Land degradation is a global environmental issue, given the various negative impact on socio-economic and ecological implications. It leads to reduced production capacity in addition to soil erosion, physical /chemical /biological /economic land deterioration, and long-term loss (or degradation) of vegetation. When a severe deterioration in drought areas called the process of desertification i.e. arid, dry sub-humid and semi-arid areas. Desertification processes reduces the productivity of the soil and as a result effect on food stocks. The main objective of this study is integrating remote sensing data and a geographic information system (GIS) to evaluate the environmental sensitivity for desertification in Wadi El Natrun, Egypt based on the Mediterranean Desertification and Land Use (MEDALUS) approach. The collected soil data; from description of represented soil profiles and analysis of soil samples, in addition to climate, plant cover, and management data were considered for assessing the sensitivity of desertification. The obtained results showed that 10.4 % of Wadi El Natrun area is considered severe sensitivity to desertification as a result of alkalinity and salinity, while the moderately sensitive area occupies approximately 10.93 % of the study area. The low sensitive one exhibits 76.3 %. This area is described by high soil quality because of the study area is one of the new development areas which were not affected by the factors of desertification. It can be concluded that the desert extension of El-Beheira Governorate (i.e. Wadi El Rayan) is one of the areas that possess valuable land resources which should be considered for future land reclamation projects. Similar international studies are recommended to be achieved with the use of multi-criteria GIS modeling (i.e. MEDALUS) which considered all relevant factors in the form of thematic layers for easier implementation and assessments. Present study represents one of the initial attempts to use the MEDALUS model for desertification assessment in the desert extension of El-Beheira Governorate.

The present study was suggested as an attempt to investigate the effects of Pink Pigmented Facultative Methylotrophic Bacteria (PPFM) dipping and foliar spray on vegetative growth and yield of eggplant (Solanum melongena L.). Field experiments were carried out during the summer seasons of 2014 and 2015 at the Experimental Farm, Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University. The vegetative growth of eggplant responded positively to dipping seedlings in PPFM which gave the highest values of growth parameters, i.e. number of leaves per plant, leaf area, nitrogen & potassium concentration in leaf and total protein in fruit, in the two seasons as compared with control (dipping in water). The application of PPFM as foliar spray, increased significantly plant growth (plant length, leaf number, potassium concentration in leaf, vitamin "C" in fruit and total yield per plant) in the two seasons as compared with the other studied foliar application treatments. The interaction between dipping seedlings in PPFM and PPFM foliar spray with all concentrations gave synergistic effects on growth parameters and yield components of eggplant, during the two growing seasons as compared with either individual foliar application or control plants.

It is the correct cropping structure that achieves the compatibility between more than one goal to reach the most efficient cropping structure in achieving and rationalizing water consumption and low use in the context of a set of constraints and determinants of productivity. In order to increase farm income and provide a large amount of irrigation water to benefit from the surplus In horizontal expansion. The model of the analysis of the agricultural structure in Dakahlia governorate included 18 crops through five different models. The first model (alternative) achieved this total yield of  6.780 billion pounds, more than the equivalent of 116 million pounds. Of the proposed model is less than its equivalent in the prevailing crop structure of 81 million m3 as a result of the increase in the area of some of the crops grown from their counterparts in the dominant structure. In accordance with Ministerial Decision No. 28 of 2018 issued by the Minister of Irrigation published in Al-Ahram newspaper on 8/3/2018, the year 142 - No. 47939, reducing the area of rice in Dakahlia governorate by 45%, four other models were reached.

Addition of whole cereal grains’ meal as a source of dietary fibers for the development of tarhana as a value-added functional food was the aim of this study. The effect of substituting wheat flour 72% (WF) with different ratios of whole wheat meal (WWM), oat flakes meal (OFM), whole barley meal (WBM) and mixed-cereal meal (OFM& WBM) on functional, rheological, color and sensorial properties of tarhana samples was determined. Whole cereal grains’ meal showed higher contents of protein, lipids, ash, crude fibers and total phenolic compounds in comparison to wheat flour (72%). pH values of tarhana samples were reduced from 5.22-5.89 to 4.81-5.09 after 72 h. of fermentation. The flow behavior index of tarhana soup samples ranged between 0.11-0.19, indicating the pseudoplasticity of tarhana samples. The higher value of consistency coefficient was recorded for OFM 50% sample followed by WWM 100% sample. Fermentation loss values of tarhana samples ranged between 7.12% for OFM 25% sample and 12.61% for mixed-cereal 50% sample. Substitution of WF in tarhana formulations with whole cereal grains’ meal reduced the yellowness of tarhana samples. Addition of different whole cereal grains’ meal significantly (p<0.05) improved water and oil absorption capacity of tarhana samples. Also, partial substitution of WF with OFM and mixed-cereal meal at ratio of 50% in tarhana recipe has significantly (p<0.05) increased foaming capacity and stability of the final product. The highest values of sensory parameters were observed in Tarhana soups prepared with OFM at ratios of 25& 50%, mixed-cereal meal at 50% and  the control sample. According to the results of this study, it is possible to partially substitute wheat flour with whole cereal grains’ meal in tarhana production in attempt to have a product combining the nutritional value of whole cereal grains and the health benefits of lactic acid bacteria.

