Mourad Baghour

Ethylene and gibberellins (GAs) control similar developmental processes in plants. The role of ethylene is at least in part to regulate the accumulation of DELLA proteins, key regulators of plant growth, which suppress the GA response. To expand our knowledge of ethylene-GA crosstalk and to reveal how the modulation of the ethylene and GA pathways...

The length of the Arabidopsis thaliana life cycle depends on the timing of the floral transition. Here, we define the relationship between the plant stress hormone ethylene and the timing of floral initiation. Ethylene signaling is activated by diverse environmental stresses, but it was not previously clear how ethylene regulates flowering. First,...

In general, wild tomato species are more salt tolerant than cultivated species, a trait that is related to enhanced Na(+) accumulation in aerial parts in the wild species, but the molecular basis for these differences is not known. Plant NHX proteins have been suggested to be important for salt tolerance by promoting accumulation of Na(+) or K(+) i...

In many trees, a short photoperiod (SD) triggers substantial physiological adjustments necessary for over-wintering. We have used transgenic ethylene-insensitive birches (Betula pendula), which express the Arabidopsis ethylene receptor gene ETR1 carrying the dominant mutation etr1-1, to investigate the role of ethylene in SD-induced responses in th...

Although physiological and biochemical data since long suggested that Na(+)/H(+) and K(+)/H(+) antiporters are involved in intracellular ion and pH regulation in plants, it has taken a long time to identify genes encoding antiporters that could fulfil these roles. Genome sequencing projects have now shown that plants contain a very large number of...

Germination can be considered an important process for modifying quinoa seeds’ nutritional and bioactive compounds.Understanding how germination modifies seed composition is essential to optimize their use in different food preparationsand to meet the current trend for a healthy and balanced diet. The present study focuses on the effect of prolonge...

This study aimed to investigate the effect of tomato planting density on susceptibility to Verticillium wilt and pepino mosaic virus diseases. Data analysis using ANOVA and Tukey’s test (P < 0.05) revealed significant differences between planting densities, highlighting a positive correlation between high planting density and increased susceptibili...

This study investigates the potential industrial applications of two types of bentonite - Calcium Bentonite (Ca-B) and Sodium Bentonite (Na-B) - from the Kert Basin in northern Morocco. The bentonite samples’ structural characteristics, inclusions, and microcracks were examined using scanning electron microscopy. X-ray diffraction analysis of both...

This study investigates the characterization and valorization of bentonites from North Africa, with a particular focus on samples from the Rif region of Morocco. The analyzed bentonite samples comprise 21.9% clay, 35.3% silt, and 42.8% sand. Key physicochemical proprieties, such as low organic matter and carbonate content, suggest strong mechanical...

Mediterranean mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) are filter feeders that can accumulate bacteria, including Escherichia coli, presenting potential health risks. This study assesses the microbiological safety of mussels from offshore farms in Cala Iris Bay, Northern Morocco. The objectives were to evaluate E. coli levels and detect Salmonella in mu...

This study investigates the intricate relationship between hydrographic network organization, geological faults, and regional dynamics within the Kert basin in the Eastern Rif region. Through GIS hydrographic analysis, we analyze the impact of the hydrographic network on landscape morphology and hydrological dynamics, emphasizing implications for s...

The main objective of this initial study is to assess the extent of surface water contamination in Marchica Lagoon caused by organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) historically used in agriculture through a sampling network consisting of eight stations covering all areas of the lagoon during the 2022 summer season. Located on Morocco's Mediterranean coas...

Capparis spinosa L. is a Mediterranean shrub and one of the most important species of the gender Capparis due to its ecological, medicinal and economic importance. This species has strong adaptation characteristics to regions with fluctuating climates. This work aims to evaluate the effect of the locality’s climate and plant’s parts on the content...

Climate change will lead to an increase in the frequency and severity of abiotic stresses, such as drought and salinity, transforming them into major factors of food insecurity. This is of particular concern in arid and semi-arid regions, where soil salinity and water scarcity represent a significant threat to agriculture. This is why exploring agr...

