FRUIT GENETIC RESOURCES FACING INCREASING CLIMATE

UNCERTAINITY

Saddoud Dabbebi O., Mnasri S., Abdelaali S. and Mars M.

olfa.lf@gmail.com

National Gene Bank of Tunisia

Place: Tunis

Inaugurated: November 2007

Gene Bank Network: 9 groups Cereals

Forages

Fruit trees

Vegetables

Forest

Medicinal

Animals

Microorganisms

Marine genetic resources

National Gene Bank of Tunisia

Main activities:

Conservation of available genetic resources

Genetic resources collection

Scientific research

Information

Building capacity

International cooperation

Tunisia and Climate changes

Tunisia strategies and climate changes

Tunisia has ratified the framework convention of United Nations on Climate Changes (CCNUCC) on 1993 and Kyoto protocol on 2003

Efforts were more aimed to mitigation than adaptation (opportunities to carbon market and international cooperation)

Tunisia has developed its own Natioanl Strategy on Climate Change on 2012

Strategy aims

Mitigation Law on energy and climate (aims to – 60% carbon

on 2030)

Proactive policy

Adaptation Capacity building

Research

Management plan are tailored to reduce the vulnerability of coastal sea level rise

Less water-intensive agriculture

Climate changes

Effects

Drought Floods Increased temperature

Strong light

radiation

Results

Accelerated desertification

Coastal degradation

(rising sea level)

Study case: Oasis vulnerability to climate

change

Southern Tunisia will be the most

vulnerable:

A rise in temperature and decrease in rainfall

Prediction of average warming to 1.9 ° C by

2030 and 2.7 ° C by 2050

A decrease in precipitation of 9% in 2030 and

17% in 2050

GIZ, 2012

Effets of climate change to Oasis

Increased water needs of crops

Continuing decline in the static level of drilling, increased salinity and increased water pumping.

Progressive elevation of sea level favoring the intrusion of seawater into groundwater in coastal oasis

Risk of non hibernation for demanding tree species in cold and therefore a decline in their production

Phenomenon already observed for the pomegrenate in Gabes

Drying dates following the succession of hot days

Deterioration of plant health of trees

Decrease on tourism GIZ, 2012

Vulnerability of Islands

Kerkennah: fragmentation

of the archipelago to more

islands (about 30% of the

total area is exposed to

marine erosion).

Djerba Island: more than

3400ha of wetlands on the

island are threatened by

erosion (in marine areas

Rmal and Ras-el-Bin

ouedien)

National program on protection on costal

areas

Djerba

Sousse

Gulf of Tunis

Raf Raf

Fruit Trees Genetic Resources are not in

shelters

Climate change effects

Intensive agriculture (introduced and

commercial variety)

Biotic and abiotic stresses

Genetic erosion

Fruit trees genetic resources in Tunisia

Long tradition on Fruit trees cultivation

Secondary center of domestication

More than 80% of the area are located in arid

and semi-arid regions (most vulnerable to

climate changes)

Landraces + Local best practices

Old introduced varieties

New improved varieties

Fruit trees genetic resources in Tunisia

Economic Ecological

Social Cultural

Importance

Fruit trees species

(more than 36 species)

Olea europea

Phoenix dactylifera

Prunus dulcis, P. armeniaca, P. avium, P. domestica, …

Malus communis, M. pyrus

Vitis vinifera

Citrus sinensis, C. reticultat, C.limon, C. aurantium, C.grandis,…

Ficus carica

Punica granatum

Pistacia vera

Morus alba, M.nigra

Opuntia ficus indica

Ceratonia siliqua

Agricultural Systems

Intensive culture

Domestic agriculture

Oasis

Researches

Inventery genetic resources

Morphological

Biochemical

Molecular markers (SSR, AFLP, RAPDs, ISSRs, RAMPOs, ITS)

Search the main adapted species/varieties

Inventory

Species Number of collection

Olive 14

Citrus 2

Date palm 6

Almond 4

Peach 3

Abricot 3

Apple 1

Pear 4

Vine 4

Pistachio 4

Pomegranate 3

Fig 5

(Ficus carica L.)

Moracea, genus Ficus, Gynodioecious (2n = 26)

The oldest fruit crop known (grown 11,400 to

11,200 years ago as a gynodioecious and insect

pollinated species (KISLEV et al. 2006).

