Etude pomologique de quelques génotypes d’amandiers cultivés dans la région orientale du Maroc

The almond groves of the eastern Morocco were mainly produced from seedlings known as the “Beldi” type, to which are added plantations of variable sizes made up of selected and productive introduced varieties, mainly with the couple Ferragnès / Ferraduel and sometimes Marcona and Fournat de Breznaud. Thus, in this pomological study, the weight (g), the width (mm), the length (mm), the thickness (mm), the geometric diameter (Dg, mm), the sphericity (%) and the volume (mm3) were measured and / or calculated for the fruits and their kernels of a Beldi ecotype (BL1) in comparison to the four varieties known as introduced and of European origin. The results show that the Ferraduel fruit present the highest value of Width (24.71 mm), Thickness (16.54 mm), Dg (23.90 mm) and volume (7744.44 mm3) respectively, while Fournat de Breznaud have the highest value in Length (36.90 mm). For the almond kernels, Fournat de Breznaud and Ferragnes present the highest value for Weight (1.31g), Width (15.17mm), Length (26.45mm), Thickness (8.31mm), Dg (14.48mm) and Volume (1594.67mm3), whereas Beldi and Marcona show the lowest value for Weight (0.79g), Width (12.42mm), Dg (12.35mm), Volume (1024.87mm3) and Length (19.68mm). Double kernel was not detected for Marcona, Fournat de Breznaud and Ferragnes while Beldi and Ferraduel present 81 and 28% respectively. Pomological traits of almond nuts and kernels present significant difference for the analysed parameters at P<0.05.  BL1 from “Beldi” ecotype present lower physical parameters.  While there are other genotypes that deserve to be investigated and compared with the introduced varieties. In addition, and from the whole data, it was assumed that, at least, Ferraduel, Ferragnes and Fournat de Breznaud could be recommended for this region.Les amanderaies de la région orientale du Maroc étaient principalement issues de semis dite de type «Beldi », auquel s’ajoutent de plantations de tailles variables constituées de variétés introduites sélectionnées et productives, avec principalement le couple Ferragnès / Ferraduel et parfois Marcona et Fournat de Breznaud. Ainsi dans cette étude pomologique, le poids (g), la largeur (mm), la longueur (mm), l'épaisseur (mm), le diamètre géométrique (Dg, mm), la sphéricité (%) et le volume (mm3) ont été mesurés et/ou calculés pour les fruits et leurs amandons d’un écotype Beldi (BL1) en comparaison au quatre variétés introduites et d'origine européenne. Les résultats montrent que le fruit du Ferraduel a la valeur la plus élevée en Largeur (24,71 mm), épaisseur (16,54 mm), Dg (23,90 mm) et volume (7744,44 mm3) respectivement, tandis que Fournat de Breznaud présentent la valeur la plus élevée en Longueur (36,90 mm). Pour les amandons, Fournat de Breznaud et Ferragnes présentent les valeurs les plus élevées en poids (1,31 g), la largeur (15,17 mm), la longueur (26,45 mm), l'épaisseur (8,31 mm), le Dg (14,48 mm) et le volume (1594,67 mm3), tandis que Beldi et Marcona affichent les valeurs les plus faibles pour le poids (0,79 g), la largeur (12,42 mm), le Dg (12,35 mm), le volume (1024,87 mm3) et la longueur (19,68 mm). Les amandons doubles n'ont pas été détectés pour Marcona, Fournat de Breznaud et Ferragnes tandis que Beldi et Ferraduel en présentent respectivement 81% et 28%. L’analyse de la variance montre que les traits pomologiques des fruits et des amandons présentent une différence significative pour les paramètres analysés à P<0,05. Le génotype (BL1) de l'écotype « Beldi » présente des paramètres pomologiques plus faibles en comparaison avec les autres variétés introduites. Pourtant, il existe d'autres génotypes qui méritent d'être étudiés et les comparés aux variétés introduites. De plus, et à partir de l'ensemble de ces données, nous suggérons qu'au moins, Ferraduel, Ferragnes et Fournat de Breznaud pouvaient être recommandés pour cette région

