@article{ajfst20251354,
author={Naui, Liliya},
title={Botanical, Ecological, and Socio-Economic Insights on <i>Crithmum maritimum</i> L. as a Precursor to Domestication},
journal={American Journal of Food Science and Technology},
volume={13},
number={5},
pages={130--140},
year={2025},
url={https://pubs.sciepub.com/ajfst/13/5/4},
issn={2333-4835},
abstract={<i>Crithmum</i><i> maritimum</i> L. (sea fennel) is a perennial halophyte with high ecological, nutritional, and socio-economic value whose domestication offers concrete solutions for saline and water-limited farming systems. This article synthesizes the state of knowledge on the species (taxonomy, morphology, ecology, distribution, and uses) and delivers a step-by-step cultivation protocol tailored to Tunisian conditions, integrating peer-reviewed literature with original experimental trials (INRGREF; IRA M¨¦denine). It provides details seed biology (including successful germination without pre-treatments, >70% within 10¨C15 days under greenhouse conditions), vegetative propagation options, and agronomic practices (site/soil selection, spacing, drip irrigation and salinity/EC management, fertilization, canopy and stress management). Field insights confirm robust establishment from sub-humid coasts to arid, saline environments, with operational recommendations such as optimal transplant size (¡Ö20 cm) and the feasibility of direct seeding (emergence ¡Ö7 days). Post-harvest handling and storage guidelines are provided for fresh and processed uses, alongside perspectives on value-chain development for food, nutraceutical, cosmetic, and ecological restoration markets. This study positions <i>C</i>. <i>maritimum</i> as a climate-resilient crop for biosaline agriculture and a lever for biodiversity conservation and rural development in the Mediterranean.},
doi={10.12691/ajfst-13-5-4}
publisher={Science and Education Publishing}
}