The main objective of this work is to study the spatial and temporal evolution and distribution of Euglena species in the Nador lagoon. The study is based on four sampling stations and covers two specific seasons, namely spring and summer 2018. Euglenes belonging to the genus Euglena are particularly interesting and well known in the field of resea...

The aim of this study is to assess the concentrations of the studied metals in Caulerpa prolifera (Chlorophyta) species collected from different stations at the sites (BeniEnsar and KariatArekmane) of the Marchica lagoon in Morocco. The algae were collected in October and February 2020. Metal concentrations (ppm) in this species were ordered as fol...

Water resources are vital for life, yet they are exposed to various risks. In the estern Rif of Morocco, the Oued Kert is a crucial water resource for a large population. Therefore, evaluating their health status is essential to ensure their optimal preservation. In this context, five stations (S1, S2, S3, S4, and S5) were monitored, during the fou...

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) is a facultative halophyte renowned for its importance in enhancing food security, and it supports forage production across diverse climatic regions. The objective of this study is to examine the impacts of multiple pre-treatment methods on C. quinoa seed (Titicaca cultivar) germination parameters, identify the op...

The adverse effects of salinity on plant growth are generally associated with the low osmotic potential of the soil solution and the high level of sodium toxicity (and chlorine toxicity for some species) which cause multiple perturbations on plant metabolism, growth, and development at the molecular, biochemical and physiological levels. The vacuol...

Seed germination of Capparis spinosa L. is highly important for ecology, medicine, and economics. The present study aimed to determine the effects of six pretreatments and two temperature regimes, T1: 9/35.7°C (Laboratory) and T2: 1/43°C (Greenhouse), on Capparis spinosa L. seeds' germination rate and latency time. Different pretreatments were test...

Marchica lagoon, a Ramsar site on Morocco's Mediterranean coast, has emerged as a prominent tourist destination within the Mediterranean region. However, the summer tourism is often accompanied by a rise in waste accumulation, especially on the surrounding beaches. The focus of this study is a detailed analysis of marine litter found on the beaches...

Gibberellins play a crucial role as plant hormones in the regulation of various aspects of plant growth and development. They are involved in processes such as seed germination, breaking plant and bud dormancy, and counteracting the effects of auxin. Additionally, gibberellins promote leaf expansion, stimulate stem elongation, and contribute to flo...

Aquatic ecosystems are exposed to human activities, which has a negative impact on their health. To assess the quality of Selouane Wadi's surface water, physicochemical and biological characterizations were carried out at a total of seven stations, quarterly between September 2021 and June 2022. In addition, an analysis of heavy metals in sediments...

This study investigated the contents of macrominerals (Na, K, Ca, Mg and P) and essential trace metals (Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn and Se) in four species of seaweeds (Gracilaria sp., Alsidium corallinum, Caulerpa prolifera, and Chaeto-morpha sp.) from Marchica Lagoon. The contents of macrominerals with mean values (% dw) can be sequenced in this descending or...

This study aimed to assess the extent of eutrophication in the Marchica lagoon, using the trophic index (TRIX), trophic status index (TSI) and Redfield ratio (N/P). Seawater samples were collected monthly from March 2018 to February 2019 from ten locations in the lagoon. The TRIX index ranged from 1.25 to 8.87, indicating oligotrophic to eutrophic...

The goal of the present experiment was to evaluate the effect of some biostimulants applications (Tecamin Brix version 2) on the organoleptic quality and production yield parameters of tomato Solanum lycopersicum L. grown under salt stress in the Nador region, Morocco. Climate change is becoming increasingly constraining for plant growth and develo...

The aim of this study is to present the seasonal variation of organic matter (OM), total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorus (TP) in the bottom sediments of Marchica Lagoon, a post-restorated lagoon located in the Moroccan Mediterranean, and to estimate the potential role of the geochemistry and granulometry of bottom se...

