Nowadays, applying bio-organic fertilizer (e.g., chitosan, Ch) or integrating beneficial microorganisms (e.g., arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, AMF) are among the successful strategies to promote plant growth. Here, the effect of two application modes of Ch (foliar spray or root treatment) and Ch-derived nanoparticles (NPs) on tomato plants colonized with the AMF Rhizophagus irregularis were analyzed, thereby focusing on plant biomass, flowering and mycorrhization. An increase of shoot biomass and flower number was observed in arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) plants sprayed with Ch. The interaction with AMF, however, was reduced as shown by decreased mycorrhization rates and AM-specific gene expression. To get insights into Ch effect on mycorrhization, levels of sugars, jasmonates, abscisic acid, and the expression of two chitinase-encoding genes were determined in mycorrhizal roots. Ch had no effect on sugar and phytohormone levels, but the reduced mycorrhization was correlated with down- and upregulated expression of Chi3 and Chi9, respectively. In contrast, application of NPs to leaves and Ch applied to the soil did not show any effect, neither on mycorrhization rate nor on growth of mycorrhizal plants. Concluding, Ch application to leaves enhanced plant growth and flowering and reduced interaction with AMF, whereas root treatment did not affect these parameters.

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Morocco is considered one of the most threatened countries by climate change. Over the last century, oases ecosystems in this country showed a high vulnerability to climate variation, which has led to water scarcity, an increase in land salinity, and therefore, a decrease in agricultural production. Conscious of these issues, several solutions are initiated by the government to cope with climate change adverse effects. Many programs of rehabilitation were launched, and advanced researches are in progress in order to use some biofertilizers to improve tolerance of oasis crops to drought and salinity toward sustainable agriculture. The aim of this chapter is to give an overview of the impacts of climate change on oasis agriculture in Morocco and to provide potentially effective strategies to promote oasis agriculture under climate change. As a conclusion, the authors found that the use of different biofertilizers could be a potential strategy to mitigate climate change effects on oasis agriculture in Morocco.

Morocco is considered one of the most threatened countries by climate change. Over the last century, oases ecosystems in this country showed a high vulnerability to climate variation, which has led to water scarcity, an increase in land salinity, and therefore, a decrease in agricultural production. Conscious of these issues, several solutions are initiated by the government to cope with climate change adverse effects. Many programs of rehabilitation were launched, and advanced researches are in progress in order to use some biofertilizers to improve tolerance of oasis crops to drought and salinity toward sustainable agriculture. The aim of this chapter is to give an overview of the impacts of climate change on oasis agriculture in Morocco and to provide potentially effective strategies to promote oasis agriculture under climate change. As a conclusion, the authors found that the use of different biofertilizers could be a potential strategy to mitigate climate change effects on oasis agriculture in Morocco.

In 2020, Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), a new viral respiratory disease caused by a virus that belongs to Coronaviridae family, has been identified. It is a very severe flu that negatively affects the functions of the lung and other respiratory organs. COVID-19 virus can be transmitted between people either by touching an infected person or by direct contact with their respiratory droplets. Therefore, the COVID-19 virus has become a global concern due to its rapid spread and severity. Based on the World Health Organization report from 2 March 2020 to 24 October 2022, the total infected cases and deaths in Morocco are around 1,265,389 (3.46%) and 16,280 (0.04%), respectively. Recently, some scientists have found that chitosan, a polymer existed in nature, can inhibit COVID-19 infection and repair damaged tissue. Therefore, understanding chitosan mechanisms in controlling COVID-19, might lead to innovative strategies in the medical field, such as developing drugs against SARS-CoV-2, and replacing vaccines, which have negative side effects. This review aims to show the evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide, specifically in Morocco, its pathophysiology, and its ability to silence the immune system. This review also provides an overview of the treatments and measures applied to protect human beings and how chitosan acts and controls COVID-19.