Water Harvesting of the area North of Khartoum Bahri

The purpose of this study is to solve the problem of rain water of the area north of the Khartoum Bahri and protect the Villages from the floods, and conduct a comprehensive hydrological study of the water basins passing through that area. The methods used in this study were to collect data from different sources such as Digital Elevation Maps, Urban development maps, Rainfall data. In addition to hydrological, hydro geological studies and survey works. These data were analyzed using hydraulics equations and probability distribution functionsf(x). From the results the basins catchment drainage has been identified and planned based on hydrology, geological and topography of the area and it was found that the basins that produce the torrents, mostly located north east of the catchment, the area of these catchment is 11.5 km 2. The maximum out flow for catchment is about 138 m3/s in the central of catchment area, and is considered the best selected area for the construction of water harvesting technique. Normal distribution has been found to be the best fitted distribution for the representation of the annual rainfall in study area. Conclusion and recommendation drawn from this study is to Construct embankment or dike to prevent the water passing in the north-east direction of the study are

Enhancement of Cotton Boll Retention by GA3 Treatment

Cotton quantity and quality improvement could be achieved by hybridization. Intraspecific and interspecific crossing is one of the ways to transfer desirable gene(s) combinations for crop improve-ment. One of the limitations that face the cotton crossing process is the high flowers and bolls shedding after pollination particularly in interspecific hybridization. During the course of an ongoing program to transfer resistance too bacterial blight from diploids to tetraploids cotton, we experienced excessive boll shedding after pollination. Therefore, the present study was conducted to investigate the effect of GA3 on flower and boll retention after pollination

New Gene Combinations Conferring Resistance to the Bacterial Blight Disease of Cotton

F2 plants comprising different gene combinations were evaluated for cotton bacterial blight resistance in the field of the Gezira Research Station and the greenhouse of the Plant Pathology Centre of the University of Gezira, Neshashiba, Wad Medani, during the autumn of 2002. Results generally showed significant differences between different gene combinations in resistance to the new race of the bacterium Xanthomonas campestris pv. malvacearum. Leaf disease grades ranged from 4 to 6. Most of the plants fell into grade 5. Genotype 12, with expected gene combination of (B2B3B6B7B9B12), expressed the highest level of resistance with a mean disease grade of 4, while genotypes 7, 11 and 15 showed the lowest level of resistance with a mean disease grade of 6. The results indicated the importance of the genetic background B2B3B7 in improving resistance to both the old and the new races when one of the following major genes B4, B6, B9, and B12 is incorporated. In such background, resistance level improves as the number of genes increases. Therefore, the commercial resistant cultivars having B2B6 genetic background to the old race of the bacterium can be replaced by the genetic background involving B2B3B7 in addition to one of the four major genes mentioned above in order to protect the cotton crop. Genotypes 5, 6, 12, and 19 were recommended for further improvement as they expressed relatively high level of resistance to the pathogen. &nbsp

Heterosis in Intra- and Interspecific Diallel Crosses Among Some Cotton Cultivars of Sudan

Estimates of mid-parent heterosis for seed cotton yield and its components were studied in six intra-hirsutum, six intra-barbadense and sixteen interspecific (Gossypium hirsutum x Gossypium barbadense) hybrids. The material was grown in 2000 and 2001 seasons at the Gezira Research Station, Wad Medani, Sudan. Highly significant variability was detected for all the measured traits. Two interspecific hybrids, Acala(93)H x B-Pima and Acala(93)H x Barakat-S, outyielded the best parent by 127.6% and 111.6%, and 116.2% and 114.4% in both seasons, respectively. The magnitude of heterotic effect was greater in the interspecific hybrids than in the intraspecific hybrids. Maximum heterosis for seed cotton yield, number of sympodia and bolls per plant and fiber quality properties was obtained in six interspecific hybrids, viz. Acala (93)H x B-Pima, Acala (93) H x Barakat-90,  Acala (93) H x Barakat- S, Shambat-B x B-Pima,  Albar(57)12 x Barakat-90 and Scala(93)H x Huda. This suggested that these hybrids can be used as commercial hybrids, hybrid performing doubled haploids and as source populations for further selection to improve cotton yield

