+961 8 900 047

lari@lari.gov.lb

LARI-LEB

Tal Amara

Biotechnology - Plant Tissue Culture

Activities

  • Production of different certified Rootstocks of prunus. The major problem of the establishment of stone fruit orchards is the phytosanitary problem including viral. These problems are due to the traditional methods of vegetative propagation by grafting and cuttings causing transmission of pathogens leading to considerable loss of performance. In this purpose the Lebanese Agricultural Research Institute (LARI) established this project for Production and delivery of certified Prunus rootstock by using in vitro techniques.
  • Production of certified potato seeds (Solanum tuberosum L.) using modern technology. Potato is one of the most important crops grown in Lebanon for local consumption, export and processing. It is a strategic crop occupying about 20.000 ha which cover more than 45\\% of the total area allocated to vegetable crops. However, the basic problem for Lebanese potato production sector is the lack of certified potato seeds availability at reasonable prices especially that Lebanon imports between 25 000 and 28 000 tones of seed potato Class E per year. The expected outputs of the project will be the production of true to type and virus free minitubers of locally adapted varieties potato at affordable price in order to meet farmers needs of seed.
  • Establishment of a vegetative micropropagation protocol of Blackberry (Rubus fruticosus). Rubus is a perennial, semi-deciduous, prickly or thorn less scrambling, semi-prostrate to almosterect shrub. Plant has 2 m high and with canes to about 7 m long. Fruits are rich in vitamin C, K,E, B9 and B5. Also they are rich in manganese, cupper, iron and fiber. Due to its sweet taste it is ideal for jams, desserts, snacks, pies. Rubus has also many health benefits for brain, it has anantioxidant benefits and control the buildup of LDL, and finally it supports Bone Health and prevent osteoporosis. The purpose of this study is to establish the methodology for in vitro propagation of Rubus
  • Evaluation of different irrigation regimes on the development and production of blackberry(Rubus fruticosus). Blackberry, Tût Shawkî or ‘Ullayq in Arabic is an eatable fruit produced by many species in the Rubus genus in the Rosaceae family. It is globe-shaped fruit which is green while young and changes to glossy black as it ripen. In Lebanon Rubus fruticosus was identified as underutilized species with potential use for commercialization. No real plantations of Rubus are presental though of a few individual projects were carried out in some sites of the Bekaa region andSouth of Lebanon In this context, a demonstrative Rubus orchard was planted in Tal Amara station of the Lebanese Agricultural Research Institute (LARI), aimed to:
    • Enhance the plantation of this genus and diversify the fruit production in different regions of Lebanon.
    • Investigate the effect of different irrigation regimes on growth and development of Rubus Fruticosus .
  • Establishment of a vegetative micropropagation protocol of Aloe vera(Aloe vera L.)Aloe vera. Linn. (Liliaceae) is a medicinal plant and has a number of curative properties.Vegetative propagation has not enough potential for supplying market demand. However, via invitro propagation makes possible the mass production of Aloe plants.This study was conducted to put an efficient protocol for Aloe vera micropropagation by using direct and indirect regeneration method and to investigate growth regulators‘ effects on proliferation of Aloe vera.
  • Establishment of a vegetative micropropagation protocol of Damask Rose (Rosa damascena). Damask rose (Rosa damascene Mill.) is widely used for essential oil production in many regions in the world. In Lebanon, Damask rose is mostly prized for the production of rose water which gives it an important economic value. Nevertheless, the propagation of this rose species using traditional methods is often difficult and cuttings are recalcitrant to rooting. This study aimed to investigate the in vitro propagation of one Lebanese ecotype of Damask rose initially growing inNiha (Central Bekaa)
  • Contribution to the in vitro propagation of Lebanese ecotypes of olive (Olea europea sativaL.). This study consist of a methodological development for the different stages of in vitro propagation of olives tree, in order to produce uniform plants from ecotypes of the local variety commonly called “Baladi”.
  • Establishment of a vegetative micropropagation protocol of Elaeagnus angustifolia.Elaeagnus angustifolia. L.,or Russian olive can tolerate and survive a wide variety of environmental conditions. In addition, it is used as anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory,antimicrobial, and anticancer. The propagation of this species using traditional methods is often difficult. This study aimed to develop an in vitro propagation protocol. A dual approach has been experimented: Direct regeneration from nodal sections and indirect regeneration from internodesthrough the production of embryos.
  • Establishment of a vegetative micropropagation protocol of caper (Capparis spinosa L.)Caper (Capparis spinosa L.) is spontaneously widespread in Lebanon as a wild plant, though ithas never been exploited before. A whole program has been recently undertaken in order to evaluate the local ecotypes and to promote the cultivation of this species as a new promising marketing crop. Difficulties in attempting conventional propagation have been reported due to the poor germinability of the seeds and the serious rooting problems associated with cuttings. Forlarge scale multiplication, tissue culture techniques could overcome these problems, either for increasing genetic variability or for clonal multiplication of selected genotype. The present study aimed to establish two in vitro procedures for rapid propagation of one ebanese ecotype, via seedgermination and nodal cuttings.1
  • Evaluation of different irrigation regimes on the development and production of caper flowerbuds (Capparis spinosa L.) in different regions of the Bekaa plain. Caper (Capparis spinosa L.) is well known throughout the world for its young flower budswhich are greatly appreciated as a seasoning condiment. It is also used in traditional medicine due to its rutin flavonoid content which is effective to treat some health disorders likerheumatism, migraine, gastro-intestinal infections, diarrhea, and gout.In Lebanon, caper is spontaneously widespread as a wild plant, especially in degraded and arid soils, but has not been exploited until recently, probably because of the local culinary customs and the lack of home market. The present study conducted in the Lebanese Agricultural ResearchInstitute (LARI) aimed to:
    • Investigate the effect of different irrigation regimes on growth and development of Capparis spinosa L. inermis plants
    • Analyze the effect of complete drought on the agronomical traits of caper

