Chemical diversity analysis of Tunisian Lawsonia inermis L. populations

Lawsonia inermis L. (commonly known as henna) is a cosmetic and medicinal plant cultivated from North-east Africa to India. The objective of this study was to evaluate the diversity of 25 L. inermis Tunisian populations, based on chemical markers. The populations were collected from the region of Gabès. The leaves and stems macro elements (Na, K, Ca, Mg and P) and trace elements (Cu, Zn, Fe and Mn) were analyzed for each population using spectrophotometry, and the nitrogen content was measured by Kjeldahl technique. The results showed that the leaves had a level of Ca, Na, P and K contents, ranging between 0.2 and 4%. Mg content was less than 0.2%, Cu, Zn and Fe contents were above 0.5, 1.1 and 15%, respectively, Mn content was less than 1.5% and nitrogen matter (NM) content was less than 1.5%. In the stems, P and K contents were respectively, above 5.12 and 0.5%, Mg content was less than 0.08%, Na and Ca contents were less than 0.2%, Cu, Zn, Fe and Mn contents were less than 0.95, 1.7, 4 and 0.5%, respectively and NM contents was less than 0.2%. However, the statistical analysis structured the populations based on the contents of their leaves and stems, in five groups.Key words: Lawsonia inermis, chemical diversity, macro elements, trace elements, nitrogen content

Identification and differentiation of Ficus carica L. cultivars using inter simple sequence repeat markers

Information on germplasm diversity and relationships among elite materials is fundamentally important in crop improvement. The main objectives of our study is to determine the level of genetic diversity inter fig-tree cultivars using inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers. Fifty-seven local Tunisian figtree cultivars were fingerprinted with ISSR marker. A total of 33 alleles were detected. A high level of genetic diversity was identified inter cultivars. The clustering grouped the studied cultivars into four clusters with no correlation to geographical origin

Miniaturized CSRR TAG Antennas for 60GHz Applications

In this paper, a novel approach to design an antenna for a transponder inradio frequency identification (RFID) is proposed. This approach is based onusing a slot-ring antenna with a coplanar waveguide excitation integratedantennas in silicon technology. The RFID frequency chosen is the worldwideavailable free 60-GHz band .The structure is simulated by using ComputerSimulation Technology (CST). The antenna size is 1.5 × 1.3 mm2. Thisproposed antenna presents a gain about 3.82 dB which means a possibility toincrease the readable range.DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.11591/ijece.v4i1.472

Polyploidy induction of Tunisian Trigonella foenumgreaum L. populations

Polyploidy plays an important role in plant evolution and constitutes an important mechanism of diversification and creation of genetic variability. Artificial polyploidy can be induced using the colchicine. The aim of this study was to determine the Trigonella foenum-greacum (2n= 16)  population which resists better to colchicine treatment and which has the highest rate of polyploid formation among 38 populations collected from different Tunisian regions. The comparative study between treated and control plants showed significant increases (p < 0.05) for the parameters survival rate, rate of malformed leaves appearance, stem height and seeds number by pod. The 38 treated populations showed significant variations (p < 0.05) between them for the parameters survival rate, branches number, stem height and seeds number by pod. Results also showed that treatment of the shoot meristem by colchicine allowed to obtain diploid (2n= 16) and mixoploid plants having mixoploid branches (4n = 32 and 2n= 16) and branches entirely tetraploid (4n = 32). The obtained rate of mixoploidy was 65.79% of treated plants. Among the 38 analyzed fenugreek populations, the population 15 of Menzel Temime presented the highest rate of mixoploids formation and survival rate to colchicine treatment.Key words: Fenugreek, induction of chromosome doubling, mixoploidy, colchicine, Tunisia

Selection of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) in south-eastern Tunisia

