FRUIT GENETIC RESOURCES FACING INCREASING CLIMATE
UNCERTAINITY
Saddoud Dabbebi O., Mnasri S., Abdelaali S. and Mars M.
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