**Combining Ability Estimation of Earliness Traits and Yield Components in Some Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) Genotypes**

Saleh Saleh⁽¹⁾ Mohammed Shafik Hakim⁽¹⁾ Abdullah Al-Yousef^*(2) and Ahmed Shams ElDien Shaaban⁽³⁾

(1). Department of Field Crops, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering, University of Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria.

(2). Aleppo Agricultural Research Center, General Community for Scientific Agricultural Research (GCSAR), Damascus, Syria.

(3). Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Faculty of Technical Engineering, University of Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria.

(* Corresponding author: Dr. Addullah Al-Youssef. E-Mail: dr.abdalyoussef@gmail.com).

Received: 19/03/2018 Accepted: 19/04/2018

Abstract

The research was conducted at Al_Sfireh location in Aleppo during 2015/2016 and 2016/207 seasons to estimate general combining ability GCA and specific combining ability SCA for seven genotypes of barley. Three of them were local: Arabi Aswad (P1), Arabi Abyad (P2) and Furat 3 (P3), and four entries were: Alanda-01 (P4), Rihan-03 (P5), Arizona (P6) and Avit (P7). Half-Diallel cross system were preformed between parents at first season. In the second season, parents and hybrids were planted to study days to heading (DTH), days to maturity (DTM), fertile tillering number per plant (FT), grain number per main spike (GN) and thousand kernel weight (TKW). The parents p1 and p3 showed a high general combining ability for the most studied traits. The hybrid (P1×P3) had significant value for SCA effects in most studied traits. The hybrids: (P4×P6, P5×P7, P4×P5) had significant value for SCA effects for (GN). Variance component of GCA and SCA were highly significant, and this indicates to the importance of additive and non-additive gene action in inheritance of the studied traits. The ratio of GCA/SCA was less than 1.0 for DTH, DTM and TKW and this indicates to importance of dominant and over dominant genes in inheritance of these traits. Whereas the ratio was bigger than 1.0 for FT and GN and this indicates to importance of accumulated genes in inheritance of these traits

Key Words: Half-Diallel cross, Combining ability, Earliness, Yield, Barley.

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The Effect of Planting Date on the Morphological Traits of Some Sweet Corn Genotypes (Zea mays L. saccharata. sturt)

Loubna Nasr Haidar^*(1)

(1). Department of Field Crops, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Dr. Lounna Nasr Haidar. E-Mail: lubnanaser82@gmail.com).

Received: 01/02/2018 Accepted: 02/03/2018

Abstract

The present research carried out at AL Salamieh city, Hama Governorate, during the season 2015, aiming to evaluate the morphological traits of three genotypes of sweet corn i.e Faihaa1, Randevo and Snekofa Karaliva under the effect of different sowing dates; 1^st and 15^th April, in order to determine the best variety and the most suitable sowing date in spring season. The results showed that the morphological traits of Faihaa1 genotype was higher than those of Randevo and Snekofa Karaliva in the first sowing date (1^st April), and the increase of ear length recorded (1.78-1.48 cm), and height of plant recorded in Faihaa1 and Randevo and Snekofa Karaliva were (130.95, 71.11 and 68.33 cm) respectively. Also, the results showed that there was a significant increase in kernel diameter, leaf area, and stem diameter in Faihaa1, comparing to Randevo and Snekofa Karaliva, while the highest ear length and kernel diameter were at the beginning of April for all genotypes.

Key words: Sweet corn, Genotypes, Sowing dates.

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Individual Selection in a Local population of (Zea mays L.) for the Most Important Economic Characteristics under Saline Stress Conditions

Mohammed Nael Khattab^*(1)Majd Darwish⁽¹⁾ and Alaa Merhej⁽¹⁾

(1). Crops Field Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Tishreen University, Latakia, Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Dr. Mohammed Nael Khattab. E-Mail: blackdream.m1991@gmail.com).

