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In this study, the ecological conditions of the natural habitat of Lemna minuta Kunth in Morocco were investigated, and the impact of five synthetic growth media (Murashige-Skoog (MS), Schenk-Hildebrand (SH), Hoagland medium (HM), 10X Algal Assay Procedure (AAP), and Swedish Standard Institute medium (SIS)) on the morphophysiological and biochemical parameters was analysed. The morphophysiological parameters included root length, frond surface area, and fresh weight, while the biochemical parameters included photosynthetic pigments, carbohydrates, and protein content. The study was conducted in vitro in two phases: an uncontrolled aeration system (Phase I) and a controlled aeration system (Phase II).The results showed that the pH, conductivity, salinity, and ammonium levels in the natural habitat were within the optimal range for duckweed growth. The measured orthophosphate concentrations were higher compared to previous observations, while the recorded chemical oxygen demand values were low. The study also revealed a significant effect of the culture medium composition on the morphophysiological and biochemical parameters of the duckweed. The fresh weight biomass, relative growth rate in fronds, relative growth rate in surface area, root length, protein content, carbohydrates, chlorophyll (a), chlorophyll (b), total chlorophyll, carotenoids, and the chlorophyll (a/b) ratio were all affected by the culture medium.The most accurate regression models described the growth index GI(F) based on time and in vitro culture conditions in both phases. In Phase I, the best models for MS, SIS, AAP, and SH media were linear, weighted quadratic, cubic, and weighted cubic, respectively. In Phase II, the best models for all growth media were linear. The time coefficients (in days) for Phase II were 0.321, 0.547, 1.232, 1.470, and 0.306 for AAP, HM, MS, SH, and SIS, respectively.Comparing the morphophysiological and biochemical parameters of fronds from different media and analysing the regression model results showed that the SH and MS media were the best among the tested media for the in vitro culture of L. minuta in controlled aeration conditions. However, further research is needed to develop new synthetic media that best promote the growth and maintenance of this duckweed in long-term culture.

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Soil copper (Cu) supply is used to correct Cu deficiency in many crops grown in southern Mediterranean areas. Oversupply of this fertilizer may contaminate soil and groundwater. This study aims to assess Cu migration in different soils of Moroccan agricultural areas. Three soil samples were collected from different areas. For each soil, three annual leaching rates were tested: 35 mm, 237 mm, and 565 mm for a sandy soil; 35 mm, 70 mm, and 140 mm for a clay calcareous soil; and 35 mm, 103 mm, and 247 mm for silty clay soil. The leaching experiments were conducted in columns filled identically up to 30 cm with each soil sample. Then, 0.6 mg of Cu kg-1 was added to the soil surface in the sulfate form (CuSO4.5H2O). The results showed that soil Cu loss increased mainly with leaching rate: y = 0.004 x - 0.10 (R2 = 0.97) where y: soil Cu loss (10-4 meq 100 g-1) and x: leaching rate (mm). The regression analysis did not reveal a significant influence of the soil properties on Cu leaching. However, the Cu loss seems insignificant regarding the no recurrence of high annual leaching rate (over 500 mm), in south Mediterranean areas. Also, soil Cu accumulation risk occurred in all studied soils. For sandy soil, available Cu content was 78% higher in the top layer (0-10 cm) than its content in the middle (10-20 cm) and lower (20-30 cm) layers. Furthermore, a release of bioavailable Cu was recorded in silty clay and clay calcareous soils at a leaching rate of over 70 mm.

