INFLUENCE OF MINERAL NITROGEN, COMPOST AND NITROGEN FIXING BACTERIA ON TOMATO PLANTS GROWN IN SANDY SOIL

Pot trials were conducted under plastic house condition during two successive seasons of 2013/2014 and 2014/2015, at the experimental site of Central Laboratory for Agricultural Climate (CLAC), Agricultural Research Center, Giza, Egypt. The present study aims to determine the partial replacement of mineral nitrogen fertilization of tomato by nitrogen fixing bacteria with or without adding compost in sandy soil. Tomato seedlings (Lora F1Hybrid) were transplanted during the first week of October into plastic pots (30 cm diameter) filled with 10 kg of sandy soil. Three rates 25, 50 and 75% of the recommended mineral nitrogen in the nutrient solution for tomato with adding compostat 2% and nitrogen fixing bacteria (Azotobacter chroococcum and Azospirillium brasilense) at 20 ml/plant either individually or in combinationswere investigated on growth, mineral composition and yield of tomato plants compared to 100% of recommended nitrogen only (control). The plants were irrigated daily by drip irrigation and received 200 ml/plant of nutrient solution twice a weekly. The results showed that using 50 or 75% of N-mineral fertilizer + compost + nitrogen fixing bacteria gave the highest values of growth, mineral composition and yield of tomato. It is recommended that 50% of nitrogen mineral fertilizers for tomato plants could be replaced by nitrogen fixing bacteria in presence of compost, which in earn, reduce environment pollution caused by extensive application of mineral nitrogen fertilizers

Effect of ejaculation frequency on ram semen characteristics, seminal plasma composition and chilled sperm quality

The aim of this study was to see how chilled sperm quality is affected by ejaculation frequency and its correlation to seminal plasma composition in INRA 180 rams. Five rams were collected at high (HFE) and low frequencies (LFE). For the high frequency, the rams were collected three times on the same day every three days for 18 days. In the low frequency collection, three consecutive ejaculates were collected once a week for four weeks. Ejaculates were collected at 20-minute intervals in either HFE or LFE. Semen characteristics, concentration of total protein, lipid, cholesterol and fructose in seminal plasma were assessed. Semen samples were extended in skim milk-based extender at 15 °C, then evaluated at different storage times (0, 8, and 24 h). Fresh sperm quality parameters, seminal plasma composition, and stored sperm quality were shown to be higher in LFE than in HFE and in the first and second ejaculates than in the third one. After 24 h of storage, sperm quality was correlated to seminal plasma components. In conclusion, the frequency of ejaculation has an effect on the fresh and stored semen quality as well as on seminal plasma composition in INRA 180 rams

Ecophysiological Responses of Two Olive Tree Cultivars (Olea europaea L. CV Koroneiki and Chemlali) Under Three Water Treatments

In this paper, our objective is to assess and compare the effects of three levels of irrigation application on the ecophysiological behavior and plant dry matter accumulation of two young olive tree cultivars Koroneiki, a promising greek cultivar, and Chemlali, the best local cultivar. According to this assessment, we can determine the most efficient water treatment that could be suitable for Mediterranean environments subjected to water shortage conditions. Measurements were made in the green house of the Tunisian Olive tree Institute under normal day-light conditions from March, 16th to April, 21st 2015. Three water treatments were applied which are T100% (control treatment: Daily irrigation at 100% of Available Water Content (AWC)), T50% (Daily irrigation at 50% of AWC) and T0% (Without watering). The results showed that the two olive tree cultivars possess important mechanisms to overtake limited water resources. However, some striking variations existed between the two cultivars studied. Indeed, as water stress increased (T0%), Chemlali maintained longer a high midday leaf water potential compared (- 4.54 MPa) to Koroneiki (- 5.8 MPa). T50% treatment seems to be sufficient for both cultivars. Measurements of total Osmotic Adjustment (OA) showed that olive trees use this mechanism to create very negative leaf water potentials in order to be able to extract water from a dry root environment. The root/shoot ratio of Chemlali plants at T50% treatment was the highest (1.08) comparatively with the other two treatments (0.70 and 0.79 for T100% and T0% AWC water treatments, respectively). This result shows that Chemlali plants valorize low quantities of water (T50%) rather than high quantities (T100%) and Koroneiki plants behave better when it is irrigated at 100% AWC. To conclude, Chemlali plants irrigated at 50% AWC, compared to Koroneiki plants, are the most suitable to tolerate water restriction conditions

