This investigation was carried out to evaluate the chemical characteristics of new eight sweet potato varieties namely, CEMSA 74-228, SANTO AMARA, NC 1525 and KEMB 37 (creamy flesh) and JAPON TRESMESINO, LO 323, TAINUNG 64 and BEAUREGARD (yellow flesh ), and study their suitability for processing. The obtained re-sults reveal that SANTO AMARA and KEMB37 varieties were the best ones having the highest content of chemical constituents compared with those of the other studied creamy flesh sweet pota-to varieties. Moreover, 140 days from planting was the best harvesting time that achieved the highest chemical characteristics. All selected creamy sweet potato varieties had adequate miner-als contents especially, KEMB 37 followed by NC 1525 and CEMSA 74-228 then SANTO AMARA varieties that could be considered good sources of minerals for human nutrition. Yellow flesh sweet potatoes have been recognized as valuable sources of carbohydrates, protein, dietary fibers and could be considered as good sources of both vitamin C and total carotenoids. Moreover, TAINUNG 64 and LO 323 were found to be good sources of β-carotene (pro- vitamin A). The more suitable har-vesting time for yellow sweet potato varieties, which recorded the highest levels of essential ele-ments, was 140 days from planting. On the other hand, TAINUNG 64 variety could be considered the best one compared to the other examined vari-ties. The most suitable varieties that having good quality attributes for processing were SANTO AMARA and KEMB 37 as creamy flesh and TAINUNG 64 and BEAUREGARD as yellow flesh sweet potato varieties. Moreover, these va-rieties could be successfully used in the produc-tion of new and untraditional sweet potato prod-ucts.

Activity of commercially and purified essential oils of aloes, anise, black cumin, caraway, carna-tion, cumin, fennel, garlic, jojoba, lavender, onion, rue and thyme were tested against growth of Pseudomonas syringae pv. lachrymans, caused bacterial angular leaf spot disease of cucumber, in vitro and in vivo. Three essential oils had an inhib-itory effect, based on the determination of the min-imum inhibitory concentrations (MICs 0.25-2.0%). Carnation, fennel and thyme were inhibito-ry at MIC 0.5%. The three mentioned oils showed considerable variation in the inhibitory effect by the disk diffusion method, though the recognized similarity in fumigation treatments. The greatest activity was recorded with thyme (18mm) followed by carnation (15 mm) while fennel showed the low-est effect (9mm). Soaking cucumber seeds of differ-ent cultivars in 2% emulsified oils for a period rang-ing from 0.25 to 4 hours significantly decreased the percentage of germination. Shorter duration of seed soaking, 0.25 to 0.5 hours, showed lower deleterious effect on germination and fennel oil showed greater harmful effect. In greenhouse experiments, the three oils significantly controlled the disease incidence compared to the check treatment, being more pro-nounced for thyme oil followed by fennel and carna-tion oils. Analysis of the essential oils in concern showed eugenol, dieugenol, linolenic acid, methyl chavicol (estragol), anisole and thymol, as an active ingredients.

Twenty dairy cows belonged to four small holder were put under study, to investigate the efficiency of using scavenger chicken (baladi) as biological control of ticks and their borne diseases. The cows were divided to two groups first and second, they were infested with ticks, Laboratory diagnosis for babesia was carried out. All samples showed positive reaction.Cloxon 2.5 gm/kg/ body weight (BW) was used to treat the cows of the two groups with the presence of ticks, and all cases were recovered. Gamatox was used to control the ticks on the cows in the first group, while scavenger chicken (5 baladi chicken in each farm), were used to control ticks in the second two farms. After seven days no tick was observed on the cows in the second group. It also showed negative result for babesia test. On the other hand, nymphs were noticed on the cows of the first group. The research recom-mended to use scavenger chicken to terminate the life cycle of ticks and to get rid of its pathogenic diseases in small scale dairy farms.

The present research aimed to characterize physical and morphological features of thirteen varieties of mandarin as one of the National Gene Bank and Genetic Resources (NGBGR) objectives in Egypt which include also, collection, conserva-tion, characterization, and evaluation of agricul-tural genetic resources. The present study investi-gates the morphological characterization, pollen grain fertility and sterility as well as fruit chemical characterization (vitamin C, PH, T.S.S and acidi-ty) of 13 mandarin varieties (Citrus sp.).Including Balady, Malawy, Chine mandarin, Clementine, Celiopatra, Centra, Satsuma, Tangerine Dancy, El-Shorbagee, Sonbol, Sayed Marri, Abd El-Razik and Aswan. The Physical and morphological char-acterization descriptors revealed differences among varieties. Characterization of tree shape resulted in eight obloid varieties and five were spheroids. Leaf lamina shape morphological char-acteristic studies showed one elliptic variety, three ovate and 9 lanceolate. Fruit shape studies indicat-ed that five varieties were pyriforum, five obloid and three were spheroid. Fruit apex shape demon-strated that seven varieties were depressed, while six were truncate. Differences in flavedo (skin) color among varieties revealed that seven were orange; two were dark orange and one variety for each of (light orange, green yellow, dark yellow and yellow). As to the color of the pulp (flesh), results indicated that two varieties were yellow, 10 were orange and one was orange-red. The average number of carples per fruit ranged 10-14 carple in 9 varieties and from 5-9 carple in four varieties. The average number of seeds per fruit revealed that five varieties had ten to nineteen seeds; three varieties hold 20-50 seeds and two varieties con-tained five to nine seeds, one variety included one to four seeds, while two varieties had no seeds. Other morphological studies are investigated and will be presented. Fruit chemical characterization disclosed that Malawy had the highest vitamin C concentration (44.82 mg/100 ml) whereas both of Celiopatra and Satsuma showed the lowest con-centration (15.0 and 14.0 mg/100 ml, respective-ly).The greatest pH was determined in Abd El-Razik (pH 3.91) variety in contrast to the more acidity (pH 3.12-3.77) found in El-Shorbagee and Chine mandarin juice, respectively. The best total soluble solids were determined in the Abd El-Razik (15.1%), whereas the least ones were found in Satsuma (9.13%). Chine mandarin recorded the highest titratable acidity of 3.88% in contrast to 0.67 % for Sonbol. Studies of pollen grain fertility showed that Celiopatra and Sayed Marri varieties gave the highest pollen fertility (99.84%and 99.44% respectively). Contrarily, the highest pol-len sterility was found in Clementine variety (8.41%).

Laboratory experiments were carried out to de-termine the bioeffects of an isolate of ento-mopthogenic fungi Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) and Biofly a commercial product of B. bassiana, on the 1st instar larvae of mushroom fly, Bradysia ocellaris (coms). The bioactivity of B. bassiana was tested, using five concentrations of B. bassi-ana on some biological criteria of the mushroom fly, by calculating LC50 values after three and sev-en days of treatment. Results indicated that the mortality rates percentage increased with the in-crease of the concentrations used and the period after treatment. The highest percentage of mortali-ty occurred within the first seven days following treatment. Statistical analysis of the obtained lar-val-pupal and adults period and weight revealed significant differences between treated and non-treated insects.

Day by day increase the importance of using the natural food additives. Hence in this study, the phenolic extracted from basil leaves, spearmint leaves and fennel seeds, as natural antioxidants, were added at concentrations 200, 400 and 600 ppm from fat weight using in biscuit production. Biscuit was stored at room temperature for 8 months. Induction period was measured by Rancimat apparatus. Total phenolic and phenolic acids were determined. Peroxide value, acid value, thiobarbituric acid and refractive index were measured during storage. Antimicrobial activity of phenolic extraction were examined after 8 months. Sensory evaluation was measured directly after baking. The results showed that total phenolic content in basil leaves, spearmint leaves and fen-nel seeds were 3.97, 1.91 and 1.53 mg/g as caffeic acid equivalents respectively. Five phenolic acids were found in both basil leaves and spearmint leaves, while four phenolic acids were found in fennel seeds as determined by using HPLC. Rancimat results showed that induction period for phenolic herbs could be ranked as follow: basil leaves > spearmint leaves > fennel seeds. The re-sults elucidated that the best concentration from natural additives as antioxidants activity were 400 and 600 ppm compared with BHT. The results revealed that with increasing the concentration of natural antioxidants increased, the more peroxide value, acid value, thiobarbituric acid and refractive index were decreased. Total bacterial count and (yeast & mold) count were decreased with increas-ing the concentration phenolic additives. Sensory evaluation indicated that addition of different anti-oxidants showed no significant differences be-tween control and biscuit samples

A collection of 12 varieties of broad bean (Vicia faba L.) was studied. This was curried out to see the variation of phenolic compounds (tannins) and proteins of the seeds of Vicia faba L.   This study gave the following results - At  the  biochemical level; according to our results one observed a high content in proteins within the species of Vicia faba L.   - The electrophoresis of total proteins confirmed the richness of proteins of Vicia faba L [albumins (67 kDa), Globulins, Vicilline (50 kDa)]. - Finally the phytochemical analysis (phenolic compounds) allowed us to confirm the richness of the colored seeds in phenolic compounds (condensed tannins) "949 T (183±9.66), Aquadulce (132.19±1.53)". The effect of time (the factor of the environment) inflates on the coloring of the seeds (oxidation) and on the polymerization of tannins.

A pot experiment was carried out in summer season of 2006 to evaluate the different concentrations effect of foliar application of methanol and pink pigmented facultative methelotrophic bacteria (PPFM) on some growth parameters and yield of cotton plant. Data showed that, the highest growth rate value was obtained with PPFM isolates from wheat with 1% methanol. The growth rate of PPFM isolates decreased with increasing the methanol concentration. Foliar applications with 20% methanol with PPFM 3 or 4 spraying times gave the significantly highest values of cotton growth and yield parameters. Such two potent treatments increased  leaf area index (LAI) by 51.4 and 55.8 %; number of fruiting branches / plant by 53.1 and 58.0 %; number of total bolls / plant by 38.1 and 43.0 %; seed cotton weight / boll by 37.1 and 48.2 % and seed cotton yield / plant by 46.1 and 50.8, respectively than the control.

Soil fertility management is a key issue for sustaining agricultural production in dry lands. Organic resources are important for nutrient avail-ability and maintenance of soil organic matter. Sustaining fertility of arid soils necessitates in-creasing inputs of organic residues. Two experi-ments with water hyacinth were carried out to monitor (in the first; field study with litter bags) decomposition and changes in N, P, K, Ca and Mg as influenced by method of application where, in the second (greenhouse study) short-term effect on some properties of a sandy soil and early estab-lishment of fodder sorghum (Sorghum bicolor). Results of the first experiment showed that resi-dues incorporated in the top 0-30cm soil depth had significantly (P≤0.01) increased loss of dry matter weight compared to surface application. Decom-position rate constants of surface and sub-surface application were 0.029% week-1 and 0.041% week-1, respectively. Potassium was the fastest nutrient released with 50% loss attained after the 2nd and 6th week from incorporation and surface application, respectively. Nitrogen, P, Ca, and Mg releases from water hyacinth incorporated in the sub-soil were significantly (P≤ range from 0.0001 to 0.008) high compared to surface application. Nutrients loss was in the order of K =Mg > P > N > Ca. However, results of the second experi-ment showed that incorporation of water hyacinth residues significantly (P ≤ 0.001) decreased pH (by about 27%) and hydraulic conductivity (by 40-46%). Also, cation exchange capacity and organic C were significantly increased by about 23 and 100%, respectively. The study concluded that ap-plication of water hyacinth could be one of the good alternatives for improving quality of arid soils.

Two field experiments were conducted at Nubaria Agric. Res. Station during 2003 and 2004 seasons. The objective of this investigation aimed to study the effect of irrigation intervals (irrigation every 14 and 28 days) and six intercropping patterns: (1) Pure stand of soybean (sown in hills 10 cm distance apart on each side of the ridge and thinned at two plants/hill). (2) Pure stand of sunflower (sown in hills 30 cm distance on side of the ridge and thinned at one plant/hill). (3) Soybean sown on one side of the ridge and sunflower sown on the other side of the ridge (100% soybean+100% sunflower). (4) Soybean sown in 2:2 rows with sunflower. (5) Soybean sown in 2:4 rows with sunflower. (6) Soybean sown in 4:2 rows with sunflower on yield and its components of both crops, as well as the competitive relationships. A split plot in complete randomize design with four replicates was used. The results indicated that Irrigation intervals had significant effects on soybean plant height, number of pods/plant, seed yield/fad. and seed oil percentage of soybean plants. Intercropping patterns had significant effects on all studied traits, except oil and protein content percentages in the two seasons. The highest seed yield/fad. was obtained by irrigation every 14 days and sowing soybean in pure stand. Pure stand gave higher seed yield of soybean than that of all intercropping patterns. Irrigation intervals had significant effects on sunflower plant height, number of leaves/plant, seed yield/plant and seed yield/fad. of sunflower plants in the two seasons. Also, intercropping patterns had significant effects on all studied traits in the two seasons. Pure stand of sunflower gave higher seed yield/fad. than all intercropping patterns. The highest seed yields of sunflower and soybean were obtained by irrigation every 14 days and pure stands in the two seasons. The results indicated that land equivalent ratios (LER) of soybean and sunflower values were more than one. Moreover, it could be concluded that soybean and sunflower sown at pure stands with irrigation every 14 days can be recommended for raising soybean and sunflower productivity as compared with all intercropping patterns under the condition of Nubaria region. Also, sunflower was always the dominant crop, whereas soybean was dominated.