Soil health in Moroccan olive agroecosystems: The bioindication role of terrestrial nematode dynamics
Salah-Eddine Laasli,
Rachid Lahlali,
Abdelfattah A. Dababat,
Timothy Paulitz,
Amine Assouguem,
Riaz Ullah,
Ahmed Bari,
Mustafa İmren,
Ebubekir Yüksel,
Jihane Kenfaoui,
Lucy Kiarie,
Driss Iraqi,
Fouad Mokrini
Affiliations
Salah-Eddine Laasli
Phytopathology Unit, Department of Plant and Environment Protection, Ecole Nationale d’Agriculture de Meknes, km. 10, Route Haj Kaddour, B.P. S/40, Meknès, Morocco; Crop Protection Unit, Agronomic and Veterinary Institute (IAV), Rabat, Morocco; Biotechnology Unit, Regional Center of Agricultural Research, INRA, Rabat, Morocco; Corresponding author.
Rachid Lahlali
Phytopathology Unit, Department of Plant and Environment Protection, Ecole Nationale d’Agriculture de Meknes, km. 10, Route Haj Kaddour, B.P. S/40, Meknès, Morocco; Corresponding author.
Abdelfattah A. Dababat
International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), P.O. Box 39, Emek, Ankara, 06511, Turkiye
Timothy Paulitz
Wheat Health, Genetics and Quality Research Unit, United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164-6430, USA
Amine Assouguem
Laboratory of Functional Ecology and Environment, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, Imouzzer Street, P.O. Box 2202, Fez, 30000, Morocco
Riaz Ullah
Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Ahmed Bari
Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Mustafa İmren
Bolu Abant Izzet Baysal University, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Plant Protection, 14030, Bolu, Turkiye
Ebubekir Yüksel
Erciyes University, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Plant Protection, 38030, Kayseri, Turkiye
Jihane Kenfaoui
Induced Resistance and Plant Biosection Research Unit-EA 4707-USC INRAE1488, Reims Champagne-Ardenne University, Reims, France
Lucy Kiarie
LSU AgCenter, Department of Plant Pathology and Crop Physiology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
Driss Iraqi
Biotechnology Unit, Regional Center of Agricultural Research, INRA, Rabat, Morocco
Fouad Mokrini
Biotechnology Unit, Regional Center of Agricultural Research, INRA, Rabat, Morocco
Terrestrial nematodes are important soil microorganisms that modulate biological processes in soil ecosystems. Thus, these microorganisms have strong potential as soil health bioindicators. This study aimed to investigate their distribution patterns in Moroccan olive agroecosystems and to evaluate their structural and functional dynamics shaping soil disturbance status. An extensive survey was conducted across 65 representative olive fields (orchards and nurseries combined) located in 7 distinct regions during the 2023 season. For each region, several indices were calculated to assess nematode biodiversity alongside their involvement in soil food web diagnostics. The results revealed 63 nematode genera that were detected and classified into different trophic groups: 21 bacterial feeders, 7 fungal feeders, 6 omnivores, 6 predators, and 22 plant feeders. Most soil ecosystems showed low to moderate disturbance with maturing food web conditions, whereas a few showed notable soil disturbance with bacterial and conducive properties. Structural and functional dynamics revealed that both bacterial and plant feeders effectively contributed to undisturbed and disturbed soils, respectively. This study provides novel insights into the biodiversity and dynamics of terrestrial nematodes associated with Moroccan olive agroecosystems and their contribution as effective soil health bioindicators.
