This study aimed to investigate the influence of the Kisspeptin (KP) injection on semen quality, testosterone concentration, reaction time, testes and accessory genital glands measurements of Ossimi rams. Fourteen healthy Ossimi rams were randomly divided into control group (CG) and KP treated group (KPG) (7 per each). Rams of the KPG were treated once weekly with KP (5 μg/kg body weight) for one month. Semen volume, concentration, mass motility, percentage of live and dead sperm and total abnormal sperm were recorded twice weekly after treatment for five weeks. Testes measurements including scrotal circumference (SC), testis breadth (TB) and length (TL) using measuring tape and caliper were recorded. Blood samples were collected, and ultrasound examination of the accessory genital glands was measured. Semen characteristics were significantly (p  0.05) affected by KP injection. The KP …

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The current experiment was conducted to study the response of Ficus elastica var. decora air-layers to seven treatments of IBA (control, 50 and 100 ppm in rooting substrate, 1500 and 3000 ppm by painting girdled zone, and 1500 and 3000 ppm in talc paste) in the presence of root promoting microorganisms including Bacillus subtilis and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). The obtained results indicated that 3000 ppm IBA applied by painting girdled zone gave a significant increase in rooting percentage and the best root and growth characteristics (number of days for root appearance, number, length, fresh and dry weights of roots per rooted air-layer, survival percentage, plant height and number of leaves and shoots) as well as total content of carbohydrates and phenolics, and showed the shortest period required for root appearance in comparison with the other treatments. Air-layers treated with B. subtilis were superior to those treated with AMF. The best results concerning rooting percentage, root characteristics, total contents of carbohydrates and phenolics, survival percentage, increment in growth of air-layers after six months from detachment were observed in airlayers treated with 3000 ppm IBA by painting girdled zone in combination with B. subtilis followed by the same IBA treatment combined with AMF.

This study was conducted to define the best auxin application method with or without the inoculation with beneficial microorganism (Bacillus subtilis and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi “AMF”) to improve rooting characteristics of F. benjamina air-layers. The treatments were arranged in a split-plot design. Seven combined treatments of auxin concentrations and application methods (control, 50 and 100 ppm IBA in rooting substrate, 1500 and 3000 ppm IBA by painting girdled zone, 1500 and 3000 ppm IBA in talc paste) were assigned to the main plots. The sub-plots comprehended the application of B. subtilis and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in addition to the control. Data recorded on air-layers performance exhibited significant variation among different application methods and concentrations of IBA compared with the control with clear superiority of applying IBA at 3000 ppm by painting girdled zone in enhancing rooting%, number, length, fresh and dry weights of roots per rooted air-layer, as well as total contents of both carbohydrates and phenolics, and showed the shortest period required for root appearance. Similar trend was noticed regarding survival percentage, increment in plant height and number of leaves and shoots after detaching air-layers from mother plants. All root and growth characteristics showed significant increment when air-layers were treated with B. subtilis or AMF compared to the control with clear superiority of B. subtilis. The combined treatment of IBA at 3000 ppm by painting girdled zone and B. subtilis recorded the highest rooting (100%) and survival percentages (100%) and the best root and growth characteristics. This treatment could be recommended for propagation of Ficus benjamina by air layering.

Halophytes have several advantages to be more effective in metal phytoextraction. Little is known about the Cd-phytoextraction potential of Atriplex lentiformis under different levels of Cd. Seven levels of Cd (0, 40, 80, 120, 160, 200, and 240 mg per kg of soil) were added to A. lentiformis plants grown on pots filled with 5 kg of sandy loam soil. A. lentiformis plants achieve different defense mechanisms to meet the high concentration of Cd in the soil and plant. These mechanisms include reducing the number and area of leaves, minimizing chlorophyll synthesis, and enhancing synthesizing of oxalic acid, phenols, and proline. The critical point of Cd was 9.35 and 183 mg kg−1 for available soil Cd and leaves concentrations, respectively. The maximum level of Cd displayed a 66% decrease in the chlorophyll content of the leaves. On the other hand, the oxalic acid, phenols, and proline in the leaves were increased significantly by 129, 100, and 200% when Cd increased from 0 to 240 mg. The tested plant removed 3.6% of the total soil Cd under the low Cd concentration (40 mg) but under the high level of Cd (240 mg), it only removed a negligible amount of soil Cd (0.74%). The current study confirmed that A. lentiformis plants lost the ability to cleanup Cd from contaminated soil under the high levels of contamination due to the high reduction in the production of dry matter

Abstract Recently, the residues of some common and widely used herbicides (acetochlor, bispyribac-sodium, bentazon, bensulfuronmethyl, halosulfuron-methyl, and quinclorac) were detected in the surface water, soil, sediments, and fish tissues as the agricultural drainage problems. In this study, juveniles of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus were exposed to sub-lethal concentrations of these herbicides as 2.625, 0.800, 36.00, 2.50, 1.275, and 11.250 mg/l for acetochlor, bispyribac-sodium, bentazon, bensulfuronmethyl, halosulfuron-methyl, and quinclorac respectively for 96 h. Some hemato-biochemical parameters were evaluated. In comparison with the control group, sub-lethal concentrations of all tested herbicides induced alterations in the shape of erythrocytes. Also, in all tested herbicides, hematological parameters of exposed fish exhibited a significant decrease in red blood cell count except bentazon. However, all tested herbicides showed an insignificant reduction in mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration and total white blood cells except bensulfuron-methyl. For biochemical parameters, most tested herbicides induced a significant increase in levels of cholesterol, albumin, globulin, albumin/globulin ratio, activity of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and total plasma protein (only with acetochlor), urea, and creatinine (except bentazon and halosulfuron-methyl that exhibited non-significant decrease in creatinine level) compared with the control. In conclusion, the fish blood profiles can be used as good biomarkers for laboratory study to assess the toxicity of the tested rice herbicides at a sub-acute level especially acetochlor on O. niloticus.

