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In order to evaluate genetic parameters and drought tolerance indices using multivariate analysis, seventeen genotypes of rice were evaluated under normal and drought conditions. The combined analysis of variance indicated highly significant effects of genotype on all studied traits under normal and drought conditions. Most studied genotypes were better than the grand mean during normal and drought conditions. Drought stress reduced the studied traits while other was tolerant to drought, suggesting genetic variability in these genotypes for drought tolerance. The environmental and genetic variances and heritability showed highly significant for all studied traits under normal and drought conditions. The maximum values of genetic variance were found for all studied traits followed by the environmental and genotypes × season variances at normal and drought conditions. High heritability coupled with high genetic advance as percent of the mean was observed for most studied traits under normal and drought conditions. The differences between phenotypic coefficients of variation (PCV%) were higher than the values of genotypic coefficients of variation (GCV%) for all

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of seasonal fluctuations on some metabolites and to explore the correlation between soil and plant analysis in Hyoscyamus boveanus (H.boveanus) at the Wadi El-Sheikh Awad in Saint Katherine, South Sinai, Egypt. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed for physical and chemical properties of the soil associated with H. boveanus during 0-20 and 20-40 cm depths, which increased most of them during the first depth. All chemical composition contents of H. boveanus are influenced significantly (p < 0.05) by seasons studied, except Na+, glycosides, total phenol, crude protein contents. A substantial increase in mineral composition (Na+, K+, P and Fe2+), total alkaloids, glycosides, total phenol, proline, total carbohydrates and all photosynthetic pigments contents were recorded in H. boveanus during the summer season. While, the mineral composition (Ca2+, Mg2+, S, N and Cl-), water content and crude protein contents appeared to be higher in the winter season. The relationships between soil and plant variables were delineated by performing the principal component analysis (PCA). The PC1 and PC2 displayed differences between the soil and plant variables, also, the variables Mg2+, Cl-, pH, EC, Ca2+ and K+ in the soil associated with H. boveanus are variables with better chemical properties of the soil, which affect the plant distribution in Wadi El-Sheikh Awad during the two seasons. The PCA revealed high positive correlations among soil variables as well as among plant variables. Soil magnesium correlated highly and positively with the plant variables i.e., crude protein, water content, Chl b, Chl a+b, carotein and total pigment contents. The pH, EC, and Ca2+ in soil were positively correlated with all chemical composition contents of H. boveanus. Some metabolites in H. boveanus were significantly increased during the summer season compared to the other season, due to the activation of plant physiological stress tolerance mechanisms.

Harsh environmental conditions are major factors limiting plants production and development, including Citrullus colocynthis L. (C. colocynthis). The present investigation provides an analysis of soil properties and plant compounds of C. colocynthis in Wadi Hebran, Saint Katherine, South Sinai, Egypt and Wadi Al-Akhder, Tabuk Province, KSA at dry and wet seasons, and focuses on the relationship between the environmental factors and phytochemical compounds using principal component analysis (PCA). According to ANOVA, the experimental factors (locations, depths, seasons and their interactions significantly influenced the physico-chemical properties of soil and chemicals present in C. colocynthis (P < 0.05 or 0.01). Wadi Hebran at both seasons significantly promoted most mechanical and chemical properties in soil and most chemical compositions in C. colocynthis compared with Wadi Al-Akhder. While the significantly positive highest impact on photosynthetic pigments contents was found in Wadi Al-Akhder at both seasons. The dry season in the two locations significantly increased the total carotenoids, Chl.a/b, total pigment, P %, total carbohydrate, proline, catalase enzyme, peroxidase enzyme, ascorbic acid and malondiadehyde compared to the wet season. Based on PCA analysis, the first two PCs explain more than 84% of the total variance in the original variables and mainly distinguished the soil and plant variables in different groups during each location or between the two locations at both seasons. The first PC showed the highest positive correlation with some soil variables (EC, K+, and Cl-) and plant variables (P, total carbohydrate, proline, catalase enzyme, peroxidase enzyme and malondiadehyde). While the second PC exhibited a highly positively correlated with Ca2+, S- and water content in soil and with Chl.b, K+, Ca2+, N, water content, crude protein, crude fiber, total ash and superoxide enzyme in C. colocynthis plants. Positive correlations among most soil and plant variables were found, but they differed in their degree and consistency in quantity. PCA application indicated that the above soil variables are related closely to the above plant variables of C. colocynthis in the two locations. The results of PCA could be useful and used as a suitable method for studying the stresses tolerance mechanisms of plants under hard environmental conditions.

In this work, the surface dielectric barrier discharge (SDBD) plasma treatment was used to sterilize the palm date fruits. N2SPS, N2FNS, and hydroxyl radical have emerged in the emission spectrum of the plasma from SDBD. The effects of SDBD plasma on A. niger that was extracted from palm date varieties were investigated. After 15 days of incubation, the reduction of A. niger at a 3 min exposure time was 4 log. The total phenolic content of the Ajwa variety after SDBD plasma treatment has been documented as the highest value among the other varieties; it was 1.65-fold of the untreated one. The treated Ajwa variety using SDBD plasma has recorded the highest increase in antioxidant activity; it was increased to 67.69% compared to the control one. After SDBD plasma treatment, the HMF was not detected in the Maghol variety. According to the PCA model, the first two PCs demonstrated strong positive correlations with most of the examined variables and demonstrated a strong positive correlation between these variables when assessed in both untreated and treated with SDBD plasma of palm date types in this stud.