Received: 06/12/2018 Accepted: 17/01/2019

Abstract

The research was carried out in the coastal region (Beit Yashout village of Jibla district) and in the laboratories of the Faculty of Agriculture, Tishreen University during 2018 season to estimate the individual plants of a local population of Zea maize L. (Gouta 82) for the most important phenological, morphological, physiological and production characteristics under irrigation with saline water and different stages of growth. The selected plants, which were salt tolerance and had high yield will be introduced in subsequent breeding studies. All of the genotypes were divided into 7 treatments: (T1) was irrigated with normal water (control), saline stress was measured at 6 mL / cm³ concentration at the stages of seedling (T2), 6 leaf (T3), seedling and 6 leaf (T4), and saline stress was measured at 12 mL/cm³ at the stages of seedling (T5), 6 leaf (T6), seedling and 6 leaf (T7), (12 were conducted during the research season taking into account the specificity of quantity and content of each irrigation(. The salinity resulted in a decrease in the values of some traits such as the number of grains per ear, number of rows ear, ear length, weight of grains per ear and ear weight in all the treatments, and more decrease was noticed at the concentration of 12 millimes compared to the concentration of 6 millimes, especially in the treatments (T4), (T6) and T7. The values of diameter and length of the plant, especially in the treatments (5T), (T6) and (T7), the number of days until maturity, the concentration of proline in the irrigation treatment (T3), and the leaf area index in the treatment (T7) and (T4(. Salinity also increased values of some traits such as the number of rows under salinity in (T2), (T3) and (T5), and the leaf area index in the treatment (T3), (T5) and (T6(, days to maturity, and proline concentration in treatments (5T), (T6) and (T7), and the diameter of the spike (T2 and T3) and plant length in the treatment (T2). Some selected plants from Goata82 were distinguished by their various parameters (superior plants) of the number of days until maturity (plant number 37) (119 days), plant length (plant number 42) (275 cm), leaf area index (plant number 21) (6.71), ear length (plant number 13) (18cm), ear diameter (plant number 10) (5.41cm), number of rows per ear (plant number 46) (20 row), number of kernel per ear (plant number 9) (469), ear grain weight (plant number 16) (185g) and ear weight (plant number 16) (260g).

Key words: (Zea mays L.), Saline stress, Gouta82, Individual selection.

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**Confronting Climate Changes by Detecting New Planting Dates of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in Algeria**

Yaseen BouBazin^*(1)

(1). Research Unit, The National Algerian Institute of Agricultural Research (INRAA/URC), Constantine, Algeria.

(*Corresponding author: Dr. Yaseen BouBazin. E-Mail: yboubazine@yahoo.fr).

Received: 29/12/2018 Accepted: 24/03/2019

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out at the field station of the village of Bounouara in Constantine, Algeria, during the agricultural seasons 2016/2017 and 2017/2018, with the aim of studying the impact of four agricultural dates (14^th November, 1^st December, 2^nd January and 17^th January). Seven soft wheat varieties (Plateaus, Cedar, Ein ebeid, Arhamocho, Tides, Masin and Pomerzov), according to the design of split plot with three replicates. The results showed that agricultural traits had a significant effect on the phenological stages, plants height and grain yield and its components. The results showed that the decrease in blooming stage in a percentage of 22.52% led to a decrement in plant height (20.81%), number of spikelet (14.02%), number of kernels (12.53%), 1000 kernel weight (10.92%) and grain yield (69.96%). The varieties differed within each other, where the variety Plateaus was the most adaptability and stability one in Bounouara with a grain yield of 4456 Kg/ha. The study recommends taking into consideration the life cycle of wheat varieties when grown, where at the early dates the long-life wheat varieties should be sown, and vice versa.

Keyword: Climate changes, Agricultural dates, Soft wheat, Productivity, Adaptation.

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Growth and Biomass Study of Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehn. in Merdash Location, Al-Ghab Province

Bashar Tobo^*⁽¹⁾ Hikmat Abbas⁽¹⁾ and Osama Radwan⁽¹⁾

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

(*Corresponding author: Eng. Bashar Tobo. E-Mail: bashar.tobo33@gmail.com).

