Mona Fathy El Saied El Boghdady^1*

1 The Agricultural Economics Research Center, Dokki, Arab Republic of Egypt.
(*Corresponding author: Mona Fathy El Saied El Boghdady: dr.mona.elboghdady@gmail.com, Tel.: 00201061686800).

Received: 27/ 12/ 2025    Accepted: 22/ 4/ 2026

Abstract: 

Although Egyptian onion is considered one of the most important strategic vegetable crops, statistics indicate a clear fluctuation in production volume and foreign demand for Egyptian onions. This has led to instability in both export and local onion prices, as well as an increase in marketing margins for intermediaries of this crop, which necessitates studying the economic and marketing efficiency indicators of the onion crop. The study concluded that the marketing and pricing policies of onions have reflected on onion producers by returning the greater share of the price paid by consumers to these producers compared to what other intermediaries receive. The study also found that the average instability coefficient of both the export value and export price of onions was more stable than the average instability coefficient of the exported quantity during that period. The average instability coefficient of the exported quantity during that period was about 18.07, while the averages of the instability coefficients for the exported value and export price during the same period were about 12.12 and 12.09, respectively.

Keywords: Onion crop, instability index, agricultural exports, Egypt.

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Nada Malla^1*, Abdul Mohsen Al- Sayed Omar¹ and Aziza Ajouri²

1 Department of Field Crops, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering, University of Aleppo, Syria.
2 Department of Soil Sciences and Land Reclamation, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering, University of Aleppo, Syria.
(*Corresponding author: Nada Malla: nadamalla29@gmail.com, mobile: 0994624153).

Received: 26/ 7/ 2025         Accepted: 9/ 12/ 2025

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of Foliar Spraying with different concentrations of nano-zinc on the productivity of red beetroot under water stress conditions, A field experiment was conducted on a research plot next to the Faculty of Agricultural Engineering at the University of Aleppo, during the 2024-2025 agricultural season. A randomized complete block design was used with three replicates was used in the study. 12 treatments were included, resulting from the application of Three irrigation treatments: (irrigation every 5 days, irrigation every 10 days, irrigation every 15 days), and four nano-zinc spray concentrations (0, 50, 100, and 150 mg/l). The results showed that the treatments irrigation every 5 days + concentration 150 mg/l) concentrations significantly outperformed the treatment in (root fresh weight 1462.02kg/m2, root volume 309.88cm3, root length16.55cm). While the treatment (irrigation every 15 days + concentration 0 mg/l) recorded the lowest values (root fresh weight 39.87kg/m2, root volume 9.72cm3, root length 1.57cm).  Based on the results of this study, it is suggested to apply the treatment irrigation every 5 days and spraying with 150 mg/l nano zinc to improve the productivity of red beetroot under water stress conditions.

Keywords: red beetroot, Nano-zinc, water stress, productivity.

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Nada Mohammad Eid Albarni^1* and Baha Alrahban ¹

1 General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research (GCSAR), Research Administration of Plant Protection, Weed Research and Control Department, Damascus, Syria.
(*Corresponding author: Nada Mohammad Eid Albarni: albarninada@hotmail.com, Mob. +96311949913439).

Received: 5/ 2/ 2025     Accepted: 6/ 11/ 2025

Abstract: 

The research was conducted using a completely randomized design with four replications (at the Weed Research and Control Laboratory of the General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research in Damascus- Syria during the 2022-2023 season, in order to investigate the potential phytotoxic effect of the hot aqueous extract of organic residues of S. elaeagnifolum fruits at three concentrations (3%, 7%, and 10%) on germination and seedling growth of durum wheat (Sham11 variety). The results showed that the fruit extracts were contained alkaloids and saponins. These extracts were led to a gradual decrease with increasing concentration tested, with significant differences in the percentage of wheat seeds germination, the length of its seedlings, its wet and dry weight and the content of chlorophyll A and B pigments in its leaves at the age of 15 days. Where, the highest concentration of 10% gave (25%, 0.82 cm and 0.14 cm, 0.03 g, 0.01 g) germination percentage, stem and root length of seedling, fresh weight, and dry weight, respectively, compared to the control (100%, 15.73 cm and 14.81 cm, 1.25 g, 0.40 g) respectively. This indicates the possibility of extracting toxic chemical compounds with inhibitory effects from the fruits of Silverleaf Nightshade plant, and develop them to use as raw materials for the manufacture of bio-herbicides, that can be used in integrated pest management programs, especially in organic agriculture. This approach simultaneously eliminates this weed by applying natural mechanical control.

