Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Collection and evaluation of lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) germplasm from oases of Tunisia

  • Short Communication
  • Published:
Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Lucerne (Medicago sativa) is the most important fodder crop in the oases of Tunisia. A total of 20 accessions from representative of ‘Gabssia’ landraces were collected during the growing season of 2004 and evaluated ex situ at IRA experimental fields of Médenine in the figure (Collecting sites of local lucerne and IRA’s experimental field). Landrace populations grown by the farmers were mixture of several types. Considerable variation was observed for all the characters studied according to the descriptors published by CEC & IBPGR (Commission of the European Communities & International Board for Plant Genetic Resources (1984) Forage legume descriptors, AGPG: IBPGR/84/191, ISBN 90 6605 022 5, 25 pp). Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed to compare variation between the different landraces. The differences are highly significant (α = 0.05) for the most studied characters. The least significant difference (LSD0.05) was also calculated to assess differences between accessions. For most variables, in particular yield, a significant difference was obtained between accessions. It was found that forage yield of lucerne germplasm from oases is variable and breeding program should be developed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

References

  • Aganga AA, Tshwenyane SO (2003) Lucerne, lablab and Leucaena leucocephala forages: production and utilization for livestock production. Pak J Nutr 2(2):46–53

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baudoin JP (2001) Les ressources génétiques au service de l’amélioration variétale des légumineuses alimentaires tropicales. Unité de Phytotechnie tropicale et d’Horticulture-Faculté Universitaire des Sciences Agronomiques de Gembloux. Bulletin d’information AIGx-Périodique n° 3/2001, pp 3–8

  • Bolaños-Aguilar E, Huyghe C, Julier B, Ecalle C (2000) Genetic variation for seed yield and its components in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). © INRA, EDP Sciences 2000, Agronomie 20:333–345

    Google Scholar 

  • CEC & IBPGR: Commission of the European Communities & International Board for Plant Genetic Resources (1984) Forage legume descriptors, AGPG: IBPGR/84/191, ISBN 90 6605 022 5, 25 pp

  • Dollé V (1990) Élevage intensif en oasis, une composante importante du système de production In: Dollé V (ed.), Toutain G (ed.). Les systèmes agricoles oasiens. Montpellier: CIHEAM-IAMM, 1990.: réf., tabl. (Options Méditerranéennes: Série A. Séminaires Méditerranéens ; n. 11). Séminaire sur les Systèmes Agricoles Oasiens, 1988/11/19–21, Tozeur (Tunisia), pp 195–204

  • Downes RW (2002) An evaluation of lucerne varieties for seed yield and strategies to enhance seed production. Rural Industries Research & Development Corporation Publication, n° 02/099 RIRDC Project n° IPB-1A, p 73

  • El-sharkwy A (1990) A review of genetic advances on breeding salt-tolerant crops. In Dollé V (ed.), Toutain G (ed.). Les systèmes agricoles oasiens. Montpellier : CIHEAM-IAMM, 1990: réf., tabl. (Options Méditerranéennes : Série A. Séminaires Méditerranéens; n° 11). Séminaire sur les Systèmes Agricoles Oasiens, 1988/11/19–21, Tozeur (Tunisia), pp 183–190

  • Ferry M, Toutain G (1990) Concurrence et complementarité des espèces végétales dans les oasis. In Dollé V (ed.), Toutain G (ed.). Les systèmes agricoles oasiens . Montpellier : CIHEAM-IAMM, 1990.: réf., tabl. (Options Méditerranéennes : Série A. Séminaires Méditerranéens ; n. 11). Séminaire sur les Systèmes Agricoles Oasiens, 1988/11/19–21, Tozeur (Tunisia), pp 261–270

  • Garnett T, Xu Z, Liu Z, Lu X, Wang Y, Cao Z, Yu L, Wei Z, Tian Q, Jiang L, Zheng D, Yu Li, Sun J, Latta R, Davies K, Poek D, Auricht G (2004) Lucerne adapted to adverse environments in China and Australia. Proceedings of the 4th international crop science congress, Brisbane, Australia, 26 Sept–1 Oct 2004. ISBN 1 920842 20 9, p 6

