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Crop Wild Relatives (CWR) should be highly prioritized, monitored, and conserved as they have an immense effect on sustainability and livelihood. In this study we aim to survey and map cereal and legume wild relatives of Fabaceae and Poaceae families. Mount Hermon, Bekaa side, Lebanon. A set of 46 CWR species were targeted based on desk selection analysis and prioritization by the International Center for Agricultural Research in Dry Areas genebank for their potential importance in breeding programs. A botanical survey of 17 sites of the various habitats of Mount Hermon was performed during April–June 2021 using a systematic transect/quadrate sampling method. Recorded genera and species were accurately georeferenced and then mapped with the DIVA‐GIS program. In total, 854 occurrences were observed belonging to 34 species of Fabaceae and 12 species of Poaceae. High H′ Shannon diversity values were recorded in three sites (Al Fakiaa, Sham El Hafour and Ain Ata‐ al Berke) of the Mount with values ranking between 2.45 and 2.83. This was confirmed by the richness distribution maps of genera and species. Richness distribution maps provide relevant clues on candidate sites for high concentrations of each of the species under study. At least the three sites, hosting 87% of the surveyed CWR's species, can be considered for further in situ conservation actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water pollution is presently considered as a serious apprehension in Lebanon. Heavy contamination load of nutrients, heavy metals and organic pollutants can be highly harmful for human health and detrimental to aquatic life and ecosystems. Phytoremediation in natural and constructed wetlands using aquatic macrophytes present a sustainable plant-based technology recognized as a very efficient option in water treatment. The employment of species such as Phragmites, Sparganium, Lemna sp and other aquatic macrophytes not only helps in pollution cleanup but also conserves aquatic communities. To date, two pilot constructed wetlands, Litani River and Bcharreh have been established in Lebanon. These promising initiatives have been, however, accompanied with very limited research studies to examine the role of utilized plants and their efficiency in the remediation process. This paper presents an overview of the status of these initiatives and phytoremediation potential in Lebanon.

With the aim of recording the present flora present across the Lebanese archeological sites, a survey including 15 different sites located in various bioclimatic regimes was conducted. The inventory documented 262 taxa from 32 families, encompassing 87 species and 75 genera. The most frequently occurring species were Cichorium intybus and Hyoscyamus aureus. Among the reported species, 14.95% were found to be endemic species to either Lebanon or the Eastern Mediterranean region, 2.35% were alien species, 28.73% were unique species; i.e. observed only in one site. This survey showed a first insight into the flora present in Lebanese archaeological sites and highlighted the role of these sites in harboring rich floral diversity. Thus, it is of fundamental importance to strengthen the conservation and protection efforts of the archaeological sites’ natural landscape and its sustainable utilization along the cultural heritage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the olive, iconic tree of the Mediterranean basin, seasonality of (Hg) mercury pollution. Hg concentrations of foliage, stems, soil surface, and litter were analyzed on monthly basis in ancient olive trees growing in two groves in Lebanon, Bchaaleh and Kawkaba (1300 and 672 m.a.s.l respectively). A significantly lower concentration was registered in stems (~7–9 ng/g) with respect to foliage (~35–48 ng/g) in both sites with the highest foliage Hg concentration in late winter-early spring and the lowest in summer. It is noteworthy that olive fruits also have the lowest Hg concentration (~7–11 ng/g). The soil has the highest Hg content (~62–129 ng/g) likely inherited through the cumulated litter biomass (~ 63–76 ng/g). good covariation observed between our foliage Hg time-series analysis and those of pCO2 and Hg concentrations of the atmospheric Northern hemisphere confirms that mercury pollution can be studied through olive trees. More precisely, spring sampling is recommended if the objective is to assess the tree's susceptibility to Hg uptake. This may draw an adequate baseline for global inventories on Hg vegetation uptake and for new studies on olive trees in the Mediterranean for reconstructing regional Hg pollution concentrations in the past and present. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lebanon is illustrious for the cultivation of grapevine since the old antiquity. Grapevine is well adapted to the agroclimatic conditions of the country which makes it one of the major element of the Lebanese agriculture. Nevertheless germplasm assessment has attributed limited interest to grapevine while genetic resources have not been exploited before despite their potential in adaptation to environmental changes. In this study we assess the diversity of traditional grapevine accessions growing in different production areas in Lebanon. A total of 35 accessions belonging to 22 vernacular names were evaluated using 33 leaf and fruit traits previously developed by OIV. An important variability was revealed among the accessions studied based on grape and grain characteristics. The most discriminant traits were grape and grain weight, dimensions, form, and skin color; leaf size, form, color, lobes number, depth of petiole sinus. Hierarchical clustering analysis showed five main clusters, each regrouping accessions of different named varieties and different agro-climatic areas. An intra-varietal variability is also suspected. Although preliminary, our results indicate a potential of genetic diversity within the Lebanese grape germplasm that should be further investigated in order to understand their performance and to evaluate them in selection programs.

