This work was conducted at the Experimental Farm of Nasser's   Faculty of Agricultural Sciences in Lahej Governorate, Yemen, during three   seasons 2003, 2004 and 2005. Five statistical procedures of relating yield components to yield; i.e., simple correlation coefficient, the path coefficient analysis, the stepwise regression, the multiple regressions and factor analysis were applied to seven yield contributing characters to determine their functional relationships to yield. Sixteen Maize genotypes were used in this study. Simple correlation coefficient revealed that, number of leaves/plant, ear height, ear length, number of rows/ear, number of kernels/row, 1000-kernel weight and shelling% had the greatest influence on grain yield/h. According to path analysis, weight of 1000-kernel had the greatest direct effect (22.23%) towards grain yield/h. While, number of kernels/row (9.33%) and ear length (9.32%) had the highest indirect effect to grain yield. Multiple linear regressions indicated that the variables which had the highest partial coefficient of determination in seed yield/h, were ear height, ear length, number of rows/ear and 1000-kernel weight (R2 = 43%, 22%, 9% and 12%, respectively). The stepwise regression shows that, 1000-kernel weight, number of kernels/row, number of rows/ear and shelling% were accepted variables which had the highest coefficients of determination with seed yield (88.9%). The factor analysis grouped 7 yield contributing characters in two factors, which altogether were responsible for 70.42% of the total variability in the dependence structure.

Several soil-borne fungal pathogens attack soybean plants, causing seedling damping-off and root rot diseases, in Egypt. Isolation trials from rooted rots of soybean, collected from various locations at Gharbiya,  Kafr El-Sheikh and Minufiya governorates, revealed that Rhizoctonia solani, Fusarium solani and Macrophomina phaseolina were the most virulent and predominant pathogens. All the tested fungicides significantly reduced linear growth of the tested pathogens. Three known bioagents i.e. Trichoderma  harzianum, T. hamatum and  Bacillus subtilis were tested against such pathogens, and revealed  remarkable  effect in reducing mycelial growth on PDA medium. T. hamatum, mainly, grew over the mycelium of the tested pathogens. Under greenhouse conditions, both the fungicides and antagonists gave significant reductions of root rot severity, but fungicides were more effective than biocontrol agents in reducing the disease. Application of the selective antagonists and fungicides significantly decreased soybean root rot than untreated check, in naturally pathogen- infested fields. Plant growth and activity of nitrogenase enzyme were enhanced greatly, when the fungicides were applied compared with antagonists treatments.

Information related to pesticide practices in green beans and strawberry fields in some selected exportation farms in Egypt was obtained through questionnaire forms. Such forms were randomly distributed among different target exporters at Giza, Ismaellia, Sharkia, Behirah and Alfayoum governorates. Questionnaire outputs indicated that the percent of the rejected export by importers due to high levels of pesticide residues reached 11.11 and 7.69% in green beans and strawberry respectively. The recommended rates of the used pesticides established by the Ministry of Agriculture and/or EU guidelines were followed by 86.67 and 69.23% of these vegetables growers, respectively. Questionnaire outputs indicated that the percent of exporters who were repeating the application of all or each pesticide during the same season of green beans and strawberry reached 48.89 and 42.31%, respectively. Furthermore, 15.56 and 7.69% of growers followed the recommended Pre Harvest interval (PHI) for each pesticide used in green beans and strawberry. On the other hand, no storage period was followed by 40 and 76.92% of the exporters for green beans and strawberry, respectively. Concerning the transportation conditions data showed that 55.56 and 88.46% of the exporters used cooling trucks with green beans and strawberry, respectively.

ABSTRACT   The current study was carried out to evaluate certain non-conventional techniques including the use of organic manures, either residues left from soaking cattle and chicken manures applied to the soil or spray of their extracts on the plant biomass; biofertilizers as well as natural resources of rock phosphate were also used, inorganic fertilizers being included for comparison. Such evaluation was thought to be performed through evaluating responses of soil characteristics represented by both chemical characteristics and element availability; responses of developed plants to applied treatments were thought to be not included in the present study. This study was conducted under conditions of greenhouse located in Soils Department, Faculty of Agriculture, AinShamsUniversity; it represents the application of results obtained from the two pot experiments previously conducted. Cucumber seedlings of 15 days old were planted after being inoculated with liquid culture of the used biofertilizers and let to be grown three months up to harvest. The studied soil samples were taken out before flowering stage of grown cucumber plants to evaluate the concerned responses of the indicated soil samples. Results showed that organic manure application practices were favorable compared to either original untreated soil or inorganic control treatments; application of the used biofertilizers added, either separately or in combinations, to manuring was favorable for most of the studied parameters, application of rock phosphate to the mentioned treatments being also favorable.

