growing seasons of 2013-2014 and 2014-2015, in a private farm at El-Salheya El-Gedida City, Ismailia Governorate, Egypt, to investigate the effect of rice straw (RS) as alternative to sandy soil (SS) and drenching applications of potassium humate (K2-HA) at 2 g/l, potassium silicate (K2SiO3) at 5 g/l, and seaweed extract (SWE) at 0.5 g/l on improving growth of sweet pepper (capsicum annuum L.) plants under deficit irrigation every 2 (I2), 3 (I3) and 4 (I4) days in addition to daily irrigation (I1) as control. Plant samples were taken at 90 days after transplanting to record leaf area, shoot fresh and dry weights, in addition to, determination of leaf relative water content (LRWC), concentrations of  N, P, K and Ca. Mean values of drenching applications showed significant increase in the growth parameters ;shoot fresh and dry weights, leaf area, LRWC, as well as, concentrations of  N, P and Ca in the two seasons comparing to untreated control and the best results were due to K2-HA followed by SWE then K2SiO3. The highest concentration of  K was obtained by K2SiO3 followed by K2-HA then SWE. Plants were grown on RS showed significant increase in LRWC comparing to plants were grown on SS. Plants were applied with I2+ K2-HA+ SS showed the highest significant value of shoot fresh weight, shoot dry weight, leaf area, N, P and Ca concentrations followed by I2+SWE+SScomparing to control plants applied with I1+ SS without drenching applications. Plants were grown on RS showed significant increase in growth parameters comparing with control plants but less than those were grown on SS. The best results were achieved by I3 + K2-HA+ RS, I3 + SWE+ RS, I4 + K2-HA+ RS. Plants were grown on rice strawunderI3 irrigation and applied with K2-HA or SWE showed significant increase in N, P and Ca concentrations, while, under I4  irrigation an increase in N and P concentrations was obtained by K2-HA.The highest concentrations of k were observed with plants grown on SS under the highest level of irrigation deficit I4 by K2SiO3.It could be concluded from the present study that rice straw could alleviate the negative effect of low water supply and applications of K2-HA and SWE are recommended for enhancing sweet pepper growth and nutrient elements uptake under water deficit conditions.

The good design of irrigation system is one of the main steps of extent the life of the irrigation system, as well as increase the cultivated crop productivity by choosing the proper components of irrigation system control head unit ( such as pump, motor, filters, main line pipe, fertilization device, and the different control unit attachements). Different types of control unit components are used according to the system conditions for irrigation of agricultural areas. It is very difficult to find an expert at desired time and desired place for choosing correct control unit which are varied in different types and models. In this study, this problem was to be tried to solve by designing of an expert system for choosing proper components of control unit in irrigation network. A rule-based program named TSDI-ES (Technical Specification of Drip Irrigation-Expert System) was coded and compiled using Microsoft visual basic 2013 language. Generally, the expert system database obtained from commonly used all components of control unit in irrigation network in Egypt. selection of all components of control head unit in irrigation network were determined by taking into consideration the following parameters: water resource, irrigation methods, irrigation area, crop pattern, climate, soil properties, and well characteristics. Results of the investigation indicated that it is possible to use the TSDI-ES rule-based program for choosing all proper components of control head unit in drip irrigation network such as pump, filtration unit, fertilizers devices, and flow, pressure measuerement and control devices.

