There are not many exhaustive works emphasizing the amount of genetic diversity among the strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo L) genotypes in Morocco. This work aims to assess the biochemical composition of strawberry tree fruits, as well as to establish the variation of this composition among them. In this study, total phenols (TP), total flavonoids (TF), condensed tannins (CT) and hydrolyzable tannins (HT), total anthocyanins (TA), and free radical scavenging activity through ABTS were investigated in strawberry tree fruits. Furthermore, qualitative and quantitative analyses of individual phenolic compounds by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) were carried out. Color parameters such as lightness (L *), Chroma (c *), and hue angle (h°) were also investigated. All studied variables showed highly significant differences among all samples with the exception of hydrolyzable tannins and chromatic coordinates. TP varied from 22.63 ± 1.74 to 39.06 ± 2.44 mg GAE/g DW, TF varied from 3.30 ± 0.60 to 8.62 ± 1.10 mg RE/g DW, and TA ranged between 0.12 ± 0.06 and 0.66 ± 0.15 mg cya-3-glu/100 g DW. In addition, CT and HT amounts were in the range of 10.41 ± 1.07–16.08 ± 1.50 mg TAE/g DW and 4.08 ± 2.43–6.34 ± 3.47 TAE/g DW, respectively. Moreover, the IC50 value (ABTS) ranged between 1.75 and 19.58 mg AAE/g DW. 17 phenolic compounds were detected in strawberry tree fruits. Gallocatechol and catechin were the most abundant phenolic compounds. Matrix of correlations revealed significant positive and negative correlations among variables particularly c *, a *, and b *. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed that the first three components formed than 68% of the total inertia. The following variables gallic acid, protocatechuic, gallocatechin, gallic acid derivative, chlorogenic acid, syringic acid, ellagic acid derivative II, L *, and h * were the most involved in the total variance explained. Hierarchical clustering classified samples into one main cluster, with a single branch. The results highlight a high biochemical diversity within studied strawberry genotypes, which is probably more genetically related.

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Aims:This study aims to characterize the SODEA ampelographic collection in Meknès, the only germplasm repository in Morocco. To assess the usefulness of this germplasm, a study was conducted to verify the trueness to type of the genotypes and to provide the first database for a reference collection in Morocco. A core collection was then established to define a small sample easier to handel further characterization. Methods and results:Ninety-four grapevine samples from the collection were analyzed using 20 nuclear SSR markers. From these samples, we identified 67 grapevine genotypes. The nuclear SSRs revealed a high diversity within the SODEA collection: 202 alleles were detected with a mean of 10.1 alleles per locus. Analysis of molecular data with the software DARwin was used to classify the genotypes into six groups according to their origin or their genetic relatedness. The 18 autochthonous cultivars were differentiated according to geographical origin (North vs. South). We established a core collection among this germplasm using MSTRAT: the complete diversity present in the collection was captured with only 34 individuals. Nevertheless, an optimal core collection representing 89% of the diversity was constituted by only 17 cultivars. Among these 17 individuals, 5 are autochthonous. Conclusion:The collection of SODEA represents a unique resources of grapevines for Morocco. It contains several important autochthonous cultivars in terms of diversity and agronomic utilisation.Significance and impact of the study: The study showed potential and interest of the cultivars present in the collection of SODEA, suggesting that their utilisation may be important for the farmers.Objectifs : Cette étude a pour objectif de caractériser la collection ampélographique de la SODEA à Meknès, l'unique conservatoire de ressources génétiques vignes existant au Maroc. Pour évaluer l'intérêt de ce conservatoire, une étude a été conduite afin de vérifier l'identité exacte des génotypes et d'établir la première base de données relative à cette collection de référence. Une core collection a ensuite été établie afin de définir un sous-échantillon restreint, plus facile à gérer pour de futures analyses.Méthodes et résultats : Quatre-vingt quatorze échantillons de vigne prélevés dans la collection ont été analysés en utilisant 20 marqueurs microsatellites. À partir de ces échantillons, nous avons identifié 67 génotypes distincts. L'analyse de ces marqueurs a révélé une grande diversité au sein de la collection de la SODEA : 202 allèles ont été détectés avec une moyenne de 10,1 allèles par locus. Les données moléculaires ont été analysées avec le programme DARwin. Les génotypes ont pu être répartis en 6 groupes, en relation avec leur origine ou leur relation génétique. Les 18 cultivars autochtones ont été différenciés en fonction de leur origine géographique (Nord vs. Sud). Nous avons établi une core collection à partir de ces ressources génétiques en utilisant le logiciel MSTRAT : la diversité totale présente dans ce conservatoire peut êt...

