In 2007, five maize inbred lines were crossed in all possible combinations without reciprocals by using a half diallel crosses mating design to obtain 10 single cross. Inbred parents and their F1 single crosses were evaluated through 2008 season to evaluate the role of general and specific combining ability and heterosis for some agronomic traits. Results indicated that mean squares of genotypes were highly significant for all studied traits, i.e., ear diameter, ear length, number of kernels/row, 100-kernel weight, ear yield per plant, grain yield per plant and shelling percentage. General Combining Ability (GCA) and Specific Combining Ability (SCA) mean squares were highly significant for all studied traits. The GCA/SCA ratio was less than unity for all studied traits; this means that these traits are predominantly controlled by non-additive gene action. Significant positive GCA effects were found for all studied traits. Based on GCA estimates, it could be concluded that the best combiners were Rg5 and Rg8 inbred lines for most of studied traits. This result indicated that these inbred lines could be considered as good combiners for improving these traits. Significant positive SCA effects were found for all studied traits. Based on SCA effects, it could be concluded that the best crosses for ear diameter and 100-kernels weigh was G507AxG516; for ear length was G516xRg8; for kernels number/row was G516xG278; for ear yield/plant, grain yield/plant and Shelling percentage was G278xRg5. These crosses could be selected and used in breeding programs for improving these traits. Results showed positive significant heterosis values for all studied traits. The best crosses over both their mid-parents and better-parents for ear diameter and 100-kernel weigh was G507AxG516; for ear length and kernels number/row was G516xG278; for ear yield/plant and grain yield/plant was G278xRg8 and for Shelling percentage was G278xRg5.

Two field experiments were performed at the Experimental Station, Faculty of Agriculture, Mansoura University, during the two successive summer seasons of 2006 and 2007. The main objectives of this study were to determine the effect of organic fertilization (compost) doses, plant population (hill spacing) and nitrogen fertilizer levels on growth, yield and its components of maize (Zea mays L.) Single Cross Hybrid Pioneer 30 K 9 (S.C.H.P. 30 K 9). A strip split plot design with four replicates was used. The obvious results of this investigation can be summarized as follows:  All studied characters were significantly improved by applying organic fertilization (compost) doses in both seasons.highest values of maize growth and productivity parameters were obtained by the application of organic fertilization(compost)at 4t/fed in both seasons.  Increasing plant spacings up to 30 cm between hills (20 000 plant/fed) increased all studied characters, except number of days from sowing to 50 % tasseling and plant height, which increased due to sowing maize in hills 20 cm apart (30 000 plants/fed) in both seasons. Sowing maize plants in hills 25 cm apart (medium space i.e. 24 000 plants/fed) surpassed other plant spacings in grain yield (ardab/fed) in both seasons.  Application nitrogen fertilization at the level of 125 kg N/fed significantly exceeded other studied levels (50, 75 and 100 kg N/fed) with respect to their effect on all the studied growth parameters and yield components as well as grain yield of maize in both seasons. Generally, it can be concluded that according to the obtained results from this study, sowing maize Single Cross Hybrid Pioneer 30 K 9 plants at 25 cm space between hills (24 000 plant/fed) and adding 4 t/fed compost as well as 100 or 125 kg N/fed can be consider the best treatment for raising maize productivity under the environmental conditions of El-Mansoura region.

seasons to study the effect of planting dates (20 th October, 10 th November and 1 st December) and size of sown seeds (small, medium and large) of some faba bean cultivars (Sakha 1, Masr 1 and Giza 843), as well as, their interaction on yield and its components and seed quality. In addition, a laboratory experiment was carried out at Seed Technology Research Unit in Mansoura, Dakahlia Governorate, Field Crops Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Egypt, to some physiological and seed quality of seed resulted from the field experiments. The main results could be summarized as follows: 1-Planting faba bean in the intermediate date (10 th November) produced the highest values of seed yield and its components and also high seed quality traits ranked by early (20 th October) then late planting dates (1 st December). 2-Sakha 1 cultivar ranked first whereas Giza 843 and Masr 1 were ranked second and third, respectively in all studied characters. 3-The effect of seed size on seed yield and its components and seed quality characters was significant, except for the number of seeds/plant, pod weight, number of seeds/pod and dry weight of seedlings in the second season only. Large size of sown seeds recorded the highest values of all studied characters, followed by medium then small size. There were insignificant differences between large or medium size of seed in some yield component and seed quality as well as seed yield/fed. 4-It can be recommended that planting faba bean Sakha 1 cultivar on 10 th November with large or medium size of seeds might improve faba bean productivity and seed quality.

