This investigation was carried out in the plastic house of Horticulture Research Institute, Agriculture Research Center, Giza during two consequent seasons (2002 – 2003) and (2003 – 2004). The study was aimed to enhance growth of Casimiroa rootstock seedlings to reach grafting size in a short time, beside defineding the suitable method of grafting. In this concern, results revealed that seed soaked in MgSO4 at 5 % for 15 min. and planted in media consists of peat and sand at 1 : 1, was increased seed germination percentage (92.1 and 94.8 %) and minimized the germination period (19.1 and 19.3 days), as compared with the other treatments. Thus it reached to the grafting size at a period of (179 and 180 days) in both seasons, respectively. However, Dormex (hydrogen cyanamide) treatment at 2% gave the highest root length (24.6 and 24.8 cm), and number of roots per plant (19.4 and 19.0). Results also showed that shield budding by using soft wood grafts, gave the highest percentage of success (69.2 and 72.4%), shortest  period of bud / scion (23.0 and 24.0 days), highest values of scion length (26.5 and 25.7 cm) and highest leaf area (38.28 and 40.67 cm2). However, cleft grafting with softwood grafts increased average number of leaves per sprouted graft (6.0 and 6.6) and shoot scion diameter (0.6 and 0.5 cm). Generally, seeds treated with MgSO4 at 5% berfore sowing in media consists of peat and sand at 1 : 1 in volume, induced healthy and sizeable rootstocks in a short time. Moreover, grafting rootstocks by soft wood grafts was the best method.

A pot experiment was carried out to investigate the agricultural value of a local phosphate rock (PR) as a source of plant phosphorus compared with that of the cur-rently imported triplesuperphosphate (TSP) .The PR was applied at the rate of 0, 55, and 110 kg P2O5 /ha and the TSP was at the rate of 0 , 45 and 90 kg P2O5 /ha. The growth and leaf contents of N, P and K of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) grown on a clay soil were measured. The experiment continued for two seasons. Phosphatic fertilizers are of low recovery; therefore, they can remain for the next crop. Thus, the pots of the first season were set to study the residual effect of phosphorus in the second season. The results indicated that PR and TSP significantly (P>0.05) in-creased dry weights of shoot and root, leaf contents of N , P and available soil phos-phorus. However, plant height was significantly increased by TSP only. The leaf content of K was neither affected by PR nor TSP application. The results showed a positive effect of the residual PR and TSP on the measured parameters. Moreover, the results revealed that the plant measurements obtained from PR treatments were comparable to those obtained from TSP treatments which indicate that PR can be used as a potential source of phosphorus fertilizer.

From infected pink and spiny bollworm larvae, collected from Qualyobia Gover-norate, Egypt, 13 bacterial isolates belonging to 7 species were detected. The effi-ciency of these bacterial isolates was evaluated on newly hatched pink and spiny bollworm larvae. Three bacterial species, namely, Pseudomonas viridiflava, Serratia grimesii and Cellulomonas flavigena had no efficiency. Meanwhile, four other en-tomopathogenic isolates bacterial species, Pseudomonas pyrrocinia (A1), Serratia marcesens (M3), Serratia rubidaea (E3) and Bacillus thuringiensis (S2) had notice-able efficiency. The efficiency of these isolates was compared to two commercial products, Dipel 2X and Protecto. Biochemical studies showed differences in total proteins bands patterns in uninfected and infected larvae.

Paddy rice was sampled from El-Sharkia, El-Gharbia, El-Dakahlia and Kafr El-Sheikh governorates, Egypt. Of the 29 samples taken, ten were contaminated with the mycotoxin citrinin. An average of 6.79 x 104 fungal spores per gram rice was found. The isolated fungi represented 47 species belong to 28 genera. The predomi-nant genera were Aspergillus, Cladosporium and Penicillium. Aspergilli were represented by 22 species; Aspergillus niger and A. flavus had the highest occur-rence. Penicillium viridicatum produced the highest amount of citrinin on glucose ammonium nitrate salts broth and rice grains and hence, this isolate was selected as a good producer of citrinin in this study. The presence of Trichoderma hamatum re-duced the amount of citrinin produced by P. viridicatum compared with its respec-tive control. The excessive growth of T. hamatum on P. viridicatum was increased with time. Viability of P. viridicatum conidia decreased by T. hamatum with an in-crease in the incubation period. Chitinases and 1,3-B-glucanase enzyme activity of T. hamatum increased with extending the incubation period on P. viridicatum cell walls up to maximum values at 72 and 84 h, respectively. T. hamatum led to a de-crease in the production of citrinin by P. viridicatum on rice grains compared with the respective control values.

