A laboratory investigation was conducted to study the effect of constant tempera-ture on some biological aspects of english grain aphid, Sitobion avenae (Fabricius). The present work was carried out in electrical incubators provided with photoperiod of 16 : 8 (L : D) and 55 – 60% R.H. Data revealed that the english grain aphid passed through four instars to reach maturity. The duration period of the nymphal stage was 19.0, 13.98, 11.96, 8.51 and 7.5 days at 12, 15, 18, 21, 24 °C, respectively. Developmental threshold of this stage is found to be 4.2 °C. The thermal units re-quired for complete one generation was 148 day – degrees. Life table parameters were as following : The reproduction rate (Ro) were 18.75, 30.72, 36.53, 44.21 and 32.42; mean generation time (GT) were 26.16, 21.23, 17.39, 11.92 and 9.86 days; population doubling time (DT) of the english aphid were 6.19, 4.29, 3.35, 2.18 and 1.96; intrinsic rate of increase (rm) were 0.1121, 0.1613, 0.2069, 0.3178 and 0.3528 and finite rate of increase (λ) were 1.119, 1.175, 1.229, 1.374 and 1.423 at 12, 15, 18, 21 and 24 °C, respectively. The results indicated clearly that the favourable range temperature for development and multiplication the english grain aphid be-tween 18 and 24°C.

A field strain of pink bollworm Pectinophora gossypiella (Saund.) collected from Sharquia Governorate, Egypt was exposed to the selection pressure of the for-mulation of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. Kurstaki, Dipel 2x under laboratory condi-tions. Resistance ratio attained 16-fold based on the susceptible strain after 14 gen-erations of selection. Study the response of Dipel 2x resistant strain to some insecti-cides indicated that there is no cross resistance to the conventional insecticides, es-fenvalerate, chlorpyriphos and thiodicarb or the bioinsecticides Ecotech and Agerin. These data may be emphasizing the possibility of rotation the Dipel 2x with these insecticides in pest control program of pink bollworm to manage resistance to Bt products.

Buffaloe's milk was used for the manufacture of Zabady. Control, Zabady made by using 3% of the regular starter. 1.5% of the regular Zabady starter was added to the other three parts, then 1.5% of Bifidobacterium bifidium, ABT or autolyzed S. thermophilus were added to the other three parts respectively. The result showed an increase in acidity of control zabady, while bifidobacterium decreased the acidity and curd tension, and increased pH value, coagulation time and synersis. Organolep-tic properties showed an improve in the flavour of zabady by using bifidobacterium in the end of storage compared to the other treatments.

A number of 192 samples (180 water & swab specimens and 12 patient sputa)were chosen from different sites of Mansoura University Hospitals for detection anddiagnosis of Legionella pneumophila. Out of the 192 samples, 148 were positive byculture method and non-specific staining technique such as gram staining andbiochemical analysis. In our trials for diagnosis of Legionella pneumophila, wefound that 107 of 148 samples were positive by slide agglutination test and 110samples were positive by direct immunoflourescence assay, while 130 samples werepositive by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique which proved to be the mostspecific and sensitive technique for diagnostic investigation of L. pneumophila. Theresults show that the four disinfectant procedures (chlorine, ozone, U.V. light andheat) were effective in eradicating Legionella pneumophila from different watersamples. Both UV light and heat (60ºC) produced a 5 log kill in less than 1 h. Incontrast, both chlorine and ozone required 5 h of exposure to produce a 5 logdecrease. Neither turbidity nor the higher temperature of 43ºC impaired the efficacyof any of the disinfectant methods.

In present set of investigations the chemoprotective effect of green tea and ginger extracts has been evaluated using in vivo chromosomal aberrations assay in albino mice (Mus musculus). The organophosphate agropesticide malathion, 80% technical grade consider as a potent genotoxic agent, was given at a single dose 230 mg/kg b.w. (1/12 LD50) intraperitoneally. Pretreatment with 4 and 3% of freshly prepared green tea (GTI), ginger (GI) extracts, respectively and the mixture of both extracts (GTI+GI) were given through oral incubation for 6 days prior to malathion administration. Animals from all the groups were sacrified at sampling times of 24 and 48 hours and their bone marrow cells were analyzed for chromosomal damages. The animals of the positive control group (Malathion alone) showed a significant increase in chromosomal aberrations both at 24 and 48 h sampling time. The green tea and ginger extracts, alone did not significantly induced aberrations at either sampling time, conforming their non-mutagenicity. However, significant suppressions in the chromosomal aberrations were recorded following pretreatment with green tea and ginger extracts administration. The antigenotoxic effects of both extracts separately and in mixture were also evident, as observed by significant increase in mitotic index, when compared to positive control group. Reduction in malathion induced clastogenicity by both extracts, was evident at 24 h and to a much greater extent at 48 h of cell cycle. Thus results of the present investigations revealed that green tea and ginger extracts have chemoprotective potential against malathion induced chromosomal mutations in albino mice.

