A total of 3108 records on conception rate (CR) and 2123 on litter size (LS) were used in this study. CR data represented 1600 Damascus (D) does, 201 Barki (BR) does, 229 Baladi (BL) does and 1070 crossbred does between D and each of BR and BL, while LS represented  1070 D does, 128 BR does, 145 BL does and 775 crossbred does.  These records were used to study the effect of crossing and other fixed effects and to estimate heritability of these two traits in the Damascus goats. Statistical models included varying combination of the fixed effects of station, genotypes within station, year of mating, month of mating, and parity and the random effect of animal nested within station, genotype, year of mating   and month of mating. Variance and covariance components for Damascus data were estimated through the Gibbs Sampling technique using a model that included the fixed effects of station, year and month of mating and parity, and the random effects of doe additive genetics and permanent environmental. CR mean in different analyses ranged from 0.39 to 0.63. Damascus, with a range of CR of 0.48 to 0.63, surpassed both local breeds (ranging from 0.33 to 0.58) and was close to the crossbreds that ranged between 0.34 and 0.68.  LS mean ranged from 1.26 to 1.50 in different analyses. Baladi scored the highest in LS (1.49). Damascus ranged from 1.15 to 1.24 in different locations. LS ranged from 1.37 to 1.67 for crossbreds. For both traits there was no clear evidence of the merit of Damascus goats or their crosses over the Barki and Baladi goats. More data taken under sound herd management are needed to clarify the utility of the Damascus and its crosses. Heritability estimates+SE for CR and LT in Damascus goats were 0.03 ± 0.003 and 0.04 ± 0.003, respectively.

Six population’s seeds of four yellow maize crosses were formed during 2001 and 2002 growing seasons. Their plants were evaluated during 2003 growing season under two planting dates (14th May and 29th June) for six agronomic traits at the Agric. Res. Stat. of Fac. of Agric., Ain Shams Univ., Shalakan, Kalubia Gover-norate, Egypt. The present work aimed to determine the genetic parameters and their interactions with planting dates for grain yield per plant, 100-kernel weight, number of kernels per row, ear length, ear diameter, and days to silking in the six popula-tions (P1, P2, F1, F2, BC1 and BC2). Mean values of the six populations for all studied traits in all crosses were higher under normal planting date than those under late one. Therefore, normal planting date seemed to be non-stress environment. The potence ratio for all traits in the four crosses exceeded (+1) except days to silking where it was less (-1). The highest heterosis percentage relative to mid and better parent reached 192.06% and 152.01% in cross 1 for grain yield per plant under late plant-ing date. Inbreeding depression values were not-significant in all studied traits ex-cept ear diameter and 100-kernel weight in crosses 1 and 3 as well as grain yield per plant in all crosses also, it was positive for most studied characters in the four cross-es except days to silking trait. Dominance occupied the first rank, additive or domi-nance type of epistasis occupied the second or the third contributor to the genetic ef-fects in order of importance according to cross with exception of days to silking, where additive and additive occupied the first and the second ranks. Narrow sense heritability was relatively high for yield attributes whereas it was low for grain yield per plant. Meantime, expected genetic advance was relatively moderate or low for all traits. Therefore, it could be suggested that selection for most studied traits in the subsequent generations will be relatively more effective than in the early genera-tions.

This investigation was conducted at Barrage Station (BHRS), Horticultural Research, Kalubia Governorate, Egypt, to get some new and promising pea lines (Pisum sativum L.) using pure line selection method on the basis of genetic variability. Selection was performed between or within four pea populations of Master Bcultivar. The populations were collected from four different regions in Egypt and subjected to selection procedure during 2012/2013, 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 growing seasons. The investigation intended to study different traits of growth and yield and its components viz., No. of days to flowering, No. of first flowering node, plant length, No. of branches per plant, pod length, pod width, pod thickness, pod weight, No. of seeds per pod, weight of seeds per pod, No. of pods per plant, weight of 100 seeds, shelling percentage, pod yield per plant and seed yield per plant. The target of this study was to improve pea yield and its components as well as earliness of yielding. The analysis of variance revealed highly significant differences among genotypes for most of the studied characteristics, indicating ample scope of selection. Most characteristics showed a higher heritability coupled with higher genetic advance through two cycles of selection indicating that these characteristics are stable and can be improved through selection based on phenotypic observations. Twenty lines were obtained from selection program and were compared against the baseline populations in addition to check cultivar (Entsar1).Results showed significant differences among lines for most studied traits. Selection program resulted in genotypes or lines given symbols of H3, G7, N1, N3, G2, G1 and K2 that considered promising lines.  These lines have good pods traits, higher productivity and earliness of flowering. Simple correlation coefficient analysis revealed that greater emphasis should be given to the traits of No. of branches and No. of pods per plant along with pod length, pod width, No. of seeds and weight of seeds per pod for yield improvement.