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.

Microbiological assay of 150 samples of dairy products for the incidence of Co-liforms, E. coli, E. coli 0157:H7 and non-0157 E.coli, show the recovery of the Coli-forms and E.coli from the tested products with different incidence percentage. Strains of E. coli 0157:H7 and non-0157 E .coli were recovered from 9 (6%) and 13(8.6%) of the total samples, respectively. The behaviour of these isolates were tested when exposing to low pH, salt, low holding temperature and heat treatment. The results indicate obvious survival of E. coli 0157:H7 and non-0157serotype with pH as low as 3.8 pH for 5 days. Also, survival or even multiplication in TSB con-taining <6% salt. Moreover, the strains remained viable at low holding temperature (5oC). So, the product which contaminated with this pathogens remain hazardous even under such stress condition. Decimal reduction times (D-values) of cells sus-pended in saline solution, TSB medium, reconctituted dry milk and chocolate milk were determined. The greatest survival as evidenced by highest D and Z values oc-curred with chocolate milk. Product composition and type of strain affected the heat lethality rates.

Sorting and classification of fruits are the main problem specially for Superiorand King Ruby varieties which represent more than 50% of grape production inEgypt. A usual procedure to carry out this task is based on human visual inspectionconsidering general fruit attributes like color, size, shape, firmness and sugar contentof grape cluster. Color contains important information about fruit status and in somecases it is decisive for fruit quality differences. This paper provides a new techniqueto investigate the applicability of color classification, sugar content and firmness ofgrape. Standard RGB color chart, artificial neural network and a potential of nearinfrared(NIR) reflectance as a means for nondestructive measurements of grapefirmness and sugar content were used. NIR spectral data were collected from the twovarieties of grape in the spectral region between 800 nm and 1700 nm. Statisticalmodels were developed using the partial least square method to predict the firmnessand sugar content of grape. The models gave relatively good predictions of thefirmness of both Superior and King Ruby, with corresponding r values of 0.80 and0.65. The NIR models gave excellent prediction for grape sugar content with valuesof 0.71 % and 0.65 % Brix for Superior and King Ruby, respectively.

Late blight caused by Phytophthora infestans is one of the most destructive dis-eases potato in Egypt and world wide. Stability of resistance to late blight was eva-luated in twenty five potato cultivars during 2003 and 2004 successive seasons un-der heavy natural infection. Data showed that the potato cultivars Altesse, Occania, Safrane and Soleia highly resistant while cultivars Daisy, Hermine and Isabel rec-orded the highest susceptibility to late blight. Application different fungicide against potato late blight revealed that Aquagen Bro and Previcur-N were the best effective fungicides in reducing disease severity and progress of late blight. Data showed also that the losses of tubers due to late blight in season 2003 ranged from 11.75 Kg/plot (cultivar Hermes) to 18.0 Kg/plot (cultivar Lady Roseta) while in season 2004, yield losses ranged from 11.25 Kg/plot (cultivar Hermes) to 23.75 Kg/plot (cultivar Spun-ta). The results demonstrate that integration of Previcur-N treatment with host resis-tance was effective in reducing late blight and tuber yield loss of potato.

The seasonal activity of the peach twig borer, Anarsia lineatella Zeller was in-vestigated during 2004 and 2005 seasons. The data revealed that the infested twigs empty from larvae (15%) were higher than that with larvae (1.25%) in February. The situation was reverse in April which recorded 8% and 14.75% for both, respec-tively. In fruits, infestation began to appear in the third week of March which rec-orded 2% whereas the maximum rate was recorded in May (16.75%). Three species of hymenopterous parasitoids were found; Apanteles ruficrus Haliday (Fam. Braco-nidae), Diplazon laetatorus Fab. (Fam. Ichneumonidae) and Microgaster tiro Rein-hard (Fam. Braconidae). These parasitoids reached its maximum during April (13.5%) that seems to be more active. Their numbers were positively correlated with the rate of infestation (r = + 0.799). In spite of presence of four predatory species (Coccinella undecimpunctata L., Rodalia cardinalis Mulsant, and Scymnus syriacus Marseul (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) and Syrphus sp. (Diptera: Syrphidae)), it seems to be less active. Their numbers recorded very slight positive correlation with the rate of infestation (r =+0.423)

A kairomone from adult Cydia pomonella L. scales is an important factor in the host recognition and searching behaviour process of Trichogramma cacoeciae Mar-chal and Trichogramma dendrolimi Matsumura. The Trichogramma spp. used the chemicals from the host eggs for orientation to host and increased their parasitism. The females of T. cacoeciae*, T. dendrolimi** and T. dendrolimi*** contacted the unwashed host eggs significantly longer than the washed eggs. Washing the codling moth eggs with hexan significantly reduced the parasitism of all the tested Tricho-gramma strains compared to unwashed eggs. The treated apple trees with wing scales of C. pomonella had significant influence on the parasitism compared to un-treated trees. The percentage parasitism of codling moth eggs on the treated trees (31.6%) was significantly higher than on the untreated trees (19.3%).

