MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION AND OIL POTENTIAL OF THE NEW ARGAN TREE VARIETY (Argania spinosa L. SKEELS) BENI SNASSEN FROM EASTERN MOROCCO

The eastern region is facing climate disruption, resulting in increased rainfall variability, an unusual rise in average temperatures, and more extreme events such as prolonged droughts. Given these new natural constraints, the urgent need to develop resilient agricultural strategies is considered a priority. The selection of adapted varieties is one of the main strategies for better tolerating the stressful conditions of a changing climate. This paper presents the Beni Snassen argan tree variety, one of the first varieties officially listed in the National Office for Food Safety's catalog on List C of species and varieties of plants that can be cultivated in Morocco. This variety was selected at the Faculty of Sciences in Oujda (FSO). Morphometric and biochemical data show that Beni Snassen is characterized by medium vigor, a spreading habit, and medium spine density. The leaves are elongated, while the fruits and kernels are medium in size. This variety also has particularly high oil content (53.53%). The characteristics of the new Beni Snassen argan tree variety confirm the value of this genotype in enhancing Moroccan argan cultivation by strengthening the existing range of varieties in order to promote plants that are better suited to local soil and climate conditions.