Combinations of different spices were used at variable concentrations in the preparation of vari-ous curry blends. The sample showed the highest sensory attributes in comparison with control cur-ry sample was compounded with different spices, onion and garlic at variable concentrations in cor-responding seasoning blend. The oleoresin of the seasoning blend that possessed the highest quality scores was prepared and subjected to freeze drying process after dispersion on suitable carrier. The flavour contribution percentages of the character-istic notes; light sweet top, medium aromatic, full boiled spicy and pungent spicy were calculated for each curry and seasoning blends. The hydro dis-tilled (HD) oils of the selected curry and its con-stituents were subjected to GC-MS analysis. The results revealed the high contribution of the com-ponents possess spicy note in the raw curry sam-ple. The components possess pungent notes showed less representation. β-Caryophellene was the major compounds in the HD oil of raw season-ing blends followed by δ-carene and ar-turmenone. The qualitative and quantitative varia-tion in the volatile compounds separated from the HD oil of the freeze dried sample may be attribut-ed to the interaction between such components and the used carrier (10% maltodextrin in water).

Rapid estimations of diameter minus lumen(D-L), and outer perimeter of cotton fibers (P) inmicrons, as a biological fineness of Egyptian cottoncould be calculated with satisfactory levels ofaccuracy from hair weight (H.W) in m/tex andmaturity ratio )MR) obtained from Micromat data(new F/MT instrument), using the following equations:2Circularity x 3.14 x 1.52Hs (Standard finenessDiameter (microns) or Final format (D) (microns) = 1.205 HsorCircularit y × 1.524 x 3.14 x HsPerimeter (microns) or Final format (P) (microns) = 3.7853 HsResults of the current study suggested thatmore attention should be focused on meaning andmeasurements of the three values of biologicalfineness (i.e.) diameter (D), perimeter (P) (microns)and standard fineness (Hs) m/tex. whichcan be derived from the data obtained from Micromatinstrument.

Avocado fruits (Persea americana Mill) cv. Fuerte and white sapote (Casimiroa edulis) cv. Rotaceae cultivated in Egypt were collected at different maturity stages:green mature,commercial ripe and over ripe stages. The headspace volatiles of each maturity stage was isolated and subjected to gas chromatography- mass spectrometric analy-sis. A total of 43 components were identified in avocado aroma including; terpenes (15), esters (8), aldehydes (8), alcohols (6), ketones (2), thiazoles (l), pyridines (1), toluene and acetic acid, where as 18 compounds were, identified in casimiroa aro-ma, they contained (4) esters, (6) alcohols, (4) aldehydes, (3) terpenes and (1) ketone. Ethanol (Z)-3- hexenol and (E)-2- hexenal were the major constituents in green and ripe fruits of avocado whereas they decreased at the final stage of matu-ration. Over ripe avocado fruits had the highest content of esters (ethyl ethanoate, ethyl acetate and methyl propanoate) and terpenoides especially d-limonene and z-nerolidol. Esters and alcohols comprised more than 85% of the total concentra-tion of volatiles in casimiroa fruits during three stages of maturation. The highest content of ethyl butanoate (sweet and fruity aroma) and ethanol revealed the most prominent effect on consumer acceptability of the cosimiroa flavour attributes. It is obvious that maturation of the fruits was associ-ated with remarkable changes in the volatiles that mainly affect their flavour.

