<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<records>
<record>
<language>eng</language>
<publisher>Science and Education Publishing</publisher>
<journalTitle>American Journal of Food Science and Technology</journalTitle>
<eissn>2333-4835</eissn>
<publicationDate>2025-10-12</publicationDate>
<volume>13</volume>
<issue>5</issue>
<startPage>130</startPage>
<endPage>140</endPage>
<doi>10.12691/ajfst-13-5-4</doi>
<publisherRecordId>AJFST20251354</publisherRecordId>
<documentType>article</documentType>
<title language="eng">Botanical, Ecological, and Socio-Economic Insights on Crithmum maritimum L. as a Precursor to Domestication</title>
<authors>
<author>
<name>Liliya Naui</name>
<email>Corresponding author: liliya.naui@iresa.agrinet.tn</email>
<affiliationId>1</affiliationId>
</author>
</authors>
<affiliationsList>
<affiliationName affiliationId="1">National Institute of Agronomy of Tunisia, University of Carthage, Tunis 1082</affiliationName>

</affiliationsList>
<abstract language="eng">Crithmum maritimum 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&#233;denine). It provides details seed biology (including successful germination without pre-treatments, &gt;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 C. maritimum as a climate-resilient crop for biosaline agriculture and a lever for biodiversity conservation and rural development in the Mediterranean.</abstract>
<fullTextUrl format="pdf">https://pubs.sciepub.com/ajfst/13/5/4/ajfst-13-5-4.pdf</fullTextUrl>
<keywords language="eng"><keyword>Crithmum maritimum <i>L</i></keyword>
<keyword>sea fennel</keyword>
<keyword>domestication</keyword>
<keyword>halophyte crops</keyword>
<keyword>seed propagation</keyword>
<keyword>vegetative propagation</keyword>
<keyword>agronomic practices</keyword>
<keyword>biosaline agriculture</keyword>
<keyword>climate-resilient agriculture</keyword>
<keyword>Tunisia</keyword>
</keywords>
</record>
</records>
