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Identification of the eventual relationships between soil parameters and oil characteristics of olive oil groves cultivated in Tunisia

K. BCHIR BEN HASSINE1

H. AICHI 1

W. MNIF2,3

H. BELHAJ1

H. EL MABROUK1

L. GHEZAL1

H. BEN HASSINE1



1University of Carthage, Higher School of Agriculture of Mograne, Research Laboratory of Agriculural Production Systems and Sustainable Development 1121 Zaghouan, Tunisia.

2Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences and Arts in Balqarn, University of Bisha, P.O. BOX 199, Bisha 61922, Saudi Arabia.

3University of Manouba, ISBST, BVBGR-LR11ES31, Biotechpole SidiThabet, 2020, Ariana, Tunisia.

 


Abstract - In Tunisia, olive groves are mainly made up of three reputed varieties Chemlali, Chetoui, and Chemchali. Recently, Arbosana and Arbequina varieties are introduced. In this work, we aim to i) characterize soils of these groves ii) characterize and compare the produced olive oil of each variety iii) and elucidate the eventual correlations between various soil properties and olive oil biochemical and sensory characteristics. Thus, soil and olive oil samples were gathered (10 from Chetoui variety, 4 to the Chemlali variety, 2 from Chemchali variety, 6 to the Arbosana and Arbequina varieties, and 2 to the Rkhami variety). The obtained results show that mainly, olive groves soils are moderately salty, with alkaline pH, with low organic matter content, and have high limestone content. Carotenoids concentrations were the highest for Chemchali and Chemlali varieties and the lowest for Arbosana and Arbequina varieties. Chlorophylls concentrations are the highest for the Chetoui variety and the lowest for the Chemchali variety. For fruity taste intensity, we did not find significant variation between varieties except for Chemchali oil which is slightly lower. Regarding the fatty acids composition, oleic acid is the most dominant with a proportion over 60% for all the olive oils and it is close to 70% especially for the Arbosana and Arbequina varieties, it was followed by linoleic and palmitic acids. The lowest value of palmitic acid was identified in the Chetoui variety. Linear regression tests between soil parameters and olive oil characteristics have shown significant correlations between total limestone and palmitic acid for local varieties with a negative correlation; organic matter and carotenoids and chlorophylls contents for all varieties and for Arbosana and Arbequina, with a positive correlation. Finally, a positive correlation between electrical conductivity and palmitic acid and a negative correlation between electrical conductivity and linoleic acid was identified.

Keywords: olive oil, chemical composition, soil analyzes, correlation, Tunisia.

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Socio-economic characteristics of households in the region of tahoua in niger

Caracteristiques socio-economiques des menages dans la region de tahoua au niger



MOUSSA DIT KALAMOU MAHAMADOU1

ANDRES LUDOVIC2

YAMBA BOUBACAR3

LEBAILLY PHILIPPE4



1 Université d’Agadez, BP : 199 Agadez, Niger

2 Université de Niamey, BP : 418 Niamey, Niger

3 ISTOM- France,

4 L’Université de Liège/Gembloux Agro Bio Tech, Belgique

 


Abstract - Analyses of the results of a diagnostic survey on household food insecurity in the Tahoua region carried out on a sample of 420 households selected on a reasoned basis have revealed some socio-economic characteristics of households in this region of Niger. These analyses also included comparisons of averages for the three agro-ecological zones in the study region. Through socioeconomic factors, we attempted to describe the land tenure aspect in relation to the demographic and socioeconomic aspect of peri-urban households in the Tahoua region. The main results indicate a serious competition between agriculture, the spread out housing and, to a lesser extent, businesses and institutional services. This competition is reinforced by the acquisition of land in the peri-urban perimeter. In fact, many notables acquire land in the periphery in order to sell it later on once the colonization of the urban space has been completed. In addition, the socio-economic characteristics are related to the surface area and land acquisition methods.

Key words: Niger, Tahoua, households, production, peri-urban

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Effect of the culture site on the phenolic profile, antioxidant and antimicrobial powers of basil (Ocimum basilicum L.).

Effet du site de culture sur le profil phénolique, les pouvoirs antioxydant et antimicrobien du basilic (Ocimum basilicum L.)

 

N. SALEM1

M. OUERTANI1

N. FERES1

S. KHAMMASSI2

S. SELMI2

O. TABBEN1



1Laboratoire des substances bioactives, Centre de biotechnologie de Borj Cédria, BP. 901, 2050 Hammam-Lif, Tunisie.

2Laboratoire des plantes aromatiques et médicinales, Centre de biotechnologie de Borj Cédria, BP. 901, 2050 Hammam-Lif, Tunisia.



Abstract- This work aims to determine the effect of provenance on the levels of phenolic compounds as well as the biological activities of extracts from basil leaves (Ocimum basilicum L). The results showed variability in phenolic contents depending on the culture site. Indeed, the samples of basil from Tunis gave the highest values in total polyphenols (106.73 mg GAE/ g DM), in total flavonoids (18.01 mg QE/g DM) and in proanthocyanidins (8.40 mg QE/g MS). Analysis by HPLC-RP of methanolic extracts of basil revealed a predominance of p-coumaric acid in the studied provenances. In addition, the evaluation of the antioxidant potential has shown that the methanolic extracts of basil had powerful anti-free radical and reducing power activities compared to synthetic standards. On the other hand, an antimicrobial effect of these extracts against microbial strains, which strongly depended on the culture site, has been shown. This could replace the use of synthetic antimicrobial standards.

Key words: Ocimum basilicum, methanolic extract, p-coumaric acid, antioxidant activity, antimicrobial power.

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Matricaria recutita L. : Phytochemical characterization, biological activities and possibility of application in biological control.

Matricaria recutita L. : Caractérisation phytochimique, activités biologiques et possibilité d’application dans la lutte biologique.


KHAWLA HADJ MOHAMED a

SAMEH SASSI AYDI b

SAMIR AYDI b

HABIB BOUSNINA a

MANSOUR HADDAD c

 

Laboratoire des sols, Institut National Agronomique de Tunisie (INAT), Université de Carthage, 43, Avenue Charles Nicolle 1082 - Tunis –Mahrajène, Tunisie

Laboratoire de Biodiversité et Valorisation des Bioressources en Zones Arides. Faculté des Sciences de l'Université de Gabès, Zrig 6072, Gabès, Tunisie.

Laboratoire d'Arido-cultures et des Cultures Oasiennes, Institut des Régions Arides, Nahel, Gabès, 6051, Tunisie.



Abstract- Chamomile (Matricaria recutita L.) is a perennial herb of the family Asteraceae is used in culinary, medicinal, and cosmetic use. This herb is well adapted to the conditions of production in the coastal oases of South-East of Tunisia. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the levels of phenolic compounds, antioxidant activity, antibacterial activity as well as the application of the aqueous extract of capitula as an attempt for biological control against Ectomyelois ceratoniae, the most harmful pest of pomegrenate. Methodology and results: Total polyphenol content was determined by Folin-Ciocalteu method and antioxidant activity by two methods: Total antioxidant activity and free radical scavenging of DPPH. The aqueous extract of chamomile contains an important phenolic content (412.5 ± 19.4 EAG / g DE) as well as significant flavonoids and tannins (respectively 57.6 ± 11.3 and 12.8 ± 5.2 EC / g DE). The total antioxidant activity reached 670.8 ± 25.2 EAG / g DE, and the CI50 reached 0.16 μg/mL. Significant antibacterial activity was detected against 6 Gram- and Gram+ bacterial strains.

Key words: Matricaria recutita L.; Total phenols; Antioxydant activity; Antibacterial activity; Bio-insecticide; Pomegranate.

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Copyright

This article is published under license to Journal of New Sciences. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

CC BY 4.0