No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

The possibility of improving growth and yielding of pea plants grown under reclaimed soil conditions which having salinity level of about 5000 ppm was investigated in a private Farm, Fayoum, Egypt, during the two successive seasons of 2007/2008 and 2008/2009. For achievement this aim, the calcium paste treated-seeds of pea were sown in beds fecundated with ground sunflower heads. The producing pea plants were sprayed with ascorbic acid at the rates of 0, 100, 200,300 and 400 mgL-1. Significant positive influences of calcium paste plus ground sunflower heads applied alone or in combination with all ascorbic acid treatments used under this study were observed on growth, yield of green pods and seeds as well as the tested chemical constituents. In comparison with untreated seeds sown in non-fecundated beds, the plants producing from the calcium paste treated-seeds sown in beds fecundated with ground sunflower heads represented significant increases in growth traits (i.e. plant height, No. of branches plant-1 and shoot dry weight plant-1) and green pods yield and its components (i.e. No. of green pods plant-1 , pod weight and green pods yield feddan-1) as well as green seeds yield and its components (i.e. No. of green seeds pod-1 , 100-seed weight and green seeds yield feddan-1). In addition, the concentrations of some chemical constituents (i.e. total chlorophyll, total carotenoids, ascorbic acid, free proline, total soluble sugars, total phenols, N, P, K, Ca, Ca/Na ratio, Fe, Mn and Zn in shoots of plants besides, starch% and protein% were increased with the shortage in total soluble sugars% in green seeds). As for ascorbic acid foliar application, plants sprayed at all studied rates (i.e. 100, 200, 300 and 400 mgL-1) revealed significant increases in all investigated parameters (i.e. growth traits, green pods and seeds yields and their components as well as chemical constituents of plant shoots and green seeds) as compared with untreated plants. Ascorbic acid treatment at the rate of 300 mgL-1 combined with calcium paste treated-seeds sown in beds fecundated with ground sunflower heads proved to be the best and may counteracted the inhibitory effects of salinity on pea plants. In view of above mentioned results, it has been concluded that spraying pea plants "cv. Master-B", producing from calcium paste treated-seeds sown in beds fecundated with ground sunflower heads, with ascorbic acid at the rate of 300 mgL-1 could be counteracted the adverse conditions particularly, salinity up to 5000 ppm and consequently, economic green pods and seeds yield is obtainable.

Fifteen genotypes of pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata Duchesne) were screened for earliness and fruit yield at the Experimental Farm, Faculty of Agriculture, Sohag University during the two successive seasons; 2007 and 2008. There were significant differences among genotypes for all studied characters. Etamp cultivar had the longest vine length and leaves number per plant, while Butternut cultivar had the shortest vine length in both seasons. Butternut cultivar gave the highest value of sex ratio, while the lowest one was recorded by El-Mansoura cv. Butternut cultivar was the earliest in both male and female flowers, while genotype Khartoum (Sudan) accession was the latest in male and female flowers in both seasons. Etamp cultivar bore the first male and female flowers on the highest node number, while Butternut cultivar produced the 1 st male and female flowers on the lowest node number in both seasons. Pepa (Beni Suef) accession had the highest number of nodes between the 1 st male and 1 st female flowers while; Butternut cultivar had the lowest number of nodes between the 1 st male and the 1 st female flowers in both seasons. Desuk (Kafr El-Sheikh) accession gave the largest number of days between the 1 st male and the 1 st female flowers anthesis, while Butternut cultivar gave the lowest number of days between the 1 st male and the 1 st female flowers anthesis. Butternut cultivar gave the highest sex ratio, while El-Mansoura accession gave the lowest sex ratio in both seasons. Etamp cultivar fruits were longest, while those of accession Omdurman (Sudan) were shortest in both seasons. Etamp cultivar was greatest in fruit diameter, while Butternut accession was smallest in fruit diameter in both seasons. Etamp cultivar was heaviest fruit weight, while Butternut cultivar was lowest in fruit weight in both seasons. Etamp cultivar gave the highest value for flesh thickness while, Butternut cultivar showed the lowest value for this character in both seasons. Etamp cultivar exceeded all other genotypes in total fruit yield, while Butternut cultivar produced the lowest fruit yield in both seasons. Butternut cultivar gave the highest value for total soluble solids%, while Bardis (Sohag) accession showed the lowest value for this character, in both seasons. Thus, the results of this study could be useful in breeding programs for improving local pumpkin genotypes under Upper Egypt conditions.

