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Field experiments were conducted at the Faculty of Agriculture, (Saba-Basha) - Alexandria University, Egypt during winter growing seasons of 2017and 2018. Drip irrigation system was used in sandy soil to rate the irrigation water usage and increase its use efficiency, and then maximize Faba beans productivity under water deficit conditions. Four Egyptian Faba bean ecotypes and a commercial cultivar (Cleopatra) were grown under a drip irrigation system for evaluation under water deficit conditions. Four irrigation rate treatments were applied; i.e., 100%, 80%, 60%, and 40% of the ET0. The results revealed thatthe tested Faba bean genotypes differed among themselves in most of the studied traits, whether the vegetative characters, yield, and its component traits and pod characteristics.Most of the studied characters, especially the vegetative characters, leaves chlorophyll content and pods fresh yield/feddan trait were significantly affected by the irrigation rates. The obtained results showed that there was a significant decrease in the values of most of these characters by reducing irrigation rates from 3167 (100% of the ET0) down to 1267 m3 / fed. (40% of the ET0) in the first season and from 3100 (100% of the ET0) down to 1240 m3/fed. (40% of the ET0) in the second season.The results showed that the Cleopatra cultivar was the best-tested genotype in terms of irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE). Also, the same cultivar was significantly superior to most of the tested Faba bean ecotypes in terms of growth vigor and productivity, even with irrigation water shortage, down to 2534 m3 / fed. or 2480 m3 / fed. during the first and second seasons (80% of the ET0), respectively. The results of this study showed that, under the conditions of this experiment, it is possible to rationalize irrigation water usage by 20.00% from the common irrigated treatment to reach the highest irrigation water use efficiency even with a decrease of yield, especially in semi-arid areas with limited water.

The challenges of food shortages and environmental pollution require the development of safe and effective alternatives to chemical fertilizers. Two field experiments were conducted during the summer season of 2019/2020 in two locations on a private farm to evaluate the performance of three potato cultivars (Sponta, Cara, and Elbieda) under different fertilizer treatments. The experiment was laid out in a split-plot design replicated thrice. The main plots had three potato cultivars, while the sub plots were comprised of seven fertilizer treatments. The results showed that the highest vegetative growth characters, viz. plant height, leaf chlorophyll index, and plant dry weight were produced by Sponta, followed by Cara, while the lowest growth attributes were recorded in Elbeida. Compared to the NPK inorganic fertilizer, organic fertilizers significantly improved the vegetative growth characteristics of potato in all treatments. Among the organic treatments, the highest growth parameters were recorded with the application of mixed organic fertilizer, vermicompost, and Azollapinnata (T1). The highest yield, viz. tuber yield, number of tubers per plant, and tuber weight, and yield quality characteristics, viz. total carbohydrates, starch, and TSS, were also recorded in T1. Our results demonstrate that the Sponta cultivar grown with the application of mixed organic fertilizer, vermicompost, and Azollapinnata (T1) produced the highest growth, yield, and quality of potato tubers. Thus, we recommend this treatment combination as a sustainable agricultural practice for potato production in similar areas

The study was carried out at theprivate Farm of Borg El Arab, Alexandria, Egypt, during the seasons of (2016/2017 and 2017/2018) to study the effect of humic acid on lettuce yield under salt stress condition using soilless culture system. The experiments were carried out in a Factorial experiment consisted of sixteen treatments arranged in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replicates for each treatment. The humic acid rates (0, 100, 200 and 400 mg/l) were arranged in the main plots, whereas, the four salt stress rates (control, 400, 800 and 1200mg/l) were arranged in the sub plots. The results indicated that, the yield and its components gradually increased with the increasing of humic acid rate at 400 mg/l such as, (head diameter, head fresh weight, head dry weight and yield/fed). Humic additions led to increase NPK content of lettuce leaves, total carbohydrates percentage and vitamin C content as compared with control treatment which recorded significantly decreased in all studied characteristics in both seasons. On another hand, salinity treatments significantly decreased all yield and its components whereas, sodium chloride at 1200 mg/l recorded the negative effect on head diameter, head fresh weight, head dry weight and yield/fed, also, it caused a significant decrease in chemical composition such as (N,P,K,Ca, Mg and Na), total carbohydrates percentage and vitamin C content of lettuce plants as compared with control treatment which recorded significantly increased in head diameter, head fresh weight, head dry weight and yield/fed, chemical composition i.e. (N, P, K, Ca, Mg and Na), total carbohydrates percentage and vitamin C content during both seasons. Response Of LettuceTo Humic Acid And Salt Stress Condition Under Soilless Culture System

