Atlas Journal of Biology 2023, pp. 768–829 https://doi.org/10.5147/ajb.vi.239 A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) Proceedings of the Fifth International American Moroccan Proceedings of the Fifth International American Moroccan Agricultural, Health, and Life Sciences Conference (AMAHLS V Agricultural, Health, and Life Sciences Conference (AMAHLS V Conference) and The First Cannabis & Hemp Sciences and Conference) and The First Cannabis & Hemp Sciences and Entrepreneurship Day (CHSE I), December 13-14, 2022, Tangier, Entrepreneurship Day (CHSE I), December 13-14, 2022, Tangier, MoroccoMorocco My Abdelmajid Kassem1*, S. Alan Walters2, John W. Groninger2, Karen S. Midden2, and Khalid Meksem3 1 Plant Genetics, Genomics, and Biotechnology Lab, Department of Biological and Forensic Sciences, Fayetteville State Univer- sity, Fayetteville, NC 28301, USA; 2 School of Forestry and Horticulture, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale IL 62901-4411, USA; 3 School of Agricultural Sciences, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale IL 62901-4415, USA Received: April 10, 2023 / Accepted: May 14, 2023 __________________________________________________ * Corresponding author: mkassem@uncfsu.edu 768 AbstractAbstract The International American Moroccan Agricultural, Health, and Life Sciences Conference (AMAHLS Conference; https:// amahls.org) is an international conference organized by the High Council of Moroccan American Scholars and Academics (HC-MASA; www.hc-masa.org) in collaboration with various universities and research institutes in Morocco. AMAHLS V was held on December 13-14, 2022 in Tangier, Morocco and comprises the First Cannabis and Hemp Sciences and Entre- preneurship Day (CHSE I). The current proceedings summa- rizes abstracts from 80 oral presentations and 50 posters that were presented during AMAHLS V Conference. Keywords:Keywords: AMAHLS Conference, HC-MASA, Cannabis Day, Agricultural, Health, Life Sciences. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecom- mons.org/licenses/by/3.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the origi- nal work is properly cited. Session I: Plant Sciences ISession I: Plant Sciences I Co-Chair: Alan Walters, Southern Illinois University, USACo-Chair: Alan Walters, Southern Illinois University, USA Co-Chair: Ahmed Elamrani, University Mohamed I, MoroccoCo-Chair: Ahmed Elamrani, University Mohamed I, Morocco O1. Valorization of Moroccan Saffron (O1. Valorization of Moroccan Saffron (Crocus sativusCrocus sativus L.) by L.) by Plant BiotechnologyPlant Biotechnology Mohammed Amine Serghini*, Soumaya El Merzougui, Khadija Lachguer, Imane Boudadi, Mohamed Ben El Caid, Khalid La- gram, Rachida El Boullani and Mohamed Lachheb Laboratory of Biotechnologies and Valorization of Natural Re- sources, Faculty of Sciences, Ibn Zohr University, Agadir, Mo- rocco. *Corresponding and presenting author : m.serghini@ uiz.ac.ma. AbstractAbstract The word saffron refers both to the Crocus sativus L. plant and to the spice consisting of the dried stigmas of its flower. Saffron is one of the most important local products in Moroc- co. Its production in Morocco is around 7 T per year and ranks our country 3rd in terms of producers in the world after Iran ORAL PRESENTATIONS ABSTRACTSORAL PRESENTATIONS ABSTRACTS TUESDAY & WEDNESDAY TUESDAY & WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 13-14, 2022DECEMBER 13-14, 2022 A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) and Greece. Almost all Moroccan saffron is produced in the Taliouine and Taznakht regions of the respective provinces of Taroudant and Ouarzazate. Saffron is the most expensive spice, earning it the name ‘red gold’. The characterization and valuation of this resource have used plant biotechnolo- gies and are based on different Moroccan accessions and their comparison with accessions from other countries. The conference will focus on (1) The agro-morpho-physiological characterization of Moroccan saffron accessions in order to selecting best accessions; (2) In vitro culture via direct and in- direct organogenesis and somatic embryogenesis as a means of rapid multiplication of elite saffron accessions; (3) The fine chemical characterization of saffron (HPLC, CPG, medium IR, colorimetry coupled with chemometrics) with the aim of determining the quality of the product and guaranteeing its authenticity against fraud caused by its high price; (4) The ap- plication of molecular markers (SSR & ISSR), sequencing and barcoding to elucidate the genetic diversity of Moroccan saf- fron, distinguish it from accessions from other countries and assign it molecular identities; and (5) The development of saf- fron by-products, in particular through the use of the petals of its flower for the production of bio-dyes currently highly coveted in the textile industry and through their antioxidant and antibacterial effects. Keywords:Keywords: Saffron, Crocus sativus L., molecular markers, biotechnologies, bio-dyes. O2. Effect of Different Substrates on Growth, Development O2. Effect of Different Substrates on Growth, Development and Corms Production of Saffron (and Corms Production of Saffron (Crocus sativusCrocus sativus L.) L.) Abdelghani Tahiri1*, Youssef Karra1, Naima Ait Aabd1, Qess- aoui Redouan2, and Rachid Bouharroud3 1 RNPT unit, National Institute of Agricultural Research– CRRA, Agadir, Av. des FAR, BP. 124, Inezgane, Morocco; 2 R&D unit, National Institute of Agricultural Research– CRRA Agadir, Av. des FAR, BP. 124, Inezgane, Morocco; 3 PIC unit, National Insti- tute of Agricultural Research– CRRA Agadir, Av. des FAR, BP. 124, Inezgane, Morocco. *Corresponding author: abdelghani. tahiri@inra.ma. AbstractAbstract Saffron (Crocus sativus L.), the most expensive spice in the world derived from stigmas, is a geophyte perennial plant from the Iridaceae family with underground soft corms. It is a sterile autotriploid (2n=3x=24) and autumn flowering geophyte plant. This plant is propagated by vegetative re- production through the formation of daughter corms from the mother corm as the flowers are sterile and fail to produce viable seeds. A mother saffron corm produces typically one to four cormlets per season through field cultivation. How- ever, many factors affect the efficient propagation of saffron through traditional practice and the low multiplication rates of daughter corms under natural conditions reduce produc- tivity, thereby restraining the availability of planting material. In order to evaluate the effect of some substrates on saffron growth and corms multiplication, a greenhouse experiment was conducted at the National Institute of Agricultural Re- search– CRRA of Agadir (Morocco). Six combinations of sub- strates, including compost, perlite, biochar, black, and blond peat and soil as control, were used. The main obtained re- sults of trials indicate that saffron growth and corms produc- tion depend on the substrate composition. Indeed, no sig- nificant difference was observed in leaf parameters (length and number). However, the dry weight and the chlorophyll a and b rates were improved by the S3 substrate (perlite/soil/ compost; 2:1:1). Whereas the corms weight and the average daughter corms number were improved respectively by the substrates S2 (soil/black peat/blond peat; 2:1:1) and S6 (bio- char/black peat/blond peat; 2:1:1) as well as S3. Keywords: Keywords: Saffron, Crocus sativus L., corm, substrates, vegetative propa- gation. O3. Effect of Fruit Thinning on Fruit Development and Fruit O3. Effect of Fruit Thinning on Fruit Development and Fruit Size of Cactus Pear [Opuntia ficusOpuntia ficus--indica (L.) Size of Cactus Pear [Opuntia ficusOpuntia ficus--indica (L.) Mill.]Mill.] Siham Farhat1§ and Mohamed Arba2* 1 National Office of Food Products Safety and Health (ONSSA), Sidi Slimane, Morocco; 2 Plant ecophysiology and cultures of arid zones laboratory, Hassan II Institute of Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine, Horticultural Complex of Agadir, Mo- rocco. *Corresponding author: arbamohamed@yahoo.fr. §Presenting author: frht.siham@gmail.com. AbstractAbstract The aim of this research work was to study the effect of fruit thinning on fruit development and fruit size of cactus pear Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill. Trials were carried out on an adult plantation in a semi-arid area in southern Morocco. Fruit thinning consisted of reducing the fruit load of clad- odes to 6 or 12 fruits per cladode by removing some floral buds or young fruits at the flowering stage. It was practiced in early May on three types of one-year old cladodes (small cladodes, the medium ones and large cladodes). The control cladodes have an average number of 18 fruits per cladode. Obtained results showed that fruit thinning improved fruit size at ripening stage. In thinned plants to 6 fruits per clad- ode and for the three types of cladodes average fruit weight was 160.44 g and average fruit length and diameter was 8.44 and 6.38 cm respectively. While in not thinned plants and for the three types of cladodes, average fruit weight was only 74.53 g and average fruit length and diameter was 6.40 and 4.46 cm respectively. Fruit thinning and the type of cladodes and the interaction of the two factors have a significant ef- fect (p ≤ 0,001) on fruit development. On May 10, 2019, the highest right of development was obtained with the combi- nation fruit thinning to six fruits per cladode and large clad- odes, with 1.6 cm in fruit length and 1 cm in fruit diameter. However, the lowest rate of fruit development was obtained with the combination of thinned plants and small cladodes (0.5 cm in fruit length and 0.3 cm in fruit diameter). Keywords:Keywords: 769 A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) Cactus pear; fruit thinning; fruit development; fruit size. O4. The Effect of Earthworm-Associated Bacteria on Plant Me-O4. The Effect of Earthworm-Associated Bacteria on Plant Me- tabolism Under Abiotic Stress Conditions tabolism Under Abiotic Stress Conditions Lamia Yakkou1*, Sofia Houida1, Serdar Bilen2, Leyla Okyay Kaya2, Mohammed Raouane1, Souad Amghar1, and Abdellatif El Harti1 1 Reserch Team “Lumbricidae, Improving Soil Productivity and Environment (LAPSE)”, Centre “Water, Natural Resources, Envi- ronment and Sustainable Development (CERNE2D)”, Moham- med V University in Rabat, Ecole Normale Supérieure (ENS). Avenue Med Belhassan El Ouazani. BP 5118, Takaddoum-Ra- bat, Morocco; 2 Soil Science and Plant Nutrition Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Atatürk University, 25000, ERZURUM, Turkey. *Corresponding an presenting author: lamia.yakkou@ um5s.net.ma AbstractAbstract Soil-level changes have been shown in various investigations to entail synergistic interactions between earthworms and microorganisms. Knowing the influence of earthworm coelo- mic fluid (CF) on plant development and defense, we set out to isolate bacteria from this “immune compartment.” Bacteria isolated from Aporrectodea molleri were investigated for their effects on maize metabolism under abiotic stress conditions such as alkaline soil and nitrogen, phosphate, and potassium (NPK) deficit. A study of metabolomic profiles by gas chroma- tography coupled to a mass spectrometer (GC-MS) on leaves of plants treated and untreated with bacteria isolated from CF was carried out to reveal potential metabolites that could ex- plain the effect of different treatments on maize under stress conditions (CFB). After 60 days of growth, plants infected with bacteria isolated from the coelomic fluid of the earthworm Aporrectodea molleri (CFB1,..., CFB7), as well as those not inoculated (control), were used to extract the lipid metabo- lites at the leaf level. A total of 114 distinct metabolites have been discovered. Fatty acids were the most prevalent class (45 metabolites, 43 %). Different metabolomic fingerprints indi- cate that various biochemical mechanisms were engaged in plant response to biostimulants. Metabolic reprogramming induced by bacterial treatments was more evident than in the control group. Abiotic stress did not result in a drop in lipid composition and concentration in plants treated with CFB, in contrast to the control, demonstrating the rigidity of de- fensive mechanisms. Compounds associated with tolerance- building pathways (glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism, as well as the tricarboxylic acid cycle) accumulated greater in bacterial treatments. Keywords:Keywords: Earthworm, coelomic fluid, bacteria, plant, metabolomic. O5. Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of Almond O5. Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of Almond Genotypes from Eastern Morocco Assessed by SSR MarkersGenotypes from Eastern Morocco Assessed by SSR Markers Souhayla Kodad1,2, Christina M. Müller3, Mohammad Jawarneh3, Annette Becker2, Ahmed Elamrani1, Mihamou Ati- ka1, and Malika Abid1,2* 1 Equipe Agroalimentaire, ‘LAPAB E’, Faculté des Sciences, Uni- versité Mohammed Premier, Oujda, Morocco; 2 Justus-Liebig- Universität, Institut für Botanik, AG Entwicklungsbiologie der Pflanzen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 38, 35392 Gießen, Germany; 3 Justus-AG Spezielle Botanik, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 38, D-35392 Giessen, Germany. *Corresponding author: malikaabid213@ gmail.com. AbstractAbstract Almond (Prunus dulcis Miller [D. A. Webb] or Prunus amygda- lus L.) is a major tree nut species and consumed worldwide. Morocco has a long-standing presence of domesticated al- monds and harbors a secondary genetic diversity hotspot. This genetic diversity requires protection as it is an impor- tant resource for future almond breeding. However, detailed information on genetic diverimportant diversity is lacking, even more so about the traditionally grown almonds propa- gated for centuries from sity seeds (“Beldi”) which are rep- resentatives of the original cultivar pool. Here, we provide a compreseeds comprehensive genetic study of 98 Moroccan almond accession including 93 of the Beldi type and five hen- sive non-Morrocan cultivars by analyzing 12 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers with high polymornon-polymorphism information content (PIC). We used population structure and principal coordinates analyphism analyses (PCoA), analyzed the molecular variance and described the genetic diversity of the identified ses subpopulations. We identified five sub- populations with little genetic differentiation between the populations, but two subpopulations with high genetic di- versity. Those subpopulations reprepopulations, represent promising genetic pools and need to be fully protected. They are a major resource for the sent development of novel al- mond varieties that provide high yields in adverse conditions to establish profitable Moroccan breeding programs for sus- tainable almond agriculture. Keywords: Keywords: Almond genotypes, Geographic origin, SSR-genotyping, genetic diversity, Ge- netic clusters, analysis of mogenotypes, molecular variance (AMOVA), principal coordinates analyses (PCoA). Concurrent Session II: Water and IrrigationConcurrent Session II: Water and Irrigation Co-Chair: Bouchta El Moumni, Abdelmalek Essaadi University, Co-Chair: Bouchta El Moumni, Abdelmalek Essaadi University, MoroccoMorocco Co-Chair: Hamid El Amri, University Mohamed V, MoroccoCo-Chair: Hamid El Amri, University Mohamed V, Morocco O1. Using Spatial Data in Water Resources Management in O1. Using Spatial Data in Water Resources Management in Semi-Arid AreasSemi-Arid Areas Abdelhakim Amazirh1* and Abdelghani Chehbouni1,2 1 Center for Remote Sensing Applications (CRSA), Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), Morocco; 2 International Water Research Institute (IWRI); Mohammed VI Polytechnic 770 A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) 771 University, Morocco. *Corresponding and presenting author: Abdelhakim.Amazirh@um6p.ma AbstractAbstract The question of availability and access to water is undoubt- edly one of the major problems that humanity will face in the coming century. Water is a vital resource for agriculture, for drinking water supply, for the health of populations, and all life on Earth depends on it. Water scarcity is likely to be ex- acerbated soon under the combined effect of the alteration of the hydrological cycle, climate change, and increasing wa- ter demand for agriculture, urban and industry (IPCC, 2009). Countries characterized by an arid climate in the world, such as Morocco, are already experiencing water crises that are getting worse and worse. This is due to several factors that are linked to both human actions “water management” and climate and natural changes. Thus, in these countries, agricul- tural (mainly cereal) production is dependent on the frequen- cy of rainfall. A small variability in rainfall patterns can have dramatic consequences on agricultural yield. Consequently, irrigation is the only way to stabilize and improve production. A calculation of crop water requirements is necessary to op- timize the management of irrigation volumes. To meet this information, satellite remote sensing has shown a powerful potential for monitoring fluxes and water masses for irriga- tion management at a large scale. This work presents the role of remote sensing data for water management in the Tensift watershed in central morocco. O2. Water and Irrigation SystemsO2. Water and Irrigation Systems Abdes Samed Bernoussi* and Mina Amharref Faculty of Science and Technology, University Abdelmalek Es- saadi, Tanger, Morocco. AbstractAbstract To meet a growing demand for agricultural product (FAO, 2018) an efficient agricultural practices and intensification of the production are crucial (Brümmer, 2006). However, agri- cultural intensification has an important negative impact on environment, among others: ground and surface water pol- lution, greenhouse gas emissions (IPCC, 2014), biodiversity loss. Also in some situations, the excessive use of irrigation water can have double effects: crop failure and water loss. These negative effects put in danger agricultural production and environmental sustainability. A proper management of agricultural land (plant irrigation, fertilization, etc.) is neces- sary to ensure food production while minimizing its negative impact on environment and particular protection of water resources. In this paper we present a tool for smart manage- ment of the water irrigation using remote sensing data and mathematical algorithms by considering crops as a dynami- cal systems. Keywords:Keywords: Water, irrigation, remote sensing, dy- namical systems. [This work is the result of a research project entitled “Al Khawarizmi: Tool for intelligent management of irrigation water and forest heritage” and funded by MESRSFC, CNRST and ADD, Morocco]. O3. Climatic and Environmental Risks and Trends in the Medi-O3. Climatic and Environmental Risks and Trends in the Medi- terranean Regionterranean Region Adil Salhi* Geography and Development group, FLSH, Abdelmalek Es- saadi University, Martil, Morocco. *Corresponding and pre- senting author: asalhi@uae.ac.ma. https://orcid.org/0000- 0001-8756-2484. AbstractAbstract The Mediterranean is a climate change hotspot where the rate of warming exceeds the global rate and disruptions in precipitation patterns are predicted. Our recent findings con- firm this assumption showing a predictive pattern of precipi- tation likely to lead to prolonged and staggered intra-annual droughts (even in so-called “wet” years) with profound eco- logical and socio-economic impacts, and repetitive hydrocli- matic hazards. The evolution of the Mediterranean towards warmer and drier conditions is heading towards an increase of +2 to +4°C on average in 2080s. By 2050, the lesser aver- age estimates are above the Paris Agreement +1.9°C and the temperature deviation is likely to be wider, and thus heat- waves may be more frequent and harsher. Moreover, a cli- matic-environmental degradation (except in a few dispersed places of relative abundance) is expected to be more stressed by human activity by 2050. Consequently, long lean periods are likely to alternate with sporadic intense thunderstorms, which means droughts will be more severe. The latter are the main driver of migration as they have a substantial impact on the local ecosystem and agriculture, including reduced crop growth and yield and loss of livestock. Failure to take the issue seriously will exacerbate multi-scale socio-ecological imbalances and the potential spread of social divide, which will intensify with the expected increase in the number of forced migrants arriving in areas of relative abundance. Be- yond the challenge of ensuring food and water security, gov- ernments must improve collaborative resilience measures to meet hydro-agricultural needs and defuse the sociological conflicts. Concurrent Session III: Health SciencesConcurrent SciencesConcurrent Session III: Health SciencesConcurrent Sciences Co-Chair: Mohammed El Hassouni, Mohammed V University, Co-Chair: Mohammed El Hassouni, Mohammed V University, MoroccoMorocco Co-Chair: Hassan Ghazal, CNRST, MoroccoCo-Chair: Hassan Ghazal, CNRST, Morocco O1. Digital Health in Morocco: Integration of New Technolo-O1. Digital Health in Morocco: Integration of New Technolo- gies in Access to Medical Caregies in Access to Medical Care Fatima Zahra Ouassou* Ecole Supérieure de Technologie de Laâyoune (E.S.T.L), Uni- A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) 772 versité Ibn Zohr, Agadir, Morocco. *Corresponding and pre- senting author : f.ouassou@uiz.ac.ma. AbstractAbstract The implementation of digital technology in many activities in Morocco is fundamental and reinforced by a national plan of digitalization. The access to health care services as an ex- ample, during the pandemic times, was oriented to the use of platforms reserved to on-line consultations, the collecting of medical data on these platforms which can lead to many interrogations and problems related to the protection of the personal data and privacy under the Moroccan law. Medi- cal digital health platforms, under which a lot of Moroccan patients during the first wave of Covid-19 consulted health practitioners, represent a fertile land to debate about the guarantees of the privacy, the manipulation of the medical or personal data and its impact on the traditional relation be- tween a patient and a health care professional. There is other aspects of the use of new information technologies in health care, but the medical identity accounts escpecially in these platforms and the legal accountability are the main points that will be analyzed in this presentation. Keywords:Keywords: Health care, medical, personal data, transition, digital health, patient, legal accountability, protection of privacy. O2. Plant-Based Ingredients for formulation of Healthy Snack O2. Plant-Based Ingredients for formulation of Healthy Snack RecipesRecipes Mohamed Addi1*, Reda Melhaoui1, Nadia Houmy1,2, and Ahmed Elamrani1 1 Laboratoire d’Amélioration des Productions Agricoles, (LAPABE), Equipe agroalimentaire, Faculté des Sciences, Université Mohammed I, BP-717, 60000 Oujda, Morocco; 2 Laboratoire de Technologie et Qualité Alimentaire, CRRAO, INRA, BP-428, 60000 Oujda, Morocco. *Corresponding author: m.addi@ump.ac.ma. AbstractAbstract Junk foods are found to be associated with obesity, because they are high in saturated fat, sodium and added sugar, but low in micronutrients and fiber. The obesity epidemic and all its consequences (such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular dis- ease, fatty liver disease, and certain types of cancers) affect almost all countries, but its prevalence appears to be low in the population of Mediterranean countries due to the Medi- terranean diet (MD). In fact, MD is essentially a plant-based diet, with a high consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables, grains and legumes as major sources of fiber and antioxidant compounds. This research involves the study of plant-based food ingredients that are rich in bioactive compounds, have health benefits, especially in child and adolescent nutrition, and play (or have played but no longer) an important role in the recipes and food cultures of Mediterranean countries such as Morocco. Thereby, we choose for snack recipes fresh and healthy ingredient readily available, such as nuts, cere- als, legumes, fruits, to formulate healthy, weight loss-friendly snacks compositions. As a first step, considering the availabil- ity of ingredients, we have started testing a snake recipe (pro- totype) based on 5 ingredients, namely: almonds, figs, dates, carob and oranges, which are locally produced and widely consumed in Mediterranean countries. These ingredients were analyzed in order to develop novel snack formulations and technologies based on functionally nutritious fruit and vegetable ingredients. Keywords:Keywords: Plant-based ingredients, Mediterranean diet, healthy snacks, formulation. O3. The Need for a Biosocial-Agriculture Approach to Improve O3. The Need for a Biosocial-Agriculture Approach to Improve Maternal and Child Health Nutrition in MaliMaternal and Child Health Nutrition in Mali Drissa Toure1* , Karen Stoelzle Midden2§ , Jack Turman, Jr3, and Rachel Redington-Noble4 1 Division of Epidemiology & Community Health, University of Minnesota of Public Health, Minneapolis, MN 55454, USA; 2 School of Forestry & Horticulture, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62902, USA; 3 Department of Social and Behav- ioral Sciences, Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, USA; 4 Department of So- cial and Behavioral Sciences Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health and Department of Pediatrics, School of Medi- cine Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, USA. *Corresponding author: dtoure@umn.edu; §Presenting author: dtoure@umn. edu and kmidden@siu.edu. AbstractAbstract Women and children are the most affected during times of food insecurity, stemming from undernourishment and malnutrition that leads to poor lifelong physical and men- tal health and limited, if any, educational and economic opportunities. The lack of proper nutrients in a diet caused by food insecurity greatly affects a child’s health, develop- ment, and often, life. According to UNICEF 3 nearly half of all deaths of children less than five years of age in Mali are at- tributable to undernutrition. In 2018, this translated to nearly 37,500 death*s of children under five from factors related to not having enough food. As the number of people suffer- ing from hunger and malnutrition increases each year, much of the country also lacks access to a healthy and nutritious diet. According to the World Health Organization 8, a healthy diet protects against malnutrition in all forms and protects against many non-communicable diseases. A well-balanced diet is crucial for improving maternal and child nutrition, but is often more expensive and unaffordable to many, with the cost exceeding the international poverty line 9. As approxi- mately 49 percent of people residing in Mail live below the poverty line 10, accessing a healthy diet may seem unattain- able unless a nutrition-sensitive invention is implemented. In the review of available literature, collaboration between agriculture and public health has been shown to positively affect maternal and child health outcomes in prior circum- A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) 773 stances. A biosocial approach incorporates the fields of bio- medicine, social sciences, and community involvement to improve health outcomes. To address malnutrition in Mali, an innovative approach proposes the addition of farmers and agricultural scientists, creating a biosocial-agriculture model to improve maternal and child nutrition and allow for more inclusive planning and implementation strategies. This mod- el presents opportunities for global application. Keywords: Keywords: Biosocial-agriculture, maternal and child health nutrition, food insecurity. agriculture and public health. O4. Insight into Antidiabetic and Antiglycation Effects of O4. Insight into Antidiabetic and Antiglycation Effects of Polyphenols Extract from Polyphenols Extract from Schinus terebinthifoliusSchinus terebinthifolius Raddi in Raddi in Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Miceebinthifolius MiceAlloxan-Induced Diabetic Miceebinthifolius Mice Zouaoui Zakia1§, Reda Ben Mrid1,2*, Najat Bouchmaa2,3, Imad Kabach1, Sara El Asri1, Abdelmounaim Laabar4, Abdelhamid Ennoury1, Zoulfa Roussi1, Nada Nhhala1, and Mohamed Nhiri1 1 Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Sciences and Technologies, University Abdelmalek Essaadi, BP 416, Tangier 90000, Morocco; 2 Institute of Biological Sci- ences (ISSB-P), Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), Ben Guerir 43150, Morocco; 3 Team of Experimental Oncology and Natural Substances, Cellular and Molecular Immuno- Pharmacology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Sultan Moulay Slimane University, Beni-Mellal 23000, Morocco; 4 Laboratory of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Biopharma- ceutical and toxicological analysis research team, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University Mohammed V of Rabat, Morocco. *Corresponding author: Reda.BENMRID@um6p.ma. §Presenting author: zakia.zouaoui@etu.uae.ac.ma. AbstractAbstract Diabetes mellitus is considered one of the most prevalent metabolic troubles of the 21st century and is accelerating at a menacing rate worldwide. Natural products can be an ef- fective alternative remedy as a treatment. Our study aims to analyze the possible therapeutic potential of Schinus tere- binthifolius Raddi leaves (STL), to evaluate their polyphenols’ power on oxidative stress, in vitro hyperglycemia, as well as in vitro and in vivo power glycation in alloxan-induced dia- betic mice. After induction of diabetes, a significant increase was observed in the levels of blood glucose, total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA), peroxide (H2O2), and the renal advanced glycated end products (AGE) compared to the control. In addition, a reduction in the level of lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) is asso- ciated with the diminution of the corresponding antioxidant enzymes, such as catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), was observed in all diabetic mice. Furthermore, treatment with STL (150 and 250 mg/kg) for three weeks significantly decreased blood glucose, TC, LDL, hepatic MDA, and H2O2 levels and renal AGE content of diabetic mice. In contrast, it increased serum HDL levels and reactivated the hepatic anti- oxidant enzymes in diabetic mice. These results demonstrate that the STL extract may have the capacity to inhibit hyper- glycemia induced-diabetes. Furthermore, this data suggest that the administration of the extract may be helpful in the prevention of diabetic complications associated with glyca- tion, oxidative stress, and hyperlipidemia. Therefore, we con- clude that the extract should be evaluated as a candidate for future studies on diabetes mellitus. Keywords:Keywords: Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi, alloxan-Diabetic mice, anti-glycation, antioxidation, polyphenols, antioxidant enzymes. O5. Autosomal Dominant Intellectual Development Disor-O5. Autosomal Dominant Intellectual Development Disor- der-6 (MRD6) Linked to a novo Mutation in the grin2b Gene der-6 (MRD6) Linked to a novo Mutation in the grin2b Gene Revealed by Exome Sequencing: A Case ReportRevealed by Exome Sequencing: A Case Report El Mouhi Hinde1,2,3*, Leila Bouguenouch1,2, Hanane Sayel2, Said Trhanint2, Brahim El Hejjioui1,2,3, Abdelhafid Natiq7, Youssef Ahmadi2,6, and Sana Chaouki1,5 1 Laboratory of Biomedical and Translational Research, Fac- ulty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdel- lah University, Fes, Morocco; 2 Unit of Medical Genetics and Oncogenetics, University Hospital Hassan II, Fes, Morocco; 3 Engineering Science and Technology Doctoral Study Center, Faculty of Sciences and Technologies, Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah University of Fez, Morocco; 4 Research Team in Ge- nomics and Molecular Epidemiology of Genetic Diseases, Genomics Center of Human Pathologies, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Morocco; 5 Department of Pediatrics CHU Hassan II, Fes, Morocco; 6 Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy and Dental Medicine, Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah University, Fes, Morocco; 7 Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Mohammed V University, Rabat, Morocco. *Corresponding and presenting author: hinde.el- mouhi@usmba.ac.ma. AbstractAbstract MRD6 is a rare autosomal dominant neurodevelopmental disorder associated with grin2b. It is characterised by psy- chomotor delay and intellectual disability of varying sever- ity. Other features may include seizures, hypotonia, abnormal movements (e.g. dystonia) and autistic features. Some pa- tients may have structural malformations of cortical devel- opment on brain imaging. The phenotype is highly variable, reflecting a range of neurodevelopmental abnormalities, from mild intellectual disability without seizures to epileptic encephalopathy. To date, fewer than 100 individuals with a grin2b- related neurodevelopmental disorder have been re- ported. We report on a 3-year-old Moroccan child referred to our neuropediatric department for the diagnosis of psycho- motor developmental delay, dysmorphia and language ab- sence. given the complex clinical picture of this disease, we performed exome sequencing followed by targeted analysis. A mutation was identified in a known gene for autosomal dominant developmental disorder-6 (MRD6) (OMIM 613970) or early infantile epileptic encephalopathy 27 (OMIM 616139) A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) 774 associated with grin2b. By exome sequencing, we identified a new pathogenic mutation: c.3912C>G (p.Tyr1304Ter) in the grin2b gene. This study demonstrates the impact of a novel homozygous mutation found to be pathogenic in the grin2b gene, diagnosed by exome sequencing approach, on brain development and function in a Moroccan child. Keywords: Keywords: MRD6, Neurodevelopmental disorder, Exome sequencing, grin2b, novel mutation, Moroccan patient. Session IV: Animal Sciences and ZoologySession IV: Animal Sciences and Zoology Co-Chair: Amer AbuGhazaleh, Southern Illinois University, Co-Chair: Amer AbuGhazaleh, Southern Illinois University, USAUSA Co-Chair: Badr Benjelloun, INRA, MoroccoCo-Chair: Badr Benjelloun, INRA, Morocco O1. Towards a Sustainable Management of Farm Animal Ge-O1. Towards a Sustainable Management of Farm Animal Ge- netic Resources: The Case of Sheep and Goatsnetic Resources: The Case of Sheep and Goats Badr Benjelloun1,2*, and François Pompanon2 on behalf of the Nextgen Consortium3 1 Livestock Genomics Laboratory, Regional Center of Ag- ricultural Research Tadla, National Institute of Agricultural Research INRA, Rabat, Morocco; 2 Univ. Grenoble Alpes, Univ Savoie Mont Blanc, CNRS, LECA, F-38000 Grenoble, France; 3 https://www.epfl.ch/labs/nextgen/consortium, France. *Cor- responding and presenting author email: badr.benjelloun@ inra.ma. AbstractAbstract The sustainability of breeding systems relies first and fore- most on the ability of farm animals to remain productive in the context of climate changes. This ability primarily depends on adaptive traits and standing genetic variation in the raised breeds. The understanding of genetic bases of local adapta- tion and the accurate assessment of genetic diversity are thus key elements when conceiving management programs aim- ing at developing sustainably farm animals in a country. Oth- erwise, sequencing technologies allow now for an unprec- edented access to genotyping animals by sequencing. The future programs of farm animal management have to exploit these technological advances to improve their effectiveness and efficiency. By using a wide framework based on whole genome analyses of Moroccan small ruminants, this talk will present outcomes from research by our team aiming at de- picting genetic traceability of local breeds as well as genetic bases of local adaption to specific and extreme environments encountered in the country. Based on the results we ob- tained, we will present: (i) Genomic bases of local adaptation to eco-climatic constraints in Moroccan sheep and goats; (ii) Whole genome traceability of the main local breeds raised in Morocco; (iii) The global genomic diversity in local sheep and goats compared to their wild relatives and a panel of world- wide ‘Cosmopolitan’ breeds; (iv) The evaluation of whole ge- nome genotyping strategies to assess adaptive and neutral genome diversity; and (v) The possible uses of the obtained results combined for implementing wide-scale programs for a sustainable management of farm animals. Keywords:Keywords: Lo- cal adaptation, farm animals, genome diversity, genotyping strategies, methylation. O2. Effect of Adding Bromoform to Ruminant Animal Diet on O2. Effect of Adding Bromoform to Ruminant Animal Diet on Methane Gas EmissionMethane Gas Emission Mohamed Embaby* Department of Plant, Soil, and Agricultural Systems, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901, USA. *Corresponding and presenting author: Mohamed.embaby@siu.edu AbstractAbstract Ruminant’s contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions accounts for 6% of the global emissions. scientists have been investigating different strategies to reduce methane emis- sions as communities became more aware of the climate change negative impacts on the environment. Seaweed is a potential source to reduce methane emission when added to livestock animals’ diet due to its bioactive ingredients mainly bromoform that might work as a hydrogen sink and compete with methanogens. The effect of bromoform on methane gas emission from ruminants was investigated in this paper invi- tro using batch culture technique. Bromoform was added at different inclusion rates of 4%, 2%, 1%, 0.5%, 0.25%, 0.125%, 0.625% per gram of the dry matter intake. Results showed that adding bromoform suppressed the production of meth- ane by 99% (P<0.05) compared to control, while no signifi- cant effect was observed on dry matter digestibility. Further research required to investigate the effect of adding reduced levels of bromoform, and the effect of bromoform on the mi- crobial community, and rumen fermentation characteristics. Keywords: Keywords: Methane, Ruminants, seaweed, Bromoform. O3. Molecular and Phylogenetic Analysis of H9N2 Avian In-O3. Molecular and Phylogenetic Analysis of H9N2 Avian In- fluenza Viruses Isolated from Moroccan Flocks Between 2021 fluenza Viruses Isolated from Moroccan Flocks Between 2021 and 2022and 2022 Oumayma Arbani1*, Faiçal Salamat1, Mariette Ducatez2, Mo- hammed El Houadfi1, and Siham Fellahi1 1 Avian Pathology Unit, Department of Veterinary Pathology and Public Health, Agronomy and Veterinary Institute Hassan II, Rabat B.P. 6202, Morocco; 2 IHAP, Toulouse University, IN- RAE, ENVT, 31300 Toulouse, France. *Corresponding and Pre- senting author: arbanioumayma@iav.ac.ma. AbstractAbstract Over the past two decades, the low pathogenic avian influ- enza virus H9N2 (LPAIV) has circulated globally in poultry, becoming the most widespread subtype in Asia, Middle East and Africa. Despite their low pathogenicity, H9N2 avian influ- enza viruses have highlighted global awareness, not only be- cause of their heavy economic losses in poultry industry, but A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) 775 also due to their high zoonotic infection rates and their po- tential for a worldwide pandemic. The objective of this work was to monitor and assess the presence of avian influenza vi- rus LPAIV in four different regions of Morocco using real-time RT-PCR, and to assess the phylogenetic and molecular char- acterization of the H9N2 viruses in Morocco during the pe- riod between September 2021 and June 2022. 