Abstract: The Marchica lagoon (NE Morocco, Mediterranean Sea) has faced increasing pressures from both natural and anthropogenic origins. This study aims to assess pollution levels in the lagoon by employing a biological approach in addition to physicochemical analyses. Significant variations in the biochemical composition of a panel of seaweed spe...

Microgreens are receiving increasing attention due to their high content of bioactive components and their importance to human health. These emerging food products can be obtained from the seeds of different plant species, including aromatic herbs. Aromatic microgreens are gaining popularity as new functional food products. In this study, we invest...

Pollution by heavy metals is one of the most serious issues in the world, and the principal sources are manufacturing, fertilizers, mining, pesticides, transport, and wastewater discharge. In this study, the presence of macroelements (Nitrogen (N) and Phosphorus (P)) and heavy metals (Chromium (Cr), Nickel (Ni), Cadmium (Cd), Iron (Fe), Zinc (Zn),...

This work aims to study the distribution and quantification of the genus Rhizosolenia known for its abundance and diversity among planktonic diatoms at 9 sampling stations in the Nador lagoon and during 2 seasons (spring and summer 2018). The diatoms collected in the 9 sampling stations were identified morphologically using an inverted optical micr...

Our study was based on using a freshwater aquatic species to assess the short-and long-term toxicity of an organophosphate insecticide commonly adopted by the Moroccan agriculture sector. Recently, groundwater pollution has emerged as one of the most severe environmental challenges, with a particular emphasis on levels of heavy metal pollution. Con...

Concentration of Copper, Lithium and Manganese were determined in the whole soft tissues of Mytilus galloprovincialis , collected from the two sites (Bni Ansar and Kariat Arekmane) of the Marchica lagoon of Morocco. The mussels were sampled on December and July of 2019. The ability of mussels to accumulate metals was arranged in the following order...

The expansion of urbanization and the amplification of anthropic activities in the Rif region require the establishment of wells. However, the irrational exploitation of water and natural conditions have generated the rise of the water table and the increase in pollution. Thus, the assessment of water quality has emerged as a significant concern. T...

In the present study data obtained during the monitoring of the Marchica lagoon (NE-Morocco, Mediterranean) was analyzed, and the trophic index (TRIX) was calculated. The spatiotemporal pattern of TRIX in water from thirteen stations in the Marchica lagoon was studied during the winter, spring, and autumn seasons in 2020. The parameters used for th...

The aim of this study is to present the distribution of nutrients in water and sediment of Marchica lagoon, a post-restorated lagoon located in Mediterranean Sea (NE Morocco), to estimate the impact of bottom sediments on the water quality of this lagoon, and to identify the areas more affected by eutrophication risk. Nutrient concentrations in the...

Salinity is the major environmental factor that limits plant growth and productivity. High concentrations of Na⁺ and Cl⁻ ions in soil solution negatively affect K⁺ uptake and may cause physiological and metabolic disorders, which adversely affect the plant growth and crop yield. In plants, NHX antiporters play an important role in salt tolerance by...

Water scarcity in the Rif region of northwestern Morocco, particularly in the Kert plain, has resulted in significant groundwater exploitation to achieve human and socioeconomic objectives. These methods helped in identification of the source of dissolved elements and the mechanism that increased groundwater salinization. Current study is the part...

The objective of the study is to raise awareness of the effect of anthropogenic activity on groundwater in the urban area, water samples were collected from 12 wells in the area in April and September 2019. From these samples, pH and conductivity were determined using a pH meter/conductivity meter. From these samples, pH and conductivity were deter...

The present work is mainly devoted to determine the distribution spatio-temporel seaweeds inventory of the Marchica lagoon. Several sampling campaigns, carried out at the Marchica lagoon (October 2014, January, April, July 2015, and July 2017), had the following objectives: To study the diversity Seaweeds (macroalgal) in different zones of the Marc...