Newly ecdysed fourth instar larvae of the cotton leafworm, Spodoptera littoralis (Boisd.) were treated with LC50 of ecdysone agonist methoxyfenozide, to provide better insights into physiological symptoms and aspects induced by it as a mimic to the 20-hydroxyecdysone (20-E) action. Larvae ingest methoxyfenozide died within 2-3 days, and being trapped within their excuvae. They stopped feeding shortly before ecdysis. Treatment neither accelerated ecdysis nor ceased feeding, as soon as the larvae ingest such 20-E mimic. The continuous binding of the compound to the ecdysteroid receptors of S. littoralis larvae increased the titre of enzymes regulated by 20-E during the experimental time (3 days). Chitinase and phenoloxidase were activated after 6 and 12 hr from methoxyfenozide administration, respectively. The compound had no effect on chitin production, but endocuticle chitin degradation during moulting might be depressed as illustrated by the presence of higher amount of N-acetylglucosamine in control larvae than methoxyfenozide treated. It is suggested that methoxyfenozide might induces a precocious moult by initiating moulting cycle, but its main toxic effect is due to the fact that its level remains high during moulting and don’t decrease for allowing other hormones necessary for successful moulting to be released.

ABSTRACT       A data matrix comprising 100 characters of morphology, anatomy and seed protein banding recorded comparatively for ten species of Cleome and Gynandropsis (Cleomaceae) was analyzed under three fundamentally different numerical methods. The PRIMER analysis used the Bray Curtis (SØrensen) distance measure together with the single linkage clustering methods. The SPSS program used Ward’sclustering as a distance measure and the average linkage clustering method distance or complete linkage distance. All three dendrograms agree in grouping the ten species into two major groups: A (including C. droserifolia and C.chrysantha) and B (including C. amblyocarpa, C. paradoxa, C. arabica, C. viscosa C. brachycarpa, C. scaposa, C. hanburyana and Gynandropsis gynandra).This indicates that Gynandropsis gynandra ought to be submerged in Cleome as Cleome gynandra

The seasonal flight activity of both sugarcane stem borer moths Sesamia cretica Led. (Noctuidae: Lepidoptera) and Chilo agamemnon Bles. (Pyralidae: Lepidoptera)were monitored with Robinson light trap for two successive years 2005/2006 & 2006/ 2007 at El-Mattana Agricultural Research Station, Qena Governorate, to determine the proper time for releasing the egg-parasitoid, Trichogramma evanescens West. for biological control program to the two mentioned borers without any application with chemical pesticides. The obtained results showed that, the moths of the greater sugarcane stem borer, S. cretica had a main period of seasonal activity extended from spring to early summer (April to June) and had another four small peaks of seasonal activity at sugarcane fields occurred in April, June, July, and October. The small sugarcane stem borer moth, C. agamemnon had two main periods of seasonal activity at sugarcane fields. The first period extended from spring to early summer (March to June) and the moths probably recorded two broods during this period, whereas the second period was relatively smaller and occurred during July. Results of statistical analysis showed that, the combined effect of the three main weather factors (mean of min. & max. temperatures and %R.H.) two weeks earlier were responsible on the changes in the seasonal flight activity of S. cretica moths for 51.6% and 66.7% explained variance for the 1st and 2nd year, respectively. Also, these factors were responsible on the changes in the seasonal flight activity of C. agamemnon moths for 57.7% and 44.1% explained variance for 1st and 2nd year, respectively. So, it could be recommended that, the egg-parasitoid, Trichogramma evanescens releasing program must be started at mid- April for autumn and spring plantations, while for the next ratoons after two months from harvest and continued biweekly intervals to the end of June.