176 filed sam- ples were collected from 115 suspect farms of being infected with LPAIV H9N2 virus and from different types of production (94 broilerfarms, 20-layer farms and 1 breeder farm). Samples were tested for the presence of the LPAI H9N2 genome using real-time RT-PCR. Highly positive samples were subjected to virus isolation and amplified by conventional RT-PCR in or- der to sequence the HA gene for subsequent phylogenetic analysis. The results of the epidemiological survey revealed a global positivity percentage of 24.35% (28/115). The phylo- genetic analysis of the HA gene showed that the circulating strains belonged to the G1 lineage showing great similarity (97-98%) to the strains isolated and characterized in 2018 and 2019 (A/chicken/Morocco/AS14/2018(H9N2)) and cluster with the strains isolated in the Middle East and in West and North Africa. Keywords:Keywords: Avian influenza, H9N2, molecular bi- ology, phylogenetic analysis, Morocco. O4. Epidemiological and Pathological Findings of Gizzard O4. Epidemiological and Pathological Findings of Gizzard Erosion and Ulceration Syndrome (GEUS) in Moroccan Poul-Erosion and Ulceration Syndrome (GEUS) in Moroccan Poul- try Between 2014 and 2022try Between 2014 and 2022 Ikram Ouchhour1*, Mourad Mastour1, Faouzi Kichou1, Oumay- ma Arbani2, and Siham Fellahi2 1 Histology and Pathology Unit, Department of Veterinary Pa- thology and Public Health, Hassan 2nd Institute of Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine, B.P. 6202, Rabat, Morocco; 2 Avian Pathology Unit, Department of Veterinary Pathology and Public Health, Hassan II Institute of Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine, B.P. 6202, Rabat, Morocco. *Corresponding and pre- senting author: ouchhourikram@iav.ac.ma. AbstractAbstract Gizzard Erosion and Ulceration Syndrome (GEUS), caused by a Fowladenovirus serotype 1 (FAdV-1), has spread globally among poultry during the last two decades and has been as- sociated with important economic losses. In this work, a total of 23 flock-cases with GEUS in Morocco from different types of poultry production (broilers, laying hens, breeder chicks, turkeys, and partridge) were assessed between 2014 and 2022. The suspicion of this condition was based on clinical course and mortality which reached 10% in some cases, and on pathological changes detected in dead necropsied birds. Macroscopic changes included distended gizzard with fluid or hemorrhagic content, and presence of several small to large foci of erosions and/or ulceration of the chitin layer and the surface mucosa with a variable degree of severity. Micro- scopic lesions were mainly focal to multifocal ulceration and/ or erosions, with cuticle loss, necrosis of surface and glan- dular epithelial cells and a variable degree of inflammatory cell infiltrate of the lamina propria predominantly lympho- plasmacytic. Among the flock-cases investigated, SEUG was diagnosed in 13 broiler cases aged between 10 and 40 days, 6-layer cases with an age range from 17 to 52 weeks, and one case in meat type breeder chicks aged 10 weeks. Moreover, and for the first time, GEUS was observed in 2 flock cases of turkey poults and 1 case of partridge aged 22-23 days and 5 weeks, respectively. In addition to the above-described mi- croscopic changes, pathognomonic viral basophilic and/or eosinophilic intranuclear inclusion bodies within degenerate epithelial cells were identified in birds from 2 broiler cases and 3-layer cases and hence were attributed to FAdV. How- ever, other causes such as mycotoxins and biological amines should not be ruled out hence raised the need for further in- vestigations. Indeed, the involvement of FAdV in the occur- rence of SEUG cases in poultry in the country is being further assessed by retrospective virological and molecular investi- gations in order to identify the FAdV serotypes involved and eventually the characterization of their pathogenicity. Key-Key- words: words: Gizzard erosion and ulceration syndrome, fowl adeno- virus, poultry, epidemiology, pathology, Morocco. Concurrent Session V: Environmental Sciences and Land Res-Concurrent Session V: Environmental Sciences and Land Res- torationConcurrent RestorationtorationConcurrent Restoration Co-Chair: John W. Groninger, Southern Illinois University, USACo-Chair: John W. Groninger, Southern Illinois University, USA Co-Chair: Hamid Mazouz, University Moulay Ismail, MoroccoCo-Chair: Hamid Mazouz, University Moulay Ismail, Morocco O1. Research Supporting Wetlands Forest Restoration in Mid-O1. Research Supporting Wetlands Forest Restoration in Mid- western USAwestern USA John W. Groninger*, Clayton K. Nielsen, Elizabeth M. Hillard, and Thanchira Suriyamongkol School of Forestry and Horticulture, Southern Illinois Univer- sity, Carbondale, IL, USA. *Corresponding and presenting au- thor: groninge@siu.edu. AbstractAbstract The mid-20th century saw a rapid and dramatic increase in row crop agriculture at the expense of forested wetlands throughout the Mississippi River Alluvial Valley. However, growing public concern regarding decline of wetlands qual- ity and quantity and changes in agricultural markets contrib- uted to extensive ecosystem restoration, including within the Cache River region of Illinois. Beginning during the early 1990’s, marginal row-cropped lands were reforested using native species and with support from government agencies and non-governmental organizations. Presently, many of the locations undergoing reforestation have developed charac- teristic forest structure and functions associated with natural wetlands forests. Initial post-agricultural research focused on identifying barriers to successful reforestation and develop- ing techniques to establish recalcitrant species. Emergent and underlying stressors on reforestation were then addressed as A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) 776 researchers gained a deeper knowledge of the ecosystem and the role of past human activities on shaping current eco- system conditions. As forest stands attained broader wildlife habitat functionality, policy makers sought tangible mea- sures for ecosystem restoration success and challenged re- searchers to identify indicators to guide ecosystem manage- ment activities. Current research addresses the roles played by specific vegetation communities and structures within the mosaic of remnant and restored forest stands. The purpose of this presentation is to provide an overview of the Cache River ecosystem, review restoration research, and discuss im- plications for policy makers and managers. Lessons learned over a career working within a landscape undergoing resto- ration and how these may apply to other situations will be discussed. I conclude that integrating anticipated manage- ment challenges into academic research programs can help inform future ecosystem restoration initiatives to ensure that human, financial, and land resources are efficiently and ef- fectively deployed. Keywords: Keywords: Afforestation, land use change, migratory birds, plant succession, water resources. O2. Overview of Fertility Management in Extensive Green O2. Overview of Fertility Management in Extensive Green Roof Food Production SystemsRoof Food Production Systems Karen Midden* and S. Alan Walters School of Forestry and Horticulture, Southern Illinois Univer- sity, Carbondale, IL, USA. *Corresponding author: kmidden@ siu.edu. Presenting author: kmidden@siu.edu. AbstractAbstract The production of healthy vegetables, fruits and herbs on extensive green roofs serves a valuable role in response to food insecurities by providing nutritional produce in urban and often underserved locations. Many green roof urban farms have made significant positive impacts on their com- munities by providing educational opportunities, jobs, and a source of local food. Numerous urban farms exist on intensive green roofs which support media depths from 0.2 to 1 m or greater allowing a significantly higher ratio of organic mat- ter in the mix. In comparison, extensive green roofs are those with growing media depths of only 50 to 130 mm that are typically composed of light weight aggregate (which is heat expanded clay) and 4% to 5% organic matter. Unlike tradi- tional agriculture, plants on extensive green roofs are grown in a shallow engineered soil to reduce the weight load on the roof. The primary historic and current uses of extensive green roofs are to provide numerous environmental and economic benefits such as storm water management, reducing energy costs, mitigating urban heat effect, increasing ecological biodiversity, and improving biophilic and aesthetic design. Plants typically grown in extensive green roofs are generally heat and drought tolerant species, such as Sedum spp. that require minimal fertility. In comparison, horticultural food crops require a continued source of plant available nutrients to optimize their yields, challenging extensive green roof food production. There is sparse research regarding fertil- ity system evaluations for edibles grown on extensive green roofs. This presentation will provide a brief overview of green roof farming as well as fertility research conducted on green roofs to maximize their production. O3. Fertility Management of Vegetables Grown in a Green-O3. Fertility Management of Vegetables Grown in a Green- roof Environmentroof Environment Walters S. Alan*, Richard A. Little, Victoria Vogt Thomas, and Karen Midden School of Forestry and Horticulture, Southern Illinois Univer- sity, Carbondale, IL 62901, USA. *Corresponding and present- ing author: awalters@siu.edu. AbstractAbstract Urban green roof agriculture provides an alternative grow- ing space to supply fresh produce and herbs to local markets or restaurants, which can also help to address food security concerns in cities. Although many vegetables can be grown on extensive green roofs, few studies have evaluated the fer- tility requirements necessary to optimize productivity. Man- aging green roof substrate fertility is challenging since they tend to have low amounts of organic matter and provide high permeability with low cation-exchange capacity. Due to the composition of extensive green roof substrates, supple- mental nutrient additions are critical to maximize vegetable crop growth and productivity. Therefore, studies were con- ducted to evaluate different nutrient management systems for ‘Sweet Hungarian’ peppers (Capsicum annuum L.) and various romaine lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) cultivars. Results indicated that nutrient management systems are important to optimize both pepper and lettuce production in a stressful rooftop environment. For pepper, multiple, repeated appli- cations are necessary to optimize yields as a complete slow- release fertilizer provided the greatest leaf chlorophyll con- tent, plant vigor and fruit yields. Although two applications were used for other standard conventional (synthetic) and organic fertilizers, these provided lower pepper plant growth and yields. Similarly, for lettuce, a complete fertilizer (N-P-K) applied at weekly intervals throughout the growing season provided plant growth and yields comparable to a complete slow-release fertilizer that was applied only once during the growing season (mixed in the media prior to transplant). Thus, our research indicates that both long- and short-sea- son vegetables require multiple, supplemental fertilizer ap- plications to maintain high nutrient availability throughout the growing season to optimize yields. Keywords:Keywords: extensive green roofs, lettuce, pepper, rooftop gardens, sustainable food production, urban food security, vegetable. O4. Growth, Yield and Macronutrients Requirement of Qui-O4. Growth, Yield and Macronutrients Requirement of Qui- noa Crop Under Arid Conditions of Morocconoa Crop Under Arid Conditions of Morocco Nawal Taaime1*, Khalil El Mejahed1, Rachid Bouabid2, Abdal- A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) 777 lah Oukarroum3, Redouane Choukr-Allah1, and Mohamed El Gharous1 1 Agricultural Innovation and Technology Transfer Center, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Ben Guerir, Morocco; 2 Department of Agronomy, National School of Agriculture, Meknes; 3 Plant Stress Physiology Laboratory, Agrobioscienc- es, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Ben Guerir, Moroc- co. *Corresponding and presenting author: nawal.taaime@ um6p.ma. AbstractAbstract In the context of climate change, quinoa represents a poten- tial alternative crop for increasing agricultural productivity in arid regions. However, appropriate crop management prac- tices under limited water supply are still poorly documented. Quinoa like other cultivated crops, needs sufficient amount of nutrients, especially nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and po- tassium (K) for better growth and higher grain yield. To de- termine the adequate levels of these nutrients needed and study their effect on quinoa growth and productivity, a field experiment was conducted during two growing seasons at the UM6P experimental farm and consisted of a random- ized complete block (RCB) design with three replications. The treatments studied represent the combination of four N rates (0, 40, 80 and 120 kg/ha), three P rates (0, 30 and 60 kg P2O5/ha) and three K rates (0, 60 and 120 kg K2O/ha). Data on quinoa physiological, nutritional, and production parameters were collected and analyzed. The results showed that opti- mum rates that gave the highest total biomass (3.9 t/ha) and grain yield (0.76 t/ha) under arid and semi-arid region were 40 kg N/ha, 60 kg P2O5/ha and 120 kg K2O/ha. N, P and K ap- plication increased plant height, chlorophyll content index, total biomass, grain yield and 1000 seed weight. Among the three macronutrients, N was the most limiting factor, followed by K and P. In terms of nutrients uptake, it was observed that quinoa needed 68 kg N/ha, 18 kg P2O5/ha and 182 kg K2O/ha to produce the optimal yield in this experiment. Keywords: Keywords: Nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, fertilization, quinoa, UM6P Experimental Farm. Session VI: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Session VI: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Co-Chair: Elmostafa El Fahime, CNRST, MoroccoCo-Chair: Elmostafa El Fahime, CNRST, Morocco Co-Chair: Mark Byrd, Southern Illinois University, USACo-Chair: Mark Byrd, Southern Illinois University, USA O1. Biochemistry and Chemistry Discovery Using Simulations O1. Biochemistry and Chemistry Discovery Using Simulations on a Quantum Computeron a Quantum Computer Mark Byrd1*, Ali Abu-Nada2, and Lian-Ao Wu3 1 School of Physics and Applied Physics, Southern Illinois Uni- versity, Carbondale, USA; 2 Faculty of Engineering Technology and Science, Higher Colleges of Technology, Abu Dhabi, UAE; 3 EHU Quantum Center, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU and Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science, 48011 Bilbao, Spain. *Corresponding and presenting author: mbyrd@siu.edu. AbstractAbstract Chemistry and biochemistry problems are notoriously dif- ficult to simulate using on a typical computer. However, computers that use quantum mechanics for their operation mechanism can, in principle, simulate such problems effi- ciently. In this presentation, some introductory comments concerning the operation of quantum computers are made before examining how one would use a quantum computer to simulate molecular interactions including chemical and biochemical interactions. The quantum computing industry is expected to grow into a multibillion-dollar industry in the next few years due, in part, to the investments by the phar- maceutical industry. Keywords: Keywords: Biochemical reactions, quan- tum computing, simulations. O2. Effect of Extract from the Algae O2. Effect of Extract from the Algae Ulva lactucaUlva lactuca on the Al- on the Al- leviation of Salt Stress in Common Bean, leviation of Salt Stress in Common Bean, Phaseolus vulgarisPhaseolus vulgaris L. L. Nhhala Nada1*, Reda Ben Mrid1,2, Abdelhamid Ennoury1, Zoul- fa Roussi1, Zakia Zouaoui1, Anass Kchikich1, and Mohamed Nhiri1 1 Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Sciences and Technologies of Tangier, Abdelmalek Essaadi University, Tetouan, Morocco; 2 Institute of Biological Scienc- es, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Ben Guerir 43150, Morocco. *Corresponding and presenting author: nada.nhha- la@gmail.com. AbstractAbstract The use of seaweed extracts has been proven to provide positive effects on the enhancement of crop quality and re- sistance to abiotic and biotic stresses, due to their content of multiple active components. Salinity is one of the major abiotic stressors which limits the yield of major crops. The macro algae Ulva lactuca (UC) produced naturally creates a huge problem due to its stranding on the local coast, con- gestion, decomposition, and release of bad smell. To contrib- ute to the mitigation of this environmental problem and find an appropriate valorization alternative, and since it contains commercially valuable components, such as bioactive com- pounds, UC algae were chosen as a source of bio-stimulant for experiment purposes on common bean plants (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) under salt stress. Bio-assay culture experiments of common bean were carried out in the absence and presence of salt stress with two levels (34,2 mM and 68,4 mM) also with and without UC extract treatment using three levels (1%, 3%, and 6%). Results showed that UC extract has a great benefit on common bean growth both in the absence and under salt stress conditions especially at 3%. These results proved that UC extract significantly improved the activities of enzymes involved in the activation of the carbon-nitrogen and anti- A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) 778 oxidant enzymatic system, osmolytes accumulation, and also improved the morphological parameters. Thus, we can say that UC extract could be successfully used to overcome the negative effects of salt stressors conditions for common bean plants in areas where irrigation water contains some salt content. Keywords: Keywords: Biostimulants, Ulva lactuca algae extract, common beans, enzymatic activities, salt stress. O3. Effect of Methanolic Plant Extract Against Penicillium O3. Effect of Methanolic Plant Extract Against Penicillium digitatumdigitatum Salahddine Chafiki1,2*, Redouan Qessaoui1, Ahmed Boumair1,3, Yassine Imlil1, Naima Chabi1,4, Abdelmalek Mahroug1,3, Abdel- hadi Ajerrar1, Abdellah Oukarroum2, Mohamed Alouani3, and Rachid Bouharroud1 1 Regional Center of Agricultural Research of Agadir, National Institute of Agricultural Research, Rabat, Morocco; 2 Agro- BioSciences Department (AgBS), Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), Ben Guerir, Morocco; 3 Laboratory of Bio- technologies and Valorization of Natural Resources Faculty of Sciences - Agadir, Ibn Zohr University, Agadir, Morocco; 4 Cen- ter of Agrobiotechnology and Bioengineering, Cadi Ayyad University (UCA), Marrakech, Morocco. *Corresponding and presenting author: Salahddine.Chafiki@um6p.ma. AbstractAbstract Currently, the world agricultural sector has become an inten- sive production system. This situation has posed many prob- lems related to the environment and human health and has also led to the development of resistance of pathogens to the chemical pesticides used. Among the measures consid- ered to reduce the negative effects of pesticides, there was the emergence of alternative control methods. Therefore, the use of biopesticides can be an effective alternative to control fruit diseases. In Morocco, the post-harvest diseases present a major constraint for the development of fruit sectors such as citrus which is threatened by the green rot Penicillium digita- tum. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the effec- tiveness of methanolic extract of an aromatic and medicinal plant of the genus Salvia against Penicillium digitatum. This evaluation was carried out by the direct contact method. The results obtained showed that 5mg/ml of this extract inhibited 71% of the mycelial growth of this fungus. This extract can be used as an active ingredient of a biopesticide for the manage- ment of this fungus. Keywords:Keywords: Penicillium digitatum, Biopes- ticide, plant extracts O4. Chemical Characterization, Antioxidant Activity, and Phe-O4. Chemical Characterization, Antioxidant Activity, and Phe- nolic Compounds of Moroccan Opuntia dillenii Fruits Species nolic Compounds of Moroccan Opuntia dillenii Fruits Species for Potential Use in Food Applicationsfor Potential Use in Food Applications Sofia Zazouli1,2* and Ahmed Jouaiti1 1 Laboratory of Sustainable Development, Faculty of Science and Technology, University Sultan Moulay Slimane, Beni Mel- lal, Morocco; 2 Laboratory of Bio-Organic an Analytical Chem- istry, Faculty of Science and Technology, University Sultan Moulay Slimane, Beni Mellal, Morocco. *Corresponding and presenting author: sofia.zazouli@usms.ma. AbstractAbstract This research consisted in carrying out a chemical character- ization (total Betalain, total condensed tannins, total phenols, flavonoid and ascorbic acid contents), antioxidant activity (by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)), and quantification of some individual phenolic compounds of different morpho- logical part of O. dillenii (seeds, juicy pulp, and peels) col- lected from Essaouira regions of Morocco was investigated. The total phenolic content of fruit fractions ranges from 202 to 56 g/ 100 g extract. Total flavonoids range from 185 to 11 mg/100g extract. The total of betalains and condensed tan- nins ranged respectively from 229 to 5 mg/L and 12 to 8 mg/100g extract, while ascorbic acid was concentrated in the juicy pulp with (580 mg/100 g) and absent in the seeds frac- tion. A great variety of phenolic compounds were identified in the different extracts using HPLC-ESI-MS, mainly phenolic acids and flavonoids, some of which have been described for the first time. Furthermore, the antioxidant results showed that all Opuntia dillenii parts exhibited an excellent antioxi- dant activity ranged from 4.5 to 6.2 μg/ml. In conclusion, the different morphological parts of O. dillenii may serve as a potential source of natural antioxidants for food applications and medicinal functions. Keywords:Keywords: Opuntia dillenii, bioac- tive compounds, chemical characteristics, phenolic com- pounds, flavonoids. Plenary Session VII: Health, Climate change and Food SecurityPlenary Session VII: Health, Climate change and Food Security Co-Chair: Khalid Meksem, Southern Illinois University, USACo-Chair: Khalid Meksem, Southern Illinois University, USA Co-Chair: Moulay Abdelmajid Kassem, Fayetteville State Uni-Co-Chair: Moulay Abdelmajid Kassem, Fayetteville State Uni- versity, USAversity, USA O1. Impact of Changing Environment on our Health: What O1. Impact of Changing Environment on our Health: What Environment?Environment? Srini Kaveri1,2* 1 INSERM, Paris, France; 2 CNRS Bureau, New Delhi, India. *Cor- responding and presenting author: srini.kaveri@cnrs.fr AbstractAbstract Over the last century, we are witnessing a steady and sig- nificant changes in the diseases pattern all over the world. Thanks to antibiotcs and vaccination, we have successfully fought over many infectious diseases. However, we are wi- tessing the emergence of many autoimmune, allergic and cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. A healthy status of the body depends largely on how an intricate and delicate homeostasis of the immune system is maintained, via neu- tralization of microbes on one hand, and maintaining self-tol- A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) 779 erance to prevent autoimmunity on the other. Any deviation leading to pathology is governed by three important factors: the genetic background of the individual; the bio-molecular interactions and equally importantly, the environment. The environmental factors include not only our immediate sur- rounding elements such pollutants and natural fauna and flora, but also the emotional and other stress factors. And one another extremely important and interesting environmental factor is our microbial ecosystem. Investigating the interac- tion of microbial ecosystem and the host immune system may allow us to understand the molecular and cellular basis of the pathogenesis of several diseases and may also provide indications for the design of novel therapeutic strategies. O2. PD1-Targeted CAR T Cells as a Therapy for Lymphoma and O2. PD1-Targeted CAR T Cells as a Therapy for Lymphoma and Solid TumorsSolid Tumors Amorette Barber* Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Long- wood University, Farmville, VA 23909, USA. *Corresponding and presenting author: AbstractAbstract Adoptive transfer of tumor-reactive T cells is a promising anti- tumor therapy for many cancers. While CAR T cells can suc- cessfully treat hematopoietic malignancies, CAR T cells have not shown success in treating solid tumors. There are many factors that may enhance CAR T cell efficacy and safety for solid tumor treatment, including addition of costimulatory domains. We developed a novel CAR (chimeric PD-1, chPD1) that targets the programmed death 1 receptor (PD-1) ligands expressed on many types of solid tumors. We also compared the inclusion of CD28, Dap10, 41BB, GITR, ICOS, or OX40 co- stimulatory domains in our chPD1 receptor to determine which costimulatory domain induced optimal anti-tumor immunity. To determine if this novel CAR could potentially target a wide variety of tumors, the anti-tumor efficacy of chPD1 T cells against lymphoma, melanoma, kidney, pancre- atic, liver, colon, breast, ovarian, prostate, and bladder can- cer cell lines was measured. Regardless of the costimulatory domain in the CAR, all of the chPD1 T cells induced similar levels of T cell proliferation and tumor cell lysis. However, differences were observed in the cytokine secretion profiles depending on which costimulatory receptor was included in the CAR. While most of the chPD1 T cell receptor combina- tions secreted both pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines, chPD1 T cells containing a Dap10 costimulatory domain secreted high levels of proinflammatory cytokines but did not secrete a significant amount of anti-inflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, T cells expressing chPD1 receptors with a Dap10 domain also had the strongest anti-tumor ef- ficacy in vivo. ChPD1 T cells did not survive for longer than 14 days in vivo, however treatment with chPD1 T cells induced long-lived protective host-anti-tumor immune responses in tumor-bearing mice. Therefore, adoptive transfer of chPD1 T cells could be a novel therapeutic strategy to treat multiple types of cancer and inclusion of the Dap10 costimulatory do- main in chimeric antigen receptors may induce a preferential cytokine profile for anti-tumor therapies. O3. Breeding by Design for Healthy Plant Products from Soy-O3. Breeding by Design for Healthy Plant Products from Soy- beanbean Khalid Meksem* School of Agricultural Sciences, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL, USA. *Corresponding and presenting author: meksem@siu.edu. AbstractAbstract Not provided. O4. Improving Plants Specialized MetabolitesO4. Improving Plants Specialized Metabolites Adnane Boualem* Institute of Plant Sciences Paris-Saclay (IPS2), INRAE, Univer- sity Paris-Saclay, CNRS, 91405 Orsay, France. *Corresponding and presenting author: adnane.boualem@ips2.universite- paris-saclay.fr. AbstractAbstract Not provided. Session VIII: Soil Fertility and FertilizersSession VIII: Soil Fertility and Fertilizers Co-Chair: Abdelaziz Nilahyane, Mohammed VI Polytechnic Co-Chair: Abdelaziz Nilahyane, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, MoroccoUniversity, Morocco Co-Chair: Rachid Bouharroud, INRA, MoroccoCo-Chair: Rachid Bouharroud, INRA, Morocco O1. Soil COO1. Soil CO22 Flux and Active Carbon Across Soil Salinity Gra- Flux and Active Carbon Across Soil Salinity Gra- dient Have Promising Implications for Revival of Arid-Saline dient Have Promising Implications for Revival of Arid-Saline Soils Subjected to Forage Grass-Legume MixturesSoils Subjected to Forage Grass-Legume Mixtures Dennis S. Ashilenje§, Abdelaziz Hirich, Lamfeddal Kouisni, Krishna Devkota, and Abdelaziz Nilahyane* African Sustainable Agriculture Research Institute (ASARI), Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), Laâyoune, Mo- rocco. *Corresponding author: abdelaziz.nilahyane@um6p. ma. §Presenting author: dennis.ashilenje@um6p.ma. AbstractAbstract Soil salinity has devastating effects to forage crop produc- tivity in arid lands of Morocco. Field experiments in the ran- domized complete block design was established in three sites with low, medium and high salinity of Laayoune, Mo- rocco, to test if a 50-50% and 70-30% mixture of alfalfa and blue panicum grass and separately, grass pea and barley can A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) 780 spur microbial activities necessary for buildup of soil organic matter and alleviating salinity (ECe up to 54.4 dS m-1) com- pared to monocrops. Over a duration of 15 weeks, alfalfa-blue panicum grass mixtures enhanced CO2-C flux compared to monocrops regardless of background soil salinity. This be- havior was divergent in a way that the 70-30 mixture had the highest flux in extreme soil salinity while the 50-50% mixture dominated in medium to low salinity. Near similar effect was witnessed for barley-grass pea mixtures which enhanced soil CO2-C flux under low salinity, but grass pea succumbed to excessive salinity stress which severely depressed soil CO2- C flux. The 70-30 mixture of alfalfa and blue panicum grass slightly enhanced soil active carbon as much as grass mono- crop in high salinity and comparable to alfalfa monocrop in medium salinity. There were slight benefits of the 70-30 mix- ture of grass pea and barley to soil active carbon across soil salinity platforms. In a series of seven events of soil analysis, there was only slight evidence that mixtures could alleviate initially low soil salinity, but moderate to high salinity per- sisted across the year of crop establishment. It is however emerging that grass-legume mixtures can sustain microbial activities with promising effects to build up of soil organic matter, despite persistent salinity. Keywords:Keywords: Soil salinity, Grass-legume mixture, Microbial activity, Soil CO2 flux. O2. Cellulose/Nanoclay Biocomposites Coated Phosphate O2. Cellulose/Nanoclay Biocomposites Coated Phosphate Fertilizer: Novel Slow-Release Fertilizer for Reducing Phos-Fertilizer: Novel Slow-Release Fertilizer for Reducing Phos- phorus Leaching and Promoting Plant Growthphorus Leaching and Promoting Plant Growth Ihsane Kassem1§, El-Houssaine Ablouh1, Fatima-Zahra El Bouchtaoui1, Soumia Boukind1, Manal Mhada2, Salma Mouhib2, Houssine Sehaqui1, and Mounir El Achaby1* 1 Materials Science, Energy and Nanoengineering Depart- ment (MSN), Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Hay Moulay Rachid, Benguerir, Morocco; 2 AgroBioSciences De- partment (AgBS), Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Hay Moulay Rachid, Benguerir, 43150, Morocco. *Corresponding author: Mounir.ElACHABY@um6p.ma. §Presenting author: ih- sane.kassem@um6p.ma. AbstractAbstract Sustainable phosphorus management (P) is crucial for ef- ficient plant nutrition. Polymer coating of highly soluble P fertilizer is an effective technology that can limit the risks of P- leaching and/or runoff into water systems, thus, increasing P- bioavailability and reducing water pollution. In this con- text, a novel coated Triple Superphosphate (TSP) fertilizer is developed using a simple process and green materials based on phosphorylated cellulose, methyl hydroxyethyl cellulose and montmorillonite clay. Experimental results showed an improved morphology and hardness of phosphate fertilizer granules after coating as well as a positive impact on the wa- ter retention capacity of the soil. P leaching in soil was moni- tored for 80 days, and a substantial reduction of P leaching up to 80 % was successfully achieved by coated TSP fertilizer. In addition, Common Bean growth was improved by coated TSP treatments that showed a remarkable effect on leaf param- eters and roots architecture of beans with increased yield by 28.5 %, P uptake by 23 %, P use efficiency by 37.9 % and agro- nomic efficiency by 54.5 %. Keywords: Keywords: Slow-release fertilizers, coated fertilizers, Phosphorus leaching, Phosphorylated cel- lulose, Montmorillonite. O3. O3. Bacillus circulansBacillus circulans TC7 Mediated the Alleviation of Metal TC7 Mediated the Alleviation of Metal Stress and the Decrease of Metal AcTC7 Accumulation in Stress and the Decrease of Metal AcTC7 Accumulation in Spinach TissuesSpinach Tissues Sofia Houida1*, Lamia Yakkou1, Leyla Okyay Kaya2, Serdar Bilen2, Mohamed Raouane1, Abdellatif El Harti1, and Souad Amghar1 1 Research Team « Lumbricidae, Improving Soil Productivity and Environment (LAPSE) », Centre : Eau, Ressources Naturel- les, Environnement et Développement Durable (CERNE2D), Ecole Normale Supérieure (ENS), Mohammed V University in Rabat, 5118 Morocco; 2 Department of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, Faculty of Agriculture, Atatürk University, Erzurum, 25240 Turkey. *Corresponding and presenting author: sofia_ houida@um5.ac.ma AbstractAbstract The contamination of agricultural soils with heavy metals is one of the primary causes of numerous ecological and envi- ronmental issues. It has altered the microbial community, de- graded the soil, reduced plant growth and yield, and entered the food chain. The tolerance of plants to heavy metal stress must be enhanced in order to permit the growth of crops with minimal or no accumulation of heavy metals in edible plant parts, thereby satisfying the rapidly expanding global population’s demand for safe food. In this study, a pot experi- ment was performed to determine the effects of HMs-toler- ant PGP-bacteria, Bacillus circulans TC7, previously isolated from the chloragogenous tissue of Aporrectodea molleri, on the growth and metal accumulation in Spinacia oleracea cul- tivated in an alkaline soil highly contaminated (mg Kg-1) with Cadmium 7, along with Nickel 100, Copper 150, Zinc 300, and Manganese 600. The results indicated that HMs stress was significantly alleviated when soil was inoculated with B. circulans TC7 compared to the uninoculated control. Indeed, root length increased significantly by 74.5%, whereas shoot length increased substantially by 106.3%. Additionally, bac- terial treatment improved spinach’s fresh and dry weights by 5.5 and 3.5 times, respectively, and increased the chlorophyll content (a+b) by 75.6%. Furthermore, soil inoculation with B. circulans TC7 decreased root uptake of Mn, Zn, Cu, Cd, and Ni by 43.3%, 49.9%, 62.00%, 22.03%, and 46.3%, respectively. Moreover, the bacterial isolate limited the uptake of metals in the edible parts as manganese, cadmium, and nickel concen- trations in aerial tissues were reduced by 71.1%, 59.9%, and 44.2%, respectively. Analysis of the results revealed that soil inoculation with B. circulans TC7 can stimulate plant growth A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) 781 while limiting metal bioaccumulation, indicating its potential use in mitigating HM stress. Keywords:Keywords: Heavy metal stress, arthworm’ isolates, PGP bacteria, Spinacia oleracea. O4. Exploration of the Diversity and Function of Bacterial O4. Exploration of the Diversity and Function of Bacterial Community in Maize Rhizoplane Across Moroccan Agro-Sys-Community in Maize Rhizoplane Across Moroccan Agro-Sys- tems: Towards a Microbiome Facilitated Agriculture in Mo-tems: Towards a Microbiome Facilitated Agriculture in Mo- rocco rocco Dounia Nkir1§, Tessa Reid3, Brahim Benbrik1, Meryem Had- dine1, Ibn Yasser Ammar1, Rachid Ghani1, Ian Clark3, Tim H. Mauchline3, Jim Harris4, Zineb Rchiad2, and Adnane Bargaz1 1 Plant and Soil Microbiome Sub-program, AgroBioSciences, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Ben Guerir, Morocco, 2 African Genome Center, Mohammed VI Polytechnic Univer- sity, Ben Guerir, Morocco, 3 Rothamsted Research, Sustainable Soils and Crops, Harpenden, UK; 4 Cranfield University, School of Water, Energy and Environment, Cranfield, UK. *Corre- sponding author: Adnane.Bargaz@um6p.ma, Zineb.Rchiad@ um6p.ma. §Presenting author: dounia.nkir@um6p.ma. AbstractAbstract Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the most important staple food crops grown worldwide to feed an ever-growing world popu- lation. To increase crop production, current agricultural prac- tices rely on unsustainable techniques such as the overap- plication of fertilizers. To overcome this challenge, there is a need for developing sustainable approaches to increase the agricultural system’s production. One applied, eco-friendly approach is bacterial consortia that have been reported in many studies for their beneficial plant growth promotion compared to single strains inoculation. The aim of this work is to map the diversity of the bacterial community in the rhi- zoplane of the maize plants and to select PGPRs to construct promising bacterial consortia. Despite the low diversity of mi- crobes colonizing the root surface, the PGP activities in this niche are highly dynamic. Bacterial isolation was performed from maize rhizoplane soil from 28 agroecological zones of 7 different regions in Morocco using a novel consortia-oriented isolation approach that aims to isolate and examine consortia constructed from phosphate solubilizing and nitrogen-fixing bacteria, in addition to bacteria with other PGP activities from the rhizoplane soil. A total of 144 bacteria were isolated with 44 PSB, 43 NFB, and 57 other PGPR. Genetic fingerprinting us- ing randomly amplified polymorphic DNA-generated profiles allowed elimination of duplicates before bacterial identifica- tion using 16s sequencing. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA sequences revealed the diversity of the isolates with the main dominant genera belonging to Bacillus, Pseudomonas, and Streptomyces that were reported to have an antifungal and antibacterial activities with salt stress tolerance property. Moreover, candidate novel species were also identified that should be tested afterwards. The constructed consortia will be further screened for their PGP properties both in vitro and in planta to determine their beneficial plant growth effect on maize plants. Thereafter, the most performing consortia will be selected to study their individual strains for better under- standing of the functions of promising consortia. Keywords: Keywords: PCR fingerprinting, PGPRs, consortia, nitrogen fixation, phos- phate solubilization. O5. Organic Amendments to Restore sandy Soils to Produce O5. Organic Amendments to Restore sandy Soils to Produce Organic Vegetables Under Arid ConditionsOrganic Vegetables Under Arid Conditions Khalid Azim1*, Mostapha Ajrari2, Fouad Elame1, Rachid Aboutayeb3, and Jamal Hallam1 1 Integrated Crop Production Research Unit, Regional Center of Agricultural Research, National Institute of Agricultural Research, Agadir, Morocco; 2 Institut Agronomique et Vété- rinaire Hassan II-Complexe Horticole Agadir, Morocco; 3 Re- gional Center of Agricultural Research, National Institute of Agricultural Research, Settat, Morocco. *Corresponding au- thor: khalid.azim@inra.ma AbstractAbstract To identify the best compost amendments rate in squash- green bean- melon-pepper cropping system that could maintain better the soil fertility in arid conditions; organic matter, humic fraction, humic acids and micro-nutrient el- ements were evaluated in sandy soil. This study was con- ducted at the experimental farm of Melk Zhar INRA-Agadir (Morocco) between 2008 and 2013 to determine the effect of four annual compost amendment rates (10 t ha-1, 15 ha-1, 20 t ha-1, and 25 t ha-1) on soil fertility of four organic vegetables at different soil depth (0.30 m, 0.50 m, 0.70 m and 0.90 m). The results showed that when 25 t ha-1 of annual compost was applied to the amended horizon, the pH level decreased by 4.83% compared to control. In the other hand, for all depth, the electrical conductivity (ECe) increased by 28.1% and 32% at a rate of 15 and 25 t ha-1, respectively. Soil Organic Mat- ter (SOM) content has obviously increased, reaching a maxi- mum of 1.2% at the amended horizon rate of 25 t ha-1. For all rates at the amended horizon, there was an average increase in the humic fraction (42% of Organic Carbon), fulvic acids (34%), and humic acids (14.5%). For all organic amendments rates and soil depths, the total nitrogen, available phospho- rus, exchangeable cations (magnesium and potassium), and micro-nutrient elements (iron and copper) increased. Organ- ic vegetable production has increased by an average of 24% over the control. Therefore, in five growing seasons, there has been an increase in production and improvement of sandy- soil fertility. A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) 782 Concurrent Session IX: Plant Sciences IIConcurrent Session IX: Plant Sciences II Co-Chair: Miguel Botella, University of Malaga, SpainCo-Chair: Miguel Botella, University of Malaga, Spain Co-Chair: Mohamed Nhiri, University Abdelmalek Essaadi, Co-Chair: Mohamed Nhiri, University Abdelmalek Essaadi, MoroccoMorocco O1. Genetic Diversity of Walnut (O1. Genetic Diversity of Walnut (Juglans regiaJuglans regia L.) Genotypes L.) Genotypes Across Middle and High Atlas Moroccan Mountains Using Across Middle and High Atlas Moroccan Mountains Using ISSR MarkersISSR Markers Ghizlane Kabiri§, Said Bouda*, Mohammed Elhansali, and Ab- delmajid Haddioui Laboratory of Biotechnology and Valorization of Plant Ge- netic Resources, Faculty of Sciences and Techniques, Sultan Moulay Slimane University, B.P. 523, Beni Mellal, Morocco. *Corresponding author: saidbouda@yahoo.fr. §Presenting author: kghizlane84@gmail.com. AbstractAbstract The genetic diversity and genotypes structure of walnut (Juglans regia L.) are essential to understand and manage ge- netic resources of this species, as well as for further progress in breeding programs. ISSR markers were used to assess the genetic diversity of 66 individuals’ trees from 11 accessions, representing the main cropping area of walnut belonging to two ranges types of Mountains in Morocco: middle and high Atlas. Eleven ISSR primers rendered a total of 135 bands (91%) with 0.88 polymorphic information content. The utili- zation of 123 polymorphic bands revealed a high level of ge- netic variation within and among the examined accessions. The multi-locus values of Ht and Hs were 0.25 and 0.20, re- spectively. The AMOVA analysis showed that 71.30% of total genetic variability is accounted within accessions and 28.70% between accessions. This was congruent with the coefficient of genetic differentiation (GST=0.16). Bayesian model-based clustering approach identified three gene pools that were not correlated with mountain range type. This is the first ap- plication of ISSR markers for the assessment of genetic diver- sity in Moroccan germplasm of walnut. This information will be useful to define conservation strategies and improvement programs of this species. Keywords: Keywords: Walnut, ISSR, genetic di- versity, differentiation, geographic group, bioclimatic group. O2. In Situ Production and Multiplication of Saffron Corms O2. In Situ Production and Multiplication of Saffron Corms ((Crocus sativusCrocus sativus L.) in Taliouine, Morocco L.) in Taliouine, Morocco Karra Youssef1* and Abdelghani Tahiri1 Natural Resources and Local Products Research Unit, Agadir Regional Center of agricultural research, National Institute of Agricultural Research (INRA), Morocco. *Corresponding au- thor: youssef.karra@inra.ma. AbstractAbstract Saffron is a sterile triploid plant that propagates only through the vegetative multiplication of corms, which is an under- ground stem, it’s an organ of storage and asexual propaga- tion. Therefore, the preservation and multiplication of corms is a strategic necessity (in situ conservation), these corms have adapted for several decades in the region of Taliouine, the particular origin of production of 95% of Moroccan saf- fron. This study is a monitoring-evaluation of the agro-mor- pho-physiological behavior of saffron corms from 10 origins of Taliouine and Taznakht region, over two consecutive years. The planting was in a specific place, platform Ifri in Taliouine for production and multiplication of corms, it had main ob- jectives: (1) the agronomic characterization of the different clones from different origins (2) the safeguard and conser- vation of this diversity (3) and the selection and multiplica- tion of performing corms. During this period of monitoring this plant material, we were able to assess the production potential and the agro-morphological variability of these corms from different sources: the observations made led to the identification of two cultivars which group together the corms of different origins in the platform, the first cultivar is made up of corms from provenances belonging to the me- dium altitude plateau (≈1600m), the 2nd cultivar comes from high altitude mountain areas (≥1900m). These two cultivars have a distinct behavior in terms of the development of re- placement corms, this diversity of expression and vegetative development is of great agronomic importance and arouses the valuation of this plant material for new plantations of saf- fron cultivation. This project is part of an agreement between INRA and FIMASAFRAN for the production and multiplication of saffron corms. Keywords: Keywords: Saffron, corm, Taliouine, multipli- cation, production, selection. O3. Cultivar Resistance as a Main Tool for Restoration of Cac-O3. Cultivar Resistance as a Main Tool for Restoration of Cac- tus Industry Damaged by Cochineal tus Industry Damaged by Cochineal Dactylopius opuntiaeDactylopius opuntiae Rachid Bouharroud1*, Mustapha El Bouhssini2, Abdelaziz Mi- mouni1, and Naima Ait Aabd1 1 Regional Center of Agricultural Research of Agadir, National Institute of Agricultural Research, Morocco; 2 Biodiversity and Plant Sciences Program, AgroBioSciences, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Ben Guerir, Morocco. *Corresponding and presenting author: rachid.bouharroud@inra.ma. AbstractAbstract The cactus crop (Opuntia sp.) was almost damaged in Moroc- co by the carmine wild cochineal Dactylopius opuntiae (Cock- erell, 1896) (Hemiptera: Dactylopiidae) since its first report in 2014. Cactus species was used for food as fresh fruits or by- products, as animal feed, land fence and also to prevent ero- sion and desertification. This CAM photosynthesis types plant is the most profitable crops thanks to its strong adaptation to arid and semi-arid climates. The genetic diversity preserved A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) 783 in the cactus collection at the INRA-Agadir from 1999 to 2022 was used as a baseline to find resistant cultivars for rehabili- tation of destroyed cactus lands. The 8 identified resistant cultivars to carmine cochineal are described and their roles to restore the cactus industry crops in Morocco is showed. The 2 scenarios suggested are tuned based on the land uses as for farming production (cultural practices) or to prevent erosion and desertification in natural areas like mountains. These 8 cultivars namely: Bellara (light green flesh), Marjana (red flesh), Melk Zhar, Cherratia, Aakria (carmin flesh), Ghalia and Karama (light red) belong to Opuntia ficus indica, O. en- gelmannii, O. robusta and O. dillenii. For each one of these 8 cultivars the resistance mechanism involved, the genetic di- versity and specific roles will be discussed. Keywords: Cactus, resistance, erosion, beekeeping, animal feed. O4. Evaluation of Agronomic Performance of Legumes in an O4. Evaluation of Agronomic Performance of Legumes in an Agroforestry System Based on Olive Trees in the South of the Agroforestry System Based on Olive Trees in the South of the Mediterranean SeaMediterranean Sea Asmae Amassaghrou1,2*, Karim Barkaoui3,4, Ahmed Bouaziz1, Si Bennasseur Alaoui1, Fatemi Zain El Abidine2, and Khalid Daoui2 1 Hassan II Agronomic and Veterinary Institute, BP 6202 Rabat- Instituts10112, Rabat, Morocco; 2 National Institute of Agri- cultural Research, Regional Center of Meknes, km10, Haj Kad- dour Road, Meknes, Morocco; 3 CIRAD, UMR ABSys, F-34398 Montpellier, France; 4 ABSys, Univ Montpellier, CIHEAM-IAMM, CIRAD, INRAE, Institut Agro, Montpellier, France. *Correspond- ing and presenting Author: a.amassaghrou@iav.ac.ma. AbstractAbstract In olive tree-based agroforestry, trees compete with crops for soil resources, but they can also improve crops growing con- ditions under drought conditions, mainly by providing shade during the growing season. Olive trees provide permanent shade for intercrops with different intensity depending on the season and the orientation of sowing intercrops. In this study, we evaluated three legumes (faba bean, chickpea and lentil) in olive agroforestry in northern Morocco. We com- pared growths in sole crop or intercrop legumes to examine aboveground competitive interactions and pinpoint the like- ly response mechanisms. We assessed the effect of shade and distance from trees on crop growth, yield components, and final yields. Plant height, aboveground biomass, and grain yield were all higher in 2016 than 2017, and lower in Agro- forestry than sole crop for all the legume species. In average, faba bean had the tallest plants (74.33 cm), the highest bio- mass (32.30 g.m-2) and yield (17.23 g.m-2 ), while lentil had the shortest plants (32 cm) and the lowest biomass (13.80 g.m-2) and yield (1.18 g.m-2) amongst the three species. Under olive trees, faba bean grain yield was highest under non-Shaded conditions and declined with increased shade, while lentil recorded the highest yield under the shade, and for chickpea the distance from the trees had no effect on the final grain yield. The number of pods and grains per unit area was the most impacted yield component in both 2016 and 2017. Olive trees limited crop growth and caused a significant reduction in grain yield, whatever in 2016 under drought, ol- ive shade had a significant impact on grain number per unit area and grain yield. Despite lower crop yields, we show how shade may impact the performance of legumes under olive Agroforestry. Keywords: Chickpea, Faba bean, Lentil, agrofor- estry, drought, Tree-crop interaction. O5. Red Fruits in the Souss Massa RegionO5. Red Fruits in the Souss Massa Region Redouan Qessaoui*, Y. Rahal, M. Alouani2, S. Chafiki1, A. Ajer- ra1, A. Tahiri1, N. Ait Abd1, A. Wifaya1, A. Mimouni1, and R. Bou- harroud1 1 Regional Center of Agricultural Research of Agadir, Nation- al Institute of Agricultural Research, Avenue Ennasr, BP 415 Rabat Principale, 10090 Rabat, Morocco; 2 