Received: 22/10/2018 Accepted: 07/12/2018

Abstract

This research aimed to study the growth and biomass of Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehn. in Al-Ghab region. Twenty-one circular samples were taken, the area of each sample was 400 m². The following measurements were taken for each sample: trees number (N), diameter at breast height (dbh) and total trees height (H). Ten (10) trees were chosen covering all diameter classes, to estimate the form factor and to construct the biomass. Wood volume and mean annual increment of Eucalyptus trees were calculated. In addition to the above, total biomass was calculated using an exponential function. The results showed that mean of the form factor of Eucalyptus trees in the study area was about 0.41, while the wood volume value reached to 249.25 m³/ha with tree density of 208 trees/ha. The mean of annual increment was 3.89 m³/ha/year. The results of this study demonstrated that the study area had high total biomass value with about 318.71 ton/ha.

Key words: Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehn., Wood productivity, Biomass, Form factor.

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Effect of Biofertilizer, Humus Spraying and Magnesium Fertilization on Quantitative and Qualitative Characteristics of Volatile Oil of Parsley (Petroselinum crispum Mill)

Mazin Mossa Abid Ameen⁽¹⁾ and Jamal Ahmed Abbass^*(1)

(1). Department of Horticulture and Landscape Gardening, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Kufa, Republic of Iraq.

(*Corresponding author: Dr. Jamal Ahmed Abbass. E-Mail: jamal.selman@uokufa.edu.iq).

Received: 11/02/2019 Accepted: 18/05/2019

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted in private farms, at Najaf province, Republic of Iraq, during 2014/2015 and 2015/2016 seasons, with Randomized Complete Block Design (R.C.B.D) as factorial experiment with three replicates and three factors. Means were compared by using Duncan Multiple Range Test at probability of 0.05. The first factor was seed bacterial inoculation with biofertilizer (Azotobacte chrooccum bacterial) with two levels (inoculation and non-inoculation), seeds were inoculated before sowing, and added second time as activated dose on soil surface with water irrigation after 90 days of sowing. the second factor was humus fertilizers (super humic) in three concentrations i.e. (0, 3 and 6 m.L^-1) with two sprayers, first at 3 – 4 true leaves on plant, and second after 20 days from the first spraying. The third factor was Hydrated magnesium sulfate fertilizer (MgSO₄.7H₂O Mg 10.5%) with three levels i.e. (0, 160 and 320 kg. D^-1), two doses were added, first half dose was added during seed sowing and the second half was added after 60 days from the first dose. Results showed that treatment inoculation with biofertilizer gave a significant increase in the total soluble carbohydrates in leaves, and volute oil quantity characteristics (oil yield and the percentage of volute oil), compared with control treatment which gave the lowest values for the above characteristics. Spraying with humus in a concentration of 3 m.L^-1 significantly increased the total soluble carbohydrates in leaves, oil yield and the percentage of volute oil compared with two concentrations for the two seasons, meanwhile the percentage of volute oil which non significantly difference with control treatment in the second seasons. Meanwhile spraying in concentration of 6 m. L^-1 significantly increased the physical characteristics of volute oil (Specific gravity, density and refractive index) compared with control treatment which gave the lowest values in the second season. Meanwhile there are no significant difference for spraying humus fertilizer on these characteristics in the first season. Also, fertilizer level of 320 kg.h^-1 of magnesium sulfate significantly supervised to control treatment and the level 160 kg.h^-1 gave the highest content of total soluble carbohydrates and all the quantity and physical characteristics of volute oil for two seasons, compared with control treatment which gave the highest values. Also, the interaction between the two and three factors gave significant effects on all studied characteristics. Also, the results showed that inoculation with biofertilizer, spraying with Humus in a concentration of 3 m.L^-1 and fertilization with magnesium sulfate at a level of 320 kg.h^-1 significantly increased the total soluble carbohydrates in leaves, volute oil yield, specific gravity, density and refractive index of volute oil for the two seasons, and the content of total phenol in the seed for the second season only.