The use of barley in Lebanon is still limited to feed despite the increased beer consumption and the amplified demand by local industries of imported malt. In the present work, the performance of 11 foreign malting genotypes delivered by ICARDA was assessed in addition to three varieties, Assi, Rihane-3 and Atahualpa, used as checks. Two field trials were conducted in 2013, the first one at Kfardan LARI station at 1000 m a.s.l. and 171.6 mm precipitations, and the second one in Qaa farmer field at 648 m a.s.l. and 119.4 mm precipitations. The trials were carried out rain fed in Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. In both fields, the results showed that at least one malting genotype was early in heading and maturity aligning checks patterns. Genotypes displayed a large variability for yield components, particularly for grain number per spike and thousand grains weight. The higher yields were recorded in Qaa trial for the malting genotypes designated as Malt-9, Malt-10 and Malt-11 with 274.4 g/m2, 232.2 g/m2, and 231.1 g/m2 respectively; whereas in Kfardan trial, Malt-11 and Malt-7 had the highest yields with 245 g/m2 and 222 g/m2 respectively. Atahualpa variety produced 244 g/m2 in Qaa vs. 178 g/m2 in Kfardan overcoming both Rihane-3 and Assi. Based upon Euclidean distance, the hierarchical classification permitted the distribution of studied genotypes into three mains clusters and identified those positioned next to the checks. A preliminary assessment of malting quality attributes carried out on grain samples taken from Kfardan trial confirmed the suitability of the foreign genotypes for malting and revealed a promising potential for the common varieties Assi and Rihane-3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Caper ( Capparis spinosa L.) is a xerophytic shrub with a remarkable adaptability to harsh environments. This plant species is of great interest for its medicinal/pharmacological properties and its culinary uses. Its phytochemical importance relies on many bioactive components present in different organs and its cultivation can be of considerable economic value. Moreover, taxonomic identification of C. spinosa L. has been difficult due to its wide heterogeneity, and many authors fell into confusion due to the scarcity of genetic studies. The present review summarizes information concerning C. spinosa L. including agronomic performance, botanical description, taxonomical approaches, traditional pharmacological uses, phytochemical evaluation and genetic studies. This knowledge represents an important tool for further research studies and agronomic development on this indigenous species with respect to the emerging climatic change in the Eastern Mediterranean countries. Indeed, this world region is particularly under the threat of global warming and it appears necessary to rethink agricultural systems to adapt them to current and futures challenging environmental conditions. Capparis spinosa L. could be a part of this approach. So, this review presents a state of the art considering caper as a potential interesting crop under arid or semi-arid regions (such as Eastern Mediterranean countries) within the climate change context. The aim is to raise awareness in the scientific community (geneticists, physiologists, ecophysiologists, agronomists, …) about the caper strengths and interest to the development of this shrub as a crop.