Hichem Hajlaoui | Institut National Agronomique de Tunisie (original) (raw)
Papers by Hichem Hajlaoui
Advances in science, technology & innovation, Dec 31, 2022
Russian Journal of Plant Physiology
Journal of Food Science
Numerous biochemical processes are involved in fruit maturation, such as ethylene production, phe... more Numerous biochemical processes are involved in fruit maturation, such as ethylene production, phenolic compounds accumulation, and antioxidant enzymes production. Therefore, the aim of the present work was the evaluation of ethylene production, and the bioactive compounds change in the exocarp and mesocarp of five peach [Prunus persica (L.)] cultivars during three ripening stages, (1) early ripening (ER), (2) commercial maturation, and (3) full ripening (FR) in order to establish the best stage to harvest each peach variety. The experiment was applied to five peach cultivars growing within an arid bioclimatic environment covering the whole peach production season: two early cultivars, Flordastar and Early Maycrest; one variety of mid‐season Rubirich; and two late cultivars, Sweet Cap and O'Henry. Ethylene production, phenolic compounds, and oxidative stress through antioxidant enzyme activities (catalase, peroxidases [PODs] Class III, and ascorbate‐POD), malondialdehyde (MDA), a...
African Crop Science Journal, Dec 4, 2015
Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, 2016
Botrytis cinerea Pers., the causal agent of gray mold, is an airborne pathogen that causes signif... more Botrytis cinerea Pers., the causal agent of gray mold, is an airborne pathogen that causes significant damage to tomato crops worldwide at all development stages and post-harvest. In this study, the aqueous extract of Capsicum annuum seeds was screened for its phytochemical constituents and assessed at various concentrations (10, 20, 30, and 60%) for antifungal activity in vitro. Selected biochemical, pathological, agronomical, physicochemical, and morphometrical traits were investigated to determine the effectiveness of applying the aqueous seed extract and salicylic acid either separately or in combination to tomato seeds and fruits in vivo. Phytochemical screening of the aqueous seed extract showed the presence of 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, phenolic and flavonoid contents, quinic acid, protocatechuic acid, syringic acid, p-coumaric acid, trans-ferulic acid, rutin, quercetin-3-o-rhamonosic, kaempferol, naringenin, and apigenin at various concentrations. The findings suggested...
Crop and Pasture Science, 2022
IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 2021
The focus of this study is to compare salt stress response among pearl millet genotypes, based on... more The focus of this study is to compare salt stress response among pearl millet genotypes, based on agronomical traits. A field experimental complete randomized design (CRD) was conducted during the summer-winter season (July-December) of 2010, at the Agricultural Experimental Station of Nabeul. Nine pearl millet Pennisetum Glaucum L genotypes (IP 22269; IP 13151; MC 94C2; IP 19612; SVDANPOL III; ICMV 1550; IP 7704; HHVBCTAB2; IP 19586) were irrigated with saline water (8.57 dS.m-1 EC). Plant height, biomass accumulation and morphological measures of clusters (weight, length, diameter) were determined. Based on plant height and fresh biomass accumulation, we could classify the genotype IP22269 as more tolerant to salinity, while MC94C2 as sensitive genotype. MC94C2 was once more identified as sensitive genotype, based on less clusters weight. Highest values of clusters weight and diameter were recorded for IP19586 and IP19612. Thus, a noticeable variability in salt tolerance was obser...