Tunisia is one of the main producers and exporters of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) in the world. Due to its international importance, the selection of both quantitative and qualitative most desirable varieties has become a necessity. To select new cultivars that are most appropriate for commercial use, 21 accessions were collected from different regions of south-east Tunisia. 24 morphological characters of the tree and fruit were studied for each accession. This study has revealed considerable diversity especially concerning the tree vigor, the fruit size and color and the acidity of juice. Taking into account all comments, some trees are considered particularly efficient in south-eastern Tunisia.Key words: South-east Tunisia, Punica granatum L., selection, morphological characters

Efficacy of the Non-Pathogenic Agrobacterium Strains K84 and K1026 against Crown Gall in Tunisia

The non-pathogenic Agrobacterium radiobacter strain K84 and its genetically modified (GEM) strain K1026 were tested for their effectiveness against local Tunisian strains and two reference strains (C58 and B6) of the crown gall bacterium Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Tests in planta were carried out on herbaceous plants (tomato and tagetes) and on some sensitive rootstocks (bitter almond, peach almond hybrid GF677 and quince BA29). In vitro tests showed that both K84 and K1026 were effective and that the difference between these strains was not statistically significant. On tomato and tagetes, strain K84 was effective against all crown gall isolates with the exception of the A. tumefaciens reference strain B6. GEM strain K1026 was very effective against all isolates from Tunisia and against the reference strains. Both antagonistic strains significantly reduced the percentage of galled plants as well as the number of galls per plant. Under field conditions, both antagonists controlled crown gall effectively. Best results were obtained on the bitter almond-tree rootstock. Antagonist effectiveness was less evident on quince BA29 and peach almond GF677 rootstocks. The genetically modified strain K1026 is of interest in controlling crown gall disease in Tunisia

Water scarcity conflicts in a community managed irrigation system in Northern Tunisia: Supporting dialogue and negotiation

Conflict over water resources emerges from complex interactions among biophysical, social, and economic processes operating at multiple scales. The concomitant use of surface and groundwater managed for multiple uses is a classic coping strategy to manage the water scarcity yet a relevant example of such conflict. Managing these resources is thus a dynamic decision-making process involving actors with different perceptions of the situation, who adapt different strategies to satisfy their objectives and interests. This paper presents the results of an effort to address these conflicts through reinforcing the adaptive capacity of different actors to cope with water scarcity in a multi-scale irrigation system. The study site focuses on the irrigated area of Zaouiet Jedidi in Northeast Tunisia. This region is characterized by an intensive irrigated agriculture, mostly through an excessive pumping of groundwater resources. Individual strategies to face the water scarcity are dominating leading to a rapid deterioration of the groundwater resources. Irrigation through individual and informal wells is an example of such strategies. As the demand for agricultural and urban water has concurrently continued to develop, the groundwater has continued to drop. Despite the State's efforts to increase the water supply to the region through the transfer of surface water from the dams of northwestern Tunisia, the overexploitation of groundwater resources exceeded 200 %. A participatory process was implemented to initiate a process of interaction and coordination between the different stakeholders involved in the management of the irrigated area. We analyzed to what extent and by what mechanisms, a participatory problem-solving process can facilitate the emergence of collection action to face the water scarcity.</p

Microencapsulation of cerratina siliqua L. extractor for food purposes: effect of extract/alginate ratio

containing specifically desired nutrients and bioactive agents [1]. Popularly known as St John’s Bread, Ceratonia siliqua L. (carob) has a long history of use in food (over 4000 years). It has a good nutritional value and its polyphenolic extract shows high antioxidant capacity and even higher antiradical activity than well-aged red wines. Its reducing power can also be four-fold higher than many well known potent antioxidant agents such as gallic acid, caffeic acid and catechin [2]. Nevertheless, preparing high quality nutritious food is critically dependent on availability of effective delivery systems. Such systems should preserve the specific nutritional, biological, chemical and functional properties of the sensitive constituent, and should effectively release the compounds, in a desired mode, after ingestion. Nowadays, the most promising technology that can allow overcoming the stated difficulties is microencapsulation [1]. In this context, a hydroethanolic (80:20, v/v) extract obtained from carob pulp by ultrasound extraction was microencapsulated for further use in the development of functional yogurtsinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio