A field experiment was conducted in the contrasting locations of Kafr-El-Hamam/Sharkia and Al-Arish/North Sinai agricultural research stations of the Agricultural Research Center in Egypt. We estimated the additive and dominance genetic variances, as well as heritability in the broad and narrow senses for sunflower yield and its attributes in the cross L350 x L355 using North Carolina Design-III. The magnitude of the additive variances for all studied traits at both locations in proportion to the phenotypic variances was larger than the dominance variances. The average degree of dominance was greater than the unit, as also confirmed by the high narrow-sense heritability for most of the studied traits. The genetic improvement may be achieved through the selection of genotypes with larger head diameter and heavier seed weight which also showed moderate to high values of narrow-sense heritability. Thirty-two sunflower backcrosses were grouped into eight distinct clusters/groups by canonical analysis.

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The aim of the current study is to establish a comprehensive experimental design for the screening and optimization of Atorvastatin-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers (AT-NLCs). Initially, combined D-optimal screening design was applied to find the most significant factors affecting AT-NLCs properties. The studied variables included mixtures of solid and liquid lipids, the solid/liquid lipid ratio, surfactant type and concentration, homogenization speed as well as sonication time. Then, the variables homogenization speed (A), the ratio of solid lipid/liquid lipid (B), and concentration of the surfactant (C) were optimized using a central composite design. Particle size, polydispersity index, zeta potential, and entrapment efficiency were chosen as dependent responses. The optimized AT-NLCs demonstrated a nanometric size (83.80 ± 1.13 nm), Polydispersity Index (0.38 ± 0.02), surface charge (−29.65 ± 0.65 mV), and high drug incorporation (93.1 ± 0.04%). Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis showed no chemical interaction between Atorvastatin and the lipid mixture. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) analysis of the AT-NLCs suggested the transformation of Atorvastatin crystal into an amorphous state. Administration of the optimized AT-NLCs led to a significant reduction (p < 0.001) in serum levels of rats’ total cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoproteins. This change was histologically validated by reducing the relevant steatosis of the liver.

Regarding the article Heterosis for seed, oil yield and quality of some different hybrids sunflower.

The present investigation was conducted to determine the genetic behavior of 14 genetically diverse genotypes of sesame in Shandaweel Research Station (ARC), during the two summer seasons of 2017 and 2018, for seed yield and their components using a randomized complete block design with 3 replications. Significant differences among evaluated sesame genotypes for all studied traits were observed. The highest mean values of 1000-seed weight and seed yield/plant were obtained from the genotype M2A23, while the lowest mean value was obtained from the genotype B-42. Number of branches per plant, number of capsules per plant, and seed yield per plant had the highest estimates of PCV and GCV. High heritability combined with the high genetic advance (as a percent of mean) was observed in length of fruiting zone, number of branches/ plants, number of capsules/ plants, and seed yield/ plant, showed that these traits were controlled by additive genetic influences. Seed yield /plant had positive and highly significant correlated with the length of fruiting zone in both branched genotypes and non-branched genotypes. Moreover, length of fruiting zone, number of capsules /plant and 1000-seed weight had great positive direct effects on seed yield/plant. Hence, these characteristics could be helpful in increasing sesame seed yield.

Twenty-one hybrids of sunflower were produced by crossing 7 introduced cytoplasmic male sterile lines (CMS-lines) with 3 restorer lines (RF-lines) using line × tester mating design. The twenty-one hybrids, three restorers, seven maintainer lines (B-lines) were evaluated. The experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design of three replications. Mean squares due to genotypes, parents (P), crosses (C), lines (L), testers (T), P vs. C, for stearic acid and line × tester for palmitic acid. The inbred lines and their F1 hybrids differed significantly in their mean values of the traits under study. The variances due to specific combining ability (SCA) were higher than general combining ability (GCA) variances for all the studied traits, showing non-additive type of gene action controlling the traits. Non-additive type of gene action can be utilized for varietal improvement through heterosis breeding. Heterosis values for seed yield plant−1 were positive and highly significant relative to both the parental mean (17.68–72.38%) and the better parent (−2.86–56.842%). Significantly and negative heterosis was recorded in the case of linoleic acid relative to the parental mean (−81.24 to −38.02%) and better parent (−66.24–22.87%). With oleic acid, the heterotic effect ranged from −14.18 to 39.59% (parental mean) and from −15.06 to 38.72% (better parent). Therefore, these results are valuable for the improvement of quantitative as well as qualitative traits in sunflower breeding material to fulfill the edible oil requirements.

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