Evaluation of certain antagonistic fungal species for biological control of faba bean wilt disease incited by Fusarium oxysporum

Fusarium wilt incited by Fusarium oxysporum Schlecht. causes a remarkable economic losses in faba bean (Vicia faba L.) growing areas. In this study, fourteen isolates of F. oxysporum were isolated from the diseased faba bean plants, showing wilt symptoms, obtained from different localities in Assiut governorate. The isolates proved to be pathogenic on Masr-1 faba bean cultivar under greenhouse conditions. The effectiveness of five antagonistic fungal species (Trichoderma harzianum Rifai., Trichoderma viride Pers., Gliocladium roseum Bainier, Gliocladium catenulatum Gilman & Abbott and Saccharomyces cerevisiae) in growth inhibition of the pathogen in vitro as well as controlling the disease in greenhouse were evaluated. All tested antagonistic fungi were able to inhibit the growth of F. oxysporum in dual culture, significantly, as compared with control. Results also indicate that F. oxysporum suppressed strongly by coating seeds of faba bean by T. harzianum, T. viride, G. roseum, G. catenulatum and S. cerevisiae before sowing in the soil. Furthermore, the lowest percentages of Fusarium wilt severity were recorded by T. viride and G. roseum which reduced disease incidence to 22.25 % and 25.25% respectively, compared with 75.50 % in untreated seeds. It could be suggested that such antagonistic fungal species might be promising as alternatives for controlling faba bean wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum

Occurrence of Fusarium wilt on summer squash caused by Fusarium oxysporum in Assiut, Egypt

Fusarium wilt of summer squash was first noticed in April and May 2012 in Assiut- Egypt. Symptoms included wilting of the foliage, withering of older leaves and eventually died during growth. The causal pathogen was identified as Fusarium oxysporum Schlecht. Pathogenicity tests of the obtained isolates were demonstrated via artificial inoculation, and it satisfied Koch's postulates. Because summer squash is of great economic importance in Egypt, biological control of the disease was carried out by the biocontrol agent Gliocladium catenulatum. The effect of G. catenulatum against F. oxysporum was investigated in vitro and tested on summer squash plants under greenhouse conditions. G. catenulatum isolates were able to inhibit the growth of F. oxysporum in dual culture. In greenhouse, application of G. catenulatum was tested at three different times. All treatments were effective to reduce disease severity. Application of G. catenulatum preceding the inoculation with F. oxysporum reduced significantly the incidence of Fusarium wilt compared to plants inoculated with F. oxysporum alone. The disease suppression was occurred when G. catenulatum applied five days before infested soil by F. oxysporum. Obtained results indicate that G. catenulatum is very effective biocontrol agents offer potential benefit in Fusarium wilt of squash, and should be harnessed for further biocontrol applications. To our knowledge, this is the first report of F. oxysporum causing wilt of summer squash in Assiut, Egypt

Seasonal biodiversity and ecological studies on the epiphytic microalgae communities in polluted and unpolluted aquatic ecosystem at Assiut, Egypt

A qualitative and quantitative study on epiphytic microalgae was carried out seasonally from November 2015 to August 2016 to follow up their community structures on aquatic macrophytes related to some physico-chemical properties of two polluted and unpolluted water bodies at Assiut, Egypt. A total of 169 species related to 64 genera of epiphytic microalgae were recorded. The most dominant algal group was Bacillariophyceae (43.2%), followed by Chlorophyceae (34.91%), Cyanophyceae (20.71%) and Euglenophyceae (1.18%). The total number of epiphytic algae fluctuated between 11.1 × 104 ind.g-1 plant dry wt. on Phragmites australis in summer at Nazlet Abdellah (polluted site) and 10.02 × 107 ind.g-1 plant dry wt. on Myriophyllum spicatum in winter at El-Wasta (unpolluted site). Some epiphytic microalgae were dominant as Pseudanabaena limnetica, Calothrix braunii, Scenedesmus acutus, and Ulnaria ulna. Others were specific on certain macrophytes as Aphanocapsa thermalis and Ulothrix sp., which grow on Phragmites australis, while Synechocystis minuscula attached itself on Myriophyllum spicatum. Analysis of PERMANOVA showed that the most important factors that induced the variation in epiphytic microalgae were the temporal variation and host plant. Water temperature, pH, nitrate, chloride, phosphate and total dissolved salts were the highest abiotic factors correlated with the variation in composition of epiphytic microalgae

The effect of hepatitis C virus treatment on ovarian reserve

Background: The hepatitis C treatment effect on ovarian reserve of the treated women and so on their reproductive potential attracting the attention and becoming an issue of concern. In this study, we examine the possible action of interferon and ribavirin regimen on the ovarian reserve through assessing the change of AMH level pre-and post-treatment.Methods: This study is a prospective longitudinal one, includes fifty women in childbearing period with chronic HCV infection fulfilling the criteria of attending the Egyptian national program for HCV treatment and has been referred for antiviral therapy with PEG IFN-α2a or PEG IFN-α2b, plus oral ribavirin for a total of 48 weeks. All patients were tested to AMH level at the beginning of the treatment program (the mean AMH level was 1ngml-3ngml) and retested at the end of treatment program. In addition, they examined by vaginal ultrasound to measure ovarian volume.Results: At the end of the treatment program 28% of the studied cases remain within pre treatment level of AMH & in 32% of the studied cases the level of AMH decreased where's in 40% of the studied cases the level of AMH increased.Conclusions: It is likely that interferon and ribavirin affect ovarian reserve of treated patients as a change occurs in the level of AMH in 72% of them

Math and Science Post-basic Education School Teachers’ Use of As-sessment for Learning and Assessment of Learning Practices in Oman

The present study aimed at investigating math and science post-basic education school teachers’ use of Assessment for Learning (AfL) and Assessment of Learning (AoL) Practices in Oman from teachers’ points of view and as perceived by their educational supervisors. To achieve the objectives of this study, a 31-item of Likert type questionnaire was used. The questionnaire was divided into two subscales. The first subscale contains 12 AoL practices while the second one contains 19 AfL practices. The questionnaire was distributed to 288 math, biology, physics, and chemistry teachers and to 78 math and science educational supervisors. The results show that math and science teachers use AoL practices more than their use of AfL practices from their points of view and based on their educational supervisors perceptions. The study recommends math and science teachers balance between the use of AoL and AfL practices

Management of Cabbage Aphid, Brevicoryne brassicae L. on Canola Crop Using Neonicotinoids Seed Treatment and Salicylic Acid

Cabbage aphid, Brevicoryne brassicae L. is one of the most important pests on canola worldwide and in Egypt. Field experiments were conducted in the Faculty of Agriculture Farm, Suez Canal University, Ismailia Governorate during 2012/13 and 2013/14 seasons. The efficacy of neonicotinoids seed treatment and spraying salicylic acid (SA) alone or in combination against B. brassicae and their impact on canola yield were investigated. Results showed that canola seeds treated with Gaucho 70% WS, Cruiser70% WS and Actara 25% WG were not effective for managing of B. brassicae in the late of growing season from 15th week to 21st week. However, SA application showed significant difference in reduction of infestation compared to control. Data revealed that seed treatment with neonicotinoid insecticides followed by foliar application with SA was associated with enhanced resistance against B. brassicae. Moreover, results showed relatively increase in seed yield/plant (g) and yield/fed. (kg) in this treatment than neonicotinoid insecticides seed treatment alone, or SA alone and control.