A two years (2002/2003, 2003/2004) study was conducted at Hada Al-Sham Agriculture Re-search Station, Makkah Region (King Abdulaziz University) to determine the effects of three dif-ferent dripper discharges (0.5, 1, and 2 gph) on cabbage production, characteristics of its part and its nitrogen contents in whole plant and its parts. Results show a significant increase in Copenhagen variety production (38.5 tone/ha) as compared to Bronzweek Variety (30.2 tone/ha). Also, the drip-per discharge significantly affected the cabbage production, characteristics of head, stem, root or leaves area, whereas cabbage production and char-acteristics of all plant parts (head, stem, root and leaves area) were reduced with the increase in dripper discharge more than 0.5 gph, however, the reduction was not significant between discharges of 1 and 2 gph. The cabbage production were 44.3, 29.7 and 28.9 tone/ha for dripper discharges of 0.5, 1 and 2 gph, respectively). In addition, the interaction between season and variety had only significant effects on root length. Also, there were significant effects for the interaction between dripper discharge and season on cabbage produc-tion and root length. Results also showed that first season (2003) produced cabbage plant significant-ly higher than the second season (2004) in nitro-gen content for both whole plant (2.72% and 2.45% for first and second season, respectively) and head (3.63% and 2.72% for first and second season, respectively). Also, Copenhagen variety significantly outweighs Bronzweek variety on nitrogen content in whole plant (2.88% and 2.30% for Copenhagen variety and Bronzweek variety, respectively), leaf (2.69% and 2.16% for Copen-hagen variety and Bronzweek variety, respective-ly), and stem (2.72% and 2.08% for Copenhagen variety and Bronzweek variety, respectively). On the other hand, the increase in dripper discharge more than 0.5 gph resulted significant reduction in nitrogen content for whole plant (3.10%, 2.44% and 2.22% for dripper discharges of 0.5, 1 and 2 gph, respectively) and its parts (head, stem and leaves) whereas the dripper with less discharge (0.5 gph) outweigh the higher discharge drippers (1 and 2 gph). However, the increase of dripper discharge from 1 gph to 2 gph had only significant reduction in the nitrogen content of head. The re-sults also show that interaction between season and variety had only significant effects on nitro-gen content in whole plant. There were also signif-icant effects for the interaction between season and drip discharge on nitrogen content of whole plant and its leaf.

The objective of the present study was to eval-uate the effect of using one method of estrus syn-chronization programs on Jersy cattle reproductive performance under arid land environment, by ap-plying a specific doses of prostaglandin F2α (two injections of 5ml for cow), to increase the repro-ductive efficiency of the animals, through regulat-ing time of pregnancy and parturition. Forty non-pregnant, healthy cows were taken randomly from the original stock of Hada Al Sham Research sta-tion which belong to king Abdul Aziz University and were classified into two groups, treatment and control groups. Results obtained showed that: es-trus synchronization program using two injections of prostaglandin F2α showed that, statistically, there is no significant difference in the plasma progesterone concentration between treated and control groups. Jersy cows treated with prosta-glandin F2α showed estrus in a shorter period compared to the control group. The percentage of animals showed estrus was 75 ٪ in treated group, compared with 65% in control group which showed 84 ٪. The pregnancy rate in treated group was 86.66 ٪, versus 69.23٪ in the control group. Service period length (SPL) was 97 days for the treatedgroup, compared to 104 days for the control group. There is a significant (P0.01) difference in the plasma progesterone concentration between both groups during pregnancy, which was higher in the treated group.- The differences in the plasma progesterone con-centration between both groups after parturition were not significant. Estrus synchronization in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia under arid land environment was considered as an application of new technology to improve reproductive effi-ciency of animals, and to regulate time of breed-ing and parturition in the herd. This will lead to a great important in the management of the ani-mal production branches.