The effect of exposing of potato tubers cv. Di-amond to ethyl salicylic acid (ES) vapour for dif-ferent doses and different periods of exposing on rots incidence and sprouting of tubers under long term storage was studied. Expose of tubers to high doses of vapour (resulted from evaporation of 0.5 or 1 ml/ liter space) for 6 h led to appear a very strong harmful effect on exposed tubers stored for 4 months. All tubers were decayed, collapsed and severely infected by rot pathogens. Expose of tu-bers to middle dose (0.25 ml/liter space) for 6, 12, 24, or 48 h then stored for 4 months at ambient temperature showed variable effects. Six or 12 h exposing led to slight reduction of rot incidence but it had not effect on sprouting in comparison to non-exposed tubers. On the other hand, exposing, for 24 or 48 h suppressed sprouting completely and reduced to very great extent rots incidence (%). Storage of tubers exposed to 0.25 ml/ liter for 24 h at high relative humidity (~90%) or under cooling (6-8 Cْ ) did not cause any reduction in compound efficiency. Expose of tubers to low dose of ES vapour (0.125 ml/ liter space) for dif-ferent periods showed that exposing for 6 or 12 h led to stimulatory effect on sprouting without ef-fect on rots incidence. Twenty four hours exposing led to decrease rots incidence and sprouting.These results clearly indicated that ES vapour had variable effects on exposed tubers depend upon dose and period of exposing.

A field experiment was conducted at the exper-imental farm of the Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University, Shoubra Elkheima, Kalubia governorate, during 2002/2003 and 2003/2004 seasons to study the effects of three sowing dates, i.e., the first of each of September, October and November, and four pinching treatments (pinching the apical head just after appearance, pinching the main head at the marketable stage, pinching the axillary head just after appearance (disbudding) and without pinching) on broccoli plants (Brassica olerasea var Italica), cultivar “Emperor”. Plants were grown in Kaliobia under loamy soil conditions. Plants of the second sowing date (first of October) produced the tallest plants and the highest number of leaves per plant. Plants grown on the first of October plantation, pinching the main head at the marketable stage or the com-bination between them recorded the highest values of number of siliques/ plant, number of seeds/ plant, and seed yield.

This study was conducted in loamy soil at Qaha Experimental Station, Horticulture Research Institute, ARC, Kalubia governorate, during 2002/2003 and 2003/2004 seasons to study the effect of PEG and planting methods on sweet corn productivity. The obtained results indicated that GSS 9377 F1 hybrid plants produced vigorous growth and higher early and total yield than those of Endeavor F1 hybrid. Direct seeding in the open field or under tunnels increased plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves/plant, plant fresh weight, unhusked ear weight, husked ear weight and total yield compared to transplanting methods. Transplanting produced the higher early yield ei-ther with open field or under tunnels. Primed seeds of sweet corn F1 hybrids (GSS 9377 and Endeavor) in PEG 6000 dalton for 6 hours at the concentration of 400 g/L produced taller plants with thicker stem diameter, higher number of leaves/plant and greater fresh weight, higher un-husked and husked ear weight, ear length, higher TSS as well as early and total yield compared to check untreated seeds

This study was carried out during two succes-sive seasons 2005 and 2006 on Anna apple trees budded on Balady apple rootstock, grown in sandy soil at (4 x 4m) apart under drip irrigation system, in a private farm at El-Khatatba, Monofia Gover-norate. A comparative study of some weed control treatments have been studied on Anna apple trees with its associated weeds. The tested weed control methods were using different colours of polyeth-ylene for mulching (green, blue, red, black and transparent), rice straw mulch, hand hoeing twice and two herbicides (Glyfosinate and Glyphosate) comparing with unweeded (control). All weed control treatments revented a significant reduction in fresh and dry weight of annual broad-leaved weeds, annual grasses, perennial and total weeds as compared with un weeded. The most effective treatments in decreasing fresh and dry weight of annual broad-leaves weeds were rice straw mulch-ing, followed by black polyethylene mulch and Glyfosinate. While, rice straw, black polyethylene and Glyphosate treatments were the most effective in decreasing fresh and dry weight of grass and total weeds. Also, the highest decrement in fresh and dry weight of perennial weeds were obtained by rice straw mulching and Glyphosate treatments. Moreover, results showed a remarkable improve-ment in growth, nutritional status of apple trees and yield (kg/tree). Also, physical and chemical properties of the fruits were improved. The most pronounced treatment developed under such study on the growth reduction of different grown weeds, meanwhile increased the apple tree growth, fruit yield associated with higher fruit quality was in rice straw mulching, black polyethylene mulching, Glyphosate treatments followed by hand hoeing twice treatment.Finally, it could be concluded that soil mulch-ing with rice straw can be used as a method for weed control in apple orchards. This method de-veloped such advantages over herbicides, polyeth-ylene mulch and hand hoeing in this concern. The possibility of using rice straw mulch for their many positive effects such as low coasts, in har-mony with ecosystem without no harmful residual effect especially for exported fruits and for pro-ducing safe fruits for human nutrition. In addi-tions, soil mulch with rice straw improving growth, leaves mineral contents as well as pro-duced higher yield and better quality of apple fruits.

