Institut Agronomique et Vétérinaire Hassan II

Rumination shows a nocturnal rhythmic pattern in day-active ruminants. Although feeding has been shown to quantitatively modulate rumination, it is not clear yet if feeding rhythm plays a causal role in rumination rhythm. The present study was carried out to determine whether the daily rhythm of rumination in goats under natural environmental conditions is food-dependent or not, and whether it is modulated by the season. Rumination and locomotor activity (LA) were continuously monitored in four male Moroccan goats, fed once daily every morning, and then fasted for 4 days. The same experimental design was carried out in two different seasons (summer and winter). The results show that normally fed goats ruminate on average 281 ± 37 min in both seasons. Rumination shows a rhythmic 24-h profile with a late nocturnal peak. During the four-day food deprivation, rumination persisted while its total amount duration was significantly reduced in both seasons. Our results also illustrate the clear phase-opposition between the diurnal rhythm of LA and the nocturnal rhythm of rumination. This study characterized the daily rhythm rumination in goats according to seasons and fed/fasted states, and provided clear evidence that this rhythm is not generated by feeding behavior. Further investigations are required to determine whether rumination has an endogenous origin and is driven by the central circadian clock.

Les changements climatiques constituent une menace sérieuse pour les ressources pastorales, dégradant les parcours et impactant les populations qui en dépendent. Cette étude vise à identifier les stratégies d’adaptation des éleveurs face aux changements climatiques et à analyser leurs impacts sur la composante pastorale dans les systèmes d’élevage étudiés. Des entretiens semi-directifs et des ateliers participatifs ont été menés auprès de 28 éleveurs, permettant de recueillir des informations sur leurs pratiques et stratégies d’adaptation. Une analyse de l’occupation des sols de 1985 à 2020 a été réalisée pour comprendre les dynamiques de changement des pâturages, accompagnée d’une modélisation de l’évolution des ressources naturelles de 2020 à 2030, offrant une démarche prospective sur l’avenir des ressources pastorales à l’échelle communale. Les résultats ont révélé que les éleveurs tendent vers la sédentarisation en réponse aux sécheresses récurrentes, conduisant à la divergence du système d’élevage pastoral traditionnel en trois systèmes distincts : sédentaire, transhumant occasionnel et transhumant permanent. L’analyse de l’occupation des sols a montré que ces changements ont modifié l’occupation des pâturages. Le développement des infrastructures et des transports a facilité l’accès des transhumants à des parcours éloignés, couvrant ainsi jusqu’à 75 % des besoins alimentaires des ovins avec la végétation pastorale. Les éleveurs sédentarisés pratiquent une supplémentation alimentaire toute l’année, composée principalement de maïs, d’orge, de son de blé et de pulpe de betterave, avec une contribution significative des fourrages à la satisfaction des besoins des ovins (50 à 90 % des besoins). La sédentarisation et la diminution des points d’eau dans les parcours d’altitude contribuent à une surexploitation croissante des parcours de proximité. L’analyse prévisionnelle de l’évolution des ressources naturelles de 2020 à 2030 montre un endommagement irréversible de ces parcours sous les conditions et les pratiques actuelles, appelant à une réflexion approfondie sur des solutions durables pour préserver ces ressources.

Background and Aim The European pilchard (Sardina pilchardus) is an important fish species for the Moroccan economy in terms of production and export. Biogenic amine histamine is a metabolite produced in the flesh of some fish species after death due to the decarboxylation of free histidine by histaminogenic bacteria. Failure to control the histamine risk in European pilchard may lead to public health and socioeconomic issues. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of histaminogenic bacteria in association with histamine levels and the growth of microflora in Moroccan sardines (European pilchard). Materials and Methods We conducted the study by monitoring Moroccan sardines of histamine content and microbiological profile (aerobic plate count [APC], coliforms, and thermo-tolerant coliforms [TTC]) during 6 days of storage at three different temperatures (0°C, 10°C, and ambient temperature [22°C]). The histamine assay was performed using a spectrofluorometric method, and the microbiological identification of histamine-producing bacteria was performed using a combination of biochemical and molecular tests. Results The histamine content in European pilchard stored at 0°C was negligible. However, high concentrations were observed at 10°C and 22°C. The microbiological profile showed a positive association between microflora counts and histamine content according to storage time. At 0°C, a moderate increase in the APC, a decrease in coliforms, and an absence of TTC were observed. The rapid proliferation of all microflora was observed at 10°C, whereas at 22°C, the proliferation was almost exponential. Bacterial identification revealed the exclusive presence of species belonging to the Enterobacteriaceae family at varying frequencies depending on storage temperature. Morganella morganii and Proteus mirabilis had the highest histamine induction rates in L-histidine-supplemented broth, with 1600 and 255 parts per million (ppm), respectively, after 48-h incubation at 35°C. Klebsiella ozaenae could produce 136 ppm and Serratia plymuthica 115 ppm. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction showed positive results for the presence of genes associated with histidine decarboxylase. The hdc genes of M. morganii, P. mirabilis, and K. ozaenae were successfully amplified and exhibited strong similarity with the reference gene of M. morganii. Conclusions This study describes for the first time the hdc gene in bacteria that form histamine in Moroccan sardines. The results also confirm that respect for the cold chain integrity is a crucial factor in histamine management. This information should help stakeholders in the implementation of sound strategies for managing the hazards associated with seafood and their products.

The cactus pear is extensively cultivated in Morocco, but its evolution as a high-value crop has been disrupted since the introduction of Datylopius opuntiae, in 2014. The objective of this study was to test, in laboratory, greenhouse, and field, the efficacy of mineral oils, black soap, and essential oils from three plants: Origanum vulgare, Artemisia herba-alba, and Brassica alba against this insect, and to evaluate their phytotoxic effects on one-year-old cladodes in the field. The treatments in the laboratory were applied using a completely randomized design with four repetitions on 10 first-instar larvae and 10 adult females. In the greenhouse and in the field, these treatments were applied to cladodes infested by D. opuntiae, distributed according to a completely randomized design and a randomized complete block design with four repetitions, respectively. The phytotoxicity test was conducted using a randomized complete block design with five repetitions. The results showed significant efficacy of the five tested products. In the laboratory, the essential oil of O. vulgare and black soap emerged as the most effective treatments, achieving a maximum mortality rate of 100% against adult females 96 h after application. The same level of mortality was observed in nymphs at 24 h and 48 h after treatment by O. vulgare essential oil and black soap, respectively. This efficacy was confirmed in greenhouse with percentages of 100% (144 h after treatment) and 99.44±0.95% (168 h after treatment) respectively, for black soap and O. vulgare essential oil. In the field, the essential oils of O. vulgare and A. herba-alba showed the highest efficacy with a mortality rate of 100%, 48 h after treatment. The evaluation of phytotoxicity in the field showed a significant phytotoxic effect of O. vulgare essential oil applied at a 5% dose. The other treatments did not show any significant phytotoxic effect on one-year-old cladodes.

The ‘first night effect’ (FNE) is a well‐known phenomenon in polysomnographic (PSG) sleep studies, resulting in significant variations in the macrostructure of wakefulness and sleep states, particularly between the initial and subsequent sleep recording sessions. The FNE phenomenon during sleep has been studied in various species, revealing complex variations between several sessions of sleep recording. The present study used a non‐invasive PSG method to examine differences between various vigilance states in four adult female dromedary camels during 4 consecutive nights and days of sleep recording. The results indicate the presence of a FNE in the architecture of the dromedary camel's vigilance states. On the first night, the proportions of wakefulness and light non‐rapid eye movment (NREM) sleep (drowsiness) were higher, at a mean (standard error of the mean [SEM]) of 40.92% (0.88%) and 14.93% (0.37%), respectively; while the proportion of rumination (mean [SEM] 29.55% [0.92%]) was lower compared to consecutive nights. No FNE was found on deep NREM sleep, while night‐time REM sleep had a shorter proportion during the first night compared to subsequent consecutive nights. A significantly lower REM/total sleep time (TST) ratio was observed on the first night. Daytime comparisons did not show any significant differences for the different vigilance states. The increase in wakefulness and light NREM sleep and the reduction in REM sleep and REM/TST sleep on the first night indicate a decline in sleep quality in the dromedary camel due to the FNE. Thus, we recommend excluding from a PSG sleep study at least the first session/night of the recordings to ensure accurate results.