The protective effect of folic acid (FA) on he-patic oxidative stress in aged rats exposed to oxi-dative stress by supply drinking water with 1% H2O2 (v/v) was studied. Rats were divided into two groups, the first group was considered as standard one (F1) which was fed on basal diet and administrated 1 mg FA/ Kg body weight (BW) daily by stomach tube without addition H2O2 in drinking water. The second group was divided into five subgroups, the first subgroup was the control (F2) which fed on basal diet free from folic acid (FF) with 1 % H2O2 in the drinking water, while other groups from F3 to F6 were adminis-trated different concentrations of folic acid (1, 20, 40 and 80 mg FA/ Kg BW), respectively. Weight gain, total feed intake, feed efficiency, liver weight and its relative weight were estimated. Bi-ochemical assay: activity of antioxidant enzymes system such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), cata-lase (CAT); lipid peroxidation level as malondial-dehyde (MDA), hydrogen peroxidase (H2O2); and liver functions [alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phos-phatase (ALP) and gamma glutamyl transferase (γ-GT), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)], were determined. Additionally, total protein (TP), al-bumin, globulin, A/G ratio, total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, indirect bilirubin; and kidney functions [creatinine, urea, and uric acid]; and lipid profile as [total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol, and triglycerides] were also, carried out. The obtained results showed accumulated weight gain which significantly increased in rats group administrated 40 and 80 mg/ Kg BW/d folic acid. No changes in relative liver weight among tested rat groups were recorded. No significant difference was observed in lipid profile, LDH and SOD between groups (F1 and F6). Data also indi-cated that F1 group recorded the best one which was low in MDA and high in CAT, followed by F6. Folic acid showed no effect on kidney func-tions. No histopathological changes were observed in liver of rat groups administered 40 or 80 mg folic acid / Kg BW/d, thus indicating that supple-mentation with high doses of FA had a protective effect from the hepatic oxidative stress in liver of tested rats.

Bacterial angular leaf spot disease caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. lachrymans is one of the most important foliage disease of cucumber. The present work was planned to control the dis-ease using six inducers i.e. salicylic acid, cobalt sulphate, di-basic potassium phosphate, lithium chloride, potassium silicate and tri-potassium phosphate, in addition two bioagents named Pseu-domonas fluorescens and Bacillus subtilis were applied as foliar treatments to induce systemic resistance in cucumber plants against bacterial angular leaf spot disease. The most effective in-ducers were salicylic acid, dibasic potassium phosphate and lithium chloride, respectively. On the other hand, Bacillus subtilis was least effective one followed by potassium silicate and Ps. fluo-rescens, respectively. While, tri-potassium phos-phate, cobalt sulphate were moderate in this re-spect. Efficacy of used inducers prolonged about till six weeks after treatment.The inducers were shown to increase phenolic compounds of cucumber leaves, whereas after two weeks of treatment up to six weeks, free and total phenol in the treated plants showed higher amounts than those in the untreated ones. Another trend was obtained with conjugated phenol. A positive correlation had been noticed between ef-ficacy of inducers and accumulated amounts of free and total phenol in cucumber leaves, i.e. the higher inducer efficacy the higher free and total phenol accumulation.

Soil mycoflora play an important role in agri-cultural economy of a country. The current study was made to have the knowledge about soilborne fungi associated with cucumber crop in solarized and unsolarized soils. Solarization exerted various effects, some of which are biological, others are chemical and still others are physical. All together these changes affected directly or indirectly the mycoflora of the soil, especially the soilborne pathogenic ones. Forty-nine fungal species belong to thirty genera have been isolated from solarized and unsolarized soils. The diversity as well as the count was greatly affected by solarization. By comparison of the species lists of the fungal flora of solarized and unsolarized soils it was evident that soil fungi behave differently toward soil solar-ization, while some new species developed e.g. Absidia, Acrophialophora, Talaromyces, Glio-cladium, some remained unaffected e. g. Aspergil-lus, Penicillium, Chaetomium, Botryotrichum, still others disappeared e. g. Acremonium, Cephali-ophora, Eurotium and others. Regarding solariza-tion for controlling white cucumber rot caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, the obtained data clearly show that solarization had led to a marked in-crease in the number of healthy plants up to 72.5%.

The hoverflies insect species are considered the most economic pollinators of various flowers, the adult visitors feed on nectar and pollen. Many of syrphid survivors are voracious aphid feeders in their larval instars and are considered greatest bio-control agent. They are beneficial insects when estimating the damage of pest control is consid-ered. In spite of their great economic importance, no progress has been estimated on taxonomy and biology of these insects in Syria. A surveillance studies of such flies were carried out in three loca-tions (Agroecosystems) in Deir-Ezzor, Eastern Syria during March-July 2006, based on number of captured adults. Yellow dish traps were used, and 12 spieces were identified and counted. This study will be an applicable addition to the availa-ble knowledge about the Syrian fauna.

This study was conducted at Sids Experimental Research Station, Beni Suief Governorate, starting from year 2000 to study the effect of rotation dura-tion (every year, 2- year rotation and 3- year rota-tion) and nitrogen fertilizer rates; 45, 60 and 75 kg N/ fed on growth, yield components and yield of cotton, as well as associated weeds. A split plot design was used with four replicates. The data indicated that crop rotation had significant effect on plant height, number of fruiting branches/ plant, number of open bolls, seed cotton yield/ plant and seed cotton yield/ fed. Seed cotton yield/ fed was increased by 10.99 and 23.62 % when 2-year and 3-year rotations were applied, compared to 1-year rotation (average of both seasons). In-creasing N- fertilization up to 60 kg N/ fed caused significant increases in all studied traits. The best estimate of yield (Y) plotted against N rate (X) for annually rotated cotton was the linear equation of Y =2.44 + 0.074x (R2 =0.81). Two years rotation showed a quadratic association with increasing the N rate, R2 = 0.86 and 0.88, respectively. The high-est values of total fresh weeds were 2.85 and 2.60 kg/ m2 (broad and grassy weeds) when 1-year ro-tation was applied, while the lowest values were 1.50 and 1.35 kg/ m2 when 3-year rotation was applied in the first and second season, respective-ly.

