Hyperuricemia (elevated serum levels of uric acid) is a key risk factor for the development of gout, and has been linked to renal dysfunction, cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Hyperuricemia was induced by oxonic acid (uricase inhibitor) in experimental rats to evaluate the protective effect of alcoholic extracts from parsley shoots, celery seeds and fig leaves. The rats were divided into 6 groups, and the first one served as a normal control group. Three groups of rats were given various plant extracts (celery, parsley and fig) by oral administration using a stomach tube at a dose of 250 mg/kg. A positive control group of rats was administered orally the hypouricemic drug, allopurinol (xanthine oxidase inhibitor) at a dose of 100 mg/kg. A negative control group did not receive any plant extracts or drugs. The various plant extracts and the drug were administered for the rats every day for 9 days. On the 10th day, all groups except the normal control received a single dose of oxonic acid (250 mg/kg) by intraperitoneal injection to induce hyperuricemia. After two hours of hyperuricemia induction by oxonic acid injection, blood samples were collected from all rat groups. The protective effects of various plant extracts were monitored through measurement of uric acid and other blood biochemical analyses for the rats as well as assay of xanthine oxidase enzyme in liver tissues. The data indicated a significant (P<0.05) increase in the levels of uric acid, urea, creatinine and potassium, and a significant (P<0.05) decrease in the levels of total calcium in serum of hyperuricemic rats (negative control) compared to the normal control group. These results indicated that oxonic acid caused hyperuricemia and renal dysfunction in the nega tive control group. The protective effects of various plant extracts were established by appearance the levels of uric acid and other kidney function tests near to their normal values which appeared in the normal control group. The different plant extracts exhibited protective effects against hyperuricemia in variant efficacies compared to allopurinol. These efficacies were in the following order: fig > allopurinol > celery ≈ parsley. Comparatively, the different plant extracts exhibited inhibitory effects on the activity of liver xanthine oxidase enzyme in variant efficacies compared to allopurinol. These efficacies were in the following order: allopurinol > fig > celery ≈ parsley. It can be noticed that fig extract was the most effective treatment against hyperuricemia while allopurinol was the strongest inhibitor against xanthine oxidase activity.

Jerusalem artichoke (JA) family (Asterceae) is a perennial species known for its tubers rich in inulin, a valuable source of fructose for diabetics.This study aimed to establish an applicable protocol for calli induction and production from different explants of Jerusalem artichoke (Balady, Fuza and Alba) cultivars. For this purpose; leaf, stem and root explants derived from in vitro growing plantlets were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS medium) augmented with different combinations of benzyl adenine (BA) and naphthalenacetic acid (NAA).The highest percentage of calli induction (100%) was recorded with all tested media except MS free growth regulators medium and MS fortified with 1mg L-1 BA. On the other hand, the maximum value of calli fresh weight was obtained by culturing stem explants on MS supplemented with 1 mg L-1 BA + 2 mg L-1 NAA for all cultivars. NAA for all cultivars. Moreover and concerning calli growth dynamic for each cultivar, the recorded data clearly showed that gradually increase in calli fresh weights by week reaching the maximum value at eighth week for all used explants cultured on the best medium for calli initiation. The results proved that Balady cultivar recorded the best results for calli induction and production compared with Fuza and Alba cultivars. In the same context, stem explant was the superior explant when it compared with root and leaf explants for all examined cultivars. Moreover and concerning calli growth dynamic for each cultivar, the recorded data clearly showed that gradually increase in calli fresh weights by week reaching the maximum value at eighth week for all used explants cultured on the best medium for calli initiation. The results proved that Balady cultivar recorded the best results for calli induction and production compared with Fuza and Alba cultivars. In the same context, stem explant was the superior explant when it compared with root and leaf explants for all examined cultivars. MS medium fortified with 1 mg L-1 BA + 2 mg L-1 NAA was the most suitable medium compared to the other tested media for inducing calli and to enhance calli production from stem explant for all cultivars.