The first part of this work relates to the characterization of raw clay materials and the second part is to the evaluation of the potential use of clay-rich raw materials in the region of Nador (northeast, Morocco) to manufacture ceramic products. In this regard, physical (particle size distribution, organic matter), chemical (X-ray fluorescence, X...

The genus Chaetoceros, is known for its abundance and diversity among the planktonic diatoms. Diatoms have long been used in aquaculture, especially as food for bivalves and juvenile gastropods. The general morphology and ultra- structural characters are presented for each species with special emphasis on the distinctive features with respect to sp...

The sediments were studied according to the granulometric characteristics, the geochemical analyses of the sediments (organic matter (OM), carbonate, and pH), the analyses of heavy metals (HM) characteristics, and their contamination status in the ecological system and the mineralogical analysis of the sediments at 8 sites spread over the Marchica...

Artemisia herba-alba is among the most important pastoral species, characterized by a high fodder value, especially for ruminants. However, Artemisia herba-alba steppes in Morocco are undergoing continuous degradation. Therefore, understanding the multiplication of this highly appreciated species is essential for its preservation and the rehabilita...

The notion of groundwater susceptibility is generally studied in rapports of the ability of a medium to transmit a pollutant vertically from the surface towards the saturated zone. The protection and good management of the groundwater resource are essential. The present work is part of the monitoring of the hydrogeochemical evolution and quality of...

The purpose of this study is to highlight the quality of groundwater, with a special focus on the level of heavy metal contamination. To know the extent of this contamination, the protection and proper management of the groundwater resource is indispensable. The present work is in line with the metallic assessment of the water quality of the Oued K...

The dyes are used in many industrial sectors such as textiles, paper and leather dyeing, as well as in the food and cosmetics industry. Dyes are known to be toxic and persistent in the environment and require physico-chemical techniques to degrade them. This work deals with the study of the adsorption of the cationic dye methylene blue on raw bento...

The present work reports the synergistic and inhibitory adsorption effects involved in the multicomponent adsorption of heavy metal ions (Fe (II), Pb (II)), and major elements from oil mill liquid waste (OMW) using natural bentonite as adsorbent cames from Nador (North-East Morocco). Morocco is one of the most olive oil producing Mediterranean coun...

The goal of this study is to look into the dominance of diatoms, specifically the genus “ Pseudo-Nitzschia Sp ” at the Nador lagoon level and how it relates to the physicochemical parameters of the environment. From the four sampling stations and for two seasons (spring and summer 2018). This diatom of the genus “ Pseudo-Nitzschia Sp ” includes tox...

Mytilus galloprovincialis are commonly used as heavy metal biomonitors across the world. In the present work, the contents of three elements (Al, As, Li) were analyzed in Mytilus galloprovincialis using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES 720-ES). Samples of soft tissues are collected monthly in 2020, from three sites...

In this study, we study the effect of salinity on the growth of rosemary plants and salt tolerance. For this purpose, the plants were grown in a 2 L pot containing the soil collected in the Nador region (Morocco) and treated with different concentrations of NaCl (T1: 0 mM, T2: 50 mM, T3: 100 mM and T4: 200 mM). We analyzed the effect of these treat...

In this study, we study the effect of salinity on the growth of rosemary plants and salt tolerance. For this purpose, the plants were grown in a 2 L pot containing the soil collected in the Nador region (Morocco) and treated with different concentrations of NaCl (T1: 0 mM, T2: 50 mM, T3: 100 mM and T4: 200 mM). We analyzed the effect of these treat...

The main objective of this work was to contribute to the reduction in the contamination of phenolic compounds contained in margin by an adsorption process on two types of raw bentonite. The margin used in the studies was collected from a semi-modern oil mill located in the Nador–Morocco region. The results of the physico-chemical analyses showed th...

The qualitative and quantitative study of dinoflagellates (cysts and vegetative forms) was carried out on samples of surface sediments and water of the Nador lagoon (North-East Morocco), collected during winter in February 2019. Therefore, it was necessary to undertake a qualitative and quantitative study on dinoflagellate cysts and vegetative form...