The effects of planting date on the evapotran-spiration (ETC) were studied for Tomato, Egg-plant, Squash, Cucumber, Carrot, Potato, Onion, and Watermelon, in Riyadh, Makkah, Njran, Al-Qassim, Eastern region, Tabuk, Al-Jouf, Aseeir, Al-Madenah, Hail and Jazan Regions based on the crop pattern in each region. The ETC of each crop was estimated based on Penman-Monteith Equa-tion. The results showed that the ETC for crops planted in January, February, March, April or Maywere higher than those crops planed in September, October, November, or December. The average ETC was higher when planting date was closer to summer months (June, July and August). Also, the results showed differences in ETC among the dif-ferent regions. The ETC in Al-Madenah region was higher than the other regions for Tomato and Eggplant. While, Riyadh region had the highest ETC values compared with the other regions for Squash, Cucumber, Carrot, Potato, Onion, and Water melon

North Carolina Design III was used to estimate gene effects in bread wheat crosses. Twelve Egyptian bread wheat genotypes i.e. Sakha 69, Sakha 8, Gemmeiza 1, Gemmeiza 3, Gemmeiza 7, Giza 160, , Giza 162, Giza 164, Giza 165, Sids 1, Sids 3 and Sids  4, each was crossed back to testers, high performing (Gemmeiza 9) and low performing parent (Sakha 92) during three winter successive seasons i.e. 2002/2003, 2003/2004 and 2004/2005, to study; heading date (days) plant height (cm), flag leaf length (cm) flag leaf width (cm), flag leaf area (cm)2, extrusion length (cm), number of spikelets/spike, spike grain weight (g.), number of spikes/plant, number of grains/spike, 1000-grain weight (g.) and grain yield/plant (g.) characters. Results indicated that epistasis played great role in the inheritance of all studied characters except number of spikes/plant. Additive(D)and dominance(H) genetic variances were significant in all studied characters except number of spikes/plant and number of grains/spike. The additive genetic variance was more than dominance for heading date, plant height, flag leaf length, flag leaf width, extrusion length, spike length and 1000- grain weight. The ratio of (H./D) 0.5 was less than one for these characters but for the remaining characters the dominance genetic variance was more than additive. The values of(F) indicated that dominance was unidirectional for flag leaf length and flag leaf area, whereas it was ambidirectional for the remaining characters Prediction results revealed that it could be possible to derive reasonable proportion of new recombinants which are falling out side parental range for heading date, flag leaf length, flag leaf width, spike length, number of spikelets/spike, number of spikes/plant, 1000- grain weight and grain yield/plant. Genetic correlation indicated that additive, dominance and epistasis gene effects controlling grain yield/plant and spike grain weight, number of spikes/plant, number of grains/spike, 1000- grain weight, were signifant, suggesting common genetic pool or pleiotropy. Thus, selection based on additive genetic correlation indicated that indirect selection via, spike grain weight, number of spikes/plant, number of grains/spike and 1000- grain weight would be effective and enhance its importance as selection criteria .

Bacterial angular leaf spot disease caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. lachrymans is an important foliage disease of cucumber, under protected cultivation system. The present work was planned to control the disease using bio-agents and abiotic agents alone or combining, under greenhouse and commercial plastic house conditions. Data obtained indicated that application of bio- and abiotic agents decreased severity of bacterial angular leaf spot disease of cucumber, compared with the control. Fluorescent Pseudomonads (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, P. fluorescens and P. putida isolates) were more effectiveness than isolate of Bacillus subtilis to reduce the disease severity, when they were applied as soil drench treatment. Application of abiotic agents as foliar treatment was more effective than as seed treatment to decrease the disease severity. Isolates of P. fluorescens or P. putida as bio-agents and salicylic acid or ethephone as abiotic agents were the most effective against the disease. Disease severity was significantly reduced by increasing rates of abiotic agents. However, interaction between bio-agents (P. fluorescens or P. putida isolates) as soil treatment and abiotic agents (salicylic acid or ethephone) as foliar treatment greatly decreased severity of bacterial angular leaf spot disease of cucumber, under greenhouse and commercial plastic house condition, compared with the control. Combination between P fluorescens isolate as soil treatment and salicylic acid as foliar treatment were the most effective against the disease