A review on apple cultivation in Morocco: Current situation and future prospects

In Morocco, the efforts offered by the government are improving the field of agriculture. In recent years, the fruit tree sector has provided a growth boost to the country's GDP. This review aims to present a synthesis of the background surrounding the current situation, the place of Morocco in the world, and the future challenges of the apple tree field. Indeed, we highlight the main findings of previous studies and reports proposed by the administration and the scientific articles published until now. According to current data available online, the apple sector has been improved by various strategies deployed by the government. Among these strategies, the Green Morocco Plan (GMP) is considered the main strategy that has contributed to the improvement of the sector. Despite the success of this sector, it remains subject to multiple abiotic and biotic factors affecting the development of the sector. Climate change, reduced rainfall, increased temperatures, hail, frost, salinity, susceptibility of planted cultivars to diseases, and pests (codling moth, spider mite, scab, and root rot symptoms) are the main scourges of this sector. The consolidation of this success must be maintained by focusing more on the effects of climate change on the yield and quality of apples produced. The identification and characterisation of all varieties planted in Morocco should be further studied using a classical, genetic, and molecular approach, as well as developing others that are more adapted to the local climate. The use of apples for purposes other than raw consumption must also be considered for the development of this sector.