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.

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.

A blend Juice prepared from apple juice and kiwifruit juice (60:40 v/v), was pas-teurized and stored for 3 and 6 months at 4o and 25oC untill analysis. Sensory evalu-ation showed significant differences between the fresh and pasteurized blend juice in all sensory attributes. The headspace volatiles of fresh apple, fresh kiwifruit, fresh and stored pasteurized blend juice at different temperatures were collected and sub-jected to GC and GC-MS analysis. A total of 33 volatile components were identi-fied, 18 esters (17 aliphatic and one aromatic), 6 alcohols, 3 aldehydes, 3 terpenic hydrocarbons, 2 ketones and 1 carboxylic acid. The volatile components in the pas-teurized blend juice showed considerable quantitative and qualitative variations dur-ing storage. By comparative study between the blend juice and fresh apple, fresh kiwifruit juices it was clear that the pasteurization process caused a remarkable in-crease in the total esters content due to the high increase in methyl propanoate, me-thyl butanoate and methyl benzoate. Pasteurization caused a sharp decrease in buta-nol which is the most abundant compound in fresh apple juice. All alcohols showed the same trend except ethanol. Pasteurization revealed a remarkable decrease in (E)–2-hexenal which is the most abundant compound in fresh kiwifruit juice. Regarding the effect of storage it was noted that the blend juice stored at 4oC showed high qual-ity after 3 months due to the remarkable increase in the contents of total ester, buta-nol, and (E) –2- hexenal with a decrease in limonene, but after 6 months the good quality was attributed to the high increase in ethyl butanoate concentration. While stroage at 25oC showed good quality after 3 months due to the very high increase in total esters content which attributed to a greate increase in ethyl butanoate concen-tration (which gave sweet and fruity aroma to juice), but storage for 6 months gave rise to a sharp decrease in ethyl butanoate which led to a high loss in aroma quality.

A number of 192 samples (180 water & swab specimens and 12 patient sputa)were chosen from different sites of Mansoura University Hospitals for detection anddiagnosis of Legionella pneumophila. Out of the 192 samples, 148 were positive byculture method and non-specific staining technique such as gram staining andbiochemical analysis. In our trials for diagnosis of Legionella pneumophila, wefound that 107 of 148 samples were positive by slide agglutination test and 110samples were positive by direct immunoflourescence assay, while 130 samples werepositive by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique which proved to be the mostspecific and sensitive technique for diagnostic investigation of L. pneumophila. Theresults show that the four disinfectant procedures (chlorine, ozone, U.V. light andheat) were effective in eradicating Legionella pneumophila from different watersamples. Both UV light and heat (60ºC) produced a 5 log kill in less than 1 h. Incontrast, both chlorine and ozone required 5 h of exposure to produce a 5 logdecrease. Neither turbidity nor the higher temperature of 43ºC impaired the efficacyof any of the disinfectant methods.

Dithiocarbamate mancozeb, an organometallic fungicide, was administered orally to male Wistar rats in two forms, pure technical 85% and formulated 80% WP, at sublethal doses of 125, 250 and 500 mg/kg b.w. for 28 days. Clinical chemical endpoints were measured after 2, 3, and 4 weeks of treatment initiation.  Data disclosed that both compound formulations affected significantly serum enzyme activities particularly liver enzymes in a dose and time-dependent manner, compared with control. Such changes were accompanied with significant alterations in other parameters like; total protein, albumin, glucose, total lipids, triglycerides, cholestrol, urea, and creatinine.  Furthermore, histological examination of liver and kidney showed several histopathogenic ubnormalities in the examined tissues of rats exposed to mancozeb either technical or formulated.

Canino apricot trees received four sprays of magnesium sulphate at 0.5%, 1.0% and 3.0%, boric acid at 0.2, 0.5 and 1.0%, ascorbic acid at 250, 500 and 1000 ppm, Vitamin B complex at 100, 200 and 400 ppm and a combination of the medium concentrations of each substrate were evaluated during 2004 and 2005 seasons. Single or combined application of magnesium, boron, ascorbic acid or vitamin B complex was favourable for improving leaf area, leaf mineral content (N, P, K and Mg), yield as well as physical and chemical properties of the fruits compared to untreated trees. The promotion effect was associated with increasing the applied concentrations. Using magnesium, born, ascorbic acid and vitamin B complex, in descending order was very effective in improving growth, nutritional status, fruit quantity and quality. Carrying out four sprays at starting growth, after blooming, after fruit setting and at three weeks later with a combination of 1.0% magnesium sulphate, 0.5% boric acid, 500ppm ascorbic acid and 200 p.p.m vitamin B complex suggested to be beneficial in improving growth, nutritional status, yield and fruit quality of “Canino” apricot.

Bacterial angular leaf spot disease caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. lachrymans is an important foliage disease of cucumber, under protected cultivation system. The present work was planned to control the disease using bio-agents and abiotic agents alone or combining, under greenhouse and commercial plastic house conditions. Data obtained indicated that application of bio- and abiotic agents decreased severity of bacterial angular leaf spot disease of cucumber, compared with the control. Fluorescent Pseudomonads (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, P. fluorescens and P. putida isolates) were more effectiveness than isolate of Bacillus subtilis to reduce the disease severity, when they were applied as soil drench treatment. Application of abiotic agents as foliar treatment was more effective than as seed treatment to decrease the disease severity. Isolates of P. fluorescens or P. putida as bio-agents and salicylic acid or ethephone as abiotic agents were the most effective against the disease. Disease severity was significantly reduced by increasing rates of abiotic agents. However, interaction between bio-agents (P. fluorescens or P. putida isolates) as soil treatment and abiotic agents (salicylic acid or ethephone) as foliar treatment greatly decreased severity of bacterial angular leaf spot disease of cucumber, under greenhouse and commercial plastic house condition, compared with the control. Combination between P fluorescens isolate as soil treatment and salicylic acid as foliar treatment were the most effective against the disease