphological variability by studying 15 qualitative and quantitative characteristics related to leaf, spine and flower at eight localities along the valley of roses. The present study has demonstrated the existence of a great morphological variability within the Kalâa Mgouna’s perfume rose. The characters associated with leaves and spines drive this variability. The PCA analysis identified four morphotypes; the morphotype I whose stems are unarmed, the morphotype II characterized by broad leaves and moderately spiny stems, the morphotype III having stems bearing long spines and whose petals are wider. Finally, the morphotype IV characterized by very thorny stems, leaves of reduced size and whose petals are wider.

Grain Chemical Composition as Affected by Genetic Backgrounds and Toxigenic Aspergillus flavus Inoculation in Corn Hybrids

Mycotoxins are toxic secondary metabolites commonly found in corn and known to cause health issues to human and animals. Information on the relationship between corn grain inoculated with mycotoxins and grain nutrients (protein, oil, fatty acids, sugars, and amino acids) in corn hybrids, especially stacked-gene hybrids is very limited. The objective of this study was to investigate the nutritional advantage of stacked-gene hybrids (Stgene) over non-genetically modified organisms (non-GMO) corn or glyphosate-resistant corn (RR). The experiment was conducted in two locations (clay and sandy soils) in 2011, irrigated, and inoculated with toxigenic Aspergillus flavus using four hybrids of stacked-gene, four of RR, and two non-GMO (conventional). Non-inoculated plots were used as control. The results showed that stacked-gene hybrids had no observable nutritional advantage over RR or non-GMO as all hybrid classes accumulated adequate nutrients in their grains; this effect could be due to adequate concentrations of nutrients in the soil. Higher levels of grain protein, carbohydrates (glucose, reducing sugars, and starch), oleic acid, total amino acids, and some minerals were observed under inoculated conditions in clay and sandy soils indicated a possible osmotic adjustment role of these compounds as stress indicators and osmoprotectants under inoculated conditions. Grain nutrients in clay soil were higher than those in sandy soils; nutrient differences could be due to sandy soil possibly suffering drier conditions, especially inoculated soil, reducing nutrient uptake and nutrients mobility to the grain. This study provides advanced knowledge on the relationship between grain nutrients and mycotoxins in corn hybrids. It is also useful to the corn breeders to understand the responses of grain nutrients to fungal diseases in corn hybrids.

Elevated Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide and Temperature Affect Seed Composition, Mineral Nutrition, and 15N and 13C Dynamics in Soybean Genotypes under Controlled Environments

The seed nutrition of crops is affected by global climate changes due to elevated CO2 and temperatures. Information on the effects of elevated CO2 and temperature on seed nutrition is very limited in spite of its importance in seed quality and food security. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of elevated atmospheric CO2 and temperature on seed composition (protein, oil, fatty acids, and sugars) and mineral nutrition in two soybean cultivars under controlled environments. The treatments were ambient CO2 concentrations (360 μmol mol-1) and elevated CO2 concentration (700 μmol mol-1) as well as normal temperature (26/16°C) and elevated temperature (45/35°C). Plants were grown under greenhouse conditions until the R5 stage, and then, transferred to growth chambers until full maturity (R8). Elevated temperature or a combination of elevated temperature and elevated CO2 resulted in a decrease in seed protein and linolenic acid concentrations and an increase in oil and oleic acid in cultivars Williams 82 (MGIII) and Hutcheson (MG V). Seed sucrose, glucose, and fructose decreased, whereas raffinose and stachyose remained relatively stable. Minerals also decreased under elevated CO2 and temperature. Among those that decreased were N, P, K, Zn, Fe, and B. Natural abundance of 15N and 13C isotopes was altered only under high temperature, regardless of CO2 concentration, indicating that changes in nitrogen and carbon metabolism occurred at elevated temperature. The increase in oil and oleic acid and decrease in linolenic acid are desirable, as high oleic acid and low linolenic acid contribute to the stability and longer shelf-life of oil. The combination of low protein and high oil was due to the inverse relationship between them. This study showed that seed composition and seed mineral nutrients can be affected by elevated temperature alone or elevated CO2 and temperature. This information is beneficial for selecting varieties with high seed nutritional qualities and efficient mineral nutrient use and uptake, traits that are related to seed production, seed quality, and food security. Also, it provides further knowledge on the effect of climate change on seed quality.

In Vitro Shoot Regeneration and Development of Microcorms of Moroccan Saffron (Crocus sativus L.)

Crocus sativus L. is a male sterile vegetatively propagated plant. Its flower produces stigmas that when dried, constitute the source of a spice commonly known as Saffron. Slow vegetative propagation and diseases limit the production and the development of saffron. “In vitro” culture could be an effective method to overcome these limitations by improving the quantity and the quality of the planting materials. In this work, Crocus sativus L. segments corms of cultivar from the region of Taliouine (Southeast of Morocco) were used for the propagation through indirect organogenesis. To optimize the in vitro growth conditions, we have used the Murashige and Skoog medium (MS medium), supplemented with 2.4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2.4-D) and with 6-benzylaminopurin (BAP) at combination of various concentrations. Our results showed the formation of callus in 85.42% of explants that grow in a culture medium supplemented with 2,4-D combined with BAP, at a concentration of 1mg/l each. In addition, we observed that increasing the concentration of BAP in the culture medium to 1.5mg/l improved the rate of shoots initiation (0.81). In the meantime, we noted that a combination of BAP (8mg/l) and Naphthalene acetic acid (NAA; 2mg/l) has significantly improved the rate of the formation of advanced shoots (6.65). Finally, the shoots that developed were transferred to an induction medium of roots and corms. As a result, we observed that 50% of shoots tested in ½ MS medium supplemented with 2.4-D and of BAP (1 mg/l each) and 5% sucrose, formed corms. Our study provides a first database for in vitro culture of Moroccan saffron cultivars.