two successive seasons of 2015 and 2016 on Wonderful“ Pomegranates trees grown in sandy soil under drip irrigation system in a private orchard located at Giza governorate, Egypt . Trees were sprayed two times (at fruits size 8-10 mm & Re- spraying at one month later) with  Potassium silicate at (2500 &  5000 ppm) , Boron at(5 &10%) , Kaolin (1 &2% ) , Zinc oxidase (1000 & 2000 ppm) with wrapping as a commercial treatments . Spraying started at July  in the two seasons to improve fruit cracking resistance “Wonderful“ pomegranates  and study their effects upon yield components, physical and chemical fruit properties. Results indicated that the “Wonderful“ pomegranates cultivar had the highest values of fruit weight and the minimum cracking values were obtained by spraying Boron at (5 %) and potassium silicate at (5000 ppm) in both seasons and this treatments gave the maximum values with total yield/tree, /feddan and Marketable yield/tree, /feddan .Meanwhile ,number of arils per fruit ,total soluble solids , total sugar ,total acidity , (arils)/fruit weight was not affected but when trees treated with wrapping, without wrapping and zinc oxidase at (1000 ppm) sprays gave the minimum mentioned above characteristics. However, fruit weight, arils weight, ascorbic acid, anthocyanin and tannins %were increased as influenced by foliar spraying with all treatments in both studied seasons. Therefore, boron at 5 % and Potassium silicate at 5000 ppm treatments could be recommended for improving Wonderfull pomegranate cvs performance in cracking resistance alternative treatments to fruit wrapping under similar conditions of this study.

The study aimed at estimating feed efficiency of milk production systems in Urban and Peri-urban areas in three main provinces in Egypt. The targeted provinces were: Cairo, Giza and Qaloubeya. A questionnaire has been developed to cover the variables related to the production systems. The total number of interviewers was 72, included the districts: Manshiat Elbakary; Saft Elaban and Shalaquan as peri-urban, and Elmarg; Elomrania and Dar Elsalam as urban areas. As a result of the great significant in the selected samples, a typology has processed gathering similarities in two main groups of producers: land-access and landless producers. Three crop-livestock systems have been classified due to the concepts: land capacity and herd size (group 1, 2 and 3). Dairy systems have been identified as two main urban dairy specialized systems (group 4 and 5) oriented to dairy activities. In order to measure feed efficiency for each system were represented in the groups, the most significant obtained results were: the small and the micro crop-livestock producers related land-access producers (group 2 and 3) which have small herd appear to be more efficient in valorizing feed in relation to milk production per head per year, and as well as milk production per feddan allocated to fodder crops. On contrary, the landless producers (group 4 and 5) have the lowest feed efficiency due to the amount of concentrates included in their feed strategy (intensive feeding system) and inability to produce fodders.             The large mixed crop-livestock system (group 1) represents an intermediate status that producers cultivate fodders inside farm, but remain low economic efficiency in terms of their intensive feed strategy. The results of the study indicated that the small and the micro crop-livestock (group 2 and 3) achieved the highest feed efficiency regarding milk production in Urban and Peri-urban areas and thus the importance of improving productive performance by creating supposed scenarios or technical packages using simulation systems. Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and extension programs are essential in performing records and marketing which help to raise product price as well as producers` income and the Gross Domestic Products (GDP).

Wady El Natroun high way (Beer Hooker Area) in a private orchard in a sandy soil under drip irrigation system with saline water.  in 2015 and 2016 seasons. Chinese tangerine (Citrus tangerine) transplant were budded on three rootstocks namely sour orange (Citrus aurantum, mion), volkamer lemon (Citrus volkameriana, Tem) and X639 hybrid between (Cleopatra mandarin × Ponicurus trifoliata) grown under saline conditions to study the effect of foliar  application of antioxidants namely ascorbic and salicylic acid on vegetative growth and leaf mineral contents. Results showed that, Volkamer lemon rootstock surpassed sour orange and x639 rootstocks under saline conditions, the highest incremental percentage young tree height, stem diameter, number of leaves per shoot and leaf area were registered by Chinese tangarine scion budded on Volkamer lemon rootstock. Among selected antioxidants ascorbic acid at the concentrations of 800 ppm recorded the highest significant values for vegetative growth parameters and surpassed salicylic acid. Also Chinese mandarin scion budded on volkamer lemon accumulated the highest concentrations of nitrogen (N), phosphorus(P), magnesium(Mg), and chloride (Cl-) and the lowest concentration of sodium (Na+). Chinese mandarin scion budded on sour orange rootstock accumulated the highest concentrations of potassium (K) while Chinese tangerine scion budded on x639 accumulated the highest concentrations of sodium (Na).

