Rain Use Efficiency,Primary Production and Rainfall Relationships in Desert Rangelands of Tunisia

Desert rangelands are characterised by low and highly variable rainfall regime, low forage production and high heterogeneity in the distribution of natural resources. This study was carried out in the desert rangelands of Tunisia to evaluate the response of different rangelands to annual rainfall in terms of aboveground net primary production (ANPP) and rain use efficiency over a 10‐year period (2003–2012). In general, ANPP values were relatively low (123 kg DM ha⁻¹ y⁻¹) but would tend to increase with increasing annual rainfall for all rangeland types. The highest value of ANPP was observed from Stipagrostis pungens and Hammada shmittiana communities (sandy‐soil) during the wet year 2011. In contrast, rain use efficiency tends to decline with the highest annual rainfall and varies among rangeland types and with an average of 1·9 kg DM ha⁻¹ mm⁻¹ y⁻¹. Rain use efficiency tended to be higher during dry years and lower during wet years and tended to be higher on S. pungens and H. shmittiana (sandy‐soils) and lower on Helianthemum kahiricum (loamy soils). Therefore, understanding how rainfall affects productivity in rangelands is critical for predicting the impact of land degradation on the functioning of these ecosystems. It can be used to explain production decline associated with desertification as well as to assess rangeland conditions. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Evidence for salt tolerance in pepper varieties (Capsicum annuum L.) in Tunisia

Summary Salt tolerance in pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) is described in terms of yield, mortality and root weight. Significant differences in absolute and in relative salt tolerance were demonstrated between Tunisian varieties. Relative salt tolerance of Beldi was found to be due to its root system which remained unreduced under stress condition; local adaptation could be involved. D'hirat showed interesting levels of absolute salt tolerance and low mortality. An EC_w-value \s-> 7.63 dS/m was critical for almost all characters observed, with reductions of approximately 50%. Fruit weight and shoot-root ratio were not significantly affected by high salt concentrations of the irrigation water.     

Morphological variation in Astragalus hamosus L. and Coronilla scorpioides L. populations of Tunisia

Morphological variation between Astragalus hamosus and Coronillascorpioides populations was studied using local germoplasm collected in northern and central Tunisia. Twenty-one morphological traits were recorded and data were analysed using complementary statistical analysis. Considerable variation based on morphological and agronomical traits was found between populations and for both species. Pod and peduncle lengths as well as flowers number were the most discriminant variables between populations. Differences were also found for variables like seed number per pod, seed yield and dry matter production. Significant correlations were found between plant traits and the environmental parameters of the origin sites. This study revealed enough variation among populations to initiate a selection programme for pasture improvement in arid and semi-arid areas of Tunisia, where the two species are well adapted. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Genetic Diversity of Tunisian Olive Tree (Olea europaea L.) Cultivars Assessed by AFLP Markers

About 29 olive (Olea europaea L.) cultivars including oil and table olive cultivars originating from Tunisia and other Mediterranean countries, were genotyped using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) DNA markers. This technique is a rapid and efficient method for producing DNA fingerprints. Using nine AFLP primer combinations, we produced a total of 410 AFLP markers, among which 172 revealed polymorphism. The results demonstrated a high degree of polymorphism in the olive germplasm we examined with an average of 39%. These AFLP markers were analyzed to estimate genetic distances between pairs of cultivars using Jaccard’s similarity coefficient. Furthermore, cluster and principal component analyses were performed in order to identify the genetic variation patterns. Two main groups were obtained: one comprising primarily small-fruited cultivars grown mainly for oil production and the other comprising large fruited cultivars (regardless of their end-use). Our results show no evidence of clustering of olive cultivars according to their geographic origin.     

