The present study was conducted to evaluate 50 wheat genotypes for their productivity and stability under eight environmental conditions. Wheat genotypes were sown at two planting dates under two nitrogen fertilization treatments during the winter seasons of 2018/2019 and 2019/202. The analysis of variance showed that the mean squares of genotypes, sowing dates, and nitrogen fertilization treatments were significant for the number of spikes/plants, the number of kernels/spikes, 1000-kernel weight, and grain yield/plant. The results showed that sowing at the favorable date using 80 kg N/fed increased all studied traits. This study revealed that line numbers 9 and 10 exhibited general adaptability across different environments; hence, these lines are considered promising and could be exploited in breeding programs for wheat improvement.

DNA barcoding is a valuable tool for molecular identification of plant materials, which is primarily employed to guarantee the nature and therapeutic value of all available medicinal plants. Identification is crucial for the illegal medicinal plant trade, safe use, and preventing adulteration. In this study, DNA barcoding was used to evaluate and confirm the identification of some medicinal plants from the El-Omayed Biosphere Reserve (OBR). Two DNA regions, rbcL and ITS were selected due to their universality, ease of amplification and sequencing, and ability to identify taxa at the generic and species levels. The ITS region demonstrated a higher capacity for species discrimination power than the rbcL region. It assisted in identifying four of eight plants more precisely than rbcL. Together, ITS and rbcL could be used for plant species identification, conservation, and trade control of valuable plant resources.

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.

This study determined the ability of Orius laevigatus to consume different stages of Bemisia tabaci at various densities. Additionally, the use of B. tabaci as food and its effect on the life cycle parameters and female fecundity of Orius predator developmental stages were investigated. The results showed that O. laevigatus could consume whitefly at various stages and complete its preimaginal and postimaginal stages, with B. tabaci eggs, nymph instars, and adults as the only available food source. The consumption and fecundity of O. laevigatus were influenced by feeding on different stages of B. tabaci. Furthermore, the females of this predator consumed more eggs, fourth nymphal instar, and adults than the first, second, and third instar nymphs of B. tabaci on a different density level. The mean numbers of consumptions at different stages of B. tabaci increased with increasing prey densities. The result simply that O. laevigatus can be used as a predator in the biological control of tobacco whiteflies.

This study focused on the phytochemical, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activities of the ethanol extracts of golden berry calyx and fruits. The phytochemical analysis of calyx and fruit extracts revealed high total phenols and flavonoids. High antioxidant capacity was recorded for fruit extracts. Fruit extracts also gave the highest antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas fluorescens, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella typhimurium. Furthermore, tomato paste was prepared using sodium benzoate and golden berry extract as food preservatives. The incorporation of golden berry extract and chemical preservatives maintained the paste quality indicators over the control samples. A rapid decline in total antioxidant capacity was also observed in control samples (21.6%) as compared with the treated samples (15.21% and 15.41% for sodium benzoate and golden berry extract, respectively) after 30 days of storage. This study demonstrated that dried fruit extract with high phytochemical and antimicrobial properties could be used as a natural food preservative.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of salt stress on amino acid profile and proximate analysis of fenugreek germination samples of two varieties: Giza 2 and Giza 30 for three days. The germination of sterilized fenugreek seeds was conducted using tap water and NaCl solution (2,000 ppm) where higher salt concentration lowered fenugreek germination quality. The germination of fenugreek seeds using tap water or brine increased the crude protein in both dry Giza 2 and Giza 30 seed varieties. Furthermore, sedative sprouts of Giza 30 recorded the highest crude protein (30.60%), fat (6.20%) and energy (333.13 kcal/g) while the use of sterilized Giza 2 seed variety recorded a higher percentage of carbohydrates (43.3%), fiber (8.10%) and ash (6.60%). Alternatively, although amino acid profiles indicated that aspartic acid and proline were most abundant in fenugreek sprouts, sulfur amino acids (cysteine and methionine) demonstrated the least values of the two varieties. Adopting saline water in germinating fenugreek seeds for the two Giza 2 and Giza 30 varieties decreased all amino acid contents compared with those of tap water treatment.

The study investigated the influence of traditional nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK) mineral fertilizers and nano-fertilizers on yield, and its attributes, and fiber characters of two Egyptian cotton varieties Giza 94 and Giza 96. The design of the experiment was a split- plot with four replicates. Results indicated that Giza 94 cultivar surpassed Giza 96 in agronomic characteristics, although Giza 96 exhibited the highest fiber reading. Nano-chitosan (NPK)-fertilization significantly improved the mean value of boll weight, seed yield, lint yield, lint percentage, upper half mean (UHM), fiber uniformity index, fiber tenacity, and Micronaire value in both seasons. Conversely, the most minimal values for the aforementioned characteristics were recorded with the control NPK fertilizer over the two seasons.

The combined data from two growing seasons in a field experiment study by using two irrigation systems (surface and subsurface drip) in terms of additional water for sugar beet plants under saline conditions are used to estimate root and sugar yield, water use efficiency and root penetration power at the time of harvest. Water salinity levels of 6000 and 8000 ppm were applied to irrigate sugar beet from the time of planting on October 3 to the time of harvest on April 22 with three additions of water (limited 1750, moderate 2500 and optimum 3250 m3/fed). The results are summarized as follows: The heaviest root and highest sugar yield as well as highest water use efficiency were recorded when using subsurface irrigation system, 6000 ppm water salinity level, and moderate or optimum irrigation water (2500 or 3250 m3/fed). Oppositely, the highest penetration power values were obtained using drip irrigation systems with low water quantity (1750 m3/fed) and high-water salinity level (8000 ppm).

In this study, we examined eight white inbred lines of maize and their F1 crosses under normal and drought stress conditions to estimate their combining ability for grain yield and associated traits. The results showed significant correlation (mean squares) of irrigation treatment with the studied traits. The effects of parents, crosses, and genotypes were all determined to be highly significant under both irrigation levels. Grain yield and other traits showed significant differences (mean squares) associated with both General combining ability (GCA) and Specific combining ability (SCA) under both irrigation regimes, demonstrating the importance of both additive and nonadditive genetic effects in the expression of performance traits. The parental line (P-86) had positive and highly significant GCA effects, as well as the crosses (P-17×P-96), (P-8×P-96), (P-8×P-171), (P-24×P-86), (P-86×P-96), (P-86×P-171), and (P-96×P-171) which then gave the highest specific combinations under both irrigation regimes for grain yield and some of the associated traits. The highest level of heterosis (heterobeltiosis) for grain yield was obtained in the crosses (P-8×P-96), (P-8×P-137), (P-8×P-171), (P-96×P137), and (P-96×P-171) under both irrigation regimes.

The main objectives of this study were to use rye grain in the diet of Turkish sheep as a substitute for barley grain and to understand the bio-logical value of rye in feeding lambs and weight gain. Animals were divided into 3 experimental groups with 3 replicates in each group. Control group (T1) received standard diet with barely grain while groups T2 and T3 fed on diets with substitution of 20 and 30% barely grain by rye grain. The results of the study showed that lambs fed on 20% rye seeds have a significant high-er weight gain as a results of better feed intake and feed conversion.