Managing Mediterranean nurse plants-mediated effects on soil microbial functions to improve rock phosphate solubilization processes and early growth of Cupressus atlantica G

a b s t r a c t The main objective was to evaluate the impact of nurse plant species commonly found in Mediterranean areas (Lavandula dentata and Thymus satureoides) on microbial soil functions, on the native inoculum potential of AM fungi involved in the rock phosphate weathering and to measure the potential benefits to the growth of Atlas Cypress (Cupressus atlantica G.), an endemic Cupressacea of Morocco. Soils collected from an old C. atlantica forest and pre-cultivated with each of the target plant species (L. dentata and T. satureoides). After 5 months of cultivation, they were uprooted and the treated substrate was amended or not with Khouribga Rock Phosphate (KRP). Then pots were filled with the soil mixtures and planted with one pre-germinated seed of C. atlantica. The results show that pre-cultivation step with native mycotrophic plant species improves the mycorrhizal soil infectivity, modifies soil microbial functionalities and increases the impact of rock phosphate amendment on the C. atlantica growth. This low cost cultivation practice by improving forest plant development and cultural soil quality constitutes a promising ecological engineering tool to improve the performances of ecosystem restoration

Habitat preferences of phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) in Southwestern Morocco

Data from a 4-yr study of phlebotomine sand flies in 44 stations in southwestern Morocco are presented. Correspondence analysis is used to describe the habitat preferences of nine sand fly species on a meso-scale (station) and a micro-scale (biotope). This work, based on highly diversified data from various stations, comprising several biotopes sampled during different seasons, provides new information on the ecology of sand flies in southwestern Morocco. It highlights many natural and artificial factors that affect the abundance and distribution of sand fly populations. The impact of climate, urbanization, proximity of humans and domestic animals, organic matter in the soil, shelter, and vegetation type is discussed

Nocturnal activity of phlebotomine sandflies (Diptera : Psychodidae) in a cutaneous leishmaniasis focus in Chichaoua, Morocco

The nocturnal activity of phlebotomine sandflies (Diptera: Psychodidae) was studied "at an epidemic focus" on human cutaneous leishmaniasis due to Leishmania tropica Wright in Chichaoua province, in Morocco. Sandflies were collected using light and sticky-paper traps changed at 2-h intervals, inside and around houses, in August and October 2004. Overall, 633 sandflies, belonging to six species of Phlebotomus and three of Sergentomyia, were collected. Sandfly activity was nocturnal and higher at twilight. Several activity patterns were observed according to the species. Phlebotomus (Paraphlebotomus) sergenti Parrot, 1917, the suspected vector of L. tropica in this focus, was caught during each collection performed from 1900 to 0500 hours, the numbers of species caught peaked at 1900 2100 hours. There were seasonal variations of the nocturnal activity, which could be related to the variations in temperature and relative humidity

Preliminary study on the galectin molecular diversity in Moroccoan Phlebotomus papatasi sandfly populations

Context: Galactose binding protein (PpGalec) plays an important role in the specificity of Phlebotomus papatasi sandfly for Leishmania major. The molecular diversity of this ligand is currently unknown but might have some influence on the ability of PpGaleC to efficiently recognize L. major in natural sandfly populations. Objective: To explore the molecular diversity of the P papatasi Galectin gene (PpGalec) in natural sandfly population of Morocco. Results & conclusions: Sequence variations of PpGalec was analyzed in 31 P papatasi specimens collected from endemic and non-endemic zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis foci of Morocco. Among the 211 amino acid positions analyzed, 11 are subjected to mutation. Interestingly, we observe that one mutation directly affect an amino acid known to be involved in the substrate recognition by galectin. The repercussion of this polymorphism on the capacity of the galectin to efficiently bind the L. major Lipophosphoglycane (LPG) awaits further investigations

Malformations of the genitalia in male Phlebotomus papatasi (Scopoli) (Diptera : Psychodidae)

Phlebotomus papatasi (Scopoli, 1786) (Diptera: Psychodidae) is a major vector of Leishmania major (Kinetoplastida: Trypanosomatidae), a causative agent of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis. Morphological characters of sand fly genitalia are key indicators for species identification. Various anomalies affecting male genitalia have been previously described. We take advantage of a large sand flies survey conducted in 32 stations in Central and Southern Morocco to systematically quantify the prevalence and spatial distribution of malformations affecting the genitalia of P. papatasi. Among 597 examined males, 122 were abnormal (20.4%). Malformations were widespread and largely concerned the number of spines in the lateral lobes and in the styles. Asymmetrical anomalies in lateral lobes were common. Correspondence analysis of our results highlighted the symmetrical anomalies observed in the lateral lobes, and abnormal styles of the male genitalia were found to be associated with environmental disturbances since they were prevalent in sewage dumps. Journal of Vector Ecology 35 (1): 13-19. 2010

Improvement of Cupressus atlantica Gaussen growth by inoculation with native arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

Aims:The study aimed to determine whether inoculation with native arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi could improve survival and growth of seedlings in degraded soils of Morocco. Methods and Results:Soil samples were collected from the rhizosphere of Cupressus atlantica trees in the N'Fis valley (Haut Atlas, Morocco). AM spores were extracted from the soil, identified and this mixture of native AM fungi was propagated on maize for 12 weeks on a sterilized soil to enrich the fungal inoculum. Then C. atlantica seedlings were inoculated with and without (control) mycorrhizal maize roots, cultured in glasshouse conditions and further, transplanted into the field. The experiment was a randomized block design with one factor and three replication blocks. The results showed that a high AM fungal diversity was associated with C. atlantica; native AM fungi inoculation was very effective on the growth of C. atlantica seedlings in glasshouse conditions and this plant growth stimulation was maintained for 1 year after outplanting. Conclusions:Inoculation of C. atlantica with AM fungi increased growth and survival in greenhouse and field. Significance and Impact of the Study:The data indicate that use of native species of AM fungi may accelerate reforestation of degraded soils. Further studies have to be performed to determine the persistence of these mycorrhizae for a longer period of plantation and to measure the effects of this microbial inoculation on soil biofunctioning