Keywords: Silverleaf Nightshade Solanum elaeagnifolium, Inhibitory Effects, Allelopathy, Biopesticides, Durum Wheat.

 Full paper in Arabic: PDF

Mona Fathy El Saied El Boghdady^1*

1 The Agricultural Economics Research Center, Dokki, Arab Republic of Egypt.
(*Corresponding author: Mona Fathy El Saied El Boghdady: dr.mona.elboghdady@gmail.com, Tel.: 00201061686800).

Received: 10/ 9/ 2025     Accepted: 23/ 11/ 2025

Abstract

Agricultural exports play a significant role in achieving national economic goals and are a major source of foreign exchange for the country. Therefore, there is growing interest in creating a better export climate that enables these exports to expand their reach into foreign markets, which can be achieved by increasing its competitiveness, which requires studying its competitive indicators to determine how to increase its share in foreign markets. The study shows that Egyptian tomato exports fluctuated between highs and lows during the study period, with the minimum exported quantity reaching approximately 1,745 tons in 2000, and the maximum was approximately 748,013 tons in 2013, reaching approximately 51,872 tons by the end of the period in 2022. The study also showed that the comparative advantage index for the tomato crop during the period (2010-2022) exceeded the correct average in all study years except for 2010 and 2011, which may be attributed to the challenges facing the Egyptian economy during that period. However, overall, the data confirm the existence of a comparative advantage for tomato exports to foreign markets. The average apparent comparative advantage index for tomato crops during the study period was approximately 1.6, indicating that this export crop is an important one that competes strongly in global markets, provided that export markets for this crop are maintained by meeting the required global market specifications and opening new markets to accommodate our exports in accordance with export standards.

Keywords: Tomato Crop, Clear relative advantage Agricultural Exports, Eygpt.

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Maya Alballat^1*, Antoun Youssef¹ and Budour Ajib¹

1 College of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Homs University, Homs, Syria.
(*Corresponding author: Maya Alballat: mayaalballat@gmail.com, ).

Received: 3/ 8/ 2025      Accepted: 9/ 12/ 2025 

Abstract

This research was conducted in the Food Chemistry, Storage, and Refrigeration laboratories of the Department of Food Engineering, Faculty of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, at Homs University. The study was carried out from mid-September 2024 to mid-January 2025. In this research, pepper paste was produced by heating pepper juice using a hot surface at a temperature of 90 C until a concentration of 25 Brix was achieved, after which 5% sodium chloride (NaCl) was added. Subsequently, the samples were stored at room temperature (20–30 C) using three types of packaging: glass containers, plastic containers, and aluminum bags. The storage period lasted for four months, during which changes in the following parameters were studied: Brix, total acidity, pH, beta-carotene content, total phenols, and total ash. The results demonstrated the superiority of glass containers in preserving the characteristics of the pepper paste, followed by aluminum bags, and then plastic containers. However, statistical analysis indicated the potential use of aluminum bags as an alternative to glass containers for preserving pepper paste, due to their advantageous properties such as effective insulation, impermeability, light weight, and lower cost compared to glass containers. After four months of storage, the values recorded in the glass containers were as follows: Brix (25.78%), total acidity (1.61%), pH (4.61), beta-carotene (2.12 mg/100g), total phenols (500.12 mg/100g), and total ash (9.41 mg/100g).

Keywords: Red chili, red chili paste, quality of red chili paste, glass containers, plastic containers, aluminum bags.

