Moroccan Journal of Biology http://www.fst.ac.ma/mjb Number 13 (2016) e-ISSN: 2351-8456 - p-ISSN: 1114-8756 Vegetative and efflorescence characterization of carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua L.) from the Province of Sefrou, the Middle Atlas of Morocco N. Seghir1, E. Harki2, A. Dahchour3, N. Gharnit4, A. Ennabili1,5 1LAMEC, Faculty of Sciences, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, Fez 30 000 Morocco 2Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences and Technologies, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, Fez 30 000 Morocco 3Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, Fez 30 000 Morocco 4DPMY, Regional Academy of Education and Training, Fez 30 000 Morocco 5 Process Engineering Department, Higher School of Technology, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, Fez 30 000 Morocco Abstract The present study used vegetative and floral characteristics to investigate three Moroccan carob populations from different sites of Sefrou province (Middle Atlas, Morocco). The presence of basal rejections in the carob tree indicates that the tree is not regularly pruned by farmers. The average circumference of these rejections is greater at Sekoura M Daz where conditions are more beneficial as shown in leaf characteristics (14.5 cm long, 10.9 cm wide, 7 leaflets and 4.12 cm long petiole), by comparison to Kandar Sidi Khiar. The leaf length and width, and petiole length are most discriminatory. However, the variation of these parameters would then be largely genotypically explained and secondly would be in relation to the provenance. The sex ratio is greater than one, showing that grafting both male and female trees in male and low carob bean-yield is absent. The percentage of developed fruit varies from 17.1 to 21.8%. In addition, place conditions would not explain the highly significant differences in floral and fruiting quantitative parameters studied. Keywords: Vegetative characterisation; Efflorescence; Carob tree; Ceratonia siliqua; Sefrou; Morocco. Introduction The carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua in carob tree from the principal L., Fabaceae) has an increasingly socio- Mediterranean productive areas to economic and ecological interest in the characterise the carob cultivars and/or world (Tous et al., 1996; Battle & Tous, intra-specific categories (Coit, 1967; 1997). Originally from the Middle East and Orphanos & Papaconstantinou, 1969; the Southwestern Asia, its distribution Casanova et al., 1987; Albanell et al., currently covers the five continents, 1988, 1996; Caja et al., 1988; Crescimano particularly under the Mediterranean et al., 1988; Ouchkif, 1988; Russo & climate (Northern Africa, Middle East, Polignano, 1996; Gharnit et al., 2001, Southern Europe, Canary Islands and more 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006a, 2006b, 2010; recently in Australia, Southern Africa, the Gharnit, 2003; Barracosa & Graça, 2006; USA, India and Southern America) (Tous Naghmouchi et al., 2009; Sidina et al., et al., 1996; Battle & Tous, 1997; Yousif 2009; El Batal et al., 2011; El Kahkahi et & Alghzawi, 2000). al., 2014; Hasib & El Batal, 2014). More Several morphometric studies of recent genetic, chemical, biological and in tree, leave, fruit and/or seed have been led vitro culture studies are also established in CONTACT A. Dahchour [email protected] Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, Route d’Imouzzer, P BOX 2626, 30 000 Fez, Morocco 14 N. Seghir et al. / Moroccan J. Biol. 13 (2016): 13-22 this specie (Hsina & El Mtili, 2009; Ben profitability compared to other fruit species Hsouna et al., 2011; El Hajaji et al., 2011; and cereals in non-irrigated land (or Bour) Akkaya & Yilmaz, 2012; Ibrahim et al., (ORMVAT, 2005). 2012; Colak et al., 2013; Benchikh et al., Carob tree is also recommended for 2014; La Malfa et al., 2014; Oziyci et al., reforestation of degraded areas, threatened 2014; Mulet et al., 2015). by desertification, and disadvantaged rural In Morocco, the carob tree is areas (locust bean and beekeeping), considered as a peri-forest species having ornamentation (planting alleys and urban high socio-economic and ecological green-spaces) and wind breeze (e.g. interests (Battle & Tous, 1997; Gharnit et (Gharnit et al., 2003; Vekiari et al., 2011). al., 2001). With its ability to develop Although studies have interested different strategies for adapting to water the carob tree for several provinces of stress, the carob tree grows favourably in Morocco, to date, carob from the province arid and semi-arid areas (Morton, 1987; Lo of Sefrou, which is essentially spontaneous Gullo & Salleo, 1988). Its area is estimated orchards, was never reported or at 30 000 ha (natural and artificial investigated. To highlight eventual intra- plantations) (Ait Chitt et al., 2007). The specific variation, this work aims to carob culture experiencing a resurgence of characterise carob tree from the Sefrou interest in recent years due to its many province (Middle Atlas of Morocco) using industrial applications and its distinguished vegetative and