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.

The present work aimed to optimize amino acids production by Bacillus amyloliquefaciens 35s from chicken feather using response surface methodology (RSM) and applying the produced amino acids in biological control of powdery mildew disease. Variables affecting amino acids production from B. amyloliquefaciens 35s were screened using Plackett Burman design. Factors showed to be significant to produce amino acids were optimized using central composite design (CCD) of RSM at three coded levels (-1, 0, +1). All obtained data were analyzed by ANOVA with post hoc multiple comparison analysis performed using Tukey’s HSD. TGY (tryptone, glucose, yeast extract) was the basal medium. Impacts of medium components were studied using Plackett-Burman design. “Design Expert 12” StateEase was used to analyze the experimental Plackett- Burman design. Feather, yeast extract, CaCO3, KH2PO4 and agitation rate (using shake flask) were optimized statistically by the CCD design of the RSM. Validation of statistical model of the medium components was done by carrying out the experiment at optimum conditions of the process parameters as determined by the model. Amino acids types were identified by amino acid analyzer. Among the significant medium components, feather, yeast extract, CaCO3, KH2PO4 and agitation rate showed to have significant effect on amino acids production. Predicted maximum amino acids production was observed near the mid-point concentrations of the mentioned above factors and the experimental value (6.55 g/l) was very close to the predicted value of (6.60 g/l) predicted by the model. Amino acid analyzer analysis for the produced amino acids shows the release of asparagine, threonine, serine, glutamine, proline, glycine, alanine, cysteine, valine, methionine, isoleucine, leucine, tyrosine, phenyl alanine, histidine, lysine and arginine, respectively. Effect of chicken feather hydrolysate on cucumber powdery mildew disease was tested by applying foliar application with different concentrations (0, 5, 10, 15, and 20% v/v), then degree of infection and sporulation on cucumber plants were assessed. The lowest concentration of chicken feather hydrolysate showed the lowest effect on disease index. Conversely, cucumber resistance increased by the increasing of feather’s hydrolysate concentrations associated with a clear reduction in the disease index and sporulation. Aside from, extra foliar application showed a decrease in the disease index for all concentrations compared with untreated plants. Foliar application with 20% concentration of chicken feather hydrolysate had the highest stimulation of the studied oxidative enzymes i.e., peroxidase (POX), phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and superoxide dismutase (SOD).

The aim of this study was to investigate the use of corn distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) (27.11% CP) and Foots (20.84% CP) as corn processing by-products in monosex Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus diets to replace yellow corn as an energy source and its effect on growth performance, nutrients utilization, whole body proximate composition, nutrients digestibility and economic efficiency. Three hundreds and seventy five fingerlings of Nile tilapia (10± 0.05 g) were randomly distributed into 15 circular plastic tanks (1000 L), representing 5 treatments. Isonitrogenous (25 to 25.84%) and isocaloric (4174.79 to 4364.65 Kcal GE/kg) experimental diets were prepared with substitution levels of DDGS 0% (T1), 20% (T2) and 40% (T3) and Foots 20% (T4) and 40% (T5). The experimental period lasted for 18 week. Results showed that both of DDGS and Foots have higher in all measured amino acids content than those in yellow corn except cysteine. Moreover, DDGS and Foots have higher content of linoleic, oleic, stearic and palmitic acids than those in yellow corn. Also DDGS and Foots covered the nutrient requirements of the essential fatty acid linoleic (18:2 ω 6) for Nile tilapia. Feed intake was significantly decreased as corn partially replaced by Foots more than the DDGS. Apparent digestibility coefficient of CP, EE, NFE and energy recorded the highest values for the T4 (75.76, 89.86%, 57.48 and 68.71%), respectively, followed by T3 with significant differences. The increasing in substitution levels of yellow corn by DDGS did not significantly (P˃0.05) had an effect on Nile tilapia performances. However weight gain and specific growth rate SGR were gradually decreased with increasing the substitution levels of Foots. The CP content of Nile tilapia carcass was significantly increased with increasing the substitution levels of DDGS (T3) and Foots (T5). Feed conversion ratio (FCR) of the fish fed diets T4 (20% Foots) was the best followed by T5 (40% Foots). The cheaper feed cost gain was obtained from T5(40% Foots) followed by T4(20% Foots).

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.

Chemical composition, minerals content, amino acids, fiber fractions, fatty acids profile, total phenols, total flavonoids and antioxidant activity were determined in wheat flour (WF) 72%, moringa leaves powder (MLP), defatted moringa seeds powder (DMSP) and moringa seeds (MS). Pasting profile and rheological properties of blends supplemented with MLP at levels of 3, 6, 9 and 12% or DMSP at levels of 5, 10, 15 and 20% were also studied. The highest moisture and carbohydrate contents were found in WF (12.60 and 85.05%), respectively. MLP had higher ash and fiber contents (8.87 and 7.91%), respectively, while, protein and fat contents were higher in DMSP and in MS. Mineral content (Ca, K, Mg, P, Na and Fe) in MLP was the highest, while DMSP was higher in Zn content than that of other samples. Fiber fractions of WF were lower than that of both MLP and DMSP. Total essential amino acids of DMSP was higher (19.25%) than that of MLP and WF (12.45 and 4.16%), respectively. Oleic acid was the predominant fatty acid (66.85%) in moringa seeds oil. MLP had the highest value of total phenolic, total flavonoid and antioxidant activity (11.97, 8.02 and 15.87 mg/g), respectively. Color measurements showed that all of MLP, DMSP and WF blends decreased in L*, a*,however, they increased in b*, saturation, hue and ∆E values.    Supplementation with MLP and DMSP at all levels decreased the peak viscosity, trough, breakdown, final and setback viscosities. While, it increased water absorption, dough development time, mixing tolerance index and dough weakening. On contrary, arrival time and dough stability were decreased. Also, MLP and DMSP decreased the extensibility, resistance to extension, maximum resistance to extension energy of dough and the proportional number.