Orobanche crenata is a devastating parasitic weed on faba bean with its effects not confined to the Mediterranean region anymore. This study investigated the effect of number of glyphosate sprays, at the rate of 86g a.i./ha, on the performance of a set of faba bean varieties varying in their resistance to the parasite under farmer's field conditions. The main target was to find out whether faba bean resistance coupled with glyphosate application could be adopted as standard procedure for efficiently combating the parasite. Results indicated that, under current farmer's field conditions, spraying resulted in a clear reduction in the number of emerged spikes from 18 to 49% and the amount of photo-assimilates accumulated by the parasite from 1 to 42%, depending on the variety and that was related to the number of sprays applied. There was no improvement in faba bean yield associated with the reduction in infestation under glyphosate sprays compared to the control, even with the most resistant faba bean varieties known in Egypt; namely Giza 843, Misr 1 and Misr 3. Considering its cost and impact on human health, glyphosate is not recommended for infested faba bean fields. In heavily infested fields, it is recommended to employ other integrated pest management protocols that aim at reducing the parasite seed bank per se before considering any winter pulses. This halt on winter pulses is essential to deplete the seed bank and prevent further spread of the parasite and should continue until a better technology to combat the parasite evolves. The new Misr 3 was seen here as a very promising variety that generally combines both good yield and low number of emerged spikes compared to older varieties Giza 843 and Misr 1.

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During this study, 21 garlic genotypes consisted of ten clones of Egyptian cultivar, nine clones of Chinese cultivar, as well as their original populations were evaluated to estimate the extent of improvement in four yield component traits after six cycles of clonal selection. Also, simple phenotypic correlation among these traits and their relationship with yield. Besides estimating linear and quadratic responses (simple and multiple regression); to clarify the relationship between yield and the four studied characteristics. This research has been conducted at the Research farm of Faculty of Agriculture in "Abies" area of Alexandria University, Egypt, for 2020/2021 during the winter season, in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The studied traits were included bulb weight, cloves weight per bulb, average clove weight, cloves number per bulb, and yield per plot. T-test in group reflected a significant improvement in the four yield components traits, whether in the improved clones of Egyptian or Chinese cultivar. The results illustrated, also, that yield per plot showed a highly significant positive correlation with bulb weight, cloves weight per bulb, and average clove weight. Stepwise regression indicated that more than 98% of the variation in yield is explained by bulb weight, average clove weight, and cloves number per bulb. Thus, high yield of garlic plants can be obtained by selecting breeding materials with these aforementioned three variables.

S UNFLOWER is an important oil crop that has received great attention by the Egyptian agricultural sector in the early nineties, when a boom in oil extraction from the crop was observed. Since then and for more than two decades now, sunflower for oil purpose was neglected, hybrids are no longer on the market and confectionery sunflower became more profitable for Egyptian farmers. Recently, the registration of the single hybrid Sirena and its promotion based on contract basis with farmers, may present a new comeback to oil sunflower in Egypt. The aim of this study was to evaluate effect of sowing date (April vs. August) and preceding crop (maize vs. sunflower) in a double cropping system, under varying nitrogen fertilization levels (36, 72, 108 and 144kg N/ha), on growth and productivity of the newly introduced sunflower hybrid Sirena. Results from the two-year experiments, indicated that April sowing, at a prevailing average temperature of 20-24 o C later rising to about 28 o C at harvest time, was suitable to secure maximum seed yield of 4.39ton/ha. In a double cropping system, where sowing was performed in August, the hybrid yielded an average of 3.4 ton/ha, whether preceded by maize or sunflower. Seed oil percentage amounted to an average of 42.8% and was affected by the year, rather than sowing date or preceding crop. Effects of the nitrogen fertilization rates were masked by the soil available nitrogen, however, based on the regression analysis and equations for estimating the nitrogen requirements based on the hybrid seed yield, 72-108kg N/ha were necessary to achieve the maximum seed yield while sustaining an oil percentage above the 42%.

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