The effect of the forward speed of a potato harvester on tubers damage was in-vestigated. The potato harvester type is a two-row potato digger with riddle chain. The experiments were conducted in a potato field of Haradh Project of the National Agricultural Development Company (NADEC) east of Riyadh, in a sandy loam soil, and for a potato crop planted during the spring season of 2004. The potato type was Hermes (oval graded tubers). The degging depth was set to 22 cm, and the ampli-tudes of riddle chain of the implement were 17 and 25 mm. Results showed that the average values of tubers lifting percentage were in close agreement for all forward speed values (1.5, 1.7, and 2 km/h) of the potato harvester. However, it ranged be-tween 96% and 99%. It was found that there is no significant effect of the forward speed on both total damaged tubers percentage and damage index. However, there was a significant difference for the damaged tubers percentage when the amplitude of riddle chain was changed from 17 to 25 mm, where it decreased as the amplitude was increased. The values of potato damage index for all forward speeds were with-in acceptable limits of damage index. Minimum value of damage index was 0.04 at the speed of 2 km/h and amplitude of 25 mm.

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.

Laboratory and field trials were carried out at Koom Hamada district and Etay El-baroud research station during 2004/ 2005 season to clarify the molluscicidal ac-tivities of the following: indoxacarb, lufenuron, Bacillus thurringiensis, kurestaci (Bt.) and methomyl against glassy clover snails Monacha cartusiana (Müler). Re-sults indicated that all tested pesticides decreased snails population compared with control. Under the field conditions, the efficiency of the tested compounds were 98.0, 93.4, 93 and 71.58% for methomyl, lufenuron, indoxacarb and Bt. after 5, 6, 13, and 28 days of treatment, respectively. Moreover the effect of LC50 and 0.5 LC50 of these compounds were investigated on some biochemical parameters in vivo. The activities of acetylcholinestrase (AChE), alanine aminotransferases (ALT) , as-partate aminotransferases (AST) and protein contents at different time intervals were evaluated. The specific activity of AChE reached 0.009, 0.002, 0.006 and 0.001 mole/ mg protein/ min for indoxacarb, lufenuron, Bt. and methomyl, respectively, after one day of treatment with (LC50 for each compound). In general, Bt. and in-doxacarb caused slight inhibition on AChE enzyme. All treatments decreased ALT and AST enzyme activity in the tested animals. However, Bt. Showed slight effect on the activity of aminotransferases enzymes.

A field experiment was carried out in a newly cultivated soil at Falouga, El-Tahrir province, Behira governorate during the summer season (Spring plantation)of 2003 to investigate the effect of different organic manures (i.e. compost, F Y Mor town refuse) each at rate of 20 ton/fed combined with the half recommended doseof mineral fertilizer (NPK) or 2 tons of chicken manure compared with the additionof the recommended dose of N P K at rate of 900, 400 and 200 Kg/fed ammoniumsulphate, calcium superphosphate and potassium sulphate respectively. Applicationof organic manures, i.e. compost, FYM or town refuse each at the rate of 20tons/fed combined with half amount of mineral fertilizer or 2 tons of chickenmanure, increased total microbial count in soil at 60 days after planting compared toboth uncultivated soil and chemical fertilized treatments. In this regard, the highestbacterial count was noticed in case of using FYM + chicken manure, while thehighest count for total fungi and actinomycetes were recorded in the treatment of 20tons compost + half amount of chemical fertilizer (NPK). In addition, using 20 toncompost + 2 tons of chicken manures/fed, reflected the highest dry matter yield,total nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content in plant foliage as well as totaltuber yield of potatoes compared with other tested treatments.

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.

Two pot experiments were performed in Giza research station, AgriculturalResearch Center (ARC) using 2 isolates of Pink-Pigmented FacultativelyMethylotrophic bacteria (PPFMs) originated from chickpea and Faba bean. Foliarapplication with PPFM isolates were conjugated with specific rhizobial inoculumand N-fertilization (15 Kg N Fed-1). Nodulation status, nitrogen fixation and growthyield and yield component were recorded. Results clearly indicated that Chickpeawas superior in its response to foliar application with PPFM.C. As it gave higherrecords of number and dry weight of nodules, dry matter and N-content of plants ascompared to Faba bean. A field experiment was also conducted in sandy loam soil atSouth EL-Tahreer province to investigate the effect of foliar application withPPFM.C strain + specific Rhizobia and N-fertilization on nodulation, growth andyield of chickpea legume plants. Results indicated that foliar application withPPFM.C in the presence of specific rhizobial inoculation scored significant increasesin economic turnover of chickpea in the range of 21-32% as compared to Nfertilizationat rate 50 Kg N Fed-1. Foliar application with 5 L Fed-1 in the presenceof 15 Kg N Fed-1 and specific rhizobial inoculation led to an increase of 518 kg fed -1productivity of seed yield , with economic turnover of 2491 L.E.