The influence of chilling, freezing, and dry-ing preservation methods on morphological properties and viability of four yeast cultures, isolated Saccharomyces boulardii (SB1 and SB2), Saccharomyces cerevisiae (SC), and Kluyveromyces lactis (KL), was studied. chilling preservation had no effect on yeast colony morphology parameters till the end of the preservation period in contrast with freez-ing and drying preservation methods. Drying preservation resulted in the highest viability decrement % of yeast cultures ranged between 59.38 to 40.21% as compared with other preservation methods. There is a noticeable re-duction in D values of preserved yeast cultures by drying, which varied from (33 to 26 day) in comparison to chilling and freezing preserva-tion that recorded (119 to 83 and 180 to 57 day), respectively. The obtained results re-vealed that chilling preservation under proper conditions, as well as freezing, is more prefer-able for the preservation of studied yeast cul-tures than that preserved yeast by the drying method.

Nanotechnology takes a significant position in controlling pests. Silicon dioxide nanoparticles (SiO2-NPs) is considered one of the best alter-natives to chemical pesticides for plant crop protection from harmful arthro-pods such as phytophagous mites, Tetranychus urticae. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the effect of (SiO2-NPs) to control T. urticae. Under green-house conditions, the results revealed, in the larval stage, a high mortality percentage (99.05±0.83%) followed by eggs (98.74±1.22%). Besides, the nymph stage recorded high mortality (94.66±1.81%) at a high concentration of 1500 ppm. While the adult females of T. urticae recorded mortality of 91.92±1.02% after 72h. Eventually, the immature stages of T. urticae were susceptible to (SiO2-NPs). Meanwhile, at laboratory evaluation on immature stages of T. urticae which resulted from live treated females during 96h showed a sharp decrease in average numbers of eggs through 96h, at 1000 and 1500 ppm. No numbers of the larval stage were recorded at 1500 ppm. No number of nymph stage were recorded at all concentrations and periods. Moreover, activity of AChE was significantly inhibited at 1500 ppm, while activity of glutathione-S-transferase was significantly increased after 72 h. Finally, (SiO2-NPs) are effective against immature stages of T. urticae under greenhouse and laboratory conditions.

A study was conducted to assess two enzyme detoxifying activities and insecticide-resistance gene expression quantitation using real-time (PCR). Four populations of pink bollworms were compared with the baseline laboratory strain. Field populations showed higher levels of enzymatic activity, glutathione-S-transferase and β–esterases, than those of the laboratory strain. The amplification curves scored a cycle threshold (Ct) value of 25 for the ribosomal protein subunit7 (rps7). For the BtR gene, the Ct values of analyzed biological groups ranged from 20 for the laboratory strain to 24 for the Fayoum group. For Cad1, the Ct values ranged from 19 for laboratory strain to 23 for Fayoum and Qalubia populations. Therefore, the present work introduces a method for the challenge of monitoring resistance to Bt toxins in crops which requires, according to the IPM (Integrated Pest Management) program, a wise insecticide application.

This study aimed to examine the consequences of three regimes for irrigation on cucumber crops and their growth indication, production, and water productivity under greenhouse cultivation. Cucumber seedlings were planted in May 2018 under a greenhouse condition. Three regimes of drip irrigation were examined, first 100%, 80%, and 50% of ETc namely T1, T2, and T3, respectively. The second regime was systems of drip irrigation (sur-face and sub-surface irrigation). Finally, the third was dripper discharge which used (2 l/h and 4 l/h). Results indicated clearly that the best production was under 80% ETc regime by 2 l/h dripper for surface and subsurface that was 10.1 and 11.2 ton/greenhouse respectively with IR 172 m3/season and the best regime by using 4 l/h was 50% ETc for surface and sub-surface respectively  which was 11 and 11.5 ton/greenhouse with IR 216 m3/season which saved about half a quantity of irrigation water. On the other hand, the very best water productivity value (WP) was under 80% ETc was 58.7 and 65.4 kg/m3 under surface (S) and sub-surface (SS) drip irrigation respectively by 2 l/h dripper flow rate.

