Argo-morphological and genetic diversity of Moringa oleifera grown in Morocco under a semi-arid climate

This study aimed to evaluate the diversity of Moringa oleifera Lam plants cultivated in the Melk Zhar experimental field of INRA Agadir and identify the most efficient morphotypes. Thirty-nine individuals were characterised morphologically and genetically by 10 morphological traits and 10 ISSR (inter simple sequence repeat) primers. Additionally, oil contents were extracted using ultrasound-assisted extraction with hexane as solvent. Principal component analysis and hierarchical clustering were performed on morphological traits, revealing yield and pod weight variability as the most relevant indicators for discriminating among individuals. The results provided a representative classification into three groups. ISSR molecular markers effectively characterised genetic diversity in M. oleifera, with an average polymorphism of 90% across the 39 individuals. Notably, dinucleotide repeat (GA)n and (AC)n primers, ISSR857, ISSR1/8, ISSR807, and ISSR6, were identified as the most effective. Moreover, the oil yield from M. oleifera seeds exhibited variability ranging from 15 to 34%. Specific individuals like M16 or M32 may be targeted when striving for higher yields. Individual M7 stands out for its exceptional high oil and fruit yield combination. The findings of this study offer morphological and molecular characterisations of M. oleifera. These characterisations can be employed in breeding programs, mainly focusing on traits related to oil yield. They can contribute to the further cultivation of M. oleifera in Morocco as an alternative crop.