Key words: Parsley, Bacterial inoculation, Humus fertilizers, Magnesium sulfate.

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Production of Biogas from the Co-Fermentation of Sweet Sorghum Sorghum bicolor L. and Animals Waste

Husein Al Zubi*⁽¹⁾ Fawaz Al Azma⁽²⁾ Rahim AboAlJadayel⁽²⁾ Nour AlAsaad⁽³⁾ Nabila Ali Basha⁽³⁾ and Mowafaq AbdAlRahim⁽⁴⁾

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

(2). General Organization of Biotechnology, Damascus, Syria.

(3). Biotechnology Department, GCSAR, Damascus, Syria.

(4). Animal Wealth Research Administration, GCSAR, Damascus, Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Dr. Husein Al Zubi. E-Mail: halzubi2015@gmail.com).

Received: 18/12/2018 Accepted: 10/04/2019

Abstract

This research was carried out at the General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research and the National Commission for Biotechnology to optimize of methane gas production conditions by co-fermentation of sugar sorghum residues and animal (cow manure), using 10 kg mixture of fresh manure and 4 different percentages of sweet sorghum residue (i.e. 0%, 25%, 50%, and 75%) of the total volume of the mixture at 32-35 °C and pH between 6.5 and 7.2. It was possible to locally design an experimental reactor for the production of methane gas, consisting of 30-liters container made of stainless steel tightly sealed, designed to suit the anaerobic digestion. Each one is connected to a 42-liter tank containing a free metal shaft. When the gas is produced from the ferment, it moves to the tank where it floats on the surface of the water, leading to a height of the bell in proportion to the size of the released gas. The design showed high efficiency. The increase in gas production since the first week until the sixth or the seventh week was repeated, a decline after the eighth week until stability due to the depletion of energy in the mixture used was noticed. The quantity of biogas produced increased with the increase in the percentage of sugar sorghum residues. The highest quantity of biogas was 3520.1 m³ when applying the mixture containing 50% of sugar sorghum residues and 50% of the cow manure at a temperature ranging between 32 to 35 ^هC and pH 7.2. A good organic fertilizer rich in its content of large and small fertilizers and in the appropriate quantities of the plant as well as containing a plant hormones, vitamins and growth regulators, free of pathogens, larvae, weed seeds and safe for both, the environment and for fertilizing use in all crops. This research is one of the first researches conducted in Syria to benefit from the residues of sugar sorghum in the production of biogas.

Key words: Biogas production, Sugar sorghum residues, Locally experimental reactor.

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**The Effect of Some Topographic Factors on the Total Phenolic Content of Arbutus andrachne L. Fruit (Jableh District)**

Diana Hmaidosh*⁽¹⁾Mahmoud Ali⁽¹⁾Rim Salame⁽²⁾ and Aziza Youssef⁽²⁾

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

(2). Department of pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tishreen University, Latakia, Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Eng. Diana Hmaidosh. E-Mail: dianah1983@gmail.com).

Received: 13/09/2018 Accepted: 22/10/2018

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the effect of some topographic factors on the phenolic contents of the Arbutus andrachne L. plant. Plant samples (fruit) were collected from three aspects (south, west and north) at four altitudes (0-300, 300-600, 600-900, and ˃900m) in the countryside of Jableh in 2017. The fresh samples were squeezed, then the total contents of the phenolic compounds were determined by spectrophotometrically using Folin-Ciocalteu reagent, expressing the result in (mg gallic acid/100g fw) using spectrophotometer. The results showed that southern aspects recorded the highest yield of phenolic contents of fruits (40±0.53 mg/100g), followed by the western aspect (39.66±0.61 mg/100g), and finally the northern aspect (38.7±0.5mg/100g). Also it was noticed a gradual increase in phenolic contents in the first altitude (38.85±0.55 mg/100g), to the fourth altitude (40±0.8mg/100g). The results showed the effect of some topographic factors affected the phenolic contents of Arbutus andrachne L., where the phenolic contents from southern aspect were higher than that of the other aspects, and the fourth altitude (˃900m) was found to be the best in terms of the richness with phenolic compounds of the plant fruit of Arbutus andrachne L.