African Journal of Agricultural Research, 2016
IOP conference series, Nov 1, 2021
The aim of the work undertaken is to study the impact of the exogenous supply of a biostimulant, ... more The aim of the work undertaken is to study the impact of the exogenous supply of a biostimulant, which is selenium (sodium selenate Na2SO4), on tomatoes fruits quality under salt stress conditions. To this end, an experimental trial has been conducted on a seasonal tomato crop. Within the agricultural domain of the Regional Centre for Agricultural Research (CRRA), Sidi Bouzid, Tunisia (9°430 E, 35° 010 N; altitude 354 m above sea level). The variety used is Firenze. The latter is irrigated with saline water with two different concentrations of NaCl (3 and 6 g/l of NaCl). For each type of salinity, three levels of treatment with the biostimulant were used which correspond to the control plants (without foliar spraying) and to the two doses of application of sodium selenate C1 and C2 which are respectively in the order of 0.5 mM and 1 mM Na2SeO4. The results show that salt stress has a depressive effect on the morphometric and physicochemical characteristics of fruits such as weight, size, color, Brix degree, and lycopene content. However, the application of selenium further improved these parameters. This improvement was more significant in plants that were grown at moderate salinity (3g/l) and were also sprayed with a high dose of selenium (1mM Na2SeO4). For example, yield and fruit weight increased by 228.45 percent and 73.07 percent, respectively, when compared to non-treated plants. Also, fruit width and length increased by 42.31% and 35.57%. In addition, for the physiocochemical parameters the Brix degree and the lycopene content increased respectively by 18.45% and 237.38%.
Agronomy
Botrytis cinerea, a causal agent of gray mold disease, is one of the most destructive fungal path... more Botrytis cinerea, a causal agent of gray mold disease, is one of the most destructive fungal pathogens that leads to substantial global economic crop losses, especially for tomato plants. The present study aims to investigate the inhibitory effect of two microbial culture filtrates (BCA filtrate alone and combined with salicylic acid) of Trichoderma longibrachiatum and Pseudomonas sp. against the phytopathogenic fungus B. cinerea on tomato plants. The biochemical modifications, gray mold disease incidence, and fruit quality parameters of the tomatoes were determined according to tested treatments. The results showed that both fungi and bacteria were able to solubilize phosphate and produce IAA and HCN. T. longibrachiatum could produce hydrolytic enzymes (chitinase, protease, and glucanase). Otherwise, Pseudomonas sp. showed the capacity to produce catalase and amylase enzymes. Both microbial culture filtrates inhibited the hyphae growth of B. cinerea. The biocontrol efficacy, in vit...
![Research paper thumbnail of Foliar Fertilization of Potassium Silicon Improved Postharvest Fruit Quality of Peach and Nectarine [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch] Cultivars](https://attachments.academia-assets.com/98890689/thumbnails/1.jpg)
](Agriculture
Peach fruit quality is dependent on preharvest treatments and orchard practices. The aim of this ... more Peach fruit quality is dependent on preharvest treatments and orchard practices. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of preharvest potassium silicon fertilization on fruit postharvest quality. Two peach cultivars (“Early Bomba” and “Plagold 17”) were sprayed with three concentrations of potassium silicon (K-Si) at fruit set, stone hardening, and physiological maturity stages. The applied treatments corresponded to control (T0 = 0% K-Si) pulverized with distilled water and two K-Si treatments (T1 = 3% K-Si and T2 = 4.5% K-Si). The blooming and harvesting dates, vegetative growth and agronomical parameters were analyzed over two growing seasons (2021–2022). Peach fruits were stored at 5 °C and 95% RH during two cold storage periods (2 and 4 weeks) followed by 2 days at room temperatures. The fruit weights (FW), color, firmness, soluble solids content (SSC), titratable acidity (TA), pulp stone ratio (P/S) and fruit weight loss (FWL) were evaluated. The anthocyanins, flavon...
Plants
Lead stands as a food contaminant through its accumulation in consumed plants. In this study, the... more Lead stands as a food contaminant through its accumulation in consumed plants. In this study, the effects of lead (II) chloride (PbCl2) and its levels of uptake on morphological and phytochemical responses of fenugreek were assessed to evaluate its tolerance and safety for human consumption. Results revealed that PbCl2 (50–2000 mg L−1) did not affect the germination rate, but it decreased the radicle length and amylase activity. After three months of Pb treatments, the elemental analysis showed that Pb accumulation was greater in roots than shoots, and it was not present in harvested seeds. The bioaccumulation factor > 1 and the translocation factor << 1 observed for 1000 mg L−1 PbCl2 suggested appropriateness of fenugreek as a phytostabilizer. Additionally, increased lipid peroxidation, hydrogen peroxide, flavonoid levels and catalase activity were observed in Pb-treated fenugreek. Meanwhile, decreased chlorophyll content was detected under these conditions. In turn, the t...
