The study investigated the influence of traditional nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK) mineral fertilizers and nano-fertilizers on yield, and its attributes, and fiber characters of two Egyptian cotton varieties Giza 94 and Giza 96. The design of the experiment was a split- plot with four replicates. Results indicated that Giza 94 cultivar surpassed Giza 96 in agronomic characteristics, although Giza 96 exhibited the highest fiber reading. Nano-chitosan (NPK)-fertilization significantly improved the mean value of boll weight, seed yield, lint yield, lint percentage, upper half mean (UHM), fiber uniformity index, fiber tenacity, and Micronaire value in both seasons. Conversely, the most minimal values for the aforementioned characteristics were recorded with the control NPK fertilizer over the two seasons.

This study was carried out in a private farm in Wardan, Giza governorate in Egypt during 2019 season on strawberry plants. The first experiment aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of different commercial products in cultivated land including Solo 24% SC (Bifenazate), Arbus 12% SC (Chlorfenapyr + Emamectin benzoate) , Concor 24% SC (Spirodiclofen), Excellent 1.9% EC (Emamectin benzoate) , Top9 (Chitosan 0.1%) , Biomectin 5% EC (Abamectin) and Congest 15% CS (Abamectin + Imidacloprid) in reducing the population densities of two spotted spider mite, Tetranychus uriticae Koch. on strawberry plants. According to general mean percentage of reduction in population of T. uriticae, data showed insignificant differences among the seven tested compounds whereas the mortality percentages were 85.94 %, 82.18%, 81.4%, 79.36%, 78.14%, 77.94% and 75.9%, respectively. From these results; it’s clear that Solo compound is the most effective compound and Congest is the lowest one. The other compounds ranged between them in controlling T. uriticae under these experimental conditions. The second experiment evaluated the effectiveness of different formulations in the nursery including Radiant (Spinetoram 12% Sc), Super Rigo (Naphthyl acetic acid – Chitosan), Top9 and Berna Star (Glyceryl stearate 32%) in reducing the population densities of western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) on strawberry plants. According to general mean percentage of reduction in population of F. occidentalis, data showed significant differences among the four compounds. These compounds could be divided into three groups. The first group contained Radiant compound showing high mortality (63.5%). The second group contained Super Rigo and Top9 compounds showing moderate effect (46.44% & 34.3%), respectively. The third group contained Berna Star compound showing least effect (28.36%). From these results; it’s clear that the chemical compound Radiant is the most effective while the natural compound Berna Star is the lowest in controlling F. occidentalis under these experimental conditions.

Two experiments were carried out in the experimental farm of Al-Kanater Research Station at ElQalyubia Governorate, during the two consecutive years of 2016/2017 and 2017/2018 to investigate the effect of potassium silicate foliar application on growth, productivity and some postharvest treatments on storability of garlic ((Allium sativum L.)" clone sids 40". In the field experiment, the treatments comprised of control(water spray),foliar application of potassium silicate at 4000, 6000 and 8000ppm and plants were sprayed at 30, 60 and 90 days after planting. In the storage experiment, cured bulbs were stored at room temperature conditions and subjected to sixteen postharvest treatments included the previous four treatments (the three potassium silicate levels and control). In addition, three spraying treatments of sodium silicate at 6000 ppm, chitosan at 200 ppm and calcium chloride at 3000 ppm both separately and their combinations with potassium silicate (three treatments in field) were done.   The results revealed that, the highest plant length, number of leaves, fresh, dry weight\plant, neck diameter, bulb diameter and chlorophyll content of garlic were achieved from foliar application of potassium silicate at the 4000ppm after 120 days from planting compared to the control. Foliar spray of potassium silicate at 4000 ppm recorded the highest total yield and bulb quality such as bulb diameter, bulb weight/plant, number of cloves, cloves weight, total soluble solids and dry matter of bulbs. Leaf K percentage significantly increased by spraying of potassium silicate at 6000ppm.Further, all potassium silicate treatments recorded higher silicon percentage over the control.   Postharvest results showed that weight loss and shrinking percentages of the bulbs after 7 months of the storage were the least with the foliar application of potassium silicate at 8000ppm plus chitosan at 200ppm in storage followed by chitosan individually, potassium silicate at 8000 ppm and potassium silicate at 6000 ppm combined with calcium chloride as a postharvest treatment. However, the highest total soluble solids after 7 months of the storage was obtained from foliar spraying of potassium silicate at 4000 ppm combined with either sodium silicate or chitosan. Also, bulbs treated with foliar application of potassium silicate at 6000 or 8000 ppm combined with chitosan at 200 ppm, had the highest values of dry matter after 7 months from storage.  In general, foliar application of potassium silicate at 4000ppm was the superior treatment for enhancing plant growth, yield and quality. Also, foliar application of potassium silicate at 8000ppm and sprayed with chitosan at 200 ppm was the most effective for garlic storability seven months at the room temperature conditions.