Protein Content and Oil Composition of Almond from Moroccan Seedlings: Genetic Diversity, Oil Quality and Geographical Origin

The protein and oil content and the fatty acid profile of the kernels of selected almond genotypes from four different Moroccan regions were determined in order to evaluate the kernel quality of the plant material of these different regions. The ranges of oil content (48.7–64.5 % of kernel DW), oleic (61.8–80.2 % of total oil), linoleic (11.4–27.0 %), palmitic (5.6–7.7 %), stearic (1.3–3.1 %), and palmitoleic (0.4–0.9 %) acid percentages agreed with previous results of other almond genotypes, but the protein content (14.1–35.1 % of kernel DW) showed that some genotypes had higher values than any previously recorded in almond. Some genotypes from mountainous regions showed kernels with very high oil content as well as high and consistent oleic and linoleic ratio, establishing a possible differentiation according to the geographical origin. These differences may allow establishing a geographical denomination for almond products. In terms of genetic diversity, oleic and linoleic acids were confirmed to be the most variable components of almond oil chemical composition among genotypes. Additionally, the genotypes with extreme favorable values, such as high protein content, could be incorporated into an almond breeding program aiming at an increase in kernel quality.Peer ReviewedPrunus amygdalusProtein contentOil contentFatty acidsQualityGenetic resourcesBreedingPublishe

SSR-Based Analysis of Genetic Diversity and Structure of Sweet Cherry (Prunus avium L.) from 19 Countries in Europe

Sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) is a temperate fruit species whose production might be highly impacted by climate change in the near future. Diversity of plant material could be an option to mitigate these climate risks by enabling producers to have new cultivars well adapted to new environmental conditions. In this study, subsets of sweet cherry collections of 19 European countries were genotyped using 14 SSR. The objectives of this study were (i) to assess genetic diversity parameters, (ii) to estimate the levels of population structure, and (iii) to identify germplasm redundancies. A total of 314 accessions, including landraces, early selections, and modern cultivars, were monitored, and 220 unique SSR genotypes were identified. All 14 loci were confirmed to be polymorphic, and a total of 137 alleles were detected with a mean of 9.8 alleles per locus. The average number of alleles (N = 9.8), PIC value (0.658), observed heterozygosity (Ho = 0.71), and expected heterozygosity (He = 0.70) were higher in this study compared to values reported so far. Four ancestral populations were detected using STRUCTURE software and confirmed by Principal Coordinate Analysis (PCoA), and two of them (K1 and K4) could be attributed to the geographical origin of the accessions. A N-J tree grouped the 220 sweet cherry accessions within three main clusters and six subgroups. Accessions belonging to the four STRUCTURE populations roughly clustered together. Clustering confirmed known genealogical data for several accessions. The large genetic diversity of the collection was demonstrated, in particular within the landrace pool, justifying the efforts made over decades for their conservation. New sources of diversity will allow producers to face challenges, such as climate change and the need to develop more sustainable production systems

Power Factor Correction with Current Controlled Buck Converter for BLDC Motor Drive

Brushless DC motor is a synchronous machine that makes use of electronic commutation instead of mechanical commutator. Brushless DC motors makes use of inverter encompassing static switches for its operation. A simple bridge converter when used for BLDC drive as front end converter makes input source power factor to get reduced which is unacceptable in the power system. To avoid the distortions in the source voltage and source currents, Buck converter which was used as power factor correction (PFC) converter in this paper to improve the power factor. Presence of power electronic converters deteriorates system power factor effecting overall system performance. This paper presents buck converter for power factor correction in brushless DC motor drive system. Buck converter is operated with current control strategy rather to conventional voltage follower control. Simulation model was obtained using MATLAB/SIMULINK software and the brushless DC motor performance characteristics were shown for conditions with different DC link voltages and step variation in DC link voltage. Total harmonic distortion in source current was also presented