Laboratory of Bio- technologies and Valorization of Natural Resources Faculty of Sciences - Agadir, Ibn Zohr University, B.P 8106, Agadir, Mo- rocco. *Corresponding and presenting author: redouan.qess- aoui@inra.ma. AbstractAbstract The Souss-Massa region, thanks to its climatic conditions which allow good and rapid adaptation of crops, has recently become a region producing red fruits, in particular raspber- ries. In order to obtain a phytosanitary inventory of red fruit cultivation in the Souss-Massa region, a survey was conduct- ed in the region. The results showed that all agricultural ar- eas in the Souss-Massa region are currently targeted for the cultivation of red fruits. Raspberry, blueberry and blackberry are respectively the most cultivated in the region. Raspberry cultivation is most popular in all regions with abundance in Ait Amira (45%), followed by Biougra (31%) and Belfaa-Massa (21%). While the cultivation of blueberries is widespread in the regions of Biougra (30%) and Balfaa-Massa (15%). Regard- ing the cropping system, it is the most widespread integrated crop in the region (95%). The results showed that the soilless mode is mainly used for blackberry and raspberry. However, the raspberry can be grown in full soil. In terms of production, the Yazmin variety is the most productive (900 tons) followed by Carmina (500 tons) and Adelita (350 tons). Then, for the blackberry, the Vectoria and Laurita varieties showed impres- sive productivity, reaching 441 and 300 tons respectively. For blueberries, the Corina variety showed a high production (722 tons) compared to the others. According to these re- sults, the modified Canarian greenhouses are the most used. According to this survey, Cladosporiosis and gray mold are the most economically important diseases in terms of the damage caused to the cultivation of red fruits in the Souss- Massa region. The results of this survey showed that phytos- anitary problems due to diseases constitute a priority subject among producers of red fruits in the region of Souss-Massa. Keywords: Keywords: Red fruits, raspberry, blueberry, blackberry, Souss A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) 784 Massa. Concurrent Session X: Genetics and GenomicsConcurrent Session X: Genetics and Genomics Co-Chair: Mohcine Bennani Mechita, University Abdelmalek Co-Chair: Mohcine Bennani Mechita, University Abdelmalek Essaadi, Tangier, MoroccoEssaadi, Tangier, Morocco Co-Chair: Mohammed El Hassouni, University Abdelmalek Es-Co-Chair: Mohammed El Hassouni, University Abdelmalek Es- saadi, Tangier, Moroccosaadi, Tangier, Morocco O1. QTL and Candidate Genes that Control Several Seed Com-O1. QTL and Candidate Genes that Control Several Seed Com- position Traits in Soybeanposition Traits in Soybean Moulay Abdelmajid Kassem1* and Khalid Meksem2 1 Plant Genomics and Biotechnology Lab, Department of Bio- logical Sciences, Fayetteville State University, Fayetteville, NC, USA; 2 School of Agricultural Sciences, Southern Illinois Uni- versity, Carbondale, IL, USA. *Corresponding and presenting author: mkassem@uncfsu.edu. AbstractAbstract Soybean seeds are rich in protein, oil, fatty acids, isoflavone, sugars, amino acids and other beneficial compounds. Here, we summarize 8-10 years of findings on genetic mapping of seed composition traits (protein, oil, fatty acids, and sugars contents) using four RIL (recombinant inbred line) popula- tions [‘PI 438489B’ By ‘Hamilton (PIxH, n=50), ‘MD 96-5722’ By ‘Spencer’ (MDxS, n=92), ‘Hamilton’ By ‘Spencer’ (HxS, n=93), and ‘Forrest’ By ‘Williams 82’ (FXW82, n=309) RIL populations] and different environments in North Carolina and Illinois. The new linkage maps are useful tools that will serve the soybean community in genetic mapping of QTL for seed composi- tion and other agronomic traits and in identifying candidate genes controlling these traits. Keywords: Keywords: Soybean, QTL, pro- tein, oil, fatty acids, sugars. O2. Deciphering Protein and Oil Biosynthesis Pathway using O2. Deciphering Protein and Oil Biosynthesis Pathway using TILLING-by-Sequencing+: An Effective Platform for High-TILLING-by-Sequencing+: An Effective Platform for High- Throughput Gene Functional Analysis Throughput Gene Functional Analysis Naoufal Lakhssassi*, Abdelhalim El Baze, and Khalid Meksem School of Agricultural Sciences, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL, USA. *Corresponding and presenting author: Lakhssassi.Naoufal@siu.edu. AbstractAbstract Reverse genetic approaches have been widely applied to study gene function in different crop species; however, these techniques, including gel-based TILLING, present low ef- ficiency to characterize genes in soybeans due to genome complexity, gene duplication, and the presence of multiple gene family members that share high homology in their DNA sequence. Chemical mutagenesis emerges as a geneti- cally modified-free strategy to produce large-scale soybean mutants for economically important traits improvement. We used an optimized high-throughput TILLING-by-sequenc- ing+ technology, coupled with universal bioinformatic tools to identify population-wide mutations in soybeans. An ethyl methanesulfonate mutagenized population (4032 mutant families) have been screened for the presence of induced mu- tations in targeted genes. The mutation types and effects have been characterized for a total of 138 soybean genes involved in soybean seed composition, disease resistance, and many other quality traits. To test the efficiency of TbyS+ in complex genomes, we used soybeans as a model with a focus on sev- eral desaturase gene families, GmSACPD, GmFAD2, and Gm- FAD3, that are involved in the soybean fatty acid biosynthesis pathway in addition to targeting genes involved in increasing protein content and improving amino acid composition. The use of TbyS+ allows the discovery of novel sources of soy- bean oil traits, including high saturated, monosaturated fatty acids, low polyunsaturated fatty acid contents, in addition to soybean lines with increased protein content while maintain- ing steady oil. This technology provides an unprecedented platform for highly effective screening of polyploid mutant populations and functional gene analysis. The obtained soy- bean mutants can be used in subsequent soybean breeding programs for improved protein and oil composition traits. Keywords:Keywords: GmFAD2; GmFAD3; GmSACPD; CoGy, TILLING by target capture sequencing; TILLING-by-sequencing+; fatty acid desaturases; oil biosynthesis pathway, protein content, and amino acid composition. O3. Genetics and Genomics of Fruit Color in Strawberry O3. Genetics and Genomics of Fruit Color in Strawberry ((FragariaFragaria spp.) spp.) Cristina Castillejo1, José F. Sánchez-Sevilla1,2, Iraida Amaya1,2* 1 Instituto Andaluz de Investigación y Formación Agraria y Pesquera, (IFAPA), Centro de Málaga, Málaga, Spain; 2 Uni- dad Asociada de I+D+i IFAPA-CSIC Biotecnología y Mejora en Fresa, Málaga, Spain. *Corresponding and presenting author: iraida.amaya@juntadeandalucia.es. AbstractAbstract Fruit color is determined by the accumulation of a variety of secondary metabolites, including carotenoids, anthocyanins and other flavonoids. Apart from contributing to fruit attrac- tiveness, these secondary metabolites provide a wide range of health-promoting benefits and are therefore considered to be bio-active constituents. The characteristic red fruit color of strawberries is the result of anthocyanin accumulation. Us- ing a geographically diverse sample of diploid and octoploid Fragaria species we have shown that differential anthocyanin content could be explained by independent mutations in MYB10. In the cultivated octoploid strawberry, FaMYB10-2 is the dominant homoeolog regulating anthocyanin bio- synthesis. As such, mutations in FaMYB10-2 coding region abolished red color formation. However, some fruits with a wild type FaMYB10-2 copy do accumulate anthocyanins A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) 785 in their epidermis but not in the flesh. We have shown that this white flesh phenotype is associated with the absence of FaEnSpm-2, a CACTA-like transposon inserted in FaMYB10-2 promoter from red-fleshed accessions. Natural variants in yellow/white fruit shades are documented in different straw- berries, including Fragaria chiloensis and F. vesca as i.e. the F. vesca ‘Yellow Wonder’ cultivar. The genetic control of yel- low/white flesh variation was analyzed using an interspecific F2 population segregating for the yellow/white trait derived from the cross of ‘Senga Sengana’ and F. chiloensis ssp. lucida. Quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping detected a single locus named ‘Yellow Flesh’ controlling most of the observed varia- tion. White flesh (absence of yellow pigments) was dominant over yellow flesh and fitted the 3:1 expected ratio (p=0.53). The ‘Yellow Flesh’ locus mapped to a reduced interval where FaCCD4-B, involved in carotenoid metabolism has been de- tected. Accordingly, yellow fleshed F2 lines showed a down- regulation of FaCCD4-B and significantly higher accumula- tion of a number of carotenoids, such as lutein, as well as a 2.3-fold increase in total carotenoid concentration. The out- come of these genetic analyses allowed us the development of predictive HRM and KASP markers for targeted breeding and marker-assisted selection of strawberry varieties with improved sensorial and nutritional fruit. This work is funded by Agencia Estatal de Investigación (PID2019-111496RR-I00 / AEI / 10.13039/501100011033) and PAIDI P18-RT-4856 (Junta de Andalucía, FEDER funds). Keywords: Keywords: Strawberry, anthocya- nins, carotenoids, QTL, marker-assisted selection. O4. QTL and Candidate Genes for Seed Tocopherol Content O4. QTL and Candidate Genes for Seed Tocopherol Content in ‘Forrest’ by ‘Williams 82’ RecombiO4. Recombinant Inbred in ‘Forrest’ by ‘Williams 82’ RecombiO4. Recombinant Inbred Line (RIL) Population of SoybeanLine (RIL) Population of Soybean Dounya Knizia1,2§, Jiazheng Yuan3, Naoufal Lakhssassi1, Abdel- halim El Baze1, Mallory Cullen1, Tri Vuong4, Hamid Mazouz2, Henry T. Nguyen4, My Abdelmajid Kassem3, and Khalid Me- ksem1* 1 School of Agricultural Sciences, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901, USA; 2 Laboratoire de Biotechnologies & Valorisation des Bio-Ressources (BioVar), Department de Biologie, Faculté des Sciences, Université Moulay Ismail, Me- knès 50000, Morocco; 3 Plant Genomics and Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Biological and Forensic Sciences, Fayetteville State University, Fayetteville, NC 28301, USA; 4 Di- vision of Plant Science and Technology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA. *Correspondence: meksem@siu. edu. §Presenting author: dounya.knizia@siu.edu. AbstractAbstract Soybean seeds are rich in secondary metabolites which are beneficial for human health, including tocopherols. Tocoph- erols play an important role in human and animal nutrition thanks to their antioxidant activity. In this study, the ‘For- rest’ by ‘Williams 82’ (F×W82) recombinant inbred line (RIL) population (n = 306) was used to map quantitative trait loci (QTL) for seed α-tocopherol, β-tocopherol, δ -tocopherol, γ-tocopherol, and total tocopherol contents in Carbondale, IL over two years. Also, the identification of the candidate genes involved in soybean tocopherols biosynthetic path- way was performed. A total of 32 QTL controlling various seed tocopherol contents have been identified and mapped on Chrs. 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 16, 17, and 20. One major and novel QTL was identified on Chr. 6 with an R2 of 27.8, 9.9, and 6.9 for δ-tocopherol, α-tocopherol, and total tocopherol content, respectively. Reverse BLAST analysis of the genes that were identified in Arabidopsis allowed the identifica- tion of 37 genes involved in soybean tocopherol pathway, among which 11 were located close to the identified QTLs. The identified tocopherol seed QTLs and candidate genes will be beneficial in breeding programs to develop soybean culti- vars with high tocopherol contents. Keywords: Soybean, QTL, seed, tocopherols, Forrest, Williams82. O5. Mapping QTL for Soybean Seed Protein and Amino Acids O5. Mapping QTL for Soybean Seed Protein and Amino Acids in the Forrest x Williams82 RIL Populationin the Forrest x Williams82 RIL Population Jiazheng Yuan1*, Nacer Bellaloui2, My Abdelmajid Kassem1, Dounya Knizia3,6, Tri Vuong4, Naoufal Lakhssasi3, Mariola Usovsky4, Qijian Song5, Sonia Viera1, Layla Rashid1, Frances Betts1, Teresa Register1, Earl Williams1, Hamid Mazouz6, Henry T. Nguyen4, and Khalid Meksem3,6 1 Plant Genomics and Biotechnology Lab, Department of Biological Sciences, Fayetteville State University, Fayetteville, NC, USA; 2 USDA, Agriculture Research Service, Crop Genet- ics Research Unit, 141 Experiment Station Road, Stoneville, MS 38776, USA; 3 School of Agricultural Sciences, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901, USA; 4 Division of Plant Science and Technology, University of Missouri, Colum- bia, MO 65201, USA; 5 Soybean Genomics and Improvement Laboratory, USDA-ARS, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA; 6 Labora- toire de Biotechnologies & Valorisation des Bio-Ressources (BioVar), Faculté des Sciences, Department de Biology, Uni- versité Moulay Ismail, Meknès, Morocco. *Corresponding and presenting author: jyuan@uncfsu.edu. AbstractAbstract Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] is an important crop in the America, and a total of 95.2 million metric tons of soybean seeds have been harvested each year with the value of ap- proximately 31 billion dollars. Soybean seeds are the ma- jor protein source for animal feed. However, soybean seeds contain limiting amount of some amino acids including cysteine (Cys), lysine (Lys), methionine (Met), and threonine (Thr), Among them, Lys, Met, and Thr are essential amino ac- ids (EAAs). The supplement with the synthetic amino acids in animal feed is expensive. Therefore, the investigation of amino acid dynamics and reveal the genetic contribution of amino acid contents in soybean will help us to develop elite soybean lines with the enriched certain amino acids. The objective of this study was to map the quantitative trait loci A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) 786 (QTL) associated with protein and amino acid contents in the recombinant inbred population derived from Forrest × Wil- liams 82 (FxW82) within two diverse environments, Spring Lake, NC in 2018 and Carbondale, IL in 2020, respectively. In this undergraduate centered research, a total of 63 QTL in Spring Lake and 42 QTL in Carbondale, respectively were identified (LOD>2) for protein and amino acid contents using composite interval mapping (CIM) method in FxW82 RIL pop- ulation, which was genotyped by soybean 6K Illumina Infin- ium Beadchips. The range of phenotypic variation explained by the QTL was varying from 3.31- 53% in the dataset. The significant SNPs adjacent to the QTL can be converted into the KASP based PCR assays for marker-assisted selection. The genetic information uncovered in our study will be useful to enhance soybean improvement with better nutritional value. Session XI: Plant Products and Bioactive CompoundsSession XI: Plant Products and Bioactive Compounds Co-Chair: Abdelfettah Maouni, Abdelmalek Essaadi Univer-Co-Chair: Abdelfettah Maouni, Abdelmalek Essaadi Univer- sity, Moroccosity, Morocco Co-Chair: Katelyn Kesheimer, Auburn University, USACo-Chair: Katelyn Kesheimer, Auburn University, USA O1. Bioactive Compounds, Antioxidant Activity and Fatty Ac-O1. Bioactive Compounds, Antioxidant Activity and Fatty Ac- ids Composition of Fruits of Ten Moroccan Pomegranate Cul-ids Composition of Fruits of Ten Moroccan Pomegranate Cul- tivars (tivars (Punica granatumPunica granatum L.) L.) Sarah Loukhmas1,2*, Meriem Outaki3, Ebrahim Kerak1, and Hasnaâ Harrak2 1 Hassan II Casablanca University, Faculty of Science and Techniques, Laboratory of Virology, Microbiology, Quality and Biotechnology/ ETB. P.O. Box 146 Yasmina city, 20650 Mohammedia, Morocco; 2 Agro-Food Technology and Qual- ity Laboratory, Plant improvement and Quality Research Unit, Regional Center of Agricultural Research of Marrakesh, National Institute of Agricultural Research, Avenue Ennasr, BP 415 Rabat Principale, 10090 Rabat, Morocco; 3 Laboratory of Applied Chemistry and Environment, Faculty of Sciences and Technologies, University Hassan I, P.O. Box 577, Settat, Morocco. *Corresponding and presenting author: s.loukh@ gmail.com. AbstractAbstract The pomegranate fruit is gaining worldwide increasing in- terest for its consumption. It is mainly consumed fresh or as juice. This interest in pomegranate is due to its nutritional and therapeutic benefits. In this context, this study aimed to evaluate the characteristics of fruit juice and seed oil of ten pomegranate cultivars grown in the Center of Morocco. Mineral composition, organic acids, total polyphenols, antho- cyanins content and antioxidant activity were determined in pomegranate juices. While fatty acid composition and anti- oxidant activity were determined in pomegranate seed oils. The results showed interesting characteristics for the studied cultivars. For the pomegranate juice, mineral composition showed that iodine was the most abundant macroelement, followed by phosphorus and sulphur. Iron and aluminum were the main microelements. The most dominant organic acid was citric acid with concentrations ranging from 0.11 to 2.92 g/100 mL for the sour cultivar “Lhamdha”. Oxalic acid was mostly detected in sweet cultivars with concentrations ranging from 0.04 to 0.10 g/100 mL. The cultivar “Lhamdha” presented the highest total polyphenol concentration with 116.83 mg gallic acid equivalent/100 g followed by the sweet cultivars “Sefri of Beni Meskine”, “Lahmer” and “Marrakchia”. The highest total anthocyanin content was registered for cul- tivar “Lahmer” (which means red) and “Marrakchia” with 20.41 and 21.28 mg/100 mL, respectively. The sour cultivar “Lham- dha” and the sweet cultivar “Sefri of Beni Meskine” presented the highest antioxidant activity with 111.24 and 105.99 mg acid ascorbic equivalent/100 g, respectively. Pomegranate seed oil presented high contents of polyunsaturated fatty ac- ids (PUFAs) exceeding 89%. The major fatty acid was punicic acid, which represented more than 80% of fatty acids, while other fatty acids such as linoleic, oleic, and palmitic acids are minor. Oils also showed high antioxidant activity (Inhibitory concentration IC50: 0.69-1.80 mg/mL). This study highlighted the nutritional and functional potential of the studied culti- vars and the importance of their valorization, especially in food and pharmaceutical industries. Keywords:Keywords: Morocco, Punica granatum, fruit juice, seed oil, bioactive compounds, antioxidant activity, fatty acids. O2. Anticancer Activity and Characterization of Secondary O2. Anticancer Activity and Characterization of Secondary Metabolite Compound from Dichloromethane Fraction of Metabolite Compound from Dichloromethane Fraction of methane methane Zizyphus lotusZizyphus lotus Sofia Zazouli1,2*, Mohammed Chigr2, Patrícia A. B. Ramos3,4, Daniela Rosa5,6, Maria M. Castro5, Ahmed Jouaiti1, Maria F. Du- arte5,6, Sónia A. O. Santos3, and Armando J. D. Silvestre3 1 Laboratory of Sustainable Development; 2 Laboratory of Bio-Organic an Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, University Sultan, Moulay Slimane, Beni-Mellal 23000, Morocco; 3 CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials, De- partment of Chemistry, Campus de Santiago, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; 4 LAQV REQUIMTE, Depart- ment of Chemistry, Campus de Santiago, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; 5 Alentejo Biotechnology Center for Agriculture and Agro-Food (CEBAL), Polytechnic Institute of Beja (IPBeja), 7801-908 Beja, Portugal; 6 Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development— MED, CEBAL, 7081-908 Beja, Portugal; *Corresponding and presenting author: sofia.zazouli@usms.ma. AbstractAbstract The present work investigated the trimethylsilylation dichlo- romethane extract of different morphological parts of Zizy- phus lotus (seeds, pulp, leaves, and root barks) by GC-MS and evaluation of their anti-tumor activity and the mechanism of action. In this study, 123 compounds were detected and quantified, from which fatty acids (455-8501 mg/kg dw) and A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) 787 A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) triterpenic acid (248-10230 mg/kg dw) are the major families of lipophilic components present in Z. lotus, followed by ste- rols, long-chain aliphatic alcohols, aldehydes, monoglycer- ides, aromatic compounds among other. Moreover, Z. lotus lipophilic extract of root barks demonstrated higher inhibi- tory effects against human tumor cell lines of MDA-MB-231, MCF- 7, and HepG2. While, the exposing MDA-MB-231 cell for 48h, to the respective IC50 concentration of root barks lipo- philic extract, showed its ability to stop cell migration, arrest cell cycle at G2, and processes apoptosis as well as the down regulation of the PI3K/Akt pathway. In summary, Z. lotus has the potential to be exploited as a source of bioactive com- pounds that can be applied in the formulations of different ingredients for the food and pharmaceutical industry. Key-Key- words: words: Zizyphus lotus, lipophilic fraction, triterpenic acid, anti-cancer activity, apoptosis, cell migration, cell cycle. O3. Sorghum (O3. Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor Sorghum bicolor (L.) is a Potent Medicinal Food (L.) is a Potent Medicinal Food as an Antioxidant, Antiglycation, and Anti-Diabetic as an Antioxidant, Antiglycation, and Anti-Diabetic Ben El Mahdi Nora1*, Laurent Lemée2, and Mohamed Nhiri1 1 Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Fac- ulty of Sciences and Technologies, University Abdelmalek Essaadi, BP 416, 90000 Tangier, Morocco; 2 Institut de Chimie des Milieux et Matériaux de Poitiers (IC2MP CNRS UMR 7285), Université de Poitiers, 4 rue Michel Brunet, TSA 51106, 86073 Poitiers cedex 9, France. *Corresponding and presenting au- thor: benelmahdinora24@gmail.com. AbstractAbstract Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) generated from glycation might cause diseases such as diabetes. Antioxi- dants are essential in protecting humans against infections and degenerative diseases due to their ability to neutralize AGEs. Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) is an ancient plant in the Mediterranean basin known for multiple end-uses such as food and a source of bioactive compounds that could be used for medical applications. The present research deals with phytochemical screening and the antioxidant proper- ties of both aqueous and ethanolic extracts of seeds from five Sorghum ecotypes. Additionally, antidiabetic inhibitory activities (α‐amylase and α-glucosidase and inhibitory po- tential on AGEs formation have been investigated using the ethanolic extract of the five Sorghum ecotypes. The ethano- lic extract exhibited a high phenolic and flavonoid content. Furthermore, phenolic composition analysis using LC-MS/MS demonstrated the presence of attractive major compounds. The mineral composition using both ICP-MS and ICP-OES of all ecotypes also showed the valuables potential of the five- sorghum ecotype as a therapeutic food. The ethanolic extract of Sorghum seeds also showed high inhibitory effects on the production of Amadori products and AGEs from albumin in the presence of fructose and a significant inhibitory effect against α-amylase and α-glucosidase. These results suggest the possibility of using sorghum seeds as a source of natural bioactive foods to prevent glycation-associated complica- tions in diabetes and investigate their possible combination effect with conventional drugs of preclinical use. Keywords: Keywords: Sorghum bicolor L.; bioactive compounds; antioxidant effect; antidiabetic activity; antiglycation potential. O4. The Effect of Moroccan Seaweeds from Mediterranean O4. The Effect of Moroccan Seaweeds from Mediterranean Coast (Coast (Halopteris scopariaHalopteris scoparia, , Gracilaria duraduraGracilaria duradura, and , and Enter-Enter- morpha compressamorpha compressa) on ) on Medicago sativaMedicago sativa Plant Growth Plant Growth Oumaima Ouala1*, Soukaina El Amrani Zerrifi1, El Mahdi Red- ouane1, Richard Mugani1, Asmae Aknaf2, Ouafa Cherifi1, Fati- ma El Khalloufi1,3, and Brahim Oudra1 1 Water, Biodiversity and Climate Change Laboratory. Phycol- ogy, Biotechnology and Environmental Toxicology Research Unit, Faculty of Sciences Semlalia Marrakech, Cadi Ayyad University, P.O. Box 2390, 40000 Marrakech, Morocco; 2 Ob- servatoire de la lagune de Marchica de Nador et Région Limi- trophes (Labo.OLMAN-RL), Faculté Pluridisciplinaire de Na- dor, Université Mohamed Premier, BP 300, 62700, Selouane, Nador, Maroc; 3 Polydisciplinary Faculty of Khouribga (FPK), University Sultan Moulay Slimane of Beni-Mellal, P.B. 145, 25000 Khouribga, Morocco. *Corresponding and presenting author: oumaima.ouala@ced.uca.ma. AbstractAbstract In agriculture, the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides causes negative effects to the environment and human health. Therefore, choosing a sustainable agricultural model has become a challenge for agriculture and food security in order to reduce the use of these chemical products. In fact, organic farming has experienced a great development. Hence the interest in natural products of natural origin, such as plants and algae. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the biostimulant effect of extracts of a brown alga (Halopteris scoparia), a red alga (Gracilaria dura) and a green alga (Entermorpha compressa) on germination and growth of Medicago sativa plant. For this purpose, four treatments with the macroalgal extracts (25%, 50%, 75% and 100%) were tested. Then, the determination of the germination rate and the evaluation of the growth of the plant through physiological and biochemical parameters was carried out on the obtained plant biomasses. The results obtained re- vealed that the treatment of plants by 25%, 50% and 75% of aqueous extracts of Halopteris scoparia, Gracilaria dura and Entermorpha compressa, induced a significant increase in the germination rate and an improvement of the vegetative biomass growth (dry weight). In addition, the application of theses algae extracts studied resulted in an increase in the content of mineral elements and photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll and carotenoids). In light of the results obtained, it was concluded that the macroalgal extracts studied could be suitable for promoting plant development. Furthermore, they can be an alternative way to develop sustainable agri- cultural practices that respect the environment. Keywords: Keywords: A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) 788 Halopteris scoparia, Gracilaria dura, Entermorpha compressa, Seaweeds, Biofertilization, Biostimulation, Medicago sativa, Growth, Mineral elements, pigment contents. Concurrent Session XII: Soil Sciences and Soil ResilienceConcurrent Session XII: Soil Sciences and Soil Resilience Co-Chair: Eric Brevik, Southern Illinois University, USACo-Chair: Eric Brevik, Southern Illinois University, USA Co-Chair: Rachid Moussadek, MoroccoCo-Chair: Rachid Moussadek, Morocco O1. Eastern Red Cedar as a Bioenergy Crop to Improve Soil O1. Eastern Red Cedar as a Bioenergy Crop to Improve Soil Quality in the Great Plains, USAQuality in the Great Plains, USA Thomas J. Sauer1, Ken Wacha2, Eric C. Brevik3*, and Diomides Zamora4 1 USDA-ARS, National Laboratory for Agriculture and the Environment, Ames, IA, USA; 2 USDA-ARS, National Soil Ero- sion Research Laboratory, West Lafayette, IN, USA; 3 College of Agricultural, Life, and Physical Sciences, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL, USA; 4 USDA, National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Kansas City, MO, USA. *Corresponding and presenting author: eric.brevik@siu.edu. AbstractAbstract Eastern red cedar (ERC, Juniperus virginiana L.) is commonly found in tree windbreaks in the semi-arid Great Plains of the central USA. ERC has strong potential as a bioenergy feedstock due to its physical and chemical characteristics. This study sought to assess the sustainability of ERC bioenergy plant- ings by evaluating carbon sequestration and selected soil quality parameters in existing ERC stands across the northern Great Plains. Nine sites were selected in five states with mean annual precipitation (MAP) that ranged from 446 to 999 mm and mean annual temperature (MAT) that ranged from 4.4 to 10.0 °C. Infiltration was measured using the twin ring tech- nique at nine locations in each tree planting and adjacent ag- ricultural field (crop, pasture, or hay) at each site. After infiltra- tion measurements were made, a 4.8 cm-diameter soil core was collected to a depth of 30 cm inside one infiltration ring to collect samples to determine bulk density, texture, pH, ag- gregate stability, soil organic carbon (SOC), and nitrogen (N). Penetration resistance was measured to 30 cm depth in 2.5 cm increments in the other infiltration ring. Infiltration rate and depth to 2 MPa penetration resistance averaged 55% and 20.3% greater, respectively, under tree cover. Estimated tree aboveground biomass C and SOC were both strongly corre- lated with MAP. Tree aboveground C stocks were estimated to increase 2.05 Mg ha-1 yr-1 on average. SOC stocks under tree cover were 16.8% greater than in the adjacent agricultural land use. ERC planting for bioenergy feedstock production is likely to increase soil carbon sequestration and improve soil physical and chemical quality, especially for degraded soils or soils with marginal crop production potential. These same ERC plantings may also provide enhanced income potential from areas that currently generate little to no income. Key-Key- words: words: Windbreak; agroforestry; bioenergy feedstock; carbon sequestration; marginal soils. O2. Soil-Human Health-Nexus: with Focus on Dimensions of O2. Soil-Human Health-Nexus: with Focus on Dimensions of Soil-Water-Plant-Microbes and HumanSoil-Water-Plant-Microbes and Human Hassan El-Ramady1,2§, József Prokisch2, Tamer Elsakhawy3, Alaa El-Dein Omara3, Megahed Amer4, and Eric C. Brevik5* 1 Soil and Water Dept., Faculty of Agriculture, Kafrelsheikh University, 33516 Kafr El-Sheikh, Egypt; 2 Institute of Animal Science, Biotechnology and Nature Conservation, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Manage- ment, University of Debrecen, 138 Böszörményi Street, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary; 3 Agriculture Microbiology Department, Soil, Water and Environment Research Institute (SWERI), Sakha Agricultural Research Station, Agriculture Research Center, 33717 Kafr El-Sheikh, Egypt; 4 Soil Improvement and Conservation Dept., Water and Environment Research In- stitute, Agricultural Research Center, Giza, Egypt; 5 College of Agricultural, Life, and Physical Sciences, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901 USA. *Corresponding author: eric.brevik@siu.edu. §Presenting author: Hassan El-Ramady; hassan.elramady@agr.kfs.edu.eg. AbstractAbstract There are a number of strong relationships between soil and human health, both direct and indirect. The soil system is es- sential for life due to its influence in the provision of clean water, healthy edible foods, feed, fiber, shelter, and fuel. Soil also serves as a repository for components of human culture. The soil-human health nexus should be studied with focus on some crucial dimensions including soil and its components water, plants, and microbes. Water is an essential component of soil, and transports many elements that may be in nutri- ent form for or present at toxic levels for plant production. Soil water, or the soil solution, represents the theater of in- teractions for many soil processes. Many nexuses are created among the soil components including different aspects of the soil-water-plant-human nexus (SWPH). The components of this nexus have many combinations such as soil-human, soil-plant, soil-water, soil-water-human, soil-plant-human, etc. nexuses. The ultimate goal of this study is to add to knowledge of the SWPH nexus in a way that incorporates art and culture into our scientific understanding of some of today’s major global challenges. Although the soil and its re- lationship to human health was originally noted several cen- turies ago, each of the water, plant, and microbe components in soil have many direct and/or indirect impacts on human health. Several open questions concerning each component still need to be answered and will be discussed. Keywords: Keywords: Soil system, Microflora, Microfauna, Soil-Water-Plant-Human nexus. A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) 789 A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) O3. Status of Macronutrients in Selected Valencia orange or-O3. Status of Macronutrients in Selected Valencia orange or- chards in the Gharb Region of Moroccochards in the Gharb Region of Morocco Abail Zhor1*, Rania Brital1,2, Mohamed Ibriz2, Rachid Aboutayeb1, and Hamid Benyahia1 1 National Institute of Agricultural Research, Avenue Ennasr, BP 415 Rabat Principale, 10090 Rabat, Morocco; 2 Faculty of Science, Ibn Tofail University, Kenitra, Morocco. *Correspond- ing and presenting author: zhor.abail@inra.ma. AbstractAbstract Valencia orange is one of the principal varieties grown in Morocco. In this study, we conducted a field survey to assess the status of essential macronutrients (N, P, K, Ca and Mg) in Valencia orange orchards located in the Gharb region, the second largest citrus growing area in Morocco. Soil (0-20 cm) and leaf samples were collected from 20 Valencia Late orange orchards. Soils of the investigated orchards were medium to heavy in texture. Their content in organic matter varied from 0.6 to 3.1 %, pH ranged from 7.8 to 8.7, EC was between 0.2 and 0.7 dS m-1, and total CaCO3 content varied widely from 0.2 to 25%. Their content of total nitrogen was in the typical range (0.5 to 1.6 g Kg-1) reported for citrus orchards in Mo- rocco. These soils had low to optimum levels in available P (7.5-59.1 mg Kg-1) and optimum to high levels in available K (143-540 mg Kg-1). Available Ca levels were extremely high in all soils (5.3-9.6 g Kg-1), while Mg levels were very low (4.6- 40.6 mg Kg-1). Leaf analysis, in accordance with soil analysis, showed that all orchards were deficient in Mg and most of them had suboptimum levels of N (6.8-21.1 g Kg-1), optimum to high levels of P (0.9 − 2.2 g Kg-1), K (2.8 − 9.0 g Kg-1) and Ca (46 − 96.6 g Kg-1). Generally, the result of this study showed an unsatisfactory nutrient management of the studied Valen- cia orchards, particularly for Mg, N and P whose fertilization should be carefully implemented to support optimum yields. Keywords:Keywords: Valencia orange, Citrus, leaf analysis, soil analysis, macronutrient, Gharb. O4. Estimating Actual Abundance of European Sousliks: UAV O4. Estimating Actual Abundance of European Sousliks: UAV Imagery, Pixel Based Imaging, and Random Forest Classifica-Imagery, Pixel Based Imaging, and Random Forest Classifica- tion for Counting Surface Burrow Openings and GPR for Iden-tion for Counting Surface Burrow Openings and GPR for Iden- tifying Sub Random Subsurface Burrowstifying Sub Random Subsurface Burrows Csongor I. Gedeon1*, Mátyás Árvai1, Gábor Szatmári1,3, Eric C. Brevik2, Tünde Takáts1, Zsófia A. Kovács1, and János Mészáros1 1 Department of Soil Mapping and Environmental Informatics, Institute for Soil Sciences, Herman Ottóút 15., Budapest-1022, Hungary; 2 College of Agricultural, Life, and Physical Sciences, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL, 62901-4403, USA; 3 Department of Physical Geography and Geoinformatics, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Debrecen, Egyetem tér 1, Debrecen-4032, Hungary. *Corresponding and presenting author: gedeon.csongor@atk.hu. AbstractAbstract Soil quality is a compound characteristic that cannot be mea- sured directly. If functions provided by soils are diminished, then quality is decreased. Burrowing mammals frequently play a crucial role in the functioning of grassland ecosystems, maintaining their diversity, functions, services, and high qual- ity. However, the non-destructive estimation of burrowers’ population size, spatial and temporal population dynamics is a challenge for conservation. Determining the number of bur- row openings and mounds would be a good proxy for esti- mating actual population sizes when one individual occupies one burrow system and if the ratio of openings per burrow system was known. First, we present an imagery-based meth- od to identify and count animals’ burrows semi-automatically by combining remotely recorded RGB images, pixel-based imagery and Random Forest classification. Then we show the sketch of a pilot study where we aimed at identifying and lo- cating artificial burrows with GPR on a natural grassland simi- lar to a ground squirrel or mole-rat habitat. Field images were collected for four colonies, then combined and processed by histogram matching and spectral band normalization to im- prove the spectral distinction between the categories BUR- ROW, SOIL, TREE, and GRASS. Accuracy index of classification for BURROW kappa (κ) was 95 (precision) and 90% (sensitiv- ity) respectively. A 10-time bootstrapping of the final model resulted in coefficients of variation (CV%) of BURROW κ for sensitivity and precision lower than 5%, moreover CV% val- ues were not significantly different between those scores. The consistency of classification and balanced precision and sensitivity confirmed the applicability of this approach. Our approach provides an accurate, user-friendly and relatively simple approach to count the number of burrow openings, estimate population abundance and delineate the areas of occupancy non-invasively. For the GPR survey we used a Mala system with 160 and 750MHz shielded antennas to identify and locate artificial burrows at different depths from 10 to 165cm. We sketch out the experiment and a few results of the analyses of the radar profiles with special reference to depth limits of GPR surveys and visual representations of air-filled burrows on radar profiles. Keywords:Keywords: Random-forest; ground squirrel; image processing; ground penetrating radar. Session XIII: Plant Sciences IIISession XIII: Plant Sciences III Co-Chair: Mohammed Amine Seghrini, University Ibn Zohr, Co-Chair: Mohammed Amine Seghrini, University Ibn Zohr, MoroccoMorocco Co-Chair: Nicole Gauthier, University of Kentucky, USACo-Chair: Nicole Gauthier, University of Kentucky, USA O1. Peripheral Membrane Proteins Modulate Stress Tolerance O1. Peripheral Membrane Proteins Modulate Stress Tolerance by Safeguarding Cellulose Synthasesby Safeguarding Cellulose Synthases Christopher Kesten1,2, Álvaro García-Moreno3, Vítor Amorim- Silva3, Alexandra Menna2, Araceli G. Castillo4, Francisco Per- cio3, Laia Armengot5, Noemi Ruiz-Lopez3, Yvon Jaillais5, Clara Sánchez-Rodríguez2, and Miguel A Botella3* A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) 790 1 Department of Biology, ETH Zurich, 8092, Zurich, Switzer- land; 2 Department for Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 1871, Frederiksberg C, Denmark; 3 Instituto de Hortofruticultura Subtropical Mediterránea, Universidad de Málaga-Consejo Superior de Investigacio- nes Científicas (IHSM-UMA-CSIC), Dept. Biología Molecular Bioquímica, Campus de Teatinos, Málaga E-29071, Spain; 4 Instituto de Hortofruticultura Subtropical y Mediterránea, Universidad de Málaga-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (IHSM- UMA-CSIC), Dept. Biología Celular, Gené- tica y Fisiología, Campus de Teatinos, Málaga E- 29071, Spain; 5 Laboratoire Reproduction et Développement des Plantes, Université de Lyon, ENS de Lyon, CNRS, INRAE, F-69342, Lyon, France. *Corresponding and presenting author: mabotella@ uma.es. AbstractAbstract Cellulose, the main load-bearing component of plant cell walls, constitutes a quarter of all organic material on Earth. This remarkable amount of cellulose is synthesized by Cel- lulose Synthase Complexes (CSC). CSC propels itself forward through the plasma membrane with its own catalytic activity using cortical microtubules as steering devices. Four com- ponents of the CSC machinery have been identified, CESAs, KORRIGAN, CSI1, and CCs, the last members of the complex identified in 2015. We have identified the Tetratricopeptide Thioredoxin-Like (TTL) proteins as new members of the cel- lulose synthase complex (CSC) and describe their unique and hitherto unknown dynamic association with the CSC under cellulose-deficient conditions. TTLs are essential for main- taining cellulose synthesis under high salinity conditions, establishing a stress-resilient cortical microtubule array, and stabilizing CSCs at the plasma membrane. To fulfill these functions, TTLs interact with Cellulose Synthase1 (CESA1) and engage with cortical microtubules to promote their polymer- ization. We propose that TTLs function as bridges connecting stress perception with dynamic regulation of cellulose bio- synthesis at the plasma membrane. Keywords: Keywords: Abiotic stress tolerance, cellulose biosynthesis, cell wall signaling. O2. Breeding Programs in Argane Tree: Microsporogenesis O2. Breeding Programs in Argane Tree: Microsporogenesis Study and Cytogenetic ApproachStudy and Cytogenetic Approach Ait Aabd Naima*, Abdelghani Tahiri, Redouan Qessaoui, Ab- delaziz Mimouni, and Rachid Bouharroud National Institute of Agronomic Research, Regional Center of Agronomic Research of Agadir, P.O. Box 124, Avenue des FAR, Inezgane, Agadir 86350, Morocco. *Corresponding and pre- senting author: naima.aitaabd@inra.ma. AbstractAbstract The cross-pollination is often insufficient to obtain a desir- able fruit yield in the absence of compatibility between the orchard’s argane trees. Proper pollination design is therefore essential to ensure a supply of compatible pollen. In this study, improvement programs in the argane tree can be fa- cilitated by integrating knowledge of the cytogenetic and microsporogenesis studies. So, during cytological analysis of argane tree meiosis, unreduced pollen has been observed, in parallel with this study, a study on parent chromosomal num- bers detects a chromosomal diversity. Evaluations of fertility and sterility levels in mature pollen were done and strongly depend on both of these tools used. Good cross compatibil- ity has been correlated with aberrant microsporogenesis and variation in number of chromosomes. The cross-compatibili- ty rate depends on cross associations and it varies from 0 to 84 %. For argane tree, it was observed, for the first time, that compatible pollinizers have pollen effects on the weight, size and volume of the fruit and not on the ripening period of the fruits. Keywords:Keywords: Argane tree, breeding program, pollinizers, self-incompatible, chromosomal diversity, compatibility, un- reduced pollen. O3. The Efficacy of Pheromone Traps in Controlling Tomato O3. The Efficacy of Pheromone Traps in Controlling Tomato leafminer, leafminer, Tuta absolutaTuta absoluta Sabbahi Rachid1* and Khalil Azzaoui2 1 Higher School of Technology, Quartier 25 Mars, P.O. Box 3007, Laayoune, Morocco; and Laboratory of Plant Biotech- nology BiotecV, Faculty of Science, University of Ibn Zohr, P.O. Box 8106, Hay Dakhla, Agadir, Morocco; 2 Laboratory of Ap- plied Chemistry and Environment LCAE, Faculty of Science, First Mohammed University, PO Box. 717, 60 000, Oujda, Mo- rocco. *Corresponding and presenting author: r.sabbahi@uiz. ac.ma. AbstractAbstract The development of new operational techniques for moni- toring adult populations of tomato leafminer, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) is regarded as a pressing need for surveillance and control of this major pest of tomato crops. Trap design is an important component of a monitor- ing or mass trapping system, along with the semiochemi- cal attractant. Here we present the results of an experiment carried out in tomato farms to assess the efficacy of a newly designed pheromone trap (i.e., sticky trap) in capturing T. ab- soluta adults and compare it to traditional pheromone traps. Analysis of variance demonstrated significant differences in the number of captures between the three traps. The mean (± SE) number of captures/trap/week in sticky traps was 70.44 ± 4.57, significantly higher than those captured in delta traps (55.94 ± 4.77) and water pan traps (18.63 ± 1.49). The results showed that the newly designed pheromone trap is a prom- ising solution to lessen T. absoluta populations and thereby protecting tomato crops from infestations. Keywords:Keywords: Mass trapping, monitoring, sex pheromone, tomato, trap type, Tuta absoluta. A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) 791 A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) O4. Assessment of East Moroccan Almond Germplasm and O4. Assessment of East Moroccan Almond Germplasm and Selection of Promising Accessions Based on Screw-Pressed Selection of Promising Accessions Based on Screw-Pressed Seed Oil Quality and its Potential for MicropropagationSeed Oil Quality and its Potential for Micropropagation Kodad Souhayla*, Reda Melhaoui, Hana Serghini-Caid, Ahmed El amrani, Malika Abid, and Aatika Mihamou Laboratory of Agricultural Production Improvement, Biotech- nology and Environment (LAPABE), Faculty of Sciences, Mo- hammed Premier University, Oujda, Morocco. *Correspond- ing author: souhaila.kodad@gmail.com. AbstractAbstract The almond (Prunus dulcis Mill.) is one of the most important nut crops worldwide and it is largely planted under differ- ent environmental conditions. The present research aimed to study the traditional almond trees plantations based on seedlings in three sites in eastern Morocco (Rislane, Bsara, and Ainsfa), which represents an important gene pool, both for breeding programs and selection of superior genotypes adapted to Moroccan conditions. Unfortunately, those trees are generally abandoned or replaced, leading to genetic ero- sion and regression of indigenous populations of this spe- cies, while they have an ability to adapt to the most varied pedoclimatic conditions. Thus, finding and characterizing old genotypes for the conservation of biodiversity is of interest to the diversity of crops in these almond groves. The objective of this study is to assess the quality of screw-pressed seed oil based on tocopherol content (TC), acid value (AV), peroxide value (PV), and oxidative stability (OS). 