Seventeen genotypes (G) of bread wheat (14 promising lines and 3 commercial cultivars) were evaluated for mean performance and stability of grain yield/plant, grain protein content and dry gluten percentage under 16 environments (two locations (L), two sowing dates(D) and four fertilization treatments (F)). The resultsconfirmed the existence of considerable genetic variation among genotypes and their performance was significantly affected by different environments for the studied traits. Kalubia locations recorded the highest mean values for grain yield/plant while; Fayoum location recorded the highest mean values for the two quality traits. Yield and quality traits were significantly increased on early (recommended) sowing dates at Kalubia and Fayoum locations than on late sowing dates. Applying biofertilizer only gave the lowest mean performance in all traits, but adding mineral N besides biofertilizer markedly increased grain yield/plant and the two quality traits. However, insignificant differences existed between the rate of nitrogen recommended (80kg N/fed.) and the rate of (biofertilizer + 60kgN/fed.), indicating that biofertilizer could be efficient in reducing costs of the expensive mineral N and reducing environmental pollution. On an average highest values of grain yield/plant were recorded by the promising wheat lines no. 10 (24.57 g), no. 9 (22.50 g), and no. 11 (21.64 g) as compared to the best check cultivar Giza 168. Meantime, this cultivar surpassed the other genotypes in protein and dry gluten percentages. Concerning phenotypic stability, the three superior lines no. 10, 9 and 11 gave the highest mean values (x¯) of grain/plant coupled with significant regression coefficient (bi) values higher than unity and significant deviation from regression (S2di), thus they considered specifically adapted to favourable environments.

Two field experiments were conducted during the two successive seasons 2007/2008 and 2008/2009 at Sakha Agric. Res. Station, Kafr ElSheikh Governorate to study the effect of four harvesting dates i.e. 135, 145, 155 and 165 days after sowing on yield and its quality of six flax genotypes namely, Sakhal, Sakha 2, Sakha 3 and Giza 9 varieties and two new promising strains (strain 16 and strain 22). This study was laid out in a split-plot design, with four replications, the main plots were allocated to the six flax genotypes, whereas, the sub-plots contained the harvesting dates. The obtained results could be summarized as follow: Sakha 3 and Giza 9 varieties gave the highest means for technical length, fiber yield/plant as well as per fed., fiber length, fiber percentage, fiber strength, fiber fineness, germination % and crude protein %, whereas strain 22 (yellow seed) surpassed the other flax genotypes which produced the highest values for No. of seeds/plants, seed yield/fed., oil content and oil yield/fed. The harvest date of 155 days after sowing showed significant increases in stem diameter, straw yield/plant as well as per fed. fiber yield and its quality and crude protein % compared to the other three dates (135, 145 and 165 days after sowing). However, delayed harvesting date to 165 days after sowing recorded significant increase in technical length, upper branching zone length, seed yield and its related characters, germination %, seedling vigour, seed index, volume of 1000 seed,'oil content and oil yield/fed. The interactions among the studied factors had significant effects on straw yield/fed., No. of capsules/plants, fiber strength and germination % in the first season of study, while the characters of the upper branching zone length, seed yield/fed., oil yield/fed., fiber length and oil content in both seasons.