Two shadow net house experiments were conducted during 2018 and 2019 in a private Nursery, Ibshawy district, Fayoum, Egypt, to study the effect of potassium humate and calcium phosphate on morphological characters, membrane permeability (RWC and MSI), leaf photosynthetic pigments and leaf elemental contents of pepper transplants. The experimental design used was a split-plot in randomized complete blocks with four replications. Potassium humate levels (0 and 0.5 g litre-medium -1 ) were distributed in the main plots, while calcium phosphate concentrations (0, 100, 200, 400, 600, 800 and 1000 mg litre-water -1 ) were randomly allocated to the sub-plots. Growing medium provided with 0.5 g l -1 potassium humate gave the highest significant values on morphological characters, membrane permeability, leaf photosynthetic pigments and leaf N, P, k and Ca contents as compared to growing medium without potassium humate treatment during both seasons. However, number of leaves transplant -1 was not significantly affected. Generally, foliar application of calcium phosphate at 600 and 800 mg l -1 was significantly recorded higher mean values of morphological characters, membrane permeability and leaf photosynthetic pigments as compared to other concentrations but number of leaves transplant -1 was not significantly affected. While, spraying calcium phosphate at 100 mg l -1 significantly recorded higher mean values of leaf N content. Application of calcium phosphate at 1000 mg l -1 , significantly, attained higher values of leaf P and Ca content. Whilst application of calcium phosphate 200 or 400 mg l -1 gave the highest significant values on leaf K content, in both seasons of 2018 and 2019. These results recommend using the growth medium supplemented with 0.5 g l -1 potassium humate in integration with calcium phosphate at 600 and 800 mg l -1 act to enhancing the plant physio-biochemical components, which reflected in high growth of pepper seedlings.

Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus L.) is considered as one of noncomparatively new traditional vegetable crop introduced in Egypt. It is considered as one of the primary sources for inulin in higher plants. The scope of the current study was to assess the main and interaction effects of two natural and safety materials; potassium humate as soil application and proline as foliar spraying on growth and productivity of Jerusalem artichoke plants cv. Balady. Therefore, two field experiments were conducted during the summer seasons of 2015 and 2016 in Demo Experimental Farm, Faculty of Agriculture, Fayoum University. The experimental layout was a split-plot system in a Randomized Complete Blocks Design with three replications.Three Potassium humate levels (0, 20, 40 kg fed -1 ) were randomly distributed in the main plots whilst, Three proline concentrations (0, 5, 10 mM) were allocated in the sub-plots. Gained results displayed that tubers weight plant -1 , number of tubers plant -1 , dry weight of tuber plant -1 and yield fed -1 were positively responded to either soil application of potassium humate or foliar spraying of proline. The impact of foliar application with proline on average weight of tuber was not significant in both seasons. Generally treating Jerusalem artichoke plants with potassium humate or proline gave significantly higher leaves and tubers N, P, K and proline contents in both seasons. On the other side, Leaf and tuber Na contents were, truly depressed owe to application of potassium humate or proline. In addition, the interaction of the two studied factors on leaf and tuber Na contents was intrinsic. Finally, the soil application of potassium humate at 20 and/or 40 kg fed -1 integration with foliar application of proline at 5 and/or 10 mM enhanced Yield and yield components and Chemical composition of Jerusalem artichoke under newly reclaimed soil conditions of Fayoum Governorate.

No abstract