The present study aimed to investigate the Genetic Diversity and productive Performance for Some Duck Local strains (sudani and domiaty) using Microsatellite genotyping analysis. From the hatched duck chicks, fifty day old ones were taken at random from each strain and reared under the same environmental, managerial and hygienic conditions from one day old until they aged 12 weeks (marketing age). The comparison was held between the two local duck strains for the following traits: Body weight and body measurements measured biweekly from day old until 12 weeks (pooled sex). Body measurements (shank length, keel length and body circumference) measured at 4,8,12 weeks of age for each strain. All chicks provided reared on floor pens, feed and water were provided ad-libitum all ducks chicks fed on two types of rations: A starter ration (from 0-4wks) and A finisher one (from 5-12 wks). The results indicated that There were significant differences in Body weight at all studied ages between Sudani and Domiaty strains (except at 2, 6 wks.) in hatching the average body weight of the Sudanese strain was 40.80 g however it was 34.12 g for the domyati strain, At 4 weeks age, the average body weight of Sudanese strain was 617.21g while it was 446.38g for the domyati strain, At 8 weeks age, the average body weight of Sudanese strain was1490.90g since it was 1235.98g for the domyati strain and At 12 weeks age, the average  body weight of Sudanese strain was 2211.0g while was 1691.88g for the domyati strain. Also Body measurements of duck during early periods of growth (aged 4, 8 and 12 weeks) was At 4 wks age there were no significant differences between the two strains, At the age of 8 wks, the same trend was observed concerning the absence of the significant differences between strains and At the age of 12 wks, there were significant differences between the two strains of the breast circumference only where the superiority was recorded for the domyati strain,  This may be reflected the genetic differences between the two strains. The results appeared that the PIC (polymorphic information content) of most microsatellite sites was lower than 0.5. This means that the selected microsatellite loci had a1ow diversity and can reflect the genetic relationship among Sudani and Domiaty populations. This assured that both sudani and domyati populations could be considered as a near populations on a molecular level.

Data revealed that Egyptian clover were visited by 22 genus of arthropods belong to 16 families and 7 orders. The identified species were classified to phytophagous, Nectarivore, predatory insects. During both seasons Apis mellifera L. and Megachile sp. were the most abundant pollinators detected at the first week of May till the end of flowering season in mid-June. The highest activity period for A. mellifera was detected at 11:00 am. However, the lowest activity was found at 3:00 pm. and 5:00 pm. in both seasons, respectively, with insignificant difference between them in the first season. Whereas the highest activity period for Megachile sp. was detected at 1:00 pm. and the lowest activity was found at 7:00 am. During both seasons. The free pollination treatment produced the highest mean number of seeds per head followed by the caged with honeybees followed by the caged without honeybees treatment with average (48.15, 43.85 and 13.20 seeds /head) and (51.10, 46.10 and 10.85 seeds /head) during 2017 and 2018 seasons, respectively. The caged plants without honeybees produced the low weight of 1000 seed. Whereas the non-caged treatment produced the highest weights with an average (2.75 and 2.55 g) and (3.50 and 3.90 g) during both seasons, respectively.

Biological aspects and life table parameters of the eggplant stem borer, Euzophera osseatella Treit. (Lep.: Pyralidae) were studied under laboratory conditions at 27℃ and 65% R.H. The egg, larval and pupal stages of E. osseatella lasted 5.8, 33.2 and 12.9 days, respectively. The mortality percentage in the corresponding stages reached 14, 37 and 13%, respectively. The sex ratio in E. osseatella was in favour of females (1:1.1). The preoviposition, oviposition and postoviposition periods of the pest averaged 1.8, 3.1 and 1.2 days, respectively. The daily and total numbers of eggs/female of E. osseatella were 46.6 and 147.2, respectively. The male and female of the insect lived 4.4 and 6.2 days, respectively. The mean generation time (T) of E. osseatella averaged 54.22 days. The net reproductive rate (Ro), the intrinsic rate of increase (rm) and the finite rate of increase (exp.rm/ λ) in the pest were 28.09, 0.062 and 1.063, respectively. The generation doubling time (Dt) of E. osseatella reached 14.01 days. The fecundity curve (Mx) of E. osseatella showed three peaks of 14.14, 20.14 and 12.32 female progeny/female/day at the female age (X) of 50.5, 61.5 and 63.5 days, respectively. The survival curve (Lx) of the insect revealed that most death of females occurred after an extended oviposition period to compensate failure of most immature stages to reach maturity (64%).