Les systèmes de production pomicole dans les zones montagneuses du Haut Atlas, au Maroc, sont confrontés à des contraintes techniques et environnementales, exacerbées par les effets croissants du changement climatique. Cette étude vise à diagnostiquer les systèmes de production de pommier dans la commune de M’semrir, tout en analysant l’impact des variations climatiques locales, afin d’identifier des stratégies d’amélioration pour renforcer la durabilité et la résilience des exploitations. Les conditions climatiques arides à semi-arides donnent un rôle crucial à l’irrigation et à la gestion des ressources en eau. Trois catégories d’exploitations ont été distinguées : moyennes, petites, et micro-exploitations. Au sein de chacun de ces groupes, deux niveaux de performance ont été dégagés, principalement basés sur les rendements, la productivité de l’eau, et la productivité de l’azote. Les principaux défis rencontrés dans la majorité de ces exploitations sont des rendements modestes, une faible productivité de l’eau et une faible productivité partielle de l’engrais azoté, ce qui souligne la nécessité de stratégies d’optimisation pour améliorer l’efficacité des intrants. Une gestion plus efficace de l’irrigation, orientée vers des méthodes économes en eau, pourrait jouer un rôle clé dans la résilience des exploitations. Enfin, des stratégies proactives pour anticiper et atténuer les effets de la sécheresse apparaissent essentielles pour assurer la durabilité de ces systèmes agricoles dans un contexte climatique de plus en plus contraignant.

Blood-feeding arthropods are involved in the transmission of several pathogens that have a major impact on public health. Entomological investigations highlighted the composition, abundance, and diversity of flying hematophagous arthropods at four dog shelters located in central Morocco during an eight-month study, with the aim of discussing their vectorial roles and assessing the risk of these shelters as foci for zoonotic diseases. Monitoring of the arthropod fauna for 64 catch nights resulted in the collection of 2,321 biting midges (Ceratopogonidae), 570 mosquitoes (Culicidae), and 475 sand flies (Psychodidae). Fourteen Culicoides species were recorded and dominant species were Culicoides imicola (55.96%), C. paolae (16.07%), C. circumscriptus (10.29%), and C. newsteadi (5.77%). Three mosquito species were collected, including Culex pipiens s.l. (96.84%), Culiseta longiareolata (2.80%), and Cx. perexiguus (0.36%). Ten sand fly species were collected, including seven Phlebotomus species (62.70%) and three Sergentomyia species (37.30%); Sergentomyia minuta was the most dominant species (34.31%), followed by Phlebotomus sergenti (32.42%), typical Ph. perniciosus (8.63%), Ph. alexandri (6.94%), and Ph. riouxi (6.52%). The coexistence of several vectors in these study areas indicates the potential circulation of a wide range of pathogens, including zoonotic ones, thus requiring the implementation of surveillance and control programs to prevent the emergence and spread of disease outbreaks.

Raspberries (Rosales: Rosaceae) are considered to be one of most important crops in northwestern Morocco. However, this sector is seriously affected by the attack of Drosophila suzukii, which impairs the production and the export. Furthermore, the eco-ethology and population dynamics of D. suzukii under Moroccan conditions are still poorly understood. In Larache region, we monitored the population dynamics of D. suzukii adults using 4 traps baited with mashed ripe banana mixed with yeast, and reported the infestation levels during spring of 2022, 2023, and 2024 on raspberry cultivar Rubus idaeus var. Yazmin. Our results indicate that a maximum of 14, 20, and 28 D. suzukii adults per trap were caught weekly at the end of April 2022, in the middle of March 2023, and in the middle of April 2024, respectively. Furthermore, three peaks of D. suzukii adult flies were observed each year, whereas a total of six generations were predicted according to the accumulated degree-days. The male sex ratio of trapped D. suzukii was 1:0.32, 1:0.38, and 1:0.42 in 2022, 2023, and 2024, respectively. Raspberry fruit infestation reached a maximum of 76%, 75%, and 64% at the beginning of May 2022, middle of April 2023, and end of April 2024, respectively. Under the climate change scenario, knowledge of the eco-ethology of this insect and its population dynamics is essential for developing an IPM control strategy in Morocco, and further studies are ongoing to establish a biological and reasoned chemical approach based on degree-days.

The underperformance of agricultural education systems in Africa is evident through various indicators such as increased unemployment among recent agricultural graduates, inefficiencies in agricultural product value chains, and a decline in enrollment in agricultural schools. The AgriENGAGE project, which included eight African universities, was supported through the Erasmus+ Capacity Building in Higher Education program funded by the European Commission to address these challenges. The project aimed to contribute toward revitalizing agricultural education systems to stimulate agricultural transformation and enhance the sector’s competitiveness while meeting the labor market’s demands. This article draws on lessons learned at eight universities to provide a perspective on agri-entrepreneurship education integration in African universities. We provide descriptions, experiences, and insights on agri-entrepreneurship education integration in partner universities in Kenya, Benin, Morocco, and Uganda. Based on these experiences, we provide perspectives on reducing youth unemployment and improving the effectiveness of agricultural education in contributing to the development of sustainable food systems.

Few studies have investigated how one-time targeted tillage of long-term no-till fields impacts topsoil properties and weed dynamics. An on-farm trial was implemented in 2020 to test the effects of occasional tillage (OT) in Morocco with a long-term no-tillage (NT) system and rainfed field crops: durum wheat (Triticum durum), faba bean (Vicia faba minor), and chickpea (Cicer arietinum). Four treatments were established, namely, continuous NT with crop residues maintained (“NT + residue”); continuous NT with crop residues not maintained (“NT-residue”); shallow inversion tillage (“shallow OT”); and deep non-inversion tillage (“deep OT”). We assessed the effect of these treatments on soil physical and chemical properties in 0–10 and 10–20 cm soil depths after crop harvest of the 2020–2021 (year 1) and 2021–2022 (year 2) growing seasons corresponding to 1 and 2 years after OT, respectively. In addition, we evaluated the effect of the treatments on weed populations and the effect of the legume crop rotated with wheat on soil nitrogen (N) and weed density. In year 1, deep OT reduced the water content at field capacity and available water capacity at 0–10 cm compared to continuous NT; the cation-exchange capacity (CEC) under deep OT was lower than in NT-residue and NT + residue at 0–10 cm and 10–20 cm, respectively. Furthermore, deep OT increased ammonium-N (NH4-N) at 0–10 and 10–20 cm compared to NT + residue but reduced exchangeable potassium (K) at 10–20 cm depth compared to NT-residue. In year 2, shallow OT had lower total porosity at 10–20 cm than NT + residue, while shallow and deep OT recorded higher water-stable aggregates at 0–10 cm than NT + residue; at 10–20 cm, deep OT recorded lower CEC than NT + residue. However, deep OT had higher nitrate-N (NO3-N) and available sulfur (S) than NT-residue at 10–20 cm. Occasional tillage did not significantly affect 10 out of 19 of the soil properties evaluated, including soil organic matter (SOM), in all the years and did not help reduce the stratification of soil nutrients in NT. In year 1, 50 days after OT, deep OT reduced the weed density by 46% compared to NT + residue, while in year 2, 406 days after OT, shallow OT reduced weed density by 53% compared to NT-residue. Regarding the effect of the legume rotated with wheat, faba bean appeared to be the better preceding or following wheat crop as it resulted in higher residual soil mineral N and lower weed infestation than chickpea.

