This study examined the macro and trace element contents as well as the cytotoxicity of Laurencia obtusa, Ulva lactuca, and Padina pavonica algae collected from the Mediterranean coast of Egypt (Alexandria coast). The results indicated that the seaweed samples contained high concentrations of Ca, Cl, Mg, K, Na, P and Fe. The Cu and Zn contents of the algae were in the ranges of 0.39-0.95 mg/100 g dw and 0.11-0.49 mg/100 g dw respectively. Fresh red algae contained the highest level of Zn and Cu, whereas the iodine level was 1.52, 1.27 and 1.01 mg/100g in fresh each of Padina pavonica, Laurencia obtuse and Ulva lactuca respectively. Fresh red, fresh green, dry green, dry red, in addition to fresh and dried brown algae had maximum lead (Pb) levels of 0.16, 0.14, 0.13, 0.12, 0.04 and 0.02 g/100 g respectively. Fresh red algae contained the highest Cd and Mn levels, whereas dried brown algae exhibited the lowest Cd and Mn concentrations. Different extracts of fresh and dried brown algae exhibited significant larvicidal activity against brine shrimp. LC50 values indicated that dry samples were more cytotoxic than fresh samples.

The study aimed to evaluate the performance of 15 exotic indeterminate genotypes of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) to determine their suitability for cultivation under greenhouse conditions. The study material was obtained from two globally known gene banks, namely, the Center for Genetic Resources of the Netherlands and the U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (GRIN-Global) of the United States Department of Agriculture. One locally registered hybrid, Asya, was used as the control. The experimental layout was a complete randomized block design with three replications. The data collected were vegetative, flowering, and fruit characteristics as well as the number of fruits and both early and total yield per plant. High significant differences were observed among the exotic genotypes and control for all the studied attributes. The mean control values of fruit weight, firmness and pericarp thickness were significantly high, and several of the exotic genotypes exceeded the control values for vegetative, flowering, and yield characteristics under study. The genotypes coded as G.21 (Allround), G.18 (Alicante), G.6 (Marsol), G.7 (Harzer Kind) and G.3 (Robar) are promising for their overall performance in the total yield per plant and can be recommended for further exploitation to produce hybrids.

The experiments were conducted during seasons (summer, au-tumn, winter, and spring) 2020–2021 to study the activities of invertase, adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase), and alkaline phosphatase (AlkP) as well as the determination of total proteins. These activities were determined in the bodies of adult honeybee worker, Apis mellifera, (house and forager bees) after feeding on three different diet groups (A) pollen cake, (B) supplementary diet and (C) control group during the four seasons. Group (A) received 50 g pollen cake + 250 ml honey syrup (2 honey: 1 water)/colony/three-day intervals, group (B) received 50 g Brewer’s yeast chickpea cake fortified with 4.2% pollen + 250 ml sugar syrup (2 sugar: 1 water) while group (C) received 250 ml sugar syrup (1 sugar: 1 water) only. Results indicated that the highest increase in total proteins was found in group B during the autumn season with house bees. Invertase activity was high in group A during the summer season with forager bees. The highest ATPase activity was observed in group B during the spring season with house bees, whereas the highest AlkP activities were found in group A during the autumn season with house bees.

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of five essential oils (garlic, Allium sativum; camphor, Cinnamomum camphor; menthol, Mentha sp.; cinnamon, Cinnamomum erum; and clove, Dianthus sp.) on wax moth larvae and adult honeybee workers under laboratory conditions. Cinnamon, garlic, menthol, clove, and camphor oils were found to be highly effective against wax moth larvae, with 100 percent mortality achieved after 48 and 96 hours for cinnamon and garlic oils respectively, and after 120 hours for clove and mint oils. Camphor oil provided 96.60% accumulative mortality after 120 hrs. Moreover, all the essential oils were highly safe for adult honeybee workers under laboratory conditions. Accumulative corrected mortality rates after 72 hr were 15.96, 9.02, 13.18, 29.16, and 8.88% for treatments with cinnamon, clove, camphor, mint, and garlic oils respectively.

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of amino acid and vitamin foliar applications on improving iceberg lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) production and quality during the summer. First, two hybrids (Patagonia and Bruma) were grown hydroponically in June 2018 and 2019. Then, for five consecutive weeks, plants were sprayed once a week with Stress Free (a commercial product comprising 0.5% vitamins [vitamin B complex/ascorbic acid] and 0.5% selenomethionine) at concentrations of 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0 g/L and Aminomad (20% free amino acids) at concentrations of 2.0, 3.0, and 4.0 cm3 /L. Investigations revealed that all plant growth aspects were positively improved with all foliar spray treatments than with the control. Furthermore, while mineral contents (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and magnesium) showed positive responses to the applied treatments, the highest dose of amino acids showed the highest marketable and total yield effects among all foliar spray treatments with the Patagonia hybrid. However, the marketable and total yield of lettuce heads was lowest with the control treatment without spraying.