SUMMARY This study investigated the impacts of dietary yeast culture (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) supplementation on rumen fermentation, nutrient digestibility and rumen microbial population in sheep. Three digestibility trials were carried out using fifteen Sohagi rams randomly assigned into three groups (5 rams/ each). Each trial lasted for three weeks, the first two weeks were considered as a preliminary period followed by one week collection period.The groups were a control group fed basal diet without yeast supplement and treated groups fed either 0.5 (T1) or 1% (T2) yeast culture (YC) mixed with concentrate diet. All animals were fed 60% of their requirements as concentrate mixture while, chopped corn stover was given as roughages ad libitum. The results referred that, the digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, crude fibre, neutral detergent fibre and hemicellulose were significantly (P0.05) improved for yeast treated diets compared with basal diet. Live yeast culture either 0.5 or 1% in concentrate diet increased (P 0.05) the pH, volatile fatty acids (VFAs), acetate and propionate, while rumen ammonia nitrogen concentration was decreased (P0.05). Live yeast supplementation (0.5 or 1%) improved (P0.05) N retention. The rumenal bacterial and protozoal counts increased (P0.05) due to YC supplementation. In conclusion, dietary live yeast culture (S. cerevisiae) particular 1% of concentrate mixture may improve nutrient digestibility, fermentation patterns and rumen microbial population.

A study was carried out on the resistance of four cereal crops (barley, wheat, sorghum and maize) to cereal aphid species at Assiut, Egypt. The results obtained show that there were significant differences among the cultivars tested. Among the five barley cultivars; Giza 132 was highly susceptible while the remaining cultivars were moderately resistant. Among the five wheat varieties; Gemiza 11 and Giza 168 were highly susceptible, followed by cultivars Sids 12 and Shandauel 1. Sids 1 showed moderate resistance. Among the five sorghum cultivars; Dorado was highly susceptible and Sphinx was susceptible. The aphid population declined significantly on Giza 15 and Hourse that were relatively (slightly or low) resistant (RR). The lowest aphid number recorded on the local (Baldi) variety showed moderate resistance. Among the five maize cultivars; the local (Baldi) cultivar was highly susceptible, followed by Unico 6, Triple 310 and Unico 131 that showed relatively resistance. The remaining cultivar, Unico 81, was infested with a low number of aphids and showed moderate resistance. The influence of aphid infestation on grain yield losses of wheat and barley cultivars were also evaluated.

A study was carried out on the resistance of four cereal crops (barley, wheat, sorghum and maize) to cereal aphid species at Assiut, Egypt. The results obtained show that there were significant differences among the cultivars tested. Among the five barley cultivars; Giza 132 was highly susceptible while the remaining cultivars were moderately resistant. Among the five wheat varieties; Gemiza 11 and Giza 168 were highly susceptible, followed by cultivars Sids 12 and Shandauel 1. Sids 1 showed moderate resistance. Among the five sorghum cultivars; Dorado was highly susceptible and Sphinx was susceptible. The aphid population declined significantly on Giza 15 and Hourse that were relatively (slightly or low) resistant (RR). The lowest aphid number recorded on the local (Baldi) variety showed moderate resistance. Among the five maize cultivars; the local (Baldi) cultivar was highly susceptible, followed by Unico 6, Triple 310 and Unico 131 that showed relatively resistance. The remaining cultivar, Unico 81, was infested with a low number of aphids and showed moderate resistance. The influence of aphid infestation on grain yield losses of wheat and barley cultivars were also evaluated.

Climate change is a major threat to most of the agricultural crops grown in tropical and sub-tropical areas globally. Drought stress is one of the consequences of climate change that has a negative impact on crop growth and yield. In the past, many simulation models were proposed to predict climate change and drought occurrences, and it is extremely important to improve essential crops to meet the challenges of drought stress which limits crop productivity and production. Wheat and barley are among the most common and widely used crops due to their economic and social values. Many parts of the world depend on these two crops for food and feed, and both crops are vulnerable to drought stress. Improving drought stress tolerance is a very challenging task for wheat and barley researchers and more research is needed to better understand this stress. The progress made in understanding drought tolerance is due to advances in three main research areas: physiology, breeding, and genetic research. The physiology research focused on the physiological and biochemical metabolic pathways that plants use when exposed to drought stress. New wheat and barley genotypes having a high degree of drought tolerance are produced through breeding by making crosses from promising drought-tolerant genotypes and selecting among their progeny. Also, identifying genes contributing to drought tolerance is very important. Previous studies showed that drought tolerance is a polygenic trait and genetic constitution will help to dissect the gene network (s) controlling drought tolerance. This review explores the recent advances in these three research …