An ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants of the Agadir Ida Ou Tanane province (southwest Morocco)

Objective: As part of the development of natural heritage of Morocco, an ethnobotanical study was conducted in the region of Agadir Ida Ou Tanane (Southwest Morocco) with the aim to collect detailed information about the usage of plants in human therapy.Methodology and results: The survey was carried out over a period of 24 months, by means of semi-structured and structured interviews. A total of 400 interviews were done with traditional health practitioners and knowledgeable villagers. Data collected was on, vernacular names of plants, their uses, parts used and mode of preparation. Other information about users was also collected such as age, sex, level of education. A total of 110 plants species belonging to 53 families and 95 genera were inventoried with 7.27 % of the species endemic to Morocco. Plants frequently used were: Thymus satureioides (Tazouknnit, Zaitra), Thymus broussonnetii (Azoukni, Zaater), Argania spinosa (Argan), Tetraclinis articulata (Azouka, Aârar) and Lavandula dentate (Igerch, Halhal). The elderly (more than 50 years) have more knowledge in medicinal plants with regard to the other age groups, this indicates that knowledge was acquired by long experience accumulated.Conclusion and application of results: This survey shows that traditional medicine is still used and constituted a very rich heritage in Agadir Ida Ou Tanane Region. The collected data may help to avoid the loss of traditional knowledge on the use of medicinal plants detained in the study area, and represent the preliminary information required in view of a future phytochemical investigation on the most used plants.Key words: Ethnobotanical survey, medicinal plants, phytotherapy, Agadir Ida Ou Tanane province, southwest of Morocco

Analysis of phenotypic plasticity of argan tree (Argania spinosa L.) under different geographical conditions and identification of morphological descriptors determinant for its genetic diversity

Un grand échantillonnage d'arganiers (Arganiaspinosa L.) a été établi dans les cinq provinces d’écosystèmes d'arganiers. L'objectif principal de l'étude était d'évaluer et de décrire la variation génétique des arganiers à l'aide d'analyses uni-variées et multi-variées et de décrire leur productivité dans différentes conditions géographiques. 150 arbres sauvages ont été échantillonnés dans divers sites représentant la principale aire de répartition naturelle d’arganier : (Had Dra / Essaouira, Aoulouz / Taroudant, Alma / Agadir-Ida Outanane, Biougra / Chtouka-Ait Baha et Lakhsas / Tiznit). Les traits qualitatifs et quantitatifs liés à l'arbre, au fruit, à la graine et à l'amandier ont été utilisés pendant trois ans dans le terrain pour l'arbre (n = 150) et dans laboratoire pour les fruits (n = 37800), pour évaluer la variation génétique au sein et entre les provenances. Les résultats obtenus par l'analyse de la variance, selon le modèle linéaire général (P ≤ 0,001), ont montré une grande variation pour tous les traits. De plus, l’indice de diversité de Shannon-Weaver (H’) varie pour différents caractères qualitatifs. La distribution inter et intra-provenances de cette variance a été étudiée. Les résultats montrent que pour la productivité sous différentes conditions géographiques, 30 kg de fruits donnent 17 kg de graines, 2 kg d'amandes, 15 kg de coque et 1/2 L d'huile. La variation génétique est principalement présente entre et au sein des sites étudiés. Sur la base de l'analyse hiérarchique, respectivement, deux groupes ont été obtenues. Le premier groupe est composé de  deux provenances : Had Dra et Biougra, avec les valeurs moyennes des traits les plus élevées. Le deuxième groupe est présenté par les provenances Alma, Aoulouz et Lakhsas. En général, une grande variabilité a été notée et non associée à l'origine éco-géographique. Ainsi, le degré élevé de variation entre les génotypes pourrait être utile pour les programmes de sélection et d’amélioration.A large sampling of argan trees (Argania spinosa L.) has been established in the five provinces of argan ecosystems. The main objective of the study was to assess and describe the genetic variation using univariate and multivariate analyses and to describe their productivity under different geographical conditions. 150 wild trees were sampled across various sites representing the principal natural range of argan trees area: (Had Dra/Essaouira, Aoulouz /Taroudant, Alma/Agadir-Ida Outanane, Biougra/Chtouka-Ait Baha and Lakhsas/Tiznit). The qualitative and quantitative traits related to tree, fruit, seed and almond were used during three years in the fields (n = 150) for the tree and the laboratory for the fruits (n = 37800) to evaluate the genetic variation within and among provenances. The results obtained from the analysis of the variance, according to the general linear model (P ≤ 0.001), showed a large variation for all the traits. Furthermore, the Shannon-Weaver diversity index (H’) varied for different qualitative characters. The inter- and intra-provenance distribution of this variance was investigated. The results showed that for the productivity under different geographical conditions, 30 kg of fruit gives 17 kg of seed, 2 kg of almond, 15 kg of hull and 1/2 L of oil. The genetic variation is mainly present among and within sites studied. Based on the hierarchical cluster analysis, respectively, two clusters were obtained. The first cluster is composed of the two provenances: Had Dra and Biougra, with the highest means values of traits. The second cluster presented by the Alma, Aoulouz and Lakhsas, provenances with lowest means values of traits studied. In general, great variability was noted and not associated with eco-geographical origin. So, the high degree of variation among genotypes could be useful for selection and breeding programs