20 genotypes were se- lected according to the highest shelling rates of their kernels from more than 150 “Beldi” almond genotype grown in east- ern Morocco, with a shelling percentage ranging from 24 to 32%. The highest value of the major homolog α-tocopherol was equal to 555,88 mg/kg using a screw press extraction at a temperature of 100 C°. Genotypes singled out as the most promising for breeding and commercial growing were multiplied by in vitro tissue culture techniques. The results showed multiple shoot initiation using Thidiazuron (TDZ) at the concentration of 1mg/L, singled out as the most effective for in vitro proliferation of the “Beldi” ecotype. While the most significant rooting rate (60.41 % ± 0.81) was achieved with 1 mg / L of Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) incorporated into MS½ medium. Plantlets were successfully adapted to the in vivo conditions, and they were grown vigorously in the green- house without any morphological abnormalities. Keywords: Keywords: Almond, biochemical characterization, oil quality, tocopherol content, in vitro tissue culture. Session XIVA: Studies in the USASession XIVA: Studies in the USA Co-Chair: Moulay Abdelmajid Kassem, Fayetteville State Uni-Co-Chair: Moulay Abdelmajid Kassem, Fayetteville State Uni- versity, USAversity, USA Co-Chair: Khalid Meksem, Southern Illinois University, USACo-Chair: Khalid Meksem, Southern Illinois University, USA O1. Attending the Graduate School at Southern Illinois Uni-O1. Attending the Graduate School at Southern Illinois Uni- versityversity Dounya Knizia* School of Agricultural Sciences, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL, USA. *Corresponding and presenting author: dounya.knizia@siu.edu. AbstractAbstract To attend graduate school at Southern Illinois University, the presentation will describe the following steps that a stu- dent will follow to facilitate the application process: (1) take your TOEFL test and score of at least 80%, (2) translate your diplomas and transcripts into the English system by doing a course-by-course evaluation, (3) write your research and personal statements and get them ready for submission, (4) contact a professor (supervisor) who is working in the field of your interest, (5) ask for at least three letters of recommen- dations (LORs) to be sent by your references upon request, (6) apply online at: https://siu.edu/apply-now/ (It takes about one to two months to get an answer about your application), (7) once your application is accepted, apply for the visa on https://www.ustraveldocs.com/ma/ma-niv-visaapply.asp (complete DS-160 form, pay the visa fee), (8) pay the I-901 SEVIS fee ($350), (9) book your air ticket, travel earlier than the start of the semester, and attend the grad school orienta- tion, (10) start looking for lodging before flying to the US, (11) bring with you enough funds to pay for your living expenses for at least 2 months ($3,000) until you get your first pay- check, and (11) keep your supervisor (Major Professor) always informed by email about each step. O2. Undergraduate and Graduate Studies in the USAO2. Undergraduate and Graduate Studies in the USA Moulay Abdelmajid Kassem* Plant Genomics and Biotechnology Lab, Department of Bio- logical Sciences, Fayetteville State University, Fayetteville, NC 28301, USA. *Corresponding and presenting author: mkas- sem@uncfsu.edu. AbstractAbstract USA has many of the world’s most prestigious colleges, uni- versities, institutes, and institutions of higher education. These institutions of higher education are well funded by US government and educate millions of students from US and many parts of the world. In addition, USA has several national labs funded and run by the Dept. of Defense (DoD), National A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) 792 Institute of Health, and several other agencies. Therefore, thousands of international students come to study in the US and earn their degrees. Here, we summarize the process of attending US institutions of higher education step-by-step at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Opportunities and challenges of living in the US as an international student will also be discussed. Keywords: Keywords: Undergraduate, graduate, high- er education, scholarships, USA. Session XV: Student Oral Presentations ISession XV: Student Oral Presentations I Co-Chair: Naoufal Lakhssassi, Southern Illinois University, Co-Chair: Naoufal Lakhssassi, Southern Illinois University, USAUSA Co-Chair: Fatima Zahra Ouasso, University Ibn Zohr, MoroccoCo-Chair: Fatima Zahra Ouasso, University Ibn Zohr, Morocco O1. Biocontrol Potential of Phosphate-Solubilizing Rhizobac-O1. Biocontrol Potential of Phosphate-Solubilizing Rhizobac- teria Isolated from Astragalus armatus Rhizosphere Against teria Isolated from Astragalus armatus Rhizosphere Against Fusarium oxysporumFusarium oxysporum Mounia Bakkali Bouarrakia*, Anas Elyemlahi, Ouiam Elgaliou, Mounir Hassani Zerrouk, Amin Laglaoui, Mohammed Bakkali, and Abdelhay Arakrak Biotechnology and Biomolecular Engineering Research Team, FSTT, Abdelmalek Essadi University, Tetouan, Morocco. *Cor- responding and presenting author: Mounia.bkkl@gmail.com. AbstractAbstract Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are defined as root-colonizing bacteria that positively affect plant growth through direct or indirect mechanisms. With the aim to select beneficial bacteria exhibiting several plant growths promot- ing (PGP) traits, 102 bacteria were isolated from rhizospheric soil of Astragalus armatus growing wildly in Northeastern region of Morocco, of which 40 bacteria were Tri-calcium phosphate solubilizers (PSB). Based on solubilization halos diameter, ten bacterial strains were selected to explore more activities. Indeed, all tested bacteria were siderophores pro- ducers except R29 strain. Only two bacteria, R23 and R32, were positive for indole acetic acid synthesis. For Ammonia, all isolates were able to produce it, while 50% of isolates se- crete hydrogen cyanide. Additionally, bacteria ability to se- crete lytic enzymes was evaluated. All isolates were amylase and cellulase producers, only two bacteria, R29 and R101 se- creted protease, while for urease activity, only R44 strain was negative. All test strains were assessed by tri-calcium phos- phate solubilizing quantitative assay in PVK liquid medium. The obtained concentrations were between 212.93 mg L-1 and 265.28 mg L-1. This solubilization was accompanied by a pH decrease of the medium from 7 to 3.86. Fusarium oxyspo- rum was selected to evaluate the antifungal activity of the se- lected strains due to it high pathogenicity to wide variety of plants. As a result, they could inhibit the fungal growth with significant different percentages. The evaluated strains in this study could be used as biocontrol agents to improve agricul- tural yield and productivity. Keywords: Keywords: PGPR, PSB, Fusarium oxysporum, Astragamus armatus. O2. Effect of Provenance on Yield and Secondary Metabolite O2. Effect of Provenance on Yield and Secondary Metabolite Content of Extracts from Content of Extracts from Juniperus thuriferaJuniperus thurifera in Morocco in Morocco Khalid Benhssaine1*, Jamal Aabdousse2, Nora Salim2, Ilias Ous- sif2, Mohamed Elhabty2, M’hamed Ramchoun3, Younes Ab- bas1, and Hicham Berrougui1 1 Polyvalent team in research and development, Department of Biology and Geology, Polydisciplinary Faculty of Beni Mel- lal, Sulatn Moulay Slimane University Beni Mellal, BP 592, 23000 Beni Mellal, Morocco; 2 Environmental, Ecological and Agro-industrial Engineering Laboratory, Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Sciences and Techniques, Sulatn Moulay Slimane University Beni Mellal, BP 523, 23000 Beni Mellal, Morocco; 3 Biotechnology and sustainable development of natural resources team, Department of Biology and Geology, Polydisciplinary Faculty of Beni Mellal, Sulatn Moulay Slimane University Beni Mellal, BP592, 23000 Beni Mellal, Morocco. *Corresponding and presenting author: benkhalid78@gmail. com. AbstractAbstract Juniperus thurifera is a dioecious tree belonging to the Cu- pressaceae family. It has important ecological, socio-eco- nomic, floristic and cultural interests. It is endemic to the western Mediterranean basin to which belongs Morocco. It is among the Moroccan species less valued and less pre- served. Its stands do not cease that has degraded vigorously. It is distributed in areas with semi-arid and sub-humid bio- climates with cold to very cold variants in the Middle Atlas, the Eastern Anti-Atlas and the Eastern and Central High Atlas and on altitudes ranging from 1800 m to 3300 m and on all types of substrates. In traditional medicine, the essential oils of juniper have been used as abortifacient and regulator of menstruation, while the wood tar is used as veterinary rem- edy. The objective of the present work is to explore the effect of provenance on the yield, phenolic compounds, flavonoids and tannins contents and antioxidant activity of the extracts of the leaves of this species. The results obtained show a sig- nificant variability between the samples coming from three different biogeographic zones: the Eastern, Central and West- ern High Atlas. This allowed us to highlight the effect of the origin on the production of secondary metabolics. In fact, we found that the population of Eastern High Atlas has a good yield in methanolic extracts (9.41% ±0.59) and that the popu- lation of El Haouz is the richest in polyphenols (191.30±4.27), as well as it has endowed an important reducing power (IC50 = 0.98 ± 0.05 mg/ml). These results can be exploited as bio- indicators in any program of valorization and conservation of Moroccan juniper thurifer. Keywords: Juniperus thurifera, provenance, extract, yield, compound, Morocco. A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) 793 O4. Sustainable Soybean [O4. Sustainable Soybean [Glycine max Glycine max (L.) Merr.] Production (L.) Merr.] Production Through the Use of Rhizobium Inoculation and Different Through the Use of Rhizobium Inoculation and Different Sources of Phosphate Fertilizer in GhanaSources of Phosphate Fertilizer in Ghana Alfred Balenor Buernor1*, Muhammad Rabiu Kabiru1, Noura Bechtaoui1, Edwin K. Akley2, Michael Asante2, and Martin Jemo1 1 AgroBioscience Program, University Mohammed VI Poly- technic, Benguerir, Morocco; 2 Council for Scientific and In- dustrial Research-Savanna Agricultural Research Institute (SARI), Tamale, P. O. Box TL 52, Ghana. *Corresponding and presenting author: alfred.balenor@um6p.ma. AbstractAbstract The relevance of biological nitrogen nutrition of soybean is recognized worldwide but inoculation with rhizobium (Rhz) shows variable results, and the benefit needs to be validated under current crop production practices. Also, we wanted to elucidate the effect of Phosphate fertilizer source in combina- tion with inoculants. A total of 9 field experiments in three different soil types namely, Planosols, Plinthosols, and Acri- sols were established in Northern Ghana. The experimental design was a split-plot arranged in a randomized complete block with four replications. The main plot was assigned to different phosphorus sources; control, triple superphosphate (TSP), and 50% TSP + 50% rock phosphate (RP), and the sub- plots to nitrogen sources; control, Rhizobium phaseoli DSM 30137 (S1), Bradyrhizobium japonicum DSM 30140 (S2), Bradyrhizobium japonicum, USDA 110 (SARIFIX) and urea. TSP + Rhizobium application gave the best yield across all three soil types. The average yield due to inoculation only was 1.4t ha-1 while the average for the control was 0.6 t ha-1 representing an average relative yield increase of 138.6%. Treatments with rhizobium inoculant produced heavier nod- ules than their respective controls. SARIFIX together with TSP gave the heaviest dry biomass of about 47% relative increase compared to the control. These results demonstrate the po- tential of improving soybean nodulation, growth, and seed yield profitability using Rhizobia and P fertilizer in Ghana. The strain S2 showed good prospects under all the soil types, fur- ther studies will be needed to validate our findings in other to incorporate this strain into the sustainable soybean farming systems in Ghana. Keywords: Keywords: Soybean, phosphate fertilizer, rhizobium, yield, sustainability. O5. A Moroccan Comparative Study of Urban landscapes O5. A Moroccan Comparative Study of Urban landscapes And Farming Lands in Bird Species: Evidence from Morocco And Farming Lands in Bird Species: Evidence from Morocco (Northwest Africa)(Northwest Africa) Ikram Douini1*, Mohamed Mounir1, El Mostafa Benka1, Mo- hamed Dakki2, and Soumaya Hammada1 1 Agro-industrial and medical biotechnology laboratory, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, Sultan Moulay Slimane University of Beni Mellal, Morocco; 2 Geo-Biodiversity and A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) O3. Actinobacteria-based Biofertilizer Improve Cereal Plant O3. Actinobacteria-based Biofertilizer Improve Cereal Plant Growth and Nutrient Acquisition Under Rock Phosphate/Po-Growth and Nutrient Acquisition Under Rock Phosphate/Po- tassium Fertilizationtassium Fertilization Kenza Boubekri1,2§, Abdoulaye Soumare1, Ilham Mardad1, Karim Lyamlouli1, Yedir Ouhdouch1,2, Mohamed Hafidi1,2*, and Lamfeddal Kouisni1,3 1 AgroBioSciences Program, Mohammed VI Polytechnic Uni- versity (UM6P), Benguerir, 43150, Morocco; 2 Laboratory of Microbial Biotechnologies Agrosciences and Environment (BioMAgE), CNRST Labelled Research Unit N°4, Faculty of Sci- ences Semlalia, Cadi Ayyad University, PO Box 2390, Marrake- ch, Morocco; 3 African Sustainable Agriculture Research Insti- tute (ASARI), Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), Laayoune, Morocco. *Corresponding author: hafidi@uca. ac.ma. §Presenting author: kenza.boubekri@um6p.ma. AbstractAbstract Soil fertility and plant nutrition require an adequate manage- ment of essential macronutrients such as potassium (K) and phosphorus (P), which are mandatory for plant development, crop yield and quality. Although abundant in soils, the avail- ability of P and K is too low to meet plant’s need as they occur mostly in insoluble forms. Therefore, exploiting soil P and K mineral reserve by using beneficial microorganisms as biofer- tilizer can improve their availability and, consequently, crops yield in a sustainable way. In this context, greenhouse experi- ments were conducted to evaluate the capacity of 9 Actino- bacteria strains (P13-P14-P15-P161-P17-P18-BC3-BC10 and BC11) belonging to Streptomyces and Nocardiopsis to solu- bilize P and K rocks. Results showed that rock P and K com- bined with these selected Actinobacteria strains consistently increased shoot/root dry weights, yields, and enhanced soil mineral availability, suggesting their potential use as bio- fertilizer. This positive relationship emphasizes the potential importance of managing P/K solubilizing Actinobacteria for improving both P and K acquisition by cereal crops. The most performing strains were P18, BC3, BC10, and BC11 since they have a broad spectrum of RP and RK solubilization as well as the capacity to produce a plethora of beneficial substances such as IAA, HCN, ammonia, and siderophores. Moreover, in- oculation with these strains improved soil enzymatic activities such as acid and alkaline phosphatase in plant rhizosphere. Moreover, the mechanism of root colonization was also stud- ied. In fact, in-vitro tests and scanning electron microscopy analysis revealed that the elite Actinobacteria strains not only colonized effectively the roots of cereals plants by also formed a strong biofilm along epidermal tissues which high- light the positive interaction between plants and microor- ganism. These findings showed that the selected strains are promising candidates for the implementation of an efficient biofertilization strategy and a sustainable solution to valorize low reactive RP and RK in agriculture. Keywords:Keywords: Actinobacte- ria, Phosphate & Potassium Rock, Biofertilizers, Wheat, Maize, Greenhouse. A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) 794 Natural Patrimony Laboratory, Scientific Institute, University of Mohammed V, Rabat 10106, Morocco. *Corresponding and presenting author: ikram.douini@gmail.com. AbstractAbstract Urban expansion leads to modifications of habitat features, organization, and resources. Bird assemblages are known to respond by escaping destructive changes and adapting to sustainable ones. In this study, we investigated for the first time the avian diversity and its variation following the rural-urban gradient in Beni Mellal (Morocco) from 2018 to 2021. We used the line-transect method and multivariate analysis to demonstrate the selection of breeding habitats. Our result revealed a total of 84 species divided into resident breeders (64.28%), passage migrants (17.85%), breeding mi- grants (26.19%), winter visitors (32.18%) and accidental visi- tors (1.19%). Two globally vulner- able species counting the European Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur and the European Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis were recorded. Breeding popu- lations were concentrated in green spaces (9 spe- cies) locat- ed in the urban zone, compared with farmlands (7 species), peri-urban (3 species), and rural areas (3 species). Therefore, these results reverse the hypothesis that rural and farming lands are more species-rich because of a higher population size. This is due to the abundance of breeding and foraging resources in urban green spaces compared to arid lands sur- rounding cities in this North African area. Furthermore, our study provides a new opportunity for comparative studies of avian diversity in Morocco and Northwest Africa. Keywords: Keywords: Avian diversity, richness, rural-urban gradient, Beni Mellal. O6. Ethnobotanical Survey on Traditional Uses of Saffron By-O6. Ethnobotanical Survey on Traditional Uses of Saffron By- products by Local People from Taliouine Center and Regions products by Local People from Taliouine Center and Regions in Moroccoin Morocco Zineb Khadfy1*, S.M Jadouali1,3, Hajar Atifi1, Rachid Mamouni1, Youssef Karra2, and Abdelghani Tahiri2 1 Team of Materials Catalysis and Valorization of Natural Re- sources, Faculty of Sciences, Ibn Zohr University, Agadir, Mo- rocco; 2 Research Unit Natural Resources and Terroirs Prod- ucts UR RN&PDT-INRA-CRRA, Agadir, Morocco; 3 Laboratory of Biotechnology, Bioresources and Bioinformatics, EST Kheni- fra, Université Sultan Moulay Sliman, Khénifra, Morocco. *Cor- responding authors: khadfyzineb@gmail.com. AbstractAbstract Crocus sativus (saffron) is common in Morocco, especially in the Taliouine regions due to their multiple climatic and alti- tude conditions. The aim of our study is to assess the state of the traditional uses of saffron by-products by local popu- lations in Taliouine and regions. An ethnobotanical survey was conducted with 42 local people and in six communities (Taliouine center, Tassousfi, Sidi Hssaine, Taouyalte, Aska- ouen). The information was obtained from traditional farm- ers and people in different villages through interviews us- ing structured questionnaires. This study was performed in August 2022. As a result, 64% of the population of Taliouine and regions do not valorize saffron by-products, while 36% of respondents report that these by-products are being ex- ploited, in which 16% who work in cooperatives valorizing local products including saffron, presented use of these bio- logical residues in various areas. Cosmetic uses showed the highest percentage (38%), followed by food uses (26%) and then carpet and tablecloth dyeing (26%). The petals (50%) and stamens (42%) were the main used parts. Saffron by- products were mostly used in powder form (69%), followed by maceration form (19%). this survey is the first survey on the traditional uses of saffron by-products by the local pop- ulation of Taliouine and its regions in Morocco. Among the many respondents interviewed, more than 66% of the local population is uneducated, resulting in a low proportion of saffron by-products uses in the six communities. Keywords: Keywords: Ethnobotanical survey, saffron by-products, farmers, tradi- tional uses, Taliouine. Concurent Session XVI: Student Oral Presentations IIConcurent Session XVI: Student Oral Presentations II Co-Chair: Karen Midden, Southern Illinois University, USACo-Chair: Karen Midden, Southern Illinois University, USA Co-Chair: Mohamed Addi, University Mohamed I, MoroccoCo-Chair: Mohamed Addi, University Mohamed I, Morocco O1. Morphological and Physiological Analysis of O1. Morphological and Physiological Analysis of Botrytis ci-Botrytis ci- nerea nerea Field Isolates from VineyardField Isolates from Vineyard Faical Aoujil1,2§, Majida Hafidi1, Hiba Elyahyaoui1,2 , Abdellatif Benbouazza2, and Khaoula Habbadi2* 1 Laboratory of plant Biotechnology and Bio-Resources Valori- zation, Faculty of Sciences, Moulay Ismail University, Meknes 50000, Morocco; 2 Laboratory of Phyto-Bacteriology and Bio- control, Plant Protection Unit-National Institute of Agronomic Research INRA, Meknes 50000, Morocco. *Corresponding au- thor: khaoula.habbadi@inra.ma. §Presenting author: faical. aoujil@edu.umi.ac.ma. AbstractAbstract Botrytis cinerea, causing gray mold rot, is the most important necrotrophic fungal pathogen of grapes. It is responsible of significant economic damage in vineyards worldwide. De- spite the considerable losses caused by this disease, studies related to evaluate the diversity of B. cinerea populations on grapes in Morocco are restricted to very few published reports. Our study has been conducted to analyze the phe- notypic diversity, the aggressiveness and the fungicide resis- tance of Botrytis cinerea isolated from grapevine in different regions of Morocco. The isolates were collected from 7 vine- yards in two regions of Morocco. Seventy-five isolates were obtained and purified by monospore isolation. All the isolates were identified as B. cinerea based on morphological features including mycelia and conidiophores. Botrytis cinerea strains collected showed a considerable morphological variability. A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) 795 A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) 72% of the population collected, developed a sclerotial mor- phology, while 28% belonged to mycelial type. The aggres- siveness of isolates was tested on Vitis vinifera leaves of two grapevine cultivars. All tested isolates were virulent against grape leaves, with different levels of aggressiveness. We use the natural resistance of Botrytis pseudocinerea against fen- hexamid as a phenotypic marker. Six isolates from the col- lection exhibited a high level of resistance to this fungicide, suggesting that it was Botrytis pseudocinerea. Keywords: Keywords: Botrytis cinerea, Botrytis pseudocinerea, Variability, Aggres- siveness. O2. Preliminary Results of Chilling and Heat Requirements O2. Preliminary Results of Chilling and Heat Requirements Estimation of Several Olive (Estimation of Several Olive (Olea europaeaOlea europaea L.) Cultivars: A Sta- L.) Cultivars: A Sta- tistical and Experimental Approachtistical and Experimental Approach Omar Abou-Saaid1,2,3*, Hayat Zaher1, Sara Oulbi1, Magalie Delalande3, Ahmed El Bakkali6, Adnane El Yaacoubi5, Cherka- oui El Modafar2, and Bouchaib Khadari3,4 1 INRA, UR Amélioration des Plantes, Marrakech, Morocco; 2 Université Cadi Ayyad, Centre d’Agrobiotechnologie et Bioin- génierie , Unité de Recherche Labellisée CNRST (URL-CNRST 05), Marrakech, Morocco; 3 AGAP, Université de Montpel- lier, CIRAD, INRA, Montpellier SupAgro, Montpellier, France; 4 Conservatoire Botanique National Méditerranéen de Porqu- erolles (CBNMed), UMR AGAP, Montpellier, France; 5 Univer- sity Sultan Moulay Slimane, École supérieur de technologie Khenifra, Khenifra, Morocco; 6 INRA, UR Amélioration des Plantes et Conservation des Ressources Phytogénétiques, Meknès, Morocco. *Corresponding and presenting author: omar.abousaaid@gamil.com. AbstractAbstract In the global warming context, knowledge of the dormancy- chilling requirement of olive tree has become a key consid- eration in orchard planning and management, as well as for breeding programs aiming to select new adapted cultivars. Identifying the period for chilling by pinpointing the exact start and end dates of olive cultivars is still difficult and ulti- mately based on the researchers’ subjective judgment. How could we define chilling and heat periods for olive cultivars? Here, we examine this question by combining statistical and experimental approaches. We applied Partial Least Squares (PLS) regression using blooming data collected on 16 cultivars in the worldwide collection of Marrakech during six years. To determine the time of dormancy breaking for these cultivars, we applied the Tabuenca test under controlled growth condi- tions. Dates of dormancy breaking delineated by Tabuenca tests were consistent with data derived from PLS outputs for 7 cultivars, while the two approaches show different dates of budburst for the other cultivars. Our investigations highlight the importance to combine statistical and experimental ap- proaches to accurately define chilling and heat phases. Key-Key- words: words: Olea europaea L., Global warming, Phenology, PLS re- gression, Chilling and heat requirements, Tabuenca test. O3. Mitigation of Drought and Phosphorus Deficiency Stress-O3. Mitigation of Drought and Phosphorus Deficiency Stress- es in Intercropped Wheat and Faba bean Plants Through Rhi-es in Intercropped Wheat and Faba bean Plants Through Rhi- zobium-PGPR-Based Consortia Inoculationzobium-PGPR-Based Consortia Inoculation Bouchra Benmrid1§, Hicham Oukfi1, Said Cheto1,2, Ammar Ibn Yassar1, Meryem Haddine1, Joerg Geistlinger3, Youssef Zer- oual4, Lamfeddal Kouisni1, Cherki Ghoulam1,2*, and Adnane Bargaz1 1 Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, AgroBiosciences, Plant-Microbe Interaction, Benguerir, Morocco; 2 Center of Agrobiotechnology & Bioengineering, Research Unit Labeled CNRST, FST, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech, Morocco, 3 An- halt University of Applied sciences, Bernbourg, Germany; 4 OCP-Innovation, Jorf Lasfar El Jadida, Morocco. *Correspond- ing author: Ghoulam.Cherki.@um6p.ma. §Presenting author: Bouchra.benmrid@um6p.ma. AbstractAbstract Drought and phosphorus (P) deficiency are among the ma- jor challenges facing current agriculture. Phosphorus avail- ability depends on soil water status, both of which have a negative impact on plant productivity. Farming practices like intercropping showed positive facilitative interactions which may contribute to enhancing plants nutritional status, like P, under water deficit condition. Thus, we hypothesized that the application of multibacterial inoculants, presenting some main growth promoting traits, constitutes a promising strategy to improve the performance of associated crops in intercropping system under stress combining drought and P deficiency. Thus, we conducted a greenhouse experiment to evaluate the performance of three rhizobia-containing consortia and single rhizobia inoculation on the growth of intercropped and sole-cropped wheat (Triticum durum) and faba bean (Vicia faba) plants under P-deficient well-watered (rock Phosphate (RP), 80 % field capacity (FC)), or drought P- deficient (RP, 40 % FC) treatments versus a positive control (Monoammonium di-phosphate (MAP), 80% FC). The re- sults showed that consortium 4 (C4) is more likely adapted to well-watered P-deficient conditions. Indeed, shoot dry weight (SDW) of intercropped wheat and faba bean reached up to 4.7 g. 4 plants-1 and 14.35 g. plants-1, respectively. In- oculated faba bean roots were well-nodulated under both well-watered (P deficient) and combined stress conditions compared to non-inoculated controls, with C4 inducing the highest nodule dry weight (NDW) under well-watered and drought stressed conditions, for both faba bean sole crop and intercrop respectively. Additionally, a significant, variable response of the rhizobia-containing consortia was noticed for the morphophysiological root traits, shoot inorganic P content (Pi), and acid phosphatase (APase activity) compared to non-inoculated RP fertilized controls. Additionally, above- ground physiological parameters, notably chlorophyll con- tent, chlorophyll fluorescence, and plant leaf area were also improved following consortia inoculation, compared to the negative controls, whatever the cropping pattern or water re- A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) 796 gime. The results indicate that the inoculation of intercropped wheat and faba bean with mixed bacterial inoculants may be a promising solution to enhance crops growth under drought and P-deficiency stresses. Keywords:Keywords: Consortia, drought, faba bean, intercropping, phosphate, rhizobacteria, wheat. O4. Does Phosphogypsum Application Affect Salts, Nutrients, O4. Does Phosphogypsum Application Affect Salts, Nutrients, and Trace Elements Displacement from Saline Soils?and Trace Elements Displacement from Saline Soils? Outbakat MBarka1§, Redouane Choukr-Allah1, Mohamed EL Gharous1, Kamal EL Omari2, Aziz Soulaimani1, and Khalil EL Mejahed1* 1 Agricultural Innovation and Technology Transfer Center (AITTC), Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Benguerir, Morocco; 2 OCP S.A., Sustainability & Green Industrial Devel- opment (SGID), Casablanca, Morocco. *Corresponding au- thor: khalil.elmejahed@um6p.ma. §Presenting author: mbar- ka.OUTBAKAT@um6p.ma. AbstractAbstract Salinity and sodicity are the most agricultural challenges in arid and semi-arid regions. A pot experiment was undertaken, to evaluate the effect of Phosphogypsum (PG) and Gypsum (G), to remove salts, nutrients and trace elements in leached water from saline and saline-sodic soils. In order to determine the efficiency and safety of these amendments, as an afford- able strategy, for overcoming salinity and sodicity stress. The PG at 0, 15, 30 and 45 t/ ha and G at 15 t/ha were mixed with the upper 9 cm soil in the pot before being leached. The soils were collected from Sed El Masjoune and Sidi El Mokhtar ar- eas of morocco with ECe of 140.6 mS/cm and 11.7 mS/cm re- spectively. The highest doses of PG (≥30 t/ha) removed signif- icant amount of salts and nutrients. Calcium sulfate supplies calcium ions to replace salt ions (sodium, especially). The replaced salts are leached from the soil. The PG was more ef- ficient compared to G in terms of salts leaching. Quantities of trace elements in the leachate, for most analyzed elements, were below the recommended limits of drinking and irriga- tion water. Because the experiment’s alkaline conditions (ba- sic water and soil) reduce the solubility and mobility of trace elements. The amendment application did not affect satura- tion index (SI) of the main minerals. Keywords:Keywords: Soil salinity and sodicity, phosphogypsum, gypsum, leached water, plant nutrients, trace elements, saturation index. O5. Effect of PGPRs and Water-Hope on Potato GrowthO5. Effect of PGPRs and Water-Hope on Potato Growth El Allaoui Nadia1,2§, Allal Douira2, Abdellatif Benbouazza1, El Hassan Achbani1, and Khaoula Habbadi1* 1 Laboratory of Phytobacteriology and Biological Control, URPP-INRA-Meknes, Morocco; 2 Plant, Animal and Agro-in- dustrial Production Lab, Department of Life and Earth Sci- ences, Faculty of Sciences, Kenitra, Morocco. *Corresponding author: khaoula.habbadi@inra.ma. §Presenting author: nadi- aelallaoui5@gmail.com. AbstractAbstract The potato is a plant of the nightshade family which is cul- tivated for its tubers. This reserve organ is a staple food for many populations in the world and more specifically in Mo- rocco. However the potato can be the target of different diseases and pathogens which decrease its growth and con- sequently its yield, in order to fight or minimize biologically against these, there are bacteria which are beneficial to health and growth plants, and which have the ability to colonize the roots intensely which are the PGPRs (Plant Growth Promot- ing Rhizobacteria). The objective of this work is to study the effect of two bacterial strains (S1=GAJ222 and S2=GAB111) on potato growth by adding Water-Hope as a water-retain- ing substrate under form of two different doses (D1=3g and D2=1,5g), and this carrying out two field trials on two sites AIN-TAOUJTATE and DOUIYAT and over two successive years 2020-2021. On the other hand, the GAJ222 strains showed an efficiency of 75% on the growth of the potato in the presence of Water-Hope with the second dose of 1,5g withe 75%. Key-Key- words:words: Potato, Growth, PGPRs, Water-Hope. O6. Genome Wide Association Study of Hessian Fly Resis-O6. Genome Wide Association Study of Hessian Fly Resis- tance in Bread Wheat (tance in Bread Wheat (Triticum aestivumTriticum aestivum L.) L.) Imseg Imane1,2*, El Gataa Zakaria, Samir Karima, El bouhssini Mustapha, and Wuletaw Tadesse 1 International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Ar- eas (ICARDA), P. O. Box 6299, Rabat, Morocco; 2 Ecology and Environment Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences, University Has- san II, Casablanca, Morocco. *Corresponding and presenting author: AbstractAbstract Hessian Fly (HF), Mayetiola destructor (Say), is an important pest of wheat, causing huge yield losses every year. In Mo- rocco, this insect causes 32–36% wheat yield losses during dry years. The present study was carried out on 210 bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes from the Interna- tional Center for Agricultural Research in Dry Areas (ICARDA) to identify the genomic region and marker-trait associations (MTA) responsible for the Hessian Fly resistance and putative genes associated with this trait. The screening was carried out in the growth chamber using a population of the Hes- sian Fly Mayetiola destructor (Say), collected from Chaouia Ouardigha. The 210 genotypes tested showed various de- grees of resistance to the Hessian Fly; there were eighty-six accessions with high levels of resistance to the Hessian Fly. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) using a mixed lin- ear model (MLM) identified 20 significant marker-trait asso- ciations (MTAs) at P < 0.001 associated with Hessian Fly resis- tance. The highest number of MTA (10) was recorded in the A sub-genome, followed by B with 9 (MTA). Whereas 1 MTA was found with an unknown chromosome position, the most significant marker is AX-95143016 located in chromosome A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) 797 A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) 3B with a LOD of 10,23453. After mapping the 20 significant markers associated with Hessian Fly resistance, there were 14 potential candidate genes found. This study found highly re- sistant genotypes and significant markers that could be used in wheat breeding programs in the future. Keywords:Keywords: Hessian Fly, GWAS , MTA , Resistance , Breeding , Candidate genes. Session I: Hemp and Cannabis ProductionSession I: Hemp and Cannabis Production Co-Chair: Karla Gage, Southern Illinois University, USACo-Chair: Karla Gage, Southern Illinois University, USA Co-Chair: Jose Leme, Southern Illinois University, USACo-Chair: Jose Leme, Southern Illinois University, USA O1. Effect of Biostimulants on Cannabis Productivity and Soil O1. Effect of Biostimulants on Cannabis Productivity and Soil Microbial Activity Under Outdoor ConditionsMicrobial Activity Under Outdoor Conditions Jose Leme* School of Forestry and Horticulture, Sothern Illinois Univer- sity, Carbondale, IL 62901, USA. *Corresponding and present- ing author: jose.leme@siu.edu. AbstractAbstract The illegal status of cannabis (Cannabis sativa L.) post-World War II resulted in a lack of research on agricultural practices. However, there is a resurgence of interest in cannabis due to diverse uses such as a rich source of cellulosic/woody fiber and construction uses, seed oil, bioenergy, and pharmaceu- tical properties. The fact that few agricultural products are certified for cannabis leaves producers with scarce alter- natives to facilitate management and increase productiv- ity. Organic certified plant biostimulants may help cannabis producers increase crop yield and quality. In 2019 and 2020 we investigated the individual and combined effects of two biofertilizers (manure tea and bioinoculant) and one humic acid (HA) product on cannabis biochemical and physiological parameters and soil CO2 evolution under outdoor conditions. Our hypothesis was that HA would increase the microbial activity in the biofertilizers and synergy of both compounds would promote better plant performance and stimulate soil microbial activity. In 2020, the individual and combined ap- plication of biofertilizers and HA increased cannabis height, chlorophyll content, photosynthetic efficiency, aboveground biomass, and bucked biomass by 105, 52, 43, 122 and 117%, respectively. Impacts were greater under suboptimal grow- ing conditions caused by planting delay experienced in 2020. In 2019, planting date occurred in-between the most favor- able period and chlorophyll content and photosynthetic ef- ficiency were the only parameters influenced by the appli- cation of biostimulants. The discrepancies between the two growing seasons reinforce the evidence of other studies that biostimulants efficacy is maximized under stress conditions. This study could not conclusively confirm that the combined use of biofertilizer + HA is a superior practice since affected plant parameters did not differ from application of the com- pounds singly. Similarly, only one biofertilizer + HA treatment increased soil microbial activity. More research is needed to ORAL PRESENTATIONS ABSTRACTSORAL PRESENTATIONS ABSTRACTS CANNAVIS & HEMP SCIENCES & ENTREPRENEUR-CANNAVIS & HEMP SCIENCES & ENTREPRENEUR- SHIP DAY - WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2022SHIP DAY - WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2022 A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) 798 define optimum rates and combinations of biofertilizer and stimulants for cannabis. O2. Fusarium Species Threaten Postharvest CannabisO2. Fusarium Species Threaten Postharvest Cannabis Nicole Gauthier*, D Szarka, H Smith, E Dixon, M Munir, and M Rahnama Department of Plant Pathology, University of Kentucky, Lex- ington, KY, USA. *Corresponding author: ngauthier@uky.edu AbstractAbstract As hemp becomes established as a commodity in the US, con- tinued cultivation results in pathogen build up and increased disease severity. This also demands a greater understand- ing of the pathogens that affect the consumable portions such as flowers and grain. Several Fusarium species that are known to produce mycotoxins have been confirmed patho- genic on hemp in Kentucky. Several of the resulting toxins are regulated in grains used for human and animal consump- tion (DON, NIV, T-2), therefore Fusarium management is criti- cal. Determining which Fusarium species infect hemp is the first step to producing safe material. While several studies are ongoing regarding field disease, there have been no studies regarding stored hemp. Postharvest material can remain in barns or supersacks for months or years before processing. Harvested and stored floral material for production of can- nabidiol (CBD) were collected from 17 field sites across Ken- tucky from 2019 and 2020 harvests. Material was screened using a Fusarium-selective medium and DNA sequencing. At least 13 different species were confirmed, including known mycotoxin-producers F. equiseti, F. graminearum, F. incarna- tum, and F. sporotrichioides. Additional research is essential to determine pathogenicity of these species and whether they can produce toxins dangerous for humans and animals. Such information is crucial to determine how to store hemp, manage infected material, and promote successful produc- tion of hemp products. Keywords: Keywords: Cannabis, hemp, Fusarium, mycotoxin, postharvest, storage. O3. Hemp and Cannabis Insect Pest ManagementO3. Hemp and Cannabis Insect Pest Management Katelyn Kesheimer* Department of Entomology & Plant Pathology, Auburn University, USA. *Corresponding and presenting author: kak0083@auburn.edu AbstractAbstract Not provided O4. Weed and Crop Interactions in Cannabis ProductionO4. Weed and Crop Interactions in Cannabis Production Karla Gage* Department of Plant, Soil and Agricultural Systems, Sothern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901, USA. *Corresponding and presenting author: kgage@siu.edu. AbstractAbstract There is rapid evolution of herbicide resistance in agronomic weeds in US cropping systems. This phenomenon repre- sents the extreme selection pressure caused by a reliance upon herbicides for weed control. Therefore, there is a need for alternative methods of weed control to incorporate into current production systems. Integrated Weed Management (IWM) is the concept of diversifying weed management to include cultural, mechanical, biological, and chemical weed control tactics in combination. The Cannabis sativa L. plant (hemp, <0.03 % tetrahydrocannabinol) could be used in a IWM program in a cultural control tactic, through the prac- tice of crop rotation with maize (Zea mays L.) and soybean (Glycine max L.) in US cropping systems. Federal legislation passed in 2014 allows a new possibility for hemp to be used for fiber and seed production in the US, and hemp has the potential to become a valuable rotational crop if commodity markets develop. Several characteristics of the Cannabis plant may enhance value as a rotational crop. Our work suggests that Cannabis plants produce potentially allelopathic phyto- chemicals that may suppress the emergence and growth of economically damaging weeds. Allelochemicals may provide value in certain forms of IWM approaches, such as chaff lin- ing, a practice where weed seeds are deposited into crop resi- due as weeds and crops are harvested at the end of season. Our work also suggests that Cannabis can be a competitive crop in some production situations, where yields were not re- duced with heavy weed competition. However, Cannabis for fiber and seed is still a new, potential crop in the US and basic knowledge regarding agronomic production is lacking. Poor agronomic practices that reduce the early establishment of a Cannabis crop in the field will negatively impact the value of the crop for weed suppression. Our research has also docu- mented some agronomic challenges, such as negative im- pacts of heavy spring rainfalls and soils that have high levels of silt and clay. There is much work to be done to develop Cannabis as a fiber and seed crop in the midwestern US. O5. The Problem with PPFD: Advances in Cannabis Lighting O5. The Problem with PPFD: Advances in Cannabis Lighting Technology and TerminologyTechnology and Terminology Brian Gandy* Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901, USA. *Cor- responding and presenting author: brian.gandy@valoya. com. AbstractAbstract Cannabis cultivation technology and horticultural lighting technologies have been driven by the explosion of growth in the industry. The legalization of cannabis in the United States A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) 799 and other markets along with the evolution of chip and op- tics technological efficiencies and engineering are combined to offer many new avenues of exploration. Light Emitting Di- ode (LED)-based lighting technology provides the opportu- nity to apply wavelengths that target photosynthesis in the Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) range of 400 to 700 nm. In addition, we can now target the Extended PAR (ePAR) range from ~300 to– 780 nm, exploring the morphological and physiological effects of Ultraviolet (UV) and Far-Red (FR or NIR) ranges. LED lighting has been touted for its improve- ments in efficiency, which on the surface are true. However, the primary benefit (and challenge) to this shift in technology is the de-coupling of heat and light energies to the canopy from the lighting source. The efficiency gains and distance to canopy improvements require more nuanced control of the other environmental parameters to reap the benefits. In particular, the full understanding and utilization of the Vapor Pressure Deficit (VPD) is needed, as well as understanding and automating the