Roasting process of carob pods at various temperatures for different times was carried out to study the effect of its process on the chemical constituents, minerals content, phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity. Volatile compounds were also determined for roasted carob powders. The obtained results revealed that the protein content was 5.42% (on dry weight basis), which decreased with increasing the processing temperatures. Whereas, ash increased gradually by increasing the roasted temperatures but lipids was decreased. The predominant mineral in carob powders was calcium followed by sodium, potassium and magnesium, respectively whereas; the raw carob pods contain 21.07mg/g of total phenolic compounds. Roasting treatment caused to the degradation of phenolic compounds which increased with increasing the roasting temperatures. The antioxidant activity of the carob powders was determined by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) as free radical scavenging. However, the activity of antioxidant was decreased owing to the roasting process. On the other hand, sensory characteristics for both hot drinks and prepared cakes showed greater preference, especially for samples contained roasted carob powders at 160˚C for 30 min. and/or 40min. compared with that in tested samples and control. Seven aroma compounds were positively identified by using GC–mass spectrometry. The major aroma compounds of carob powders were 3-methyl butanal and methyl propanal which was found in chocolate and it's responsible for chocolate flavor. Moreover, other volatile compounds were identified in roasted carob powders and which also found in dark chocolate such as 2-Heptanone, Pentan-2-ol and Linalool. Also, Nonane-2-one and Hexanal were found and identified in roasted carob powders.

The present study is a trial to investigate the toxic effects of the bio-pesticide Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) on male reproductive system of rats. Rats received dietary doses each approximately equivalent to 1/10 or 1/100 of the LD50 value of the Bt bio-pesticide (Agerin) for 90 consecutive days. Sex organs weight, semen picture, concentrations of the hormones [i.e., testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)], and histopathological changes in testes were the criteria used to evaluate the reproductive toxicity on the treated rats. Btat the higher dose caused a significant decrease in the weight of testes and seminal vesicles as compared with control. Both Bt doses decreased sperm count associated with an increase in the morphologically abnormal spermatozoa; however sperm motility was significantly decreased in treated rats with the higher dose only. The concentration of serum testosterone was significantly reduced in both treated groups; however LH and FSH levels were significantly reduced in treated rats with the higher dose. Histopathological examination of Agerin-treated male rat's testes revealed that both Bt doses caused testicular degeneration in a dose-dependent manner. In conclusion, Agerin may decreases fertility in adult male rats by affecting the concentrations of pituitary gonadotrophins, testosterone and thus subsequent spermatogenic impairment

Hot flow air currents were used in sheld dryers to dehydrate some vegetables (squash, peas, green beans, potatoes, yellow carrot, tomatoes, onion, green pepper, yellow pepper, red pepper, cauliflower and eggplant) which were used to prepare 8 recipes of dehydrated vegetable mixture (vegi-mix). Sensory evaluation indicated that, 4 recipes of vegi-mix's recorded the highest scores of sensory evaluation and considered the prefer recipes and stored at ambient temperature up to 3 months during which, the physicochemical composition, the antioxidants and microbiological examination were assessed. Results revealed that the recipe composed of yellow, green and red paper, cauliflower and eggplant to prepare the vegi-mix caused to increase of total phenolic compounds, total flavonoids and total carotenoids content. The moisture contents were in the range of (8.62-9.78%); ether extract (10.23-16.76%); total carbohydrate (51.6-53.6%); crude fiber (9.62-10.61%) and total calories (340.43-375.36 kcal/100g dry weight basis respectively) for the selected 4 recipes. On the other hand, the tested vegi-mix's being also as a good source of fibers, minerals and antioxidants. Changes in moisture, crude fibers, total solids, total carbohydrate, chlorophyll a and b and total carotenoids, flavonoids and phenolic compounds as well as total bacterial counts, yeast and mould counts, sporeforming bacterial counts content were also studied during 3 months of storage at ambient temperature. A little decremental was observed in total phenolic compounds, total flavonoids content through 3 months of storage for the tested vegi-mix's. Results also showed that all tested vegi-mix's. were microbiologically safe up to 3 months of storage and maintained original sensory properties. Therfore, dehydrated vegi-mix's composed of squash, peas, green beans, potatoes, carrot, tomatoes, onion, green, red and yellow pepper, cauliflower and eggplant without herbs considered as a good source of antioxidants, minerals, high nutritional value, good palatability and healthy safe through three months of storage at ambient temperature.