A pot experiment was carried out in seventeen levels of fertilization to evaluate the effect of the bio-fertilizer mixture alone or in combination with chemical fertilizer (NPK) on Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill). Bio-fertilizer was a mixture of Azotobacter chroococcum, Bacillus circulans and Vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhiza. Results indicated that the use of bio-fertilizer at 3.75 ml/pot four times with 25% of NPK gave the highest significant values of vegetative growth, yield parameters, and NPK uptake; how-ever, fertilizing with bio-fertilizers without NPK application showed the lowest significant values in the two experimental seasons. The same addition of bio-fertilizer gave the highest significant values of total microbial count of soil and increased cumulative CO2; whereas the addition of 100% NPK gave the lowest significant values in both seasons. The full dose of NPK significantly increased volatile oil percentage while the addition of bio-fertilizer only significantly decreased it in both seasons. GC analysis of essential oil showed that the highest percentage of anethol (12.77 %) was obtained by applying 3.75 ml/pot bio-fertilizer added one time + 25% NPK and de-creased estragole (72.78%).

Excessive exposure to lead may damage the liver by increasing oxidative stress, leading to many serious diseases. Dietary antioxidants may protect the liver from damage. Therefore, the effect of ethanolic and aqueous turmeric extracts against lead-induced liver damage was evaluated by estimating liver function and antioxidant/oxidative stress biomarkers. Forty rats were divided into group (A) served as the control and group (B) was treated with 93 mg/kg b.wt. lead nitrate; while group (C) and group (D) were treated as group B in addition to 400 mg/kg b.wt. of turmeric aqueous and ethanolic extracts, respectively. Group B showed a significant increase in the activities of alanine transaminase by 10 folds, aspartate transaminase by 9 folds, alkaline phosphatase by 3 folds and the level of malondialdehyde by 10 folds, while showed a significant decrease in albumin by 60%, total protein by 54.5%, and superoxide dismutase by 80.5%, catalase by 75% and glutathione by 71.6% in comparison with those of the control group. On the other hand, turmeric treatments (groups C and D) led to a readjustment of levels for such biomarkers. Collectively, these results demonstrate the potential of turmeric extracts (particularly the ethanolic extract) to improve the fatal effect of lead in a rat model.

Aphids are considered one of the most economically important insect pests worldwide. Successful pest management systems are based on accurate and rapid pest species identification. Traditional morphological identification of closed aphid species may be considered an inaccurate taxonomic process. To overcome the disadvantages of traditional morphological identification, molecular techniques, related to DNA markers and based on polymerase chain reaction (PCR), were approached by using nine ISSRs primers to identify and diagnose fifteen common aphid species that disperse in the Egyptian agroecosystem. The examined ISSRs primers could success-fully discriminate the tested aphid species that reflected 61.39% polymorphism among them. Moreover, four banding patterns were considered unique bands that could characterize three aphid species (Aphis gossypii, Aphis nerii and Myzus persicae). The highest genetic homology (84.9%) was observed between species Rhopalosipum padi and Schizaphis graminum. In addition, each of A. gossypii and Aphis citricola were also genetically homologous species. In contrast, species Aphis craccivora and M. persicae were analogous genetically with a low similarity percentile (59.8%). High genetic di-vergence was observed also between A. nerii and M. persicae. Two alternative molecular branching taxonomic keys were proposed by subjecting the five highest polymorphic ISSRs primers and 29 banding patterns with different molecular sizes.

At the Experimental Farm, Agriculture Faculty, University of Ain Shams, Qaliobia Governorate, Egypt, in order to investigate the influence of biofertilizer ( Bio. ); Rhizobium ( R ), mycorrhiza ( MF ), R + MF and control, seaweed extract (SWE) concentration (zero, one, two and four gram per liter) and their interactions on vegetative growth, productivity and quality of seed common bean cv. Nebraska. Before planting, the seeds were soaked in MF (glomus sp.) and sown on the first of March 2016 and 2017 seasons respectively. The experimental plot area was seven m2 (four rows). The length of each row was 2.5 m and width of 0.7 m. The plant's distance was seven cm on one side, and an alley (one width m) was left as a border between the treatments. After two weeks of planting, young plant were inoculated with R phaseolus after the first irrigation. Plants were sprayed three times of SWE (30, 45 and 60 days) after sowing. A split plot design with four replicates was used; where the main plots are Bio treatments and the subplots are SWE treatments. The obtained results clearly indicated that different applied treatments increased measured growth characteristics (No. leaves/ plant, leaf area and total chlorophyll (SPDS)), the yield and components of yield (No. pods/plant, seed yield /plant and seed yield) and chemical constituents (total protein, carbohydrates, nitrogen and phosphorus) in seed after harvest. As well as, the best results were obtained by interactions between SWE (two and four gram per liter) and Bio. (R + MF) treatments in the two assigned seasons So adding combination between Bio. ( R + MF ) and SWE (two or four g) to improve vegetative growth, productivity and quality of common bean seed could be recommended under organic system ( conversion to organic agriculture ).

