A field experiment was carried out in sandy soil in EL-Kattba, Manofya Governorate Egypt, during the successive growing seasons of 2007 and 2008 on Jerusalem artichoke. The main objective of this investigation was to study the effect of cultivars (Local and Fusaeu) and two planting dates(15 th April and 15 th May) with two harvesting dates (15 th Nov. and 15 th Dec.) on vegetative growth , total yield , marketable yield and its components of Jerusalem artichoke. The results indicated that Local cultivar showed higher foliage (plant height) than Fusaeu, but there was no significant effect on number of lateral branches / plant .In addition, Local cultivar showed significant increases in total yield and its components and tuber contents of dry matter, inulin and total sugar compared with Fusaeu. Concerning planting dates, results showed that the planting on 15 th of April increased significantly the vegetative growth parameters, total yield and its components, and tuber contents of dry matter, inulin and total sugar in comparison with planting on 15 th May. Regarding the harvest date, data revealed a positive effect of tubers harvest on 15 th of Nov. on total yield and its components, and tuber contents of dry matter, inulin while total sugar decreased compared with tubers harvest on 15 th Dec. The interactions between cultivars and planting dates showed that Local cultivar and planting on 15 th of April increased significantly the vegetative growth, total yield and chemical constituents of tubers under sandy soil conditions .Also, Local cultivar tubers harvested on 15 th of Nov. produced higher significant total yield and its components, and tuber contents of dry matter, inulin while total sugar decreased compared with tubers harvested on 15 th of May. The interactions among cultivars, planting dates with harvesting dates, showed that the Local cultivar planted on 15 th of April and harvested tubers on 15 th of Nov. produced higher significant increases in yield parameters and chemical constituents of tubers under sandy soil conditions. Finally, it could be concluded that the optimum planting dates of Jerusalem artichoke (Local cultivar) was on 15 th of April and the ideal harvesting date was on 15 th of Nov. for a highly production and quality of tubers under sandy soil.

These experiments were carried out during two successive seasons 2007/2008 and 2008/2009 on Jerusalem artichoke local cultivar. Plants were grown at Katatba Menofya Governorate under sandy soil and drip irrigation system. Planting date was 15 th of April and tubers were harvested at 15 th of November and 15 th of December in the two seasons, to study the yield, physical, chemical changes happened in tubers during harvesting date to determine the proper stage of harvesting. Effect of wrapping film and storage temperatures (0 °C, 5 °C and 10 °C) were examined to improve the storability of tubers. Results indicated that Jerusalem artichoke tubers of Local cultivar harvested on 15 th of November was the proper stage of harvesting which showed the higher tuber weight / plant, total yield, marketable yield, dry matter and inulin percentage. However, tubers harvested on 15 th December was higher in total sugars percent when compared with those were harvested at15 th November. For the wrapping film, the non perforated polypropylene bags (nppb) treatment was the most effective in reducing weight loss. Weight loss was greater in the unwrapped tubers. Wrapping tubers in perforated polypropylene bags gave the lowest decay incidence and maintained dry matter and inulin content during storage. Examining of storage temperature, tubers stored at 0 °C showed the lowest loss in weight and decay percentage and holds more dry matter and inulin content comparing with those stored at 5 or 10 °C. Tubers stored at 10 °C gave the highest loss in weight and decay percentage. Jerusalem artichoke tubers, Local cultivar, harvested on 15 th of November and wrapped with ppb and stored at 0 °C resulted in an important improvement in market quality through reduce decay percentage and hold more dry matter and Inulin content and gave tubers with good appearance for 5 months of storage at 0 °C.