 Full paper in Arabic: PDF

Mohammad Al-Allan, Wissam Mal¹, Walid Al-Housa¹, Magda Mofleh^2* and Hanan Habbak²

1 General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research, Research Administration of Plant protection, Damascus, Syria.
2 General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research, Lattakia Research Center, Syria.
(*Corresponding author: Magda Mofleh: magda.mofleh@yahoo.com.).

Received: 24/ 10/ 2025        Accepted: 12/ 1/ 2026

Abstract

The study was conducted at the Betima Research Station of the Agricultural Scientific Research Center in rural Damascus, Syria, on fig trees during the 2023-2024 growing season. Its aim was to compare the effectiveness of several pesticides in controlling the fig wax scale insect. Ceroplastes rusci L The experiment included five treatments: control, spraying with chemical pesticides: Deltamethrin, Chloropyrifos, Paydur and a locally pesticide is potassium soap. The results showed a decrease in the average number of fig wax insects one day after spraying, recording 90.6 ± 18.4 ,84.1 ± 19.6, 16.6 ± 7.3, 9.3 ± 5.1 insects/leaf respectively, compared to the number of insects in the control, which amounted to 163 ± 19.5 insects/leaf. The effect of the pesticides persisted two days after spraying in all treatments, while the insects resumed their activity a week after spraying, with variations between treatments. The effect of both potassium soap and Paydur reduced insect populations, with values of (11.7 ± 6.1 , 30.4 ± 10.4 insects/leaf) respectively, while the numbers increased for both Deltamethrin and Chloropyrifos recorded 206.6 ± 25.2 and 179.6 ± 25.5 insects/leaf respectively, and the most effective pesticide one day after spraying was potassium soap with an efficiency of 93%, followed by Paydur 86% and the pesticides Deltamethrin and Chloropyrifos (58% and 48%, respectively) showed significant differences between treatments. The pesticide effect persisted for one week after spraying with Potassium soap, followed by Paydur With an effectiveness of (94, 82%) respectively, while the effectiveness of the pesticides Deltamethrin and Chloropyrifos decreased to 32, 21% respectively, with significant differences between the treatments.

Keywords: Ceroplastes rusci L., Potassium soap, pesticides, effectiveness, Rural Damascus.

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Lorin ali ahmad^1*

1 Tartous Research Center, General Commission for Scientific Agriculture Research (GCSAR), Syria.
(*Corresponding author: Lorin ali ahmad, Email: Lorin.ali55@ymail.com.).

Received: 24/ 10/ 2025      Accepted: 12/ 1/ 2026

Abstract

This research aimed to prepare aqueous and ethanolic extracts of cultivated saffron stigmas (Crocus sativus L.) and to determine their phenolic, flavonoid content and antioxidant activity using the DPPH method. The results showed that the ethanolic extract significantly outperformed the aqueous extract in phenolic content (7.16 mg. g⁻¹ and 4.6 mg. g⁻¹, respectively) and in flavonoid content (4.60 mg. g⁻¹ and 3.57 mg. g⁻¹, respectively). The results also showed that the ability to inhibit the DPPH radical increased significantly with increasing concentration of the prepared extract. The ethanolic extract significantly outperformed the aqueous extract in the percentage of inhibition, reaching 67.54% at a concentration of 0.4 mg. g-1 in the ethanolic extract and 63.6% at a concentration of 0.4 mg. g-1 in the aqueous extract. The IC50 values for each were 0.033 and 0.057 mg. g-1, respectively.

Keywords: saffron, phenols, stigma, antioxidant.

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Lames Ibrahem^1*, Mirna Ashy¹ and Hassan AlaAldin²

1 Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, University of Lattakia, Syria.
2 Department of Forestry and Environment, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Lattakia, Syria.
(*Corresponding author: Lames Ibrahem, Email: lames88445@gmail.com, lames.ibrahem@latakia-univ.edu.sy).