Due to deleterious impacts of broomrapes against the host plants, its combating is ‎essential for sustaining crop productivity. Thus, two–year field trail was conducted at ‎El Nubaria experimental farm, National Research Centre, Egypt, on two faba bean ‎genotypes (Misr–3 and Sakha–1) to investigate the importance of butyl–iso–butyl ‎phthalate as an activator for broomrape germination in comparison to glyphosate and ‎unweeded. Findings revealed that glyphosate in 2015/16 and 2016/17 seasons in ‎addition to butyl–iso–butyl phthalate in 2016/17 season caused significant reductions ‎in broomrape biomass and numbers of broomrape–infected faba bean plants plot−1 ‎compared to the unweeded. Plots of Misr–3 genotype treated with butyl–iso–butyl ‎phthalate in both season as well as plots of Misr–3 or Sakha–1 sprayed by glyphosate ‎in the first season achieved the maximum seed yield of faba bean. Since butyl–iso–‎butyl phthalate exhibits suicidal germination of broomrape seeds, it can be exploited ‎as an effective and helpful tool in integrated management programs of broomrape in ‎faba bean fields. ‎ Due to deleterious impacts of broomrapes against the host plants, its combating is ‎essential for sustaining crop productivity. Thus, two–year field trail was conducted on ‎two faba bean genotypes (Misr–3 and Sakha–1) to investigate the importance of ‎butyl–iso–butyl phthalate as an activator for broomrape germination in comparison to ‎glyphosate and unweeded. The trail design was a strip–plot in completely randomized ‎block design in six replications. Genotypes occupied the vertical main plots as well as ‎broomrape control treatments distributed in horizontal ones. Results showed that ‎broomrape biomass and numbers of broomrape–infected faba bean plants plot−1 ‎markedly responded to weed control and genotype and their interaction in both ‎seasons, except numbers of broomrape–infected plants of faba bean genotypes plot−1 ‎in 2016/17 season. Also, findings revealed that glyphosate in 2015/16 and 2016/17 ‎seasons in addition to butyl–iso–butyl phthalate in 2016/17 season caused significant ‎reductions in broomrape biomass and numbers of broomrape–infected faba bean ‎plants plot−1 compared to the unweeded. In plots of Misr–3 or Sakha–1, glyphosate ‎was the potent practice for reducing broomrape biomass and numbers of broomrape–‎infected faba bean plants plot−1 in 2015/16 and 2016/17 seasons, with no significant ‎differences with butyl–iso–butyl phthalate application in 2016/17 season. There were ‎no noticeable variations between weeded practices and genotypes and their interaction ‎on total dry weight of faba bean plants estimated at 105 DAS, in both seasons, except ‎glyphosate x Misr–3 interaction in the first season only. Plots of Misr–3 genotype ‎treated by butyl–iso–butyl phthalate in both season as well as plots of Misr–3 or ‎Sakha–1 sprayed by glyphosate in the first season achieved the maximum seed yield ‎of faba bean. Since butyl–iso–butyl phthalate causing suicidal germination of ‎broomrapes seeds, it can be exploited as an effective and helpful tool in broomrape ‎management programs in faba bean fields. Genotype; Orobanche spp; Parasitic ‎weeds; Suicidal germination; Vicia faba ‎

This study was conducted to examine explant density and source on production of in vitro potato microtubers, as well as survey of different newly-introduced potato cultivars for their microtuberization capacity at the Plant Tissue Culture Facility of the Department of Horticulture, Suez Canal University between 2014 until 2016. Results indicated that as culture density from single node explants increased, microtuber number and yield/petri dish were also increased. However, at the lowest density (10 explants/petri dish), the % tuberization and the average microtuber weight increased significantly over the higher densities (20, 25 and 30 explants/petri dish). Potato microtuber production from plantlets grown in vitroon microtuberization induction medium (liquid over solid media) was also studied using 5, 10 and 15 plantlets per jar.Results showed that microtuber number and yield/jar increased gradually with increasing plantlet density. However, on per plantlet basis, microtuber number increased at the lowest density. Microtuber yield/jar increased significantly at the highest density (1099 mg/jar) compared to 563.6 mg/jar at the lowest density. Average microtuber weight was also affected by culture density and genotype. At the lowest density, microtubers were significantly heavier than at the high density, and the cv. 'Safrane' recorded the highest weight per microtuber. Regarding the effect of explant source on microtuber production, results indicated that the use of single node explants derived from the top of the plantlet produced more microtubers than those taken from the basal part, or 3 node segments. Explant source also affected microtuber yield/dish. Single nodes from the top produced the highest yield compared to 3-nodes segment from the top (205 vs. 104.8 mg). The highest mean microtuber fresh weight was obtained from the culture of 3-node layered segment from the plantlet base, while single nodes from the top recorded lower microtuber fresh weight. The highest microtuber fresh weight was recorded in cv 'Universa' (114.3 mg) using single nodes from the plantlet base. Differences among the tested potato cultivars in microtuber production were detected.