Abstract:
Through this work, we mapped the range of the argan tree in Algeria, studied stand structure, characterized argan oil and assess the impact of soil salinity on secondary metabolites (phenolic compounds). The main results showed that the argan tree covers an area of 96940 ha spread over two main perimeters where the altitude ranging from 315 to 630 m.
Stands are widely dispersed with an average height of 3 to 6 m and a surface crown between
24 and 68m2. Argan oil is a fine virgin oil, rich in linoleic acid (35%) and β-sitosterol (64%), characterized by low chlorophyll content (1.3 mg Pheophytin / kg oil) and low specific
extinction coefficient (K232 = 1.15). Results also showed that the argan tree can support very
salty soils (4.35 to 8.5 millimhos / cm) with an important accumulation of phenolic compounds (77.28 mg GAE g-1MS) as an adaptive response to salt stress. Qualitative analysis by LC-ESI-MS of phenolic compounds found that certain molecules appear under the effect of salt and other disappears when salinity becomes extreme. The study of antioxidant activities confirmed all these results and we have noted the best activities for the plant extracts from very salty soil. The present work has provided scientific information about the argan which inciting to preserve, develop and promote it in a vision of sustainable development.