Identification of QTL Underlying Seed Micronutrients Accumulation in ‘MD 96-5722’ by ‘Spencer’ Recombinant Inbred Lines of Soybean

Genetic mapping of quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with seed nutrition levels is almost non-existent. The objective of this study was to identify QTLs associated with seed micronutrients (iron, Fe; zinc, Zn; bororn, B; manganese, Mn; and copper, Cu) accumulation (concentration) in a population of 92 F5:7 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) that derived from a cross between MD 96-5722 (MD) and ‘Spencer’. For this purpose, a genetic linkage map based on 5,376 Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) markers was constructed using the Illumina Infinium SoySNP6K BeadChip array. The RILs were genotyped using 537 polymorphic, reliably segregating SNP markers. A total of 23 QTLs for micronutrients Fe, Zn, B, Mn, and Cu have been identified and mapped on eight linkage groups (LGs) of the soybean genome. Five QTLs were detected for Fe (qIRO001- qIRO005) on LGs N, A1, K, J, and G. Seven QTLs for Zn (qZIN001-qZIN007) on LGs D1a (Chr 1), N (Chr 3), F (Chr 5), B2 (Chr 14), J (Chr 16), A1 (Chr 5), and K (Chr 9). Two QTLs for B (qBOR001 and qBOR002) were detected on LGs N and A1. Four QTLs were detected for Mn (qMAN001-qMAN004) on LGs N, A1, K, and J, and five QTLs were detected for Cu (qCOP001- qCOP005) on LGs N, A1, K, J, and G). It was observed that the four QTLs for Zn, Cu, Fe, and Mn on LGs N (Chr 3), LG A1 (Chr 5), and LG J (Chr 16) were clustered in a similar region of the linkage groups, suggesting possible shared physiological and genetic mechanisms. The QTLs detected in this study are novel and will contribute to our understanding of the genetic basis of seed mineral nutrition. This research would allow breeders to efficiently select for higher seed nutritional qualities to meet the seed industry and human and livestock nutritional needs.

Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) that Underlie SCN Resistance in Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] PI438489B by ‘Hamilton’ Recombinant Inbred Line (RIL) Population

Soybean cyst nematode caused by Heterodera glycines Ichinohe is the most devastating pest in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]. Resistance to SCN is complex, polygenic, race and cultivar specific, and it is controlled by several quantitative trait loci (QTL). Our objective was to identify and map QTL for SCN resistance to races 3 (HG Type 0) and 5 (HG Type 2.5.7) using a high density SNP-based genetic linkage map based on the PI438489B by ‘Hamilton’ (PIxH, n=50) recombinant inbred line population. The PI438489B by Hamilton map contained 648 SNPs distributed on 31 LGs with coverage of 1,524.7 cM and an average distance of 2.35 cM between two markers (Kassem et al., 2011). Using interval mapping (IM) and composite interval mapping (CIM), eight QTL were identified for SCN resistance to races 3 and 5 on 7 different soybean chromosomes. Four QTL for resistance to SCN race 3 were identified and mapped on chromosomes 7, 13, 15, and 16. Similarly, four QTL for resistance to SCN race 5 were identified and mapped on chromosomes 5, 8, and 11. The QTL identified here will be highly beneficial in breeding programs to develop cultivars with resistance to both SCN races 3 and 5.

Effect of Two Row Spaces on Several Agronomic Traits in Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]

Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] yield is responsive to changes in plant population and row spacing. The objective of this study was to compare some agronomic traits of soybean cultivated in two different row spaces in a field in St Pauls, NC. Among the traits, total seed weight showed the highest level of variation than others in both 25 cm (97.31%) and 50cm (60.23%) row space. The lowest co-efficient of variation, 5.06% at 25 cm and 11.54% at 50 cm were found for days to flowering. Mean value showed that plants grown in 25 cm row space have a higher 100-seed and total seed weight than those grown in 50 cm row space. Plants grown in 50 cm row space had a slightly increased mean plant height compared to those grown on 25 cm. Plants grown in 50 cm row space had greater pod and seed numbers compared to those grown on 25 cm. Comparisons of the agronomic parameters between 25 and 50 cm row space employed by two-tailed t test (type 2; α = 0.05) showed that there are significant differences in days to germination, days to flowering, number of seeds, and total seed weight between plants grown in 25 cm vs. 50 cm row space; while plant height and number of pods were not differ significantly. However, further research may reveal a system for soybeans cultivation in the future which would increase the probability of obtaining maximum yields with narrow rows.

Genetic Structure of Cactus Pear (Opuntia Ficus Indica) in Moroccan Collection

Recently, a large plantation has been established in Morocco, to reduce water and wind erosion, rangeland degradation, sand movement and to enhance the restoration of the vegetation cover. However, this plant material has unknown genetic characterization. In addition, several local classifications and morphological descriptions were used. The objective of this study was to analyze the genetic diversity using RAPD markers in a collection of 13 provenances of Moroccan Opuntia ficus indica (L.). Based on 13 random primers, the result showed that the level of diversity (h) and polymorphism varied according to the provenance. A high genetic differentiation was found between the provenances (Gst = 0.29), thus some loci were characteristic of certain provenances. These results can be used to characterize genetic resources of Morocco cactus pear, and to initiate a program of genetic improvement and selection.