In 2007, five maize inbred lines were crossed in all possible combinations without reciprocals by using a half diallel crosses mating design to obtain 10 single cross. Inbred parents and their F1 single crosses were evaluated through 2008 season to evaluate the role of general and specific combining ability and heterosis for some agronomic traits. Results indicated that mean squares of genotypes were highly significant for all studied traits i.e. ear diameter, ear length, number of kernels/row, 100-kernel weight, ear yield per plant, grain yield per plant and shelling percentage. General combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) mean squares were highly significant for all studied traits. The GCA/SCA ratio was less than unity for all studied traits; this means that these traits are predominantly controlled by nonadditive gene action. Significant positive GCA effects were found for all studied traits. Based on GCA estimates, it could be concluded that the best combiners were Rg5 and Rg8 inbred lines for most of studied traits. This result indicated that these inbred lines could be considered as good combiners for improving these traits. Significant positive SCA effects were found for all studied traits. Based on SCA effects, it could be concluded that the best crosses for ear diameter and 100kernels weigh was G507A X G516 for ear length was G516 X Rg8 for kernels number/row was G516 X G278 for ear yield/plant, grain yield/plant and Shelling percentage was G278 X Rg5. These crosses could be selected and used in breeding programs for improving these traits. Results showed positive significant heterosis values for all studied traits. The best crosses over both their mid-parents and better-parents for ear diameter and 100-kernel weigh was G507A x G516 for ear length and kernels number/row was G516 x G278; for ear yield/plant and grain yield/plant was G278 x Rg8 and for Shelling percentage was G278 x Rg5.

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A field trial and a laboratory experiment were conducted during 2011/2012 and 2012/2013 seasons. The main objective of this research was to study the performance of some wheat cultivars as affected by sowing dates and seed treatments and their effect on growth, yields and its components and seed quality. Each sowing date (10 th November, 25 th November and 10 th December) was practiced in separate experiments. Every experiment was carried out in split-plot design with four replications. The main plots were occupied with wheat cultivars (Sakha 93, Sakha 94 and Gemmiza 10). The sub-plots were assigned to seed treatments (without seed treatment, treated seed with fungicide Vetavax and soaking seed in the mixture of Fe + Zn). Results showed that early sowing date (10 th November) markedly resulted in the highest values of growth, yields and its components, shoot and root length and seedlings dry weight. Whereas, sowing on 25 th November came in the second rank and resulted in the highest values of germination % and speed of germination. While, delay sowing wheat up to 10 th December came in the last rank and resulted in the highest values of protein %. Gemmiza 10 cultivar surpassed other studied cultivars (Sakha 93, Sakha 94) and recorded the highest values of flag leaf area, spike length, number of grains/spike, grains weight/spike, 1000-grain weight, grain yield/fed, speed of germination, and seedlings dry weight. While, Sakha 94 cultivar recorded the highest values of plant height, number of spikes/m 2 , straw yield/fed, shoot and root lengths. However, Sakha 93 cultivar recorded the highest values of protein % and germination %. Soaking wheat seeds before sowing in the mixture of Fe + Zn surpassed other studied seed treatments and resulted in the highest means of all studied characters. Treated wheat seeds with fungicide "Vetavax" followed by aforementioned treatment. It can be concluded that, sowing Gemmiza 10 cultivar on 10 th November and treated its seeds before sowing with mixture of micronutrients (Fe + Zn) could be recommend to maximize wheat productivity and quality of grains and seeds under the environmental conditions of Dakahlia Governorate.