A study on mite species in marjoram and chamomile plantations in Fayoum was carried out during 2003 and 2004 seasons. Twenty-six species were found and divided according to their feeding habits into three major groups, phytophagous (7 species), predaceous (8 species) and a group of debatable feeding habits (11 species). Population density evaluation showed that Tetranychus urticae Koch was the main phytophagous mite on both hosts. The predatory mite Amblyseius cydnodactylon Shehata and Zaher was dominant on marjoram followed by Hemicheyletia bakeri (Ehara). From the debatable group, Pronematus ubiquitus Mc Gregor was the dominant followed by Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Schrank) and Paralorryia gizai El-Bagoury. On chamomile, the predatory mite Eupodes niloticus Abou-Awad & El-Bagoury was dominant and from the debatable group, Tydeus kochi Oud. was dominant followed by T. putrescentiae and P. gizai. Population densities were insignificantly affected by temperature and relative humidity.

This study was carried out at Ras Sudr Experimental Station, South Sinai during 2001 and 2002 seasons. Four sudan grass varieties (Giza2, Piper, Hybrid102 and Is3214) were tested under five nitrogen fertilizer (Mineral and biofertilizer) treatments under two levels of irrigation water salinity (3700 and 9200 ppm). Growth characters i.e. plant height, number of tillers/plant, stem diameter, number of leaves/plant, leaf area, leaves/stem ratio, and forage yield (fresh and dry weight of stem+sheaths and fresh and dry weight of forage yield) were recorded. In addition, carbohydrates, protein, fibers and ash percentages (in leaves and stems) and proline in leaves were determined. Results demonstrate that the Piper variety had the highest value of forage yield compared with the other varieties. The recommended dose of mineral nitrogen fertilizer gave the highest values followed by mixture of biofertilizers (Azospirillum plus Azotobacter) under the two salinity levels of irrigation water at both cuts (the first one was harvested after 65 days from sowing date and the second was obtained at the same time interval). Moreover there was a significant decrease in all growth characteristics and the yield of four sudan grass varieties by increasing the level of irrigation water salinity from 3700 to 9200 ppm except proline in leaves which significantly increased by increasing the level of salinity

Twenty nine samples of locally produced honey and twenty two samples of honey pastes were collected from retail outlets in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Their antibacterial activity against some Gram positive and Gram negative foodborne bacterial pathogens using the agar well diffusion method was studied. In addition, the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were determined for honey pastes samples using the dilution method. All samples of honey had antibacterial activity against Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli O157: H7 and Salmonella typhimunium on plates of tryptic soy agar with varying diameters of inhibition zones. Samples of honey pastes showed also antibacterial effect against Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli O157: H7 and Salmonella typhimunium adopting the previous technique. MIC varied between honey pastes samples where it was sample dependent.

temperature was studied during two successive seasons of 2002 and 2003 at Kaha experimental station, Agricultural Research Center, Cairo, Egypt (Latitude, longitude, and altitude are 30.8, 31.15, and 16.9 m respectively). Cucumber seedlings (Cucumis sativus L. F1 local hybrid Sinai 1) were grown in clay soil under unheated two plastic houses. One of them was covered with one year old cladding material (PE 200μm) while the other was covered with new cladding. Soil surface was covered with different plastic mulch colors, i.e., black, silver, and transparent, in addition to a new suggested mulch that was craft-paper saturated with paraffin wax. Soil temperatures were measured at 5 cm depth. Global solar radiation and air temperature were measured inside and outside the greenhouses. The vegetative growth , i.e., plant height, leaf number, leaf fresh and dry weight, early and total yield were recorded. The results showed that new cladding cover promoted plant growth and yield. Craft-paper saturated with paraffin wax gave the highest soil temperature during the sunny days in comparison with other mulches and best results concerning vegetative growth and yield were obtained by both black mulch and craft-paper saturated with paraffin

Dill ( Anethum graveolens L.) plants were cultivated during two successive seasons (2002/2003 and 2003/2004). The experimental were conducting at the Experimental Farm, National Research Center (NRC), Egypt, to study the effect of different combination of organic fertilizers such as chicken and sheep manure and its rates on dill ( Anethum graveolens L.) plants. The obtained results indicated that, treated plants with different combination of organic fertilizers and its rates resulted in a significant increase in growth and yield characters , i.e. plant height, branch number, leaf number, umbel number, fresh weight, dry weight and fruit yield / plant in comparison with control plants. Chemical composition analysis of treated plants showed an increase in the essential oil percentage and main components (Carvone (R) and Limonene) of essential oil extracted from dill (Anethum graveolens L.) fruits. Treated plants showed a decreases in the heavy metals content in the plant tissues comparison to untreated plants. Also these results indicated that the application of organic manure reduced the harmful effects of hazardous heavy metals