石榴2种外植体再生方法在遗传转化研究中的优势比较

【目的】为了利用‘突尼斯软籽’石榴开展遗传转化研究,【方法】分别以叶片和茎段为外植体,探讨了不同灭菌时间和不同植物生长调节物质对2种外植体再生的影响,并对2种愈伤组织再生体系进行了比较。【结果】结果表明,茎段比叶片更容易灭菌,但叶片更容易长出绿色致密愈伤组织并分化更多的不定芽,而茎段分化的愈伤相对较为疏松,分化的不定芽也相对较少;来自茎段愈伤组织的不定芽比来自叶片的更容易长高;叶片比茎段再生体系建立所需时间要短;少量翠绿的叶片刀口处可以直接产生不定芽,可以直接利用叶片进行遗传转化的侵染,简化愈伤形成这一步骤,而茎段未发现此现象。在遗传转化试验中,茎段和叶片2种外植体愈伤组织抗生素敏感性试验结果均无显著性差异。【结论】研究结果认为,2者相比,叶片愈伤组织再生体系更适宜于石榴的遗传转化研究。     

突尼斯软籽石榴在张家界地区的种植表现

突尼斯软籽石榴是优良的鲜食石榴品种,在张家界地区进行了引种试种工作。试验结果表明,突尼斯软籽石榴在该地区全年植株生育期约240 d,一般于3月底开始萌芽,4月展叶现蕾,5~6月份开花,7月初左右生理落果,9~10月果实开始着色、成熟,果实发育期约150 d,成熟果实品质优良。在栽培过程中应注意疏枝去冗和调控树体生长势等工作,当主干枝和结果枝组茁壮生长时树体完全花和座果数量较多。     

突尼斯软籽石榴在南京地区适应性研究

对引自河南省荥阳市高沟村石榴合作社的突尼斯软籽石榴进行了植物学性状、果实经济性状、物候期、生长结果习性的观察研究,综合评价了突尼斯软籽石榴在南京地区的适应性表现,总结了南京地区发展软籽石榴关键栽培技术,以期扩大突尼斯软籽石榴的栽培面积,实现农业增效、农民增收。     

Effect of Introduction of Irrigation on Technical Efficiency of Olive-Growing Farms in Tunisia

This paper investigates the effect of the introduction of an irrigation technique on the technical efficiency of olive production in a sample of olive-growing farms in Tunisia, estimating the Cobb-Douglas form of stochastic frontier production function. Results indicate that estimated technical efficiency scores vary, ranging from a minimum of 3.0% to a maximum of 91.2% with a mean value of 61.2%. This suggests that olive-growing farms in Tunisia can increase their production on average by 38.8% through more efficient use of technology and inputs. The introduction of irrigation increased productivity, however, the estimated technical efficiency of irrigated olive farms varies across farms and they are less efficient than non-irrigated farms. This finding suggests that the introduction of irrigation to non-irrigated farms has the potential to increase production levels, however, the current production of the irrigated farms is far from the ＂best practice frontier＂ that realizes maximum possible output. Accumulation of experience and knowledge by farm owners and selection of olive cultivar significantly contribute to improving technical efficiency.     

Effects of different organic materials and mineral nutrients on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal growth in a Mediterranean saline dryland

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are root symbionts that enhance plant growth and improve soil fertility and soil structure in drylands. Even though AM fungi are obligate biotrophs, organic matter (OM) can stimulate their growth, but the mechanisms behind this are still unknown. Here, we compared the effect of nutrient patches of different OM sources to intrinsic components of OM such as inorganic nutrient supply and an improved soil water-holding capacity (WHC; via application of hydrophilic polymers), on AM fungal growth. Fatty acids extracted from in-growth mesh bags incubated in the field were used as biomarkers for AM fungi and other soil microbes. We found an enhancement of AM fungal growth in certain nutrient patches. Two out of three OM types stimulated AM fungal growth strongly, and also the addition of inorganic nutrients enhanced AM fungi, though to a lesser extent than OM. Enhanced soil WHC, on the other hand, did not influence AM fungal growth. AMF were more strongly enhanced by the mineral nutrients relative to other soil organisms. Intrinsic nutrients might be an important factor for AMF growth stimulation in OM additions, but there was no evidence that nutrients alone can explain this phenomenon.