This research study was carried out in the plant tissue culture laboratory of the Agricultural Botany Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University, Shoubra El-khaima, Cairo, Egypt. Experiments were executed for the duration of two consecutive years 2017 and 2018 on chicory plant. Chicory (Cichorium intybus L.), which belongs to Asteraceae family, is considered as an important medicinal plant due to the presence of many bioactive substances such flavonoids, phenolic compounds, alkaloids, steroids, terpenoids, including( coumarines, cichoriin, esculetin, inulin, sesquiterpene lactones, chicoric acid, caffeic acid and some vitamins). In this research in vitro experiments were carried out using full strength Murashige and Skoog basal medium (MS) supplemented with different combinations of two plant growth regulators; Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) including two concentrations (0.5 – 2.0 mg/l) and Naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) comprising four concentrations (0.5 – 2.0 – 3.0 – 5.0 mg/l). An abaxially (lower side) leaf explants (square pieces 0.5 × 0.5 cm) which were taken from 20 days old aseptic chicory seedlings were inoculated to (MS) surface. Initially, chicory seeds were aseptically germinated on half-strength MS medium, after surface sterilization by 70 % (v/v) ethanol for 60 seconds then soaking in 10 % Clorox (0.5% sodium hypochlorite NaOCl) for 10 min to produce the aseptic chicory seedlings which were the source of true leaf explants used in this research study. Total phenolic compounds and flavonoids content were extracted from six-week C. intybus friable callus produced under both light and dark in vitro culture conditions inside a growth chamber incubation room where temperature was adjusted at 25oC ±1. Total phenolic compounds and flavonoids were determined by spectrophotometric methods. The highest values for their contents were from chicory calli when MS callus induction medium was supplemented with 2 mg/l NAA under total dark condition when compared with the other remaining growth regulator treatment combinations and alternative light regime conditions.

Despite the role of the agricultural sector in the Egyptian national economy, the agricultural production falls short of total consumption needs in Egypt, which led to start thinking to intensify the production of food by vertical expansion beside conventional agriculture through the use of modern technologies, such as aquaponics as soilless agriculture, which the Egyptian farmers are not familiar with, so the paper aims to evaluate the proposed  aquaponics projects in terms of economic assessment, financial assessment, SWOT analysis and to identify the level of technology adoption of the  aquaponics agriculture and from which information sources they obtain their knowledge and to identify the requirements of dissemination of aquaponics technology and the most important problems  facing them and proposals to solve. The research methodology used for achieving our objective was based on some statistical and financial tools, such as percentages, correlation, and regression model, as well as the feasibility study for the aquaponics agriculture, where the paper concluded the following results: - The main source of information for the aquaponics derived from the Central Laboratory for Agricultural Climate at the Ministry of Agriculture. -  Most of the respondents belong to the low adoption category with the impact of the exposure degree to information sources and the risk willingness on the degree of adoption of the Aquaponics technology. - The results showed that the payback period of the second category projects is shorter than the first and third category projects. - By comparing the IRR with the alternative opportunity to invest at a discount rate of 23% and 25% showed the project's ability to bear the adverse changes.  - By comparing the return on investment (ROI), the internal rate of return (IRR) and the Payback period (PBP) between the three categories, the second category projects has been proved and better results achieved at the level of the financial measures used. - Comparison of break-even analysis of the three categories shows that the second category achieves the common break-even point in terms of quantity and value before the first and third categories. - The most important problems faced the adopters of aquaponics were the interruption of electricity and high-risk rate significantly when implement the aquaponics project and the lack of funding for the implementation of the aquaponics project and the lack of knowledge of responders about who can resort to them to design and supervision of the aquaponics units. - The most important proposals to overcome such problems are raising farmers awareness of the need to provide generators in sufficient numbers to use in the event of power outages and the interest of the authorities responsible for training courses for farmers on the aquaponics and to inform them of the schedule of these courses and provide brochures and booklets on the aquaponic technology and offer Facilitator loans to farmers to finance aquaponics projects and educating farmers about the most important entities where they can resort to them to designing and supervising aquaponic units.

Two field experiments were conducted on clay loam soil during the two successive seasons, summer season 2017 using maize plants and winter season 2017/2018 using barley plants at El-Gemmeiza Agricultural Research Station, El-Gharbia Governorate to evaluate the direct and residual effects of compost rates mixed with the surface soil layer to 10 cm or added in 30 cm mole depth, arranged in parallel orientation with respect to one another and spaced at 3 m apart besides the nitrogen fertilizer rates on improving some soil chemical properties. Furthermore economical analysis was done by calculating the net income for every treatment to determine the economical treatment. The rates of compost were 0.0, 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5 Ton fed-1, while the nitrogen rates were 0.0, 50, 75 and 100 % of the recommended dose for every growing crop. The experiments were conducted in a split-split plot in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replicates. Results can be summarized as follows: 1- All treatments slightly decreased the soil reaction (pH) in the two growing seasons. 2- Soil salinity (EC), soluble cations and anions and total soluble salts (TSS) significantly increased by increasing nitrogen or compost rates and significantly decreased by increasing application depth. On the other hand, SAR values were significantly decreased with all treatments. 3- All treatments led to significant increases in Ex. Ca, Mg, K and cation exchange capacity (CEC), whereas Ex. Na and ESP were significantly decreased with all treatments in the two seasons. 4- All treatments clearly enhanced total nutrients (N. P and K) of the investigated soil. Also, Organic carbon (O.C, %) and C/N ratio were significantly increased with all treatments. 5- According to the economical analysis, the application of 5 ton compost fed-1 in 30 cm mole depth with 100 % the recommended dose of nitrogen fertilizer for every crop was the best treatment compared with the other treatments, since it gave the highest net income (16809.80 L.E fed-1). 6- Therefore, it is more useful to use those treatments (compost rates at 30cm mole depth with nitrogen fertilizer) to get a markedly improve in chemical properties which reflect on higher yield.

