Effect of water deficit stress on physiological traits of some Algerian barley genotypes

Recently, drought stress became more frequent and this presents a serious challenge for plant breeders to create tolerant barley genotypes with good stability under water deficit conditions. The present study aims to evaluate the effects of water deficit stress with 20% of maximum soil water capacity at heading stage on the physiological traits of some barley genotypes and to set recommendations on their possible use in drought tolerance breeding programs. The results revealed significant differences between genotypes in all tested traits. In this regard, Rahma and Tissa maintained a high relative water content and cell membrane stability under water deficit stress, respectively. These characteristics present effective mechanisms to face drought stress in semi-arid regions. Jaidor was the most stay-green genotype characterized by maintaining a high level of chlorophyll content after water deficit stress treatment. Moreover, Acsad176 accumulated high soluble sugars content as a response to water deficit stress. These genotypes could be considered as potential sources of genes for selection of drought tolerant barley varieties

Assessment of Summer Drought Tolerance and Persistence of Some Grass Cultivars in Algerian Semi Arid Conditions

Stress-tolerant forage resources are increasingly needed for the environmental and economic sustainability of extensive Mediterranean livestock systems. Perennial forages belonging to two species: Festuca arundinacea Schreb. (tall fescue) and Dactylis glomerata L. (cocksfoot) can be a valuable alternative to annuals, if they can survive across successive summer droughts. Poor persistence of sown perennial pasture grasses is a problem in regions of the World with Mediterranean climates where the most stressful, life threatening season is a summer characterised by long and often severe droughts with high temperatures. The objective of this study is to compare 14 grass cultivars in an Algerian drought prone environment in order to identify the best adapted plant material

Karyological analyses in several Algerian populations of six species of the genus Vicia L. (Fabaceae)

As part of the evaluation and valorization of plant genetic resources of fodder and pastoral interest in Algeria, seventeen (17) natural populations belonging to six (06) species of the genus Vicia (Vicia sativa, Vicia disperma, Vicia monardii, Vicia ohchroleuca, Vicia onobrychioides and Vicia lutea), originated from different ecological regions in the North-Eastern of the country, were considered. The populations have been the subject of mitotic and meiotic studies. Haploid and diploid numbers and chromosome measurements were determined. Original results were observed for the first time in some species. In fact, chromosome counts have revealed some new chromosome numbers. The first number (2n=14, n=7) was observed in the endemic subspecies of Algeria, V. ochroleuca subsp. atlantica and in the species Vicia onobrychioides. The second number (n=6) was observed in the species Vicia disperma. Within Vicia monardii, the three new chromosome numbers, previously observed only in mitosis by our research team, were confirmed for the first time through the present meiosis study (n=6, 7 and 8), indicating that they are A type chromosomes. The base number x=7 is the most frequently observed number in the six Vicia species. The observed chromosome numbers would be related to some ecological factors (altitude, rainfall) of the origin environment of the populations. Chromosome measurements and established karyotypes were determined for the first time in V. monardii, V. onobrychioides and V. ochroleuca subsp. atlantica. Chromosome size and karyotype formula are variable among the studied species and subspecies. Karyotypes vary from symmetrical to asymmetrical and the intrachromosomal asymmetry is higher than interchromosomal one. The new cytogenetic data would contribute to a better understanding of the evolution mechanism of the species in the genus Vicia L

Genetic analyses of stay green for tolerance to water stress and nitrogen deficiency in Algerian Saharan maize populations

18 páginas, 6 tablas, 1 figuraDelayed senescence could contribute to maintain yield under water stress and low nitrogen stress. Landraces from arid areas can provide favorable alleles for stay green under stress. The objectives of this study were to estimate varietal and heterosis effects of Algerian Saharan populations and their crosses for stay-green under water stress and no-nitrogen fertilization and to identify the most promising populations as sources of stay-green under stress. Six Algerian maize populations were evaluated in a diallel under water stress (300 mm irrigation) versus control (600 mm) and no-nitrogen fertilization versus 120 kg/ha N fertilization. Both varietal and specific heterosis were involved in delayed senescence under stress. Breeding programs could capitalize additive components by using the populations IZM or IGS with favorable varietal effects for delayed senescence under nitrogen stress, or dominance effects by using the population AOR with favorable heterotic effects for plant color under water and nitrogen stresses. Based on specific heterosis, under water stress conditions with no-nitrogen supply, the most promising cross was AOR × IZM for delayed senescence, while IZM × BAH (with no-nitrogen supply), and SHH × BAH (with nitrogen fertilizer), will allow a longer maintenance of the plant coloration. We suggest reciprocal recurrent selection with these populations for developing drought-tolerant and low nitrogen hybrids to improve stay-green.Open Access funding provided thanks to the CRUE-CSIC agreement with Springer Nature. This research was funded by the École Nationale Supérieure Agronomique; Spanish Ministerio de Innovación y Universidades (MCIU), the Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI) and the European Fund for Regional Development (FEDER), UE (project code PID2019-108127RB-I00) and by PRIMA, a program supported by the European Union under H2020 framework programme (Proj. 1586, Ref PCI2021-121912).Peer reviewe

Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Durum Wheat (<i>Triticum durum</i> Desf.) Grown under Semiarid Conditions in Algeria

The proper and sustainable management of nitrogen fertilization is one of the most common problems of cereal cultivation in semiarid regions, which are characterized by a wide variability in climatic conditions. The current work was conducted to evaluate the effects of nitrogen fertilization on the agronomic and economic aspects of durum wheat cultivated under rainfed semiarid conditions in Algeria and to determine the most efficient nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) among four genotypes that are widespread in the country (tall and short, old and modern genotypes). The four genotypes, Bousselam, MBB, Megress, and GTAdur, were investigated under four nitrogen rates from 0 to 120 kg N ha−1 during three cropping seasons (2016 to 2018). The results indicate that the total nitrogen uptake at maturity (NM), nitrogen uptake by grain (NG), nitrogen harvest index (NHI), NUE and its components, such as nitrogen uptake efficiency (NUpE) and nitrogen utilization efficiency (NUtE), were significantly affected by year, genotype, and nitrogen level. From this study, it appears that higher nitrogen rates improved NM and NG. However, no effects on either grain yield or marginal net return (MNR) were observed; conversely, increased nitrogen levels produced a 13% reduction in the economic return. In other words, in the North African environment, the response to nitrogen is more evident in quality than in yield, which in turn is dependent on the yearly weather conditions and cultivated genotypes. Moreover, nitrogen negatively affected NUE and its components (NUpE, NUtE). On average, NUE displayed low values (14.77 kg kg−1), mostly irregular and highly dependent on weather conditions; in the best year, it did not exceed 60% (19.87 kg kg−1) of the global average value of 33 kg kg−1. Moreover, the modern genotypes Megress (tall) and GTAdur (short) showed the best capacity to tolerate different nitrogen conditions and water shortages, providing relatively superior yields, as well as more effective N use from fertilizers and the soil than the other two genotypes

Assessment of Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Algerian Saharan Maize Populations for Tolerance under Drought and No‐Nitrogen Stresses

Increasing drought incidence and infertile soils require the improvement of maize for nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) under drought conditions. The objectives were to assess tolerance and genetic effects of Algerian populations under no‐nitrogen and water stress. We evaluated a diallel among six Algerian maize populations under no‐nitrogen vs. 120 kg/ha N fertilization and drought vs. control. Variability was significant among populations and their crosses for NUE under drought. Additive genetic effects could be capitalized using the populations BAH and MST, with high grain nitrogen utilization efficiency (NUtE). The most promising crosses were SHH × AOR with no‐nitrogen supply under both water regimes for NUtE, AOR × IGS, under water stress for partial factor productivity (PFP), and well‐watered conditions with nitrogen supply for protein content; AOR × IZM for agronomic nitrogen use efficiency (AE) under water stress; and AOR × BAH for grain nutrient utilization efficiency (NUtE) under well‐watered conditions with nitrogen. These parents could be promising for developing drought‐tolerant or/and low nitrogen hybrids to improve these traits. Maximum heterosis could be exploited using those populations and crosses. Reciprocal recurrent selection could be used to take advantage of additive and non‐additive gene effects found based on estimations of genetic parameters.This research was funded by the DGRSDT—Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (Algeria) and the Spanish Ministerio de Innovación y Universidades (MCIU), the Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI), and the European Fund for Regional Development (FEDER), UE (project code PID2019-108127RB-I00)

Response of Mediterranean tall fescue cultivars to contrasting agricultural environments and implications for selection

Extensive livestock is a basic socio-economic feature of the Mediterranean region whose environmental and economic sustainability depends on the ability of forage resources to withstand climatically stressful conditions. Perennial forages such as tall fescue can be a valuable alternative to annuals, if they can survive across successive summer droughts. Three-year dry matter yield and plant survival of five cultivars of Mediterranean-type tall fescue were evaluated in six sites of Algeria, France, Italy, Morocco and Portugal, with the following objectives: (i) modelling adaptive responses and targeting cultivars as a function of environmental factors associated with genotype x location interaction; and (ii) defining plant ideotypes, adaptation strategies and opportunities for international co-operation for regional breeding programmes. Site mean yield and winter temperatures were positively correlated, whereas sward persistence was positively correlated to lower site heat and drought stress. Cultivar adaptation was adequately modelled by factorial regression as a function of site spring– summer (April–September) drought stress (long-term potential evapotranspiration minus actual water available) for yield, and annual drought stress for final persistence. Specific-adaptation responses to high- or low-stress environments emerged which were consistent with drought-stress levels of cultivar selection environments. However, the wide-adaptation response of cultivar Flecha suggested that breeding for wide adaptation can be feasible