Horticulturae
Under a water scarcity situation, it is expected to manage water more efficiently. This study aim... more Under a water scarcity situation, it is expected to manage water more efficiently. This study aims to evaluate the effect of treated grey water (from laundry and tableware), pre-treated through a wetland mini-reactor with a horizontal underground flow, on soil and tomatoes. The experiment included two tomato cultivars (Dart and Firenze), planted in completely randomized bloc design, and irrigated with treated grey water (TGW) vs. ground water (C) as control. Soil, tomato leaves and fruits were assessed for microbial contamination. Tomato yield, physico-chemical characteristics and antioxidant contents were studied. Results showed that TGW met the standards for irrigation water for most water quality variables. Irrigation with TGW increased the concentrations of phosphorus (P), iron (Fe) and copper (Cu) in the soil. Although, the soil ionic composition was still in the suitable range for agriculture. Opportunely, there was no contamination by fecal coliforms, streptococcus and E. col...
Water and Environment Journal, 2022
Plants
Regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) strategies may greatly contribute to save irrigation water, es... more Regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) strategies may greatly contribute to save irrigation water, especially in low water availability conditions. The effects of RDI on the growth process, photosynthesis, fruit yield, and some quality traits were assessed for two years on three plum (Prunus salicina Lindl.) cultivars (‘Black Diamond’, ‘Black Gold’ and ‘Black Star’) grown in Midwest Tunisia. The experiment was conducted during two successive seasons (2011–2012). Two water regimes were applied per cultivar during the phase of fruit growth until fruit ripening. Stressed trees receive 50% of the amount of irrigation compared to controls (CI). Several eco-physiological parameters and some pomological criteria were measured, based on the climatic condition (ETo, ETc, and VDP). Results showed that the three cultivars had an aptitude for tolerance for moderate stress with varying degrees of response time to drought stress. Globally, a slight decrease in the gas exchange rate (AN and gs) and th...
Chemistry & Biodiversity, 2022
Advances in science, technology & innovation, Dec 31, 2022
Russian Journal of Plant Physiology
Journal of Food Science
Numerous biochemical processes are involved in fruit maturation, such as ethylene production, phe... more Numerous biochemical processes are involved in fruit maturation, such as ethylene production, phenolic compounds accumulation, and antioxidant enzymes production. Therefore, the aim of the present work was the evaluation of ethylene production, and the bioactive compounds change in the exocarp and mesocarp of five peach [Prunus persica (L.)] cultivars during three ripening stages, (1) early ripening (ER), (2) commercial maturation, and (3) full ripening (FR) in order to establish the best stage to harvest each peach variety. The experiment was applied to five peach cultivars growing within an arid bioclimatic environment covering the whole peach production season: two early cultivars, Flordastar and Early Maycrest; one variety of mid‐season Rubirich; and two late cultivars, Sweet Cap and O'Henry. Ethylene production, phenolic compounds, and oxidative stress through antioxidant enzyme activities (catalase, peroxidases [PODs] Class III, and ascorbate‐POD), malondialdehyde (MDA), a...
African Crop Science Journal, Dec 4, 2015
Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, 2016
Botrytis cinerea Pers., the causal agent of gray mold, is an airborne pathogen that causes signif... more Botrytis cinerea Pers., the causal agent of gray mold, is an airborne pathogen that causes significant damage to tomato crops worldwide at all development stages and post-harvest. In this study, the aqueous extract of Capsicum annuum seeds was screened for its phytochemical constituents and assessed at various concentrations (10, 20, 30, and 60%) for antifungal activity in vitro. Selected biochemical, pathological, agronomical, physicochemical, and morphometrical traits were investigated to determine the effectiveness of applying the aqueous seed extract and salicylic acid either separately or in combination to tomato seeds and fruits in vivo. Phytochemical screening of the aqueous seed extract showed the presence of 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, phenolic and flavonoid contents, quinic acid, protocatechuic acid, syringic acid, p-coumaric acid, trans-ferulic acid, rutin, quercetin-3-o-rhamonosic, kaempferol, naringenin, and apigenin at various concentrations. The findings suggested...
