Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is one of the most expensive spices in the world. Saffron, prized for its vibrant color, aroma, and taste, is essential in the food industry and traditional medicine. Its culinary uses, therapeutic benefits, and potential antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties highlight its significant importance. Its genetic diversity has significant implications for cultivation and quality. In this study, genetic diversity among 76 saffron accessions, collected from 13 localities of Taliouin region of Morocco, were evaluated using sequence-related amplified polymorphism (SRAP) markers. A total of 63 polymorphic fragments were produced with an average of total number and polymorphic bands per primer were of 10.5 and 10.16, respectively. Most of the variations among the localities, revealed by the Analysis of Molecular Variance, originated from the within accessions differentiation (81%; p < 0.010). Cluster Analysis, Principal Coordinate Analysis (PCoA), and population structure confirmed the main groups and corroborated genetic homogeneity across accessions. In fact, close relationships were revealed between accessions from different locations, showing that there was no relationship between genetic divergence and geographical locality. This investigation represents a pivotal advance towards fostering sustainable development and bolstering the economic empowerment of the saffron farming communities in Morocco.

Climate change exacerbates water scarcity in semi-arid and arid regions, particularly across the Mediterranean Basin, posing severe challenges to food security and freshwater availability. Non-conventional water resources, such as desalinated seawater, are increasingly considered for supplementing irrigation; however, their exclusive use can induce osmotic stress, nutrient imbalances, and soil alkalinity, thereby limiting crop performance. This study evaluated the agronomic, and physiological impacts of blending freshwater (FW) and desalinated seawater (DSW) for two zucchini (Cucurbita pepo L.) cultivars, Radia and Kayssar, under greenhouse conditions. Five irrigation regimes were tested: T1 (FW^100%), T2 (FW^75%-DSW^25%), T3 (FW^50%-DSW^50%), T4 (FW^25%-DSW^75%), and T5 (DSW^100%). Moderate blending, particularly T2 and T3, optimized vegetative growth, biomass accumulation, and reproductive performance, maximum yields were obtained under T3, reaching 6.65 kg/plant for Radia and 5.49 kg/plant for Kayssar, while fruit quality, including caliber and soluble solids content (°Brix), was also highest under this regime. These findings support the suggestion that implementing such combined/blended irrigation regimes can enhance vegetative growth, yield, and fruit quality in the face of increasing water scarcity and energy constraints.

The use of magnetic technology in irrigation is increasing significantly in the world as it has been established in several research studies that its application on irrigation water can improves crop productivity and even alleviate plant salt stress. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of magnetic treatment of saline water on greenhouse tomatoes in Morocco. The preliminary results showed significant decrease in soil conductivity measured at different depths. The soil irrigated with magnetically treated water had a high-water retention capacity. A slight increase in the yield with plants exhibiting an early flowering was recorded, and fruit quality was also improved in terms of weight and juice content.

Tomatoes are globally significant crops worldwide. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying their growth, development, and stress responses is crucial to enhance crop productivity and resilience. The WUSCHEL-related homeobox (WOX) gene family is implicated in developmental processes and stress responses, yet its regulatory complexity in tomato remains underexplored. This study presents an integrative genome-wide analysis approach to characterize the WOX family in tomato. Ten SlWOX genes were identified and phylogenetically classified into three clades, WUS, intermediate and ancient, underscoring their evolutionary relationships. Structural analysis revealed significant variability in gene structure even within the same clade, indicating potential diversity in functional roles. Conserved domains’ screening enables the detection of conserved motifs, including the homeodomain and WUS box. Cis-element analysis showed diverse regulatory elements across the SlWOXs, with a strong emphasis on elements involved in growth and development and stress response. Expression profiling across different organs and growth conditions including abiotic and biotic stresses revealed variability in SlWOXs’ expression patterns. Furthermore, several miRNAs were predicted to target the SlWOXs, emphasizing the existence of post-transcriptional regulation. Functional annotation and interactome analysis further revealed the key role of some SlWOXs, mainly SlWUS, SlWOX4 and SlWOX13, as central regulatory hubs. Collectively, these findings uncover the structural diversity, regulatory mechanisms and functional flexibility of the SlWOX gene family. It also highlights potential targets for improving tomato crop resilience and productivity, making it a significant contribution to plant biology and agriculture.