Sonia Mansouri Ben Ameur

The sustainability of date palm cultivation is a critical research focus due to its vital role in food security and the resilience of agricultural systems in arid regions. This study evaluates the sustainability of date palm farms by examining how distinct oasis typologies, traditional and modern, influence three core dimensions: agro-ecological, socio-territorial, and economic. Employing the IDEA framework (Indicateurs de Durabilité des Exploitations Agricoles) and statistical analyses, field data from 60 farms in Tunisia’s Tozeur and Kebili regions were assessed. The results revealed marked heterogeneity in sustainability performance, strongly structured by oasis type. Traditional oases exhibited higher agro-ecological sustainability but greater economic vulnerability, while modern oases proved more economically robust yet less environmentally sustainable. These findings highlight a clear trade-off between environmental integrity and economic performance, highlighting the need for differentiated strategies to enhance the overall sustainability of oasis agricultural systems.

Doubled haploid technology is an important tool for accelerating barley breeding by enabling the rapid development of fully homozygous lines. However, the efficiency of androgenesis in barley remains highly genotype-dependent and is strongly influenced by pretreatment conditions, particularly cold exposure. Despite advances in barley anther culture protocols, the optimal duration of cold pretreatment to enhance androgenic response and green plant regeneration remains poorly understood for many breeding materials. This study therefore aimed to examine the effects of genotype and cold pretreatment duration on androgen induction and regeneration efficiency in spring barley lines. Fifteen barley lines, including the control variety rihane, were evaluated for anther culture response. Ears containing microspores at the appropriate developmental stage were subjected to two cold pretreatments at 4°C (3 and 5 weeks) before being cultured on BAC3 induction medium. The androgenic response was assessed by the induction rate, regeneration efficiency, and the frequencies of green and albino plant production. Significant variation dependent on genotype and genotype × treatment interactions was observed. Short-term cold pretreatment promoted embryogenic induction in some genotypes, notably OR 1-10, while prolonged exposure enhanced responses in others, particularly OR 1-6 and OR 1-5. Regeneration efficiency and green plant production were similarly influenced by genotype and pretreatment duration. Prolonged cold treatment improved regeneration and chlorophyllous plant production in several genotypes but reduced performance in others. Albino plant formation also varied considerably among genotypes, highlighting its persistent impact on androgenetic efficiency. These findings provide valuable insights into genotype-dependent androgenic responses and establish a basis for optimizing cold pretreatment strategies in barley anther culture. Such genotype-specific protocols could significantly enhance doubled haploid production efficiency and facilitate the rapid development of improved barley cultivars adapted to future breeding challenges.