In recent decades, the world has experienced a return to the traditional way of life, which is characterized by an increase in searching for nutraceuticals and functional food in natural resources. Among these traditions, it is the use of aromatic and medicinal plants for multiple and varied purposes such as food and healing. Dill (Anethum graveole...

Soil salinity is currently considered as a major environmental problem. This issue is accentuated by climate change, especially in arid and semi-arid regions. In these areas, drought and high level of salt in soils and irrigated waters are the main abiotic factors limiting plant growth and productivity. On the other hand, rapid population growth an...

The monthly variations in metal concentration of Cadmium (Cd), Zinc (Zn) and Chromium (Cr) were determined in tissues of Mytilus galloprovincialis and seawater obtained from the mussel farm installed along the Al Hoceima coasts, during the sampling period of 2018. The heavy metals encountered in the bivalves were higher than those observed in their...

The K+, Na+/H+ antiporter LeNHX2 and the regulatory kinase SlSOS2 are important determinants of salt tolerance in tomato plants and their fruit production ability. In this work, we have analyzed the effects of LeNHX2 and SlSOS2 co-overexpression on fruit production, quality in tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum L. cv. MicroTom), and analyzed physi...

The present work reports the application to reduction of the organic matter and nutrients in oil mill liquid waste (OMW), using the natural calcium bentonite from Morocco as adsorbent. The margine is characterized by a high concentration of low biodegradable and highly toxic organic matter. In order to evaluated the reduction capacity of bentonite...

This work aims to study the spatio-temporal evolution of the genus Nitzschia longissima, one of the most important genera of marine plankton diatoms, from 3 sampling stations in the Nador lagoon and during 2 seasons (spring and summer 2018), Using Nitzschia longissima, as a study system, one of the most diverse and abundant genera among marine plan...

The increase in anthropogenic pressure and microbial discharges into the Marchica lagoon requires continuous studies to assess the quality of water and sediments. The seasonal and spatial variations in bacterial levels in samples of seawater and sediments of the Marchica lagoon, collected monthly from January to December 2018 from six different loc...

Chemical compositions, biological and antioxidant activities of plants are widely affected by several parameters and conditions, such as geographical and climatic conditions, type of extract (aqueous or organic), as well as the polarity of the extracting solvent. Therefore the present study was the first one designed to study the phyto-chemical com...

To study the biomonitoring capacity of some seaweeds from the Nador lagoon "Marchica", we have analyzed the physico-chemical parameters of lagoon water (3 sites) including temperature, dissolved oxygen (DO), pH, salinity, turbidity, NO3-, NO2-and PO4 2-, and also we determined some biochemical parameters such as chlorophyll, protein, glucose and pr...

Seven types of bentonite profiles from the Trebia quarry located in the Jbel Tidiennit-Nador region (north-eastern Morocco) were sampled and studied for their physical, chemical, mineralogical and petrographic characteristics and evolution. Selected samples were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), IR spectroscopy (FTIR), chemical analysis (XRF) an...

The accumulation levels of elements (Al, As, Li, Mg, Mn, S, Si, Ti, and V) in the soft tissue of mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis), collected monthly in 2016, from Junuary to December, from sampling sites of the mussel farming facilities installed in the coastal areas of Al Hoceima, were investigated. The studied element levels were determined by...

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.), grown in saline soils, exhibit reduced yield quantity and quality which may be alleviated with the use of biostimulants. These materials can be applied to roots, foliage or seed and are designed for a specific action and target a particular stage of plant development. Tecamin Flower® (TF) and Tecamin Brix® (TB) are...

This work aims to evaluate a link among weight variations of Mediterranean mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis/M. galloprovincialis, condition index and the environmental parameters. In order to determine the growth weight parameters (total weight, fresh and dry mass tissue weight as well as fresh and dry shell weight) of the bivalve, sampling M. gall...

