Evolution de l'exploitation des eaux souterraines dans le périmètre irrigué du Tadla

International audienceLe périmètre irrigué du Tadla est passé par deux grandes périodes quant à l'évolution de la disponibilité des ressources en eaux. Cette évolution peut être attribuée aux changements intervenus dans la disponibilité de l'eau de surface (diminution des précipitations) et une évolution de la demande en eau (intensification culturale, assolements). La première période s'étale depuis la date d'équipement du périmètre jusqu'à la fin des années 70 et a été caractérisée par une abondance de la ressource en eau de surface et un faible recours aux ressources souterraines. En conséquence des remontées excessives de la nappe phréatique ont été observées entraînant des problèmes d'engorgement des sols. La deuxième période de l'évolution du périmètre irrigué du Tadla a commencé avec la sécheresse qu'a connue le Maroc entre 1981 et 1984. Le problème de pénurie d'eau devient structurel et l'eau d'irrigation n'est plus distribuée à la demande mais au tour d'eau avec des restrictions de plus en plus fréquentes notamment en été. Le recours à la ressource en eau souterraine des nappes phréatiques (généralement de mauvaise qualité) s'est fait de plus en plus ressenti et on a dénombré environ 9000 puits de pompage creusés dans le périmètre entre 1981 et 1985. Ce nombre avoisine les 10000 puits et forages actuellement. Deux changements, intervenus pendant les dernières années, méritent d'être soulignés : d'un côté la mise en place du barrage Mohamed El Hansali sur l'Oued Oum Er Rbia a permis d'améliorer la qualité des eaux d'irrigation du périmètre de Béni Amir (dilution des eaux de l'Oum Er Rbia sur l'ensemble de l'année). De l'autre coté, et face aux rabattements excessifs des nappes phréatiques, les agriculteurs ont commencé à prélever dans les nappes captives profonde (éocène notamment). Se posent alors des questions sur la durabilité de l'exploitation de cette nappe et des solutions devraient être trouvées pour assurer une gestion rationnelle et équitable de cette ressource

Adsorption of carbofuran (2,3-dihydro-2,2-dimethyl benzofuran-7-yl carbamate) and fenamiphos (ethyl 4-methylthio-m-tolylisopropyl phosphoramidate) by homoionic montmorillonite - humic acid complex

L'étude de l'adsorption a montré l’influence du cation de saturation des complexes argilo-humiques sur le phénomène d’adsorption des deux pesticides carbofuran et phénamiphos. L’analyse des résultats des différents complexes argilo-humiques (Me-M-HA) a montré que l'adsorption du phénamiphos est plus importante que celle du carbofuran. L'analyse des spectres d’absorption infra-rouge a montré des modifications importantes dans les fréquences de vibration des groupements fonctionnels des deux molécules pesticides au cours de leur adsorption par les complexes argilo-humique. L’analyse par diffraction aux rayons-X des complexes argilo-humiques traité par le carbofuran ou le phénamiphos a montré une augmentation significative de la distance réticulaire d001, indiquant la possibilité de pénétration de ces molécules dans l'espace interlamellaire des complexes saturés par des cations polyvalents

Phytochemical Analysis, Antioxidant, and Antimicrobial Activities of Ducrosia flabellifolia: A Combined Experimental and Computational Approaches

Ducrosia flabellifolia Boiss. is a rare desert plant known to be a promising source of bioactive compounds. In this paper, we report for the first time the phytochemical composition and biological activities of D. flabellifolia hydroalcoholic extract by using liquid chromatography-electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS) technique. The results obtained showed the richness of the tested extract in phenols, tannins, and flavonoids. Twenty-three phytoconstituents were identified, represented mainly by chlorogenic acid, followed by ferulic acid, caffeic acid, and sinapic acid. The tested hydroalcoholic extract was able to inhibit the growth of all tested bacteria and yeast on agar Petri dishes at 3 mg/disc with mean growth inhibition zone ranging from 8.00 ± 0.00 mm for Enterococcus cloacae (E. cloacae) to 36.33 ± 0.58 mm for Staphylococcus epidermidis. Minimal inhibitory concentration ranged from 12.5 mg/mL to 200 mg/mL and the hydroalcoholic extract from D. flabellifolia exhibited a bacteriostatic and fungistatic character. In addition, D. flabellifolia hydroalcoholic extract possessed a good ability to scavenge different free radicals as compared to standard molecules. Molecular docking studies on the identified phyto-compounds in bacterial, fungal, and human peroxiredoxin 5 receptors were performed to corroborate the in vitro results, which revealed good binding profiles on the examined protein targets. A standard atomistic 100 ns dynamic simulation investigation was used to further evaluate the interaction stability of the promising phytocompounds, and the results showed conformational stability in the binding cavity. The obtained results highlighted the medicinal use of D. flabellifolia as source of bioactive compounds, as antioxidant, antibacterial, and antifungal agent

