Reproductive diseases may have destructive effects on the fertility of cattle. Bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) and bovine herpes virus-1 (BoHV-1) are potent viral pathogens linked to reproduction. Thus, the aim of this study was to utilize raw semen samples for conventional and molecular detection of BVDV and BoHV-1, simultaneously. Additionally, the effect of virus infection on the semen quality of naturally infected bulls has been investigated. Therefore, 40 bulls were employed for semen collection, evaluation and testing for both viruses by virus isolation, direct fluorescent antibody technique (FAT) and SYBR Green real-time PCR assay. In virus isolation results, no cytopathic effect (CPE) was observed for BVDV on cell culture whereas, eight (20%) samples displayed characteristic grape-like clusters of cells for BoHV-1. By direct FAT, 12 (30%) positive BVDV and 8 (20%) positive BoHV-1 samples were confirmed. SYBR Green real-time PCR analysis using 48 h inoculated semen samples revealed 14 (35%) and 8 (20%) positive samples for BVDV and BoHV-1, respectively. Statistical analysis of semen evaluation parameters showed a significant difference between viral-infected and free groups represented by increased sperm abnormalities and decreased sperm motility, liveability and concentration. However, there was no significant difference among BVDV, BoHV-1 and mixedinfected groups. The study concluded that BVDV and/or BoHV-1 infected bulls expressed low semen quality. Real-time PCR was confirmed to be the ideal laboratory assay for detection of both viruses in semen.

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The effect of T. harzianum and some essential oils alone or in combination with compost on the peanut crown rot disease under field conditions was evaluated. Under laboratory conditions, results indicated that all concentrations of essential oils significantly reduced the growth of A. niger. Complete reduction was obtained with thyme and lemongrass oils at 0.5%. All T. harzianum isolates significantly reduced the growth of A. niger. The highest reduction was obtained with isolate no. 1 which reduced the growth by 81.1%. Under field conditions, results indicated that all treatments significantly reduced the peanut crown rot disease. The highest reduction was obtained with combined treatments (compost + T. harzianum + thyme and compost + T. harzianum + lemongrass) which reduced the disease incidence at both pre- and post-emergence growth stages, respectively. Similar trend corresponding to the previous treatments significantly increased the peanut yield which calculated as an increase in yield more than 75.0 and 80.0 during two growing seasons, respectively. It could be suggested that combined treatment between biocompost and essential oils might be used commercially for controlling peanut crown rot disease under field conditions.

The inhibitory effect of the antagonistic bioagents, chemical plant resistance inducers and some essential oils against the linear growth of two isolates of F. oxysporum the wilt pathogen of pepper (Capsicum annum L.) was evaluated in vitro. The antagonistic microorganisms, Trichoderma harzianum, T. viride, T. aureiviride, Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas fluorescens were tested. Also, the tested chemical inducers were Sodium benzoate, Potassium bicarbonate, Potassium sorbate and Chitosan. Meanwhile, the tested essential oils were Cinnamon, Clove, Thyme, Lemon grass, Lemon, Mint, Pepper mint and Mustard. The obtained results indicate that the antagonistic bioagents, T. viride, B. subtilis, P. fluorescens showed superior inhibitory effect against the growth of pathogenic fungi compared with T. harzianum and T. aureiviride. The fungal mycelial growth reduced gradually by increasing of tested concentrations to reach complete reduction (100%) at the concentrations of 4% for Potassium bicarbonate and Sodium benzoate and at 6% for Potassium sorbate. Data also revealed that the fungicide Topsin-M had superior inhibitor effect on the fungal linear growth than that of tested salts. It cause complete growth reduction at concentration of 300ppm. Chitosan was found to affect the linear growth of the two isolates of F. oxysporum that the complete reduction in fungal growth (100%) was observed at concentration of 4.5 g/L. Results also showed that Thyme, Lemon grass, Peppermint, Clove and Mint oils had higher inhibitor effect on fungal mycelial growth than Limon, Cinnamon and Mustard oils. Fungal mycelial growth decreased significantly as the concentrations of essential oils were increased, to reach the fungal growth's minimum at the highest concentration used. Complete reduction (100%) in mycelial growth of two fungal isolates was recorded at concentration of 6% of all tested essential oils. The obtained results in the present study showed the possibility of usage antagonistic bioagents, various plant inducers and essential oils to control plant pathogenic fungi.