Jerusalem artichoke is grown in different regions and is widely consumed as food. It has a distinct flavor, and, it is an excellent source of inulin, plant, phytochemicals, and some functional nutritional ingredients including dietary fiber and minerals. This study was conducted to assess the effect of varieties and harvest time at 240 and 270 days after planting (December 15 and January 15) respectively, on the total yield of tubers ton /fed as well as kg/plant, average tubers weight, and chemical composition. Also, to test the possibility of producing chips from two varieties of Jerusalem artichoke at two harvest times, frying at different temperatures degrees (170°C, 180°C) and using some technological treatments. The chemical composition of raw materials, processed chips, organoleptic changes, color parameters, and hardness values of the final product were studied. The obtained results showed that the Fuseau variety and the second harvest time were better in terms of the total yield of tubers, the average tuber weight, chemical components, and the production of chips than the Balady variety. It can also be concluded that treatment No. 4 (in which the slices were soaked in a solution containing 2% acetic acid and 1% citric acid), especially, at a temperature of 180 °C, was the best in preserving many important components, as well as imparting distinctive color properties. In addition, this treatment led to improve sensory quality characteristics based on the sensory evaluation of the majority of panelists. Hence, Jerusalem artichoke chips are recommended as snack foods.

The effect of six planting dates i.e., 15/1, 15/3, 15/5, 15/7, 15/9 and 15/11 on growth, yield and fruit quality of five newly developed local cantaloupe hybrids, Yathreb 7, 8, 22, 4 and 100 (Cucumis melo var. cantaloupensis) was studied under Sadat city, Menofia Governorate, Egypt conditions for two years, using split-plot design and the combined analysis was conducted for the two years. This experiment was carried out in the open field using a drip-irrigation system to determine the best planting date for each hybrid. Data were recorded on leaf area index (LAI), flowering, yield components, fruit quality and chemical determinations. Results showed that there were significant differences among planting dates in all studied traits. Also, cantaloupe hybrids had significant differences in all studied traits. Hybrid Yathreb 22 was the earliest one but it ranked as the second in total and marketable yield. Additionally, hybrid Yathreb 7 had the highest total and marketable yield, meanwhile Yathreb 100 ranked as the second in total yield but first in marketable yield. These hybrids had high values of the most other traits. The interaction between planting date and hybrid indicated that the best planting date for Yathreb 7 and 8 was 15/1 and 15/3, Yathreb 22 was 15/1 and 15/11, Yathreb 100 was 15/3, 15/5 and 15/7 and Yathreb 4 was 15/3 only. Each of them gave the best performance in the most of studied traits in the previous planting dates. While the planting date 15/9 wasn't suitable for cantaloupe growing at lower Egypt and this due to the cantaloupe sudden wilt which may be occur as result to low night temperatures. The present study confirmed that the interaction between planting date and hybrid effects on the performance of the hybrid either positive or negative impacts according to the interaction between genotype and environmental conditions.

The effect of six planting dates i.e., 15/1, 15/3, 15/5, 15/7, 15/9 and 15/11 on growth, yield and fruit quality of five newly developed local cantaloupe hybrids, Yathreb 7, 8, 22, 4 and 100 (Cucumis melo var. cantaloupensis) was studied under Sadat city, Menofia Governorate, Egypt conditions for two years, using split-plot design and the combined analysis was conducted for the two years. This experiment was carried out in the open field using a drip-irrigation system to determine the best planting date for each hybrid. Data were recorded on leaf area index (LAI), flowering, yield components, fruit quality and chemical determinations. Results showed that there were significant differences among planting dates in all studied traits. Also, cantaloupe hybrids had significant differences in all studied traits. Hybrid Yathreb 22 was the earliest one but it ranked as the second in total and marketable yield. Additionally, hybrid Yathreb 7 had the highest total and marketable yield, meanwhile Yathreb 100 ranked as the second in total yield but first in marketable yield. These hybrids had high values of the most other traits. The interaction between planting date and hybrid indicated that the best planting date for Yathreb 7 and 8 was 15/1 and 15/3, Yathreb 22 was 15/1 and 15/11, Yathreb 100 was 15/3, 15/5 and 15/7 and Yathreb 4 was 15/3 only. Each of them gave the best performance in the most of studied traits in the previous planting dates. While the planting date 15/9 wasn't suitable for cantaloupe growing at lower Egypt and this due to the cantaloupe sudden wilt which may be occur as result to low night temperatures. The present study confirmed that the interaction between planting date and hybrid effects on the performance of the hybrid either positive or negative impacts according to the interaction between genotype and environmental conditions.