LEGU-MED: Developing Biodiversity-Based Agriculture with Legume Cropping Systems in the Mediterranean Basin

Environmental degradation and the decrease of ecosystem service provision are currently of major concern, with current agricultural systems being a major driver. To meet our future environmental and sustainability targets a transformation of the agro-food systems and current agricultural value chain are crucial. One approach to redesign farming systems is the concept of biodiversity-based agriculture (BBA) which relies on sustainable diversification of biological components and their natural interactions in farming systems to maximize fertility, productivity, and resilience to external perturbations. Despite minimizing anthropogenic inputs, BBA is not yet able to meet all beneficial environmental objectives. BBA applied in the Mediterranean basin requires urgent innovation in approaches, methodologies, and models for small-holder traditional farming systems to ensure a stable provision of ecosystem services and better resilience to environmental stresses linked to climate change. Legumes are the backbone of the Mediterranean agro-ecosystems from ancient times, but their unique and wide biodiversity was not sufficiently valorized, especially by North-African countries. Here, we present LEGU-MED, a three-year international project funded by PRIMA initiative 2019. An international consortium was established involving five universities, 5 research institutes, and one private company from 8 countries: Italy, Germany, Spain, Algeria, Tunisia, Turkey, Lebanon, and Croatia. The main objective of this project is to put forward an international and well-integrated plan to valorize the legume agrobiodiversity of the Mediterranean in biodiversity-based farming systems and consequently enhance agro-ecosystem functions and services in the Mediterranean basin. The successful completion of LEGU-MED will have the following impacts on Mediterranean legume-based farming systems: (1) improve water use efficiency, (2) reduce the use of anthropogenic inputs through the maintenance of soil fertility, (3) enhance pollination and improve ecological connectivity with flora and fauna, (4) protect close-by wildland ecosystems, (5) enhance other ecosystem services (e.g., pest, disease, and weed suppression), and (6) provide healthier and safer protein-rich food. © 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland

La flore levurienne du compost et son effet sur l’haricot (Phaseolus vulgaris)

Les levures qui font partie des microorganismes, du compost utilisé dans la fertilisation du sol, ont attiré notre attention. Leur isolement, leur dénombrement et l'étude de leurs caractères culturaux et morphologiques ont révélé leur diversité et leur nombre élevé au niveau de ce produit. Les isolats sélectionnés CHI4, CPI3 et CEI2 ont montré une tolérance très importante aux trois types de stress étudiés en particulier la levure CEI2 qui résiste à un pH très acide (2,5), à une température élevée (42 °C) et à une concentration en NaCl de 600 mM. Les cultures du haricot sur différents supports contenant ou non des levures issues de compost nous a permis de mettre en évidence leur effet positif sur le poids sec de la plante étudiée (Phaseolus vulgaris) par une augmentation de 700 %, 500 % et 400 %, par rapport au sol, avec CEI2, CPI3 et CHI4 respectivement. Cette augmentation dépasse de 1,5 fois le compost de l'été à partir duquel on a isolé la levure CEI2, de 1,4 fois le compost du printemps à partir duquel on a isolé la levure CPI3 et de 2,7 fois le compost de l'hiver à partir duquel on a isolé la levure CHI4. Ces trois levures et en particulier la CEI2 sont donc intéressantes pour une éventuelle utilisation dans la Biofertilisation des sols et l'augmentation du rendement de cette légumineuse. Mais si le sol est très acide avec une température très élevée dépassant les 40°C, la levure CEI2 sera une bonne candidate par rapport aux deux autres

Production of ethanol and polyethanol by yeasts isolated from date (Phoenix dactylifera L.) wastes

The production of dates (Phoenix dactylifera L.) in Algeria generates each year, considerable quantities of waste that weaken the balance of our environment and are very rich in organic matter. Their valuation by biotechnological processes enables the production of high value added materials with low cost. In this regard, the objective of this study focused on the selection of yeasts that can be used to produce ethyl alcohol from this waste used in many industries and phenylethanol, an aroma popular in food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical. Among the three selected yeasts, RAM.20 generated up to 8 g/L of ethanol and excess of 800 mg/L of phenylethanol, and three sugars found in dates of the waste, namely glucose, fructose and sucrose. It is distinguished by its resistance to 18% ethanol (v/v) and 3 g/L phenylethanol. This strain naturally tolerates these products and is easy to handle and has a fundamental economic interest.Keywords: Yeasts, dates, waste, value, resistance, ethanol, phenylethano