Egypt’s demand for electricity is growing rapidly and the need to develop alternative power resources is becoming ever more urgent. It is estimated that demand is increasing at a rate of 1,500 to 2,000 MW a year as a result of rapid urbanization and economic growth. Egypt is now struggling to meet its own energy needs. Egypt has been suffering severe power shortages and rolling blackouts over the past years, necessitating the requirement to look to alternative energy options. Energy demand is increasing fastly so as to meet the requirements of growing population in the world. This study aimed to compare between traditional energy and solar generators in terms of energy consumption and cost effectiveness. Pumping systems were used to operate units of drip irrigation for the crop which was planted, so as to determine the best and least expensive energy consumption under this system. The required hydraulic experiment and measurements were performed on a private farm at Beni Salama, Giza which lies at latitude 30.32°N, 30.80°E during 2016 and 2017. Measurements were done at two days randomly selected in the months of December and March. This study evaluated the average monthly measurements for December 2016 and March 2017 where onions were grown. Maximum and minimum for Pv system DC power output were 6398 and 5755 W, the maximum and minimum for AC current were 5814 and 5548 W, respectively. Maximum and minimum for hydraulic power were 5911 and 3553 W, respectively. Efficiency of both photovoltaic, inverter, pump and overall system were also calculated for these days. Maximum and minimum for module efficiency were 14% and 13.2%, respectively, and maximum and minimum for inverter efficiency were 95%, 89%, respectively. Maximum and minimum for pump efficiency were 64%, 54%, respectively. While for overall efficiency, they were 8% and 3%, respectively. The results showed that solar pumping system is a reliable system

The present investigation was carried out to study the effect of seed treatments of lupine plants (cv.Giza 2) with chemical inducers Bion (5mM) , salicylic acid (5mM) and saccharin (3mM) as well as as well as Paenibacillus polymyxa and Trichoderma harzianum as biotic inducers on the infection with Rhizoctonia solani and Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lupine under greenhouse and field conditions. Under greenhouse condition (Agricultural Research Centre, Giza) all treatments significantly reduced the percentages of pre- and post-emergence damping-off compared with the untreated control, the highest percentage of survived plants was achieved 92% by Bion and T. harzianum as well as fungicide Rizolex-T followed by salicylic acid and P. polymyxa as 88%. On the other hand, all treatments decrease significantly the incidence and severity of wilt, also increased the percentage of survived plants compared with untreated control. Under field conditions at Giza and Ismailia Agricultural Research Stations (Giza and Ismailia governorates) during winter season 2016-2017, all the treatments decreased the percentage of pre- and post-emergence damping-off as well as the percentage of wilted plants and increased the percentage of survived plants compared with untreated control in two locations. At Giza research station, the highest percentages of survived plants were recorded with Rizolex-T followed by Bion, P. polymyxa, and salicylic acid. While at Ismailia, the highest percentage of survived plants were recorded with Rizolex-T followed by Bion, P. polymyxa, T. harzianum, and salicylic acid. Meantime, these treatments improved growth parameters i.e. plant height, number of pods/plant, the weight of seeds /plant and the weight of one hundred seed. The higher increase in seed yield (ton /feddan) was obtained with Rizolex-T and Bion treatments followed by Salicylic acid, P. polymyxa, and T. harzianum at two locations. Activities of peroxidase (PO), polyphenol oxidase (PPO) enzymes and phenol content were determined. Bion treatment showed the highest increase in PO and PPO activity, and total phenols followed by salicylic acid and P. polymyxa treatments in the presence of R. solani or F. oxysporum. f. sp. lupine.