The use of plants in the traditional treatment of diabetes patients: survey in southern Morocco

This study was conducted in public healthcare establishments in Guelmim city in south of Morocco to report medicinal plants used in folk medicine to treat diabetes. Three hundred sixty-two informants were interviewed through semi structured interviews. The inventory includes scientific, popular and common names of the plants, used parts and method of preparation. The survey shows that 24.6% of the patients use these plants. Twenty-seven medicinal plants belonging to seventeen families were inventoried and three species were cited for the first time in the treatment of diabetes in Morocco. Olea europea L., Artemisia herba-alba Asso and Trigonella foenum-graecum L. are the most plant species used to treat diabetes, and the two most cited families are Lamiaceae (5 species) and Apiaceae (4 species). Leaves represented the most utilized part of plants and decoction was the most cited mode of preparation of drugs. The present study highlights the wide variety of herbal remedies used to treat diabetes and the frequency of this use in diabetic patients

Narrow genetic base in forest restoration with holm oak (Quercus ilex L.) in Sicily

In order to empirically assess the effect of actual seed sampling strategy on genetic diversity of holm oak (Quercus ilex) forestations in Sicily, we have analysed the genetic composition of two seedling lots (nursery stock and plantation) and their known natural seed origin stand by means of six nuclear microsatellite loci. Significant reduction in genetic diversity and significant difference in genetic composition of the seedling lots compared to the seed origin stand were detected. The female and the total effective number of parents were quantified by means of maternity assignment of seedlings and temporal changes in allele frequencies. Extremely low effective maternity numbers were estimated (Nfe $\approx$ 2-4) and estimates accounting for both seed and pollen donors gave also low values (Ne $\approx$ 35-50). These values can be explained by an inappropriate forestry seed harvest strategy limited to a small number of spatially close trees

First draft genome assembly of the Argane tree (Argania spinosa)

Background: The Argane tree (Argania spinosa L. Skeels) is an endemic tree of southwestern Morocco that plays an important socioeconomic and ecologic role for a dense human population in an arid zone. Several studies confirmed the importance of this species as a food and feed source and as a resource for both pharmaceutical and cosmetic compounds. Unfortunately, the argane tree ecosystem is facing significant threats from environmental changes (global warming, over-population) and over-exploitation. Limited research has been conducted, however, on argane tree genetics and genomics, which hinders its conservation and genetic improvement. Methods: Here, we present a draft genome assembly of A. spinosa. A reliable reference genome of A. spinosa was created using a hybrid de novo assembly approach combining short and long sequencing reads. Results: In total, 144 Gb Illumina HiSeq reads and 7.2 Gb PacBio reads were produced and assembled. The final draft genome comprises 75 327 scaffolds totaling 671 Mb with an N50 of 49 916 kb. The draft assembly is close to the genome size estimated by k-mers distribution and covers 89% of complete and 4.3 % of partial Arabidopsis orthologous groups in BUSCO. Conclusion: The A. spinosa genome will be useful for assessing biodiversity leading to efficient conservation of this endangered endemic tree. Furthermore, the genome may enable genome-assisted cultivar breeding, and provide a better understanding of important metabolic pathways and their underlying genes for both cosmetic and pharmacological purposes

Impact of Human Management on the Genetic Variation of Wild Pepper, Capsicum annuum var. glabriusculum

Management of wild peppers in Mexico has occurred for a long time without clear phenotypic signs of domestication. However, pre-domestication management could have implications for the population's genetic richness. To test this hypothesis we analysed 27 wild (W), let standing (LS) and cultivated (C) populations, plus 7 samples from local markets (LM), with nine polymorphic microsatellite markers. Two hundred and fifty two alleles were identified, averaging 28 per locus. Allele number was higher in W, and 15 and 40% less in LS and C populations, respectively. Genetic variation had a significant population structure. In W populations, structure was associated with ecological and geographic areas according to isolation by distance. When LM and C populations where included in the analysis, differentiation was no longer apparent. Most LM were related to distant populations from Sierra Madre Oriental, which represents their probable origin. Historical demography shows a recent decline in all W populations. Thus, pre-domestication human management is associated with a significant reduction of genetic diversity and with a loss of differentiation suggesting movement among regions by man. Measures to conserve wild and managed populations should be implemented to maintain the source and the architecture of genetic variation in this important crop relative

Plague Circulation and Population Genetics of the Reservoir Rattus rattus: The Influence of Topographic Relief on the Distribution of the Disease within the Madagascan Focus.