Under screen house conditions, two experiments were carried out to evaluate certain bacterium, Pseudomonas fluorescens isolates regarding reproductive potential of root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita, infecting tomato or eggplant. Results on tomato revealed that, on the basis of average total percentages nematode reduction, the over topped results were gained with P. fluorescens (Pf2) which recorded the highest significant (P≤0.05) average nematode reduction (61.3%) and higher percentage reduction of females (77%) per plant. The second rank was obtained by Pf3 which reduced all nematode numbers as an average of 56.9%.On the basis of average total percentages plant growth and weight of fruit increases, four bacterial treatments can be ranked in a descending order as follows: Pf9 > Pf4>Pf1and Pf7, as they achieved the highest average total percentages increases of 96.0, 47.3, 38.2and 29.8%, respectively compared to other treatments and untreated check. Regarding to eggplant, the over topped results observed was achieved by P. fluorescens (Pf10) which recorded the highest average total nematode reduction (66.2%) with higher reduction of (J2s) in roots (89.9%) per plant and in soil (78.8%) per pot. The second rank was obtained by Pf9 and Pf2 where they reduced all nematode numbers as averages of 55.9% and 54.9%, respectively. Also Pseudomonas isolates enhanced the plant growth of eggplant, averages were found in a descending order as follows: Pf1 (20.0%), Pf9 (18.7%) and Pf10 (18.3%) . It is worthy to note that the most distinct growth criteria was fresh weight of roots as it achieved higher percentage increase (58.1%) by using Pf9 followed by Pf1 as it caused 40.6% increase compared to untreated check. The highest average percentage of fresh weight of shoot were recorded for Pf10 (26.4%) and Pf8 (22.1%). Whereas for dry weight Pf3 (29.8%) and Pf2 (19.1%). In conclusion, the tested biocontrol agent was efficient in controlling the root-knot nematode on tested plants.

Dominated by intensive coffee monocultures for the last 30 years, farmers in the Central Highlands of Vietnam has been increasingly experienced with farming difficulties given resource degradation, market and climate uncertainties. In recent years, a number of farmers have diversified their coffee farms toward the forms of agroforestry: through integrating fruit and other crops into coffee farms. This study, by referring to the existing 10 agroforestry systems and 10 forestry ecological zones identified in the region for its approach, conducted in 20 communes throughout five provinces in the region at the coffee harvesting period in the end of 2018. In total, 249 farmers were identified through snowball sampling technique and successfully interviewed. Five major agroforestry systems are identified with sufficient sample size for statistical analyses. By detailed assessment of inputs used and revenue, this study proves that agroforestry systems strongly enhance farmer’s income. However, the success varies among the five studied provinces. Farmer’s technical know-how and their choice on 2nd crop made their agroforestry farming profit largely different. Given the fact that large percentage of land in the tropics is too dry, too steep, or too rocky to be classified as arable land which has been further problematic through increasing exposure to erosion resulting from unsustainable farming practices, often driven by intensive monocultures, efforts to promote agroforestry in Vietnam in particular and the tropics in general is thus needed, not only for surviving increasing population but also recovering and protecting the environment. In the situation of the Central Highlands of Vietnam, together with efforts in promoting agroforestry, a restructure of farming system needs to be considered in accordance with foreseeable difficulties in farming conditions, i.e., more water stress will be happened in certain provinces. These provinces should take a shift more toward less-irrigation dependent crops and reduce their dependence on coffee. These changes will create a better common guarantee for all farmers in coping with future uncertainties.