Crop and Pasture Science, 2022
IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 2021
The focus of this study is to compare salt stress response among pearl millet genotypes, based on... more The focus of this study is to compare salt stress response among pearl millet genotypes, based on agronomical traits. A field experimental complete randomized design (CRD) was conducted during the summer-winter season (July-December) of 2010, at the Agricultural Experimental Station of Nabeul. Nine pearl millet Pennisetum Glaucum L genotypes (IP 22269; IP 13151; MC 94C2; IP 19612; SVDANPOL III; ICMV 1550; IP 7704; HHVBCTAB2; IP 19586) were irrigated with saline water (8.57 dS.m-1 EC). Plant height, biomass accumulation and morphological measures of clusters (weight, length, diameter) were determined. Based on plant height and fresh biomass accumulation, we could classify the genotype IP22269 as more tolerant to salinity, while MC94C2 as sensitive genotype. MC94C2 was once more identified as sensitive genotype, based on less clusters weight. Highest values of clusters weight and diameter were recorded for IP19586 and IP19612. Thus, a noticeable variability in salt tolerance was obser...
African Journal of Agricultural Research, 2016
IOP conference series, Nov 1, 2021
The aim of the work undertaken is to study the impact of the exogenous supply of a biostimulant, ... more The aim of the work undertaken is to study the impact of the exogenous supply of a biostimulant, which is selenium (sodium selenate Na2SO4), on tomatoes fruits quality under salt stress conditions. To this end, an experimental trial has been conducted on a seasonal tomato crop. Within the agricultural domain of the Regional Centre for Agricultural Research (CRRA), Sidi Bouzid, Tunisia (9°430 E, 35° 010 N; altitude 354 m above sea level). The variety used is Firenze. The latter is irrigated with saline water with two different concentrations of NaCl (3 and 6 g/l of NaCl). For each type of salinity, three levels of treatment with the biostimulant were used which correspond to the control plants (without foliar spraying) and to the two doses of application of sodium selenate C1 and C2 which are respectively in the order of 0.5 mM and 1 mM Na2SeO4. The results show that salt stress has a depressive effect on the morphometric and physicochemical characteristics of fruits such as weight, size, color, Brix degree, and lycopene content. However, the application of selenium further improved these parameters. This improvement was more significant in plants that were grown at moderate salinity (3g/l) and were also sprayed with a high dose of selenium (1mM Na2SeO4). For example, yield and fruit weight increased by 228.45 percent and 73.07 percent, respectively, when compared to non-treated plants. Also, fruit width and length increased by 42.31% and 35.57%. In addition, for the physiocochemical parameters the Brix degree and the lycopene content increased respectively by 18.45% and 237.38%.
Agronomy
Botrytis cinerea, a causal agent of gray mold disease, is one of the most destructive fungal path... more Botrytis cinerea, a causal agent of gray mold disease, is one of the most destructive fungal pathogens that leads to substantial global economic crop losses, especially for tomato plants. The present study aims to investigate the inhibitory effect of two microbial culture filtrates (BCA filtrate alone and combined with salicylic acid) of Trichoderma longibrachiatum and Pseudomonas sp. against the phytopathogenic fungus B. cinerea on tomato plants. The biochemical modifications, gray mold disease incidence, and fruit quality parameters of the tomatoes were determined according to tested treatments. The results showed that both fungi and bacteria were able to solubilize phosphate and produce IAA and HCN. T. longibrachiatum could produce hydrolytic enzymes (chitinase, protease, and glucanase). Otherwise, Pseudomonas sp. showed the capacity to produce catalase and amylase enzymes. Both microbial culture filtrates inhibited the hyphae growth of B. cinerea. The biocontrol efficacy, in vit...
