Nano-silicon application is an efficient novel approach to mitigate the deleterious impacts of drought stress on field crops, which is expected to increase owing to climate change, especially in arid regions. Two-season field studies investigated the influence of foliar-applied nano-silicon (0.5, 1, and 1.5 mM) on physiological and biochemical attributes and their impacts on crop water productivity (CWP) and the agronomic traits of faba beans (Vicia faba). The plants were evaluated under two irrigation regimes: well-watered (100% ETc giving 406 mm ha−1) and drought stress (65% ETc giving 264 mm ha−1). It was found that drought stress significantly decreased gas exchange (leaf net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, and rate of transpiration), water relations (relative water content and membrane stability index), nutrient uptake (N, P, K+, and Ca+2), flavonoids, and phenolic content. In contrast, drought stress significantly increased oxidative stress (H2O2 and O2·-) and enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant activities compared with the well-watered treatment. These influences of drought stress were negatively reflected in seed yield-related traits and CWP. However, foliar treatment with nano-silicon, particularly with 1.5 mM, limited the devastating impact of drought stress and markedly enhanced all the aforementioned parameters. Therefore, exogenously applied nano-silicon could be used to improve the CWP and seed and biological yields of faba bean plants under conditions with low water availability in arid environments.

This work aims to enhance the flavor of functional cucumber juice using herbal extracts of peppermint, basil, lavender, and lemongrass ethanolic extracts and extend its lifetime by controlling the chemical and microbial fluctuations. Cucumber juices were processed as; non-supplemented (J-Con), J-PME, J-BE, J-LE, and J-LEE supplemented with peppermint, basil, lavender, and lemongrass ethanolic extracts, respectively. Peppermint extract was significantly scavenged 88% of DPPH radicals and inhibited the growth of tested gram-positive, gram-negative bacteria and fungi followed by the lemongrass extract. The antioxidant activity of cucumber juices increased due to polyphenols and aroma compounds in the added extracts. However, the antioxidant content was decreased after two months of storage at 4 °C, due to the decrease in polyphenols. The flavor compounds were determined using GC mass, wherein hydrocarbons, acids, alcohols, and carbonyl compounds were the main aroma contents in cucumber juices, and their contents decreased with storage time. Peppermint and lemongrass extracts were significantly ( p ≤ 0.05) increased the whiteness of J-PME, and J-LEE, respectively. The highest score of flavor and taste was observed in J-PME that scored 8.3 based on panelists' reports followed by J-LEE. The PME was significantly maintained 91% of the odor and color of J-PME as compared to other juices.

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Culex pipiens mosquitoes considered as vectors for many arboviruses such as the West Nile virus and encephalitis virus showing a global impact on human health. The natural management of the aquatic stages of this pest is crucial for maintaining an insecticide-free and sustained environment. The present work focused on studying the biological and biochemical effects of the entomopathogenic fungi: Metarhizium anisopliae, Beauveria bassiana , and Paecilomyces lilicanus , against 3 rd instar larvae of Culex pipiens laboratory colony. The results revealed that M. anisoplia e showed maximum larval mortality (88%) with the lowest lethal time (LT 50 ) (22.6 hrs) at 10 8 spores/ml followed by B. bassiana (73.33%) with LT 50 (38.35 hrs), while P. lilicanus showed minimum percent mortality (65%) with highest LT 50 (51.5 hrs). The median lethal concentration (LC 50 ) values were found to be 1.027 × 10 5 spores/ml for M. anisopliae , 1.24 × 10 6 spores/ml for B. bassiana , while it was 8.453 × 10 6 spores/ml for P. lilicanus . A reduction in female fecundity, number of hatched eggs, pupation and adult emergence percentage were recorded. The biochemical analysis of the treated larvae revealed different quantitative decrease in total soluble proteins, lipids, and carbohydrate hydrolyzing enzymes compared to control. Histopathological effects of fungal infection upon insect cuticles, muscles, and midgut were investigated. Based on the obtained results, M. anisoplia e proved its superior virulent effect as a bio-control agent against Cx. pipiens.

In this study, functional yoghurt beverages were fortified with different sorts of carrot products including of 5% fresh carrot pulp (FCP), carrot treated with instant controlled pressure drop (CDIC), and carrot treated with conventional hot air drying (CHAD). The different treatments were analyzed for physicochemical, rheological, microbiological, and organoleptic properties when fresh and after 10 and 20 days of storage at 4±1 °C. Total solids, protein, fat, and ash contents were found to be higher in carrotyoghurt beverages as compared to the control. In addition, there was a gradual decrease in total phenolic contents and antioxidant activities during storage period. Furthermore, the treatments supplemented with CDIC and CHAD exhibited higher water holding capacity. The addition of carrot products had a positive impact on the starter culture bacteria. The viable probiotic cell count throughout the product shelf-life was above the minimum count required in a probiotic product (more than log 6 CFU/g) for treatments containing CDIC and CHAD. However, CDIC and FCP gained the highest scores for the overall sensory attributes.