Regional Agricultural Biotechnology NetworkExpert Consultation Meeting

15-16 DecemberCairo-Egypte

Driss IRAQI, Imane THAMI-ALAMI,Fouad ABBAD-ANDALOUSSI and Sripada M. UDUPA

Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique(INRA), B.P. 415, Rabat, Morocco.

Agricultural Biotechnology Research In Morocco

Biodiversity Structure of Morocco

Continentalaquatic fauna

5%

Marine flora2%

Marine fauna22%

Terrestrialspecies

71%

Morocco is one of the country with the richest flora and fauna in the western Mediterranean.

71 million 71 million ha. ha.

MOROCCO

The country’s area is71 million ha 13%cultivated land (9 million ha9 million haof which 1.4 Millions haof which 1.4 Millions hairrigated) and 30 %irrigated) and 30 %RangelandsRangelands(21 Millions ha.)(21 Millions ha.)

Agriculture sector providesAgriculture sector providesan employment to 50%an employment to 50%of the active populationof the active populationand contributes 13 - 17 %and contributes 13 - 17 %of the GDPof the GDP

Importance of Agriculture in Morocco

Importance of Agriculture in Morocco

Contribute to 20% of exports

Cover national demand of

70% for cereals70% for cereals 52% for sugar52% for sugar 20% for oils20% for oils 100% for the fruit and vegetables100% for the fruit and vegetables 87% for milk87% for milk 98% for the meats 98% for the meats

Major constraints ofMoroccan agriculture

Drought Salinity Diseases and pests Shortage of arable lands due to erosion

and desertification

Why Biotechnology?

National priority for Development of Science and

Technology

Improve Food production (Quantity & Quality) to meet the National demand due to the increasing

population

To manage the problems of biotic and abiotic

stresses

Assist the breeding programs,

Characterize and add value to the local biodiversity

Biotechnology tools used in Morocco

Plant Tissue Culture

DNA Molecular Markers

Gene Clonning and Characterization

Plant Tranformation

National Institute for Agronomic Research: INRA

Hassan II Institute of Agronomy & Veterinary medicine:

IAV

National College of Agriculture of Meknès: ENA

Water and Forest Administration: CNRF

Faculties of Sciences and Technology: FST

Private companies producing at a large scale banana, date

palm, strawberry and potato in-vitro planting materials.

Institutions using Institutions using biotechnology in Moroccobiotechnology in Morocco

Institut National de Recherche

Agronomique (INRA)

Rabat Double Haploid production, somatic embryogenesis, development of molecular marker assisted selection for abiotic and biotic stress, assessment of genetic diversity, genetic transformation, Gene expression, Gene identification and characterization

Cereals, food legumes, horticultural crops, fruits trees, aromatic and medicinal plants

MarrakechIn vitro selection, micro-propagation, protoplast culture, somatic embryogenesis, Molecular diagnostic of polymorphism

Date palm, olive

Biotechnology in public research institutions in Morocco

Institution Region Area of research and/or techniques Targeted species

Institut National de Recherche

Agronomique (INRA)

Kénitra In vitro selection, molecular Markers, protoplast culture, somatic embryo-genesis, somatic hybridization

Citrus fruits

Settat Double Haploid production, development of molecular marker assisted selection for abiotic and biotic stress

Cereals and food legumes

Meknès Molecular diagnostics Cereals, food legumes, olives, grapes tree and fruits trees

Biotechnology in public research institutions in Morocco

Institution Region Area of research and/or techniques Targeted species

Institut Agronomique et Vétérinaire

Hassan II (IAV)

Rabat In vitro selection, protoplasts culture, somatic embryogenesis, assessment of genetic diversity and development of molecular markers for disease.

Eucalyptus, fig, olive, pistachio, potato, Artichoke, cereals and legumes crops

Agadir Micropropagation, protoplast culture, somatic embryogenesis, molecular markers, double Haploid production

Argana, banana, caper, carnation, potato, rose, strawberry, potato, sunflower

Biotechnology in public research institutions in Morocco

Institution Region Area of research and/or techniques Targeted species

Ecole Nationale d’Agriculture

(ENA)

Meknes Immunological diagnostic molecular biology, molecular markers

Livestock

Office Régional de Mise en

Valeur Agricole, (ORMVAG)

Kénitra Micropropagation Sugar cane

Water and Forest

Administration

Rabat Micropropagation,Embryonic transplantation

Eucalyptus, oakBlack bass, carp, pike, trout

Société de Gestion des

Terres Agricoles

(SOGETA)

Rabat Micropropagation Potato

Biotechnology in public research institutions in Morocco

Institution Region Area of research and/or techniques Targeted species

RENABIO: National Biotechnology Network, which groups 3 higher education institutions and 5 government research and inspection agencies

Activities include: plant and animal health and food industry

MiSoBioP: Biotechnology and Soil Microbiology, which groups 11 higher education institutions, the National Center for Nuclear Energy and one tissue culture private laboratory.