In the Middle Atlas rangelands, traditional methods for estimating standing crop biomass are labour-intensive and impractical. Remote sensing offers an initiative for standing crop biomass large-scale monitoring. The aim of this study was to estimate standing crop biomass, comprising annual and perennial forbs, grasses and perennial shrubs, using emote sensing data. The vegetation indices (NDVI, DVI, RVI, MSAVI and OSAVI) were derived from medium-resolution Landsat 8 and MODIS imagery. Sixty sampling sites were used for the biomass data collection. These sites were located across three grazing areas and data were collected in May and June 2016. Regression models were established between biomass field data and the five indices. Correlation analysis indicated that among the five vegetation indices, only DVI had the lowest value (r = 0.60). Linear models developed between the biomass field data and vegetation indices showed that NDVI, OSAVI and RVI explained a reasonable percentage of the variance in biomass. Values for R2 were 0.74, 0.77 and 0.71, respectively. Among these indices, the OSAVI performed better, with a high R2 and low error (MAPE = 11.03%). The established models represent a key tool for long-term monitoring of these rangelands.

Foodborne epidemics have become a serious public health emergency worldwide. Foods of animal origin, in particular chicken meat, are considered to be potential vectors of pathogenic bacteria, particularly Staphylococcus aureus. This bacterium can be resistant in the form of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) or produce enterotoxins leading to food poisoning when ingested. This study is aimed at exploring the virulence genes in S. aureus responsible for producing enterotoxins (staphylococcal enterotoxin [SE] A [sea] and SE E [see]) and determining the prevalence of MRSA in raw broiler meat in the Casa-Rabat region in Morocco. A quantitative (q) PCR (qPCR) assay, using specific primers for S. aureus (nuc) confirmation and detection of enterotoxin genes (sea and see), as well as the methicillin-resistant gene (mecA), was employed. Our findings indicated that all tested strains were positively identified as S. aureus. Among them, one isolate (1/54) tested positive for the see gene (1.85%), while none carried the sea gene. Furthermore, the mecA gene, indicative of MRSA, was present in 12/54 of the isolates (22.22%). The potential presence of MRSA in Moroccan poultry meat underscores a public health risk. Thus, stringent measures are imperative to curtail the contamination and proliferation of this bacterium during the slaughtering process, underscoring the importance of continuing research into the prevalence of MRSA colonization among poultry slaughterhouse personnel.

Brachypodium stacei is the most ancestral lineage in the genus Brachypodium , a model system for grass functional genomics. B. stacei shows striking and sometimes contradictory biological and evolutionary features, including a high selfing rate yet extensive admixture, an ancient Miocene origin yet with recent evolutionary radiation, and adaptation to different dry climate conditions in its narrow distribution range. Therefore, it constitutes an ideal system to study these life history traits. We studied the phylogeography of 17 native circum‐Mediterranean B. stacei populations (39 individuals) using genome‐wide RADseq SNP data and complete plastome sequences. Nuclear SNP data revealed the existence of six distinct genetic clusters, low levels of intra‐population genetic diversity and high selfing rates, albeit with signatures of admixture. Coalescence‐based dating analysis detected a recent split between crown lineages in the Late Quaternary. Plastome sequences showed incongruent evolutionary relationships with those recovered by the nuclear data, suggesting interbreeding and chloroplast capture events between genetically distant populations. Demographic and population dispersal coalescent models identified an ancestral origin of B. stacei in the western‐central Mediterranean islands, followed by an early colonization of the Canary Islands and two independent colonization events of the eastern Mediterranean region through long‐distance dispersal and bottleneck events as the most likely evolutionary history. Climate niche data identified three arid niches of B. stacei in the southern Mediterranean region. Our findings indicate that the phylogeography of B. stacei populations was shaped by recent radiations, frequent extinctions, long‐distance dispersal events, occasional interbreeding, and adaptation to local climates.

