This study investigated the effect of seaweed extract (SWE) sprays obtained from Ulva rigida on wheat plants (Triticum durum L., variety Karim) grown under salt stress conditions for six weeks. Three levels of NaCl (0, 34.22, 68.44 mM) and four different concentrations (0, 12.5, 25 and 50%) of Ulva rigida as a water extract were applied. The obtained results indicated that seaweed treated plants showed higher ability to tolerate salt stress (34.22 or 68.44 mM of NaCl) by a significant (p < 0.05) increase of plant growth and the photosynthetic pigment contents, compared to those of control (non-treated plants). Furthermore, there was a significant improvement in antioxidant enzyme activity, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), isocitrate dehydrogenase (ICDH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR) activities in the stressed plants, especially in those treated with 12.5% of SWE. Overall, our results suggest that the application of the Ulva rigida water extract could be used as a promising plant growth biostimulant for treating wheat plants under salinity stress.

Fusarium equiseti as One of the Main Fusarium Species Causing Wilt and Root Rot of Chickpeas in Morocco

The richness of the soil in beneficial and growth-stimulating microorganisms and their symbiotic interactions with plants is a factor to be discovered. This kind of relationships is still poorly studied in cannabis (Cannabis sativa L.). The endomycorrhizal status of cannabis was assessed in two...

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in fungi are less studied compared to those produced by bacteria. In this study, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to identify the volatile compounds for the first time in four Moroccan Trichoderma strains. T. orientale, T. asperellum (1), Trichoderma sp. (3), and T. asperellum (2), which were isolated from saffron bulbs and compost, the observed fungal VOCs were identified using the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) library. According on the NIST database, sixty-six (66) VOCs were identified, belonging to various chemical families: monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, diterpenes, alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids, furans, terpenic alcohols, naphthalenes and aromatic hydrocarbons. In our study we found that, T. asperellum (2) produced the most VOCs with 45%, followed by Trichoderma sp. (3) 39%, T. orientale 30%, and T. asperellum (1) 29%. In addition to common VOCs produced like ethanol; 1-propanol, 2-methyl and 1-butanol, 3-methyl, the four strains produced a variety of other VOCs. T. asperellum (2) produced eighteen, T. orientale twelve, Trichoderma sp. (3) ten, and T. asperellum (1) eight. Further comparison with bibliographic databases revealed that 14 VOCs were not previously identified in any fungus and are novel to the studied Trichoderma species. Additionally, 05 VOCs were mentioned in previous studies without specifying their applications, and 11 VOCs were found in organisms other than Trichoderma spp. This research provides valuable insights into the VOCs production by different Trichoderma strains and highlights the diversity and novelty of compounds produced by these fungi.

Grapevine diseases are a major limitation to viticulture in Morocco, where various climatic conditions favour the development of leaf, fruit, trunk, and soil-borne pathogens. This review synthesizes historical and recent information on major fungal grapevine diseases in Morocco, focusing on their distribution, epidemiology, diagnostic methods, and management challenges. Downy mildew, powdery mildew, and gray mold continue to have a high economic impact through leaf and fruit infections, leading to intensive fungicide use, while grapevine trunk diseases, particularly Botryosphaeria dieback (caused by Botryosphaeriaceae fungi), are increasingly responsible for yield losses. Although chemical control usage has increased in Morocco, disease management remains primarily focused on preventive methods, which are often suboptimal as they are not guided by forecasting models or integrated with biological control. Furthermore, historical data indicate a previous reliance on symptomatic diagnosis, which has led to gaps in the molecular diagnostic capacity needed for accurate assessment of pathogen diversity and emergence. Finally, this review identifies critical research gaps in Moroccan viticulture, including the lack of national monitoring programs, insufficient experimental validation of biological controls in the field, and the inadequate adoption of climate-informed management practices.