Flood Modeling Water Appraisal and Land Reclamation: A Case Study of Gash River

With the objective to solve Kassala Town flooding on one hand and appraise and utilize the surface and ground water potential on the other, a Correlation Model applied at El Gira, station with Kassala indicated that Kassala is continuously subjected to high floods risks. Gumbel Distribution Model and digitized map of the Gash River catchment area gave the same degree of risk. A four to five years flood return period was found to be about 600 m3/sec at Kassala Station with a discharge at El Gira about 750 m3/sec. Only 5 % of the surface water passing Kassala Town is consumed for irrigating an area of 20 000 feddans per year. It was found that the agricultural area can be reclaimed through a by pass upstream Kassala Town, making Kassala safe on one hand and using the excess water in cultivation on the other. Using HEC-HMS Model at the confluence of Khor Abu Alaga with the Gash River a hydrograph was obtained which indicated that the base flow has a maximum of 400 m3/sec. with a maximum observed surface flow of 900m3/sec. Hence the HEC-HMS Model besides indicating ground water base verified the results of the surface flow upstream Kassala gauging station obtained by both Empirical and Gumbel Distribution Models. The observed surface flow being 900 m3/sec is logical and consistent with the corresponding result obtained at Kassala which was found to be a maximum of only 750 m3/sec. Using G.I.S. available facilities contour maps were plotted, and ground water potential being both quantitatively and qualitatively excellent were found to be 3897.6 Mm3. The study recommended cooperation between Sudan, and Gash River Basin countries, as well as establishing an early warning system to reduce the risk hazards

Combining Ability of Yield Components in Half Diallel Crosses of Cotton

Combining ability estimates were studied for seed cotton yield and its components in eight cotton cultivars (four Gossypium hirsutum and four G. barbadense) in half diallel crosses in 2000 and 2001 seasons, at the Gezira Research Station, Wad Medani, Sudan. Combining ability analysis revealed that both additive and non-additive types of gene action were important in the studied traits. The G. hirsutum parents,  Acala(93)H, Barac(67)B and Shambat-B, were best combiners for seed cotton yield, and the G. barbadense parents, Barakat-S and B-Pima, combined best for increased number of bolls and improved fiber quality. These results suggest the use of three-way crosses, modified backcross or recurrent selection to improve yield, yield components and fiber quality, The intraspecific crosses, gave low specific combining ability (SCA) effects, suggesting that, with few exceptions, parents within each species would not be useful in single cross combinations to produce progeny having high yields and improved yield components and fiber quality, Simple linear correlation coefficients revealed positive association of seed cotton yield with number of sympodia, lint index, boll weight and 100-seed weight suggesting that emphasis should be laid on these traits when selecting for increased yield

Genetic variability and interrelationships of grain yield and its components of irrigated rice in Gezira

Nineteen genotypes of irrigated rice were evaluated at the Gezira Research Station Farm, Wad Medani, Sudan, for two consecutive seasons (2004 and 2005) in a randomized complete block design with three replicates. This study was conducted to estimate the genotypic and phenotypic variability, broad sense heritability and traits correlation with grain yield. The highest genotypic coefficient of variation and genetic advance were recorded for plant height and number of panicles/m2, and the lowest for number of tillers/plant, days to 50% flowering, days to 50% maturity and panicle length, in both seasons. High heritability estimates (>80%) were recorded for plant height, days to 50% flowering, days to 50% maturity and 1000-grain weight. The highest estimate of heritability combined with the highest genetic advance as percentage of the mean was shown by plant height and 1000-grain weight, in both seasons. The high yielding genotypes were WITA5 (TOX 3255-82-1-3-2), IRI 3240-108-2-2-3(SAHEL.108)(FKR44) and TOX 3081-36-2-2-3-1. Their grain yields were 4.9, 4.9 and 4.6 t/ha, respectively. Grain yield/ha was significantly and negatively correlated with the percentage of unfilled grains/panicle, plant height and days to 50% flowering. How-ever, it was significantly and positively correlated with number of tillers/ plant, number of panicles/m2, number of filled grains/panicle and 1000-grain weight, in both seasons. Path coefficient analysis indicated that number of filled grains/panicle, 1000-grain weight and number of panicles / m2 were the most directly related traits to grain yield/ha