Received: 7/ 8/ 2025     Accepted: 9/ 12/ 2025

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of organic growing media prepared from two types of compost (compost from leguminous crops “lens culinaris, Vicia faba, Cicer arietinum” and gramineous crops “Triticum aestivum, Hordeum vulgare,” and compost from wood carpentry waste and leguminous residues) on the germination of Laurus nobilis L. seeds and the growth of its seedlings. Four growing media were used: (T1) Control: nursery soil, and three media containing compost entirely or partially (T2) 50% leguminous and gramineous crop residue compost + 50% wood carpentry and leguminous residue compost, (T3) 50% leguminous and gramineous crop residue compost + 50% nursery soil, (T4) 50% wood carpentry and leguminous residue compost + 50% nursery soil. The results showed that treatment T2 was superior in all germination indicators, with an average germination percentage of 81.66% and an average germination speed of 20.8 days/seed, while the control treatment T1 recorded the lowest germination percentage of 41.66% and the slowest germination speed of 25.81 days/seed. The organic media also showed a clear improvement in morphological growth, with treatments T3 and T4 excelling in terms of shoot and root length. Treatment T2 achieved the highest average dry weight (1.74 g shoot, 2.44 g root) and the highest average number of leaves (24.3 leaves/plant).

Keywords: Growing media, compost, crop residues, shaving, germination, Laurus Noblis L.

 Full paper in Arabic: PDF

Kanosh Mohammad Alali ^1*

1 The third faculty of agriculture in al Quneitra, Damascus University, Syria.
(*Corresponding author: Kanosh Alali, Email: Kanosh2.alali@Damascusuniversity.edu.sy.)

Received: 20/ 7/ 2025       Accepted: 23/ 11/ 2025

Abstract

Potato tubers were collected from fields and local markets in Sweida Governorate, placed in special conditions (high relative humidity, low temperature, and in the dark) until symptoms of soft rot appeared. Then, the pathogen was isolated in the laboratory of the College of Agriculture in Sweida. The isolated strains were subjected to some biochemical tests. It was found that the catalase test, starch and gelatin hydrolysis test, and Voges Prokauer test were positive, while the oxidase, indole, and amino acid hydrolysis tests were negative.  The cultural characteristics of the colonies were also studied under a light microscope. They appeared white, small, round, smooth, sticky, and mucous. The bacterial cells were motile after their movement was monitored in a motility test medium. The characteristics of the studied isolates were consistent with those of the genus Erwinia and the species E. carotovora, which became known as Pectobacterium carotovorum.

Keywords: Soft rot bacteria, potato, Erwinia genus, chemical and biological tests.

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Carol Samaan^1*, Ibrahim Alabid¹, Samir Tabbache¹ and Jafargholi   Imani²

1 Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering, University of Lattakia, Syria.
2 Institute of Plant Pathology, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Justus Liebig Giessen University, Germany.
(*Corresponding author: Carol Samaan, Email: carol95samaan@gmail.com ).

Received: 19/ 5/ 2025     Accepted: 19/ 10/ 2026

Abstract

This research was conducted to study the effect of in vitro garlic extract and commercial garlic extract VEG’LYS in the bacterium Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato caused by the bacterial speck disease on tomato plants in vitro conditions. The inhibitory effect of the extract was tested by measuring the inhibition distance around the paper disc treated with the extract. The results showed that the garlic extract prepared from the garlic plant in the laboratory and the commercial garlic extract showed an inhibitory effect on the growth of bacteria in vitro at different concentrations (1,5,10,15,20,25)%.Where the lowest rate of inhibition was reached for laboratory-prepared garlic was 10% at a concentration of 1% of the extract and for the extract of commercial garlic preparation 50.77%, While the 25% concentration gave the highest inhibition rate of 27.56% for laboratory-prepared garlic and 75.56% for commercial garlic extract. while the concentration of 25% gave an inhibition rate of 27.56% for the laboratory prepared garlic and 75.56% for the commercial garlic extract. The inhibition ratios for the control (distilled water), in the antibiotic tetracycline and at the pesticide copper oxychloride were 0%, 36.67% and 14.44% respectively. The results of this research showed that laboratory garlic plant extract and commercial garlic extracts can play an important role in controlling bacterial speck disease on tomatoes.

Keywords: tomato, Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato, extract, Allium sativum.

 Full paper in Arabic: PDF