Mediterranean countries are a cauldron of cultural exchange, with a strong emphasis on wild plants in cuisine traditions. Many of these plants belong to the family Apiaceae. The common climate determines the common range of distribution. While many plants have wide distribution, the range of distribution of others is restricted to Western Mediterranean or North Africa. This review investigates wild plants from the family Apiaceae traditionally used as food in 13 study sites—11 countries in the Mediterranean and adjacent territories—the mainland and 3 islands. The aim is to trace patterns of native distribution versus consumption. As a result, 81 wild umbellifers are listed, traditionally used as food. Their consumption and distribution patterns are described and discussed. Interestingly in 8 of the 13 study sites (61.5%) are recorded 50 plant taxa (66.7% of all wild umbellifers, traditionally used as food) which are consumed in only one particular country. These are as follows: 8 taxa in Morocco, 9 taxa in Spain, 2 taxa in Sicily, 3 taxa in Bulgaria 3 taxa in Crete, 8 taxa in Armenia, 14 taxa in Turkey, and 3 taxa in Jordan. However, these 50 restrictedly consumed plants are distributed in more than one country (except 15 taxa, which are endemics). Many of the plants that are used in certain countries are not consumed by the neighboring people. The results of the two statistical tests, namely Jaccard index and heatmap clustering (double dendrogram), are discussed. The presence of an outlier, such as Bulgaria, which shares borders, history, and culture with Greece and Turkey, emphasizes the importance of local climate for plant distribution and consumption over cultural interactions. The same was observed for some pairs of countries, such as Spain and Morrocco and Turkey and Armenia, although they had the highest number of common plants that are both distributed and consumed as food.

Background Leishmaniosis caused by Leishmania infantum, L. major and L. tropica is endemic in Morocco. Growing evidence of both human and canine Leishmania infections in urban centres has been reported. Since many forms of the disease are zoonotic, veterinarians play an important role in leishmaniosis control by intervening at the parasite host level. This study aimed to bring together One Health principles to connect canine and feline leishmaniosis epidemiology within urban centres of Morocco (Rabat and Fez) and assess the level of awareness of Moroccan veterinarians about facing this threat. Methods A molecular survey was conducted for Leishmania DNA detection in canine (n = 155) and feline (n = 32) whole-blood samples. Three conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) protocols were implemented. The first PCR aimed at identifying infected animals by targeting Leishmania spp. kinetoplast minicircle DNA (kDNA). The second and third PCR targeted the Leishmania internal transcribed spacer region (ITS-1) and the Leishmania small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSUrRNA) gene, respectively, aiming at identification of the infecting species after Sanger sequencing-positive amplicons. Total immunoglobulin G (IgG) against Leishmania spp. was evaluated in 125 dogs by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) using an in-house protocol, including three Leishmania-specific antigens (SPLA, rKDDR and LicTXNPx). Sera from 25 cats were screened for total IgG to Leishmania spp. by an indirect immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT). An online questionnaire was presented to Moroccan veterinarians addressing their knowledge and practices towards animal leishmaniosis. Results Overall, 19.4% of the dogs tested positive for Leishmania kDNA and ITS-1 and sequencing revealed infection with L. infantum among PCR-positive dogs. These animals presented a wide range of ELISA seropositivity results (16.7%, 34.9% and 51.6%) according to the tested antigens (rKDDR, SPLA and LicTXNPx, respectively). Use of kDNA-PCR revealed 12.5% cats positive to Leishmania spp. otherwise found to be seronegative by IFAT. Conclusions A considerable prevalence of infection was identified in dogs from urban centres of Morocco. Additionally, this is the first report of feline infection with Leishmania spp. in this country and in urban settings. Moroccan veterinarians are aware that animal leishmaniosis is endemic in Morocco, representing a public health threat, and are knowledgeable about canine leishmaniosis diagnosis and treatment. Graphical Abstract