quality of light to gain desired yields and results. Terminology for horticultural lighting is an amalgam of radiometric lighting, typically used in to define human per- ception along with agronomic terminology used to define en- ergy delivered to field crops like corn and soybeans, directly from the sun (i.e. Inverse Square Law and Daily Light Integral (DLI) respectively). Historically, crops grown in controlled en- vironments had a much smaller stature and much more 2-di- mensional canopy to design and apply lighting applications toward. The exceptions are vining crops like cucumber and tomato that often utilize inter-canopy lighting and can be grown on their 2-dimensional vertical planes. The morphol- ogy of cannabis as a tall, bushy, and flowering plant with a dense canopy provides a unique challenge, and opportunity to further our understanding of the physics, application, and terminology used to specify and optimize horticultural light- ing in controlled environments. Session II: Hemp and Cannabis Programs Initiatives in Mo-Session II: Hemp and Cannabis Programs Initiatives in Mo- roccorocco Co-Chair: Noureddine El Aouad, Abdelmalek Essaadi Univer-Co-Chair: Noureddine El Aouad, Abdelmalek Essaadi Univer- sity, Moroccosity, Morocco Co-Chair: Mouad Chentouf, INRA, MoroccoCo-Chair: Mouad Chentouf, INRA, Morocco O1. INRA Hemp and Cannabis InitiativeO1. INRA Hemp and Cannabis Initiative Mouad Chentouf* and Foaouzi Bekkaoui INRA, Morocco. *Corresponding and presenting author: AbstractAbstract Not provided. O2. Abdelmalek Essaadi University’s Hemp and Cannabis Ini-O2. Abdelmalek Essaadi University’s Hemp and Cannabis Ini- tiativetiative Noureddine El Aouad* Polydisciplinary Faculty of Larache. University Abdelmalek Essaadi, Larache, Morocco. *Corresponding and presenting author: n.elaouad@uae.ac.ma AbstractAbstract Not provided. O3. New Approach for the Screening for Modulatory Activi-O3. New Approach for the Screening for Modulatory Activi- ties of Polymerization Depolymerization of Tubulins by Can-ties of Polymerization Depolymerization of Tubulins by Can- nabinoidsnabinoids Anissi Jaouad1*, Khalid Sendide2, Mohamed El Hassouni3, and Salim Bounou1 1 School of Engineering BIOMEDTECH, University EUMROMED of Fes, Fes, Morocco; 2 Laboratoty of Biotechnology, School of Science and Engineering, Al Akhawayn university, Av. Hassan II, P. O Box 104-Ifrane; 3 Laboratoire de Biotechnologie, Faculté des Sciences Dhar El Mehrez, Université Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah, Fés, Morocco. *Corresponding and presenting au- thor: j.anissi@ueuromed.org. AbstractAbstract Cannabinoids have been recognized as possessing antican- cer properties by inducing cell cycle arrest. This paper aims to assess the hypothesis that tubulins/microtubules are among the targets of cannabinoids in the anti-proliferation process. Twenty-two cannabinoids were isolated from the aerial parts of C. sativa using a green process for extraction and purifica- tion. Their structures were characterized by detailed spectro- metric and spectroscopic analysis. Subsequently, we carried out an in vitro screening of the modulation effect of cannabi- noids on purified tubulins polymerization and depolymeriza- tion with IC50 values in the range of 1.5 μmol/L, and constant rates in average of 0.19 μM/s paclitaxel equivalent. The results show that several cannabinoids exhibit remarkable modula- tion activities of tubulin polymerization/depolymerization with a constant rate exceeding those observed with the stan- dard paclitaxel. Besides, results obtained provided a structure activity relationship that would be used to design new anti- cancer agent. Keywords:Keywords: Cannabinoids, tubulin polymeriza- tion, tubulin depolymerization. O4. Genetic Identification, Chemical and Biological Investiga-O4. Genetic Identification, Chemical and Biological Investiga- tion of Moroccan tion of Moroccan Cannabis sativaCannabis sativa L. Seeds L. Seeds Amira Metouekel1§, Elmostfa El Fahime2*, Saïd El Kazzouli1, and Nabil El Brahmi1 1 Euromed Research Center, Euromed Faculty of Pharmacy, Euromed University of Fes (UEMF), Meknes Road, Fez 30000, Morocco; 2 Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique et Technique (CNRST), Angle Avenues des FAR et Allal El Fassi, Hay Ryad, Rabat 10102, Morocco. *Corresponding author: melfahime@gmail.com. §Presenting author: A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) 800 AbstractAbstract Cannabis contains an interesting group of natural metabo- lites that apply their actions by binding to specific receptors in different part of the human body such as the central ner- vous system, peripheral tissues and particularly the immune system. Recently, the interest on its main active secondary metabolites as therapeutic alternatives has grown. For their applications as pharmaceutical and medicinal purposes and according to the major national problem of cannabis’ genetic identification, we conducted an in-depth genetic-chemical study on various Moroccan cannabis samples. In this com- munication, we will present a part of our study carried out on ten varieties of cannabis seeds originating from the north Morocco. A botanical, morphological, and biomolecular iden- tification as well as, the total chemical composition studies using different analytical techniques. Finally, the biological properties of different seed extracted were also assessed. Keywords: Keywords: Cannabis, seed, molecular identification, chemical characterization, biological properties. O5. Efficient Removal of Eriochrome Black-T Dye Using Acti-O5. Efficient Removal of Eriochrome Black-T Dye Using Acti- vated Carbon of Waste Hemp (vated Carbon of Waste Hemp (Cannabis sativabisCannabis sativabis L.) Grown in L.) Grown in Northern Morocco Enhanced by New Mathematical ModelsNorthern Morocco Enhanced by New Mathematical Models Fouad El Mansouri1,2*, Joaquim Esteves da Silva2, and Jamal Brigui1 1 Research Team: Materials, Environment and Sustainable Development (MEDD), Faculty of Sciences and Techniques of Tangier, University Abdelmalek Assaadi, BP 416 Tangier 90000, Morocco; 2 Chemistry Research Unit (CIQUP), DGAOT, Faculty of Sciences of University of Porto, R. Campo Alegre 697, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal. *Corresponding and present- ing author: fouad.elmansouri@etu.uae.ac.ma. AbstractAbstract In this study, the adsorption behavior of Eriochrome Black T (EBT) on waste hemp activated carbon (WHAC) was inves- tigated. The surface of the WHAC was modified by H3PO4 acid treatment. The surface and structural characterization of the adsorbents was carried out using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron micros- copy (SEM) analysis. The effect of influential adsorption pa- rameters (pH, contact time, dosage, and initial concentration) on the adsorption of EBT onto WHAC was examined in batch experiments, some adsorption parameters such as pH, con- centration and dose were improved by new mathematical models. The adsorption behavior of EBT on the surfaces of WHAC was evaluated by applying different isotherm models (Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin and Dubinin Radushkevich) on equilibrium data. The adsorption kinetics was studied by using pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, Elovich and intraparticle models on the model. Adsorption followed the pseudo-second-order rate kinetics. The maximum removal of EBT was found to be 44-62.08% by WHAC at pH= 7, adsorbent dose of 10-70 mg, contact time of 3 h and initial dye concen- tration of 10 mg.L-1. The maximum adsorption capacities were 14.025 mg.g-1 obtained by calculated according to the Langmuir model, while the maximum removal efficiency was obtained at 70 mg equal to 62.08% for the WHAC. Regard- ing the adsorption process is physical on the monolayer and multilayer. Keywords:Keywords: Cannabis waste; isotherms; Eriochrome Black T; biosorbent, mathematical models. O5. UM6P Initiative on Cannabis sativa ValorizationO5. UM6P Initiative on Cannabis sativa Valorization Mohamed Hafidi1, Lamfeddal Kouisni2, Mohamed El Gharous3, Khalil El Mejahed3, Loubna El Fels1, Rachid Bouharroud4, Red- ouan Qessaoui4, Aziza Tangi3, Khadija Nasraoui3, Mohamed Louay Metougui3, Adil Mazar2, Abdelaziz Nilahyane2§, Youssef El Kharrassi2, and Amine Ezzariai2* 1 Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech, Morocco; 2 Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, African Sustainable Agriculture Re- search Institute (ASARI), Laayoune, Morocco; 3 Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, African Innovation and Technology Transfer Center (AITTC), Benguerir, Morocco; 4 INRA Agadir, Morocco. *Corresponding author: amine.ezzariai@um6p.ma. §Presenting author: abdelaziz.nilahyane@um6p.ma. AbstractAbstract Moroccan agriculture challenges require developing bio- masses valorization with high added value. Cannabis sativa L is characterized by several properties that encourage the valorization of this plant in several areas, such as agriculture and medicine. Hence, CannabiVal project aims to develop sci- entific and strategic solutions for the valorization of cannabis through advanced biochemical extraction methods and in- novative bioprocesses, for promising applications. The final products that will be developed through CannabiVal project will be tested in many experimental farms (Laâyoune, Ben- guerir, Agadir). This integrated approach will provide an origi- nal roadmap for the valorization of Cannabis sativa L and its derivatives in Morocco. Keywords: Keywords: Cannabis sativa L, Valoriza- tion, Biochemical extraction, Bioprocesses. O5. Legalization of Cannabis in Morocco: Valorization of O5. Legalization of Cannabis in Morocco: Valorization of Hemp Seeds for Oil Extraction and their Incorporation into Hemp Seeds for Oil Extraction and their Incorporation into Poultry FeedPoultry Feed Elamrani Ahmed1*, Y Taafi1,3, Y Rbah1, A Allay1, C Benkirane1, A Far-hat2, E Azeroual3, K Belhaj1,4, F Mansouri, R Melhaoui1, M Addi1, M Abid1, A Mihamou1, and Caid H Serghini1 1 Equipe Agroalimentaire, LAPABE, Faculté des sciences, Uni- versité Mohammed Premier, Oujda, Morocco; 2 Agence natio- nale de Plantes Médicinales & Aromatiques, Taounate, Mo- rocco; 3 Institut Royal d’Elevage, Fouarat, Kenitra, Morocco; 4 Laboratoire de Management de l’Agriculture Durable, EST Sidi Bennour, Université Chouaib Doukkali, El Jadida, Moroc- co. *Corresponding and presenting author: ahmed.elamrani@ A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) 801 gmail.com AbstractAbstract In May 2021, the Moroccan parliament adopted Law No. 13- 21 (1) on the decriminalization and legalization of cannabis farming for medical, cosmetic and industrial use. Canna- bis agribusiness mainly values the leaf parts and flowering tops of the plant; thus, it generates many co-products such as woody stems, branches and cannabis seeds. This opens a research field aimed at minimizing and efficiently managing this issue to support the concept of zero waste. This collab- orative work (between UMP-Oujda, ANPMA-Taounate and IRTSEF Kenitra), focus on the chemical characterization of cannabis seeds, hemp seed oil and the agro-industrial valori- zation of whole seeds and cakes (residues from the extraction of oil from hemp seeds), by incorporating them into poultry feed. For this reason, the chemical composition and lipid pro- file of cannabis seeds of a local ecotype (Beldia) and a hybrid variety (Critical), from four regions of northern Morocco, were analyzed. Results registered show that biochemical composi- tion of analyzed hemp seeds vary as follows: Protein (19.25 - 24.18%), fiber (26.40 - 37.40%, ash (3.72 - 5.39%), phenols (134.57 - 199.90 mg/100 g) and flavonoids (39.40 - 69.54 mg/100 g. In addition, oil recovery from hemp seed ranges from 26.42 to 35.19 g%, its tocopherols content varies be- tween 376.46 and 796.06 mg/kg oil, with -tocopherol as the dominant isoform. “Rancimat test” for oil oxidation stability at 100°C ranged from 9.73 to 15.42h. The fatty acid profiles of hemp seed oils analyzed by CPG-FID show richness in un- saturated fatty acids (UFA: 87.30 to 88.96%) The main UFA are: Linoleic acid (48.26 - 55.39%) followed by Oleic acid (14.75 - 22.49%) and -Linolenic acid (13.27-16,55 %). Moreover, op- timal conditions extraction allows achieving the maximum TPC (53.65 mg GAE per g extract) with higher antioxidant activities. The major phenolic coumpounds identified by HPLC-DAD/ESI-MS2 are hydroxycinnamic acid amides and lignanamides, while N-trans-caffeoyltyramine, cannabisin A, and cannabisin B might contribute strongly to the potent an- tioxidant activity of hempseed extracts. These results are in line with what is reported in the literature (2, 3) and they are currently used for the industrial valorization of hemp seeds. For instance, the incorporation of (whole or ground) hemp seeds as an ingredient in the formulation of feed for laying hens with a view to produce omega 3-eggs. As well, hemp seed oils and bioactive molecules extracted from cakes are intended for use cosmetics or for medical and therapeutic purposes. Keywords:Keywords: Hemp seeds oil, Oxidation stability, UFA, tocopherols, phenols Layer hen, Omega 3-eggs. Session III. Hemp, Cannabis, and EntrpreneurshipSession III. Hemp, Cannabis, and Entrpreneurship Co-Chair: Khalid Meksem, Southern Illinois University, USACo-Chair: Khalid Meksem, Southern Illinois University, USA O1. A Pre-Scientific Expertise, Validating Moroccan Landrace O1. A Pre-Scientific Expertise, Validating Moroccan Landrace Hemp for Architectural Science and Lightweight CompositesHemp for Architectural Science and Lightweight Composites Monika Brümmer* Coopérative Adrar Nouh, Morocco and Cannatektum Habitat and Materials Science, S.L., Spain. Corresponding and pre- senting author: info@cannabric.com and firtagourth@gmail. com. AbstractAbstract Energy-efficient building materials are increasingly attracting material science and architecture in the past decades. Novel formulations are based on the use of residues from agricul- ture to produce carbon storing insulation materials and light- weight bio aggregate concretes, replacing materials from non-renewable and energy intense synthetic and mineral re- sources. In addition, the valorization of agricultural products to develop into premade building materials might be a novel challenge of employment in remote rural regions, like the Moroccan Upper Central Rif. The use of plant-based materi- als in the energetic retrofit of vernacular housings and rurally inspired, bio constructive ways of building, might be an ad- ditional venture for socio-economic development and valo- rization of architectural heritage. This paper reports on the expertise of employing stem materials of Moroccan landrace hemp, treated as a waste product of cannabinoid farming, in the preparation of lightweight composites and other build- ing materials. The construction of two houses, in Benguerir (South Morocco) and Issaguen (Nord Morocco), has shown that Moroccan Beldiya hemp stem materials can be used and perform similar like industrial hemp building products and allow versatile solutions in architecture. The stem materials have been used untreaded or processed locally into hemp aggregates (Hurds) and hemp wool. The Hurds were used in self bearing and load bearing hemp concretes whereas the wool was used in hemp fiber concretes, masonry mortar re- inforcement and hemp fiber composite. The present work emphasizes some fundamental parameters of hemp raw materials and composites and seeks to provide a useful tool for future research into sustainable building materials from Moroccan landrace hemp, and more efficient recycling of the waste produced by human activities. Keywords:Keywords: Moroccan landrace hemp, beldiya hemp, hemp concrete, hemp light- weight composite, hemp stem materials, hemp hurd, hemp fiber, hemp-built architecture, basis of sustainable design. O2. Hemp (O2. Hemp (Cannabis sativaCannabis sativa L.) Seed and Its Cake Inclusion in L.) Seed and Its Cake Inclusion in Animal NutritionAnimal Nutrition Belhaj Kamal1*, Larb Allaii1, Yassine Taaifi2, Farid Mansouri2, Embarek Azeroual3, Hana Serghini-Caid2, and Ahmed Elam- rani2 1 Laboratoire de Management de l’Agriculture Durable, EST Sidi Bennour, Université Chouaib Doukkali, El Jadida, Moroc- co; 2 Equipe agroalimentaire, laboratoire ‘LAPAB E’, Faculté des Sciences, Université Mohammed Premier, Oujda, Morocco; 3 Institut Royal d’Elevage (IRTSE-F), Fouarat, Kenitra, Morocco. A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) 802 *Corresponding and presenting author: belhaj.kamal90@ gmail.com. AbstractAbstract Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) has great potential as a useful plant. The hempseeds are an important source of several es- sential nutrients particularly the polyunsaturated fatty acids n-3 and digestible protein. In the last decades, the consum- ers have become more aware and demand healthy foods exempt from synthetic origin substances. The fatty acid (FA) profile of animal products reflects both the FA of tissues and those of ingested lipids. The omega-6/omega-3 ratio remains the main criterion for evaluating the fat quality of foodstuffs and should be lower than the 4-value recommended by the WHO/FAO. Currently, this ratio turns out to be 10 to 30 times more omega-6 than omega-3. These findings indicate a defi- ciency in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) n-3. In response to the concerns of the health organizations and health-con- scious consumers, research in meat and egg production has focused on the diminution of the omega-6/omega-3 ratio, by enhancing the content of PUFA n−3. Animal products are im- portant sources of essential amino acids, some vitamins, and oligo-elements, but their lipid composition is often criticized. The enrichment of animal products with n-3 PUFAs remains a sustainable solution for a healthy diet. Furthermore, the use of phytogenic feed additives is becoming an attractive and sustainable strategy to improve the lipid quality and func- tional properties of animal products. The hemp seed and its cake represent a main source of bioactive compounds such as amino acids, phenols, flavonoids, tocopherols, minerals and particularly polyunsaturated fatty acids n-3.These char- acteristics imply its potential use as a phytogenic ingredient or as an additive in animal feed with health-promoting prop- erties. In the present review, we will present the chemical and nutritional values of hempseed and cake. In addition, the beneficial properties of hempseed and cake in poultry and ruminants ‘nutrition will be discussed. Keywords:Keywords: Polyunsatu- rated fatty acids, Omega 3, Hempseed, Eggs, Meat. O3. Transformation, Valorization, and Commercialization of O3. Transformation, Valorization, and Commercialization of Cannabis ProductsCannabis Products Aziz Makhlouf* BIO CANNAT Cooperative, Douar Beni Yabta, Bab Berred, Che- fchaouen, Morocco. *Corresponding and presenting author: biocannat@gmail.com AbstractAbstract BIO CANNAT is a cooperative created in 2021 on the initiative of a young Moroccan, son of a farmer from the Chefchaouen region, more precisely from the municipality of Bab Berred. The cooperative has developed with an emphasis on finding the opportunities that cannabis offers for MOROCCO. It has thus shown the potential that Moroccan cannabis can offer to farmers in the region and to the socio-economic devel- opment of the RIF. This work of a year and a half was distin- guished by the receipt of Authorization Number 1 in Morocco for the processing, marketing and export of cannabis and its products. Today, the journey continues with the establish- ment and construction of the first cannabis processing unit in the province of Chefchaouen. O4. Broad Access to Safe, Reliable, and Sustainable Cannabis O4. Broad Access to Safe, Reliable, and Sustainable Cannabis Derived ProductsDerived Products Brett Goldman* The Ocan Group, USA. *Corresponding and presenting au- thor: Abstract Abstract Not provided. O5. Challenges and Opportunities with Opening a Hemp Fi-O5. Challenges and Opportunities with Opening a Hemp Fi- ber Processing Centerber Processing Center Patrick Van Meter* Midwest Natural Fiber, Columbia, MO, USA. *Corresponding and presenting author: patrick@midwestnaturalfiber.com. AbstractAbstract Not provided. Session IV: Regulatory Policies of Hemp and Cannabis Pro-Session IV: Regulatory Policies of Hemp and Cannabis Pro- duction and Compliancesduction and Compliances Co-Chair: Khalid Meksem, Southern Illinois University, USACo-Chair: Khalid Meksem, Southern Illinois University, USA O1. The Rif and the Kif Beldiya: Past, Present, and FutureO1. The Rif and the Kif Beldiya: Past, Present, and Future Abdellatif Adebibe* Coopérative Adrar Nouh (Sustainable Socio-Economic of the High Rif Region), Douar Assegzaf, Issaguen 32302, Al Hocei- ma, Morocco. *Corresponding and presenting author: bou- jmildev@gmail.com AbstractAbstract Indigenous Beldiya hemp was cultivated for centuries in Mo- rocco’s historic hemp farming area of the Central Rif and was historically used in very versatile ways in Morocco, without legal concerns. The difficulties came in recent decades with the consequences of prohibitive laws. Parallel to the legal ban, farmers had no choice but to continue with their usual activity and have been victims of cannabis traffickers and repression. We have militated to seek legal alternatives and participated in the dynamization of a legalization process. We A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) 803 also were promoting the creation of alternative rural socio- economies with hemp. The new law means a mayor chal- lenge for the Berber population of the historic farming area, it is necessary that we get support in this transition period to be able to act in favour of the development of a region that still is very poor in infrastructures. The solutions, projects and hemp processing industries have to part from the heart of the affected areas, be implanted there, and then spread to other new hemp farming areas in Morocco. O2. Navigating the Evolving Complex Cannabis Legislative/O2. Navigating the Evolving Complex Cannabis Legislative/ Regulatory ChallengesRegulatory Challenges Steve Bevan* The Ocan Group, USA. *Corresponding and presenting au- thor: AbstractAbstract Not provided. O3. Foundation of Cannabis Unified StandardsO3. Foundation of Cannabis Unified Standards Lezli Engelking* FOCUS [FOCUS: The International Cannabis Health & Safety Organization (www.focusstandards.org)], USA. *Correspond- ing and presenting author: Abstract Abstract Not provided. O4. Cannabis: Innovation and ChallengesO4. Cannabis: Innovation and Challenges Myriam Lahlou-Filali* and Abdelmoumen Mahly* Pharma 5, Morocco Abstract Abstract Not provided. Session XIVB: Academic Exchange Programs Between Mo-Session XIVB: Academic Exchange Programs Between Mo- rocco and USArocco and USA Co-Chair: Moulay Abdelmajid Kassem, Fayetteville State Uni-Co-Chair: Moulay Abdelmajid Kassem, Fayetteville State Uni- versity, USAversity, USA Co-Chair: Khalid Meksem, Southern Illinois University, USACo-Chair: Khalid Meksem, Southern Illinois University, USA O1. Educational and Cultural Exchange Programs Between O1. Educational and Cultural Exchange Programs Between Morocco and the USA, The Fulbright ProgramsMorocco and the USA, The Fulbright Programs Hafsa El Bastami* (Deputy Executive Director) and Meryem Hammam* (Community Engagement Officer) The Moroccan American Commission for Educational and Cultural Exchange (MACECE), Rabat, Morocco. AbstractAbstract Several Educational and Cultural Exchange programs be- tween Morocco and the USA will be discussed including the Fulbright-National Archives Heritage Science Fellowship, Fulbright-National Archives Heritage Science Fellowship, Ful- bright Study Grant, The Fulbright Joint-Supervision Program, Fulbright Post-Doctoral Research Grant, Fulbright Fulbright Scholar In-Residence (SIR) Program, Fulbright (FLTA) Program, Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching (DAI) Program, Teachers of Critical Languages Program (TCLP), Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program, Fulbright U.S. Student Re- search Program, Fulbright Teaching Assistant Program, and other programs relevant to the audience. O2. Attending US Universities: Graduate School ApplicationO2. Attending US Universities: Graduate School Application Khalid Meksem* Department of Plant, Soil, and Agricultural Systems, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901, USA. *Corresponding and presenting author: meksem@siu.edu. AbstractAbstract About 800,000 to 1 million international students are en- rolled in varuous degrees and certificates in US institutions of higher education. Therefore, many students worldwide intend and plan to pursue their studies in the USA. Here, we will discuss how to apply to the Graduate School in the US in a step-by-step basis, show you how to access and apply online as well as how to apply to scholarships and teaching assistantships. Session XVII: Student Oral Presentations IIISession XVII: Student Oral Presentations III Co-Chair: Noureddine El Aouad, Univ. Abdelmalek Essaadi, Co-Chair: Noureddine El Aouad, Univ. Abdelmalek Essaadi, MoroccoMorocco Co-Chair: Malika Abid, University Mohamed I, MoroccoCo-Chair: Malika Abid, University Mohamed I, Morocco O1. Olive Oil Quality Characteristics of Olive Orchards (O1. Olive Oil Quality Characteristics of Olive Orchards (Olea Olea EuropaeaEuropaea var. Europaea L.) in a Semi- Arid Continental Zone: var. Europaea L.) in a Semi- Arid Continental Zone: Case of the Beni Mellal-Khenifra Region in MoroccoCase of the Beni Mellal-Khenifra Region in Morocco Elhabty Mohamed1*, Jamal Aabdousse1, Zehor Ait Yacine1, Khalid Benhssain2, Aziz Hasib1, and Abdelhaq Boundi3 1 Environmental, Ecological and Agro-industrial Engineering Laboratory, Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Sciences and Techniques, Sulatn Moulay Slimane University Beni Mel- lal, BP 523, 23000 Beni Mellal, Morocco; 2 Polyvalent team in research and development, Department of Biology and Ge- ology, Polydisciplinary Faculty of Beni Mellal, Sulatn Moulay Slimane University Beni Mellal, BP 592, 23000 Beni Mellal, Mo- A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) 804 rocco ; 3 Regional Office of Agricultural Development of Tadla Morocco. *Corresponding and presenting author: mohamed. elhabty@usms.ma. AbstractAbstract The physical and chemical analysis of the quality of olive oil trees (Olea Europaea var. Europaea L.) in the years 2017-2019 period in a continental environment with a semi-arid climate, Beni Mellal-Khenifra lands, located in central Morocco, re- vealed territorial specifications. Four homogeneous agricul- tural territorial units were identified. The result showed the plain with great hydraulic irrigation, the pluviometry plain with private irrigation pumping, the piedmont zone (alias “Dir” zone), and the medium mountain zone. These spatial units showed significant differences in the values of the es- sential parameters of the quality of the olive oil. The percent- age free acidity content was 0.96, 1.76, 1.19, and 1.31, perox- ide index (with meq/O2/kg) were 7.38, 6.34, 10.00, 7. 09, the two specific extinctions under ultraviolet radiation at wave- length 232 nm showed 0.94, 1.34, 0.79 and 0.74, respectively. The wavelength at 270 nm showed non-significant differenc- es in the values of 0.08, 0.09, 0.15, and 0.08. It was found that the agricultural territorial unit “the plain of great hydraulic ir- rigation” presented significantly the best quality of olive oil. It was the nearly equal frequency of the class of extra virgin oil (50.02%) and the class of virgin oil (49.48 %). The perfor- mance of the area is explained by the fertility of the soils, the judicious choice of the plant material, the relatively young age of the olive orchards, the suitable levels of technicality of the local olive growers, and the respect of the good practices of hygiene by the crushing units with improved modes with- in the studied area. Keywords: Beni Mellal Khenifra Morocco region’s, Olive oil quality, Olive orchard, Physical- chemical, Semi-arid climate. O2. Technological Characterization and Exopolysaccharide O2. Technological Characterization and Exopolysaccharide Production By Lactococcus lactis Strains Isolated Raw Milk of Production By Lactococcus lactis Strains Isolated Raw Milk of Cows in Eastern MoroccoCows in Eastern Morocco Nora Hamdaoui1,2*, Mohamed Mouncif2, and Mustapha Me- ziane1 1 Laboratory for the Improvement of Agricultural Production, Biotechnology, and the Environment, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University Mohammed I, 60000 Oujda, Morocco; 2 Process Engineering and Food Technologies De- partement, Institute of Agronomy and Veterinary medicine (IAV-Hassan II) BP 6202 Rabat, Morocco. *Corresponding and presenting author: n.hamdaoui@ump.ac.ma. AbstractAbstract Raw milk contains many essential nutrients and is character- ized by a rich and diverse lactic microflora. Lactic acid bac- teria (LAB) are natural and important microorganisms used in various forms in the field of health and in industrial food fermentations. Their metabolites are generally regarded as safe. LAB can be used in foods as probiotics and preserva- tives that prevent numerous disorders caused by oxidation in the host. They also play an important role in the manu- facture of cheese and various fermented dairy products and contribute to texture, flavor and the production of aromatic compounds, The aim of the present research was the identi- fication and investigation of technological attributes of Lac- tococcus Lactis and focused on dextran production test, ex- traction and quantification of (EPS), lipolytic and proteolytic abilities, thickening, texturizing, coagulating and acidifying properties by 24 strains of Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) genus Lactococcus Lactis isolated from raw cow milk from eastern Morocco. The search for EPS production was based on two types of tests: qualitative tests (on modified MRS agar, MSE medium, Rhutenium red medium, Chinese ink, and Chalm- ers medium, skimmed milk) . and quantitative tests (modified MRS broth). The results of the evaluation of the technologi- cal aptitudes of the Lactococcus lactis strains indicate a sig- nificant acidifying power (39°D to 88°D), high viscosity, and important proteolytic power (8mm and 25 mm). The strains Lc 10, and Lc 26 remain the most highly productive of exo- polysaccharide (ESP). Lc 1, Lc 10 Lc 11 Lc 12 Lc 24 Lc 26 and Lc 27 strains, by their thickening capacity can be classified as thickening food additives. Thus the result shows the compo- sition of the culture medium (carbon) influences the produc- tion of EPS. The strains are selected for their ability to acidify milk and form flavors and produce exopolysaccharides, three parameters crucial to their utility as dairy starters. all strains presented good technological potential. The Lc.lactis isolated from raw cow milk can be used in the dairy-product industry. Keywords: Raw milk, Lactococcus Lactis, Acidity, Proteolytic , Viscosity , EPS. O3. Beneficial Role of Exogenous Silicon and Phosphate-Solu-O3. Beneficial Role of Exogenous Silicon and Phosphate-Solu- bilizing Bacillus subtilis on Yield and Antioxidant Metabolism bilizing Bacillus subtilis on Yield and Antioxidant Metabolism in Chickpea (in Chickpea (Cicer arietinumCicer arietinum L.) Under Low Phosphorus Avail- L.) Under Low Phosphorus Avail- abilityability Habiba Kamal1§, Mohammed Mouradi1, Cherki Ghoulam2, and Mohamed Farissi1* 1 Unit of Biotechnology & Sustainable Development of Natural Resource, Sultan Moulay Slimane University, Polydisciplinary Faculty of Beni–Mellal, Morocco; 2 Centre of Agrobiotechnol- ogy & Bioengineering, Research Unit Labeled CNRST, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech, Morocco. *Correspondence: farissimohamed@gmail.com/mohamed.farissi@usms.ac.ma. §Presenting author: kamalhabiba20@gmail.com. AbstractAbstract Low phosphorus (P) availability is a limiting factor of plant growth in many agricultural regions. To remedy this prob- lem, farmers use chemical P fertilizers extensively, although these are a serious menace to the environment. The use of biofertilizers-biostimulants such as Silicon (Si) and P-solu- A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) 805 bilizing bacteria (PSB) have been emerged as a promising way to improve plant P nutrition. In this context, the pres- ent study aimed at investigating the synergistic effects of Si treatment and phosphate-solubilizing Bacilus subtilis inocu- lum on plant growth, P nutrition, oxidative stress markers and antioxidant response in Moroccan chickpea Zahour (ZA) variety under low P availability. Results revealed a significant reduction in dry biomass, plant height, leaf number, and area under low P conditions. P deficiency also altered P nutrition and chlorophyll (Chl) content. However, P-deficient chickpea plants treated with Si or inoculated with PSB strain showed higher plant growth, Chl content, and remarkably the effect was more important when Si was applied together with PSB strain. Moreover, the simultaneous application of Si and PSB strain to the P-deficient chickpea plants improved P content in both the shoots and roots. The content of malonyldialde- hyd and hydrogen peroxide and the level of electrolyte leak- age were significantly increased in P-deficient chickpea, while were significantly decreased after simultaneous application of Si and PSB inoculum. This reduction was correlated with a significant increase in both enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant systems including superoxide dismutase, poly- phenol and flavonoid contents. Our findings suggest that the combined application of Si and phosphate-solubilizing Bacilus subtilis could be a promoting strategy to mitigate the damages of low-P availability on chickpea growth and yield. Keywords: Keywords: Chickpea, silicon, Phosphorus deficiency, PSB, An- toxidant metabolism. O4. Antioxidant Activity and Chemical Characteristics of Wild O4. Antioxidant Activity and Chemical Characteristics of Wild Prickly Pear Seed Oil Grown in the wild in Northeastern Mo-Prickly Pear Seed Oil Grown in the wild in Northeastern Mo- roccorocco Marhri Ahmed1*, Kamal Belhaj1,3, Reda Melhaoui1, Mehdi Boumediene1, Aziz Tikent1, Aatika Mihamou1, Hana Serghini- Caid1, Ahmed Elamrani1, Christophe Hano2, Malika Abid1, and Mohamed Addi1 1 Laboratory for Agricultural Productions Improvement, Bio- technology and Environment (LAPABE), Faculty of Sciences, University Mohammed First, Oujda, Morocco; 2 ligneous and Field Crops Biology Laboratory, INRA USC1328, Orleans Uni- versity, CEDEX 2, 45067 Orléans, France; 3 Laboratory of Sus- tainable Agriculture Management, Higher School of Technol- ogy Sidi Bennour, University Chouaib Doukkali, Street Jabran Khalil Jabran BP 299-24000 El Jadida, Morocco. *Correspond- ing author: ahmed.marhri@ump.ac.ma. AbstractAbstract The great usefulness of the species Opuntia ficus indica makes it a very important species in the cactus family. The aim of this work is to initiate a study on the quality of prickly pear oil produced in the area of Chouihia located in the north of eastern Morocco. Due to the high price of the oil, the sec- tor of the seeds is the best yield. Hence, nopal cactus industry is active and expanding rapidly. To assess the quality of the studying oil, the quality index, oxidative stability, flavonoid, total phenolic, chlorophyll and carotenoid content of prickly pear seed oil were analyzed. The samples were obtained from wild trees during the harvesting season 2020. The results showed that the acidity and peroxide index were 1.11% and 4.44 meq O2/kg, respectively. While the total phenolic and flavonoid contents in these seed oils were 260.07 mg/kg and 65.99 mg/kg, respectively. In addition, the results show a ca- rotenoid content of 0.61 mg/kg and a total chlorophyll con- tent of 1.52 mg/kg, and an oxidative stability of 17.31 hours. Keywords:Keywords: Prickly pear, Chemical characteristics, oil, Opuntia ficus india, eastern Morocco. O5. Validation of a Composite of Epigenetic Biomarkers for O5. Validation of a Composite of Epigenetic Biomarkers for Screening, Early Diagnosis and Precise Prognosis of Colorec-Screening, Early Diagnosis and Precise Prognosis of Colorec- tal Cancertal Cancer Omayma Mazouji* and Hicham Mansour GES-LCM2E, FPN, Mohamed First University, Oujda, Morocco. *Corresponding and presenting author: omazouji@gmail. com. AbstractAbstract Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the major health concerns and a leading cause of carcinogenic death worldwide. Ac- cording to statistics from GLOBOCAN, CRC is ranked the sec- ond one in the aspect of mortality and the third one in terms of incidence with an estimated number of more than 1.9 million new cases in 2020. In the clinical field, the manage- ment of CRC is based on the use of solid biopsy as a golden standard for the determination of CRC status. In this project we identified the methylation sites in the DNA extracted from patients with CRC at stages I and II. A DNA bio-bank of 100 samples from patients with CRC, 25 in stage I, 25 in stage II and 50 normal autologous tissues has already been collected. The DNAs from these patients were extracted and quantified. The Next generation sequencing tool was used to target 84MB of the human genome containing 3.7 million of CpGs. These CpGs are present mainly in the CpG islands, found in the 20,000 annotated human genes and theirs promoters, as well as in all referenced regulatory sequences. Between 8 and 10 GB of data were generated per patient in order to have at least 100X of sequencing coverage. A bioinformatics and sta- tistical analysis were carried out in order to determine the rel- evant methylation sites. These sites have been identified on six genes: KCNA1, KCNA6, COL4A2, GDF7, ARHGEF7 & H4C9. Real-time PCR validation of these sites is in progress. These genes are able to: 1/ discriminate between tumor and normal condition, 2/ detect the sites which induce (driver sites) the tumor and 3/ determine the prognosis of affected patients. This work aims to validate the methylation sites obtained in the previous study, determine the statistical power of the rel- evant methylated sites and offer a reliable and less expensive molecular tool for the early detection and prognosis of CRC patients. Finding the methylation sites that contribute to the A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) 806 early development of CRC is critical and essential not only for early cancer detection, but also for collecting information and providing strategies for colorectal cancer therapy. Key-Key- words: words: Colorectal cancer, biomarkers, methylation, diagnosis, prognosis, screening. O6. Optimization of Phenolic Compounds Extraction from O6. Optimization of Phenolic Compounds Extraction from Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) Seeds Using Simplex Lattice Mix-Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) Seeds Using Simplex Lattice Mix- ture Design and HPLC-DAD/ESI-MS2 Analysisture Design and HPLC-DAD/ESI-MS2 Analysis Chaymae Benkirane1*, Abdessamad Ben Moumen1, Ma- rie-Laure Fauconnier2, Yassine Taaifi1, Youssef Rbah1, Allay Aymane1, Kamal Belhaj1, Farid Mansouri1,3, Malika Abid1, Hana Serghini Caid1, and Ahmed Elamrani1 1 Laboratory of Agricultural Productions Improvement, Bio- technology and Environment, Faculty of Sciences, Moham- med I University, Oujda, Morocco; 2 Laboratory of Chemistry of Natural Molecules, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, University ofLiège, Passage des Déportés, 2,5030 Gembloux, Belgium; 3 SASEFLaboratory, Higher School ofEducation and Training, Mohammed I University, Oujda, Morocco. *Corresponding and presenting author: chaymae.1.benkirane@gmail.com. AbstractAbstract Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) is an annual plant of the Canna- baceae family. It is cultivated for industrial, therapeutic, rec- reational, and nutritional purposes. Hemp seeds are a good source of protein, oil, fiber, and bioactive compounds. In this study, the extraction of phenolic compounds from defatted hempseeds was optimized using a simplex lattice mixture design with three solvents (water, methanol, and acetone). The total phenolic content (TPC) was evaluated by FolinCio- calteu’s method. The results showed that the binary acetone- water mixture in equal proportions is the optimal combina- tion to achieve the maximum TPC (53.65 mg GAE per g of extract). The phenolic profile analysis of defatted hempseeds showed the predominance of hydroxycinnamic acid amides and lignanamides, especially N-trans-caffeoyltyramine, can- nabisin A, and cannabisin B. In addition, HPLC-DAD/ESI-MS2 analysis allowed visualizing the effect of each solvent mixture on the relative extracted amount of each identified phenolic compound. This study encourages the use of defatted hemp seeds as a source of bioactive compounds with added value for pharmaceutical and cosmetic applications. Keywords: Keywords: Hemp, Bioactive compounds, TPC, Mixture design, HPLC- DAD/ESI-MS2 analysis. Session XVII: Student Oral Presentations IVSession XVII: Student Oral Presentations IV Co-Chair: Abdelghani Tahiri, University Ibn Zohr, MoroccoCo-Chair: Abdelghani Tahiri, University Ibn Zohr, Morocco Co-Chair: Karen Midden, Southern Illinois University, USACo-Chair: Karen Midden, Southern Illinois University, USA O1. Dynamics of Soil Nitrates in a Plot Under Onion Cultiva-O1. Dynamics of Soil Nitrates in a Plot Under Onion Cultiva- tion in the Saiss Basintion in the Saiss Basin Nessah Chaimae1,2*, Abdellah El Hmaidi3, El Faleh El Mâti2, and Bouhafa Karima1 1 National Institute of Agronomic Research, Soil, Plant, and Water Laboratory, Meknes, Morocco; 2 Department of Geol- ogy Faculty of Sciences, Moulay Ismail University, Geosci- ences: Geodynamics and Georesources, Meknes, Morocco; 3 Department of Geology Faculty of Sciences, Moulay Ismail University, Laboratory of Geo-Engineering and Environment, Meknes, Morocco. *Corresponding and presenting author: nessah.chaimae@gmail.com. AbstractAbstract Morocco has always made the development of the agricultur- al sector a strategic choice. This sector is faced with the chal- lenge of the intensive use of nitrogen fertilizers which threat- en the quality of agricultural soils.This study is part of the research related to this issue. It aims to establish the spatio- temporal variation of soil nitrate concentration in an onion plot. A nitrogen fertilization trial was carried out in the “Douy- et” experimental station of the Regional Center of Agronomic Research of Meknes. The experimental design adopted is Complete Random Blocks. Six nitrogen treatments (0, 90, 135, 180, 225 and 270Kg N/ha) were tested. Soil samples were tak- en at five depths (0-20 cm, 20-40 cm, 40-60cm, 60-80cm and 80-100cm) for their nitrate content. The monitoring shows a richness in nitric elements. The direct impact of nitrogen ap- plication is more felt after the herbaceous growth stage, and it seems to have more of a marked impact at shallow depths, this root zone could lose NO3 - at the time of bulbing when the crop rapidly absorbs nitrogen.The results show that for each of the rates, the soil measured concentrations decrease gradually with time. The assimilation of nitrogen by the plant during the crop cycle may explain this result. The difference in soil NO3 - concentrations is clearly noted between the 0, 90 and 135kg/ha rates and the 180, 225 and 270kg/ha rates. A significant difference in soil nitrate levels over time was ob- served. However, no significant difference was observed be- tween the concentrations measured at different depths for the different N application rates. Keywords:Keywords: Nitrogen fertiliza- tion, onion, soil nitrate dynamic, Saiss basin, Morocco. O2. Forest Composition Effect on Carbon Stock Potential and O2. Forest Composition Effect on Carbon Stock Potential and other Soil Physico-Chemical Properties in the Oulmes Central other Soil Physico-Chemical Properties in the Oulmes Central PlateauPlateau Ikraoun Hicham1*, Mohamed El Mderssa2, Laila Nasiri1, and Jamal Ibijbijen1 1 Environment and Valorization of Microbial and Plant Re- sources Lab, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Moulay Ismail Univesity. Meknes, Morroco; 2 Poly- disciplinary Faculty, Soltane Moulay Slimane University, Beni Mellal, Morroco. *Corresponding and presenting author: hi- chamenfi40@gmail.com. A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) 807 AbstractAbstract The Climate change repercussions are more than ever recog- nized and felt by humanity and are no longer to be denied. These changes, which are essentially due to the increase of greenhouse gases (GHG) in the atmosphere, are manifested by the recurrence of extreme events such as drought, floods and pandemics. This increase in GHGs is due to human activ- ity through the combustion of fossil carbon by industry and transportation. Nevertheless, the planet earth has always had sinks able to store a large part of the GHGs, represented essentially by CO2, but at different potentials. Among these sinks we note the forest ecosystem, which captures CO2, in the form of organic carbon, at different levels, namely the aer- ial biomass, the root biomass and the soil. The present study is a contribution to assess the effect of forest composition on soil carbon storage potential and