Biochemical composition and antioxidant activity were determined in kernel nuts for eleven Moroccan walnut (Juglans regia L.) accessions representing its main cropping area. Total oil, carbohydrates, crude protein, energy value, crude fiber and flavonoid have varied significantly between accessions, respectively within the range values of 54.50-65.48%, 8.17-19.25%, 11.5-25.58%, 648.91-713.83 Kcal, 4.17-6.75% and 12.59-62.11mg RE 100 g-1 DM.  Besides, mineral composition (mg 100 g-1) of kernel have varied also significantly among accessions and particularly for phosphorus (338.1-675.87), copper (2.08-6.67), zinc (3.39-18.63), iron (1.17-2.64), chromium (0.16-0.20), nickel (1.26-1.45) and boron (0.07-1.49). However, dry matter (96.75-98.56%), moisture (1.44-3.24%), ash (1.67-2.53%), total phenols content (1017-3739 mg GAE 100 g-1 DM), DPPH radical scavenging activity (75.02-85.96%), potassium (210.10-338.93 mg 100 g-1), magnesium (79.15-374.54 mg 100 g-1), sodium (1.17-12.63 mg 100 g-1) and manganese (0.79-1.67 mg 100 g-1) did not show significant variations between accessions. Furthermore, the results showed that Moroccan walnut constitutes an important source of nutrient elements, essentially fat, carbohydrates, protein, phosphorus and zinc, and natural antioxidants, phenolic compounds. Accordingly, consumption of all studied kernels accessions would be beneficial to health. This study showed considerable biochemical variation between the analyzed walnut accessions, which could help to select genotypes with desired traits according to their chemotypes.

The walnut (Juglans regia L.) is a traditional fruit crop in Morocco. This species is cultivated in mountain in different environments. However, little data is available on its genetic diversity and its adaptability. Morphological characters of leaf and fruit from 11 Moroccan accessions of walnut were used to assess phenotypic variation of this species. Significant differences were found between accessions for the most examined traits, indicating a high phenotypic diversity. Multivariate analyses lead to identify three groups of accessions. The first group composed by the accessions of both Middle and High Atlas Mountain with high weigh and percentage of kernel and low thickness of shell. The second group included the accessions for the High Atlas Mountain characterised by large leaf, high nut dimension and great nut size. The third group is composed by two accessions, one belongs to the Middle Atlas Mountain and the other originating from High Atlas Mountain, which are characterized by small leaf and nut. Then, the structuration of accessions in three groups was not correlated to the mountain range type. Moreover, this study showed a significant phenotypic heterogeneity between the eleven studied accessions which opens the way for the strategies for their conservation and the selection of efficient genotypes with the desired traits.

The genetic diversity and genotypes structure of walnut (Juglans regia L.) are essential to understand and manage genetic resources of this species, as well as for further progress in breeding programs. ISSR markers were used to assess the genetic diversity of 66 individuals’ trees from 11 accessions, representing the main cropping area of walnut belonging to two ranges types of Mountain in Morocco: middle and high Atlas. Eleven ISSR primers rendered a total of 135 bands (91%) with 0.88 polymorphic information content. The utilization of 123 polymorphic bands revealed a high level of genetic variation within and among the examined accessions. The multi-locus values of Ht and Hs were 0.25 and 0.20, respectively. The AMOVA analysis showed that 71.30% of total genetic variability is accounted within accessions and 28.70% between accessions. This was congruent with the coefficient of genetic differentiation (GST=0.16). Bayesian model-based clustering approach identified three gene pools that were not correlated with mountain range type. This is the first application of ISSR markers for the assessment of genetic diversity in Moroccan germplasm of walnut. This information will be useful to define conservation strategies and improvement programs of this species.

Saffron is a spice derived from the flower of Crocus sativus L., which has a special aroma, color and odor influencing positively its economic value. In this context, ten saffron ecotypes were screened of their biochemical composition and antioxidant activity. The samples were also analyzed using GC-MS and LC-MS to determine their content of volatile and phenolic compounds, respectively. The results revealed statistically significant differences among samples based on moisture (9.09-11.23 %), total phenols (31.62-62.71mg EAG/g), total flavonoids (23.02-40.02mg ER/mg), total carotenoids (66.12-155.05µg/g), picrocrocin (88.99-121.53), crocin (137.44-228.39) and safranal (26.56-53.04). The radical scavenging activity ranged from 17.09 % to 29.53 % for DPPH assay, and oscillated from 0.128 mmol AAE/g to 0.239 mmol AAE/g for ABTS test, while the ferric reducing antioxidant potency (FRAP) varied from 0.974 to 1.989 mmol Fe 2+ /g. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis identified 66 volatile compounds, among which the Safranal and Isophorone were the most abondant. The ES1 from Taliouine recorded a very distinct volatile composition compared to the others ecotypes with 22 authentic volatile compounds. Moreover, liquid chromatographymass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis revealed 14 phenolic compounds with picrocin and crocin were found to be the major compounds. The principal component analysis classified the investigated ecotypes into two mean distinctive sets with ES1and ES9 were distinguiqhed as a single ietms. The α-pinene, β-Pinene, Limonene, Anethole, Acetic acid, Ketoisophorone, Isophorone, Safranal, Thymoquinone, Total Flavonoids, FRAP and Total Carotenoids, are the main discriminant variables. The two-dimensional analysis of the clustered heatmaps divided showed a relatively smilar patterns as the Principale Component Analysis (PCA) and confirmed the singularity of the sample ES1 based on its particular volatile profile dominated mainly by α-Terpinyl acetate, Methyleugenol, Copaene, Anethole, Limonene, Methyl-Cyclopentane, which were not identified in the other samples even at minor levels. These findings herein found revealed the high quality of Moroccan saffron, which is very important for the species breeding and valorization.

The Persian walnut or English walnut (Juglans regia L.) is a commonly grown species for nut production and noble wood. The nut is one of the oldest food and traditional medicine sources. The native and commercial walnut genotypes present a large diversity that differ widely in nut productivity and quality. However, genetic erosion poses a serious threat to this tree. Several researches of walnut genetic diversity are being carried out utilizing morphological, biochemical, and molecular approaches in order to select superior walnut cultivars of different agroclimatic areas to increase nut production and quality. Genetic resource evaluation and agrodiversity conservation have a major role in ensuring food security for future generations through a continuous supply of new rootstocks and improved cultivars.