  • Janati A (1990) Les cultures fourragères dans les oasis. In Dollé V (ed.), Toutain G (ed.). Les systèmes agricoles oasiens. Montpellier: CIHEAM-IAMM, 1990: réf., tabl. (Options Méditerranéennes : Série A. Séminaires Méditerranéens; n° 11). Séminaire sur les Systèmes Agricoles Oasiens, 1988/11/19–21, Tozeur (Tunisia), pp 164–169

  • Lasram M (1990) Les systèmes agricoles oasiens dans le Sud de la Tunisie. In: Dollé V (ed.), Toutain G (ed.). Les systèmes agricoles oasiens. Montpellier : CIHEAM-IAMM, 1990.: réf., tabl. (Options Méditerranéennes: Série A. Séminaires Méditerranéens ; n. 11). Séminaire sur les Systèmes Agricoles Oasiens, 1988/11/19–21, Tozeur (Tunisia), pp 21–27

  • Le berre M, Ramousse R (2003) Les enjeux de la conservation de la biodiversité en milieu saharien. Socioloécologie et Conservation. Université Claude Bernard Lyon1. http://www.cons-dev.org/consdev/algerie/exposalger2003.pdf, 18 pp

  • Mezni M, Albouchi A, Bizid E, Hamza M (2002) Effet de la salinité des eaux d’irrigation sur la nutrition minérale chez trois variétés de luzerne pérenne (Medicago sativa). © INRA, EDP Sciences 2002, Agronomie 22:283–291

    Google Scholar 

  • Ministère de l’Agriculture et des Ressources Hydrauliques (2002) Annuaire statistique de l’agriculture, pp 35–48

  • Ministère de l’Environnement et du Developpement Durable (2007) Etude relative à l’inventaire des ressources génétiques agricoles locales et élaboration d’un plan d’action pour leur conservation et valorisation. Rapport de première phase: Volume III, Céréales, légumineuses et fourrages, 58 pp

  • ODS : Office De Développement Du Sud (2005) Le gouvernorat de Tozeur, Gabes, Kebilli, Gafsa, Medenine and Tataouine, EN CHIFFRES, p 83

  • PERMED (2004) Improvement of Native Perennial Forage Plants For Sustainability of Mediterraean Farming Systems. PERMED project-PL 509140, p 63

  • Skouri M (1988) Eléments de synthèse et conclusions. In: Dollé V (ed.), Toutain G (ed.). Les systèmes agricoles oasiens. (Options Méditerranéennes : Série A. Séminaires Méditerranéens ; n. 11). Séminaire sur les Systèmes Agricoles Oasiens, 1988/11/19–21, Tozeur (Tunisia). Montpellier : CIHEAM-IAMM, 1990, pp 331–335

  • Tisserand J-L (1990) Les ressources alimentaires pour le bétail. In: Dollé V (ed.), Toutain G (ed.). Les systèmes agricoles oasien . Montpellier: CIHEAM-IAMM, 1990.: réf., tabl. (Options Méditerranéennes: Série A. Séminaires Méditerranéens ; n. 11). Séminaire sur les Systèmes Agricoles Oasiens, 1988/11/19–21, Tozeur (Tunisia), pp 238–248

  • Trommetter M (2000) Gérer la conservation des ressources génétiques végétales: valeur et valorisation des collections. Cahiers d'études et de recherches francophones/Agricultures. Vol. 9, Numéro 5, Sep–Octobre 2000: 381–389

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank the farmers, in the oases of Tunisia, who made their crops available for study and provided helpful information in discussions, and data on crop management and yields. The authors are indebted to all reviewers, editor and Dr. Mohamed Wassar (researcher at IRA Médenine) for criticism of the manuscript, comments and orthographic check. The mission has been funded by the EU (PERMED project-PL 509140).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Aridoculture et cultures oasiennes, Institut des Regions Arides, Medenine, 4119, Tunisia

    Mohamed Loumerem, Ali Ferchichi, Mansour Haddad, Mohamed Ali Abdel Rahim & Hedi Hajjaji

Authors
  1. Mohamed Loumerem
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ali Ferchichi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Mansour Haddad
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Mohamed Ali Abdel Rahim
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Hedi Hajjaji
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mohamed Loumerem.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Loumerem, M., Ferchichi, A., Haddad, M. et al. Collection and evaluation of lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) germplasm from oases of Tunisia. Genet Resour Crop Evol 54, 1645–1651 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10722-007-9275-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10722-007-9275-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation