The efficiency of three different types of pollen-collection traps namely, Front Drawer Pollen Traps (Type, 1), Bottom Pollen Traps (Type,2) and Plastic Slide Traps (Type,3) were evaluated. The data indicated that in type 2, which had Bottom Pollen Traps, a significantly high amount of bee pollen was collected (383.30g/colony) followed by type 1, (179.37g/colony) while type 3 had the lowest amount of collected bee pollen (123.80 g/colony). The highest amount of bee pollen collected during summer was from type (2) during 20 -29 July, followed by that from the same group during the periods 1-10 July and 9-18 August, and then type (1) during the peri-od 20-29 July. The results also revealed that the lowest amount of bee pollen collected by the traps was during the last week of August and September.

This study aimed to determine the effect of different salinity and anti-transpiration levels on the growth and biochemical composition of Panicum maximum plants (Guinea grass) during the spring and summer of 2020. Two different anti-transpiration treatments [molasses (sugarcane) (5 mL/L), kaolin (50 g/L) and control] and three salinity levels (S1 well water as the control and salinity S2 2000 ppm; S3 4000 ppm, S4 6000 ppm) were used in 12 treatments in 72 pots (3 anti-transpiration treatments × 4 salinity treatments × 6 replicates); a randomized complete design was used. Results revealed that the plants achieved the highest plant height (123.77 cm) and dry weight (521.87 g/m2) with kaolin and no salt addition treatment during summer. A higher percentage of proteins and carbohydrates were found in spring than in summer, but there was no significant difference in the salinity levels. A high percentage of ash and fiber contents was also observed during summer, with no significant differences between the anti-transpiration treatments. It could be concluded that P. maximum, as one of the most important fodder crops, could be cultivated in marginal lands, especially during the summer season.

The present study was conducted to evaluate 50 wheat genotypes for their productivity and stability under eight environmental conditions. Wheat genotypes were sown at two planting dates under two nitrogen fertilization treatments during the winter seasons of 2018/2019 and 2019/202. The analysis of variance showed that the mean squares of genotypes, sowing dates, and nitrogen fertilization treatments were significant for the number of spikes/plants, the number of kernels/spikes, 1000-kernel weight, and grain yield/plant. The results showed that sowing at the favorable date using 80 kg N/fed increased all studied traits. This study revealed that line numbers 9 and 10 exhibited general adaptability across different environments; hence, these lines are considered promising and could be exploited in breeding programs for wheat improvement.

In contrast to the global countries, ectomycorrhizae members are not common in Egypt, however, they are very important in the afforestation of poor lands. Their occurrence in Pinus sp., Clerodendrum sp., and Eucalyptus sp. may help to explain why these trees are the most extensively dominant around the world, especially in Egypt. The identification and characterization of numerous ectomycorrhizal fungi often involve large morphological descriptions of sporocarps alone, which consequently, in some instances, raise arguments about the accuracy of these studies. The present work was achieved to isolate, identify, and characterize three ectomycorrhizal fungi from sporocarps combining morphological and molecular techniques. The morphological characteristics of tested species were assessed and compared to standard taxonomic literature. ITS-rDNA was utilized for molecular analysis using the universal fungal primers ITS1. Identification of these species was confirmed by comparing the sequences of amplified genomes of these species with respective species sequences in GenBank, followed by blast analysis.

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of amino acid and vitamin foliar applications on improving iceberg lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) production and quality during the summer. First, two hybrids (Patagonia and Bruma) were grown hydroponically in June 2018 and 2019. Then, for five consecutive weeks, plants were sprayed once a week with Stress Free (a commercial product comprising 0.5% vitamins [vitamin B complex/ascorbic acid] and 0.5% selenomethionine) at concentrations of 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0 g/L and Aminomad (20% free amino acids) at concentrations of 2.0, 3.0, and 4.0 cm3 /L. Investigations revealed that all plant growth aspects were positively improved with all foliar spray treatments than with the control. Furthermore, while mineral contents (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and magnesium) showed positive responses to the applied treatments, the highest dose of amino acids showed the highest marketable and total yield effects among all foliar spray treatments with the Patagonia hybrid. However, the marketable and total yield of lettuce heads was lowest with the control treatment without spraying.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of salt stress on amino acid profile and proximate analysis of fenugreek germination samples of two varieties: Giza 2 and Giza 30 for three days. The germination of sterilized fenugreek seeds was conducted using tap water and NaCl solution (2,000 ppm) where higher salt concentration lowered fenugreek germination quality. The germination of fenugreek seeds using tap water or brine increased the crude protein in both dry Giza 2 and Giza 30 seed varieties. Furthermore, sedative sprouts of Giza 30 recorded the highest crude protein (30.60%), fat (6.20%) and energy (333.13 kcal/g) while the use of sterilized Giza 2 seed variety recorded a higher percentage of carbohydrates (43.3%), fiber (8.10%) and ash (6.60%). Alternatively, although amino acid profiles indicated that aspartic acid and proline were most abundant in fenugreek sprouts, sulfur amino acids (cysteine and methionine) demonstrated the least values of the two varieties. Adopting saline water in germinating fenugreek seeds for the two Giza 2 and Giza 30 varieties decreased all amino acid contents compared with those of tap water treatment.

In this study, we examined eight white inbred lines of maize and their F1 crosses under normal and drought stress conditions to estimate their combining ability for grain yield and associated traits. The results showed significant correlation (mean squares) of irrigation treatment with the studied traits. The effects of parents, crosses, and genotypes were all determined to be highly significant under both irrigation levels. Grain yield and other traits showed significant differences (mean squares) associated with both General combining ability (GCA) and Specific combining ability (SCA) under both irrigation regimes, demonstrating the importance of both additive and nonadditive genetic effects in the expression of performance traits. The parental line (P-86) had positive and highly significant GCA effects, as well as the crosses (P-17×P-96), (P-8×P-96), (P-8×P-171), (P-24×P-86), (P-86×P-96), (P-86×P-171), and (P-96×P-171) which then gave the highest specific combinations under both irrigation regimes for grain yield and some of the associated traits. The highest level of heterosis (heterobeltiosis) for grain yield was obtained in the crosses (P-8×P-96), (P-8×P-137), (P-8×P-171), (P-96×P137), and (P-96×P-171) under both irrigation regimes.

The study aimed to evaluate the performance of 15 exotic indeterminate genotypes of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) to determine their suitability for cultivation under greenhouse conditions. The study material was obtained from two globally known gene banks, namely, the Center for Genetic Resources of the Netherlands and the U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (GRIN-Global) of the United States Department of Agriculture. One locally registered hybrid, Asya, was used as the control. The experimental layout was a complete randomized block design with three replications. The data collected were vegetative, flowering, and fruit characteristics as well as the number of fruits and both early and total yield per plant. High significant differences were observed among the exotic genotypes and control for all the studied attributes. The mean control values of fruit weight, firmness and pericarp thickness were significantly high, and several of the exotic genotypes exceeded the control values for vegetative, flowering, and yield characteristics under study. The genotypes coded as G.21 (Allround), G.18 (Alicante), G.6 (Marsol), G.7 (Harzer Kind) and G.3 (Robar) are promising for their overall performance in the total yield per plant and can be recommended for further exploitation to produce hybrids.

Four agro-wastes were evaluated as substrates for bioethanol production. Seven of the pioneer isolates in the production of cellulase, xylanase and laccase enzymes were selected for soluble sugar and bioethanol production. The highest level of soluble sugar was produced on sugar beet pulp followed by corn cobs. The experimental design included using soybean okara and sesame husk as nitrogen sources added to the production medium. Extraordinary soluble sugar yields were obtained on sugar beet pulp or corn cobs in combination with soybean okara or sesame husk at the concentration of (0.3%) of either. Different concentrations of corn cobs or sugar beet (5, 10, 15, g/100 m medium) were mixed with optimal concentrations of nitrogen sources. Results showed that 10 g of sugar beet or corn cobs achieved the highest soluble sugar yield. The efficiency of four strains of S. cerevisiae for bioethanol production was investigated, S.cerevisiae (AUMC 14720) recorded the highest level of bioethanol on fermentable fungal broth after four days at 30°C.

The main objectives of this study were to use rye grain in the diet of Turkish sheep as a substitute for barley grain and to understand the bio-logical value of rye in feeding lambs and weight gain. Animals were divided into 3 experimental groups with 3 replicates in each group. Control group (T1) received standard diet with barely grain while groups T2 and T3 fed on diets with substitution of 20 and 30% barely grain by rye grain. The results of the study showed that lambs fed on 20% rye seeds have a significant high-er weight gain as a results of better feed intake and feed conversion.