First ampelometric study of autochthonous grapevines in Algeria: Germplasm collection of Mascara

Ampelometric studies on 26 varieties of Vitis vinifera L. belonging to the germplasm existing in the collection of Tighennif (Mascara), the most important conservatory of local grapevine varieties existing in Algeria were carried out to characterize this gene pool, the phyllometric measurement method proposed by MARTÍNEZ and GRENAN was applied to establish a cultivar specific adult leaf. Statistical analysis was performed to identify the most discriminating parameters, namely, size of angles and depth of the lateral sinuses in comparison to the lengths of the veins, especially those on the left side of the leaf. Thus, cultivars with common features such as 'Bezoul el Khadem' and 'Ahmar de Mechtras III', 'Toutrissine' and 'Aberkane' and 'Amellal' and 'Torki' were clustered together. For seven varieties the average leaf has been reconstructed.

Molecular identification and genetic relationships of Algerian grapevine cultivars maintained at the germplasm collection of Skikda (Algeria)

We have used nuclear and chloroplast microsatellite markers to characterize a collection of 36 Algerian grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) accessions maintained at the germplasm collection of Skikda (Algeria). The genetic diversity observed within the collection was comparable to what has been described for cultivated accessions of grapevine. Moreover, chlorotype C, associated to eastern accessions and highly frequent among table grape cultivars, was overrepresented in the collection. Genotype comparisons among the accessions and published cultivar genotypes identified a few synonyms within the collection as well as putative synonyms for Algerian accessions such as 'Aïn el Kelb', 'Ahmar Mechtras', 'Ahmar de Mascara' or 'Bouni' among cultivars grown in both Eastern and Western areas of the Mediterranean basin. Furthermore, the study of genetic relationships among the Algerian accessions suggests the existence of close relatedness within some groups of cultivars that could have been originated by spontaneous hybridization and seed propagation.

Algerian Fig Trees: Botanical and Morphometric Leaf Characterization

15 páginas, 4 tablas, 5 figurasLeaf morphology in plants is very important in the evaluation of intraspecific variation. Indeed, the leaves of the fig tree (Ficus carica L.) present a great diversity of shape and size. The present study consists of the botanical, morphological, and morphometric characterization of the leaves of 26 local fig tree varieties cultivated in different areas of Bejaia (northeast Algeria). Our results indicate that the morphological parameters of the leaves allowed a good differentiation of the studied cultivars according to the descriptors (UPOV) among varieties and independent of their growing environment. Moreover, the method of morphometric description proposed in this paper allows the differentiation of varieties and the comparison among them in an objective way and by simple mathematical methods. This method demonstrates the existence of a very high percentage of polymorphisms within the studied varieties, but also their classification according to the number of lobes, the depth of the lateral sinuses, and the degree of openness of the angles performed by the main veins of the leaves. The Azougagh variety is characterized by wider angles, and, on the contrary, the Tassahlit variety has the least-open angles. None of the studied varieties presented “entire” leaves. The majority presented leaves with five lobes. The varieties Tilizwith, Tazarzourth, Avarkan, Tamkarkourth, and Inconnu B differed clearly from the rest by showing leaves with seven lobes and deep lateral sinuses. In contrast, the varieties Zarika, Baccor Blanc, Avarkan Lisse, and Avgaiti presented leaves with only three lobes. This is the first work on fig tree characterization using morphometric methods, which are shown to be complementary to the UPOV code and efficient in separating even the closed varieties. It will be interesting to extend these studies to larger scales and areas.This research was supported by DGRSDT, “Direction Générale de la Recherche Scientifique et du Développement Technologique ” in Algeria