Staff

  • Ahmad ELBITAR, Research Assistant Head of Plant Tissue Culture Unit (abitar@lari.gov.lb)
  • Lamia HASSAN KASSEM, Agricultural Technician
  • Suzan ALBOURJY, Agricultural Technician
  • Nour MAHDY, Agricultural Technician
  • Mayssaa FOUANI, Agricultural Technician
  • Abbas SEIF EDDINE, Agricultural Technician

Publications

  • Chehade A, Elbitar A, Chalak L (2001) Caractérisation morphologique de la diversité du genrePrunus dans la plaine de la Békaa. Magon 1: 4-17.
  • Chalak L, Elbitar A, Cordahi N, Hage C & Chehade A. (2003) In vitro propagation of Capparis spinosa L. Acta Hort 616, 335 – 338.
  • Chalak L & Elbitar A, Chehade A, & Chamoun W.. (2003) Potentiel d’enracinement in vivo etin vitro de variétés libanaises d’amandier (Prunus dulcis Miller). Lebanese Science Journal, vol4, nº2, 21-29.
  • Chalak L, Elbitar A, Masaad W & Choueiri E. (2004) Assainissement de la pomme de terre infecté par le virus PVY NTN par culture de méristèmes. Lebanese Science Journal, vol 5, nº1, 37-43.
  • Chalak L, Elbitar A, Rizk R, Choueiri E, Salar P, Bové JM (2005) Attempts to eliminate Candidatus phytoplasma phoenicium from infected Lebanese almond varieties by tissue culture techniques combined or not with thermotherapy. European Journal of Plant Pathology 112: 85-89.
  • Tannouri M, Elbitar A, Chehade A, Chalak L (2005) Propagation in vitro de deux variétés hybrides de Lilium asiatique. Lebanese Science Journal 6 (1): 41-47.
  • Chehade A, Chalak L, Elbitar A, Cosson P, Zanetto A, Dirlewanger E (2005) Caractérisation morphologique et moléculaire de clones de cerisier cultivés au Liban. Lebanese Science Journal6 (1): 29-40.
  • Chalak L, Chehade A, Elbitar A, Cosson P, Zanetto A, Laigret F, Dirlewanger E (2006)Morphological and molecular characterization of peach accessions (Prunus persica L) cultivatedin Lebanon. Lebanese Science Journal 7 (2): 23-31.
  • Chalak L, and Elbitar A (2006) Micropropagation of Capparis spinosa L. subsp. rupestris Sibth.& Sm. By nodal cuttings. Indian Journal of Biotechnology (5) 555-558
  • Chalak L, Elbitar A, Chehade T, El Zammar S, Jreijiri F, Choueiri E (2007). Assainissement devariétés de Prunus infectées par Prunus necrotic ringspot virus. Lebanese Science Journal 8 (2):175-180.
  • Chalak L, Perin A, Elbitar A, Chehade A (2007). Phenotypic diversity and morphological characterization of Capparis spinosa L. in Lebanon. Biologia Tunisie (4 bis) 28-32.
  • Chalak L, Achtak H, Chehade A, Elbitar A, Santoni S and Khadari B (2009). Genetic structure of spontaneous and cultivated fig in Lebanon indicating a local selection. Fourth Iternational Symposium on Fig, p 34.
  • Chalak L, Elbeaino T, Elbitar A, Chehade A, Fattal T, Choueri E (2009). Attempts to virus-free production of Lebanese fig varieties by tissue culture. Fourth Iternational Symposium on Fig, p51.
  • Chalak L, El Bitar A, Mourad N, Mortada C and Choueiri E (2013). Elimination of grape vinebois noir phytoplasma by tissue culture coupled or not with heat therapy or hot water treatment.Advances in Crop Science and Technology, volume 1, Issue 2, 1-4.
  • Kadri A, Chalak L, El Bitar A, Nicolas N, Mroué S, Grenier De March G (2014) In vitro PlantRegeneration System for Two Middle East Cultivars of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). Adv CropSci Tech 2: 125. doi: 10.4172/2329-8863.1000125
  • Chalak L, El Bitar A and Chehade A (2014). Diversity of Wild Prunus in the Bekaa Province,Lebanon. Proc. 1 st IS on fruit Culture and Its traditional Knowledge along Silk Road Countries.Acta Hort. 1032, ISHS 2014.
  • Chalak L , Elbeaino T , Elbitar A , Tala Fattal T, and Elia Choueiri E. Removal of viruses fromLebanese fig varieties using tissue culture and thermotherapy. Phytopathologia Mediterranea(2015) 54, 3, 531−535.
  • Chehade A, El Bitar A, Kadri A, Choueiri E, Nabbout R, Youssef H, Samaha M, Awada A and Famiani F. In situ evaluation of the fruit and oil characteristics of the main Lebanese olivegermplasm. Science of Food and Agriculture. 2016 May;96(7):2532-8
  • Chehade Ali and Ahmad Bitar (2017). “Crops and Plants Adapted to El Nino and ClimateChange,” Background paper for the Cures, Causes, and Consequences of Drought inAgricultural, Lebanon
  • Dorte Verner, Maximillian Ashwill, Jens Christensen, Rachael Mcdonnell, John Redwood, Ihab Jomaa, Maurice Saade, Randa Massad, Ali Chehade, Ahmad Bitar and David Treguer, 2018.Droughts and Agriculture in Lebanon causes, consequences and risk management. Report worldBank Group. pp.116