floral parameters. Materials and methods Study area annual rainfall is 648 mm. The snow Sefrou Province (Middle Atlas of appears from altitudes of 1600 m Morocco) is geographically located (CRFB/MHUPV, 2013). between the Saïs plain and the Northern The Sefrou Province shelters a foothills of the Middle Atlas. It covers an variety of species in its forest heritage, 2 area of 4,009 km , i.e. 19.7 % of the area thanks to the diversity of ecological of the Fès-Boulemane Region conditions that characterise its territory: (HCP/RGPH, 2004). The area of arable holm oak (Quercus ilex L.), cedar [Cedrus land is estimated at 95,000 ha, of which atlantica (Endl.) Carrière], arborvitae 15,000 ha are irrigated. The forest occupies [Tetraclinis articulata (Vahl) Mast.] and nearly 140,000 ha. The substrate of this juniper (Juniperus oxycedrus L.). The area is dark calcareous with diversity in its distribution of these species is a function of constitution (granite and/or red sandy- altitude: Salsolaceae in the lower altitudes, granite in the Atlas Mountains alfa and rosemary from 1,000 to 2,000 m (CRFB/MHUPV, 2013). of altitude, and Aleppo pine, cedar, red This Region is characterised by a cedar and juniper cade in the higher continental climate with cold winters and altitudes (CRFB/MHUPV, 2013). dry and hot summer in the Northern part, The Sefrou Province houses a wet and cold in the mountainous areas of population of 259,577 inhabitants, with central and semi-desert in the highlands 56% of rural population and a density of near the Southern Province of Boulemane. 67 inhab./Km2 (RGPH, 2004). Its economy The average minimum temperature of the is based on livestock and orchards. The coldest month is about 8.9°C, while the main fruit trees cultivated and/or exploited average maximum temperature of the are olive, apple, plum, cherry, walnut, warmest month is 33.7°C. The temperature almond and carob tree (DRA, 2010). can exceed 40°C especially during the Within the study area, the summer period and when the “Chergui” spontaneous carob irregularly covers fruit winds dominate. Moreover, the average orchards. According to a survey carried out 15 N. Seghir et al. / Moroccan J. Biol. 13 (2016): 13-22 in 2010, three sites in the Province of 1. Centre Sekoura - M Daz, with orchards Sefrou, where the carob tree grows in large based on carob and olive terraces. populations, have been identified: Skoura 2. Oued Guigou Sekoura - M Daz proximal M Daz, Zair Sid Lahcen and Kandar Sidi to the Centre Sekoura - M Daz, with Khiar. Their surface areas are estimated at orchards abandoned made of carob and 70, 150 and 95 ha respectively. olive, and crossed by irrigation canals. Sampling locations 3. Kandar Sidi Khiar, corresponding to a In 2010, three stations were degraded Ceratonaie (development of selected from others to carry out Urginia maritima, Arisarum vulgare, systematic sampling of the carob tree at the Thymus spp. , Salvia spp., Asphodelus spp., Province of Sefrou, Fès-Boulmane Region: grazing) (Figure 1; Table 1). Figure 1. Situation of the studied locations. Caption: 1, Centre Sekoura - M Daz; 2, Oued Guigou Sekoura - M Daz; 3, Kandar Sidi Khiar. Modified Source: Topographical map of Morocco, Meknes, 1/250 000. Methods cultivated in private domain. This study The carob tree is a spontaneous focused on all trees of the three identified species in the forest area and peripheral semi-groupings following field surveys. forest as isolated trees and / or semi- For each selected station, a series of carob groupings, as it is domesticated and trees has been identified (14-16 trees per 16 N. Seghir et al. / Moroccan J. Biol. 13 (2016): 13-22 locality), and samplings of 30 leaves, and and their average circumference (20). For 30 of inflorescences/infrutescences per tree the leaf, a number of parameters were were systematically carried out in followed namely the length (L) and width accordance with previous studies (Gharnit, (W), the ratio "L/W", the number of 2003; Gharnit et al., 2004, 2005, 2010). leaflets, the petiole length, the length (L1) A global description of the tree has and the width (Lw) of leaflets, and the interested mainly the number of rejections report "Ll/Lw" (Gharnit et al., 2005). Table 1. Sampling locations characteristics (2010). Geographical Altitude Slope Locations Observations coordinates (m) (%) Centre Sekoura – 04°32'48.9804'' W - Western exposure, 1013 10 M Daz 33°31'34.6872'' N - Limestone and conglomerate substrate. Oued Guigou 04°33'39.654'' W - Variable exposure, 991 60-70 Sekoura – M Daz 33°31'15.4956'' N - Soil developed and sandstone substrate. 04°59'37.593'' W - Variable exposure, Kandar Sidi Khiar 989 40 33°47'16.455'' N - Limestone substrate. During flowering/fruiting, the sex (ANOVA 95%) to a single criterion (each ratio, the length of the inflorescence and parameter selected for this study as a the numbers of flowers, aborted flowers, variable) to compare, first, the three aborted fruits and fruits developed by stations (inter-locations variation) retaining inflorescence were followed (Gharnit et 14 trees per station (observations of the al., 2004, 2010).