Broccoli heads (Brassica oleracea var. Italica) Sakura F1 Hybrid were get from private farm in alnuwbaria Beheira Government. Heads were harvested at the appropriate stage of harvesting on 22th and 13th February 2017 and 2018, respectively, and then transported immediately to Horticulture Research Institute, ARC. The impact of edible coatings and packaging on the postharvest appearance and compositional quality changes of separated florets broccoli stored at 0°C were determined. Separated florets rinsed with chlorinated water (150 ppm) then washed by distilled water. The samples were then allowed to dry. Broccoli florets were dipped in chitosan solution at 0.5 and 1% concentration for 3 min. Carboxymethyl cellulose solution at 0.5 and 1% concentration for 3 min and distilled water represented as control. All treatments were dried and packed in non-perforated polypropylene bags (non-PPPb) or micro-perforated polypropylene bags (micro-PPPb) and stored at 0°C for 20 days plus 2 days at 10°C (shelf life). Results showed that loss of weight, decay, off odor, discoloration and peroxidase activity, of broccoli florets were increased as the storage period increased, while general appearance, total chlorophyll and total phenolic content were increased. For the influence of packaging material the results showed that there were significant differences between packaging materials on quality of florets. Broccoli florets which packed in non-perforated polypropylene bags (non-PPPb) had better florets quality as compared with those packed in micro-perforated polypropylene bags (micro-PPPb) during storage plus shelf life. Chitosan at 0.5 or 1% is the huge influence in reducing weight loss%, decay (score) peroxidase enzyme activity, off odor (score), discoloration (score) as well as in maintaining total chlorophyll and total phenolic contents during storage plus shelf life. Furthermore, florets dipped in chitosan 1% and then packed in non-PPPb was the most effective treatment in retarding loss of quality attributes, through the storage periods and helped in retarding deterioration and gave florets with good appearance after 20 days at 0°C plus 2 days at 10°C (shelf life) without decay.

The study investigated the influence of traditional nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK) mineral fertilizers and nano-fertilizers on yield, and its attributes, and fiber characters of two Egyptian cotton varieties Giza 94 and Giza 96. The design of the experiment was a split- plot with four replicates. Results indicated that Giza 94 cultivar surpassed Giza 96 in agronomic characteristics, although Giza 96 exhibited the highest fiber reading. Nano-chitosan (NPK)-fertilization significantly improved the mean value of boll weight, seed yield, lint yield, lint percentage, upper half mean (UHM), fiber uniformity index, fiber tenacity, and Micronaire value in both seasons. Conversely, the most minimal values for the aforementioned characteristics were recorded with the control NPK fertilizer over the two seasons.

The effect of chitosan and salicylic acid treatments to investigate the seedling growth parameters of Broccoli seed sprouts (Tiburon f1) cultivar was the aim of this study. Salicylic Acid and Chitosan are the )elicitors( that stimulate the sprout, which are divided into Biotic (biological origin), abiotic (chemical or physical origin) elicitors and phytohormones have been applied alone or in combinations, in hydroponic solutions or sprays, and in different selected time points of the sprout growth or during post-harvest. Cumulative time had been completed (harvest time) using tap water, chitosan at 25, 50,100 ppm and salicylic acid at 65,130,260 ppm for seed soaking and sprouting , then precooled and air-dried sprouts were randomly chosen from glass jar (replicate) to collect data of sprout length, hypocotyl length, radical length, dry weight and fresh weight. Also, Samples of harvested 3, 5 and 7 days old etiolated broccoli dried using air draft oven at 65.5C° then grounded into powder for chemical analysis while fresh sprouts and seeds were analyzed for total phenols. However treatment with chitosan at 100 ppm cleared that the moisture, protein, ash, fiber, calcium , potassium, and total phenols of sprouts were increased by 9.63%, 33.73%, 11.80, 11.67%, 336.50 ppm, 196.43 ppm and 66.51mg/100g, respectively. Treated sprouts with salicylic acid at 65 ppm concentrate were also induced an increments on the same constituents reached 9.53%, 33.40%, 11.63, 10.46%, 333.50 ppm, 190.60 ppm and 62.90mg/100g, respectively over control (untreated). Therefore, treated sprouts with chitosan or salicylic acid could be considered as useful tool for improving the growth characters and bioactive metabolites of Broccoli seed sprouts For their Production of anti-cancer materials, As well secondary metabolic pathways respond to specific treatments with elicitors would be the basis for to enhance the production of secondary metabolites, in order to produce quality and healthy fresh foods