Yield gaps and nutrients use efficiency of apple tree (golden delicious/MM106) in the middle Atlas Mountains of Morocco

The main objective of this work was to evaluate use efficiency of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium and magnesium in adult apple orchards in the Middle Atlas of Morocco and to establish preliminary reference norms for fertilizing this crop under local conditions. The study was based on soil and leaf analysis and data with regard to farming practices and yield on forty apple orchards (cv. Golden delecious/MM106) where nineteen are growing on silty-clay soil and twenty-one on sandy-loam soil. The results showed significant correlations between leaf content for each nutrient and yield level following polynomial equations, thereby indicating local reference norms for apple leaf analysis. Moreover, correlations were significant between leaf and soil contents that permitted to determine apple needs in nitrogen fertilizer and references norms for soil richness in phosphorus, potassium, calcium and magnesium to obtain yield potential in the study region. However, the found norms are less than International standards because of feebleness of yield level in the study region, largely related to deficient cultural practices adopted by farmers. In addition, investigation of leaf nutrients ratios N/K, N/Ca, K/Ca, K/Mg and Ca/Mg showed that there was disharmony in uptake of these nutrients originating particularly from high soil richness in Ca and Mg. Taking into account these considerations, the found references norms can be applied only under the adopted farming practices. Nevertheless, by improving local practices, reference values may change

Impact du renforcement du couscous par des légumineuses alimentaires sur le profil biochimique et microbiologique

Combining pulses and cereals allows our body to have all the essential amino acids (in lysines and methionines) and helps strengthen the fiber content through various minerals and vitamins of group B. This combination allows obtaining a protein assimilation rate higher by 30 to 50% than consuming it separately. The aim of this study is to compare the quality of a pulse-enriched couscous (bean, chickpea and lentil) to 30% and 50% with a couscous made from 100% wheat. The comparison was based on physical tests (moisture, water activity, swelling index and color index), biochemical tests (dietary fiber, protein levels, ashes, fat and carbohydrates) and microbiological tests (total germs, yeasts and molds). The results obtained showed that pulses couscous is more interesting from a conservation point of view (Aw = 0.52) compared to the one based on 100% wheat (Aw = 0.62). The nutritional quality of pulses-based couscous (ash content, protein and dietary fiber) is more appreciable than that of durum couscous. The more couscous is rich in pulses the more its nutritional profile is important (less fat and carbohydrates). Only couscous reinforced with chickpea is less rich in protein (10.21g/100g MS) than that based on wheat (12.10g/100g MS). On a microbiological level, we also noticed that the more reinforced couscous is in pulses the more its microbial load goes down either for the total germs or for the yeasts and molds.L’association des légumineuses et des céréales, dans des préparations alimentaires, permet d’une part à notre organisme de disposer de l’ensemble des acides aminés essentiels (en lysines et méthionines) ; et d’autre part, permet aussi de renforcer la teneur en fibres, en divers minéraux et vitamines du groupe B. Cette association permet d’obtenir un taux d’assimilation en protéines de 30 à 50% plus important que si elles étaient consommées séparément. L’objectif de cette étude est de comparer la qualité d’un couscous renforcé en légumineuses (fève, pois-chiche et lentille) à 30% et 50% avec un couscous à base du blé uniquement. Cette comparaison a été basée sur des tests physiques (humidité, activité de l’eau, indice de gonflement et indice de couleur), des tests biochimiques (fibres alimentaires, taux de protéines, cendres, matière grasse et glucides) et des tests microbiologiques (germes totaux, levures et moisissures). Les résultats obtenus ont montré que le couscous à base de légumineuses présente une activité d’eau (aw=0,52) nettement plus faible comparativement au couscous à base du blé uniquement (aw=0,62) ; ce qui témoigne d’une bonne aptitude à la conservation pour le couscous fortifié. La qualité nutritionnelle du couscous à base de légumineuses (taux des cendres, protéines et fibres alimentaires) est plus appréciable que celle du couscous à base de blé dur. Plus que le couscous est riche en légumineuses plus sa richesse nutritionnelle est importante (moins de matières grasses et de glucides). Néanmoins, le couscous renforcé en pois-chiche est moins riche en protéines (10,21g/100g MS) que celui à base de blé (12,10g/100g MS). Sur le plan microbiologique, il a été constaté aussi que la charge microbienne (en germes totaux, levures et moisissures) diminue avec le taux de fortification du couscous renforcé en légumineuses alimentaires