Variability and inheritance of okra leaf- shape of cotton cv. Sudac-k in different genetic backgrounds

   Okra leaf- shape is an important trait in cotton. Sudac-k is the only cotton variety with okra leaf type in the Sudan. The objectives of the study were to analyze the inheritance of the okra leaf of Sudac-k and its expression in different genetic backgrounds. The experiment was carried out for two seasons (2004/05 and 2005/06) and one off-season in 2006 at Gezira Research Farm of the Agricultural Research Corporation (ARC), Wad Medani, Sudan. The plant material consisted of Sudac-k and nine different varieties; B-pima, Barakat-90, G.S, Maryoud, Shambat-B, Acala-M, Acala-H, Barac (67) B and Albar (57)12. Eighteen reciprocal F1s were produced between Sudac-k and respective cultivars. In the second season, F2 ҆s, backcrosses and F3 plants were (Sudac-k X Albar (57)12). At maturity, individual plants were visually scored according to the leaf-shape into okra and normal leaf shape. Okra leaf morphology, lobe length, width and angle were measured in fully expanded 5- lobed leaf. It was observed that the okra leaf of Sudac-k had deep sinuses and narrow lobes while in F1 ҆ s, the sinuses were shorter and the lobes were broader. The okra leaf started at seedling stage with three lobes at the 3rd to 4th node and reached a maximum of 5 lobes at node 6 to 8 in Sudac-k, F1 plants and their progenies. Chi-square test for the segregation of leaf type in F2 indicated no significant differences among all F1 ҆ s between Sudac-k and the varieties in the distribution of okra and normal which followed the ratio of 1:2:1. This indicates that the okra leaf trait is conditioned by a single partially dominant gene. Significant differences were observed among the F1 hybrids for the expression of leaf lobing depth, lobe width and angle, indicating the effect of the genetic background on the expression of these parameters. The information will be useful in designing strategy for breeding of cotton varieties with suitable size of okra leaf to maximize its utilization in integrated insect pest management

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Hepatitis B Virus among Pregnant Women in Jazan Region- Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Background: Hepatitis B virus is one of the major etiological agents for parenterally acquired hepatitis. Viral hepatitis during pregnancy is associated with high risk of maternal complications. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of HBV infection in pregnant women, and to find out its associated risk factors in Jazan region south KSA. Patients & Methods: A random sample of 537 pregnant females who attended Jazan general hospital and randomly selected primary health care centers in Jazan region - before 38 weeks of gestation - constituted the target population of the present study. All women were screened for HBsAgd by using HBsAg Rapid Test Device (ACON). Results: The overall prevalence of HBV virus among the women was found to be 4.1% (95% CI: 2.7 - 6.1). The prevalence of HBV according to age showed that women less than 20 years are free of HBV, whereas for other age groups HBV prevalence is found to increase with increase in age. Regarding the associated risk factors, women  with  history of hospitalization, and  jaundices showed a significant association with anti- HBV seropositive. Dental histories, blood transfusion and history of surgery did not prove significant association with  HBV. Conclusion: Prevalence of Hepatitis B virus infection in pregnant ladies was 4.1%. Past history of hospitalization and jaundices are important risk factors for transmission of infection. The study suggests expansion of the Hepatitis B vaccination program to reduce the risk of HBV among pregnant women. Key words: Hepatitis B virus, Pregnancy, Prevalence, Risk factors