This study aimed to explore the main biochemical components and the antioxidant capacity of five strawberry tree fruits using three antioxidant essays within the ecotypic comparison scheme, to find out the most valuable fruit presenting disease-preventing properties. Total phenols, total flavonoids, total anthocyanins, antioxidant activity (DPPH, ABTS, and β-Carotene bleaching assays), pH, titratable acidity, soluble solids, and moisture content were investigated in five strawberry tree genotypes belonging to several areas in Morocco. Phenolic compounds were also identified using high performance chromatography (HPLC), with a diode array detector (DAD). High significant differences (p ˂ 0.05) were revealed among the examined genotypes regarding their total phenols (25.37–39.06 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g Dry weight (DW), total flavonoids (3.30–7.07 mg RE/g Dry weight (DW), total anthocyanins (0.15–0.64 mg cya-3-glu/100g Dry weight (DW), pH (2.44–3.92), titratable acidity (0.65–1.01 g malic acid/100g Fresh weight (FW), and soluble solids (14.83–18.53%). The average radical scavenging capacity, assessed using three methods, exhibited the following concentration ranges: 3.33–21.08, 2.25–19.58, and 1.08–13 mg Ascorbic Equivalent (AAE/g Dry weight(DW) for the DPPH scavenging test, ABTS, and β-carotene bleaching, respectively. Seventeen phenolic compounds were identified in sampled cultivars. Gallocatechol and catechin were found to be the major phenolic compounds. The correlation matrix revealed significant correlations among investigated variables, particularly ABTS and DPPH. The principal component analysis showed that the first three components formed 90.25% of the total variance. The following variables: chlorogenic acid, ellagic acid derivative, ellagic acid, rutin, and cyanidin−30.5-diglucoside, were the most involved in the total variance. The results revealed highly promising physico-biochemical profiles within the studied strawberry tree genotypes.

Equipe DAVEM = Diversité et Adaptation de la Vigne et des Espèces Méditerranéennes Contact : ai.oualkadi@gmail.comGrape diversity present in Morocco and the part of this diversity used nowadays are poorly documented. In order to choose diversified genotypes, to select them so that their agronomic interest will be tested, a group of 21 autochthonous cultivars preserved in the germplasm collections of SODEA and 18 Moroccan cultivars from "Domaine de Vassal" INRA grape collection was compared to a group of cultivars from neighbouring countries (Algeria and Tunisia), and from a core collection optimizing simple sequence repeat (SSR) allelic diversity of grape. Data from 20 nuclear and 3 chloroplastic SSR markers were obtained for this set of 211 cultivars. A total of 156 alleles (mean of 7.8 alleles per locus) were detected for the nSSRs and 7 alleles for the cpSSR in the Moroccan group. Chlorotype diversity in Moroccan and Algerian group were similar, but slightly lower than in the Tunisian group and the core collection. Similarly, the nSSR diversity was high in the core collection and low in the Moroccan and the Algerian groups compared to the two other groups. Clustering of cultivars based on nSSR data reflected their geographical origin and, to a certain extent, the use of the cultivars. The specificity of the Moroccan plant material was attested by the Bayesian analysis using Structure, while differences of the core collection were clearly revealed both by the Bayesian and a multivariate analysis. These results confirm the differentiation of the material from Maghreb and more specifically of Moroccan material, having evolved independently from Europe