The present study was carried out at a private nursery in Mansoura city and a private farm at Zayyan region, Belqas district, Dakahlia Governorate during the two summer seasons of 2014 and 2015 to study the effects of different rootstocks and grafting methods on growth, yield and fruit quality of watermelon cv. Aswan F 1. The experiment included thirteen treatments resulted from the combinations of four rootstocks [Jumbo F 1 and Nun 6001 F 1 hybrids (Cucurbita maxima × Cucurbita moschata), Bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria Standl.) and Pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata L.)] and three grafting methods [ Hole insertion (HIG), Splice (SG) and Tongue approach (TAG)] as well as non-grafted plants (control). The treatments were arranged in a randomized complete blocks design with three replicates. The results indicated that grafting, especially onto Jumbo rootstock using Tongue approach grafting method, recorded the greatest values of vegetative growth parameters (lateral stems number, leaves number and foliage dry matter %), female flowers number and early and total fruit yield compared to non-grafted plants in both seasons. Grafting combinations didn't show any significance differences with regard to sex ratio. Furthermore, there was a balance between number of fruits per plant and average fruit weight which eventually led to early and total yield increasing compared to non-grafted plants in both seasons. The highest values of total soluble solids (TSS), reducing sugars, vitamin C and Lycopene were estimated in the fruits of grafted plants onto Jumbo rootstock compared to other rootstocks in both seasons. On the other hand, the grafting methods had insignificant effects on fruit quality during both seasons. Therefore, the using of Jumbo as rootstock and Tongue approach as grafting method may be a successful strategy to increase vegetative growth, yield and fruit quality of watermelon cv. Aswan F 1 under similar conditions of this study.

The present study was carried out at Al-Amana nursery in Talkha district, Dakahlya Governorate, Egypt, during the summer season of 2014 to study the effects of different graft combinations between rootstocks and scion of watermelon (Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum et Nakai) var. Lanatus cv. Aswan F 1 . The experiment included thirteen treatments resulted from the combinations of four rootstocks [Jumbo F 1 and Nun 6001 F 1 hybrids [Cucurbita maxima (Duch.) ex. Lam.× Cucurbita moschata (Duch.) ex. Poir.], bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria Standl.) and pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata L.)] and three grafting methods [Hole insertion (HIG), Splice (SG) and Tongue approach (TAG)] as well as non-grafted plants as control. The obtained results illustrated that there was a high compatibility between Watermelon(scion) and Jumbo followed by bottle gourd then Nun 6001 rootstock, where these graft combinations recorded the highest vascular thickness and area of vascular cambium compared to other graft combinations. Although, SG gave the highest area of graft union. In addition, TAG showed the greatest width of graft union which is related to increase of xylem and phloem tissues thickness and area of vascular cambium. Moreover, grafted plants onto Jumbo and bottle gourd using TAG method recorded the highest survival percentage (100 and 98%, respectively) in comparison with other graft combinations. While, grafting onto pumpkin rootstock using HIG method had the lowest values of all studies traits in comparison with other combinations. Generally, the callus development and graft success in Watermeloncv. Aswan F 1 can be performed using Jumbo rootstock with TAG followed by SG method.

In this investigation three inbred lines which were desired from Balady squash population by selection and their 6 F1 hybrids including reciprocal were used as genetic materials. The inbred lines and their F1 hybrids included reciprocal hybrids were evaluated for some economic traits; vegetative growth, flowering and earliness as days to first female flower anthesis, fruit, as well as yield and its component traits in field trial during 2014 summer season. The result of mean values showed that no parental line was superior for all studied traits. Meanwhile, the parent P3 exhibited the best values for most studied traits. As well as, the obtained results showed that the highest values recorded in the F1 hybrids compare with their parents (inbred lines) were; i.e., P3xP2 for earliness and sex ratio, P3xP2 for fruit number per plant, P1xP3 for total yield per plant. As well as, P1xP2 for total soluble solid and dry weight of fruits, P2xP3 and P3xP1 for ascorbic acid content. These crosses could be used as commercial cultivars which may compete with imported hybrids. Moreover, their parents (stable inbred lines) which exhibited best combinations for previous traits could be used in breeding program according to their objectives.

Two field experiments were carried out at a private farm located in Khelala Village, Bilqas District, Dakahlia Governorate, Egypt, during the two successive summer seasons of 2018 and 2019 to investigate the effect of some treatments which reduce the injury of high temperature on sweet pepper grown in late summer season. Three different levels of shading (50, 63 and 75%), three different planting distances (30, 40 and 50 cm) and two foliar spray rates of potassium silicate (750 and 1500 ppm) and control treatment were investigated. Nine treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The results show that shading at 75% is the superior treatment for plant height, leaf area, fresh and dry weights/plant, fruit set percent, falling flowers percent, fruit physical characteristics i.e, fruit length, diameter and flesh thickness and fruit chemical characteristics i.e, N, P and K%, VC and TSS compared to other treatments. As for planting distances treatments, all parameters values pronouncedly improve with an increase distances of planting, where the values are the best for distance 50 cm. Also, the values of vegetative, flowering, yield and its components significantly increase with foliar application of 1500 ppm potassium silicate. Meanwhile, the control treatment gives the lowest values for all parameters. According to the obtained results, individual treatments as shading level (75%), planting distance (50 cm) and foliar application with potassium silicate (1500 ppm) were beneficial to improve the growth, fruit quality and yield of sweet pepper plants grown in late summer season.

This work was carried out of private farm located in Qalabshu, Gamasa District, Dakahlia Governorate, Egypt, during the early summer plantings of 2017 and 2018 to study the effect of different sources of organic manures and different levels of humic and fulvic acid on growth, flowering, yield and its components and sugar in fruit of watermelon plants (Citrullus lantus L.) c.v. Romero grafted on Shantosa species. Twenty two treatments were designed in complete randomize block system with three replications, The treatments consisted of (FYM, Compost, Chicken manure and mix between them) in presence of 2 and 4 kg for each humic and fulvic acid comparing to the control. The results obtained shows that there were significant differences among treatments in most parameters during the two seasons. All organic sources increased all parameters and found that the highest significant values of leaf area, dry weight, number of male and female flower as well as average weight of fruits, number of fruits, dry matter, total yield, reducing , non reducing and total sugar of fruits were recorded with application of (FYM + compost + chicken manures) in presence of 4 kg humic and 4 kg fulvic acid.