Projects of various sizes and types contribute to the success of the economic development plans in general. Agricultural industrial projects are the basis for agricultural development in the economies of many countries, so this research aims to identify the economic feasibility of one of the productive activities in the New Valley governorate, On the efficiency of the work in the manufacturing units and the possibility of expansion in the future establishment in addition to identify the implications of the establishment of those units. The problem of research is that the packaging industry is very important because of its ability to absorb a large proportion of the labor force by creating many direct and indirect employment opportunities, from agriculture to storage of agricultural and industrial products that are produced to distribution to complementary industries such as Packaging The focus was on date factories as the main product of the New Valley Governorate. However, the expansion of these units has led to an imbalance between the production capacities and the availability of commodity inputs on the one hand, and the extent to which the revenues and investment profits of that unit.  The research aims to identify the current status of agricultural processing in the New Valley Governorate by identifying the number of factories, their relative importance and the activities of agroindustries, focusing on the most important activities of agro-industries and the importance of agricultural processing, especially in the field of date   industry. In addition to trying to identify the most important problems and obstacles that hinder the development of the industry of processing and preserving dates in the New Valley Governorate for the development of this sector by evaluating the factories that rely on agricultural products as raw material. The questionnaire was prepared and completed by (16) establishments working in the field of packing dates, semi-automatic, The research data were collected in 2019 through a personal interview with the factory managers, The questionnaire included data on production values, raw materials, wages, commodity and service inputs, number of workers, … etc., These data were analyzed using financial and economic criteria. As it achieves an annual trading profit ranging between ( 9.6–092.61) million pounds, which represents a commercial profitability ratio ranging from (1.50 - 2.59) pounds, which is a high percentage reflecting the profitability of this productive activity, while the income of the investor invested between (0.50 - 1.59) pounds Which indicates the efficiency of this industry economically, while the value of the break-even point ranged from (6.77-104.94) million pounds, while the percentage of the margin safety of production ranged between (32.18 - 61.16)%showed the ability of these manufacturing units to cope with the potential risk conditions of lower production. Or lower product price.

The field experiment was carried out during the two growing seasons of 2013-2014 and 2014-2015, at the farm of Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University, Shoubra El-Kheima, Egypt, to investigate the effect of irrigation after the depletion of different available soil water levels, soil conditioner, foliar application of glycine betaine and potassium silicate on vegetative growth and chemical composition of garlic (Allium sativum L.), cv. Sids-40 under water stress conditions. The experimental treatments were arranged in a split split plot design, with three replicates Irrigation levels were conducted after the depletion of 60%, 75% and 90% of available soil water in the main plots. Irrigation treatments were started six weeks from planting, soil conditioner at the rates of 2 m3/Fed and control were distributed in the sub-plots. Foliar applications of glycine betaine was used at 2 mM/Land potassium silicate was used at 0.5 g /L, after 50, 65, 80, 95, 110, 125 and 140 days respectively, from planting compared with control were devoted in the sub-sub plots. The results indicated thatthe irrigation after depletion of 60 % available soil water with applying soil conditioner and glycine betaine or potassium silicate increased the Plant lengthof garlic after 150 days from planting. Bulb diameterand nitrogen contentshowed significant increase as a result of irrigation after depletion of 60 % available soil water with applying soil conditioner in addition to the foliar application ofglycine betaine.Prolin content was significantly increased as a result of irrigation after depletion of 90 % available soil water without applying soil conditioner with the foliar application of distilled water (control).Whereas, the lowest value of Prolin content appeared with irrigation after depletion of 60 % available soil water with applying soil conditioner and foliar application of glycine betaine.Total soluble solids (TSS) andtotal Sugarsincreased significantly as a result of irrigation after depletion of 90 % available soil water without applying soil conditioner with the foliar application of glycine betaine.It was therefore concluded that vegetative growth and chemical analyses of garlic responded positively to irrigation, applying soil conditioner and foliar application of 2 mM/L glycine betaine or 0.5 g/L potassium silicate

This research attempts generally to discuss the readiness for using social media in agricultural extension in Assiut governorate, and it endeavors particularly to reach the following aims: (1) Measuring readiness of the extension organization in Assiut governorate to start providing agricultural extension services using social media from the viewpoint of extension employees; (2) Exploring the willingness of farmers in some villages in Assiut governorate to obtain agricultural extension services using social media, and to identify the most significant determinants of the willingness to use social media; (3) Knowing about the respondents’ views about the advantages, disadvantages and suggestions of using social media in agricultural extension. The study was conducted on two groups of respondents who use at least one of social media tools; the first was comprised of 86 extension employees in Assiut governorate, and the second was a sample of 120 farmers selected from four villages in Assiut governorate. Data were collected using questionnaire form during the   period from November to December 2018. Frequencies, percentages, arithmetic mean, and stepwise multiple regression analysis were used for data presentation and analysis. The results indicated a decrease in the extension organization’s readiness for using social media from the viewpoint of extension employees, while farmers have a high willingness to use social media to obtain extension services. Therefore, it is necessary to use the recommendations of improving the extension organization’s reediness to use social media, in order to exploit the high willingness of farmers, and start using social media to provide extension services in Assiut governorate through implementing an initial initiative through farmers who use social media, and then the initiative can be expanded to include non-users through their family members who are using social media, taking into account the respondents’ suggestions for the successful use of social media in the provision of agricultural extension services.