International audienceBACKGROUND: Landscape may affect the distribution of infectious diseases by influencing the population density and dispersal of hosts and vectors. Plague (Yersinia pestis infection) is a highly virulent, re-emerging disease, the ecology of which has been scarcely studied in Africa. Human seroprevalence data for the major plague focus of Madagascar suggest that plague spreads heterogeneously across the landscape as a function of the relief. Plague is primarily a disease of rodents. We therefore investigated the relationship between disease distribution and the population genetic structure of the black rat, Rattus rattus, the main reservoir of plague in Madagascar. METHODOLOGYPRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We conducted a comparative study of plague seroprevalence and genetic structure (15 microsatellite markers) in rat populations from four geographic areas differing in topology, each covering about 150-200 km(2) within the Madagascan plague focus. The seroprevalence levels in the rat populations mimicked those previously reported for humans. As expected, rat populations clearly displayed a more marked genetic structure with increasing relief. However, the relationship between seroprevalence data and genetic structure differs between areas, suggesting that plague distribution is not related everywhere to the effective dispersal of rats. CONCLUSIONSSIGNIFICANCE: Genetic diversity estimates suggested that plague epizootics had only a weak impact on rat population sizes. In the highlands of Madagascar, plague dissemination cannot be accounted for solely by the effective dispersal of the reservoir. Human social activities may also be involved in spreading the disease in rat and human populations

Population structure of the malaria vector Anopheles moucheti in the equatorial forest region of Africa

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Anopheles moucheti </it>is a major malaria vector in forested areas of Africa. However, despite its important epidemiological role, it remains poorly known and insufficiently studied. Here, levels of genetic differentiation were estimated between different <it>A. moucheti </it>populations sampled throughout its distribution range in Central Africa.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Polymorphism at ten microsatellite markers was compared in mosquitoes sampled in Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo and an island on Lake Victoria in Uganda. Microsatellite data were used to estimate genetic diversity within populations, their relative long-term effective population size, and the level of genetic differentiation between them.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>All specimens collected in Tsakalakuku (Democratic Republic of Congo) were identified as <it>A. m. bervoetsi </it>while other samples consisted of <it>A. m. moucheti</it>. Successful amplification was obtained at all microsatellite loci within all <it>A. m. moucheti </it>samples while only six loci amplified in <it>A. m. bervoetsi</it>. Allelic richness and heterozygosity were high for all populations except the island population of Uganda and <it>A. m. bervoetsi</it>. High levels of genetic differentiation were recorded between <it>A. m. bervoetsi </it>and each <it>A. m. moucheti </it>sample as well as between the island population of <it>A. m. moucheti </it>and mainland populations. Significant isolation by distance was evidenced between mainland populations.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>High levels of genetic differentiation supports complete speciation of <it>A. m. bervoetsi </it>which should henceforth be recognized as a full species and named <it>A. bervoetsi</it>. Isolation by distance is the main force driving differentiation between mainland populations of <it>A. m. moucheti</it>. Genetically and geographically isolated populations exist on Lake Victoria islands, which might serve as relevant field sites for evaluation of innovative vector control strategies.</p

Complex genetic patterns in human arise from a simple range-expansion model over continental landmasses

© 2018 Kanitz et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Although it is generally accepted that geography is a major factor shaping human genetic differentiation, it is still disputed how much of this differentiation is a result of a simple process of isolation-by-distance, and if there are factors generating distinct clusters of genetic similarity. We address this question using a geographically explicit simulation framework coupled with an Approximate Bayesian Computation approach. Based on six simple summary statistics only, we estimated the most probable demographic parameters that shaped modern human evolution under an isolation by distance scenario, and found these were the following: an initial population in East Africa spread and grew from 4000 individuals to 5.7 million in about 132 000 years. Subsequent simulations with these estimates followed by cluster analyses produced results nearly identical to those obtained in real data. Thus, a simple diffusion model from East Africa explains a large portion of the genetic diversity patterns observed in modern humans. We argue that a model of isolation by distance along the continental landmasses might be the relevant null model to use when investigating selective effects in humans and probably many other species