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

Three-Dimensional Characterization of the Vascular Bed in Bone Metastasis of the Rat by Microcomputed Tomography (MicroCT)

BackgroundAngiogenesis contributes to proliferation and metastatic dissemination of cancer cells. Anatomy of blood vessels in tumors has been characterized with 2D techniques (histology or angiography). They are not fully representative of the trajectories of vessels throughout the tissues and are not adapted to analyze changes occurring inside the bone marrow cavities. Methodology/Principal Findings We have characterized the vasculature of bone metastases in 3D at different times of evolution of the disease. Metastases were induced in the femur of Wistar rats by a local injection of Walker 256/B cells. Microfil®, (a silicone-based polymer) was injected at euthanasia in the aorta 12, 19 and 26 days after injection of tumor cells. Undecalcified bones (containing the radio opaque vascular casts) were analyzed by microCT, and a first 3D model was reconstructed. Bones were then decalcified and reanalyzed by microCT; a second model (comprising only the vessels) was obtained and overimposed on the former, thus providing a clear visualization of vessel trajectories in the invaded metaphysic allowing quantitative evaluation of the vascular volume and vessel diameter. Histological analysis of the marrow was possible on the decalcified specimens. Walker 256/B cells induced a marked osteolysis with cortical perforations. The metaphysis of invaded bones became progressively hypervascular. New vessels replaced the major central medullar artery coming from the diaphyseal shaft. They sprouted from the periosteum and extended into the metastatic area. The newly formed vessels were irregular in diameter, tortuous with a disorganized architecture. A quantitative analysis of vascular volume indicated that neoangiogenesis increased with the development of the tumor with the appearance of vessels with a larger diameter. Conclusion This new method evidenced the tumor angiogenesis in 3D at different development times of the metastasis growth. Bone and the vascular bed can be identified by a double reconstruction and allowed a quantitative evaluation of angiogenesis upon time

First draft genome assembly of the Argane tree (Argania spinosa) [version 2; peer review: 2 approved]

BACKGROUND : The Argane tree (Argania spinosa L. Skeels) is an endemic tree of mid-western 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 7.6 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.DATA AVAILABILITY: All of the A. spinosa datasets can be retrieved under BioProject accession number PRJNA294096: http://identifiers.org/ bioproject:PRJNA294096. The raw reads are available at NCBI Sequence Reads Archive under accession number SRP077839: http://identifiers.org/insdc.sra:SRP077839. The complete genome sequence assembly project has been deposited at GenBank under accession number QLOD00000000: http://identifiers. org/ncbigi/GI:1408199612. Data can also be retrieved via the International Argane Genome Consortium (IAGC) website: http://www.arganome.org.https://f1000research.compm2021BiochemistryGeneticsMicrobiology and Plant Patholog

Monocalcium phosphate monohydrate concentration in soil suspension amended with organic matter

The effect of humic substances, Fe$^{3+}$, Al$^{3+}$, and soil clay mineralogy on the availability of monocalcium phosphate monohydrate added at pH5 were investigated. Both solution and suspension experiments showed that humic matter chelates phosphorus and prevents the formation of less soluble forms of phosphorus than monocalcium phosphate. However, Fe$^{3+}$ and Al$^{3+}$ ions in the solution lead to the precipitation of Fe-P and Al-P, less soluble compounds. Organic matter, by its chelating power for Ca$^{2+}$, Fe$^{3+}$ and Al$^{3+}$ions, explains the availability of phosphorus in solution at pH5. Clay minerals, especially smectites, induced an increase in solution phosphorus content because of their adsorption properties for Ca$^{2+}$, Fe$^{3+}$ and Al$^{3+}$.
Soil organic matter should be maintained at a sufficient level in order to get enough phosphorus in soil solution for plant uptake

Le Plan Maroc Vert

Séance du 12 octobre 2011International audienc