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BACKGROUND: The antifungal properties of the nickel(II) complex bis(azido-κN)bis[2,5-bis(pyridin-2-yl)-1,3,4-thiadiazole-κ2 N2 ,N3 ]nickel(II) [NiL2 (N3 )2 ] and its parental ligand 2,5-bis(pyridin-2-yl)-1,3,4-thiadiazole were examined to evaluate their ability to protect tomato plants against Verticillium dahliae. Our main objectives were to determine their effects on the in vitro growth of the pathogen, and their aptitude for controlling verticillium wilt and activating plant defence responses in the greenhouse. RESULTS: NiL2 (N3 )2 exhibited in vitro an elevated inhibition of radial growth of three strains of the pathogen. According to the strain, the EC50 values ranged from 10 to 29 µg mL-1 for NiL2 (N3 )2 . In the greenhouse, it induced an elevated protection against V. dahliae when it was applied twice as foliar sprays at 50 µg mL-1 . It reduced the leaf alteration index by 85% and vessel browning by 96%. In addition, its protective ability was associated with the accumulation of H2 O2 and the activation of total phenolic content, as well as potentiation of the activity of peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrated that the coordination of the ligand with Ni associated with the azide as a coligand resulted in an improvement in its biological activity by both inhibiting the growth of V. dahliae and activating plant defence responses. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.

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This study evaluated the in vitro antimicrobial effect of 3ß-acetoxy-norlup-20-one (1) and 3-chloro-4a,14a-dimethyl-5a-cholest-8-ene (2), triterpene derivatives from Euphorbia officinarum latex against fungal and bacterial phytopathogens. Results showed that although mycelial growth of several strains of Vericillium dahlia, and Fusarium oxysporum fsp. melonis and Penicillium expansum was affected only moderately, the two compounds were able to reduce highly conidia formation and germination, suggesting that they act as fungistatic compounds. Their antibacterial activity was tested against Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae (Pss), P. syringae pv. tabacci (Pst), Erwinia amylovora (Ea) and Agrobacterium tumefaciens (At) using disc diffusion method. Results showed that compound 2 was more effective in inhibiting the growth of Pss, Pst and Ea than compound 1.

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Oxidation of α-euphorbol and 31-norlanostenol, two triterpenic compounds isolated from the latex of Euphorbia resinifera and Euphorbia officinarum respectively, yielded four products named 3ß-tosyloxy-4α,14α-dimethyl-5α-cholesta-7,9-diene; 4α,14α-dimethyl-5α-cholesta-7,9-dien-3ß-ol; 24-methylen-elemo-lanosta-8,24-dien-3-one and elemo-lanost-8-en-3,11,24-trione. They were evaluated for protection of tomato plants against Verticillium dahliae in a greenhouse. The four semisynthesized products were phytotoxic at higher concentrations as they completely inhibited tomato germination at 100 and 500 µg/ml. However at lower concentrations (10 and 50 µg/ml) germination and root length were not affected. Disease resistance against Verticillium wilt was assessed in tomato plants derived from seeds that germinated in the presence of 10 and 50 µg/ml of the four products. All of them were able to reduce significantly disease severity, with 10 µg/ml being more effective than 50 µg/ml. Reduction of leaf alteration index and of stunting index ranged from 52 to 68% and from 43 to 67%, respectively, while vessel discoloration was reduced by at least 95%. The compounds were also able to elicit H2O2 accumulation before and after fungal inoculation and to significantly enhance peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase activities. These results suggest that the hemisynthetized triterpenes can be used as elicitors of disease resistance.

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Verticillium wilt caused by Verticillium dahliae is a major limiting factor for tomato production. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of ligand 2,5-bis(pyridin-2-yl)-1,3,4-thiadiazole (L) and its complex bis[µ-2,5-bis(pyridin-2-yl)-1,3,4-thiadiazole-κ(4)N(2),N(3):N(4),N(5)]bis[dihydrato-κO)nickel(II)] as activators of plant defenses in controlling Verticillium wilt. In the greenhouse, they protected tomato plants against V. dahliae when they were applied twice as foliar sprays at 100 µg mL(-1). A synergistic effect was observed between the ligand L and the transition metal Ni, with disease incidence reduced by 38% with L and 57% with Ni2L2. Verticillium wilt foliar symptoms and vascular browning index were reduced by 82% for L and 95% for Ni2L2. This protection ability was associated with the induction of an oxidative burst and the activation of the total phenolic content as well as potentiation of the activity of peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase. These results demonstrated that L and Ni2L2 can be considered as new activators of plant defense responses.

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