MINIMIZING POSTHARVEST LOSSES IN POTATO (Solanum tuberosum L.) TUBER USING GAMMA IRRADIATION, MINT OIL AND PACLOBUTRAZOL UNDER UNREFRIGERATED STORAGE CONDITION

This experiment was carried out on potato tubers during the two successive seasons of 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 at the Department of Natural Products Research, National Center for Radiation Research and Technology, Nasr City, Cairo, Egypt. The research aims to reduce losses resulting from the storage at room temperature and to reduce cold storage costs of potato tubers using gamma radiation, mint oil and paclobutrazole treatments.     Potato tubers cv. Sponta were treated with 100 Gy of gamma radiation, 5% of mint oil and 100 ppm of paclobutrazole during the two successive seasons of 2013/2014 and 2014/2015. Results showed that, tubers irradiated with 100 Gy and soaked in 100 ppm paclobutrazole scored the lowest percentage of weight loss, sprouting, shrinkage, decay and total lost percentage. As for the effect of soaking tubers in 5% mint oil, results showed a higher percent of shrinkage than other treatments. On the other hand tubers irradiated with 100 Gy of gamma irradiation then soaked in 100 ppm of paclobutrazole had higher contents of starch than other tested treatments

Comparative assessment of two tests for early pregnancy detection in dairy cattle

The objective of this study is to determine and compare the accuracy of two tests for early pregnancy diagnosis in dairy cattle by measuring pregnancy-associated glycoproteins (PAG), the Rapid Visual Pregnancy Test (Ubio quickVET; VPRT) and the commercial ELISA-PAG test (Bovine Pregnancy Test DG29®). Blood samples were collected from 180 cows between 28 and 35 days after artificial insemination (AI) to quantify the concentrations of PAG in each sample. Both tests were performed on plasma within two days after blood collection. Transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS) was performed for pregnancy diagnosis after 40 ± 3 days post-AI as a gold standard. Results indicated that the sensitivity (Se) of the VPRT and DG29 for diagnosing pregnant cattle were 90% and 100%, respectively. The specificity (Sp) of the two tests for diagnosing non-pregnant animals was 90.2% and 82%, respectively. The accuracy of both tests was 94% and 90%, for DG29 and VPRT respectively. The ability of both tests to distinguish between pregnant and non-pregnant cows was excellent. This implies that the VPRT test could be considered more accurate than the PAG-ELISA test and TRUS on days 28–35 after AI. The VPRT test, therefore, can be used as an alternative to the PAG-ELISA test with some constraints that need to be considered

Evaluation of New White Maize (Zea mays L) Genotypes Under Drought Stress Using Selection Indices

Thirteen drought tolerance or resistance indices including stress tolerance index (STI), stress susceptibility index (SSI), tolerance index (TOL), geometric mean production (GMP), mean production (MP), harmonic mean (HM), yield index (YI), yield stability index (YSI), drought resistance index (DI), sensitivity drought index (SDI), relative drought index (RDI), stress susceptibility percentage index (SSPI) and modified stress tolerance (K1STI and K2STI) were calculated based on grain yield under drought and normal irrigation conditions to identify the best maize genotypes that can be grown under water stress condition. Yield under stress and favorable conditions were significantly and positively correlated with MP, GMP, YI, STI, KI.STI and K2.STI at Sids and Sakha environments. These results indicated that these indices were more effective in identifying high-yielding genotypes under drought stress as well as normal conditions. Cluster and biplot methods for screening drought-tolerant genotypes revealed that genotypes G5, G15, G20, G21, G22 and G23 at Sids and G3, G5, G8, G10, G11, G12, G13 and G21 at Sakha as the most drought tolerant genotypes. Cluster analysis divided the genotypes into three groups i.e., tolerant, sensitive and semi-sensitive to drought conditions. The tolerant group consists of 5 and 9 genotypes, the semi-sensitive group consists of 13 and 15 genotypes and the sensitive group consists of 12 and 6 genotypes at Sids and Sakha, respectively