Agriculture
Peach fruit quality is dependent on preharvest treatments and orchard practices. The aim of this ... more Peach fruit quality is dependent on preharvest treatments and orchard practices. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of preharvest potassium silicon fertilization on fruit postharvest quality. Two peach cultivars (“Early Bomba” and “Plagold 17”) were sprayed with three concentrations of potassium silicon (K-Si) at fruit set, stone hardening, and physiological maturity stages. The applied treatments corresponded to control (T0 = 0% K-Si) pulverized with distilled water and two K-Si treatments (T1 = 3% K-Si and T2 = 4.5% K-Si). The blooming and harvesting dates, vegetative growth and agronomical parameters were analyzed over two growing seasons (2021–2022). Peach fruits were stored at 5 °C and 95% RH during two cold storage periods (2 and 4 weeks) followed by 2 days at room temperatures. The fruit weights (FW), color, firmness, soluble solids content (SSC), titratable acidity (TA), pulp stone ratio (P/S) and fruit weight loss (FWL) were evaluated. The anthocyanins, flavon...
Plants
Lead stands as a food contaminant through its accumulation in consumed plants. In this study, the... more Lead stands as a food contaminant through its accumulation in consumed plants. In this study, the effects of lead (II) chloride (PbCl2) and its levels of uptake on morphological and phytochemical responses of fenugreek were assessed to evaluate its tolerance and safety for human consumption. Results revealed that PbCl2 (50–2000 mg L−1) did not affect the germination rate, but it decreased the radicle length and amylase activity. After three months of Pb treatments, the elemental analysis showed that Pb accumulation was greater in roots than shoots, and it was not present in harvested seeds. The bioaccumulation factor > 1 and the translocation factor << 1 observed for 1000 mg L−1 PbCl2 suggested appropriateness of fenugreek as a phytostabilizer. Additionally, increased lipid peroxidation, hydrogen peroxide, flavonoid levels and catalase activity were observed in Pb-treated fenugreek. Meanwhile, decreased chlorophyll content was detected under these conditions. In turn, the t...
Horticulturae
Under a water scarcity situation, it is expected to manage water more efficiently. This study aim... more Under a water scarcity situation, it is expected to manage water more efficiently. This study aims to evaluate the effect of treated grey water (from laundry and tableware), pre-treated through a wetland mini-reactor with a horizontal underground flow, on soil and tomatoes. The experiment included two tomato cultivars (Dart and Firenze), planted in completely randomized bloc design, and irrigated with treated grey water (TGW) vs. ground water (C) as control. Soil, tomato leaves and fruits were assessed for microbial contamination. Tomato yield, physico-chemical characteristics and antioxidant contents were studied. Results showed that TGW met the standards for irrigation water for most water quality variables. Irrigation with TGW increased the concentrations of phosphorus (P), iron (Fe) and copper (Cu) in the soil. Although, the soil ionic composition was still in the suitable range for agriculture. Opportunely, there was no contamination by fecal coliforms, streptococcus and E. col...
Water and Environment Journal, 2022
Plants
Regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) strategies may greatly contribute to save irrigation water, es... more Regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) strategies may greatly contribute to save irrigation water, especially in low water availability conditions. The effects of RDI on the growth process, photosynthesis, fruit yield, and some quality traits were assessed for two years on three plum (Prunus salicina Lindl.) cultivars (‘Black Diamond’, ‘Black Gold’ and ‘Black Star’) grown in Midwest Tunisia. The experiment was conducted during two successive seasons (2011–2012). Two water regimes were applied per cultivar during the phase of fruit growth until fruit ripening. Stressed trees receive 50% of the amount of irrigation compared to controls (CI). Several eco-physiological parameters and some pomological criteria were measured, based on the climatic condition (ETo, ETc, and VDP). Results showed that the three cultivars had an aptitude for tolerance for moderate stress with varying degrees of response time to drought stress. Globally, a slight decrease in the gas exchange rate (AN and gs) and th...
Chemistry & Biodiversity, 2022