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Facilitating Conservation and Bridging Gaps for the Sustainable Exploitation of the Tunisian Local Endemic Plant Marrubium aschersonii (Lamiaceae)

Author

Listed:
  • Elias Pipinis

    (Laboratory of Silviculture, School of Forestry and Natural Environment, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Stefanos Hatzilazarou

    (Laboratory of Floriculture, School of Agriculture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Stefanos Kostas

    (Laboratory of Floriculture, School of Agriculture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Soumaya Bourgou

    (Laboratoire des Plantes Aromatiques et Médicinales, Centre de Biotechnologie de Borj-Cédria, B.P. 901, Tunis 2050, Tunisia)

  • Wided Megdiche-Ksouri

    (Laboratoire des Plantes Aromatiques et Médicinales, Centre de Biotechnologie de Borj-Cédria, B.P. 901, Tunis 2050, Tunisia)

  • Zeineb Ghrabi-Gammar

    (Institut National Agronomique de Tunisie, Université de Carthage, 43 Avenue Charles Nicolle, Cité Mahrajène, Tunis 1082, Tunisia
    Laboratoire de Recherche Biogéographie, Climatologie Appliquée et Dynamiques Environnementales (BiCADE 18ES13), Faculté des Lettres des Arts et des Humanités de Manouba, Université de la Manouba, Campus Universitaire de la Manouba, Manouba 2010, Tunisia)

  • Mohamed Libiad

    (Laboratory of Natural Substances, Pharmacology, Environment, Modelling, Health and Quality of Life (SNAMOPEQ), Polydisciplinary Faculty of Taza, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, B.P. 1223, Taza Gare, Taza 35000, Morocco
    Laboratory of Ecology, Systematics and Biodiversity Conservation (LESCB) URL-CNRST N°18, FS, Abdelmalek Essaadi University, BP. 2121, M’Hannech II, Tetouan 93002, Morocco)

  • Abdelmajid Khabbach

    (Laboratory of Natural Substances, Pharmacology, Environment, Modelling, Health and Quality of Life (SNAMOPEQ), Polydisciplinary Faculty of Taza, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, B.P. 1223, Taza Gare, Taza 35000, Morocco
    Laboratory of Biotechnology, Conservation and Development of Natural Resources (BCVRN), Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences Dhar El Mahraz, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, B.P. 1796, Fès-Atlas 30003, Morocco)

  • Mohamed El Haissoufi

    (Laboratory of Natural Substances, Pharmacology, Environment, Modelling, Health and Quality of Life (SNAMOPEQ), Polydisciplinary Faculty of Taza, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, B.P. 1223, Taza Gare, Taza 35000, Morocco)

  • Fatima Lamchouri

    (Laboratory of Natural Substances, Pharmacology, Environment, Modelling, Health and Quality of Life (SNAMOPEQ), Polydisciplinary Faculty of Taza, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, B.P. 1223, Taza Gare, Taza 35000, Morocco)

  • Emmanouil Koundourakis

    (Laboratory of Floriculture, School of Agriculture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece)

  • Vasileios Greveniotis

    (Institute of Industrial and Forage Crops, Hellenic Agricultural Organization Demeter, 41335 Larisa, Greece)

  • Evgenia Papaioannou

    (Laboratory of Forest Soil Science, School of Forestry and Natural Environment, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece)

  • Michalia A. Sakellariou

    (Institute of Plant Breeding and Genetic Resources, Hellenic Agricultural Organization Demeter, P.O. Box 60458, 57001 Thermi, Greece)

  • Ioannis Anestis

    (Institute of Plant Breeding and Genetic Resources, Hellenic Agricultural Organization Demeter, P.O. Box 60458, 57001 Thermi, Greece)

  • Georgios Tsoktouridis

    (Institute of Plant Breeding and Genetic Resources, Hellenic Agricultural Organization Demeter, P.O. Box 60458, 57001 Thermi, Greece
    Theofrastos Fertilizers, Industrial Area of Korinthos, Irinis & Filias, Ikismos Arion, Examilia, 20100 Korinthos, Greece)

  • Nikos Krigas

    (Institute of Plant Breeding and Genetic Resources, Hellenic Agricultural Organization Demeter, P.O. Box 60458, 57001 Thermi, Greece)

Abstract

In the frame of conservation and sustainable utilization of neglected and underutilized phytogenetic resources, this study produced for the first time a detailed ecological profiling for the local Tunisian endemic Marrubium ascheronii (Lamiaceae) using Geographical Information Systems and open-source data. This profile was used to illustrate the abiotic environmental conditions of its wild habitats; the profile facilitated the examination of the effect of temperature on its seed germination and may inform species-specific guidelines for its cultivation in man-made environments. With effective seed propagation firstly reported herein (68.75% at 20 °C), species-specific in situ conservation efforts and ex situ conservation or sustainable exploitation strategies were enabled for M. aschersonii . The first-reported molecular authentication (DNA barcoding) of M. aschersonii may facilitate its traceability, allowing for product design. This study also reports for the first time the effects of chemical and integrated nutrient management (INM) fertilizers on the growth and pilot cultivation of M. aschersonii seedlings, with the latter being advantageous. This multidisciplinary approach has bridged important research gaps that hindered the conservation efforts and/or the sustainable exploitation for this local endemic plant of Tunisia. Based on all the above, we re-evaluated and updated the feasibility and readiness timescale for sustainable exploitation of M. aschersonii in the medicinal-cosmetic, agro-alimentary and ornamental-horticultural sectors.

Suggested Citation

  • Elias Pipinis & Stefanos Hatzilazarou & Stefanos Kostas & Soumaya Bourgou & Wided Megdiche-Ksouri & Zeineb Ghrabi-Gammar & Mohamed Libiad & Abdelmajid Khabbach & Mohamed El Haissoufi & Fatima Lamchour, 2022. "Facilitating Conservation and Bridging Gaps for the Sustainable Exploitation of the Tunisian Local Endemic Plant Marrubium aschersonii (Lamiaceae)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-22, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:3:p:1637-:d:738907
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