This study has been conducted to investigate the possibility of using flour of wheat grain var. Research-32, cultivated locally in the Republic of Yemen, in making high quality bread.  Moisture content, specific weigh and weight of 1000 grains were determined.  Wheat grains of the new cultivars were treated and milled into flour of 72% extraction.  Chemical and Rheological characteristics of the extracted flour were tested against those of SNABLE wheat flour (a mixture of wheat grains of different varieties).  Physical and organoleptic characteristics of loaf made of wheat flours were also evaluated.  Results indicated that wheat grains of Research-32 were characterized by its high specific weight, weight of 1000 grains and extraction rate.  Percentages of total protein, wet gluten and water absorption capacity. Research-32 wheat flour was found to be significantly higher (α 0.05) than that of SNABLE wheat flour.  Results of sensory evaluation of loaf showed that Bread made of Research-32 wheat flour treated with 0.0% and 0.3% lecithin were higher in organoleptic characteristics than those made of SNABLE wheat flour.

The recent study aims to identify the Impact of Domestique culture variations on the degree of political participation for rural women at two different sub-cultures in rural Egypt. In addition identify factors affecting the degree of rural women participation in political issues. In order to accomplish the study objectives, Qalubiya Governorate was selected to represent the culture of Lower-Egypt Governorates, and Minia Governorate was selected to represent the culture of Upper-Egypt Governorates. Each Governorate,s administrative districts were divided into three categories (High, Medium, Low) based upon their human development indices, related to status of woman at those communities. Two districts were selected randomly from the medium category of the common human development index, Banha district from Qalubiya Governorate, and Maghagha district from Minia Governorate. From each of those districts two local village units were randomly selected. Within each of those previously mentioned villages, a random sample of 160 rural women was selected, and the total sample was 640 rural women. A questionnaire was designed and collected using the personal interview (after it was pre-tested) during August, September, and October 2003, then the data were tabulated and analyzed by using X2 coefficient. The study findings showed that about 43% of the total sample have low level of political participation, medium category represents about 28%, and high category of the political participation

Two field experiments were carried out at El-Khroub experimental station, east of Constantine, Algeria, to evaluate the effect of N, P, K fertilization and their interaction on growth characters and yield of wheat grown on calcareous soil. The design of each experiment was split-split plot. Urea was applied as folier application to one experiment to evaluate the supplementel application of nitrogen under dry farming conditions. The results showed that the main stem height, number and height  of tillers and number of leaves were varried according to the levels  of  N, P, K fertilization as well as to presence or absence of urea., Straw yield significantly increased due to increasing nitrogen level and potassium fertilization in absence or presence of urea. However, grain yield was significantly increased either with increasing nitrogen level in absence of urea or with increasing phosphorus levels in absence or presence of urea. Straw yield was significantly affected by N * P interaction in absence or presence of urea and N * P * K when urea was applied. However, grain yield was significantly affected by N * P and N * P * K interractions in absence of urea application.

The agricultural policy in Egypt showed great importance for improving organic agriculture technology to produce clean and safe crops and foods. This will have positive economic and environmental response on human beings, animals, plants and soils. The present study aimed to clarify success opportunities for cultivating cotton, summer potatoes and wormwood under organic system in Egypt. The study made also a comparison between organic and chemical agriculture in sandy soils, by testing investment efficiency for organic agriculture in the sandy soils. The study states that total area of organic agriculture was about 26.3 thousand feddan in 2003, and this area is increasing at about 1941 feddan a year. These areas expected to be nearly 35 thousand feddan in year 2010. The economic production that realize the economic efficiency could not be obtained at least before 5-7 years to gain complete use from adding organic matter to sandy soil. The preference of organic agriculture over chemical agriculture is due to its advantage in enhancing mechanical soil properties and avoiding chemical pollution of agriculture. Another advantage of organic agriculture is to keep environmental balance of living organisms in soil and enhancing vertical agricultural increase in sandy soils to add indirectly new agriculture area to present agricultural land. The two criteria used in the study; net cash flow and cost/ benefit ratio indicated the advantage of organic agriculture over chemical agriculture for cotton, potatoes and wormwood crops. Meanwhile, the internal rate of return in case of chemical cropping was higher than that of organic agriculture for cotton and summer potatoes. This may be due to the great loss of nutrient elements occurred by leakage, and thus decreasing total benefit from adding organic matter in the first years of organic agriculture. The increase of the internal rate of return of the two crops organically cultivated in the sandy soils is an indicator for its economic