Field experiments in two different locations were conducted at the Faculty of Agriculture, (Saba-Basha) - Alexandria University, during summer season of 2018/2019. The main objective was to investigate the effectiveness of different combinations of compost types on yield and quality of watermelon (cv.Skata F1 hyprid). The study was conducted with randomized complete block design with three replicates. Seven treatments were carried out in this investigation i.e. (T1-Jojoba leaves compost, T2-Compost A,T3-Compost B, T4-Compost C, T5-Compost D, T6-Compost E and T7- Control treatment (R100% NPK). The effects of the treatments on the growth and yield of watermelon were determined. Application of different types of compost increased the vine length, number of leaves, number of branches, number of fruits/plant, average fruit weight, fruit length, fruit diameter, mineral contents of leaves and fruits and improved total fruit yield. The obtained results indicated generally that application of chicken manure (T6) produced the highest values of all yield and its components and chemical composition of watermelon plants during both locations compared with the inorganic treatment. Also,Jojoba leaves compost (T1) and compost B ( 100% Compost A + PGPR) gave the highest mean values of the chlorophyll content in leaves character. In addition to Compost C ( 50% Compost A + 50% Chicken manure) gave the best results in mineral content of leaves characters. The findings in this study strongly recommended that chicken manure, beneficial microbes (PGPR), plant composted residues and kitchen wastes would be advantage if the farmer's target is to maximize watermelon yield.

For thousands of years, garlic (Allium sativum Linnaeus) has been consumed in food and health by numerous civilizations. Cryptosporidium (C.) parvum is an apicomplexan parasite that causes a gastrointestinal disease, with the most common symptoms being watery diarrhea. Although several substances have been tried for its anti-cryptosporidial action, there is no effective treatment for Cryptosporidium disease, especially in immunocompromised individuals. The present study aimed firstly to characterize the bio-active compounds in Allium sativum L. and secondly to evaluate its efficacy as a therapy for cryptosporidiosis especially in immunocompromised mice.This was accomplished by evaluating the parasitological and histopathological parameters in the experimentally infected immunocompetent and immunocompromised mice. Also, the cytokine profile during the experimental time was recorded through the measuring of T helper (h)1, Th2 and Th17 cells cytokines. Immunosuppressed mice were given 0.25 μg/g per day of dexamethasone orally, before infection with Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts, for fourteen consecutive days. Starting 10 days post infection (PI), nitazoxanide (100 mg/kg per day) or Allium sativum (50 mg/kg per day) was given orally for fourteen consecutive days.Our results showed that oocyst shedding, on the 32nd day PI, in immunocompromised infected group treated with Allium sativum (354.11, 99.35% PR) showed a significant decrease when compared to its corresponding group treated with nitazoxanide (4369.14, 92.05% PR). On the 32nd day PI, all cytokines levels have been decreased to levels that were similar to those of their uninfected corresponding control groups; also, the histopathological changes and the loss in animals' body weight had been improved. Treatment with nitazoxanide did not result in infection clearance or a reduction in the increased cytokines' levels.Allium sativum L. displayed high efficacy as a potential therapeutic agent against Cryptosporidium, which supports its traditional usage in parasite diseases.

Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas, L.) is one of the root crops worldwide especially developing countries as a popular staph food, but due to its highly heterozygosity as cross-pollinated crop wherein many of its traits exhibit constant variation. Also, sweet potato is sensitive to water deficits especially during its formation stage including vine development and storage root induction. Therefore, this study was undertaken in corporation between El-Sabaheya Horticultural Research Station and the Experimental and Research Farm of The Faculty of Agriculture (Saba-Basha), Alexandria University, Alexandria governorate, Egypt, to develop distinct sweet clones. Stem cuttings of both Abees and Mabrouka cultivars were exposed to gamma ray radiation or immersed in colchicine or sodium azide solutions. 8 promising clones were selected to be evaluated under water deficit conditions in two field trials in comparison with their mother plants during the summer seasons of 2017 and 2018. Four irrigation levels (100, 75, 50 and 25% of ET0) were applied. The gained results revealed that the best results for the vegetative growth characters were achieved with the treatment of 100 % of evapotranspiration, except for number of main branches / plant which possessed the highest mean values with the treatment 25 % of evapotranspiration. Tuber root yield character and its component traits were significantly affected by both studied variables (sweet potato genotypes and irrigation levels). As for the main effect of irrigation levels on tuber root yield/feddan and its component characters, there are significant and direct proportional relationship between the independent variable (irrigation levels) and dependent one (studied traits).The highest average values for tuber root yield/feddan were scored at 100 % of irrigation level during the two seasons, followed with the treatment 75 % of irrigation level; while 25 % of irrigation treatment possessed the lowest mean values. The highest average values were recorded for marketable tuber root yield (%) were recorded at 100 % of irrigation level; while the lowest mean values were scored at 25 % of irrigation treatment. Carotene content and percentages of total sugar and starch were not significantly affected by different levels of irrigation from 100% down to 50% except for starch percentage during the second season. The obtained results, clearly demonstrated that there are large and mainly positive direct effects of both average tuber root weight (g) and number of tuber roots/plant on sweet potato yield (ton/fed.). In briefly, It is recommended to select clone A1 (It was developed as a mutation resulting from the exposure of Abees cv. to gamma ray) because it is characterized by a high productivity (ton / fed.) at 100% irrigation level or when there is a shortage of water supply (75% of evapotranspiration) compared with other tested sweet potato genotypes. Also, clone M1 (It was developed as a mutation resulting from immerging of Mabrouka cv. in colchicine solution) could be selected because of its high productivity, suitable for starch extraction, both when irrigation water is available or even when there is a shortage of irrigation water up to 75% of evapotranspiration. Clone M2 (It was developed as a mutation resulting from immerging of Mabrouka cv. in colchicine solution) could be the best choice where severe water shortage conditions (50% and 25% of evapotranspiration) are found.