others physico-chemical properties. The study took place in Oulmes central plateau which hosts forest formations based on cork oak, green oak and thuja. The stock of organic carbon of the soil were operat- ed on the organo-mineral layer above 30 cm depth. these soil samples were subjected to conventional physical and chemi- cal analyses. The results of the analyses show a clear effect of the forest composition on the organic carbon stock in the soil. Indeed, this stock is high when the forest composition of the woody species is in its pure state (pure thuja strata [47.91 t ha-1]) and decreases in the presence of mixtures with other woody species, especially in the presence of hardwood/soft- wood mixtures (thuja and holm oak strata [6.71 t ha-1]). These results are considered very useful for a rational management in the framework of forest management, by recommending mono-specific reforestation of forest species promoting a great potential of organic carbon stock in the soil, and thus of reduction of greenhouse gases and mitigation of the effects of climate change. Keywords:Keywords: Climate change, Greenhouse gases, Soil organic carbon, Forest ecosystem, Oulmes Central Plateau. O3. Concentrations of Arsenic, Cadmium, Mercury, and Lead O3. Concentrations of Arsenic, Cadmium, Mercury, and Lead in Sardina pilchardus from the three Moroccan Mediterra-in Sardina pilchardus from the three Moroccan Mediterra- nean Coasts nean Coasts Khaoula Kasmi1*, Kamal Belhaj2, and Abdelhafid Chafi1 1 Laboratory for Agricultural Productions Improvement, Bio- technology and Environment, Faculty of Sciences, University Mohammed I, Oujda, Morocco; 2 Laboratory of Sustainable Agriculture Management, Higher School of Technology Sidi Bennour, University Chouaib Doukkali, Street Jabran Khalil Jabran BP 299-24000 El Jadida, Morocco. *Corresponding and presenting author: kasmikhaoula77@gmail.com. AbstractAbstract In Morocco, maritime fishing is a main component of the na- tional economy given its geographical position and its long coastline. The total Moroccan production of fishery products is around 1,376,420 tons with a contribution of 2.5% of the na- tional GDP. Heavy metals are a severe threat because of their toxicity, long persistence, bioaccumulation, and biomagnifi- cation in the food chain. This investigation deals with human health risk assessment of metal contamination through the consumption of Sardina pilchardus (Walbaum, 1792) as the most consumed fish species in Morocco. The aim of this study is to assess the health risks associated with the consumption of sardine by assessing the contamination level of mercury (Hg), lead (Pb), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd) in the muscle of this species. Three hundred sixty (n = 360) specimens of sar- dine sampled between December 2020 and December 2021 at 3 Mediterranean coast sites Beni Ensar, Cap-de l’eau and Al- Hoceïma in the northern region of Morocco. The results show that the As and Hg were influenced by geographical area and season (p<0.05), while the lead and cadmium were not affected (p>0.05). The highest values were recorded in win- ter season (p<0.05). The lowest contamination’s levels were found in spring season. Geographically, the Al-Hoceïma spec- imens present the highest heavy metals content (p<0.05). According to the standard of world health organization, we conclude that the consumption of S. pilchardus from the Mo- roccan Mediterranean coast was not likely to have an adverse effect on human health. Keywords:Keywords: Sardina pilchardus, Mo- roccan coast, Toxicity, Heavy metals. O4. Distribution of Earthworms in a O4. Distribution of Earthworms in a Valencia orangeValencia orange Orchard Orchard as affected by Distance to Trees and Soil Propertiesas affected by Distance to Trees and Soil Properties Benmrich Ahmed Mansour1,2*, Zhor Abail1, Rania Brital1,2, Mo- hammed Ibriz2, Hamid Benyahia1, and Tarik Essafryouy1 1 National Institute of Agronomic Research, Regional Center of Kénitra, Laboratory of Fertility and Soil Ecology, Route de Sidi Yahia du Gharb, Km9, Kénitra, Morocco; 2 Faculty of Sci- ence, Ibn Tofail University, Kenitra, Morocco. *Corresponding and presenting author: ahmedsourbenmrich@gmail.com. AbstractAbstract Earthworms are an important component of the soil macro- fauna that plays a significant role in maintaining soil fertility and plant productivity in various agroecosystems. However, these organisms are still poorly studied in Moroccan agricul- tural soils. In this study, we examined the effect of distance to tree and soil properties on earthworm distribution in a Va- lencia orange orchard. Ten points were chosen randomly, five were close to the tree (1 m) and five points were about 2.5m away from the tree. In each point, we collected soil samples and earthworms by handsorting from a pit of 0.16m² and 25 cm depth. The soil samples were analyzed for pH, electrical conductivity and moisture. The earthworms were preserved in an ethanol solution (80%) and brought to the laboratory for identification and biomass measurement. The results, ob- tained so far, showed no significant difference in earthworm abundance and biomass between distance the tree. More- over, we did not found any significant correlation between A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) 808 earthworms and the measured soil properties. Further inves- tigations should be conducted with larger sample size on multiple orchards to better understand earthworm distribu- tion in citrus orchads in Morocco. Keywords: Keywords: Earthworm, Soil, Citrus, Orange, Spatial distribution. O5. Assessment of Performance of five Rootstocks Under Iron O5. Assessment of Performance of five Rootstocks Under Iron and Lime Stressand Lime Stress Rania Brital1,2*, Zhor Abail1, Ahmed Mansour Benmrich, Mo- hamed Ibriz2, Rachid Aboutayeb1, Hamid Benyahia, and Tarik Es-safryouy 1 National Institute of Agricultural Research, Avenue Ennasr, BP 415 Rabat Principale, 10090 Rabat, Morocco; 2 Faculty of Science, Ibn Tofail University, Kenitra, Morocco. *Correspond- ing and presenting author: raniabrital@gmail.com. AbstractAbstract Rootstocks play a crucial role in the mineral nutrition of cit- rus crops and can have a strong influence on their uptake of iron. Iron deficiency is, indeed, a serious concern for citrus production in Mediterranean countries, including Morocco, where soil alkalinity and calcareousness reduce the bioavail- ability of iron to crop uptake. In this study, we examined the effect of iron and lime stress on the performance of five root- stocks, increasingly used in Moroccan commercial orchards as substituent to sour orange rootstock. The experiment was conducted on a greenhouse, in pots containing sandy soil planted with one of the five rootstocks (Carrizo citrange, Citrumelo, Poncirus trifoliaite, Macrophylla, Volkameriana) and subjected to one of three treatments (control, lime stress, lime stress + iron stress) replicated 10 times in a completely randomized bloc design. We induced lime stress by the addi- tion of CaCO3 to the nutrient solution used in irrigation, while iron stress implied the non-addition of iron to the nutrient solution. The results, obtained so far, showed a significant difference between rootstocks in response to the applied treatments. Citrumelo rootstock was the most affected by lime and iron stress, followed by Poncirus trifoliaite, Carrizo citrange, Volkameriana and Macrophylla. Ongoing measure- ment of iron concentration in plant tissue will help us better determining the joined effect of lime and iron on rootstock performance. Keywords: Keywords: Citrus, Rootstocks, Soil, Calcareous, Lime, Iron. O6. Prevalence, Risk Factors and Multidrug Resistance Profile O6. Prevalence, Risk Factors and Multidrug Resistance Profile of Gram-negative Bacteria Recovered from Patients Admitted of Gram-negative Bacteria Recovered from Patients Admitted to Beni Mellal Regional Hospitalto Beni Mellal Regional Hospital Dihmane Asmaa1*, Abouddihaj Barguigua1, Rafik Aniba1, Habiba Raqraq1, Kaotar Nayme2, and Mohammed Timinouni2 1 Team of Biotechnology and Sustainable Development of Natural Resources, Polydisciplinary Faculty, Sultan Moulay Slimane University, Beni Mellal, Morocco; 2 Molecular Bacte- riology Laboratory, Pasteur Institute of Morocco, Casablanca, Morocco. *Corresponding and presenting author: asmaa.dih- manefpb@usms.ac.ma. AbstractAbstract The aim of this study was to determine the burden of multi-drug resistance, the production of extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) and carbapenemase in Gram-negative bacilli recovered from patients admitted to Beni Mellal regional hospital and risk factors associated with MDR infection. A total of 75 Gram-neg- ative bacilli were recovered from Oct-2021 to Oct-2022, among which Escherichia coli were the predominant isolates followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudo- monas aerogenosa, Serratia marcescens and Pantoea agglom- erans. The highest percentage of antibiotic resistance was noted against ampicillin (84%) followed by nalidixic acid (66.7%) and ciprofloxacin (62.7%). Moreover, the isolates showed better sen- sitivity towards chloramphenicol and carbapenem drugs. Out of 75 isolates, 61.3% were multi drug resistant. Nearly 34.7 % and 22.7 % of isolates were producers of ESBL and carbapenemase, respectively. Previously hospitalization, previous antibiotherapy, patient admitted to surgical ward, patients with malignancy and patients with anemia, urinary tract infection and urinary tract catheter was found as significant risk factors. The emergence of MDR bacteria in our hospital specifically isolates producing ESBL and cabapenemase is highly alarming. Keywords:Keywords: Gram nega- tive, MDR, ESBL, Carbapenemase, Risk factor. A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) 809 A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) P01. Genome Wide Association Study (GWAS) of Grain Yield P01. Genome Wide Association Study (GWAS) of Grain Yield and Yield Related Traits in Spring Bread Wheat (and Yield Related Traits in Spring Bread Wheat (Triticum aes-Triticum aes- tivumtivum L.) Under Drought and Heat Conditions in Three Loca- L.) Under Drought and Heat Conditions in Three Loca- tionstions Zakaria El Gataa1,2*, Samira El Hanafi1, Fadil Basheer1, Zakaria Kehel1, Yassin bouhouch1,3, Khalil El Messoadi1,4, Kenza Edda- kir1, Nawel Ladraa1, Karima Samir2, and Wuletaw Tadesse1 1 Biodiversity and Crop Improvement Program, ICARDA, Ag- dal, Rabat 10080, Morocco; 2 Faculty of Sciences Ben M’sick, University Hassan II of Casablanca, Morocco; 3 Faculty of Sci- ences of Meknes, Moulay Ismail University, Morocco; 4 Faculty of Sciences Kenitra, Ibn Tofail University, Morocco. *Corre- spondence: elgataa.zakaria@gmail.com. AbstractAbstract Abiotic stress, especially drought and heat, affects cereal yields and wheat production worldwide, more particularly in West and South Asia, North Africa, and sub-Saharan Africa. The present study was carried out on 229 spring bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes from the International Cen- ter for Agricultural Research in Dry Areas (ICARDA) to identify the genomic region and marker-trait associations (MTA) re- sponsible for drought and heat tolerance. The study was car- ried out in three different locations, Merchouch station (Mo- rocco), Sids station (Egypt), and Wadmadani station (Sudan) over a period of two years (2018 and 2019). A genome-wide association study (GWAS) was performed by using the mixed linear model (MLM) and 13,698 DArTseq markers were used for genotyping. Linkage disequilibrium revealed that 1914 pairs of markers mapped on the B sub-genome, followed by D and A sub-genomes with 1745 and 1726 paired markers, respectively. A total of 342 MTAs (P < 0.05) and 78 genes were identified in the three environments, of which 134 MTAs were recorded at Sids station and 128 and 80 MTAs at Wadmadani station and Merchouch station. The markers 822842, 196565, and 753901 were significantly correlated with grain yield un- der drought, heat, and yield potential stations in Morocco, Sudan, and Egypt, respectively. The markers and candidate genes identified in this study have the potential for marker- assisted selection to develop high yielding wheat genotypes with resistance to heat and drought stresses. Keywords: Keywords: GWAS, MTA, Drought stress, Heat stress, Wheat. P02. P02. Calendula officinalis Calendula officinalis L. and L. and Ammi visnagaAmmi visnaga L.: Phyto- L.: Phyto- chemical Tests, Total Polyphenols, and ToL.: Total Flavonoids chemical Tests, Total Polyphenols, and ToL.: Total Flavonoids and FTIR Analysisand FTIR Analysis Benabderrahmane Asmae1,2*, Majid Atmani1, Faouzi Errachidi, and Saadia Belmalha2 1 Functional Ecology and Environmental Engineering Labo- ratory, Faculty of Technical Sciences, Sidi Mohamed Bena- bdellah University, Fez, Morocco; 2 Plant Protection and Environment Department, National School of Agriculture, Meknes, Morocco; *Corresponding and presenting author: asmaebenabd@gmail.com. AbstractAbstract The Moroccan flora contains many plant species that have long been used as aromatic and medicinal plants. Calendula officinalis L., a member of the Asteraceae family and Ammi visnaga L., a member of the Apiaceae family both belong to this rich flora. These two herbaceous annual medicinal plants are observed in the Mediterranean region and have many benefits. Thus, this study demonstrates the richness in biological compounds of the aqueous extracts from the two plants. In addition, a study of an organic extract with poten- tial therapeutic properties and a comparison of the chemi- cal compositions by FTIR were conducted. The two plants were collected in two localities of the region of Meknes then dried and crushed to prepare the extracts. Two types of aqueous extracts were made: the infused and the decocted and an organic extract (methanolic). The aqueous extract was used to investigate some chemical compounds using standard tests and both extracts were used for total poly- phenols and total flavonoids. FTIR analysis was performed using the powder obtained by grinding. Phytochemical screening showed a richness of both plants in terpenoids, alkaloids, flavonoids and coumarins. There is a total absence of saponosides in both plants. In comparing the two types of aqueous extracts, we observed that the infused ones are much more concentrated in polyphenols than the decocted ones. The comparative analysis of the aqueous and organic extracts shows a higher polyphenol content in the metha- nolic extract for both plants. Flavonoids are more numerous in the infusion. The powders analyzed by FTIR reveal the existence of a variety of chemical compounds and showed characteristic absorption bands in approximately the same wavelength regions. This abundance of active ingredients gives these plants remarkable properties that could justify its multiple therapeutic indications and its use in traditional medicine. KeywordsKeywords: Calendula officinalis L., Ammi visnaga L., phytochemical screening, FTIR. P03. Predict the Threshold Wind Erosion Velocity of Cultivat-P03. Predict the Threshold Wind Erosion Velocity of Cultivat- ed Organic Soils in Montérégie (Quebec, Canada)ed Organic Soils in Montérégie (Quebec, Canada) Kanga Idé Soumaila*, Jean Caron, and Andrés Felipe Silva Dimate Département des Sols et Génie Agroalimentaire, Université Laval, Québec, Canada. *Corresponding and presenting au- thor: soumaila.kanga-ide.1@ulaval.ca & soumkanga@gmail. com. POSTER PRESENTATION ABSTRACTSPOSTER PRESENTATION ABSTRACTS TUESDAY & WEDNESDAY TUESDAY & WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 13-14, 2022DECEMBER 13-14, 2022 A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) 810 AbstractAbstract The aim of this research is to evaluate the necessary wind ve- locities to initiate wind erosion based on the field measured characteristics of the organic soil (particle diameter, bulk den- sity, gravimetric water content) and of the measured aerody- namic roughness length. Organic soils are very vulnerable to wind erosion. When dry and exposed to wind erosivity, or- ganic soils are likely to lose large amounts of soil. As such, threshold friction velocities in air dry and wet conditions as well as bare or plant covered were computed to find the re- quired friction velocities in these soil conditions. The varia- tion of the threshold friction velocity as a function of soil par- ticle diameters, bulk density and soil cover was determined. The results suggest that the threshold friction velocity aver- ages 0.14 m/s for air dry soil, goes up to 2.62 m/s for wet (100 % to 203 % of gravimetric water content) soil condition and reaches1.88 m/s for soil covered by vegetation or plant resi- dues. The threshold friction velocity in the dry soil condition increases with increasing soil particle diameter and bulk den- sity. The threshold friction velocity in covered soil condition is found to increase with the aerodynamic roughness length. Indeed, under wet and covered soil conditions, the threshold friction velocity increases up to 13 to 18 times compared to the threshold friction velocity for a bare air-dry soil on aver- age. Keywords:Keywords: Organic soil, wind erosion, friction threshold velocity, bulk density, soil particle diameter. P04. Effect of Inclusion of Hemp Seeds in the Diet of Laying P04. Effect of Inclusion of Hemp Seeds in the Diet of Laying Hens on Liver Fatty Acids Profile, Tocopherols, and Choles-Hens on Liver Fatty Acids Profile, Tocopherols, and Choles- terol Contentsterol Contents Youssef Rbah1*, Aymane Allay1, Yassine Taaifi1, Chaymae Ben- kirane1, Kamal Belhaj2, Hana Serghini Caid1, Reda Melhaoui1, and Ahmed Elamrani1 1 Laboratory of improvement of agricultural production, bio- technology, and environment, Faculty of Science, Moham- med first University, Oujda, Morocco; 2 Laboratory of Manage- ment of Sustainable Agriculture, EST Sidi Bennour, University Chouaib Doukkali, El Jadida, Morocco. *Corresponding and presenting author: yrbah50@gmail.com. AbstractAbstract Hemp seeds (HS) are a good source of protein, fat, fiber, and other micronutrients (vitamins and minerals), they can be used as poultry feed. Currently, the low availability and high cost of most oilseeds commonly used in poultry feed are pushing feed producers to find alternative ingredients. HS known for its richness of omega-3 fatty acids especially, alpha-linoleic acid (ALA: C18 :3n-3), could be an excellent oil- seed ingredient for poultry feed formulation. Thus, this study focuses on the evaluation of the alteration of fatty acid pro- files, cholesterol, and tocopherol levels in the liver of laying hens fed with different doses of HS. One hundred and eight (n=108) 22-week-old laying hens (Lohmann’s Classic Brown), were divided into 3 batches of 36 laying hens, with 6 repeti- tions of 6 hens each, and received a formulated poultry feed containing 0%-HS (control),10%-HS or 30%-HS. The results demonstrate a significant decrease (p<0.001) in the amount of saturated fatty acids (SFAs) between the 30-HS treatment and the control however, diets containing HS show a sub- stantial increase (p<0.001) in n-3 and n-6 PUFAs and a signifi- cant decrease (p<0.001) in the n-6/n-3 ratio. The content of cholesterol decreased significantly (p<0.05) in the 10%-HS treatment compared to the control. Concerning tocopher- ol content and in parallel with the HS incorporation rate, a significant increase (p<0.001) is noted. For the amount of α, γ- tocopherols, a significant rise (p<0.001) it is observed for the 30%-HS treatment. The results indicated that HS supple- mentation up to 30% has interesting effects and is beneficial for the lipid profile of the liver, mainly n-3 fatty acids and the n-6/n-3 ratio, cholesterol concentration; and tocopherol con- tent. Keywords:Keywords: Hemp seed, Layer hen, Diet, Fatty acid, n-3, n-6/n-3 ratio, Cholesterol, α, γ-tocopherol. P05. Physico-Chemical Characterization of a Rehabilitated P05. Physico-Chemical Characterization of a Rehabilitated Soil Mine Based on Phosphate Industry By-Products and Sew-Soil Mine Based on Phosphate Industry By-Products and Sew- age Sludgeage Sludge Donatien Gueable1§, Mohamed Hafidi2,3, Mohamed El Gha- rous1, and Khalil El Mejahed1* 1 Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Agricultural Inno- vation and Technology Transfer Center (AITTC), Ben Guerir 43150, Morocco; 2 Laboratory of Microbial Biotechnologies, Agrosciences and Environment (BioMAgE), Cadi Ayyad Uni- versity, Marrakesh 40000: Labelleld research Unit N°4 CNRST, Morocco; 3 Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Agrobiosci- ences (AgBs) Department, Ben Guerir 43150, Morocco. *Corre- sponding author: Khalil.ELMEJAHED@um6p.ma. §Presenting author: Donatien.GUEABLE@um6p.ma. AbstractAbstract Reclamation of mining sites and valorization of phosphate by-product are at the heart of OCP strategies [1]. Mixtures of these by-products along with sludge can improve soil physi- cal and chemical properties and therefore contribute to sus- tain revegetation of mine sites. Thus, the recent studies of [2], related pots trial showed that mixture of 65% PG, 30% BL and 5% BS was the best substrate when compared to other mix- tures. The objective of this study was to evaluate soil physico- chemical parameters in the rhizosphere of six species planted on substrate under field conditions. The study was carried out on 1.15 hectares with the above substrate. The experimental layout consists of Randomized Complete Bloc Design with 6 replicates and six tree species: Argan, Eucalyptus, Pistachio, False Pepper, Carob and Olive. The physical and chemical pa- rameters such as particle size, Electrical Conductivity, pH, CEC and heavy metals contents, were determined using appropri- ate analytical techniques. The results showed that the texture was sandy-silt. Soils pH (7.74-7.90) were slightly alkaline. Con- A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) 811 A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) ductivity ranged from 3.14 to 3.30 dS/cm. The organic mat- ter was low with values varied between 1.20% and 1.23%. CEC was high with values between 40.50 and 45.80 Cmol. Kg-1. The heavy metal contents of the rhizosphere samples of the different species showed that the mean values of Cd, Pb, Zn, Ni, Cr and Cu ranged from 4.30 to 4.66 mg.kg-1, 3.80 to 4.39 mg.kg-1, 52.52 to 58.02 mg.kg-1, 9.48 to 10.30 mg.kg-1, 34.03 to 37.09 mg.kg-1, 6.22 to 7.51 mg.kg-1, respectively. Comparison of the heavy metal contents with the standard guidelines for agriculture indicated that Cd (5 mg.kg-1), Pb (100 mg.kg-1), Zn (300 mg.kg-1), Ni (100 mg.kg-1), Cr (100 mg.kg-1) and Cu (100 mg.kg-1) are below the standard guide- lines [3]. In our experimental conditions, the 65% PG, 30% BL and 5% BS substrate used in this study contributes to soil properties improvement without generating or constituting any hazardous pollution t for the environment. Keywords: Keywords: Phosphate industry, Phosphogypsum, Phosphate Sludge, Sewage sludge, Rehabilitation, Mining soils. P06. Effect of Hemp Seed Incorporation in the Diet of Laying P06. Effect of Hemp Seed Incorporation in the Diet of Laying Hens on Laying Performance and Physical Quality Traits of Hens on Laying Performance and Physical Quality Traits of EggsEggs Yassine Taaifi1*, Kamal Belhaj2, Youssef Rbah1, Melhaoui Reda1, Embarek Azeroual3, Farid Mansouri1, Ahmed Elamrani1, and Hana Caid Serghini1 1 Equipe agroalimentaire, laboratoire ‘LAPABE’, Faculté des sciences, Université Mohammed Premier, Oujda, Morocco; 2 Laboratoire de Management de l’Agriculture Durable, EST Sidi Bennour, Université Chouaib Doukkali, El Jadida, Mo- rocco; 3 Institut Royal des Techniciens Spécialisés en Elevage (IRTSE), Fouarat, Kenitra, Morocco. *Corresponding and pre- senting author: taaifi.yassine@ump.ac.ma. AbstractAbstract Hemp seeds could be a valuable alternative to improve and to reduce the cost of imported feeding stuff for animals, mainly for poultry. In fact, hemp seeds, which are considered a by-product of cannabiculture, have a low commercial value; however, they have many advantageous nutritional values in terms of lipid profile. The final objective of the research is to promote hemp seeds by incorporation into the poultry diet. The present study was carried out to evaluate the effect of the diets based on various incorporation rates of hemp seeds on the laying performance and physical quality characteris- tics of the eggs. Ninety-six (n= 96) Lohmann Brown classic laying hens were randomly assigned to 3 feed treatments and a control group: each treatment was repeated 6 times (4 Hens/replicates). Sampling was performed after 30 weeks of breeding (laying peak). No significant differences in laying performance were observed between the groups examined at this stage of production. Egg weight, length, and diame- ter decreased with increasing hempseed incorporation rate (p<0.001). In addition, the yolk height was influenced by the hempseed rate (p<0.05), while the albumen height was not affected (p>0.05). High levels of hemp seed incorporation had a negative effect on the physical quality characteristics of the eggs, however, egg laying performance was not affected (p>0.05). On the basis of this finding, we can conclude, that at small incorporation rates, hemp seeds could be used in poul- try feeding as an alternative constituent to partially replace high-cost imported ingredients such as corn and soybeans. Keywords:Keywords: Hempseed, Laying hens, Laying performance, Eggs physical traits. P07. Faisibility study of Producing Unpasteurized Liquid Egg P07. Faisibility study of Producing Unpasteurized Liquid Egg White with Enhanced Functional Properties: Safety and Tech-White with Enhanced Functional Properties: Safety and Tech- nological Assessmentsnological Assessments Kmichou Ilham1*, Triqui Réda2, and Mazouzi Mohamed1 1 ENSEM Engineering Institute, Hassan II University, Casablan- ca, Morocco; 2 Agronomic and Veterinary Institute HASSAN II, Madinat Al Irfane B.P., 6202, Rabat, Morocco. *Corresponding and presenting author: ilhamkmichou@gmail.com AbstractAbstract Pasteurization allows to preserve the salubrity of liquid egg white by destroying the pathogenic microorganisms. On the other hand, the pasteurization to has effects on the func- tional properties of the egg products. Compared to manually separated raw egg white, mechanically separated pasteur- ized liquid egg white reduces the volume and stability of the foam. It is for, In Morocco, pasteurized liquid egg white is not well accepted by the intended users. The present study was to evaluate the possibility of producing liquid egg white without the necessity of pasteurization and to evaluate the functional qualities of such a product. The study was realized in an approved egg product plant. The tests were done under real conditions of production. Thus, and through several tests, the microbiological stability of liquid egg white not pasteur- ized was evaluated both in relation to the flora of alteration and the pathogenic flora. The results obtained indicated that a liquid egg white improved in terms of functional charac- teristics can be attained without the need for pasteurization. The microbiological evaluations agreed with a safe product. Keywords: Keywords: Raw Liquid egg whites, Pasteurization, Microbio- logical quality, Functional properties, Safety, Salmonella. P08. Effect of Provenance on Phenolic Compounds of P08. Effect of Provenance on Phenolic Compounds of Arbu-Arbu- tus unedotus unedo in Morocco in Morocco Ilias Oussif1*, Nadya Wahid1, Jamal Aabdousse1, and Nora Sa- lim1,2 1 Environmental, Ecological and Agro-Industrial Engineering Laboratory, Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, Sultan Moulay Slimane University, Beni-Mel- lal, Morocco; 2 Industrial and Surface Engineering Laboratory, Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technol- ogy, Sultan Moulay Slimane University, Beni-Mellal, Morocco. A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) 812 *Corresponding and presenting author ilias.oussif@gmail. com. AbstractAbstract Aromatic and medicinal plants (MAP) contain a multitude of compounds involved in the enzymatic and physiological reactions of the organism. These compounds implicated in the physiology of plants have a positive impact on human health. Among these compounds are the phenolic com- pounds differentially synthesized by plants at the level of different organs and this according to the vegetative state of the plant. Currently, phenolic compounds are the subject of several research works because of their benefits on human health thanks to their virtues and their various biological ac- tivities. In this context, the present study aims to determine the content of phenolic compounds in a medicinal plant, and we have chosen the strawberry tree as a case study. This plant, which knew an evaluation of the nutritive value of its fruit in opposition to its leafy part that remains limited and fragmentary in Morocco. In addition, we also aim to evaluate the effect of provenance on the composition and phenolic compound content of the leaf extracts of the said species. In order to cover the entire range of the arbutus in Morocco, samples were collected in different biogeographic regions of Morocco where this species thrives (Pre-Rif, Western Rif, Central Plateau, Middle Atlas and High Atlas). The collected leaves are dried at room temperature, protected from light and humidity, and then reduced to powder. The extraction is carried out by maceration in methanol to obtain dry extracts for the determination of phenolic compounds. The content of total polyphenols and flavonoids was determined by the colorimetric method using the visible spectrophotometer. The results obtained show that there is a significant variabil- ity between the populations studied in terms of total poly- phenol and flavonoid content of leaf extracts. Thus, analy- sis of variance (ANOVA) and principal component analysis (PCA) show that the provenance of the plant material could be the cause of this intra- and inter-population variability in phenolic compound content of arbutus leaves extracts. This variability seems to be correlated with the variation in envi- ronmental conditions such as climate, soil, orography, etc. Keywords:Keywords: Arbtus unedo, phenolic compounds, provenance, climate, Morocco. P09. Screening of Microorganisms in the Rhiosphere of the P09. Screening of Microorganisms in the Rhiosphere of the Grapevine, and Study of the Antagonistic Activity Towards Grapevine, and Study of the Antagonistic Activity Towards Al-Al- lorhizobium vitis lorhizobium vitis and and Botrytis cinereaBotrytis cinerea for the Implementation for the Implementation of a Biological Control Methodof a Biological Control Method Yahyaoui Hiba1,2§, Majida Hafidi1,2, Faiçal Aoujil1,2, Khaoula Habbadi1*, and Abdelatif Benbouaza1 1 Centre De Recherche Regional, INRA, Meknes, Morocco; 2 Faculty of Sciences, University Moulay Ismail, Meknes, Mo- rocco. *Corresponding author: khaoula.habbadi@inra.ma. §Presenting author: hibayahyaoui065@gmail.com. AbstractAbstract Bacteria form complex and dynamic associations with plants that range from mutually beneficial to commensal or patho- genic and play key roles in soil quality, host productivity, and host health through direct or indirect mechanisms, such as mineralizing soil organic matter, activating plant defense mechanisms, and even producing antibiotics against phy- topathogens. Viticulture represents one of the most impor- tant agricultural domains in the world in terms of cultivated surface and financial profitability and occupies an important place in Moroccan agriculture. However, Crop diseases take heavy toll on viticulture; it is subject to various biotic threats, notably crown gall and grey rot caused by Allorhizobium vitis and Botrytis cinerea respectively. Agricultural practices are getting innovative with advancement in science and technol- ogy. Out of several management options of disease control potential use of microbial consortia immerge as a new eco- friendly, sustainable approach. Synthetic biology has gener- ated many examples of what microbes can do and what we can learn from them when they are creatively engineered in the laboratory environment. Microbial consortia help to increase tolerance toward several stresses such as drought, salinity, heavy metal, and biotic stress . The aim is to better understand the role of the soil and root microbiome, in the context of , discovering the composition of a microbial con- sortium to defend the vine against these biotic and abiotic stresses. For this purpose, isolations from the rhizosphere and the roots of the vine were carried out and the morphological- ly different colonies were tested for their antagonistic activity against Allorhizoium vitis and Botrytis cinerea. These strains were tested for their compatibility with each other, in order to form a microbial consortium capable of defending the vine against these pathogens and which could be marketed as a biopesticide. Keywords:Keywords: Viticulture, Allorhizobium vitis, Botrytis cinerea, biocontrol, microbial consortia. P10. Nutritional Quality of Feeds used for Fattening Local Kids P10. Nutritional Quality of Feeds used for Fattening Local Kids in the Moroccan Western Rif Regionin the Moroccan Western Rif Region Asma Al Rharad1,2*, Bouassab Abderrahman2, and Ayadi Mo- hammed1 1 UR Production Animale. CRRA, INRA, Tanger, Morocco; 2 FST, University Abdelmalek Essaadi, Tanger, Morocco. *Corre- sponding and presenting author: alrharad.asma@gmail.com. AbstractAbstract This study is a contribution to evaluate nutritional quality of feeds resources used for fattening local goat kids of exten- sive livestock farms in northern Moroccan region. For this purpose, samples were analyzed for dry matter, mineral mat- ter, nitrogenous matter, ether extract and fibers content. The analyses were also interested in the digestibility by using two methods: enzymatic and in vitro. The protein value (PDI) and energy value (UF) of the samples were calculated to evaluate A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) 813 A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) the nutritional value of goat kids feeding. The result showed that the mineral content varies between 96 and 17 g/kg DM, the highest content is observed in the pelleted feed. Most of the species are characterized by low fat contents, however the energetic species are characterized by important fat con- tents (25 to 48 g/kg DM). For protein content, the species with high content are represented by vetches, faba beans and bit- ter vetch (279, 237 and 264 g/kg DM respectively). For the NDF content varied between extreme values of 661.85 g/kg DM for barley and 512.35g/kg DM for bitter vetch with an av- erage content of 600.54 g/kg DM. The lignocellulosic fraction ADF, varied between 160.21 and 79.20 g/kg DM. The lignin ADL content was an average of 25.40 g/kg DM. For the en- ergy value (UFL and UFV), the results record an average of 0.90/kg DM for UFL and 0.87/kg DM for UFV. The PDINs have an overall average of 110.93 g/kg DM while the PDIEs have an average of 103.49 g/kg DM. The nutritional quality of the concentrated feeds used in the fattening of goat kids is now well known, it will allow a better optimization of the use of the available fodder resources and a good feeding of the kids in the northern region of Morocco. Keywords:Keywords: Concentrated feeds, chemical composition, digestibility, PDI, UF. P11. Hydroponic Green Fodder: An Alternative Solution for P11. Hydroponic Green Fodder: An Alternative Solution for Feeding Livestock in Arid and Semi-Arid AreasFeeding Livestock in Arid and Semi-Arid Areas Othmane Elghalmi¹,²*, Karima Samir¹, and Mohamed El Kou- drim² ¹ Laboratory of Ecology and Environment, Department of Biological Sciences, University Hassan II, Faculty of Sciences Ben M’Sick, Casablanca, Morocco; ² Regional Center of Agri- cultural Research, INRA, Settat, Morocco. *Presenting author: othmaneelghalmi@gmail.com. AbstractAbstract In arid and semi-arid areas, the animal production subsystem is an essential component of the production of agricultural holdings, however several constraints hinder the develop- ment of the sector, which are mentioned: the low and irregu- lar rainfall resulting in fluctuations in the food supply of the livestock resulting in high feed prices, the small area reserved for fodder crops and thus the weakening of the livelihoods of millions of farmers. Taking climate change into account, as a structural phenomenon affecting Morocco like many oth- er countries with semi-arid or arid climates, the question of the resilience of production systems to climate change is at the heart of the Morocco Green Plan. The PMV’s approach to mitigate, adapt and prevent its effects and impact is based on the deployment of innovative and sustainable techniques and practices. The adoption of the technique of green hydro- ponic fodder, will thus allow the breeders to be able to pro- duce large quantities of good quality fodder all year round on reduced areas. The objective of this study is to rely on hydroponic green fodder as an alternative solution for the sustainable feeding of livestock in arid and semi-arid areas, by studying and monitoring the growth and morphological and physiological characteristics of a hydroponic crop with a mixture of cereals (barley, triticale, forage peas) grown alone and in a mixture. Crop growth was monitored, and several measurements were made, measuring morphologi- cal characteristics: germination rate, biomass, root and leaf length, and physiological characteristics: nitrogen content, mineral matter, dry matter, fiber content. KeyKeywords: words: Green fodder, hydroponics, barley, feed peas, triti- cale, livestock feed. P12. Grapevine Microbiome: A Biological Control Method P12. Grapevine Microbiome: A Biological Control Method Against Biotic StressesAgainst Biotic Stresses Yahyaoui Hiba1,2§; Majida Hafidi2; Aoujil Faiçal1,2; Benbouaza Abdelatif1; and Habbadi Khaoula1* 1 Laboratory of phyto-bacteriology and biocontrol, Plant Protection Unit, National Institute of Agronomic Research INRA, Meknes 50000, Morocco; 2 laboratoire de biotechnolo- gie végétale et valorization des bioo-resource, Faculty Of Science Meknes, University Moulay Ismail, Meknes 50000, Morocco. *Corresponding author: khaoula.habbadi@inra. ma. §Presenting author: hibayahyaoui065@gmail.com. AbstractAbstract Viticulture represents one of the most important crops in the world in terms of cultivated surface, and socioeconomic impact and occupies an important role in Moroccan ag- riculture. However, crop diseases take a heavy toll on viti- culture; it is subject to various biotic threats. Soil microbial communities represent the greatest reservoir of biological diversity. An increasing body of evidence also signifies the importance of this plant microbiome, which consists of the entire complex of rhizosphere-associated microbes, their genetic elements, and their interactions, in determining plant health. The collective genome of this microbial com- munity is much larger than that of the plant and is referred to as the plant’s second genome. It is from these various microbial populations that the idea of selecting a microbial consortium containing compatible, beneficial, and antago- nistic strains against the various plant pathogens has im- merged. The application of microbial consortium consisting of efficient strains for biological control is a superior tech- nique compared to the application of individual microbes for managing plant diseases. Moreover, the application of microbes in a consortium may improve the efficacy, reli- ability, and consistency of the microbes under diverse soil and environmental conditions. Compatible microbial strains that have no suppressive effect on other microbial strains, in the consortium may have an enhanced impact on plant growth promotion or disease suppression. This microbial consortium triggers several mechanisms of action including competition for resources, boosting systemically the defen- sive capacity of the plant, and the creation of anti-microbial metabolites. Keywords: Viticulture, biocontrol, microbial A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) 814 consortium. P13. Optimization of Roasting Process of Almonds Intended P13. Optimization of Roasting Process of Almonds Intended for Preparation of Healthy, Weight-Loss-Friendly Snacksfor Preparation of Healthy, Weight-Loss-Friendly Snacks Nadia Houmy1,2*, Farid Mansouri1, Kamal Belhaj1,3, Reda Mel- haoui1, Youssef Rbah1, Mohammed Addi1, and Ahmed Elam- rani1 1 Laboratoire d’Amélioration des Productions Agricoles, (LAPABE), Equipe agroalimentaire, Faculté des Sciences, Uni- versité Mohammed I, BP-717, 60000 Oujda, Morocco; 2 Labo- ratoire de Technologie et Qualité Alimentaire, CRRAO, INRA, BP-428, 60000 Oujda, Morocco; 3 Laboratoire de Management de l’agriculture durable, école supérieure de technologie, Sidi Bennour, Université Chouaib Doukkali, Route Ben Maachou, 24000, El Jadida Morocco. *Corresponding and presenting au- thor: houmy.nadia@gmail.com AbstractAbstract Due to the drought resistance of almond trees, the almond industry is becoming a lever for development in the semi- arid regions of eastern Morocco. According to *DRA-Oriental, young almond plantations contribute to the performance of the sector, where the production of shelled almonds contin- ues to increase, (13,000 tons in 2008 to 30,000 tons in 2020), and a better post-harvest recovery of almonds is noticed. Indeed, several Agri-food cooperatives have been created and various transformation processes for the valorization of almonds in almond products with high added value have emerged (e.g.: marzipan, almond oil for food and cosmetic use). This study focuses on the optimization of the roast- ing process of almonds in order to improve their nutritional quality. Whole or split roasted almonds are used with cere- als and other ingredients in the formulation of new healthy and weight loss -friendly snacks (Healthy bars snacks). We will present here the results of the method for optimizing the al- monds torrefaction. Indeed, response surface methodology (RSM) was used to determine the optimal roasting condi- tions. Twenty experiments were randomly selected using a central composite design (CCD) with two-controlled factors. Almonds were roasted at five temperatures (112, 120, 140, 160 and 168 °C) and for five duration times (7, 10, 17.5, 25 and 28 min). Mathematical models have shown that roast- ing conditions significantly affected response variables (p < 0.001), namely color, browning index, sweet, acid bitter and roasted tastes, hardness, and peroxide index. The optimized results showed that the best responses were reached when the roasting time was 17.5 min and roasting temperature was 140°C. The roasting process at these conditions produced the most acceptable almonds by consumers. Keywords: Keywords: Almond Roasting, Nutritional quality, Healthy bars snacks. P14. Incidence of Codling Moth (P14. Incidence of Codling Moth (C. pomonellaC. pomonella L.) in Apple L.) in Apple Tree Cultivars According to Its Voltinism and Several Physi-Tree Cultivars According to Its Voltinism and Several Physi- cochemical Traits of Fruitscochemical Traits of Fruits Dina Akroute1,2§, Rachid Benkirane2, Khaoula Habbadi1, Ahmed Elbakkali1, Rachid Razouk1, Younes Ogad1, Abdellatif BenBouazza1, and Salma El Iraqui El Houssaini1* 1 Regional Center of Agricultural Research of Meknes, Na- tional Institute of Agricultural Research, Av. Annasr, 10000 Rabat, Morocco; 2 University Ibn Toufail, Faculty of Sciences, Laboratory of Plant, Animal and Agro-Industry Productions, B.P 242, Kenitra, Morocco. *Corresponding author: salma.eli- raqui@inra.ma. §Presenting author: dinakroute@gmail.com. AbstractAbstract Codling moth, C. pomonella L., is known as one of the main pests of pome fruits (apple and pear) and walnuts world- wide. Several control methods have been performed to de- crease its incidence, however, it still represents a threat to the production and remains unsuccessfully managed. The current study has been conducted to highlight potential cor- relations between the codling moth damage and the physi- cochemical traits of fruits according to the voltinism of the insect through a growing season. The voltinism was deter- mined and thirteen well-known apple cultivars were inves- tigated between June and July, for codling moth damage as well as for physicochemical fruits characterization. Results showed highly significant differences between varieties in terms of codling moth infestation. The incidence of the in- sect varied according to the maturity stage of the fruits; the medium maturing varieties were the most attacked among the studied varieties, namely Galaxy and Obro Gala. More- over, the firmness and sugar content seemed to be involved in codling moth attraction towards certain varieties. The preference to these two parameters changed among the in- sect’s generations. Keywords: Keywords: Apple cultivars, C. pomonella, fruits physicochemical traits, voltinism. P15. Mitigating Global Warming Through the Recovery of P15. Mitigating Global Warming Through the Recovery of Organic WasteOrganic Waste Eliadini Sara1§, Abderrazak Rfaki1,2, and Mohamed Merzouki1* 1 Bioengineering Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences and Tech- nology, Sultan Moulay Slimane University, Beni-Mellal, Morocco; 2 National Center for Scientific and Technical Re- search (CNRST), Rabat, Morocco. *Corresponding author: m.merzouki@gmail.com. §Presenting author: saraeliadini@ gmail.com. AbstractAbstract Over the past decade, the amount of organic waste has in- creased worldwide. This biomass is underestimated despite its richness in biomolecules of interest that can be trans- A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) 815 A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) formed into several types of biological products such as bio- stimulants, biofertilizers, anti-aging, nutraceuticals, and phar- maceutical drugs. The non-valorization of these co-products of plant or animal origin is the main cause of greenhouse gas- es (GHG) responsible for climate change and its harmful ef- fects on agriculture, human health, and the environment. The scientific community encourages the recovery of this waste by producing natural agricultural inputs such as biofertilizers, biopesticides, and biostimulants, to satisfy the food security of the population and minimize polluting waste. Care must be taken to recover this abandoned organic biomass rich in biomolecules of interest. Indeed, the challenge that appears from this proposed valuation is to find the most eco-efficient technique that preserves the environment and improves economic profitability within the framework of a circular bio- economy.The main aim of this communication is to discuss and interpret the different opportunities for the recovery of organic waste. Additionally, various valuation limits are re- vealed and discussed, to which we offer recommendations to minimize the adverse effects of climate change to ensure food security. Keywords:Keywords: Recovery, organic waste, valoriza- tion, biomolecules, circular economy, climate change, food security. P16. Antioxidants from P16. Antioxidants from Rubus idaeusRubus idaeus L. cv Maravilla Leaves: L. cv Maravilla Leaves: Ability to inhibit the formation of Glycation End Products and Ability to inhibit the formation of Glycation End Products and Key Hyperglycemia EnzymesKey Hyperglycemia Enzymes El Asri Sara1*, Reda Ben Mrid1,2, Imad Kabachi1, Zakia Zouaoui1, Abdelhamid Ennoury1, Zoulfa Roussi1, Nada Nhhala1, and Mo- hammed Nhiri1 1 Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Sciences and Technologies of Tangier, Abdelmalek Essaadi University, Tetouan, Morocco; 2 Institute of Biological Scienc- es, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Ben Guerir 43150. *Corresponding and presenting author: saraelasri40@gmail. com. AbstractAbstract As a by-product of red raspberry production, Rubus idaeus L. cultivar Maravilla leaves, which are well-known for their anti- oxidant-rich fruits, are discarded as trash. This study intends to determine for the first time the potential inhibitory activ- ity of key enzymes related to hyperglycemia, α- glucosidase and α-amylase, as well as the protein glycation inhibitory ability of this plant methanolic extract, in order to discover natural remedies. The results demonstrated that the leaves had a high levels of phenolic compounds (167.2 mg GAE/g DW) and a flavonoid content of 17.08 mg QE/g DW. Further- more, the leaves showed a significant antioxidant potential in various tests, including DPPH free radical scavenging (IC50= 0.03 mg/ml) and 2,2’-azino-bis(3- ethylbenzothiazoline- 6-sulphonic acid) scavenging (IC50= 0. 