Effects of yellow mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor) and turmeric powder (curcuma) on laying hens performance, physical and nutritional eggs quality

peer reviewedSoybean meal is the main source of protein in laying hens’ diet that is generally imported. This study aims to explore the yellow mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor) “TM”, and curcuma effects on laying hens’ performances, and physical and nutritional eggs quality. One hundred laying hens were divided randomly into 4 groups. The first group (Control) received a standard commercial diet (SCD), while test groups (TM, TP, and TM-TP) received SCD with respectively 5% TM, 0.50 % curcuma, and 5% TM and 0.50% curcuma. According to the results, Control and TM reduced significantly hen’s bodyweight in the experiment end. However, the curcuma incorporation and TM (TP and TM-TP) kept the stability of bodyweight during the whole period. No effect of diet was observed on feed intake and egg laying rate. Diet had a significant effect on eggs physical parameters (weight, freshness, thickness and rupture force). The mixture of TM and curcuma permitted eggs with good physical parameters. For nutritional quality of eggs, all groups had the same content of ALA and DHA. However, eggs of group receiving a mixture of TM and curcuma had the lowest cholesterol content. Thus, TM and curcuma could reduce soybean importation dependence with improving eggs quality

Effect of Dried Mealworms (Tenebrio molitor), Larvae andOlive Leaves (Olea europaeaL.) on Growth Performance,Carcass Yield and Some Blood Parameters of Japanese Quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica

peer reviewedThe aim of this study was to investigate the effect ofTenebrio molitormeal (TM) and/or oliveleaf powder (OL) supplementation to quail diet on animal performance, carcass yield and some bloodparameters. One hundred and forty-four 1-day-old Japanese quails (body weight:29.9±0.46 g) weredivided into four groups of 36 chicks, receiving four different diets, i.e., G1: Standard commercial(SCD); G2: SCD + 3% TM; G3: SCD + 3% OL; and G4: SCD + 3% TM + 2% OL. Feed and water wereprovidedad-libitum. The results showed that TM and OL inclusion promoted quail body weight at5 weeks of age;p= 0.001. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) of G3 was significantly (p< 0.01) reducedcompared to the other groups. Overall mortality was not different, at around 6.25%, between groups.Carcass [(71.5–74.3%)], gizzard [(2.5–2.7%)], heart [(1.1–1.2%)] and giblet [(6.8–6.9%)] yields were notinfluenced by the diet. No significant effect of the diet was observed for serum proteins, creatinine,urea and lipids. To conclude, the mixture of an incorporation of TM and OL in quail diet showed noadverse effects on growth performance, carcass constituent yields and serum constituent

Silvopastoral System in Morocco: Focus on Their Importance, Strategic Functions, and Recent Changes in the Mediterranean Side

In the Mediterranean basin, the silvopastoral system has always been part of the regional economy. Silvopastoral areas contribute significantly to the development of the ecological and socio-economic factors of territorial sustainability. However, little attention has been paid to reviewing the importance, historical evolution, socio-economic conditions, and climate change impact of the southern Mediterranean region of northern Morocco. This review casts light on research on the silvopastoral systems in Morocco with a focus on the Mediterranean side. Sixty-nine peer-reviewed publications were selected for this systematic review. The findings revealed that silvopastoral areas play a very important role in animal feeding in Morocco. Animals are managed traditionally on these woodlands where they graze throughout the year. The silvopastoral system has undergone several changes over recent decades. These changes have had a direct impact on ecosystems, causing a decline in biodiversity, forest degradation, and an increase in land use at the expense of silvopastoral areas, mainly in the Mediterranean region of northern Morocco. Consequently, the sustainability of the silvopastoral systems would undoubtedly be negatively affected. The review finishes with some crucial strategies and propositions that could be encouraged to support sustainable management actions of silvopastoral resources. In the conclusion, we outline the need to assess the realistic socio-economic and ecological benefits of silvopastoral systems to promote their sustainable development.PRD (2013-2018

Laparoscopy and intersex : report of 5 cases of male pseudohermaphroditism

From May, 1999 to August, 2006, we performed laparoscopic diagnosis and treatment for 103 cases of impalpable testes. Among those we found 5 cases of male pseudohermaphroditism of different etiologies. Three males presented by impalpable testes with ambiguous genitalia and 2 females presented by primary amenorrhea. All of them have 46-XY normal male chromosomal pattern. In the first 3 cases, the etiology was complete gonadal dysgenesis, and 2 cases with persistent Mullerian syndrome. Timed gonadectomy for the first case and laparoscopic orchiopexy for the other 2 cases were performed. For the other 2 female cases, the etiology was complete androgen insensitivity syndrome and laparoscopic bilateral orchiectomy was performed for both of them. All the procedures were done without complications with satisfactory results