Ikram Mkedder

Background: Goat farming is vital in arid regions. In Algeria, local goats make an important contribution to meat and milk production. Yet, despite their economic importance, goats are not used to their full potential. This is largely due to the limited breeding programmes and the lack of genetic studies. Phenotypic and genetic analyses can be used to determine livestock adaptability and productivity. Morphometric traits provide insights into body structure and growth, while molecular studies identify key genes like MSTN coding for myostatin, which regulates muscle growth and development, and PRL coding for prolactin, which is important in milk production and the development of mammary glands. Aim: This study investigates the phenotypic and molecular genetic traits of local goat populations in western Algeria. Methods: Morphometric data and blood samples were collected from 119 adult goats across four regions (Oran, Ain-Temouchent, Tlemcen and Mecheria). The traits measured included body, ear and tail length, as well as heights at different points of the body. Results: Descriptive analysis showed that body length (BL), chest size (CS) and abdominal circumference (AC) had the highest mean values, while chest depth (CD) was the most stable trait with minimal variation. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) revealed a strong correlation between traits, such as the height at the withers, back and sacrum height. Using PCR-RFLP technology, genotypic frequencies for the MSTN and PRL loci were found after DNA extraction for all blood samples. The PCA of morphometric traits and genotypes of the two genes, MSTN and PRL, revealed that the MSTN gene demonstrates a moderate positive correlation with the neck length and pelvis width traits. On the other hand, the population showed low genetic diversity by studied regions, with higher variability in Oran compared to Tlemcen. Conclusions: The study underscores the critical need to develop and improve breeding strategies to increase overall meat and milk production. Furthermore, it highlights the largely untapped potential of goat farming in Algeria, a sector which could contribute significantly to the national agricultural production and rural economy.

In submitting conference proceedings to Biology and Life Sciences Forum, the volume editors of the proceedings certify to the publisher that all papers published in this volume have been subjected to peer review administered by the volume editors

The plum (P. domestica L.) is a hexaploid fruit tree species cultivated around the world. In Algeria, dried plums are used in traditional dishes, being popular in rural areas, and are also eaten fresh or processed as jam. Despite its socio-economic importance, its varietal diversity remains unknown, which led us to launch a phenotypic characterization of plum (P. domestica L.) accessions in western Algeria. Our first step was to conduct a field survey in western Algeria using a questionnaire and collect plant material from 16 regions of seven different wilayas. We utilized 35 morphological and pomological characteristics suggested by UPOV, and the data were used to describe the different varieties and were exploited in different analyses (ANOVA, Multiple Component Analysis (ACM), and Principal Component Analysis (PCA)), indicating a distinct difference between the accessions. An important phenotypic variance was recorded for the studied characteristics, such as the length, width of the leaves and flower petals, ripening period of the fruit, and size and weight of the fruit, which aids us in identifying three major groups independent of their geographical origin. Identifying the plum cultivars used in breeding programs has led to the valorization and preservation of this valuable genetic resource.

In 2022, around 54 % of African students were denied student visas to study in the United States (US), compared to 36 % of Asian students and 9 % of European students, despite African immigrants in the US often being more highly educated than the US native-born population. This issue cannot be attributed solely to the dichotomy between the Global North and South in visa regimes, but it is also evident among African nations across regional economic blocs. The African BioGenome Project (AfricaBP) Open Institute for Genomics and Bioinformatics, which aims to overcome barriers to capacity building through its distributed African regional workshops, prioritizes grassroots knowledge exchange and innovation in biodiversity genomics and bioinformatics. In 2023, we orchestrated the implementation of 27 capacity building workshops on biodiversity genomics and bioinformatics, covering 10 African countries across 5 African geographical regions. The AfricaBP Open Institute regional workshops raised awareness of biodiversity genomics and bioinformatics among 3788 registered participants, and trained 408 African scientists in hands-on molecular biology, genomics, and bioinformatics techniques. Here, we discuss the implementation of transformative strategies by deploying the AfricaBP Open Institute multi-country, multi-institution, and multi-partner hybrid regional workshop model, including the proposed creation of an African digital database containing sequence information relating to biodiversity and agriculture.