Activities include soil microbiology, plant (date palm, olive and tomato) and microbial biotechnology, and related environment issues

Research Networks on Research Networks on BiotechnologyBiotechnology

Biotechnology Network of INRA: This network was set up in 2006:

Establish linkages at international and national levels with INRA biotech researchers

Four themes namely drought tolerance in wheat, crop protection with special reference to cereals, in vitro culture and genetic transformation and molecular applications

Research Networks on Research Networks on BiotechnologyBiotechnology

Plant TissueCulture

Cereals

Bread wheat 3 varieties registered

Triticals 3 varieties registered

Somatic embryogenesis

In vitro selection of salt tolerance

Double haploïds

Date Palm Preservation of genotypes from extinction Production of free Bayoud disease plantlets Large scale production of date palm plantlets National capacity of in vitro plant production

70,000 to 100,000/year

Performance of a Performance of a in vitroin vitro derived derivedDate palm in a farmer’s fieldDate palm in a farmer’s field

A sample of datesA sample of datesproduced by Najdaproduced by Najdaclone (INRA-3014)clone (INRA-3014)

Development of new seedless

mandarin cultivars by in vitro culture

Meristem culture to produce virus

free grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.)

Citrus and grapevine

Molecular markers and gene

characterization

Molecular Marker Techniques

Molecular marker work was started with use of RAPD markers

Now, most laboratories are using RFLPs, AFLPs and Microsatellite markers

INRA Center in Kenitra is using one of the SNP (Single nucleotide Polymorphism) detection technique

Molecular diseases characterization Septoria Net blotch Orobanche

Molecular characterization ofnational genetic resources

Cereals Sugar beet Alfa alfa

Cereals Combined field and molecular markerselection in wheat for resistance to:

Hessian fly Leaf rust Septoria

Abiotic stress: Genes characterization,mapping and QTLs analysis

Date Palm and Citrus

Fruits diversity Molecular diversityof some citrus varieties

Characterization of Bayoud Disease Pathogen using

different molecular marker techniques Characterization of yeast from citrus Genetic diversity estimation in Citrus

GENETIC TRANSFORMATIO

N

A modified regeneration media was developed for efficient somaticembryogenesis and regeneration ofMoroccan varieties

Efficient genetic transformationmethods were developed forMoroccan varieties

Genes implicated in droughttolerance are introduced intoMoroccan varieties

Wheat genetic Wheat genetic transformation for Drought transformation for Drought

tolerancetolerance

Optimisation of an effecient Optimisation of an effecient system for plant regeneration system for plant regeneration

Establishement and optimisation Establishement and optimisation of an effecient method of genetic of an effecient method of genetic transformationtransformation

Faba Bean genetic transformation

for bromrape resistance

Morocco has established the National Biosecurity Committee (NBC) through a "circular" N° 5/2005 dated April 12, 2005.

The Committee is chaired by the Prime Minister;

The focal point of the committee is assured by the department of Agriculture;

Members are from departments of agriculture, health, environment, forestry, higher education and scientific research, trade and industry, fisheries, interior, foreign affairs, justice, Islamic affairs and finance + Private sector and NGOs.

National Biosafety Committee National Biosafety Committee (NBC)(NBC)

The Committee's mandate is to provide the Government with advises and recommendations, particularly:

Express views on biotechnology and biosafety matters;

Make positions regarding these matters;

Express opinion on legislation and regulation concerning biotechnology and biosafety;

Contribute to the elaboration of national strategy on biotechnology and biosafety,

Suggest programs on communication, training, outreach, research and cooperation.

National Biosafety Committee National Biosafety Committee (NBC)(NBC)

Partnership and collaboration

ICARDA USDA IAEA GTZ IPGRI ENSAM AFSED ICGEB ASTF EU AGROPOLIS-Montpellier France (INRA, CNRS CIRAD-FLHOR, IRD) Faculté de Médecine Marseille France Université de Sassari Italie Universités Belgique Université Portugal Faculté de Médecine Marseille France

Thank you for your Thank you for your attentionattention