Some food additives commonly used by humans have been recently proved to be mutagenic. It is of significant importance to evaluate their genotoxic effects, since they are frequently consumed by humans in their daily meals. In this study, we investigated the effects of monosodium glutamate (MSG), sodium benzoate (SB) and saffron on human cell lines; lung cancer (A549), breast cancer (MCF7), colon cancer (Caco-3) and normal lung (Wi38) cell line as control. Cytotoxicity of food additives was screened on multiple cell lines and examined by NR assay (Neutral Red assay). The present study focused on the cytotoxic activity of the food additives and its possible underlying mechanisms. The results showed that food additives; MSG, SB and saffron induced profound cytotoxicity in cancer cells of human colon cancer (Caco-3) (IC50 = 33.92, 15.01, 3.98 μg/ml), human breast cancer (MCF7) (IC50 = 12.79, 0.378, 10.73 μg/ml), human lung cancer cell line (A549) (IC50 = 27.37, 0.45, 2.46 μg/ml), respectively. Moreover, food additives exhibited cytotoxic activity on normal lung cell lines (Wi38) (IC50 = 4.25, 0.733, 18.14 μg/ml). These data indicated that food additives decreased cell viability in malignant and nonmalignant cells as well as confirmed the occurrence of their cytotoxic effects.

Two experiments were carried out in the experimental farm of Al-Kanater Research Station at ElQalyubia Governorate, during the two consecutive years of 2016/2017 and 2017/2018 to investigate the effect of potassium silicate foliar application on growth, productivity and some postharvest treatments on storability of garlic ((Allium sativum L.)" clone sids 40". In the field experiment, the treatments comprised of control(water spray),foliar application of potassium silicate at 4000, 6000 and 8000ppm and plants were sprayed at 30, 60 and 90 days after planting. In the storage experiment, cured bulbs were stored at room temperature conditions and subjected to sixteen postharvest treatments included the previous four treatments (the three potassium silicate levels and control). In addition, three spraying treatments of sodium silicate at 6000 ppm, chitosan at 200 ppm and calcium chloride at 3000 ppm both separately and their combinations with potassium silicate (three treatments in field) were done.   The results revealed that, the highest plant length, number of leaves, fresh, dry weight\plant, neck diameter, bulb diameter and chlorophyll content of garlic were achieved from foliar application of potassium silicate at the 4000ppm after 120 days from planting compared to the control. Foliar spray of potassium silicate at 4000 ppm recorded the highest total yield and bulb quality such as bulb diameter, bulb weight/plant, number of cloves, cloves weight, total soluble solids and dry matter of bulbs. Leaf K percentage significantly increased by spraying of potassium silicate at 6000ppm.Further, all potassium silicate treatments recorded higher silicon percentage over the control.   Postharvest results showed that weight loss and shrinking percentages of the bulbs after 7 months of the storage were the least with the foliar application of potassium silicate at 8000ppm plus chitosan at 200ppm in storage followed by chitosan individually, potassium silicate at 8000 ppm and potassium silicate at 6000 ppm combined with calcium chloride as a postharvest treatment. However, the highest total soluble solids after 7 months of the storage was obtained from foliar spraying of potassium silicate at 4000 ppm combined with either sodium silicate or chitosan. Also, bulbs treated with foliar application of potassium silicate at 6000 or 8000 ppm combined with chitosan at 200 ppm, had the highest values of dry matter after 7 months from storage.  In general, foliar application of potassium silicate at 4000ppm was the superior treatment for enhancing plant growth, yield and quality. Also, foliar application of potassium silicate at 8000ppm and sprayed with chitosan at 200 ppm was the most effective for garlic storability seven months at the room temperature conditions.

Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) is considered the major and important globally vegetable crops especially in Egypt. Tissue culture techniques have facilitated the induction of mutant which helps in crop improvement. The mutation induction in vegetative crops through tissue culture may be the optimal method to improve these crops. Tomato explants of Idkawy Egyptian cultivar were cultured in vitro on MS medium supplemented with 0.2 mg/L BAP. The resulted plantlets were irradiated with different gamma radiation doses (50, 100, 150, 200 or 250 Gy) and the survival and mean of shoot length decreased as gamma radiation doses increased. The survival percentages of irradiated plantlets were ranged from 78.75% with 50 Gy dose to 18.75% with 250 Gy dose, while the shoot length values were decreased by a rate of 2.71 cm for dose 50 Gy and 1.2 cm for 250 Gy dose. The ten SCoT primers amplified a total of 114 amplicons with a range from 4 with SCoT-4 primer to 18 amplicons with SCoT-5  primer with an average of 11.4 amplicons per primer, The radiation specific markers were ranged from one fragment with SCoT-1 and SCoT-2 primers, SCoT- 5 two fragments with primer to five fragments with SCoT-3 and SCoT-33 primers.