The function of the tomato K+, Na+/H+ antiporter LeNHX4 has been analyzed using 35S-driven gene construct for overexpressing a histagged LeNHX4 protein in Solanum lycopersicum L. Compared to wild-type plants, the expression of LeNHX4 was enhanced in most of plants transformed with a gene construct for LeNHX4 overexpression although some plants show...

Background: Medicinal plants occupy a central place in the treatment of various diseases in Morocco's rural communities. But, complete ethnobotanical studies conducted on those communities medicinal plants are few, thus the present study was carried out in the commune of Oulad Daoud Zkhanine in Northeastern of Morocco in order to establish a catalo...

Bentonite clay mineral is widely present in the Gourougou Volcanic Massif and its satellites located in NE Morocco. It originated from the alteration of pyroclastic flows in shallow marine water in a lagoon lake environment (Ibourhardayn deposit). All studied samples were collected from that area and analysed accordingly in order to characterize an...

Cation/proton antiporters play a major role in the control of cytosolic ion concentrations in prokaryotes and eukaryotes organisms. In yeast we previously demonstrated that Vnx1p is a vacuolar monovalent cation/H+ exchanger showing Na+/H+ and K+/H+ antiporter activity. We have also shown that disruption of VNX1 results in an almost complete abolish...

The removal or degradation of organic pollutants by the algae or "phycoremediation" is a promising bioremediation technology for decontaminating polluted sites. Phycoremediation is a sustainable and environmentally eco-friendly approach for cleaning up polluted areas. Algal degradation of organic pollutants is a natural process which ensures a lowe...

Seaweed has received remarkable interest for its potential in assessing the environment, as well as in biomonitoring aquatic pollution of organic and inorganic pollutants. The macroalgae by-products are also used for biological treatment of wastewaters, due to their fast growth, high biomass production and their ability to accumulate and degrade di...

Abstract This work focus about the granulometric characterization the Messinian bentonites of Kert Neogene basin located in the Moroccan Northeast region in the rif chain. It was carried out by analyzing the evolution of the granulometric behavior of the bentonites along the profiles of the deposit. To do this, a sampling campaign was carried out i...

The sediments of the Marchica lagoon (NE Morocco) were studied to determine their degree of contamination with metallic trace elements. The study consisted in determining trace elements (Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn) at the level of surface sediments by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICPAES), and to evaluate its environmental quality in...

Heavy metal concentrations of Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Zn, Co, and Pb were investigated in soft tissues of Mytilus galloprovincialis coming from an aquaculture farm in Cala Iris sea of AlHoceima. Mytilus galloprovincialis were collected monthly during the period January to December 2016. The seasonal variations were affected significantly the concentrat...

Transgenic tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum L. cv. MicroTom) overexpressing both the K⁺,Na⁺/H⁺ antiporter LeNHX2 and the regulatory kinase SlSOS2 were produced by crossing transgenic homozygous lines overexpressing LeNHX2 and SlSOS2. LeNHX2 expression was enhanced in plants overexpressing LeNHX2 but surprisingly even more in plants overexpressin...

The oceans and seas with high population density are submitted to numerous anthropogenic pressures: among them, the chemical pollution by heavy metals. These pollutants, coming from our continental activities, are transported through rivers or by air and accumulate in seas and oceans where they mainly affect coastal areas. During the 70ies, scienti...

Coastal lagoons are inland water bodies, usually oriented parallel to the shore, separated from the sea by a barrier, connected to the sea by one or more restricted inlets which remain open at least intermittently, and have water depths which seldom exceed a few meters (Kjerve in Elsevier Oceanograhy, 1994).

The Marchica lagoon is located at the eastern end of the Moroccan Oriental Rif. Which constitutes a zone of encounter between the rifain and atlasic geological systems. Such a zone is characterized by small mountains which dominate wide depressions more or less flat and open on the Mediterranean. These geological units are drained by a network of s...