rosemary and its oil were used to investigate their effects on diabetic and liver malfunctional rats by administrating them with STZ or CCl4 for three weeks. The therapeutic effects of rosemary extracts (alcoholic and aqueous) and its oil against acute hyperglycemia induced by STZ in rats showed a decrease in the levels of fasting and postprandial blood glucose of rats treated with alcoholic extract of rosemary. In addition, results showed a restoration of these levels of the rats treated with aqueous extract or oil to their normal ranges after 3 weeks. There is a significant difference in lipid profile between rats treated with alcoholic or aqueous extracts and the negative control, where, the HDL in group administrated rosemary oil is significantly higher than both positive and negative control.                  The protective effects of rosemary extracts (alcoholic and aqueous) and its oil against liver toxicity induced by CCl4 in rats showed a significant difference between both (negative and positive control) and the activity of AST and ALT in the rats treated by alcoholic and aqueous extracts of rosemary. The protective effects of the plant extracts against liver toxicant occurred by decreasing the activities of these enzymes. Oil rosemary had restored effect more than both ethanolic and aqueous extracts, but not significant. This protective effect occurred by decreasing the activities of AST, ALT and Alp enzymes. No significant (p≤0.05) differences were noticed among the levels of serum total protein for all treatments compared to the negative and positive controls. The levels of total cholesterol and triglycerides recorded high values for the positive controls compared to the negative control. The protective effects of rosemary extracts against liver toxicant occurred by restoring the levels of these parameters to their normal values.

The present study was carried out to investigate the effect of season on growth performance traits, leptin hormone concentration and gene expression for innate immunity in response to vaccination against pasteurellosis. A Total of 384 weaned rabbits were used in this study. They were from females of APRI line, a local population. Rabbits weaned at 33-35 days and introduced in the experiment at weaning. Arbitrarily, weight at beginning was considered as the "5 weeks" weight. All rabbits were weighed every 7 days and the feed consumption measured at the same weekly interval until all rabbits were 12 weeks old. Leptin hormone level in serum was assayed. Vaccination with Pasteurella multocida was studied in a challenge experiment. Gene expressions for interleukin-6 (IL-6) and toll-like receptor-4 (TR4) were assayed by Real Time-PCR. Parameters of the antioxidant status were included reactive oxygen species, (ROS) expressed as H2O2, Lipid Peroxide, expressed as malondialdehyde and glutathione peroxidase. Blood samples were taken at 8, 10 and 12 weeks of age, respectively. The body weights in winter at W5, W8and W12 of age were higher than those in others seasons. Season had a significant (P≤0.05) influence on daily gain and feed intake. Season had no significant influence on Leptin hormone level in growing rabbits. Vaccination with Pasteurellamultocida led to an increase in gene expression for IL-6 in autumn and winter. Expression for IL-6 in spring has the lowest values. Gene expression of TR4 in rabbits under different seasons was not significantly different. It is can cluded that vaccination by Pasteurellamultocida needs some additives to enhance immunity especially during summer and spring seasons.

