Vermicomposting is increasing used to process food, sewage and other organic wastes through the breakdown by earthworms. Vermicompost addition to soils can improve plant growth through increasing the accessability of nutrients and lowering levels of contaminants found in other compost products. This study examins the effect of vermicompost on salinity tolerance in tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicumL., var. Firenze) via greenhouse pot experiments. Plants were grown on 4 substrates designated by letter identifiers: A control, “T” with 100% organic soil; a vermicompost treatment “Vc” was 80% organic soil + 20% Vermicompost; a compost treatment “C” was 80% organic soil + 20% Compost; and a mixture treatment “M” was 80% organic soil + 10% Vermicompost+ 10% Compost. The four treatment groups were exposed to 3 NaCl concentrations (0, 50 and 150 mM); the experimenta; design within the greenhouse was complete randomized block. The plants’ response to salinity stress was evaluated through morphological (shoot length, stem diameter, leaves number, root length, shoot and root fresh and dry weight), physiological (Chla, Chlb and Carotenoid) and biochemical (malondialdehyde (MDA) and catalase (CAT)) parameters. All measured parameters were significantly different between the four soil treatments. Plants grown on Vc substrate showed an improved growth and a better resistance to salinity stress. Analyzed parameters were positively influenced by the contribution of the organic matter (Vermicompost, compost and a mixture of the two) which plays a role in the slow, consistent release of mineral elements and provides soluble nutrients to reduce abiotic stresses. In conclusion, vermicompost could be a relevant method for reducing salt stress on tomato plants growth, addressing the challenges of growing food crops in drier, more saline contaminated envvironments.

The expanding global population and rapid urbanization have dramatically increased municipal solid waste (MSW) generation worldwide. Given that population pressure demands greater nutritional needs...

This study aimed to compare the chemical composition of aqueous extracts from different aerial plant parts (leaves, stems, and flowers) of Onopordum nervosum ssp. platylepis growing in different regions (Sousse, Kairouan, and Nabeul) in Tunisia, as well as their antioxidant and milk-clotting properties for both spontaneously grown and cultivated plants. Results showed that phenolic composition varies significantly among ecotypes and plant organs (p < 0.05), with flowers containing the highest amounts of total phenols and flavonoids in both plant types. The flowers from Nabeul (NA) region showed the highest amounts of total phenols and higher phenolic contents compared to leaves and stems, with 44.75 mg GAE/g and 39.79 mg GAE/g in spontaneous and cultivated plants, respectively. However, flowers of spontaneously plants grown in Sousse (SO) showed the highest total flavonoid contents (11.42 mg QE/g). Additionally, the findings indicated that flowers contained higher concentrations of mono- and disaccharides than leaves and stems. The antioxidant activity showed that the radical scavenging activity of O. platylepis aqueous extracts is significantly affected by the organ and genotype (p < 0.05). NA genotype revealed the highest potency in inhibiting free radicals, with flowers having the lowest IC50s values in 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) tests, registering 0.13 ± 0.02 and 0.14 ± 0.01 mg/mL, respectively. Milk-clotting activity was limited to flowers of this thistle. Moreover, SO and NA genotypes were identified as the most potent populations to coagulate milk in spontaneous and cultivated plants. The principal component analysis confirms the organ and genotype variability in this thistle, with the first two axes explaining 64.15% of the variance and highlighting a distinct flower group. The obtained results suggest that the domestication of this thistle could be useful for the conservation of biodiversity and the promotion of genotypes with potential technological properties.

Onopordum nervosum subsp. platylepis Murb. is an Asteraceae species found in Tunisia, Algeria, and Libya. It has been studied for its potential use as a vegetable rennet alternative to animal-derived rennet, making it important to understand its germination characteristics. This species often shows low germinability due to dormancy, which limits its large-scale cultivation. In preliminary experiments, many factors were analyzed to evaluate the seed germination of this thistle including physical stratification with abrasive paper and high-temperature water, chemical treatments with hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) or sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄), and the exogenous use of the growth regulator gibberellic acid (GA₃). Based on the obtained results and subsequent analysis, GA₃ and cold stratification durations were selected for the second experiment, which used a full factorial RSM design with three levels for each factor. Additionally, the total polyphenol content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), condensed tannin content (CTC), and DPPH assay were analyzed during the optimization process and for ungerminated seeds. The findings revealed that 14 days of cold stratification followed by 750 ppm GA₃ was the most efficient method for breaking the dormancy of these thistle seeds. The highest TPC was recorded in ungerminated seeds. However, germinated Onopordum nervosum ssp. platylepis seeds showed higher levels of TFC and CTC (14.83 mg QE/g DW and 6.49 mg EC/g DW, respectively) compared to the non-germinated ones and demonstrated the greatest potency in inhibiting free radicals (DPPH EC₅₀ = 0.018 mg/mL) at the identified optimal germination conditions. Ungerminated seeds indicated significant phenolic content (TPC) and a limited ability to reduce oxidants, which could explain their low germination percentage. Our findings on the seed germination and dormancy characteristics of this endemic thistle will aid in the protection and development of its germplasm.

Efficient fruit production, quality improvement, and timely harvesting are essential in olive cultivation, which requires optimised distribution and management of fruiting sites. This study aimed to support sustainable olive crop management by analysing the morphological characteristics of five cultivars (Chemlali, Chetoui, Koroneiki, Meski, and Picholine) under semi-arid Tunisian conditions. Through a detailed architectural analysis, we investigated the relationships between branching patterns, density, distribution of inflorescence and fruit sites, biometric traits (shoot length, internode number, and shoot dimensions), and geometric variability within each cultivar. Three trees per cultivar were analysed across three architectural units. The results showed marked architectural differences, highlighting the need for cultivar-specific strategies in planting, pruning, and orchard management. The distribution of shoots across botanical orders revealed unique branching patterns: Chemlali and Koroneiki showed thinner shoots and higher shoot density, reflecting strong apical dominance and their suitability for hyper-intensive systems. In addition, nonsignificant differences in long shoots’ insertion angles between Meski, Chetoui, and Koroneiki suggest compatibility for co-cultivation, facilitating mechanised maintenance and harvesting. Emphasis on inter-cultivar compatibility and architectural coherence is crucial for orchard design. These findings provide important insights for optimising orchard management practices to improve productivity, fruit quality, and operational efficiency.