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Successful seed production depends on the variety, the environment, and the agricultural practices. Limited information is available on the effects of green podpicking treatments on the production of seeds. Therefore, two-season field experiments were conducted in 2019 and 2020 to study the effects of four green fruit picking treatments (no green fruit picking ‘T1’, first two pickings ‘T2’, first 4 pickings ‘T3’, and first 6 pickings ‘T4’) and six varieties (Pusa Sawani ‘V1’, Emerald ‘V2’, Eskandarany ‘V3’, Baladi Assiut ‘V4’, Beghera Iraqi ‘V5’, and NOKH-1002 “F1 hybrid okra ‘V6’) on okra growth and seed yield and quality. The results of the experiment showed that okra plants of T1, followed by those treated with T2 had higher number of dry pods/plant, weight of pods/plant, and seed weight (kg/feddan), seed vitamin C, and pH in both seasons. Plants of T3 were significantly taller than T1 in both seasons. There were differential responses of the studied varieties to the picking treatments. Plants of ‘Eskandarany’ with no pickings, followed by ‘Emerald’ with two pickings always had higher number of dry pods, weight of pods/plant, and seed weight (kg/feddan). We can conclude that okra plants with no green fruit picking, as compared to two, four, and six fruit pickings, can be the best option for seed production due to the observed higher number of dry pods, weight of pods/plant, seed yield and quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted during two successive seasons of 2018 and 2019 on Balady Mandarin trees, 20 years old budded on sour orange rootstock and planted at 5×5m apart. Grown at the productive farm located at Shandawel Island, Sohag governorate. This experiment aimed to study the effect of active dry yeast, ascorbic acid, vitamin B complex and their combination on yield components, alternate bearing and fruit quality of Balady Mandarin cultivar grown under Sohage conditions. The obtained results showed that using of active dry yeast at 10g/l (as soil application) as single application or in combination with ascorbic acid and vitamin B complex at 1g/l from each (foliar application) caused a pronounced increasing of fruit numbers, fruit weight (g) and yield (kg). The later also improved fruit quality in terms of TSS%, TSS/acid ratio as well as total sugars, vitamin C content and reducing total acidity of Balady Mandarin fruits. According to results of the current study it could be concluded that using active dry yeast at 10g/l (as soil application) as single treatment or in combination with spraying ascorbic acid (1g/l) plus vitamin B complex (1g/l) three times on the first week of May, July and September led to improve both yield and fruit quality of Balady Mandarin Cultivar under Sohage environmental conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pollination is a critical process in date palms production series that affect yield and fruit quality. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of different pollination methods (spray pollen grain with zinc, boric or ascorbic acid solution) on yield and fruit quality of Barhy date palm. This study was conducted at Kom Ombo, Aswan Governorate, Egypt during 2019 and 2020 seasons. Results showed that most beneficial treatment in this concern is spraying female spathes with 0.5 to 1 g pollen grains plus 1 g zinc or ascorbic acid/L water which gave economical yield with good fruit quality. Moreover, it distinguished to save time, effort, labor, cost and more practical to it is a promising technique in the future [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A field trial was carried out during 2018/2019 and 2019/2020 seasons at the Experimental Farm of Faculty of Agriculture, Assiut University to study the effect of foliar humic acid application at the concentrations of 0 (control), 200 and 400 ppm three times, monthly interval on growth, fruit yield, and essential oil yield and its composition of caraway (Carum carvi L.) plant. The results indicated that humic acid treatments improved the vegetative growth characteristics (plant height, branch number per plant and plant dry weight), fruit measurements (umbel number, 1000-seed weight and seed yield) and essential oil parameters (oil percentage, oil yield and oil constituents) in comparison with control plant (without humic acid). However, a rate of 400 ppm was more effective than the level of 200 ppm in this regard. Seeds of plants received 400 ppm showed the highest contents of total proein, total carbohydrates, total phenolics, ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and thiamine (vitamin B1). In contrast, these seeds contained the lowest levels of nitrate and nitrite. These findings were closely correlated with increasing 1000-seed weight showing better quality. Chemical analysis of caraway leaves cleared that the maximum contents of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and pigment were occurred by humic acid at 400 ppm resulting in significant increases compared to 200 ppm level in most cases. It was found a positive relationship between the highest contents of leaf N, P and K and the improvement of vegetative growth and fruit characteristics, consequently increase of seed production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A field experiment was carried out during the two successive winter seasons of 2017/18 and 2018/19. The aims of the experiment were to investigate the effect of using three different mulch treatments (black polyethylene, clear polyethylene, and bare soil) on strawberry ‘Florida’ and ‘Winterstar’ cultivars (Fragaria X ananassa Duch) regarding the fruit yield, yield attributes, and some fruit quality characteristics (vitamin C, anthocyanin, acidity, TSS, and TSS: acidity), along with the financial aspects of using polyethylene mulching for strawberry productivity. Compared to the un-mulched plants, the total fruit yield of ‘Florida’ and ‘Winterstar’ plants was increased by ~40-49% and 17-18%, respectively in the black plastic mulching in the two years. Clear plastic mulching was accompanied by an increased total yield of ‘Florida’ by 19-34%, while decreased ‘Winterstar’ fruit yield by 14-24%. Regarding vitamin C content, the main effects of mulching treatment showed that plants grown in black plastic mulching had significantly higher vitamin C content than clear plastic (both seasons) or no mulching (second season). ‘Florida’ plants in the black plastic mulching achieved significantly the highest vitamin C levels compared to the other treatments. Similarly, ‘Florida’ plants in the black plastic mulching had higher TSS content than the other mulching treatments. Depending on the cultivar used and the growing season, plastic mulching (whether clear or black) was beneficial in improving the fruits anthocyanin content compared to the un-mulched plants. In conclusion, plastic mulching (especially the black) was helpful in improving fruits contents of vitamin C and anthocyanin compared to the un-mulched plants. Regarding the financial aspect, using black plastic mulching for strawberry production in Assiut governorate was more profitable than the un-mulched farm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted during two successive seasons (2016/2017 first ratoon and 2017/2018 second ratoon) of Williams banana plants. The plants grown in a private banana orchard, where clay loam soil under flood irrigation system, at 3.5x3.5m apart located at Nakada district, Quena Governorate, Egypt. Forty eight stools each containing three plants were chosen to evaluate the effect of yeast applied as soil drench and spraying ascorbic acid (V.C) on growth, yield and fruit quality. These treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design in split plot arrangement with three replicates. The obtained results could be summarized as follows. Ascorbic acid spraying significantly increased the length and circumference of pseudostem, leaf area and total leaf area/plant as well as percentage of N, P and K of leaves compared to unsprayed ones. Also, these treatments significantly increased the yield components and improved the fruit quality compared to unsprayed ones. Yeast application was very effective in enhancing all growth aspects, yield and fruit characteristics compared to untreated ones. All combinations of ascorbic acid spraying on the yeast treated plants resulted in a significant increament in all growth aspects, yield components and fruit quality as compared to check treatments. The best results regarding the growth and fruiting were obtained with ascorbic acid spraying (at 200 ppm) accompanied with yeast application (at 40 g/plant) compared to other tested treatments. It is evident from the foregoing results that the application yeast at 40 g/plant and ascorbic acid at 200 ppm application four times during growth season (April, June, August & October), singly or in combination improved the growth and yield of Williams banana plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]