Rabies is a major zoonotic disease legally notifiable in Morocco and elsewhere. Given the burden of rabies and its impact on public health, several national control programs have been implemented since 1986, without achieving their expected objectives. The aim of this study was to design a predictive analysis of rabies in Morocco. The expected outcome was the construction of probabilistic diagrams that can guide actions for the integrated control of this disease, involving all stakeholders, in the country. Such modeling is an essential step in operational epidemiology to optimize expenditure of public funds allocated to the integrated strategy for fighting this disease. The methodology employed combined the use of geospatial analysis tools (kriging) and artificial intelligence models (Machine Learning). In order to investigate the link between the risk of rabies within a territorial municipality (commune) and its socio-economic situation, the following data were analyzed: (1) health data: reported animal cases of rabies between 2004 and 2021 and data obtained through the ArcGIS kriging tool (Geospatial data); (2) demographic and socio-economic data. We compared several Machine Learning models. Of these, the “Imbalanced-Xgboost” model associated with kriging yielded the best results. After optimizing this model, we mapped our results for better visualization. The obtained results complement and consolidate previous study in this field with greater accuracy, showing a strong correlation between a commune's socio-economic status, its geographical location and its risk level of rabies. From this, 399 out of the 1546 communes have been identified as high-risk areas, accounting for 25.8% of the total number of communes. Under this risk-based approach, the results of these analyses make it practical to take targeted decisions for rabies prevention and control, as well as canine population control, in a territorial commune according to its risk level. Such an approach allows obvious optimized distribution of financial resources and adaptation of the control actions to be taken. The study highlights also the importance of using innovative technologies to refine epidemiological approaches and fill gaps in field data. Through this study, we hope to contribute to eradication of rabies in Morocco by providing reliable data and practical recommendations for control actions against rabies.

The cactus cochineal, Dactylopius opuntiae (Cockerell, 1929) (Cockerell) (HEMIPTERA: DACTYLOPIIDAE), has continued to expand throughout Morocco since its introduction in 2014, which has resulted in causing severe damage to various Opuntia prickly pear species. The present study provides biological management methods of this insect pest by evaluating the insecticidal effect of Nicotiana glauca Graham and Ricinus communis Linnaeus extracts. The different extraction methods (methanolic, decoction, and maceration) and a positive control D-limonene were used on adult females and nymphs of D. opuntiae. All plant extracts had insecticidal effects and were dependent on concentration and post-treatment evaluation timing. For D-limonene, 100% cactus cochineal mortality was achieved at a concentration of 8%, 24 h post-treatment. The decocted extracts of N. glauca and R. communis and the cold macerated extract of R. communis at a 4% concentration had a mortality rate of up to 70%, 120 h post-treatment. The other three plant extracts (N. glauca/methanol, N. glauca/cold mac-eration, and R. comminus/methanol) also induced insecticidal activity approaching 70% mortality 120 h post-treatment at a concentration of 8%. Moreover, results of the phytochemical analysis of these extracts indicated high amounts of carotenoids and coumarins. Polyphenol contents ranged from 22.88 ± 0.39 to 68.42 ± 0.50 µg gallic acid equivalent/ mg dried extract, while flavonoid contents ranged from 22.62 ± 5.87 to 131.02 ± 1.46 µg quercetin equivalent/mg dried extract. The lethal dose (LD50) of these extracts reveals that D-limonene was the most toxic with an LD50 = 1019.92 ppm followed by the cold macerated extract of N. glauca with an LD50 = 5860.91 ppm.

In developing countries, orphan legumes stand at the forefront in the struggle against climate change. Their high nutrient value is crucial in malnutrition and chronic diseases prevention. However, as the ‘orphan’ definition suggests, their seed systems are still underestimated and seed production is scanty. Seed priming is an effective, sustainable strategy to boost seed quality in orphan legumes for which up-to-date guidelines are required to guarantee reliable and reproducible results. How far are we along this path? What do we expect from seed priming? This brings to other relevant questions. What is the socio-economic relevance of orphan legumes in the Mediterranean Basin? How to potentiate a broader cultivation in specific regions? The case study of the BENEFIT-Med (Boosting technologies of orphan legumes towards resilient farming systems) project, developed by multidisciplinary research networks, envisions a roadmap for producing new knowledge and innovative technologies to improve seed productivity through priming, with the long-term objective of promoting sustainability and food security for/in the climate-sensitive regions. This review highlights the existing drawbacks that must be overcome before orphan legumes could reach the state of ‘climate-ready crops’. Only by the integration of knowledge in seed biology, technology and agronomy, the barrier existing between research bench and local agricultural fields may be overcome, generating high-impact technical innovations for orphan legumes. We intend to provide a powerful message to encourage future research in line with the United Nations Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development.