A pot experiment was carried out to investigate the agricultural value of a local phosphate rock (PR) as a source of plant phosphorus compared with that of the currently imported triplesuper-phosphate (TSP) .The PR was applied at the rate of 0, 55, and 110 kg P2O5 /ha and the TSP was at the rate of 0, 45 and 90 kg P2O5 /ha. The growth and leaf contents of N, P and K of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) grown on a clay soil were measured. The experiment continued for two sea-sons. Phosphatic fertilizers are of low recovery; therefore, they can remain for the next crop. Thus, the pots of the first season were set to study the residual effect of phosphorus in the second season. The results indicated that PR and TSP significant-ly (P>0.05) increased dry weights of shoot and root, leaf contents of N , P and available soil phosphorus. However, plant height was signifi-cantly increased by TSP only. The leaf content of K was neither affected by PR nor TSP application. The results showed a positive effect of the residual PR and TSP on the measured parameters. Moreo-ver, the results revealed that the plant measure-ments obtained from PR treatments were compa-rable to those obtained from TSP treatments which indicate that PR can be used as a potential source of phosphorus fertilizer.

The antioxidaitve activity of Maillard reaction products MRPs) from heated whey added to butter was investigated. The antioxidant efficiency changed with different concentrations of MRPs used during storage period at 45ºC. Peroxide val-ue, thiobarbituric acid, acid value, carbonyl com-pounds and free fatty acids of butter were in-creased with storage. Their rate of increase de-creased with increasing the added amount of MRPs to butter.

Many countries are interested in production of Mushroom because of its high nutritive value. In Egypt, production of Mushroom is about 0.06% of the world production. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the economic feasibility of Mushroom production to evaluate the predicted profits in Egypt. The results showed that production of Mushroom significantly increased by 0.15 thousand ton/year. China, U.S.A and Germany are the top producing countries where 46.11% from the total world production is produced by these countries. The top exporting countries are China, Poland and Ireland since they export 57.67% from the total world exports of Mushroom. Meanwhile, Germany, Japan, England and U.S.A. are the top importing countries which import about 574.82% thousand tons/year through (2002- 2004). The study revealed that production of Mushroom is profitable as an enterprise for small investors in Egypt. Total production costs per year is about L.E. 8000. This small project gives two work opportunities and income of L.E. 12 thousand per year. The Internal rate of return of the enterprise is about 35% and the Payback period is about three years. Mushroom, the simple rate of return on investment is about 36%. The sensitivity analysis indicated that the least Internal rate of return supposing reduction of total income, is about 10% or increasing the total costs by 10%, the least Internal rate of return reached to14%. Whereas, simple rate of return on investment was estimated by 24% which was more than the interest rate in commercial banks that reached 10%. Therefore, This study recommends encouraging young-people enterprises in rural communities in new lands to produce Mushroom, by introducing technical consults, financial facilities for small investors. Also, limiting production and marketing difficulties, improving efficiency of marketing systems. In addition to maximizing production of Mushroom for exporting to the international markets and organizing training courses for spotting light on the economic feasibility of Mushroom to increase number of the investors to produce Mushroom.