Sweet pepper plants (Capsicum annuum L.) grown worldwide in various distinct colours and shapes, and favors for consumers, especially those grown under protected houses. The attention of growers is directed toward enhancing or improving the growth, yield and quality of their fruits via safe agricultural practices using seaweed extract (SWE) as a biostimulant and plant growth regulators as the auxin IAA as safe alternatives for inorganic fertilization and their negative impacts. Therefore, two field experiments were carried out during two successive seasons of 2017 and 2018, to determine their influences on both vegetative and reproductive growth of sweet bell red pepper cv. 'Strick F1' grown under net house conditions. Treatments were consisted of two independent variables as foliar applicants such as seaweed extract (SWE) [Cytokan-S ] at four concentrations ( control, 500, 1000 and 2000 mg.l-1 ) in combination with five concentrations of indoleacetic acid (IAA) [control, 30, 60, 90 and 120 mg.l-1]. Control plants were sprayed with tap water. Pepper plants were sprayed with the assigned treatments twice, once at 15 days after transplanting, and the second one was 20 days later. Both conducted experiments were factorial experiments laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD), with three replicates. The obtained results showed that vegetative growth were affected significantly (p 0.05) due to the combination of SWE at either 1000 or 2000 mg/l × IAA at 120 mg/l; as number of leaves/plant, plant fresh and dry weights as compared to control plants. Respectingyield characters and its components, the interaction between both independent variables, exerted significant (p 0.05) effect on the various studied traits but without clear trends, except for fruit dry weights especially, wherein the interactions between control (SWE) 120 mg/l (IAA), and SWE at 500 mg IAA at 120 mg/l, gave rise to the highest average values during both seasons, in comparison to the interaction between control treatments of both variables; recorded, mostly, the least average values of the given traits. In terms of nutrient contents of fruits; N, P and K nutrient contents, the foliar application of the combination between SWE and IAA at 2000 and 120 mg/l, each in turn, significantly (p ;brought about the highest average values of nutrient contents of fruits compare to the other tested combinations. In brief, this investigation suggests that foliar application with combination of both SWE at 2000 mg / l and IAA at 120 mg / l twice after 15 and 20 days later of transplanting, is recommended to achieve the best vegetative and yield and quality of the given cultivar.

Two field experiments concerning potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) crop werecarried out during two successive winter seasons of 2009/2010 and 2010/2011 in a private farm ata newly reclaimed area, in El-Amria region, Alexandria governorate, Egypt. The experiment wasperformed to study the effect of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) on the potato processing quality and theeconomical characters. The split-plot design in three replicates was used, where potato cultivarswere placed in the main plots, while doses of foliar spraying with hydrogen peroxide were occupiedthe sub-plots. Three potato cultivars were tested in this investigation; Lady Rossetta, Valor andMondial. Four doses of hydrogen peroxide were used as zero, 25, 50 and 75 mM in the first year.Two higher doses, 100 and 125 mM of hydrogen peroxide were added in the second year. Potatoplant stem diameter was positively affected with the increasing of H2O2 concentrations from zero up to 125 mM. The results showed that the 25, 50 and 75 mM of H2O2 concentrations did not affect thepotato tuber yield. The other two high levels (100 and 125 mM) of H2O2 resulted in lower potatoyields. The number of tubers/ 10 Kg weight trait seemed to be affected with H2O2 concentrations, inwhich it was above the accepted number during the second year (more than 112 tubers/10 Kgweight).In the first year, the data indicated that spraying potato plants with 75 or 50 mM of H2O2significantly increased dry matter percentage compared with the control treatment. Both treatmentsof 75 and 50 mM of H2O2, produced the highest levels of tuber starch content in the first year , whilethe treatment 75 mM of H2O2, produced the highly tuber starch content with significant differencesamong the other tested treatment in the second year of the study. The effect of hydrogen peroxideon parenchyma cell diameter trait differed from year to another. The treatment of 50 mM of H2O2possessed the highest value for parenchyma cell diameter trait, whereas, the treatments of both 25and 125 mM of H2O2 increased the parenchyma cell diameter trait. The lowest chipping defectswere produced when potato plants sprayed with 50 mM H2O2. The control treatment gave thelowest mean value (result) where this treatment produced highly significant level of tuber chippingdefects.