Ageratum houstonianum Mill and Tagetes erecta L. (Asteraceae) were subjected to hydrodis-tillation as well as the stepwise extraction with organic solvents. Crude extracts and the hydrodis-tilled essential oils (E.O) were bioevaluated against two phytopathogenic fungi Rhizoctonia solani and Phytophthora megasperma in vitro. The volatile fraction from both plants showed a good antifungal activity towards the tested fungi, EC50s were 91 and 1369 ppm for R. solani and 84 and 1571 ppm for P. megasperma with Ageratum essential oil (E.O) and Tagetes E.O, respectively. But generally; Ageratum E.O was found to be more effective in reducing mycelium growth of R. solani and P. megasperma (EC50 = 91 and 84 ppm respectively) than Tagetes E.O. Chemical compo-sition of Tagetes E.O and Ageratum E.O; fractions F1 (solid) and F2 (liquid) fractions were investi-gated by GC-MS analysis. Interestingly, heterocy-clic benzopyrane compound (Precocene II) was only component which has been detected in Ager-atum E.O fraction F1. Precocene II seems to be the fungitoxic active components in Ageratum E.O and its fractions. However, monoterpenic hydro-carbons were correlated with the fungitoxic effect of Tagetes E.O. In the green house experiments, Tagetes E.O and Ageratum E.O fraction F1 showed a clear selectivity towards tested patho-gens; Rhizoctonia solanii and Phytophthora megasperma. Ageratum E.O; fractions F1 was found to be much more fungitoxic activity than Tagetes E.O. Tagetes E.O and Ageratum E.O frac-tions F1 were controlled the 90.91% of Root-Rot disease in bean caused by Phytophthora megasperma, while the percentage of disease con-trol was only 36.36% for Rhizoctonia solani.

In this study, the essential oils of rosemary and sage were used to improve cake by two methods either addition or spraying at different concentra-tion on cup cake after 30 min. from baking. The components of essential oils were identified using Gas Chromatography (GC). These oils were eval-uated for inhibitory effect against some pathogenic bacteria especially that may contaminate cake dur-ing handling and storage periods. The effect of these oils at different levels and methods on the sensory characteristics of the produced cake was studied. The results showed that the addition of essential oil of rosemary or sage to cake formula at 1% level increased the acceptability of cakes. While when the rosemary or sage oil sprayed on the cup cake crust after 30 min. of baking at 0.06% or 0.18% level, resulted in a higher over all acceptability scores compared with the other lev-els and cake control. During the storage periods of cakes, using 1.5 % level of rosemary or 0.5% of sage oil added to the formula level resulted in a good acceptability after four and two weeks re-spectively, of storage periods. By using 0.06% concentrations of sage oil sprayed on cup cake crust after 30 min. of baking, the cake had accept-ed during the four weeks of storage periods. Mold growth appeared after 19 and 28 days due to addi-tion of 1% either rosemary or sage oils to the cake formula Meanwhile, the essential oils sprayed at level of 0.12 % of both, the mold appeared after 29 and 33 days for rosemary and sage respective-ly. Also by using the essential oils of rosemary or sage as spray on cake layers, most of bacterial strains and mold-yeast were not detected during the storage periods of cake at room temperature (25 – 30oC). The inhibition of growth of Salmonel-la and E-Coli was noted at 30 μl /disk of rosemary oil and 40 μl /disk for inhibition growth of Bacil-lus Cereus. While the inhibition growth of Salmo-nella, Staph aureus and E-Coli were observed at 40μl /disk of sage oil and at 50 μl/ disk for inhibi-tion growth of Bacillus Cereus.

In seeking economic production of microbial cellulose, the available and low cost commercial kombucha starter, contains mainly Acetobacter xylinum and Saccharomyces sp., were used under static condition. The best medium composition was black tea extract (1.0 g /100 ml H2O), sucrose (20%) and corn steep liquor, CSL (1%) at 26-28oC for 10 days. The cellulose yield (1.3 g /100 ml) and productive rate (1.3 X 10-3 g / day /ml) were higher than some reported values. Addition of folic acid or its building block p-aminobenzoic acid at additive concentrations 0.20% led to dou-bling the yield (2.37 and 2.43 g / 100 ml culture respectively) and the productive rate (2.37 X 10-3 and 2.43 X 10-3 g / day / ml respectively). Scan-ning electron micrograph showed the structure of the produced microbial cellulose fibrils without any microbial flora after treatment with 1% NaOH.

This study was conducted in a sandy soil at Ali Mubarak Village Research Farm, South Tahrir Horticulture Research Station, Behaira Gover-norate, during the two successive seasons of 2002/2003 and 2003/2004 on sweet corn Jubilee hybrid. The study aimed to determine the best treatments of nitrogen fertigation level and chelat-ed calcium foliar application on the productivity and quality of sweet corn. The obtained results indicated that increasing nitrogen fertigation level (100, 120, 140 to 160) kg N/fed. and (or) chelated calcium (12% Ca++) concentration (500 and 1000 ppm Ca EDTA) led to increasing the vegetative growth (leaf area, plant height, fresh and dry weight), chemical composition (total chlorophyll, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and calcium in leaves) and yield characters (ear length, ear diame-ter, weight of 1000 seed, unhusked ear, husked ear and total yield) The promising treatment was 160 kg N/Fed. combined with 1000 ppm Ca EDTA under similar prevailing conditions of the present studying in a sandy soil

The aim of this research is to investigate the influence of balance between organic and mineral fertilizers on morphological and predictive charac-teristics of potato for two seasons, through the application of averages: (25 – 50 – 75 and 100) Ton / Hectare from compost of wheat and peanut which mixed successively with the percentage from mineral typical fertilizers (75 – 50 – 25 – 0 %). The results showed the distinguished effect of mineral fertilizer on morphological and prodictive characteristics of tubers in comparison with mixed or single organic fertilizer. The results showed also the positive effect of increasing the percent-age organic manure or its single use in the soil on the examined variables. However, the specific effect of organic fertilizer varied, so the compost of wheat produced an increase of examined varia-bles. This divergence of results was agreed with certain modifications of soil variables

The present study was carried out to investi-gate the effect of pruning method on growth and production of cucumber (hybrid Aula) grown in greenhouses for 2004 and 2005 growing seasons. Three types of pruning were used : system of prin-cipal stem, system of secondary branchs, and mixed system (principal stem + secondary branchs). The results show the following points * Effect of mixed system is distinguish on early and total production in comparison with the other used methods which present a comparable production. * Failing growth and production of mixed system at the end of season compared with two other used methods. This experience allows to suggest * Use of mixed system necessitate the regular pruning of plants for avoid the physiological fail and the bad morphological and physiologi-cal characteristics of fruits. * Possibility of application the system of principal stem and avoid the system of secondary branchs with the necessity of knowledge the type of branch of varieties for avoid the tardy production

Two experiments were consummated at the Experimental Farm, National Research Center (NRC), Dokki, Cairo, Egypt during two succes-sive seasons of 2004/2005 and 2005/2006 to eval-uate the effect of natural products as a source of some important elements such as rock phosphate as a source of phosphorous and feldspar mica as a source of potassium with biological potassium phosphorous fertilizer or biological potassium fertilizer (Silicate bacterium) at different levels (0.0, 25, 50 and 100 g/L) on Ruta graveolens L. plant instead of the chemical fertilizes. Adding biological fertilizer with feldspar or rock phos-phate improved vegetative growth characters such as plant height (cm), branches number/ plant, fresh and dry weights of different plant parts i.e. leaves, stems and roots (g/plant), in addition to some chemical constituents as essential oil, total flavo-noides, P, K, Fe, Zn and Cu content. On the other hand, the main constituents of essential oil and N content were decreased compared with adding recommended chemical fertilizers.

The predatory phytoseiid mites Euseius scutal-is (El-Badry) and Typhlodrompis swirskii (Athias–Henriot) successfully developed and reproduced on strawberry leaves, infested with mymphs of the two-spotted spider mite Tetramychus urticae kock as prey, of both Yaeel (smooth slight hairy) and Vantana (rough dense hairy) cultivars indicating a different effect of leaf surface on their behaviour at 27o C and 70% RH.Yaeel leaf was the most appropriate surface and Vantana ones was the least. Longevity was the greatest on Yaeel (31.92 and 28.48 days) and the shortest on Vantana (19.40 and 15.50 days) for each predator, respec-tively. The total number of eggs/ female was 39.00 and 41.34 on Yaeel and 21.02 and 19.68 on Vantana, respectively. Population of the two pred-ators multiply 29.21 and 27.41 in a generation time of 15.78 and 13.93 days on Yaeel, whilst they were (Ro= 14.77 and 14.79) and (T= 14.26 and 12.55 days)on Vantana, respectively. Life table parameters also indicated that the smooth Yaeel leaves are better host-plants for predators in terms rm and erm. Trichomes characteristics on midrib and blade of Yaeel and Vantana strawberry leaves were determined

Different applications [various potato cultivars, chemical fertilizers, bioagents and chemical in-ducers] were used for controlling brown rot dis-ease of potato. Potato cultivars namely Diamant, Desiree, Herms, Lady Joy, Lady Rossetta, Nicola, Spunta and Valor were variably susceptible to Ralstonia solanacearum, the causal pathogen of brown rot disease. Herms cultivar was the least susceptible. Application of ammonium sulfate, potassium sulfate, Urea, and calcium superphos-phate to infested soil as a single amendment re-duced disease incidence. Application of calcium superphosphate was the most effective treatment. The bioagents Pseudomonas fluorescens, Pseu-domonas putida and Bacillus subtilis were effec-tive in controlling disease when were used sepa-rately and Pseudomonas putida was the most effi-cient. Foliar spraying with different inducers sin-gly [salicylic acid, di-potassium hydrogen phos-phate and tri-potassium phosphate] reduced the disease incidence. Tri-potassium phosphate was the most effective against the disease. Therefore, a management programme was suggested including cultivar Herms, calcium superphosphate, Pseudo-monas putida and tri-potassium phosphate, as in-tegrated treatment. Rotation of these agents showed high effectiveness to disease control as well on the yield increase.

This study aims at clarifying the most important factors that control using and recycling of farm residues. Also, determining the contribution of these factors in the quantity used or recycled by the farmer. The results showed that, the most im-portant factors for amount percentage of wheat straw used as forage, were number of farm ani-mals, price of green forage/ ton and straw stores which together accounted for 78% of the amount percentage. On the other hand, the most important factors for sold quantity of wheat straw were number of farm animals and transporting means which together accounted for 51% in that amount. The study showed also that the most important factors of the recycled amount of rice straw werecosts of recycling rice straw to forage and fertiliz-er, price of compost/ ton and price of nitrogen fertilizers/ ton. These factors together accounted for 88% of the total variability of the recycled amount. The most import contributing factors in the amount of maize straw recycled to silage were straw recycling costs, number of farm animals and extension. These factors contributed to 87% in that recycled amount. The most contributing factors in the cotton straw used as fuel were number of fami-ly members and oil fuel used. These two factors accounted for 66% of variation of straw amount. The study recommends that establishment of agri-cultural policy is necessary to get rid of farm resi-dues using modern technology i.e recycling of farm residues to reduce environment pollution and to develop the agricultural sector to achieve sus-tainable agricultural development.