Carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.) fruit pulp from 12 wild and 8 domesticated trees from 15 Moroccan localities were investigated for their polyphenols contents: total polyphenols content (53.22-118.04 mg and 57.46-183.31 mg), total flavonoids (1.41-4.83 mg and 1.62-7.46 mg) and condensed tannins (1.47-7.36 mg and 1.85-6.66 mg) in one carob fresh pulp for wild and domesticated trees, respectively. Fruit pulp from trees in the same region shows variable contents in polyphenols, flavonoids and condensed tannins.

Adventitious budding from embryonic cotyledons of immature seeds of carob was obtained. The combination of BAP (4.44 µM) and NAA (1.5 µM) furthered the neoformation of adventitious buds. These latter were multiplied on MS medium added with BAP (2.22 µM). Stems and leaves growing were improved by adding 2.02 µM GA 3 . Elongation was favored by 0.5 µM NAA. 70% of rooting was obtained with 10 µM IBA.

Micropropagation from shoot tips and nodal segments was carried out for the conservation and domestication of spontaneous Moroccan thyme, Thymus broussonetii Boiss. subsp. broussonetii (endemic threatened). The mineral composition of the culture medium, as well as the succession of different growth regulators, influenced the in vitro growth of this species. Sterilized achenes of T. broussonetii were able to germinate on an agar medium containing Gautheret macronutrients with a rate of 25% and a degree of contamination of less than 4%. Shoot apices of 15-day seedlings (two cotyledon leaves) were cultivated on SD + 0.46 μM Kin medium and the explants obtained were transplanted every month. Six macronutrients (MS, B 5 , SH, SD, MS m and N 30 K) were tested and N 30 K was chosen for the following experiments. Seven cytokinins (Kin, BAP, 2iP, DPU, adenine, Zeat and TDZ) at 0.46, 0.93 and 2.32 µM/l were evaluated and the addition of 0.93 µM adenine to N 30 K medium favored significantly the induction of buds and the elongation of explants. Three polyamines (putrescine, spermidine and spermine) at 2, 5, 10 and 20 µM/l were tested. A better multiplication of buds, shoots and roots was noted for N 30 K + 10 µM spermine. Cytokinin-auxin combinations led to better root multiplication and an increase in the number of buds and the length of explants, particularly for 0.46 µM Kin + 2.85 µM IAA. Acclimatization was successfully carried out using vitroplants developing a good root system.

The present study reports an efficient protocol for in vitro propagation of Thymus vulgaris L., an aromatic and medicinal plant in Morocco. Initially, we performed in vitro multiplication of Thymus vulgaris explants existing in the laboratory and obtained from micropropagation by shoot tip culture. Afterwards, we have evaluated the effect of six macronutrients. After that, seven cytokinins (Kin, BAP, 2iP, DPU, Adenine, Zeatine and TDZ) in three different concentrations (0.46, 0.93, 2.32 µM) have been evaluated to optimize cultures multiplication and elongation. Moreover, the effect of three auxins (IAA, IBA and NAA) at 0.57 µM, combined to 4 cytokinins (Kin, BAP, DPU and Ad.) at 0.46 μM, on shoot rooting has been studied. Thereby, MS medium has been proved the most favorable for plantlets growing. Also, we found that the addition of certain cytokinins, specifically 0.46 Kin, 0.46 and 0.93 BAP, 0.46 2iP, 0.46 DPU, 0.46 Ad. and 0.46 Zeat., ensures better multiplication and growth of vitroplants. In addition, multiplication and rooting of cultures were well optimized after addition 0.46 Kin + 0.57 IAA or NAA, 0.46 DPU + 0.57 IBA and 0.46 Ad. + 0.57 IBA combinations to the culture medium. Lastly, plantlets with roots were successfully acclimatized to ex-vitro conditions and these latter served as a source to establish in vitro culture again.

In order to determine the most suitable cytokinin for the micropropagation of carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.), the effect of four cytokinins: BAP, zeatin, kinetin and 2-iP, was tested on explants derived from young seedlings of seven days. Organogenesis is better in the presence of BAP (0.5 mg/l), while buds growth is favored by zeatin (0.5 mg/l). The combination of the most suitable cytokinin (BAP at 0.5 mg/l) with IBA improves the caulogenesis when the concentration of this latter is low (0.1 mg/l); high concentrations of IBA have an inhibitory effect on elongation and neoformation of shoots and leaves. The multiplication and growth of shoots are more favorable on WPM medium in the presence of BAP (0.5 and 1 mg/l) alone or combined with 0.5 mg/l with GA 3 , while rooting is mainly favored by IBA, especially at 2 mg/l.