Effectiveness of Arbuscular Mycorrhizas in Improving Carob Culture in the Mediterranean Regions

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Carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.) tree is considered among the most important forest-fruit species native to the Mediterranean region. It has various uses and great valorization potential, all parts of this plant could be exploited as a source of income, as human food or livestock fodder as well as source of raw materials for pharmaceutical, cosmetic, or food industries. Moreover, due to its particular agroecological features, carob tree offers the advantage of growing in poor and unfertile soils in the Mediterranean and Mediterranean-like regions of the world. Thus, carob trees are suitable for the rehabilitation of marginal and sub-marginal areas, helping to compensate for the expanding land desertification in these regions where it can play the role of pioneer and productive species. Carob has been intermittently explored over the last 20 years as a potential tree crop industry in low rainfall areas. The importance of developing the industrial agroforestry potential of the carob tree is hurdled by the lack of options for agroforestry, especially in Mediterranean regions with low rainfall (below 500 mm), and by the need to develop suitable practices for the sustainable management of natural resources. Viable commercial carob cultivation will require mastering efficient farming practices with detailed attention to water requirements and soil fertility. It would improve agricultural productivity in low rainfall areas, help manage water and land degradation, diversify farmers’ incomes, and contribute to the development of export industries contributing to balance the economy of the country. This chapter will provide current knowledge regarding the use of mycorrhizal symbiosis for the improvement of carob culture and productivity in the context of Mediterranean ecosystems. An overview on the multipurpose potential of the carob tree and how spreading its cultivation will benefit people and the environment in marginal areas is highlighted.