Vegetative reproduction

Ecotypes called common figs (unisexual female

trees) and caprifigs (bisexual with functional

male trees).

This fruit crop is wide spread in the

mediterranean basin countries since it is well

adapted either to different soils or climates.

It is old settled in Tunisia and well adapted to

diverse conditions, soils and to climate change.

Group Ecotypes

North‘‘U; R; Ts; B’’

Bither Abiadh (T); Zidi (T); Djebbi (T); Wahchi (B); Zergui (B); Khortoumi (B). Dhokkar* (U); Mestiri* (R); Marsaoui (U); Zidi (U); Kerkeni (U); Goutti (R); Chetoui (R); Harragui (R); Zidi (R); Bither Souri (R); Bither Arbi (R); Marsaoui (R)

Centre ‘‘S; K’’ Dchiche Assal (S); Kahli A (S); Zidi (S); Soltani 1 (S); Soltani 2 (S); Kahli 1 (S); Kahli 2 (S); Hemri 1 (S); Hemri 2 (S); Bither abiadh 1 (S); Bither abiadh 2 (S); Bither abiadh 3 (S); Bidhi 1 (S); Bidhi 2 (S); Baghali (S); Zidi (S); Besbessi (S); Goutti (S); Chetoui (S); Ghabri (S); Khadhri (S); Abiadh (K); Temri (K); Bither (K); Bouang(K) ; Baghli (K). Dhokkar* (K); Jrani* (S); Assafri* (S)

South ‘‘DBkZ’’ ‘‘TzG’’

Assal boudchiche (G); Bither abiadh (G); Sawoudi (G); Mlouki (G); Gaa Zir (G); Khadouri (G); Soltani (G); Mokh bagri (Tz); Bouslames (Tz); Khalt (Tz); Tounsi (Tz); Hamri (Tz); Khzami (Tz); Grichy (Tz); Zidi (Tz); Bither (Tz); Tayouri Asfar (D); Sawoudi (Bk); Makhbech (Z); Hammouri (Bk); Zaghoubi (Bk); Wedlani (Bk). Dhokkar* (G); Dhokkar* (Z); Dhokkar*(Tz)

Cultivars

Morphological description

Parameters relying on:

Biological

Growth

Leaf

Fruits

Saddoud et al., 2011 Acta Biologica Cracoviensia

Phenotypic diversity

Bithri akhal Baghli

Temri Kahli

Molecular markers

Molecular characterization

SSR

A total of 58 alleles and 124 genotypes were

revealed and permitted to evidence high

degree of genetic diversity mainly explained

at the intra group level

Saddoud O. et al., 2007 Heriditas

Cluster analysis based on genetic distances proved that a typical continuous genetic diversity characterizes the local germplasm

Identification Key

Microsatellite

multilocus genotyping

has permitted to

unambiguously

distinguish 70 well-

defined ecotypes

Conclusion

Morphological and pomological analysis can provide reliable information on the variability in fig tree.

The overall analysis of all traits brings out a wide diversity in plant material that may have important implications for genetic resources management.

The domestication of fig tree occurred independently in different areas especially around the edge of the Mediterranean.

Thus, it is very interesting to conduct the proper management of these genetic resources.

This can be addressed by different tools such as the establishment of ex situ collections. The on-farm conservation can ensure the sustainability of these resources.

Actions related to this scope

7 au 8 juin 2012 à Tunis: workshop 'funding climate' organized by GIZ and ODI of 7 to 8 June 2012 in Tunis

21-22 November 2012: Member of the scientific committee of the international seminar organized by the INGREF and BNG on Impact of global change on forest genetic resources and pastoral Mediterranean

2012: Member of national committee for elaboration of national strategy on climate changes

Project in relation with this scope

COOPERATION TUNISIA-ITALY: Protection of Environment ‘ Tunisian Phytogenetic resources more conserved and valorized’

Projet on ‘Sustainable management of oasis ecosystems in Tunisia’

Proposal for financement by International Traetyon plant genetic resources for food and agriculture (Benefit sharing fund):

Conservation, valorisation et utilisation durable des cultivars locaux de Citrus face aux changements

climatiques en Tunisie, au Maroc et au Liban