049 mg/ml), ferrous ion chelation (IC50= 1.28 mg/ml), and ferric iron reducing power (266.03 mg/ml). Moreover, the antidiabetic assays re- vealed that the extract could considerably reduce the activity of both α-glucosidase and α- amylase enzymes. An albumin/ fructose glycation model was also used to assess the extract’s protein glycation inhibitory ability. Various biochemical in- dicators, such as fructosamine and protein carbonyl group, were used to estimate glycation inhibition, and the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) was determined using a fluorometer. The present investigation confirmed that Rubus idaeus cv Maravilla leaves could be a prospec- tive plant, as replacements for synthetic drugs, for diabetes treatment and glycation-related diabetic complications pre- vention. Keywords: Keywords: Rubus idaeus leaves extract, antioxidant activity, alpha-glucosidase, alpha-amylase, glycation, AGEs. P17. Pre-incubation of Rhizobia Strains with Hesperetin affect P17. Pre-incubation of Rhizobia Strains with Hesperetin affect Vicia fabaVicia faba Growth and Nodulation Under Salt Stress Condi- Growth and Nodulation Under Salt Stress Condi- tionstions Benidire Lounba1,2,3*, K. Oufdou1, and M. Göttfert3 1 Laboratory of Microbial Biotechnologies, Agrosciences, and Environment (BioMAgE) Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, Cadi Ayyad univerity, Marrakech, Morocco; 2 Higher school of tech- nology Laayoune, Ibn Zohr University Morocco; 3 Institute of Genetics, University of Technology, Dresden, Germany. *Cor- responding and presenting author: l.benidire@uiz.ac.ma. AbstractAbstract Associated with appropriate crop and soil management, in- oculation of legumes with rhizobacterial biofertilizers can improve food legume yield and soil fertility and reduce pollu- tion by inorganic fertilizers. Plant-rhizobial symbiosis are sub- jected to osmotic stress imposed by high levels of NaCl that is frequently found in arid and semi-arid lands. Poor nodula- tion and N2 fixation of legumes, which can lead to substantial loss of yield, has been attributed to negative effect of abiotic stress in the signal exchange process between the Plant-rhi- zobial symbiosis. It well known that successful symbiotic in- teractions are complex and require the regulation and func- tion of multiple genes/gene families in both partners. indeed, flavonoids (e.g., Hesperetin) play a crucial role as signal mol- ecules in promoting the formation of nodules by symbiotic bacteria. This study examines the effect of inoculation with preinduced rhizobia by hesperetin on V. faba plant growth and nodulation under salt stress conditions. Three rhizobia strains (RhOF4, RhOF6 and RhOF53), which have a different tolerance to salinity, were used to inoculate faba bean plants grown under controlled environmental conditions. Germi- nated seeds were inoculated with rhizobial strains prein- duced with 10 μM hesperetin, at different levels of salt stress (0 and 70 mM). Rhizobia grown without signal molecules were used as control inoculums. Data collected from this ex- periment showed that saline treatment inhibits plant growth of faba bean. Pretreatment of the bacteria with hesperetin had no stimulatory effect on nodulation. However, it seems to stimulate plant growth by increasing shoot and root bio- A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) 816 mass in V. faba inoculated with the tolerant strain RhOF53. Keywords: Keywords: Faba bean (Vicia faba), rhizobia, salt stress, flavo- noid, hesperetin. P18. Variability of Phenological Traits of Mediterranean Olive P18. Variability of Phenological Traits of Mediterranean Olive ((Olea europaeOlea europae L.) Cultivars from the World Olive Germplasm L.) Cultivars from the World Olive Germplasm Bank of MarrakechBank of Marrakech Omar Abou-saaid1,2,3*, Bouchaib Khadari3,4, Magalie Delal- ande3, Abdelmajid Moukhli1, Adnane El Yaacoubi5, Cherkaoui El Modafar2, and Hayat Zaher1 1 INRA, UR Amélioration des Plantes, Marrakech, Morocco; 2 Université Cadi Ayyad, Centre d’Agrobiotechnologie et Bioin- génierie , Unité de Recherche Labellisée CNRST (URL-CNRST 05), Marrakech, Morocco; 3 AGAP, Université de Montpel- lier, CIRAD, INRA, Montpellier SupAgro, Montpellier, France; 4 Conservatoire Botanique National Méditerranéen de Porqu- erolles (CBNMed), UMR AGAP, Montpellier, France; 5 Univer- sity Sultan Moulay Slimane, École supérieur de technologie Khenifra, Khenifra, Morocco. *Corresponding and presenting author: omar.abousaaid@gamil.com AbstractAbstract Flowering phenology is an adaptive trait controlled by two major mechanisms: the chilling requirements (CR) necessary to start growth and floral development when the risk of frost decreases and the heat requirements (HR) for the develop- ment of flowering stages. Future warming predicted in the Mediterranean region may reduce winter chill and increase heat. Therefore, the characterization of germplasm collec- tions constitutes a cornerstone for the selection of cultivars with low CR and the orientation of breeding programs to- wards accurate climate change mitigation strategies. Pheno- logical records for six years from 2014 to 2019 of 331 iden- tified cultivars were used for assessment of olive phenology and the estimation of CR and HR of all cultivars. Full flower- ing dates (FFD) were significantly affected by genotype, year, and their interaction. FFD Cultivar Characterization showed early flowering cultivars and late-flowering cultivars ranging between Day of the Year (DOY) 115 to DOY 132. Partial Least Squares (PLS) estimation of chilling and heat phases revealed high variability between cultivars for their CR computed us- ing the dynamic model. However, limited inter-cultivar vari- ability for Heat Requirement HR was observed. Our findings suggest that the temperature variation during the chilling and the forcing periods has a great influence on the FFD of olive cultivars. These results provide a strong portfolio to be explored in the framework of adaptation to climate change. Keywords: Keywords: Olea europaea L., Climate change, Phenology, PLS regression, chilling and heat requirements. P19. Biofilm Formation Among Carbapenemase-Producing P19. Biofilm Formation Among Carbapenemase-Producing Enterobacterales Isolated from Patients at Mohammed VI Enterobacterales Isolated from Patients at Mohammed VI University Hospital CenterUniversity Hospital Center Dilagui Ilham1,2*, Souad Loqman1,2, Asmae Lamrani Hanchi As- mae1,2, Kawtar Nayme3, Mohammed Timinouni3, and Nabila Sorra1,2 1 Laboratoire de Lutte Contre les Maladies Infectieuses, Fac- ulty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University Cadi Ayyad, Bd Prince My Abdellah, Marrakesh, Morocco; 2 Laboratory of Microbiology-Virology of Ar-Razi Hospital, Mohammed VI University Hospital Center, Av Ibn Sina Amerchich, BP 2360, Marrakesh, Morocco; 3 Laboratory of Molecular Bacteriology, Pasteur Institute, Casablanca, Morocco. *Corresponding and presenting author: ilhamdilagui@gmail.com. AbstractAbstract The prevalence of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacte- rales (EPCs) infections is increasing worldwide. These infec- tions are often a source of therapeutic impasses, leading to increased mortality and morbidity in infected patients. The emergence of this type of resistance as well as the property of biofilm formation contribute significantly to the wide dif- fusion of multidrug-resistant Enterobacterales in the hospital environment. The main objective of this work was to detect in vitro biofilm formation in 50 clinical strains of Enterobac- terales resistant to carbapenems by producing metallo-beta- lactamases. The study is conducted on 195 carbapenem-re- sistant Enterobacterales isolated from patients hospitalized at the Mohammed VI University Hospital Centre of Marrake- ch, between the period 01 January to 31 December 2018. The bacterial identification as well as the antibiogram of the strains were done according to the standard procedures of medical microbiology. The search for carbapenem resistance genes (OXA-48, IMP, NDM, VIM, and KPC) was performed by phenotypic methods and subsequently confirmed by PCR. Quantification of biofilm formation was measured by the tis- sue culture plate method. During the study period, among 195 carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales, 50 strains were NDM carbapenemase producers. The coexistence of the blaNDM and blaOXA-48 genes was detected in 8 strains. Bacterial identification showed a dominance of Enterobac- ter cloacae (54%), followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (28%), Escherichia coli (12%), and Serratia marcescens (6%). All 50 strains had high levels of resistance to imipenem, ciprofloxa- cin, and gentamicin. More than 50% of the strains were cat- egorized as strong biofilm formers. The study underlines the importance of implementing surveillance methods for EPCs and their biofilm-forming capacity, in order to control their diffusion in the hospital environment. Keywords:Keywords: Enterobac- terlaes, carbapenemases, resistance, biofilm formation. A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) 817 A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) P20. Inoculation with Rhizobacteria Consortia for Mitigating P20. Inoculation with Rhizobacteria Consortia for Mitigating the Effect of Stress Combining Water and Phosphorus Defi-the Effect of Stress Combining Water and Phosphorus Defi- ciency in Intercropped Faba Bean and Wheatciency in Intercropped Faba Bean and Wheat Said Cheto1,2*, Imane Chamkhi1, Bouchra Benmrid1, Ammar Ibn Yasser1, Joerg Geistlinger3, Youssef Zeroual4, Lamfeddal Kouisni1, Adnane Bargaz1, and Cherki Ghoulam1,2 1 Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, AgroBiosciences, Plant-Microbe Interaction Labora-tory, Benguerir, Morocco; 2 Center of Agrobiotechnology & Bioengineering, Research Unit Labeled CNRST, FST, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech, Morocco; 3 Anhalt University of Applied Sciences, Bernburg, Germany; 4 Situation Innovation, OCP Group, Morocco. *Cor- responding author email: said.cheto@um6p.ma. AbstractAbstract Drought and phosphorus (P) shortage are among the most prevailing stresses throughout the world especially in arid and semiarid areas. Thereby, they are hampering crop pro- duction, quality, and energy. In Moroccan agrosystems, faba bean and wheat crops are submitted to the stress combining water deficit and P limitation that adversely affect their pro- ductions. Inocula-tion with osmotolerant P solubilizing bac- teria (PSB) under adapted cropping system could con-tribute a lot in mitigating the negative effects of this combined stress. Thus, our study aims to assess, under greenhouse, the impact of stress combining water deficit and P limitation on faba bean-rhizobia symbiosis and intercropped wheat and the role of inoculation withbacterial con-sortia gathering rhizobia and non-antagonistic plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) to alleviate this impact and improve plant growth un- der such conditions. Two Vicia faba varieties Aguadulce (Ag) and Reina Mora (RM), and one Triticum durum variety Karim (k), grown as sole crop or intercropped in pot culture, were in- oculated with two rhizobacterial consortia and submitted to. The sandy substrate was added either with rock phosphate (RP) (P deficient) or with monoammonium phosphate fertil- izer (P sufficient) and plants were inoculated with two rhizo- bacterial consortia C1 and C2, each one contains one rhizobia strain and two PSB identi-fied during the previous works of BioAS team of FST at Cadi Ayyad university. Plants were then submitted to water deficit based on 40% of substrate field capacity (FC) versus 80% FC for the control plants. The re- sults demonstrated that the inoculation with both consortia im-proved plant biomass, leaf water parameters, membrane stability, and Phytase and phosphatase activity under P limi- tation especially for AG variety inoculated with C2 compared to RM varie-ty. Inoculation and the intercropping system im- proved plant biomass, leaf water parameters, membrane sta- bility, and Phytase and phosphatase activity for wheat plants compared to sole cropped ones under all stress conditions. The results confirmed that consortium C2 was more perform- ing and could be used as inoculum for enhancing faba bean and wheat production un-der the combined stress of water deficit and P limitation. Keywords: Keywords: Drought, Phosphorus, in- tercropping, PGPR, Triticum durum, Vicia faba. P21. P21. Cistus monspeliensisCistus monspeliensis Extract as a Prospective Biostimu- Extract as a Prospective Biostimu- lant for Enhancing Antioxidant Defense System in Sorghum lant for Enhancing Antioxidant Defense System in Sorghum Plant Under Cadmium StressPlant Under Cadmium Stress Zoulfa Roussi1§, Reda Ben Mrid1,2, Abdelhamid Ennoury1, Sara El Asri1, Nada Nhhala1, Zakia Zouaoui1, Azzouz Krid3, and Mo- hamed Nhiri1* 1 Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Sciences and Technologies of Tangier, Abdelmalek Essaadi University, Tetouan, Morocco; 2 Institute of Biological Sciences (ISSB-P), Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), 43150 Ben-Guerir, Morocco; 3 Research team : Environmental Tech- nology, Biotechnology, and Valorization of Bio-resources, Fac- ulty of Science and Techniques of Al Hoceima, Abdelmalek Essaadi University, BP 34, Ajdir 32003, Al Hoceima, Morocco. *Corresponding author: med.nhiri@gmail.com. §Presenting author: zoulfa.roussi@etu.uae.ac.ma. AbstractAbstract Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) is a species known for accu- mulating high quantities of cadmium (Cd), which can dam- age physiological and metabolic functions, impede growth, and reduce yield. Maintaining sorghum’s production, there- fore, requires enhancing its tolerance to the toxic effects of Cd. In this study, we investigate the effects of Cistus mon- speliensis extract (CME) on Cd stress tolerance in sorghum. Sorghum plants exposed to Cd (200 μM) showed a decrease in their growth, biomass, and chlorophyll content as well as increased signs of oxidative stress compared to unstressed ones. However, CME supplementation (5 mg/l, 20 mg/l, and 60 mg/l) to the stressed plants reversed the detrimental ef- fect of Cd and elevated biomass and pigment content. CME also reduced superoxide ions (O -) accumulation and boosted antioxidant enzyme activities (superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), and glutathione -S- transferase (GST)). CME, therefore, ap- pears to improve Cd stress tolerance by upregulating antioxi- dant defense enzymes and decreasing ROS production, thus leading to a better growth rate. Keywords:Keywords: Cistus monspe- liensis extract, cadmium stress, Sorghum bicolor, antioxidant enzymes. P22. Impact of Innovation Platforms on the Dissemination of P22. Impact of Innovation Platforms on the Dissemination of Biotechnological Innovation for the Date Palms’ Sustainable Biotechnological Innovation for the Date Palms’ Sustainable Production: Case of Tafilalet Palm Groves (Southeast of Mo-Production: Case of Tafilalet Palm Groves (Southeast of Mo- rocco)rocco) Hamriri Kaoutar1,2*, Larbi Aziz3, Ali Abidar2, Mouhamadou Moustapha Kane2, Rachid Bouamri3, and Majid Atmani1 1 Department of Biology, Laboratory of Functional Ecol- ogy and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Science and Technology, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, Fez, B.P. A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) 818 2202 –Route d’Imouzzer, Fès, Morocco; 2 Department of Ru- ral Development Engineering, National School of Agriculture, Meknes, 10 km., Route Haj Kaddour, B.P. S/40, Meknès 50001, Morocco; 3 Department of Plant and Environment Protection, National School of Agriculture, Meknes, Morocco, 10 km., Route Haj Kaddour, B.P. S/40, Meknès 50001, Morocco. *Cor- responding and Presenting author: kaoutar.hamriri@usmba. ac.ma. AbstractAbstract The sustainability of date palm production, in Tafilalet’s palm groves, is threatened by many constraints related to the dry- land’s severe environment, climate change, and improper human activities. Biotechnological innovations are new agri- cultural research discoveries increasingly used to improve ag- ricultural sustainability. Such as compost, which has proved its benefits in facing date palm production constraints, im- proving its productivity, and enhancing soil health. Using linear approaches has proven their ineffectiveness to dis- seminate innovations’ advantages to small producers. As an alternative, Innovation Platforms (IPs) are a participatory ap- proach based on a multi-stakeholder alliance for disseminat- ing innovations. The purpose of this article is to determine IPs’ impacts on the adoption and dissemination process and to evaluate compost impacts on the date palm production system. Two types of investigation tools were conducted on 47 IPs’ members. A survey was conducted on 33 producers’ members of IPs, and a semi-structured interview was des- tined for 14 institutional actors. Data were analysed using fac- torial analysis, content analysis, and communication network analysis. The results show that IPs are a new organizational innovation impacting positively on date palm social systems. They create powerful collective learning through their strong dynamism and interaction. The producers who adopted compost are characterized by a high level of education, take a responsible position in GIE, have a large social network, in- teract with the research team and other producers, engage and participate in IPs’ activities, search for agricultural news, and have the ability to accept change and develop their skills. Compost can improve soil’s water-holding capacity, increase yield, and reduce expenses by decreasing the need for water, fertilizers, and phytosanitary treatments. Keywords:Keywords: Innova- tion platforms, date palm’s sustainable production, Tafilalet’s palm groves, biotechnological innovation, compost, adop- tion and dissemination process. P23. Drivers of Post-Harvest Aflatoxin Contamination: Evi-P23. Drivers of Post-Harvest Aflatoxin Contamination: Evi- dence Gathered from Knowledge Disparities and Field Sur-dence Gathered from Knowledge Disparities and Field Sur- veys of Maize Farmers in the Rift-Valley Region of Kenyaveys of Maize Farmers in the Rift-Valley Region of Kenya Grace Gachara1,2,5§, Rashid Suleiman1, Sara El Kadili3, Essaid Ait Barka4, Beatrice Kilima1, and Rachid Lahlali5* 1 Department of Food Sciences and Agro-processing, School of Engineering and Technology, Sokoine University of Agri- culture, P. O. Box 3006, Morogoro, Tanzania; 2 Southern Africa Centre of Excellence for Infectious Diseases (SACIDS), SACIDS Foundation for One Health, Sokoine University of Agriculture, P.O. Box 3019, Morogoro, Tanzania; 3 Department of Animal Production, Ecole Nationale d’Agriculture de Meknès, Route Haj Kaddour, BP. S/40, 50001 Meknes, Morocco; 4 Unité de Re- cherche Résistance Induite et Bio-Protection des Plantes-EA 4707, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, 51100 Re- ims, France; 5 Department of Plant Protection, Phytopathol- ogy Unit, Ecole Nationale d’Agriculture de Meknès, Km10, Rte Haj Kaddour, BP S/40, Meknès, Morocco. §Presenting author: grace.gachara@sacids.org. *Corresponding author: rlahlali@ enameknes.ac.ma. AbstractAbstract Maize-dependent populations in Kenya are continually ex- posed to aflatoxin poisoning owing to their regular con- sumption of this dietetic cereal. This study assessed aware- ness levels, knowledge disparities and perceptions regarding aflatoxin contamination at the post-harvest phase among farmers in the Rift-valley region of Kenya. Households were randomly selected using a Geographical Positioning System (GPS) overlay of the agro-ecological zones within Uasin Gi- shu and Elgeyo Marakwet counties. Face-to-face interviews were conducted in 212 smallholder and large-scale farms. The study documented the demographic profiles of farm- ers, knowledge, awareness and perceptions of aflatoxin con- tamination using a pre-designed structured questionnaire. Most farmers were familiar with aflatoxins and the adverse effects they present to health (61.32%). Almost all the farmers (94.37%) were aware of storage molds and food spoilage fun- gi. However, few farmers adopted good post-harvest practic- es (PHPs) such as avoiding premature harvests (49.8%), using well-ventilated storage spaces (44.6%), grain sorting (30.5%), proper drying of maize (17.8%) and using hermetic bags for storage (30.5%). Intensified farmer education is required to train farmers on good PHPs to protect their maize from afla- toxigenic fungi and aflatoxin accumulation. Keywords:Keywords: Stored maize; aflatoxins; Hybrid-6 series maize cultivars; food secu- rity; Rift-valley; Kenya. P24. Soil Amendments improve Quinoa Tolerance Level to P24. Soil Amendments improve Quinoa Tolerance Level to high Salinity: Agrophysiological Analysishigh Salinity: Agrophysiological Analysis Mohammad Redouane Bourhim1,2*, Cheto Said1,2, Hirich Ab- delaziz2, Qaddoury Ahmed1, and Ghoulam Cherki1,2 1 Center of Agrobiotechnology and Bioengineering, CNRST Labeled Research Unit, FST, Cadi Ayyad University, Mar- rakech, Morocco; 2 African Sustainable Agriculture Research Institute, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Benguerir, Morocco. *Corresponding and presenting author: medred1. mrb@gmail.com. AbstractAbstract Salinity stress is among the most severe abiotic stresses that A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) 819 A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) cause many disruptions to soil and crop productivity. There- fore, in order to deal with this problematic, we rely on culti- vating alternative crops that can tolerate salinity stress, such as quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa). Despite of its tolerance to salinity, quinoa performance could be affected under high sa- linity levels. Our study aimed at the assessment of the effects of some seeds treatments and soil amendment to improve quinoa tolerance under high salinity level. Three quinoa vari- eties (Puno, ICBA-Q5 and Titicaca) were grown in the green- house in pots containing soil with five amendments; Biochar “Bc”, compost “Cp”, black soldier insect frass “If”, cow manure “Fb” and phosphogypsum “Pg”, with a negative control “T (-)”and a positive control “T (+)” with no amendment, the plants were irrigated after 20 days after the seed sowing with saline water at 16 dS/m of NaCl except the “T (+)” that was irrigated with distilled water. The results showed that salinity stress induced negative impact on the quinoa plants for all the tested agrophysiological parameters in the three varieties compared to their positive controls “T (+)”. However, most of these parameters were significantly enhanced by the applica- tion of soil amendments compared to the negative controls “T (-)”. For instance, in Puno variety biomass was especially increased by more than 90%, for the total nitrogen and phos- phorus amount by more than 300% with “Bc” amendment ap- plication. Yet, for Titicaca, the most important improvement was noted in the potassium amount where it was 606% bet- ter with “Pg” amendment compared to the negative control. Besides, ICAB-Q5 amended with Bc showed an improvement of 222% for the leaves area, of 219% for yield, and of 170% for nitrate reductase activity. Nevertheless, differences between varieties were noticed with Puno and Titicaca presenting the highest performances particularly when amended with If, Bc and Pg. Keywords:Keywords: Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa), salinity stress, tolerance to salinity, soil amendments, Biochar, com- post, black soldier insect frass, cow manure, phosphogypsum. P25. Epidemiological Profile and Clinical Characteristics of P25. Epidemiological Profile and Clinical Characteristics of Nasopharyngeal Cancer in Northern MoroccoNasopharyngeal Cancer in Northern Morocco Ayman Reffai1,3*, Mohamed Mesmoudi2, Touria Derkaoui1, Naima Nourouti Ghailani1, Amina Barakat1, Nabila Sellal2, Parag Mallick3, and Mohcine Bennani Mechita1 1 Biomedical Genomics and Oncogenetics Research Laborato- ry, Biology Department, Faculty of Science and Technology of Tangier (FSTT), Abdelmalek Essaadi University (UAE), Tangier 90000, Morocco; 2 Regional Center of Oncology “Ahmed Ben Zayed Al Nahyan center of cancer treatment”, CHU Tangier 90000, Morocco; 3 Canary Center for Cancer Early Detection, Radiology Department, School of Medicine, Stanford Univer- sity, CA 94304, USA. *Corresponding and presenting author: aymanreffai96@gmail.com. AbstractAbstract Nasopharyngeal cancer is a complex disease distinguished from other cancers of the head and neck by its risk factors and geographic distribution mainly affecting the Asian and North African populations including Morocco. The aim of this study was to determine the epidemiological and clinical char- acteristics of nasopharyngeal cancer in Northern Morocco. One hundred twenty-nine (129) patients diagnosed with na- sopharyngeal cancer and followed at the regional center of oncology of Tangier between 2017 and 2019 were included in this study. Epidemiological and clinical data was collected using technical sheets and analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software. The survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan Meier method. Nasopharyn- geal cancer (NPC) represented 5% of all cases of cancer with a median age of 50 and a remarkable sex disparity counting 65.9% of men (sex ratio= 1.93 M/F). The most affected age group was 40-54 years (41.1%). Cervical mass caused by lymphadenopathy was the most frequent symptom in our cohort. 96.12% of patients had undifferentiated nasopha- ryngeal carcinomas (UCNT) which is the most common his- tological type of this type of cancer. Most patients (82.2%) had an advanced stage of NPC at diagnosis including 5.4% of metastatic cases. 81.4% of patients received radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy preceded in 54.3% of cases by induction chemotherapy. The overall survival (OS) at 5 years was 86.8% for all patients. This latter was significantly influ- enced by disease staging. These findings show that nasopha- ryngeal cancer is very common in Northern Morocco as is the case in other endemic areas with a late declaration problem. These results converge with the literature data and show the necessity of further studies regarding this type of cancer for better understanding and a better diagnosis. Keywords:Keywords: Na- sopharyngeal cancer, oncology, epidemiology, clinicopath- ology, prevalence, therapy, survival, Morocco, Northern Mo- rocco. P26. Gut Microbiota: A Strong Correlation with Colorectal P26. Gut Microbiota: A Strong Correlation with Colorectal CancerCancer El Moussaoui Seham, Derkaoui Touria*, Michab Soukayna, Amina Barakat, Naima Ghailani Nourouti, and Mohcine Ben- nani Mechita Biomedical Genomics and Oncogenetics Research Laborato- ry, Faculty of Sciences and Techniques of Tangier, Abdelmalek Essaâdi University, Morocco. *Corresponding and presenting author: derkaoui.touria.22@gmail.com. AbstractAbstract Colorectal Cancer (CRC) is ranked among the most common cancers worldwide, it is defined as a pathology that develops from the cells that line the inner wall of the colon or rectum. It represents the second leading cause of death by cancer of both sexes. In Morocco, its incidence ranks third for all gen- ders. The human gut microbiota is the sum of non-pathogenic microorganisms called commensals, it’s an organ composed of billions of bacteria, viruses, yeasts and fungi that reside mainly in the distal colon. The microbiota plays an essential A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) 820 role in the metabolism of the host and at the same time it maintains a symbiotic relationship with the latter. This micro- biota can be sometimes unbalanced, it is intestinal dysbiosis, the results of a decrease and/or an increase of certain types of bacteria. In other words, it is the modification of the composi- tion of the gut microbiota. Several studies have highlighted the correlation between colorectal cancer and the gut micro- biota. Indeed, the alteration and the dysfunction of this mi- crobiota triggers and facilitates the carcinogenesis process, by inducing inflammation and disturbing the permeability of the intestinal wall. The new discoveries of the composition, the functions of the gut microbiota and the way in which it intervenes in carcinogenesis, can today consider the micro- biota as an excellent tool for the management of colorectal cancer. Keywords: Keywords: Gut Microbiota, Colorectal Cancer, Dysbio- sis. P27. Antifungal Effect of Some Plants on P27. Antifungal Effect of Some Plants on Fusarium oxyspo-Fusarium oxyspo- rumrum f. sp. albedinis (Foa), the Causal Agent of Bayoud of Date f. sp. albedinis (Foa), the Causal Agent of Bayoud of Date PalmPalm Ben-Amar Houria*, Eimad Dine Tariq Bouhlali, and Adil Essa- rioui National Institute of Agronomic Research, Regional Center of Errachidia, Morocco. *Corresponding and presenting author: houriabenamar@hotmail.fr. AbstractAbstract “Bayoud”, a vascular disease caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. albedinis (Foa), is the main threat to date palm in Mo- rocco. Nine plants (Atriplex canescens, Atriplex lentiformis, Teucrium polium, Chrysopogon zizanioides, Thymus vulgaris, Foeniculum vulgare, Retama monosperma, Opuntia ficus in- dica, and Artimesia herba alba) were grounded and added to GZAPECK culture medium at 2 doses each, C1 (5g/L) and C2 (10g/L). The resulting medium was filtered and used to evalu- ate plant fungitoxic and/or fungistatic effects on Foa by mea- suring its spore germination and mycelia. Spore germination inhibition ranged between 41% to 69% at dose C1, and from 37% to 92% at dose C2. The three plants with the greatest effects on spore germination, Thymus vulgaris, Atriplex cane- scens, and Atriplex lentiformis, showed also strong inhibitory effects against mycelial growth, ranging from 16% to 47% for dose C1 and from 20% to 68% for dose C2. These results high- light the potential of plants to produce bioactive compounds and open new research paths for their use in the manage- ment of “Bayoud” disease of date palm. Keywords: Keywords: Bayoud, Bioactive compounds, date palm. P28. In vitro and in vivo Effect of Salts to Control Postharvest P28. In vitro and in vivo Effect of Salts to Control Postharvest Citrus Blue Mold disease caused by Citrus Blue Mold disease caused by Penicillium italicumPenicillium italicum Hamrani Meriem1,2*, Lamyaa Zelmat2, Rabea Ziri2, and Mo- hammed El Guilli1 1 Plant Pathology and Postharvest Quality Laboratory, Re- gional Center of Agricultural Research of Kenitra, National Institute of Agricultural Research, Kenitra, Morocco; 2 Plant, Animal and Agro-Industrial Production Laboratory, Univer- sity Ibn Tofail, Kenitra, Morocco. *Corresponding and present- ing author: meriem.hamrani@uit.ac.ma. AbstractAbstract Blue mold caused by Penicillium italicum is among the most economically impactful post-harvest diseases of citrus fruit. Chemical control is the most employed method used to fight this disease around the world. However, prolonged and excessive application of fungicides adversely impacts the environment and human health. The use of alternative ap- proaches is considered a safe and more sustainable strategy to reduce gradually fungicide utilization. The present study aimed to evaluate the in vitro and in vivo antifungal activity of some salts including, potassium sorbate, sodium benzoate, sodium tetraborate and sodium bicarbonate against P. itali- cum. In in vitro experiments, the solutions of salts were add- ed to the PDA medium to obtain the final concentrations of 0, 500, 1000, 1500 and 2000 ppm. The in vivo curative activity of salts to control citrus blue mold was evaluated on ‘Valencia late’ oranges artificially inoculated with P. italicum. Fruits were dipped, after 24 h of inoculation, in 0, 20 g/L and 40 g/L salt solutions for 2 min. Results showed that the potassium sor- bate reduced the P. italicum mycelial growth by 45 % at 500 ppm, with a CI50 = 2.75 ppm.The complete inhibition of P. italicum was observed with sodium bicarbonate and sodium tetraborate at 1000 ppm and 2000 ppm, respectively. The in vivo findings showed significant antifungal activity of potas- sium sorbate, sodium benzoate and sodium tetraborate.They totally inhibited (100 %) the development of blue mold on ‘Valencia late’ oranges at a low concentration of 20 g/L. Its ef- fectiveness was similar to that obtained by the conventional fungicide “Imazalil” used as positive control. Keywords:Keywords: Citrus, post-harvest diseases, Penicillium italicum, blue mold, salts, antifungal activity. P29. Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of Isolates of P29. Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of Isolates of AlternariaAlternaria spp., the Causal Agent of the Postharvest Diseases spp., the Causal Agent of the Postharvest Diseases in Citrus Fruits in Moroccoin Citrus Fruits in Morocco Zelmat Lamyaa1,2*, Hamrani Meriem1,2, Ibriz Mohammed2, and El Guilli Mohammed1 1 Plant Pathology and Postharvest Quality Laboratory, Re- gional Center of Agricultural Research of Kenitra, National Institute of Agricultural Research, Kenitra, Morocco; 2 Plant, Animal and Agro-Industrial Production Laboratory, Ibn Tofail University, Kenitra, Morocco. *Corresponding and presenting author: lamyaa_zelmat@hotmail.com. AbstractAbstract Alternaria alternata is one of the most important fungi caus- A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) 821 A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) ing various diseases on citrus worldwide. In Morocco, Alter- naria black rot (ABR) and Alternaria brown spot (ABS) are two major diseases causing serious losses in commercial cultivars of citrus. The aim of the present work was to study the genet- ic diversity and the population structure of isolates belong- ing to sect. Alternaria obtained from infected citrus fruits, col- lected from seven provinces at different locations in Morocco (markets, packinghouses, and orchards). Forty-five isolates were analyzed by sequence-related amplified polymorphism (SRAP) markers, and cluster analysis of DNA fragments was performed using UPGMA method and Jaccard coefficient. Cluster analysis revealed that isolates were classified in four distinct groups. AMOVA revealed also a large extent of varia- tion within sect. Alternaria isolates (99%). The results dem- onstrate that no correlation was found among SRAP pattern, host, and geographical origin of these isolates. Population structure analyses showed that the Alternaria isolates from the same collection origin had almost a similar level of ad- mixture. Keywords:Keywords: Citrus, Alternaria alternata, post-harvest diseases, Genetic diversity, population Structure. P30. Weeds Associated with the Arganery Ecosystem of Souss P30. Weeds Associated with the Arganery Ecosystem of Souss Valley: Case of the Rasmouka Region (Tiznit)Valley: Case of the Rasmouka Region (Tiznit) Bouamair Ahmed1,2*, M. Alouani2, R. Qessaoui2, A. Ajerrar1, N. Ait Aabd1, A. Tahiri1, A. Mimouni1, and R. Bouharroud1 1 Centre Régional de la Recherche Agronomique d’Agadir, Morocco; 2 Laboratoire de Biotechnologie et de Valorisation des Ressources Naturelles, Ibn Zohr University, Morocco. *Cor- responding and presenting author: a.bouamair@gmail.com. AbstractAbstract Weeds are major constraints on crop production in general. The success of argan orchard under the National Arganicul- ture Program depends on the control of alias linked to bioag- gressors and weeds. The identification of the most important weed species may allow an understanding to address their interactions with argan orchards and prevent their nega- tive effects of competition in water and fertilizers. Our study aimed to investigate the distribution and diversity of weeds in selected argan orchard and surrounding forest in Argan Biosphere. To explore the weed flora, a floristic inventory was carried out in Rasmouka, Tiznit region during the month of March 2021. A total of 19 species belonging to 19 genera of 14 botanical families were recorded. Asteraceae was the dominant family with 4 species, Amarranthaceae (2 species) and Poaceaes (2 species). However, the most abundant family in argan orchard is Plantaginaceae with a single species (Plan- tago arenaria) while the Amarranthaceae family (Chenopo- diastrum murale) is the most represented under argan trees of neighboring forest. It should be noted that no species be- longing to the fabaceae family was observed in the bordering forest. Similarly, no species belonging to the 4 families Rubia- ceae, Boraginaceae, Caryophyllaceae and Brassicaceae was identified in the Argan orchard. Keywords:Keywords: Argan tree, weeds, diversity, abundance, species richness. P31. Tomato in the Souss Massa RegionP31. Tomato in the Souss Massa Region Redouan Qessaoui1, S. Chafiki1, N. Chabbi1, A. Ajerra1, H. Lah- myed1 , A. Tahiri1, N. Ait Abd1, A. Wifaya1, M. Alouani2, and R. Bouharroud1 1 Regional Center of Agricultural Research of Agadir, Nation- al Institute of Agricultural Research, Avenue Ennasr, BP 415 Rabat Principale, 10090 Rabat, Morocco; 2 Laboratory of Bio- technologies and Valorization of Natural Resources Faculty of Sciences, Ibn Zohr University, B.P 8106, Agadir, Morocco. *Corresponding and presenting author: redouan.qessaoui@ inra.ma. AbstractAbstract Agriculture in Morocco is a strategic sector for the social and economic development of the country. The Green Morocco Plan (PMV) and the Generation Green strategy are two major programs whose main objectives are to increase productiv- ity, promote and encourage new technologies in agriculture. Currently, the market gardening sector, of which tomatoes represent 84% play an important socio-economic role in Mo- rocco. It is an essential source of employment and a lever for foreign currency entry. The objective of this study is to make an inventory on the phytosanitary plan of tomato cultivation in the Souss Massa region. The results obtained show that four types of tomato are the most used in the Souss region: round tomato, elongated round tomato, round cherry toma- to and elongated cherry tomato and several types of variet- ies are adopted for each type of tomato. Calvi is the variety most used for the round tomato with a percentage of use exceeding 35%, followed by the Pristyla and Pitenza variety with 20%. For the elongated round tomato, three varieties are more used, Marcus, Adriano and Papales with 30, 35 and 35% of use respectively. Angelle is the most used variety for the elongated cherry tomato, likewise Creativo and Genio for the round cherry tomato with 75 and 25% use respectively. The survey results also show that Maxifort-type rootstock is the most used for the majority of tomato varieties in the Souss Massa region (20 to 100% depending on the tomato variety), followed by Arazi and Superpro rootstock. Open-ground cul- tivation is dominant in the Souss region by (67%). However, market gardeners are increasingly moving towards soilless crops with a rate of (33%). The most recorded yield is around 201 to 240 T/ha. Indeed, 80% of tomato exports are recorded by varieties of cherry tomatoes. Despite this significant toma- to production, the latter is subject to attacks due to diseases and pests. Tomato leaf mold and gray mold cause very re- markable economic damage. Farmers in the region rely heav- ily on a conventional system. Indeed, more than twelve active molecules have been used to combat this disease. Keywords: Keywords: Tomato, tomato leaf mold, gray mold, Souss Massa region. A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) 822 P32. Effects of Organic Fertilization and Intercropping of Po-P32. Effects of Organic Fertilization and Intercropping of Po- tato (tato (Solanum tuberosumSolanum tuberosum) with Faba bean () with Faba bean (Vicia fabaVicia faba) on Mi-) on Mi- crobial Load and Biomasscrobial Load and Biomass Aziza Irhza1,2§, Laila Nassiri1, Jamal Ibijbijen1, Fouad Rachidi2, and Ghizlane Echchgadda2* 1 Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Moulay Ismail University, Meknes, Morocco; 2 Department of Plant Protec- tion and Environnement, Ecology and Environnement Unit, National school of Agriculture, Meknes, Morocco. *Corre- sponding author : gechchgadda@gmail.coma; §Presenting author: aziza.irhza@gmail.com. AbstractAbstract Microorganisms play a very important role in nutrient cycling in agriculture and can lead to enhance soil quality and im- prove crop production. Thus, there is a huge need to identify some suitable management practices which contribute to increases in soil microbial load and biomass. Intercropping can achieve sustainable agricultural development by increas- ing plant diversity. Organic fertilization can contribute to im- prove microbial biomass and diversity due to the availability of organic substrates that can be used by microorganisms as an energy and carbon substrate. Potato (Solanum tuberos- um) is one of the most cultivated crops in Morocco, but its continuous cultivation in monoculture systems represents the greater factor deteriorating soil organic matter. In the aim to break this rule, we investigated the effects of potato mono- culture and potato intercropping system (Potato/Faba bean) under and without organic fertilization on microbial charac- teristics such as microbial load and biomass. The treatments are: T1 (Potato sole crop), T2 (Potato + Organic fertilization), T3 (Potato + Faba bean), T4 (Potato+ Faba bean+ Organic fer- tilization). The results showed that the microbial load evolved over time in all treatments, it was abundant in the intercrop- ping model compared to the potato sole crop. Organic fer- tilization and intercropping increased the microbial load in terms of bacteria and fungi. Soil microbial biomass plays a significant role in soils, and it is often used as an early indi- cator of change in soil quality. We found that intercropping increased the microbial biomass, however it was strongly impacted by treatment T1 (potato sole crop). Keywords:Keywords: In- tercropping, Monoculture, Microbial load, Microbial biomass, Organic fertilization. P33. Antibiofilmogram: An Innovative Test for Personalized P33. Antibiofilmogram: An Innovative Test for Personalized Treatment of Pathogenic Biofilm-Producing BacteriaTreatment of Pathogenic Biofilm-Producing Bacteria Aniba Rafik*, Abouddihaj Barguigua, Asmaa Dihmane, and Habiba Raqraq Team of Biotechnology and Sustainable Development of Natural Resources, Polydisciplinary Faculty, Sultan Moulay Slimane University, Beni Mellal, Morocco. *Corresponding and presenting author: rafikaniba1466@gmail.com. AbstractAbstract Pathogenic bacteria are characterized by their ability to ad- here to a surface and form a protective biofilm, highly toler- ant to antimicrobial agents. In routine medical microbiology, the classical techniques of antibiogram: agar diffusion meth- od or liquid microdilution method are adapted to the evalu- ation of the activity of antibiotics on planktonic bacteria. The minimum inhibitory concentrations and the resulting classifi- cation of strains (resistant or sensitive) allow, in most cases, to choose an effective antibiotic therapy for an acute infection. However, we have seen that in chronic infections where a bio- film is present, bacteria are able to tolerate very high concen- trations of antibiotics, which can lead to therapeutic failures, despite the administration of an antibiotic therapy classified as effective by the classical methods of antibiogram. The lat- ter are no longer systematically predictive of therapeutic suc- cess. Indeed, the methods currently used routinely in clini- cal microbiology do not take into account the sessile forms potentially present in a biofilm. Knowing that 65% of human infections seem to involve the formation of a biofilm, it ap- pears necessary today that the approaches chosen to pre- dict the activity of antibiotics in vivo integrate the “biofilm” dimension of bacterial phenotypes found in an infectious context. We are therefore talking about a new generation of tests that can be described as Antibiofilmogram. The realiza- tion of Antibiofilmogram on clinical isolates has made it pos- sible to highlight phenomena of inhibition and induction of biofilm formation. More precisely, aminoglycosides are able to delay bacterial adhesion. Conversely, the β-lactam family has the ability to stimulate early adhesion of microorganisms. The clinical relevance of the Antibiofilmogram is therefore confirmed by its ability to detect the early initiation of bac- terial adhesion, to select the molecules that inhibit it and to rule out those that may induce it. Combined with traditional antibiotic susceptibility tests, its application can be used to refine therapeutic strategies for the treatment and monitor- ing of bacterial infections. Keywords:Keywords: Antibiofilmogram, Anti- biogram, bacterial infections, antibiotic therapy. P34. Prevalence and Antibacterial Resistance of Uropatho-P34. Prevalence and Antibacterial Resistance of Uropatho- genic Staphylococci, Casablanca, Moroccogenic Staphylococci, Casablanca, Morocco Aniba Rafik1,4*, Barguigua Abouddihaj1, Dihmane Asmaa1, Momen Ghizlane2, Zahoor Muhammad3, Nayme Kaotar4, and Timinouni Mohammed4 1 Team of Biotechnology and Sustainable Development of Natural Resources, Polydisciplinary Faculty, Sultan Moulay Slimane University, Beni Mellal, Morocco; 2 Laboratory of Mi- crobiology, Biotechnology, Pharmacology and Environment, Faculty of Science Ain Chock, Casablanca, Morocco; 3 Depart- ment of biochemistry, University of Malakand at Chakdala, Dir Lower Khyber Pakh-tunkhwa, Pakistan; 4 Molecular Bacte- riology Laboratory, Pasteur Institute of Morocco, Casablanca, Morocco. *Correspondence: rafikaniba1466@gmail.com. A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) 823 A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) AbstractAbstract The purpose of this research is to evaluate the resistance pro- file of uropathogenic Staphylococci bacteria isolated from medical analysis laboratories, Casablanca, Morocco. In this retrospective cross-sectional research, from January 1, 2017 to December 30, 2020, a total of 4374 patients attended med- ical analysis laboratories for Cytobacteriological examination of the urine. The culture was carried out according to the usual techniques in medical microbiology, and the antibio- gram was performed according to the guidelines proposed by the Antibiogram Committee of the French Society of Mi- crobiology (CA-SFM). Data were grouped as percentages, and presented as tables and figures using IBM SPSS Statistics 26 (IBM, Armonk, NY, USA). During our research, we discovered eighteen percent of cases of urinary tract infection (UTIs). UTIs were more frequent in females 483 (63%) than male 289 (37%). The prevalence of uropathogenic Staphylococci bac- teria was 37.61%. Coagulase-Negative Staphylococcal (CoNS) was more prevalent (92.68%). S. saprophyticus was the most frequently isolated CoNS (39.47%). Several strains of S. aure- us were also reported (7.32%). The proportion of Methicillin- resistant S. aureus (MRSA) among the isolates was observed in sixty-six percent. All S. aureus isolates were susceptible to aminoglycosides, quinolones, erythromycin, linezolid, cotri- moxazole, and vancomycin. Also, S. saprophyticus isolates were highly resistant to Fusidic acid (60%), but 66,66% of the S. heomolyticus isolates were resistant to kanamycin and to- bramycin. For S. heomolyticus, S. hominis, and S. warneri we also demonstrated 100% sensitivity to Linezolid, cotrimoxa- zole, and vancomycin. The frequency of MRSA was found to be rather high in this research study. There are additional isolates that are resistant to other antibiotics that have been studied, such as vancomycin, linezolid and cotrimoxazole. The findings have significant implications for the quality of patient treatment in both settings, including antibiotic selec- tion and infection control procedures, as well as the need for more research. Keywords: Urinary Tract Infection, S. aureus, Coagulase-Negative Staphylococcal, Antibiotics resistance. P35. Crop Association and Agroforestry Approach for the Re-P35. Crop Association and Agroforestry Approach for the Re- silience and Sustainability of Argan Farmingsilience and Sustainability of Argan Farming Karra Youssef1*, Hallam Jamal1, Elame Fouad2, Tahiri Abdel- ghani1, and Wifaya Ahmed2 1 Natural Resources and Local Products Research Unit, Aga- dir Regional Center of agricultural research, National Institute of Agricultural Research (INRA), Morocco; 2 Integrated Crop Production Research Unit, Regional Center of Agricultural Research, National Institute of Agricultural Research, Agadir, Morocco. *Corresponding author: youssef.karra@inra.ma. AbstractAbstract In the arid and semi-arid areas, exploitation of water and plants calls attention in terms of the ecological, social and economic balance. Climate change and drought accentuate the sensitivity to degradation as is the case for the ecosys- tems of argan forest in southwestern Morocco where biodi- versity is subjected to human pressure and grazing. Conse- quently, cultivation of argan tree has become an essential niche for the safeguard and competitiveness of this region. However, the monoculture of the argan crop raises the ques- tion of the sustainability and health of the plants. An agro- ecological practice has proved to be a solution to remedy this risk like the association of crops in agroforestry approach, which could be an alternative to reduce the vulnerability of the argan farming. Thus, our study consists in evaluating the adaptation of this production system, using some aromatic and medicinal plants as associated crops. The monitoring in- cludes growth and performance of young plants of the argan tree and associated plants as well as the beneficial impact on water and soil conservation. In general, the combination of crops show beneficial effects and conserves the water state of the soil as long as the critical point of competition for light and soil nutrients is not attained, this is the reason why low- density planting is recommended for the argan farming as part of this agro-ecological approach. The association of the argan with underlying crops has a positive impact on the stability of the soil structure and the upgrading of its fertil- ity, this production model demonstrates an agro-ecological option to enhance marginal areas and thus contribute to soil conservation, carbon sequestration and rehabilitation of de- graded lands. Finally, on the economic level, the rehabilita- tion of degraded lands has enabled rights holders to benefit remarkably, to enrich their harvesting schedule and at the same time to contribute to the mitigation of the impact of climate change. Keywords: Keywords: Agroforestry, Crop association, ar- gan farming. P36. Modeling Using Machine Learning of Resistance to Scald P36. Modeling Using Machine Learning of Resistance to Scald ((Rhynchosporium communeRhynchosporium commune) in two Specific Barley Genetic ) in two Specific Barley Genetic Resources SubsetsResources Subsets Houda Hiddar1,2*, Sajid Rehman2, Berhane Lakew3, Ramesh Pal Singh Verma2,4, Muamar Al Jaboobi2, Adil Moulakat1,2, Za- karia Kehel2, Abdelkarim Filali Maltouf1, Michael Baum2, and Ahmed Amri2 1 Laboratory of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Sciences, BioBio Research Center, University Mohammed V, Rabat, Morocco; 2 International Center for Agricultural Re- search in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), Biodiversity and Crop Im- provement, Rabat, 10010, Morocco; 3 Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Holetta, Ethiopia; 4 ICAR-Indian Insti- tute of Wheat and Barley Research, Karnal, Haryana, 132001, India. *Corresponding and presenting author: hiddar.houda@ gmail.com. AbstractAbstract Barley production worldwide is limited by several abiotic and biotic stresses and breeding of highly productive and adapt- A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) 824 ed varieties is key to overcome these challenges. Leaf scald, caused by Rhynchosporium commune is a major disease of barley that requires the identification of novel sources of re- sistance. In this study two subsets of genebank accessions were used: one extracted from the Reference set developed within the Generation Challenge Program (GCP) with 191 ac- cessions, and the other with 101 accessions selected using the filtering approach of the Focused Identification of Germ- plasm Strategy (FIGS). These subsets were evaluated for re- sistance to scald at the seedling stage under controlled con- ditions using two Moroccan isolates, and at the adult plant stage in Ethiopia and Morocco. The results showed that both GCP and FIGS subsets were able to identify sources of resis- tance to leaf scald at both plant growth stages. In addition, the test of independence and goodness of fit showed that FIGS filtering approach was able to capture higher percent- ages of resistant accessions compared to GCP subset at the seedling stage against two Moroccan scald isolates, and at the adult plant stage against four field populations of Moroc- co and Ethiopia, with the exception of Holetta nursery 2017. Furthermore, four machine learning models were tuned on training sets to predict scald reactions on the test sets based on diverse metrics (accuracy, specificity, and Kappa). All models efficiently identified resistant accessions with speci- ficities higher than 0.88 but showed different performances between isolates at the seedling and to field populations at the adult plant stage. The findings of our study will help in fine tuning FIGS approach using machine learning for the selection of best bet subsets for resistance to scald disease from the large number of genebank accessions. Keywords: Keywords: Machine learning, Rhynchosporium commune, scald, barley, genetic resources. P37. Diversity and Abundance of Breeding Birds, Habitat and P37. Diversity and Abundance of Breeding Birds, Habitat and Nesting-Support Use: A Relevant Case in Fez, MoroccoNesting-Support Use: A Relevant Case in Fez, Morocco Ikram Douini1*, Mohamed Mounir1, El Mostafa Benka1, Mo- hamed Dakki2, and Soumaya Hammada1 1 Agro-industrial and medical biotechnology laboratory, Fac- ulty of Sciences and Technology, Sultan Moulay Slimane Uni- versity of Beni Mellal, Morocco; 2 Geo-Biodiversity and Natural Patrimony Laboratory, Scientific Institute, University of Mo- hammed V, Rabat 10106, Morocco. *Corresponding author’s email: ikram.douini@gmail.com AbstractAbstract Urban areas may impact the richness of avian species. The abundance and diversity of urban landscapes might offer breeding habitats and nesting resources for urban-adapted species. In our study, we investigated the breeding birds in urban landscapes of Fez historical city (Morocco), the habi- tat uses counting breeding habitats and nesting resources, and predicting factors. We used the line-transect method and we searched nests of birds on threes and cavities of his- torical walls in four habitats counting green gardens, old city walls, urban farms, and urban forests. A total of 109 nests of 13 breeding species, 12 resident-breeders, and one migrant- breeder were observed. Most nests were recorded in cavities (50 nests), Olea europaea (17), Citrus aurantium (15), Bam- busa vulgaris (11), and Eucalyptus globulus (7). Olea oleas- ter, Cupressus sp. hosted only 3 nests each, Populus sp. and Washingtonia filifera hosted only one nest each. Most nests were recorded in habitats rich in nesting trees and close to water sources. On the contrary, the number of nests declined while the habitats increased surface and distance to the ur- ban center. Our data revealed the diversity, habitat use, and nesting support of urban breeding bird communities in Mo- rocco and Southern slope of the Western Palearctic. Future urban plans must integrate measures to provide suitable breeding resources such as cavities of old walls and diversity of green areas for urban birds to enhance their breeding per- formances, thus promoting the well-being of the population via increasing biodiversity. Keywords:Keywords: Breeding birds, nests, habitat use, nesting trees, urban landscapes, urbanization. P38. Cadmium Tolerance of (P38. Cadmium Tolerance of (Averrhoa carambolaAverrhoa carambola) and Its Po-) and Its Po- tential use for Remediating Cd Polluted Environmentstential use for Remediating Cd Polluted Environments luted El Mellouki Meryem1*, A. Boulaarbah1,2, and F. Kebede1 1 Center of Excellence for Soil and Africa Research in Africa, AgroBioSciences, Mohammed VI Polytechnique – University Lot 660, Hay Moulay Rachid- Ben Guerir, Morocco; 2 Université Cadi-Ayyad, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques Marrakech, Laboratoire Bioressources et Sécurité Sanitaire des Aliments, BP 549, M-40000, Guéliz, Marrakech, Morocco AbstractAbstract Carambola (Averrhoa carambola), often known as star fruit, is a high-biomass and fast-growing tropical evergreen pe- rennial tree that has spread widely throughout the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. In its tropical habitat, the carambola tree blooms nearly year-round. This tree has potential for Cd phytoextraction, it can accumulate consider- able amounts of Cd in its shoots (about 500 mg kg−1, on a dry weight basis) without significant reduction in biomass when grown in solutions containing 5 mg Cd L−1 for 3 months. Root- specific uptake of the symplastic component and root-to- dust translocation of Cd in A. carambola is a lot more efficient compared to other non-Cd accumulating species, contribut- ing to its high ability for Cd accumulation. The phytoextrac- tion of cadmium by the carambola tree is an ideal solution for the decontamination of soils in Cd, it has been proven that 50% of the Cd can be extracted throughout 13 years in the soil slightly contaminated in Cd. Carambola is not signifi- cantly affected by Zn, whereas Zn transport is strongly inhib- ited by Cd. This implies that Cd accumulation in this species is mediated at least partially by Zn transporters, which seem to have a greater affinity for Cd than for Zn. These mainly in- dicate that A. carambola has developed remarkable physi- ological mechanisms to accumulate Cd at a high level. Which A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) 825 A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) qualifies it as one of the best plants for Cd phytoextraction currently discovered. Keywords:Keywords: Averrhoa carambola; Peren- nial tree; Tropical-subtropical tree; Cd hyperaccumulation; Cd phytoextraction. P39. Plant Growth Promoting Potential of P39. Plant Growth Promoting Potential of Bacillus subtilisBacillus subtilis Iso- Iso- lated from lated from Ziziphus lotusZiziphus lotus Oulkhir FatimaEzzahra* and Abdelmounaaim Allaoui Coalition Center for Innovation and Prevention of Epidemics in Morocco (CIPEM), Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Benguerir, Morocco. *Corresponding and presenting author: fatimaezahra.oulkhir@um6p.ma. AbstractAbstract Plant growth under different biotic and abiotic stresses is en- hanced by the presence of plant microbiota. The latter plays an important role in the production of secondary metabolites that promote plant growth. Among this microbiota we distin- guish endophytes, plant beneficial bacteria that thrive inside plants and can improve plant growth under normal and stress conditions. The objective of this work is to characterize the beneficial effect of endophytic bacteria isolated from the root of the wild jujube (Ziziphus lotus L.), with the aim of select- ing bacteria possessing a maximum of phyto-beneficial func- tions. For this, we first isolated endophytes then performed a set of in vitro tests namely: P, K and Zn solubilization, phyto- hormones production such as IAA, siderophores production, atmospheric nitrogen fixation, NaCl tolerance. The identifi- cation of these strains was achieved by amplifying the gene encoding rRNA 16s. This study allowed the selection of the most efficient bacterial strains, namely: Bacillus, Pseudomo- nas, and Arthrobacters which have different profiles whose strain ED24 has shown a high performance. It solubilizes 108 mg/l of TCP, 7.71mg/l Potassium, produces IAA, siderophore, ammonia, and cellulase, tolerates 6% NaCl, also resistant to ampicillin, kanamycin, and spectinomycin. Based on these re- sults, we studied the inoculation effect of this bacterium on the germination and growth of wheat seeds, where it showed a significant difference, with a germination rate of 66.66 % compared to a negative control of 26.667%. As perspectives, we aim to study the root colonization and penetration of the DE24 bacteria using GFP reporter gene. Keywords:Keywords: Wild ju- jube, Endophytic bacterial, antibiotic resistance, Phosphate and Zinc solubilization, soil fertilization. P40. The Preservation of Green Spaces: A Means to Improve P40. The Preservation of Green Spaces: A Means to Improve Biodiversity in MoroccoBiodiversity in Morocco Chkird Fadoua*, Ahmed Maghri, Azzouz Boukroute, Abdel- basset Berrichi, and Nour-Eddine Kouddane Laboratory for the Improvement of Agricultural Production, Biotechnology and Environment, Department of Biology, Fac- ulty of Sciences, Mohammed Premier University, Oujda, Mo- rocco. *Corresponding author: chkird.fadoua@ump.ac.ma. AbstractAbstract The diversity of Morocco’s landscape is illustrated by its green spaces, which include multiple types such as parks, gardens, square,... each one more characteristic than the other. They assure to every city a continuity and proximity of the natu- ral element, a reduction of the oppression of the constructed spaces and the improvement of the quality of the living en- vironment and the urban landscape of the city. They are truly green lungs in the heart of the city. The objective of the work is to analyze green spaces according to a scientific approach in order to establish an inventory in terms of green space de- velopment. The method adapted for this study is based on a data analysis that relies on field observation, maps, satellite images, determination of certain factors, etc. with the help of software; all this information is based on archival sources, and cartographic tools. We studied the different types of green spaces, based on the one hand on the landscape analysis and on the other hand on the process of determining certain factors. The green space is constructed according to precise rules of perspective and composition in order to understand the different architectural, natural and landscape elements that characterize the space (lines, reliefs...). These elements will structure the design and their systemic action will lead to the definition of the garden type. This approach aims to bring an in-depth reflection on the green component, aspires to reposition it and capitalize the Moroccan experience in this regard, as part of the preservation and enhancement of na- tional green heritage. Keywords: Keywords: Biodiversity, Green Heritage, Green space, Landscape analysis, Morocco, Parks. P41. Evaluation of the Food Deficit of Livestock Goats in the P41. Evaluation of the Food Deficit of Livestock Goats in the region of Chefchaouenregion of Chefchaouen Asma Al Rharad1,2*, Bouassab abderrahman2, Acherkouk Mo- hammed1, and Ayadi Mohammed1 1 UR Production Animale. CRRA, INRA, Tanger, Morocco; 2 FST, Université Abdelmalek Essaadi, Tanger, Morocco. *Corre- sponding and presenting author: alrharad.asma@gmail.com. AbstractAbstract This study contributes to the evaluation of the feed deficit of the goat herd in the northern region of Morocco. For a first test, the study of the food deficit of goats in pasture was car- ried out by collecting data on the diet adopted by three dif- ferent breeders of the northern regions in cold period and which is based essentially on the pastoral plants of the re- gion, we note the breeders of the region Kalaa, Bouhala and Chrafat and who have herds of goats composed of goats, billy goats and goat kids. In a second test, a collection of data from three breeders in the same regions above having a main ac- tivity which is fattening goat kids. The study of the feed defi- cit of billy goats showed that their diet is deficient in 15% in UF and 32% in PDI. For goats showed more deficit, where it has provided high protein intake that is 118.48% (71%), cer- A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) 826 tainly, for a deficit of 29%. And in terms of energy, their diet provided an intake of 1.08 in UF and a deficit of 35%. For the kids on pasture, the protein intake is 85% and for UF is 0.46 UF. And for the doeling, there protein intakes were high. For the fattening kids, the inputs provided made it possible to ensure an input of 42.03 g/Day in protein value, and 55% of deficit in UF. The feed provided to the goats on extensive farms assured a good portion of their needs. The feeding of the fattening kids provided a high protein value compared to the energy value and the deficit is higher in UF than in PDI. Keywords: Keywords: Food deficit, goat, diet, UF, PDI. P42. History and Inconsistencies within the Rhizobiaceae P42. History and Inconsistencies within the Rhizobiaceae Family TaxonFamily Taxon Battas Nizar1,2*, Khaoula Habbadi1, Abdellatif Benbouazza1, Khalid Azim3, and Majida Hafidi2 1 Moulay Ismail University, Faculty of sciences Meknes, labora- tory of biotechnology and bio-resource valorization, faculty of sciences, Meknes, Morocco; 2 National institute of Agro- nomic research, Regional center of Agronomic Research of Meknes INRA-CRRA Meknes, Plant protection research unit, Km 10, Haj Kaddour road, BP 578 (VN) 50 000, Meknes, Mo- rocco; 3 National institute of Agronomic research, Regional center of Agronomic Research of Agadir INRA-CRRA Agadir, Integrated production of cultures research unit, B.P.124. Inze- gane, 80350, Morocco. *Corresponding author: battasnizar@ gmail.com. AbstractAbstract The Rhizobiaceae family is one of the most inconsistent bac- teria family due to the varied behavior of its species that in- teract with plants; while it contains multiple plant growth promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) such as Rhizobium Legumi- nosarum (Frank, 1889) which conducts symbiosis with the Le- guminoseae family, it also contains non-symbiotic pathogens such as Agrobacterium tumefaciens, a specie that is also re- ferred to as Rhizobium radiobacter depending on the author, putting both a PGPR and a pathogen on the same genus. And while phenotypically speaking, both bacteria exhibit differ- ent behavior, genetically, they’re significantly similar since both the symbiosis and the pathogenicity is linked to differ- ent plasmids (Young et al, 2001). But for some species such as Ensifer (also called Synorhizobium), the symbiosis is linked to the DNA. Since several Rhizobiaceae species do not exhibit robust phylogenetic positions, it has caused controversy in taxonomic studies. Currently, the Rhizobiaceae family con- tains 25 genera, of which 4 are not validly published, 5 being a synonymous name with another genera within the Rhizo- biaceae family, 3 having a single entry research, with 8 valid genera having an interaction with plants Rhizobium, Neo- rhizobium, pararhizobium, Agrobacterium, Allorhizobium, Ensifer, Shinella, and Ciceribacter. Keywords:Keywords: Rhizobiaceae, Taxonomy, PGPR, Phytopathogens. P43. Potential Effects of P Solubilizing Bacteria in Improving P43. Potential Effects of P Solubilizing Bacteria in Improving Wheat Tolerance to Cadmium StressWheat Tolerance to Cadmium Stress Saidi Rym§, Ibn Yasser Ammar, Wissal Elhaissoufi, Meryem Haddine, Rachid Ghani, and Adnane Bargaz* Plant and Soil Microbiome Sub-program, AgroBioSciences, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Ben Guerir, Morocco. *Corresponding author: Adnane.Bargaz@um6p.ma. §Present- ing author: Rym.saidi@um6p.ma. AbstractAbstract Heavy metals phytotoxicity is one of the biggest abiotic threats that affects negatively cropping systems. Among these, cadmium (Cd) is the most abundant contaminant in soils that is known to impair plant growth and affects human health. With this in mind, the objective of this study was to examine the effect of applying Cd-tolerant phosphate solu- bilizing bacteria (PSB) to stimulate the growth and resistance of Cd-stressed plants, while enhancing phosphorus (P) bio- availabililty. In our experiment, three isolates B8 (Bacillus sp.), B12 (Bacillus sp.) and B31 (Rahnella sp.) were selected based their Cd-tolerance potential (showing a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 300 ppm CdCl2 (Cd [300])), along with others plant growth promoting features. To determine their effect on wheat growth under Cd stress, seeds were inocu- lated with these isolates individually (B8, B12 and B31) or in the form of consortium and grown under controlled condi- tions (in-vitro and in- planta) using three levels of Cd (0 ppm = Cd [0], 50 ppm = Cd [50] and 100 ppm = Cd [100]). Based on the obtained results, isolate B31 belonging to the genus Rahnella sp. significantly increased plant physiological pa- rameters such as stomatal conductance (SC) and the Chloro- phyll content index (CCI).Moreover, a significant increase was reported in the plants’ morphological traits namely length, and spike length at 100 ppm of Cd. The isolate B31 was found to induce a relatively high Cd tolerance capacity compared to the remaining isolates by increasing plant dry weight and root morphological. On the other hand, the three isolates B12, B31 and the consortium showed a high solubilization of P in the 75-days old roots at 100 ppm of Cd compared to the control with the isolate B31 showing the highest results. Our findings suggest that isolate B31 may have a positive impact on stimulating plants growth under Cd-stressed conditions. Keywords: Keywords: Cadmium, wheat, rhizobacteria, phosphate, phos- phate solubilizing bacteria, solubilization, tolerance. P44. Behaviour, Production Potential and Capacity for Carbon P44. Behaviour, Production Potential and Capacity for Carbon Sequestration by Different Species of Reforestation Pine in Sequestration by Different Species of Reforestation Pine in the Western Rif (Northern Morocco)the Western Rif (Northern Morocco) El Aich Nabila1,3*, Bakhiyi Belghazali2, Mohamed El Mderssa4, Laila Nassiri3, and Jamal Ibijbijen3 1 Department of Water and Forests; Sale, Morocco; 2 National Forestry School of Engineers, Salé, Morocco; 3 Environment and Valorization of Microbial and Plant Resources Unit, Fac- A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) 827 A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) ulty of Sciences, Moulay Ismail University Meknes, Morocco; 4 Sultan Moulay Slimane University, Polydisciplinary Faculty of Béni Mellal, Morocco. *Corresponding and presenting author: nabilaelaichenfi@gmail.com. AbstractAbstract The need for wood is steadily growing. Consequently, the areas of artificial plantations continue worldwide to colonize forest lands at the expense of natural forest areas. Today 7% of all forest lands are occupied by artificial plantations. Hence the importance of their study both on ecological and econom- ical aspects. Artificial plantations based on softwood species are increasingly widespread, due to their rapid growth and easy success. Nevertheless, they are very vulnerable to patho- genic agents and fire. In the western Rif (Northern Morocco), the most used coniferous species to reforestation are [Aleppo pine (Pinus Halepensis), maritime pine (Pinus pinaster) and Monterey pine (Pinus radiata)]. These species are usually planted for three principal roles that can be summarised in wood production, soil and infrastructures protection, or rec- reation. In all cases, trees purify the air through the process of photosynthesis, thereby limiting the concentration of green- house gas by their potential of carbon sequestration. In the current global context marked by climate change, the pres- ent study aims to measure the contribution of the species above mentioned to mitigate the impact of climate change. therefore, we are going to deal with two main axis relating to (1) identification of the potential of wood production in order to put forward silvicultural practices, adapted to each of the three species, according to the type of stations identified, (2) quantification of carbon sequestration by the different strata of the stands (tree, shrub, herbaceous, soil), their contribu- tion and role in limiting greenhouse gas emissions. For this purpose, stratified sampling will be used. The stratification criteria being the age of plantation, and type of substrate for each forest specie. The distribution of the sampling plots will be carried out randomly. The field and laboratory phases will afford valuable data for (1) identification of suitable environ- ments for optimal growth of the three pines, (2) estimation of their production potential, and (3) assessment of carbon sequestration. Keywords: Keywords: Maritime pine, radiata pine, Aleppo pine, Western Rif, carbon sequestration. P45. Effect of Sulla flexuosa (P45. Effect of Sulla flexuosa (Hedysarum flexuosumHedysarum flexuosum) on the ) on the Milk Production and Fatty Acid Profile) of Milk from Beni Milk Production and Fatty Acid Profile) of Milk from Beni Arouss Goats in Northern Morocco Arouss Goats in Northern Morocco Soumaya Boukrouh1,2*, Jean-Luc Hornick1, Nassim Moula1, Ali Noutfia2, Claire Avril3, Jean-François Cabaraux1, and Mouad Chentouf2 1 Department of Veterinary Management of Animal Re- sources, FARAH, IVT, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Univer- sity of Liège, Belgium; 2 Regional Agricultural Research Cen- tre, INRA, Tangier, Morocco; 3 HEPH Condorcet, Agronomy Category, Belgium. *Corresponding and presenting author: s.boukrouh@uliege.be. AbstractAbstract Sulla flexuosa is a spontaneous and non-cultivated legume from the northern region of Morocco. It is conducted on rainfed conditions and can be considered as an interesting alternative source of protein especially in the climate change conditions. In the perspective of its cultivation and use in ani- mal feed, the objective of the present work was to evaluate the effect of its incorporation in the diet of goats on the pro- duction and fatty acid (FA) profile of milk. Thirty Beni Arouss goats were divided into three groups and fed an isoenergetic and isoproteinic diet of either 70% Sulla flexuosa hay (SF70), 35% Sulla flexuosa hay and 22.5% alfalfa hay (SF35), or 50% alfalfa hay (Co). The three groups received 30% of concen- trates based on oat and barley grains. For three months, milk production was sampled weekly to analyze milk production and quality parameters. As a result, Sulla flexuosa incorpo- ration did not impact milk production. Compared with Co group, MUFA, LCFA, PUFA, n-9, n-6, and n-3 ratios increased while MCFA and SFA contents decreased in the SF70 group. In the SF35 group, only LCFA and MUFA were increased com- pared to Co group. Moreover, SF70 diet decreased MUFA/ PUFA and increased PUFA/SFA compared to Co diet. In addi- tion to its environmental and nutritional effects, SF enhanced health promoting indexes as its incorporation increased pro- portionally EPA+DHA. We presume that Sulla flexuosa hay has positive effects on the FA profile of goat milk which will consequently positively impact consumers health. Keywords: Keywords: Hedysarum flexuosum; hay; goat; milk production; milk qual- ity; fatty acid. P46. Effect of Modified Atmosphere Packaging on the Preser-P46. Effect of Modified Atmosphere Packaging on the Preser- vation of Strawberry and Extension of its Shelf Lifevation of Strawberry and Extension of its Shelf Life Yousra Zantar1,3*, Notfia Younes2, Amin Laglaoui1, Zantar Said3, and Mounir Hassani Zerrouk1 1 Équipe de Recherche en Biotechnologies & Génie des Bio- molécules, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, University Abdelmalek Essaadi, Tanger, Morocco; 2 Division Scientifique, INRA, Rabat, Morocco; 3 Unité de Recherche sur les Tech- niques Nucléaires, l’Environnement et la Qualité, Centre Ré- gional de Recherche Agronomique, INRA, Tanger, Morocco. *Corresponding and presenting author: Der_zantar@hotmail. com. AbstractAbstract Strawberry is a highly perishable fruit, due to respiration, weight loss and fungus. It is an excellent source of vitamin C, phenolic compounds. The sugars contained in strawberries promote not only the development of microorganisms but also the rotting of the fruit. The physiological and physical de- terioration of the strawberry increases if the method of con- servation is not controlled. The shelf life of this product, when A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) 828 fresh, is limited to 1 or 2 days at room temperature. The shelf- life of fresh strawberry is inversely proportional to its respira- tion rate. The method commonly used for preservation is for extending the shelf is low temperature. The impact of modi- fied atmosphere packaging (MAP) with low oxygen & high carbon dioxide in combination with low temperature on the preservation of strawberry” Palmarita variety “ was studied. The aim of the present work was to evaluate the integrated effects of MAP and low temperature investigate the change of quality of strawberry : pH, acidity, mass loss, decay, color, firmness, total soluble solids (TSS), acidity, polyphenol, an- thocyanin, microbiological quality and color, , etc. in order to establish an optimum preservation technology for straw- berry. The impact of Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) was studied with a stable low oxygen content ( 2,5 % ) and a variation in carbon dioxide ( 5% to 20%) in combination with nitrogen on the quality parameters of Palmarita strawber- ries. For this purpose, polyethylene terephthalate trays were used to pack the strawberries under four different initial gas compositions P1( CO2, 5%),, P2(CO2,10%,), P3(CO2,15%,) and P4(CO2, 20%,) The physico-chemical and microbiologi- cal analysis were monitored during a storage period of 12 days at a refrigerated temperature (4°C). The results showed that the MAP packaging conditions significantly prevented weight loss, rotting rate and improved the appearance of the strawberries, and inhibited the growth of total aerobic mesophilic flora during storage compared to the fruits pack- aged with ambient air that were used as reference. The MAP at 15% of CO2 technique was found to significantly reduce weight loss, improve appearance, control rot of strawber- ries, and extend storage time. Keywords: Strawberry, modi- fied atmosphere, quality, conservation, shelf life. P47. Synergistic Impacts of Endophytic Bacteria Bacillus sub-P47. Synergistic Impacts of Endophytic Bacteria Bacillus sub- tilis Bera 71 and Biochar to Alleviate Salinity Stress in Maizetilis Bera 71 and Biochar to Alleviate Salinity Stress in Maize Abeer Hashem1,2, Khalid F. Almutairi3, and Elsayed Fathi Abd_Allah3* 1 Botany and Microbiology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box. 2460, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia; 2 Mycology and Plant Disease Survey Department, Plant Pathology Research Institute, ARC, Giza 12511, Egypt; 3 Plant Production Department, College of Food and Agricul- tural Sciences, King Saud University, P.O. Box. 2460, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia. *Corresponding and presenting au- thor: eabdallah@ksu.edu.sa. AbstractAbstract The efficiency of salinity-tolerant endophytic bacteria (Bacil- lus subtilis, Bera 71) and Biochar (BC) in maize growing in salt marsh clay soils was investigated in the current study. The endophytic bacterium exhibited plant growth stimula- tion and had a synergistic impact on plant growth promo- tion with BC in a pot experiment. Both alone and in combi- nation, these therapies alleviated the adverse impact of salt stress, resulting in improved stress metabolism and defense responses. The combined treatments alleviated the adverse impacts of salinity by suppressing oxidative stress (H2O2) and stimulating enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant activities (SOD, APX, CAT, POD, GR, GST, DHAR, MDHAR, GSH, ASC, proline, GB), as well as protecting cell membrane integ- rity (MDA, electrolyte leakage). Our current study provided physiological evidence provide fresh insights on the use of combined treatments (separately and/ or in combination) as a viable and environmentally benign strategy for alleviat- ing the adverse impact of salt stress in maize. KeyKeywords: words: Maize, Salt stress, Bacillus subtilis (Bera 71), Biochar, antioxidant, non-enzymatic antioxidant activities. P48. Polyphenolic Characterization and Evaluation of Anti-P48. Polyphenolic Characterization and Evaluation of Anti- oxidant Activity and Antimicrobial Activity of Caper (oxidant Activity and Antimicrobial Activity of Caper (Capparis Capparis spinosaspinosa) Cultivars) Cultivars Meriem El Harfi, Ghizlane Kabiri§, Hassan Latrache, Hajar Rizki, and Hafida Hanine* Laboratory of Industrial Engineering and Surface Engineer- ing, Faculty of Science and Techniques, Sultan Moulay Sli- mane University, Beni Mellal, Morocco. *Corresponding au- thor: h.hanine@usms.ma. §Presenting author: kghizlane84@ gmail.com AbstractAbstract Currently, the research interest is focused on the study of nat- ural antioxidant molecules, which are related to the preven- tion of various diseases. The present study aims to evaluate the phenolic potential, the antioxidant activity and the anti- microbial activity against ten reference pathogenic bacteria of methanolic extracts from ten Moroccan caper (Capparis spinosa) cultivars (V0, V1, V2, V3, V5, V6, V7, V8, V9 and VR). The results showed an interesting antioxidant activity, especially for cultivars V9, V0, VR and V2, which were registered the low- est values of IC50. However, these values are weak compared to the DPPH radical scavenging capacity of ascorbic acid with IC50 = 0.12 mg / ml. In addition, the findings revealed that the caper cultivars fruits contain significant levels of polyphenols mainly for the cultivars V0, V6 and V5, whereas the cultivar V1 showed the lowest content. Regarding the antimicrobial activity, it showed the efficiency of the extracts against most of the strains. The Pseudomonas aeruginosa showed great- est sensitivity to the all extracts excluding V0, in contrast to Salmonella sp which remained resistant to extracts except V8. For the other extracts, the bacteria reacted differently. These results reveal the richness of Moroccan caper in bioac- tive compounds providing a very important antioxidant and bacterial activity that could provide a wide range of applica- tions. Keywords:Keywords: Capparis spinosa; polyphenols; antioxidant activity; antimicrobial activity. P49. Seed Protein and Oil Contents of the Soybean Mutant, P49. Seed Protein and Oil Contents of the Soybean Mutant, FM6-847, in North Carolina, USAFM6-847, in North Carolina, USA Safiah Kassem1,2, Aeisha McClelland1, Vanessa Yepez1, Yuan Jiazheng1, Naoufal Lakhssasi3, Brandon Murphy1, Devonta Hooker1, Brown Barbara1, Khalid Meksem3, and My Abdel- majid Kassem1* 1 Plant Genomics and Biotechnology Lab, Department of Biological Sciences, Fayetteville State University, Fayette- ville, NC, USA; 2 Wake Tech Community College, Raleigh, NC, USA; 3 Department of Plant, Soil, and Agricultural Systems, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901, USA. *Cor- responding and presenting author: mkassem@uncfsu.edu. AbstractAbstract In soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.], protein and oil con- tents traits are polygenic in nature and depend on growth and environmental conditions, and genotype. FM6-847 is a high yielding mutant developed by ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) mutagenesis at Southern Illinois University from culti- var ‘Forrest’ (Meksem’s Lab). We aim at comparing FM6-847’s seed protein and oil contents with those of three USDA ref- erence lines (LD00-2817, LD06-7620, and LD07-3395) grown in a field in North Carolina. FM6-847 and the reference lines seeds have been sown in a field in Spring Lake, NC and seed, protein and oil contents as well as several yield com- ponents have been quantified. The results showed that the mutant’s 100-seed weight (100-SW) was significantly higher (p<0.056) than 100-SW of the three reference lines. Like- wise, the mutant’s protein content was significantly higher (p<0.09) than the protein contents of the reference lines. However, the mutant’s plant height (PH), pod number (PN), seed number (SN), total seed weight (TSW), and oil contents were not significantly higher than the reference lines with p values of (p<0.18), (p<0.11), (p<0.1), and (p<0.22), respec- tively. The mutant FM6-847 generated higher protein con- tent and seed weight but lower oil content and is a stable line; therefore, it will increase yield and profit benefitting farmers not only in NC but also in other parts of the US and the world. Keywords:Keywords: Soybean, mutant FM6-847, seed yield, protein, oil, plant height, pod number, total seed weight. A tla s Jo ur na l o f B io lo gy - IS SN 2 15 8- 91 51 . P ub lis he d By A tla s Pu bl is hi ng , L P (w w w .a tla s- pu bl is hi ng .o rg ) 829 P50. Correlation Between Root Traits and Seed Protein and P50. Correlation Between Root Traits and Seed Protein and Oil Contents in Soybean Grown Under Drought StressOil Contents in Soybean Grown Under Drought Stress Ambrocio Zenis1, Khalid Meksem2, and My Abdelmajid Kas- sem1* 1 Plant Genetics, Genomics, and Biotechnology Lab, Dept. of Biological Sciences, Fayetteville State University, Fayetteville, NC 28301, USA; 2 School of Agricultural Sciences, Southern Il- linois University, Carbondale, IL 62901, USA. *Corresponding and presenting author: mkassem@uncfsu.edu. AbstractAbstract The root system is very important for plants including soy- bean because it receives water and minerals from the soil so that the plant can photosynthesize, grow, and increase its yield. The objective of this study was to grow the ‘MD 96-5722’ by ‘Spencer’ recombinant inbred line (RIL) popula- tion (n=86) in the greenhouse under normal (Group I) and drought stress (Group II) conditions, and compare the root length (RL), root surface area (RSA), average root diam¬eter (ARD), and average root volume (ARV) in the two groups of plants. The results showed that there is a huge variation in these traits among the parents ‘MD 96-5722’ and ‘Spencer’, and among their RILs. For Group I plants, the RL of parents and RILs ranged from 20.67 cm to 2,327.88 cm; the RSA ranged from 4.57 cm2 to 1,176.79 cm2; the ARD ranged from 0.38 mm to 4.04 mm; and the ARV ranged from 0.08 cm3 to 47.34 cm3. For Group II plants, the RL of parents and RILs ranged from 15.70 cm to 3,562.42 cm; the RSA ranged from 4.15 cm2 to 829.72 cm2; the ARD ranged from 0.24 mm to 5.74 mm; and the ARV ranged from 0.03 cm3 to 23.67 cm3. Group I plants have higher means of RL [572.58 cm vs. 537.33 cm], RSA [201.20 cm2 vs. 165.50 cm2], ARD [3.96 mm vs. 1.45 mm], and ARV [6.31 cm3 vs. 5.61 cm3] compared to Group II plants which demonstrates that drought-stressed plants have reduced overall plant growth and development. However, statistically, these differences were not significant; therefore, further studies with several replicates should be conducted both in the greenhouse and the field in order to determine the effects of drought stress on the ‘MD 96-5722’ by ‘Spencer’ RILs. Keywords: Keywords: Root length, Root surface area, Average root diameter, Average root volume, MD 96-5722, Spencer.