Partial regularity and t-analytic sets for Banach function algebras

In this note we introduce the notion of t-analytic sets. Using this concept, we construct a class of closed prime ideals in Banach function algebras and discuss some problems related to Alling’s conjecture in H infinity. A description of all closed t-analytic sets for the disk-algebra is given. Moreover, we show that some of the assertions in [8] concerning the O-analyticity and S-regularity of certain Banach function algebras are not correct. We also determine the largest set on which a Douglas algebra is pointwise regular

Effects of Supplemental Irrigation and Nitrogen Applied on Yield and Yield Components of Bread Wheat at the Sais Region of Morocco

The objective of this study is to determinate the optimal growth stage for applying supplemental irrigation and nitrogen to enhance bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) productivity and water use efficiency under rainfed condition in Morocco. Field trial was conducted during two years (2007-2008 and 2008-2009). Three genotypes (G) of Moroccan bread wheat; Achtar, Arrehane and an Advanced Line II were combined with five nitrogen doses (N); 0, 40, 80, 120 and 160 kg N ha–1 and three water treatments (I); rainfed (I0), irrigated (60 mm) at 21 according to the Zadoks scale (I1) and irrigated (60 mm) at 59 according to the Zadoks scale (I2). Results in the drought year (2007-2008) show that I2 improves water use efficiency, grain yield and its components by 91 and 60% respectively, compared to I0 and I1 treatments. I2 has limited the effects of the Chergui –hot and dry wind coming from the Sahara- which has a negative impact on growth mainly at the end of the cycle of the crop. Grain yield and other yield components increased simultaneously with the increase in nitrogen inputs during the second 2008-2009 crop year which was rainy. The 120 kg N ha–1 dose allowed the highest results, with no significant difference with the yield obtained after a 160 kg N ha–1 input. Genotype appeared to have no significant effect neither on grain yield nor on water use efficiency in both the years

Enzymes of the glutathione-ascorbate cycle in leaves and roots of rhizobia-inoculated faba bean plants (<em>Vicia faba</em> L.) under salinity stress.

Grain legumes such as the faba bean (Vicia faba L.) used for human as well as animal nutrition, are of great importance especially in countries under Mediterranean climate like Morocco, which is mainly characterized by semi-arid and arid climates and by saline soils. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effects of salt stress on growth, nodulation and the enzymes of the glutathione ascorbate cycle of faba bean plants (Moroccan cultivar &quot;Aguadulce&quot;). The experiments were carried out under greenhouse-conditions, where faba bean plants were grown under control (nutrient solution) or salt stress conditions (nutrient solution containing 75 mM or 150 mM of NaCl). The activity of enzymes of the glutathione ascorbate cycle was studied in leaves and roots of faba bean plants inoculated by rhizobia RhOF4 or RhOF6, isolated from nodules of faba bean cultures in the region of Marrakech. The growth of faba bean plants decreased with increasing salt concentrations. Total weight and length of shoots significantly decreased under NaCl stress (p &lt; 0.05), especially at 150 mM. Also the nodulation of the roots was strongly decreased under salinity stress, with reductions of 91.35% and of 88.67% in the total nodule number of plants exposed to 150 mM of NaCl and inoculated by RhOF4 and by RhOF6 respectively. NaCl effects on the glutathione-ascorbate cycle were more pronounced in roots inoculated by RhOF6. Stress responding glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity was generally increased in roots inoculated by RhOF6 and submitted to salt stress. On the contrary, specific activities of glutathione peroxidase (GPOX), superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APOX) and monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR) were reduced in roots of faba bean plants inoculated by RhOF6 exposed to saline treatment as compared to the controls. Our results show the importance of several enzymes of the ascorbate-glutathione cycle and the reduced glutathione (GSH) during some faba bean-rhizobia symbiotic combinations, in root defence and adaptation against salt stress conditions. (C) 2013 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved