Ethnobotanical and on Farm Genetic Surveys of Fig (Ficus carica L.) Genetic Resources in Kerkennah Islands

Document Type : Research paper

Authors

1 National Gene Bank of Tunisia, Boulevard du Leader Yesser Arafet, Charguia 1, 1080, Tunis, Tunisia U.R. Agrobiodiversité, Institut Supérieur Agronomique de Chott-Mariem, IRESA-University of Sousse, Tunisia

2 National Gene Bank of Tunisia, Boulevard du Leader Yesser Arafet, Charguia 1, 1080, Tunis, Tunisia

3 Ministry of Local Affairs and Environment, Tunis, Tunisia

4 U.R. Agrobiodiversité, Institut Supérieur Agronomique de Chott-Mariem, IRESA-University of Sousse, Tunisia

Abstract

Fig tree (Ficus carica L.) is characterized by a wide genetic diversity in Tunisia although it is considered as a secondary species. In Kerkennah islands, despite several biotic and abiotic stresses, local population has conserved the fig germplasm. This species is very well suited to the harsh environments. In order to enhance on farm conservation of fig genetic resources and to have inventory of related traditional knowledge (TK), a global survey was conducted among a wide range of stakeholders and local governmental agencies in Kerkennah archipelago. For this purpose, prospections were done during two successive years covering the totality of the islands. A total of 9 locations and 26 sub-locations were visited. Twenty four farmers were solicited. Surveys have taken into account sex, age of farmers, predominant agricultural activities of farmers, field area, fig cultivated varieties, land management, traditional knowledge, production and its use, source of incomes and marketing of production. Participatory Four Cell Analysis (FCA) allowed the classification of fig cultivars regarding the threat level of loss and the adequate manner of conservation. Results of this study showed that it is imperative to pay particular attention to threatened and rare cultivars. Hence, the importance to conserve such diversified germplasm. On farm conservation program is a suitable alternative for such region for preservation of traditional knowledge, cultivars rehabilitation and a sustainable agriculture.

Keywords


Ali-Shtayeh M.S, Jamous R.M, Abu Zaitoun S.Y, Mallah O.B, Mubaslat A.K. 2014. Genetic Diversity of the Palestinian Fig (Ficus carica L.) Collection by Pomological Traits and RAPD Markers, American Journal of Plant Sciences 5: 1139-1155.
2. Baraket G, Chatti K, Saddoud O, Mars M, Marrakchi M, Trifi M, Salhi-Hannachi A. 2009a.
Genetic analysis of Tunisian fig (Ficus carica L.) cultivars using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers, Scientia Horticulturae 120: 487-492.
3. Baraket G, Saddoud O, Chatti K, Mars M, Marrakchi M, Trifi M, Salhi-Hannachi A. 2009b. Sequence analysis of the internal transcribed spacers (ITS) region of the nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA) in fig (Ficus carica L.) cultivars, Scientia Horticulturae 120: 34–40.
4. Bàrberi, P., 2013. Functional agrobiodiversity: The key to sustainability. Agricultural Sustainability: Progress and Prospects in Crop Research 3-20.
5. Bayoudh C, Labidi R, Majdoub A, Mars M. 2015. In vitro Propagation of Caprifig and Female Fig Varieties (Ficus carica L.) from Shoot-tips. Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology. 17: 1597-1608.
6. Baziar G, Jafari M, Sharifi Noori M.S, Samarfard S. 2018. Evaluation of Genetic Diversity among Persian Fig Cultivars by Morphological Traits and RAPD Markers. HortScience .53(5): 613–619.
7. Boudchicha R.H, Hormaza J.I, Benbouza H. 2018. Diversity analysis and genetic relationships among local Algerian fig cultivars (Ficus carica L.) using SSR markers. South African Journal of Botany 116: 207–215.
8. Calabrese G, Tartaglini T. 2012. Biodiversity of agricultural areas in the landscape context. Cent.Oli.Med. Calabrese G, Tartaglini N, Ladisa G. CIHEAM Mediterranean Agronomic Institute Bari.
9. CBD. 2014. Convention on biological diversity, strategic plan for biodiversity 2011-2020, including Aichi Biodiversity Targets. United Nations Developed Program, Aichi, Japan 2014.
10. CIRAD. 2005. Biodiversité et savoirs naturalistes locaux en France.
11. DGPA. 2017. Direction Générale de Production Végétale, Ministry of Agriculture, Tunisia.
12. FAO. 2017. Farmers’ Rights. The international treaty on plant genetic resources for food and agriculture. Food and Agriculture Organization of The United Nations. Rome.
13. Fehri A. 2000. Histoire de Kerkennah et de sa population. In Kerkennah, histoire et société. Colloque scientifique du 16 mai 2000. Centre Cercina pour les recherches sur les îles méditerranéennes. Facultés des lettres et sciences humaines de Sfax.
Olfa Saddoud Debbabi et al. Int. J. Hort. Sci. Technol. 2021 8(2): 153-163
162
14. Frankel O.H. 1970. Genetic conservation in perspective. Genetic Resources in Plants (Frankel OH and Bennett E, eds.). Blackwell, Oxford, 1970, 469–489.
15. Frankel, O.H, Soulé M.E. 1981. Conservation and Evolution. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1981.
16. Gaaliche B, Haiedh L, Trad M, Mars M. 2001. Journal of Natural Product and Plant Resources. 1 (3): 20-25.
17. Gilbert J.E, Lewis R.V, Wilkinson M.J, Caligari P.D.S. 1999. Developing an appropriate strategy to assess genetic variability in plant germplasm collections. Theoretical and Applied Genetics. 98: 1125–1131.
18. Hammer K, Laghetti G, Perrino P. 1999. A checklist of the cultivated plants of Ustica (Italy). Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution. 46: 95-106.
19. Hammer K, Laghetti G. 2006. Small agricultural islands and plant genetic resources. Le piccolo isole rurali italiane. IGV-CNR (ed), Bari, Italy.
20. JORT. 1999. Official Journal of Republic of Tunisia. N° 99-57, june 28th 1999. p 1088-1091.
21. Joshi Ba K, Upadhya D. 2019. On-farm Conservation Approaches for Agricultural Biodiversity in Nepal. Journal of Agriculture and Natural Resources 2(1): 14-35.
22. Khadari B, Hochu I, Santoni S, Kjellberg F. 2001. Identification and characterization of microsatellite loci in the common fig (Ficus carica L.) and representative species of the genus Ficus. Mol. Ecol. Notes. 1: 191–193.
23. Kislev E.M, Hartman A, Bar-Yosef O. 2006. Early domesticated fig in the Jordan Valley. Science. 312: 1372-1374.
24. Laghetti G, Hammer G, Olita G, Perrino P. 1998. Crop genetic resources from Ustica island (Italy): collecting and safeguarding. Plant Genetic Resources Newsletter. 116:12-17.
