Clonal selection of Argan trees (Argania spinosa L. Skeels) in the Admin forest, Agadir, Southwestern Morocco
Journal Title: Journal of Agricultural and Crop Research - Year 2018, Vol 6, Issue 1
Abstract
The Argan (Argania spinosa L. Skeels) is a multipurpose tree endemic to Morocco. As such it plays an important economic role. However, these naturally occurring trees present a huge variability in terms of biomass production and fruit yield. The actual tendency in Morocco is to promote Argan tree planting for oil production. Nevertheless, for this purpose it would be more rewarding to propagate trees with desirable characteristics such as fruit and oil yield, nut crushing easiness and low rate of yield alternation from one year to another. The objective of the present work is to select performing specimens among a population of old trees (over 50 years old) and young ones (7 years) located in a 100 ha land in Admin forest (Agadir), Morocco. The old population pool is composed of 1000 trees and the young one comprises 9000 trees. Selection was based on several criteria but yield and alternation rate were the most important. Climate parameters have been also taken into consideration. Correlation between rainfall, strong winds and Chergui (a dry and hot wind coming from south and southeast) showed that climatic conditions affect Argan productivity. Over the 3 years that this study has lasted, and using ANOVA (analysis of variance) and PCA (principal component analysis) analyses, it was possible to distinguish 5 old and 5 young trees for their superiority in terms of almond and oil yield. These performing old and young trees are labeled in the field and geographically localized using a GPS for latitude and longitude coordinates. Further work is required to use vegetative propagation to ensure that the desirable characters set herein are maintained in daughter plants.
Authors and Affiliations
Ait Hammou, Harrouni M. C. , Cherifi K. , Hallouti A. , Daoud S.
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP475971
- DOI 10.33495/jacr_v6i1.18.110
- Views 301
- Downloads 0
Graphical assessment of yield stability and adaptation of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L) genotypes in Cross River State, Nigeria
Cucumbers are essentially beneficial for total health. During the dry season, due to its high water content and important nutrients that are essential for human body, its production and demand is usually high. Five comme...
Distribution and frequency of wheat stem rust races (Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici) in Ethiopia
Stem rust caused by Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici (Pgt) is one of the most important diseases of wheat in Ethiopia. The stem rust pathogen is capable to rapidly develop new virulence to resistance genes owing to mutat...
Pathogenicity of entomopathogenic Entomophthora grylli on grasshoppers Diabolocatantops axillaris and Zonocerus variegatus causing leaf damage of shea tree seedlings
The grasshoppers Diabolocatantops axillaris and Zonocerus variegatus were found feeding on the leaves of shea tree seedlings which caused damage that appears as rough patches on the surface. The objectives of this study...
Productivity of fodder beet (Beta vulgaris var. Crassa) cultivars as affected by plants spacing in Al Ghab, Syria
Field experiment was conducted at the General Commission for Scientific Agriculture Research (GCSAR), Al Ghab Research Station from 2009 to 2011, to investigate the effect of plant density (25 × 50, 30 × 50, 25 × 60 and...
Clonal selection of Argan trees (Argania spinosa L. Skeels) in the Admin forest, Agadir, Southwestern Morocco
The Argan (Argania spinosa L. Skeels) is a multipurpose tree endemic to Morocco. As such it plays an important economic role. However, these naturally occurring trees present a huge variability in terms of biomass produc...