This study aimed to evaluate hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic activities of Spirulina Platensis and its bioactive components (phycocyanin (PC), phycocyanopeptide (PCP) and phycocyanobilin (PCB)) on male diabetic Rats compared to controls and glibenclamide drug. For this reason, male Albino rats were equally divided into seven groups designated as normal control, diabetic control, diabetic + glibenclamide (Glyburide) drug (600 µg kg−1 body weight), diabetic + Spirulina biomass suspension (50 mg/ml/ kg−1 body weight), diabetic + phycocyanin (50 mg kg−1 body weight), diabetic + phycocyanopeptide (49 mg kg−1 body weight) and diabetic + phycocyanobilin (982 µg kg−1 body weight). The results show a statistically significant reduction (P < 0.05) level of fasting blood glucose, insulin resistance and lipids levels in diabetic animals administration with Spirulina Platensis, phycocyanin, phycocyanopeptide and phycocyanobilin compared with diabetic control.  Also, there were an increase in HDL–cholesterol levels and β-cell function in these treatments. Histopathologically, diabetic rats treated with spirulina, PC, PCP induced a slight improve of pancreatic cells and an obvious recovery of pancreatic cells.  The expression of insulin secretion from cells (β-cells) of diabetic rats was improved in the groups treated with Spirulina, phycocyanin, phycocyanopeptide. While, diabetic rats treated with phycocyanobilin recorded insulin levels lower than them.  From this study it can be concluded that Spirulina Platensis, phycocyanin, phycocyanopeptide and phycocyanobilin possessed hypoglycemic, insulin sensitivity and hypolipidemic effects. Hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects of Spirulina Platensis may be attributed to phenolic compounds and phycocyanin. The antidiabetic effect of PC is most likely due to its ability to reduction of insulin resistance, enhance β-cell function and recovery of β-cells. The effect of PC may be attributed to selenium-binding phycocyanopeptide or/ and phycocyanobilin responsible for the antioxidant activity and chromium-binding phycocyanopeptide which activates insulin receptors.

This study reports for the first time the eco-physiological responses of some Egyptian wild beet accessions (WB1013, WB1021 and WB1026) under saline irrigation. The plants were exposed to five seawater salinities (0, 20, 30, 40 and 60% sws) for 6 weeks in a sandy culture in the greenhouse. Low salinity (20% sws) slightly enhanced the plant fresh weight of both WB1013 and WB1021 genotypes by 5% and 3% respectively, but significantly reduced that of WB1026 genotype by about 10%. Higher seawater salinities, however, caused progressive growth reductions in all accessions, with maximum growth inhibition, being 59% in WB1026 at 60% sws. Tolerance threshold was lowest (being at 20% sws) for WB1026, but highest (reached 40% sws) for both genotypes WB1013 and WB1021. EC50 was at salinity level of 40 – 60% sws for WB1026 genotype, but higher than 60% sws for genotypes WB1013 and WB1021. These indicate that both accessions WB1013 and WB1021 are more salt-tolerant when compared with WB1026. The higher salt tolerance of WB1013 and WB1021 accessions is largely conferred by higher leaf K+/Na+ ratio, due to low Na+ and Cl- accumulation under saline conditions compared to WB1026. This was associated with lower dry weights and ion leakage, and with higher leaf area, chlorophyll readings, total soluble carbohydrates and Ca2+ concentrations when compared with WB1026. Both WB1013 and WB1021 accessions do not only offer the possibility of being an alternative promising cash crops under seawater irrigation, but also, through an understanding of its physiology, may provide possible routes to enhance salt tolerance in other beet crops.

L-Tryptophan, is one of the amino acids, also is one of the 9 essential amino acids of human which cannot be synthesized internally by him, microbial production is the main method for obtaining tryptophan for commercial uses. Typical microorganisms used for tryptophan production are E. coli and C. glutamicum. In this study, random mutations is performed on two strains of C. glutamicum to increase tryptophan production, the produced tryptophan measured by bioassay using tryptophan auxotroph E. coli (JW1254-2) strain, the mutations are performed using UV radiation. To detect and compare the difference between the parent strains and the muted strains genetically two molecular markers were used start codon targeted polymorphism (SCoT) and Inter-simple sequence repeats (ISSR). Tryptophan remarkably increased after C. glutamicum mutation to reach 278.4 µg/ml (1257.4% increment) from one mutated strain. Molecular genetics methods showed an ability to distinguish between the two original strains and their mutants and it showed the importance of the mutation by UV radiation for increasing the productivity of the bacteria to tryptophan.