25. Lagabrielle E, Botta A, Daré W, David D, Aubert S, Fabricius C. 2010. Modelling with stakeholders to integrate biodiversity into land-use planning- Lessons learned in Réunion Island (Western Indian Ocean). Environmental modelling & software. 25 (11): 1413-1427.
26. Lebot V. 1992. Genetic vulnerability of Oceania’s traditional crops. Expt. Agric. 28 (1992) 309-323.
27. Ledig F.T. 1992. Human impacts on genetic
diversity in forest ecosystems. OIKOS 63 (1992) 87-108. 28. Louis A. 1961. Les îles Kerkena (Tunisie), Étude d'ethnographie tunisienne et de géographie humaine, Thèse de Doctorat d'État, Université de Paris, 1961.
29. Mars M, El Hamrouni A. 2000. Prospection des espèces et variétés fruitières, Rapport des missions effectuées à Kerkenah et à la Galite dans le cadre du projet AAO-MEAT-CEE "Conservation et réhabilitation d’écosystèmes insulaires fragiles", août 2000.
30. Mars M. 1995. La culture du grenadier (Punica granatum L.) et du figuier (Ficus carica L.) en Tunisie. Cahiers Options Méditerranéennes 13: 85-95.
31. Médail F, Pasta S, Chaieb M. 2015. Flore et végétation des îles et des îlots satellites de l’archipel des Kerkennah (Tunisie orientale). Bilan de la biodiversité végétale terrestre, impacts environnementaux et recommendations de gestión. Note naturaliste PIM, Aix en Provence, 66p.
32. Médail F, Charrier M, Chaieb M, Domina G, El Mokni R, Pasta S, Véla E. 2020. Plantes vasculaires nouvelles ou rares pour la Tunisie présentes sur les îles (Galite, Zembra, Kuriat, Monastir, Kerkennah, Kneiss, Djerba). Fl. Medit. 30: 87-112.
33. Minangouin N. 1905. Étude sur les cépages tunisiens. Rapport de Prospection, Ministère de l’Agriculture de Tunisie.
34. Louis A. 1961. Les îles Kerkennah, étude d’éthnographie tunisienne et de géographie humaine. IBLA Tunis n° 26.
35. Nilsen L.B, Subedi A, Dulloo M.E, Ghosh K, Chavez-Tafur J, Blundo Canto G.M, de Boef W.S. 2015. Practices and networks supporting the on-farm management of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture, Plant Genetic Resources: Characterization and Utilization. 13(1): 36–44.
36. Pagnotta M.A, Noorani A. 2018. The Contribution of Professor Gian Tommasso Scarascia Mugnozza to the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity. Diversity 2018, 10, 4.
37. Perez-Jiménez M, López B, Dorado G, Pujadas-Salvá A, Guzmán G, Hernandez P. 2012. Analysis of genetic diversity of southern Spain fig tree (Ficus carica L.) and reference materials as a tool for breeding and conservation. Hereditas. 149 (3): 108–113.
Olfa Saddoud Debbabi et al. Int. J. Hort. Sci. Technol. 2021 8(2): 153-163
163
38. Rhouma A. 1996. Les ressources phytogénétiques oasiennes: le figuier (Ficus carica L.). In: Proc. 3emes Journées Nationales sur les Acquis de la Recherche Agronomique, Vétérinaire et Halieutique, Nabeul.
39. Rhouma A, Nasr N, Ben Salah M, Allala M. 2005. Analyse de la diversité génétique du palmier dattier dans les Iles Kerkennah.
40. Saad M.S, Ramanatha R.V. 2001. Establishment and Management of Field Genebank, a Training Manual, IPGRI-APO, Serdang.
41. Saddoud O, Baraket G, Chatti K, Trifi M, Marrakchi M, Salhi-Hannachi A, Mars M. 2008. Morphological Variability of Fig (Ficus carica L.) Cultivars. International Journal of Fruit Science. 8 (1–2): 35-51.
42. Saddoud O, Salhi-Hannachi A, Chatti K, Mars M, Rhouma A, Marrakchi M, Trifi M. 2005. Tunisian fig (Ficus carica L.) genetic diversity
and cultivar characterization using microsatellite markers. Fruits. 60: 143-153.
43. Saddoud O, Chatti K, Salhi-Hannachi A, Mars M, Rhouma A, Marrakchi M, Trifi M. 2007. Genetic diversity of Tunisian figs (Ficus carica L.) as revealed by nuclear microsatellites. Hereditas 144: 149-157.
44. Sthapit B.R, Shrestha P, Upadhyay M. 2006. On farm management of agricultural biodiversity in Nepal: good practices. NARC/LI-BIRD/Biodiversity International, Nepal.
45. Storey W.B, Enderud J.E, Saleeb W.F, Nauer E.M. 1967. The Fig. Jurupa Mountains Cultural Center, Riverside, California.
46. WIPO. 2005. Intellectual Property and Traditional Knowledge. Booklet (2005) nº 2.
47. Zohary D, Hopf M. 1998. Domestication of Plants in the Old World, Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK, 1988.