Effect of Magnetized Water Irrigation on Some Growth Traits of Sunflower and its Content of Cadmium in Cd-Contaminated Soil

Samir Shamsham⁽¹⁾ and Faten Razouk*⁽¹⁾

(1). Department of Soil and Land Reclamation, Faculty of Agriculture, AL Baath University, Homs, Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Eng. Faten Razouk. E-Mail: fatenrazouk1979@gmail.com). Received: 20/04/2018 Accepted: 07/06/2018

Abstract

Phytoextraction technology is one of the most promising methods for reclamation of soils contaminated with heavy metals using plants, and sunflower is one of many plants that is used to reclaim cadmium contaminated soils. In order to test the efficiency of this technique, an experiment was conducted to study some growth indicators (length, fresh weight and dry weight) and the quantity of cadmium absorbed by the sunflower plant, Helianthus annus L. using six concentrations of cadmium (0, 1, 25, 50, 100 and 200) (mg/kg) Cd, and irrigated with two types of water (magnetized water and tap water). As a result, there was a significant increase in cadmium uptake by the plant when irrigated with magnetized water compared with the tap water-irrigated plant at the same concentrations of cadmium contamination to reach a maximum value of 50 mg/kg in the treatment of tap water irrigation, and at concentration 100 mg/kg in the treatment of magnetized water. The results also showed that the positive effect of magnetized water on most of the studied traits at different concentrations of cadmium compared to tap water.

Key words: Cadmium, Magnetized water, Growth indicators.

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**Studying Seed Germination of Introduced Jatropha Curcas L. and Tree Growth in Tartous Governorate**

Hassan Aladin⁽¹⁾ Muhammad Manhal Alzoubi⁽²⁾ and Evleen Farha^*(1)

(1). Forestry and Environment Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Tishreen University, Latakia, Syria.

(2). Administration of Water Resources, General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research GCSAR, Damascus, Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Eng. Evleen Farha. E-Mail: evleenfarha@gmail.com).

Received: 04/03/2018 Accepted: 03/07/2018

Abstract

This research was accomplished within period from 2016 June to 2017 November at three locations in Tartous governorate viz. Al Thaora, Al Qumseia and Al Sorani. The seed germination of Jatropha curcas L. was studied by planting the seeds at Al Thaora and Al Sorani locations in three months of the year 2016 (June, July and August), and the growth of seedling was evaluated at Al Thaora, Al Qumseia and Al Sorani locations. The percentage of germination at Al Thaora was 97, 90 and 95 % which was better than at Al Sorani (70, 77.5 and 62.6) % in June, July and August respectively. The speed of germination was (8.82, 8.06 and 7.11) day/seed at Al Thaora and (11.11, 9.13 and 7.64) day/ seed at Al Sorani in June, July and August respectively. Germination was relatively homogenous in both locations. There were no differences in plant height between locations, and the diameter of stem at Al Thaora was better than Al Sorani, also the length and height of crown at Al Thaora was the best of the other locations.

Key words: Jatropha Curcas, Seed germination, Seedling growth.

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Study of the Ability of Using Wood Coal Ash as an Alternative to Calcium Carbonate in Fermenting and Enriching Tobacco Compost Residues

Mais Deeb⁽¹⁾Ali Zidan⁽¹⁾and Muhammad Manhal Al Zoubi*⁽²⁾

(1). Soil and Water Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Tishreen University, Latakia, Syria.

(2). Natural Resources Administration, General Commission of Scientific Agricultural Research GCSAR, Damascus, Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Dr. Muhamad Manhal Al Zubi, E-Mail: manhalzo@yahoo.com).

Received: 07/08/2018 Accepted: 14/10/2018

Abstract

This research work was conducted at the Agricultural Scientific Research Center in Tartous, GCSAR in the summer of 2016 to study the ability of using wood coal ash in composting of tobacco residues. The study included four experimental treatments, consisting of a control (tobacco residues with calcium carbonate without ash), and three other concentrations of ash (10, 15 and 20%). The complete randomization design was followed and based on three replicates per treatment. The results showed that compost’s pH increased from 7.76 to 8.21, C/N from 17.44 to 19.61 and calcium content from 1.31% to 1.6% with the increase in the concentration of ash, and the treatment (20%) of ash increased P and K contents in the compost (0.475% and 1.46%) respectively, while the addition of ash to the residues of tobacco caused a decrease in the content of the produced compost of nitrogen and magnesium.

Key words: Tobacco residues, Compost, Ash, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium, C/N.

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Study the Changes in The Quality of Treated Wastewater Resulting from Adra Station Within Irrigation Channels Feedback

Mostafa Beda*⁽¹⁾ Muhammad Haqqoun⁽¹⁾and Abeer Karbouj⁽¹⁾

(1). Administration of Natural Resources, General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research GCSAR, Damascus, Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Dr. Mostafa Beda. E-Mail: bedda.agri@hotmail.com).

Received: 17/03/2018 Accepted: 06/07/2018

Abstract

Adra Sewerage Processing Station receives sewage water for treatment and then pumps it again into open effluent canals to be used by farmers to irrigate their lands. However, the many infringements on open effluent canals by farmers and neighboring factories have changed the chemical properties of this water, leading to a decline in water quality and thus limiting the possibility of using this source for irrigation purpose. Therefore, this research aimed to monitor the changes occurred in some chemical characteristics of wastewater along effluent canal starting from settlement reservoir located after Adra Sewerage processing Station, extending along the effluent canal (PC2) and ending in Nashabia area, during the years 2010-2012. The results showed a significant increase in ammonium in PC2 compared to both MC and settlement reservoir, which amounted (35, 27 and 15) mg/l respectively, Nitrate concentration in PC2 and MC increased with a significant difference compared to the concentration in settlement reservoir, where it reached (10.5, 9.4 and 6.4) mg/l respectively, while the differences were not significant for nitrite concentration and pH between the three sites. The results also showed an increase in salinity in PC2 and MC with a significant difference compared to the settlement reservoir with a value of (1.32, 1.26 and 0.92) d.s/m respectively. Also, COD increased in PC2 and MC with a significant difference compared to the settlement reservoir by (225, 216 and 58) mg/l respectively. BOD value increased in PC2 and MC significantly than the increase in settlement reservoir.

Keywords: Settlement reservoir, MC, PC2, BOD, COD, Ammonium, Nitrate, EC.

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**Plant Extracts Use Importance in Controling Tetranychus urticae Koch on Eggplant Solanum melongena L. Under Protected Farming Conditions**

Ibrahim Aziz Sakr⁽¹⁾and Usama Sagee Sheban^*(1)

(1). Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Tishreen University, Lattakia, Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Usama Sagee Sheban. E. Mail: samasheban@yahoo.com).

Received: 01/05/2018 Accepted: 10/07/2018

Abstract

Within the efforts to control the harmful mites using environmentally safe methods, a study was carried out at a greenhouse planted with eggplant in Al-Bassa area , in Latakia governorate during the agricultural season 2016/2017 to evaluate the effectiveness of a number of plant extracts on Tetranychus urticae Koch 1836 (Acari: Tetranychidae) worldwide and very harmful to many hosts in greenhouse and field. The study included the seeds and leaves of Chinaberry, seeds and leaves of Cypress Lemon, seeds and fruits of River Red Gum, flowers and leaves of Oleander, and corms and leaves of Wild Arum. The Vaseline rings method was adopted and criteria: the average of mortality for the treated stage and fertility were calculated. The results showed that the highest efficacy was found when using the extract of the seeds of Chinaberry on adult females and on the first nymphs (65.4 and 69.3%, respectively). The lowest fertility was recorded with the extract of Oleander leaves (8.17%), which had the most effect on egg hatching (87.4%). It is worth to mention that the extracts of seeds, fruits and corams gave higher efficiency than the leaves extracts, and leaves extracts were higher than the efficiency of floral extracts against T. urticae phases.

Key words: Two-spotted red spider mite, Tetranychus urticae, Eggplant, Vaseline rings, Plant extracts.

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**Controlling the Population of Tetranychus urticae Koch on Tomato under the Greenhouse Conditions Using some Chemical and Biological Treatments**

Ibrahem Azez Sakr⁽¹⁾ Majeda Mhamed Mofleh⁽²⁾ and Randa Ahmed Suliman*⁽¹⁾

(1). Department of Plant protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Tishreen University, Lattakia, Syria.

(2). General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Rsearch GCSAR, Damascus, Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Dr. Randa Ahmed Suliman. E-Mail: randasuliman65@gmail.com).

Received: 05/09/2019 Accepted: 27/10/2019

Abstract

Research was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of integration between using the pesticides Acetamiprid, Abamectin and Pyridaben and the aqueous extracts of both Melia azedarach L. and Sytrax officinalis L. then releasing the predator Stethorus glivifrons Mulsant with to manage the population of Tetranychus urticae Koch on Tomato Lycoersicon esculantmin at the greenhouse in 2018. The Experiment was conducted using the complete randomized block design, where the results of the research showed that the extracts of both M. azedarach L. and S.officinalis L. had efficacy recorded 62.29 and 50.93 % respectively in the first week. The efficacy decreased in the first and the second week after releasing the predator, then it raised again in the third and the fourth weeks to record 62.54, 54.72 % for each of them. Thus, it could be stated that the extracts efficacy coincided with the release of the predator S. glivifrons. A decrease in the influence of the specialized insecticide Acetamiprid was recorded, while it reached its top after the release of the predator in the fourth week 33.77 % due to the negative influence of the pesticide on the predator and the population was incapable to be adequate to control the harmful population of T. Urticae. The specialized acaricide Pyridaben was superior and recorded an efficacy exceeded 84% in the first week before the application and decreased in the first, the second and the third weeks after the release of the predator without a significant difference between them, then increased in the fourth week after the releasing where it reached 73.72 % with a significant difference in all the times of the readings. Mortality percentage when acaricide Abamectin was used, recorded 61.14 % after 24 hours of the treatment, then highly increased to 70.72 % in the first week after the release of the predator. The efficacy decreased in the first and the second weeks after the release which recorded 70.72 and 65.21 % respectively with a significant difference between them. Then it increased again in the third and the fourth weeks after the release to reach 79.62 and 80.70% without significant differences between them. Thus, the predator was capable to re-raise the mortality percentage after falling in the first and the second weeks after the release to get it back to where it was when the predator efficacy reached the highest influence in the first week.

Key words: Plant extracts, Chemical pesticides, Tetranychus urticae, Stethorus glivifrons, Lycoersicon esculantmin, Syria.

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**Evaluation the Efficiency of the Predator Serangium parcesetosum Sicard (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) in Controlling Bemisia tabaci Genn. (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) on Cucumber and Tomato Plants**

Rafik Abboud^*(1) Majedah Mofleh⁽²⁾ and Ahmad Mohammad⁽³⁾

(1). Latakia Agriculture Research Center, General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research GCSAR, Damascus, Syria.

(2). Plant Protection Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Tishreen University, Latakia, Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Dr. Rafik Abboud. E-Mail: abboud.rafeek@hotmail.com).

Received: 17/07/2019 Accepted: 08/12/2019

Abstract

The study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of the predator Serangium parcesetosum Sicard (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) in controlling Bemisia tabaci Genn. on tomato and cucumber plants in cages. The experiment included four treatments and 12 replications. The first and third treatments were conducted on cucumber plants and second and fourth treatments were experienced on tomato plants. Adults of B. tabaci were introduced in cages on plants that have six true leaves. Two weeks later, adults of S. parcesetosum were introduced in the first and second treatments at a rate of two adult predators/plant. The release was done three times at weekly intervals. The third and fourth treatments remained predator-free. Leaves were examined weekly, the population of immature stages were recorded (eggs, L1, L2, L3, L4\ 1 cm² leaf) which were taken randomly from the top, middle and bottom of the plants. The predator was not recorded on tomato. The number of whitefly stages increased in treated cages until the sixth week, and then began to decrease from about 20 eggs and 39 nymphs/1 cm² of leaf surface to 11 eggs and 3 nymphs after ten weeks. Population density of the whitefly in the control increased to 219 eggs and 145 nymphs/1 cm² of leaf surface during the same period. Mortality rates of old nymphs were 93.3 and 4.1% after nine weeks for the predator treatment and control, respectively. Results indicated that, S. parcesetosum could be recommended for the control of B. tabaci on cucumber in protected cultivation in Syria.

Keywords: Biological control, Bemisia tabaci, Cucumber, Tomato, Protected cultivation, Syria.

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**Testing the Efficiency of Mixing Natural Plant Extracts with Some Synthetic Organic Pesticides on the Female Adults of Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) Under Lab Conditions**

Ibraheem Saqr⁽¹⁾ and Suhair Ghalia^*(1)

(1). Department of plant protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Tishreen University, Latakia, Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Eng. Suhair Ghalia. Email: suhairm.1973@gmail.com).

Received: 30/05/2018 Accepted: 3/10/2018

Abstract

Biological experiments were done under the conditions of Plant Protection Laboratory, Faculty of Agriculture, Tishreen University, to show the possibility of increasing the efficacy of the natural plant extracts on the T.urticae by mixing them with a half dose of synthesis pesticide which recommended, to decrease of the amount of pesticides which are used and spread in the environment, and to decrease the economic cost and the environmental pollution. A mixed mother extracts were used of leaves of six plant species viz. Melia azedarach, Smilax aspera, Styrax officinalis, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Ecbalium elaterium and Lantana camara, with half dose which were recommended of six synthesis pesticides viz. Neoron, Ortus, Nissorun Vertimec, Talastar and Magister. Demodulations of extracts were done by dipping the phaseuloues leaves disk in the mixed solutions to treat the individuals. The mixed Neoron, Talastar, Vertimec and Magister had achieved a good effect to the efficiency of the extracts and the maximum value reached 100% or close to max in many cases particularly with Smilax aspera, Styrax officinalis and Melia azedarach extracts. The differences between mortality ratio had become high between most of the mixed solutions and the mother solution extracts, and also between most of the tested compounds and mixed extracts with Ortus compound which had low impact with the plant extracts.

Key words: Plant extracts, Pesticides, T. urticae, Leaf disk.

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**Study of Distribution of Penicillium spp. Mold on Citrus Fruits Varieties after Postharvest and Cold Storage and Evaluation their Damages in Latakia Governorate**

Abd Alrahman Khafta^*(1)

(1). Plant Protection Department, Tishreen University, Latakia, Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Dr. Abd Alrahman Khafta. E-Mail: dr.khafateh54@yahoo.com).

Received: 25/11/2018 Accepted: 02/12/2018

Abstract

Citrus cultivation is increasing globally, the production exceeded 123 million tons in 2013, in Syria the production reached 1.5 million tons in 2015 in Latakia and Tartous governorates. Although citrus fruits have a long marketing and storage life but it suffers significant physiological losses after harvest in case it is not stored and treated well. The experiment was conducted in 2016 and 2017 during postharvest and cold storage period of citrus fruit varieties to study the spread of molds of the genus Penicillium spp. on citrus fruits varieties after postharvest and cold storage and evaluation their damages in latakia governorate. The results showed that green and blue molds caused by Penicillium digitatum and Penicillium italicum were the most damaging after post-harvest. Satsuma variety then clementine, navel orange, eureka and grip fruit were the most influenced of these diseases, where the rate of incidence was 9.3% and severity 3.1 for green mold in Satsuma variety, while the intensity reached 5.1% and severity was 1.9 for green mold on Satsuma variety in the sorting center after 30 days of stora, then the other citrus were followed with less percentages. The other fungus associated and less spread on citrus fruits were: Guingnardis citricarpa-colletotrichum Gloeosporioidespenz- Botrytis cinerea – Cercospora angolense-Phytophthora citrophtoraof

Key words: Citrus, Mold citrus fruit, Penicillium digitatum, Penicillium italicum.

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**Identification the Damage and Species Structure of Root-Knot Nematode Meloidogyne spp. on Cucumber in Greenhouses**

Mazen Y. Al Body*⁽¹⁾ Reem Yousef ⁽²⁾ and Hossam Saliba Malas⁽³⁾

(1). Latakia Research Center, General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research (GCSAR), Damascus, Syria.

(2). Faculty of Agriculture, Al-Baath University, Homs, Syria.

(3). Homs Research Center, GCSAR, Damascus, Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Dr. Mazen Youssef Al Body. E-Mail: mazenb14@hotmail.com).

Received: 23/04/2018 Accepted: 05/08/2018

Abstract

A field survey was carried out in 34 greenhouses of cucumbers in the Syrian coast in 16 villages belonging to the governorates of Latakia and Tartous, in order to determine the incidence and severity of root-knot nematode, in addition to determinate the structure of the species in the adult female by perineal patterns morphology and taking the biometric measurements of the larvae at the second stage, since March until the end of June of the season 2014/2015. The results of the study on root samples showed that the incidence of root-knotted nematodes ranged between (20- 100%) with an average of 59%. The severity of the injury according to the scale (Bridge and Page, 1980) was 0.4- 4.2 with an average of 1.67. The results showed the presence of three main species belong to the species Meloidogyne: M. incognita, M. javanica M. arenaria, and the percentage of the prevalence of 50.98%, 47.55%, 1.47% respectively. While M. hapla species was not recorded in the study area.

Keyword: Root- knot nematode, Severity of infection, Structure identification, Cucumber, Greenhouse.

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