A field experiment was conducted in new reclaimed areas to improve avocado trees water productivity cultivated under deficit irrigation and mulching. The deficit irrigation treatments were 90, 80, 70, and 60% of reference evapotranspiration (ETo). Results revealed that The average water requirements during different avocado trees physiological growth stages were 613, 1509, 1755, 1391, and 632 m3 /fed for flowering to end of fruit set, fruit set to approximately 50% of the expected market fruit size, during the fruit growth stage, during the fruit ripening stage, and during the flower bud formation stage, respectively. These values represent approximately 10.4%, 25.6%, 29.7%, 23.6%, and 10.7% of the total yearly water requirement. The averages irrigation frequency were 2.45, 2.61, 2.72, 2.87, and 3.91day for 100, 90, 80, 70 and 60% ETo treatments, respectively. The highest crop water productivity value of 1.24 kg/m3 water was attained at 70% ETo followed by 1.18 kg/m3 water at 80% ETo while the least crop water productivity (1.06 kg/m3 water) was realized at 100% ETo. The crop water requirement of 5110 m3 /fed/year with high irrigation frequency is recommended for mulched sandy soil cultivated with avocado trees.

Liver toxicity is a common condition that can be induced by environmental pollutants. The present study explored the hepatoprotective activity of steroidal saponins extracted from the yam plant versus CC14-induced hepatotoxicity in albino rats. Twenty-five albino rats were classified into 5 groups. Rats of group (G1) were provided a basal diet and drinking water and served as un-treated controls. Other groups were administered CC14 orally twice a week at a dose of 400 mg/kg. The second group (G2) did not receive any further treatment and served as positive controls while rats in the groups G3, G4 and G5 were administered saponins (50,100 and 200 mg/kg body weight, respectively) for six weeks in the remaining groups. The hepatoprotective activity of saponins was assessed by measurement of liver enzymes, kidney function tests, malondialdehyde content, and antioxidant defense enzymes activities in serum of these rats. Saponins administration improved liver and renal function and significantly increased the activities of catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX), glutathione reductase GSH-RD and superoxide dismutase SOD. These increases were linked to a considerable decrease in serum malondialdehyde levels, indicating that lipid peroxidation was being mitigated. Thus, the concentration of saponins (200 mg/kg) is the best concentration of protection against CC14-induced hepatic injury, improved liver and renal function, and reduced oxidative stress in rats.

The efficiency of three different types of pollen-collection traps namely, Front Drawer Pollen Traps (Type, 1), Bottom Pollen Traps (Type,2) and Plastic Slide Traps (Type,3) were evaluated. The data indicated that in type 2, which had Bottom Pollen Traps, a significantly high amount of bee pollen was collected (383.30g/colony) followed by type 1, (179.37g/colony) while type 3 had the lowest amount of collected bee pollen (123.80 g/colony). The highest amount of bee pollen collected during summer was from type (2) during 20 -29 July, followed by that from the same group during the periods 1-10 July and 9-18 August, and then type (1) during the peri-od 20-29 July. The results also revealed that the lowest amount of bee pollen collected by the traps was during the last week of August and September.

Four agro-wastes were evaluated as substrates for bioethanol production. Seven of the pioneer isolates in the production of cellulase, xylanase and laccase enzymes were selected for soluble sugar and bioethanol production. The highest level of soluble sugar was produced on sugar beet pulp followed by corn cobs. The experimental design included using soybean okara and sesame husk as nitrogen sources added to the production medium. Extraordinary soluble sugar yields were obtained on sugar beet pulp or corn cobs in combination with soybean okara or sesame husk at the concentration of (0.3%) of either. Different concentrations of corn cobs or sugar beet (5, 10, 15, g/100 m medium) were mixed with optimal concentrations of nitrogen sources. Results showed that 10 g of sugar beet or corn cobs achieved the highest soluble sugar yield. The efficiency of four strains of S. cerevisiae for bioethanol production was investigated, S.cerevisiae (AUMC 14720) recorded the highest level of bioethanol on fermentable fungal broth after four days at 30°C.

In this study, a designed variable frequency drive (VFD) was used to control a single-phase induction motor’s speed to pump guava juice at two solid concentrations (9°Bx and 11°Bx). Next, the pressure drop was measured in stainless-steel pipes of three diameters. The pressure drop percentage difference before and after using the VFD at varied flow rates with 10 repetitions at 5-minute intervals was evaluated. The pressure drop reduction range was 19.7%– 30.8% and 19.2 %–32.4% for the 9% and 11% solid concentrations respectively after using the VFD, which resulted in an average of 25.73% reductions in pressure drop and the pump’s total head and driving power. The rheological properties of guava juice were investigated at various temperatures (5, 15, 25, 35, 55 and 75°C). From the results, all materials exhibited non-Newtonian pseudoplastic behavior at all temperatures and concentrations, and correlated well with the power law model, with flow behavior index (n) values less than unity for the 9% and 11% solid concentrations. The findings offer helpful information for predicting how heat variations during processing influence the behavior of guava juice concentrates.