Key words: Arbutus andrachne L., Total phenolic, Altitude, Aspect.

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Effect of Mineral Fertilizers Application on Accumulation of Heavy Metals in Soils and Tomato Plant

Naseer Abdul-Jabbar AlSaadie⁽¹⁾Adnan Shibar falih⁽¹⁾ and Raghaa Mouhamad^*(1)

(1). Agriculture Research Directorate, Ministry of Science and Technology, Baghdad, Iraq.
(*Corresponding author: Raghaa Mouhamad. Email: naseeralsaadie61@gmail.com).

Received: 14/04/2019 Accepted: 01/06/2019

Abstract

Several samples were collected from the mineral fertilizers i.e. phosphate, nitrogen and potash that commonly used in Iraq, as well as samples of different soils with different chemical and physical properties, and tomato plants which were grown in it, in two regions i.e. Abu Ghraib and Jadriya. These two regions represent most of the soils of Iraq, with different periods of culture. The results of statistical analysis showed high significant differences present among accumulation of heavy metals rates in soils and tomato fruits according to varying culture dates and soil type. The overall average soil content of elements (Pb, Cd, Co, Ni) for a chemical fertilizer use periods 5, 10 and 25 years, were 7.6, 9.6 and 12.7 mg.kg^-1 f respectively. The results showed that the average concentration of heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Co, Ni) for all periods of mineral fertilizer addition in Abu Ghraib (clay) and Jadriya (loam) were 11.0 and 8.9 mg kg^-1 respectively. Overall mean of all heavy elements content in tomato fruits for the studied time periods were 0.733, 0.919 and 1.49 mg.kg^-1 respectively, while the concentration of these elements in tomato fruits that grown in the two soil regions for all periods of fertilization were 1.18 and 0.909 mg.kg^-1 respectively. Results also showed the existence of a positive significant correlation at 1% level of probability between soil content of heavy metals and culture periods, and heavy metals concentration in tomato fruits that grown in those soils. The average percentage of the cumulative increase of heavy metals (Ni, Co, Cd and Pb) as accompaniment impurities in the mineral fertilizers in soils amounted to 65.8, 29.8, 0.35 and 37.4% per year, while the increase percentage in tomato fruits were 15.6, 1.9, 0.15 and 2.4% for each of the above element respectively. Results also showed the presence of a significant effect between the fertilizer type and the content of heavy metals contaminated values. In general, depending fertilizer’s content of contaminated heavy metals, the fertilizer can be arranged as follows: Urea U < MAP fertilizer < NPK fertilizer < DAP fertilizer < Triple Super Phosphate TSP.

Key words: Mineral fertilizers, Heavy metals, Soil properties, Tomato.

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Influence of Number of Boron Foliar Spray on the Productivity and Qualitative Traits and Leaves Content of Boron in Golden Delicious Apple Cultivar in Sweida

Sami Hennawi ⁽¹⁾ Adnan Skaker ⁽¹⁾ Talaat Amer ⁽¹⁾ and Samer Kiwan*⁽¹⁾

(1). Sweida Agricultural Research Center, General Commission for Scientific Agriculture Research (GCSAR), Damasucs, Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Dr. Samer Kiwan. Email: samer.kiwan@yahoo.com).

Received: 17/04/2018 Accepted: 30/05/2018

Abstract

This research was carried out at the Agricultural Scientific Research Center in Sweida, GCSAR during the growing seasons of 2015 and 2016 to study the effect of number of foliar sprays of boron on the productivity and qualitative characters of Golden delicious apple cultivar. Boric acid foliar spray (1 g.l^-1) was added for once, twice or three times besides the control (without addition). The results showed that, the average of productivity increased significantly when spraying three times of the boric acid, in the two seasons (69.35 kg/tree and 125.1 kg/tree respectively), while the average yield in the control treatment was the lowest compared to other treatments (43.53 kg/tree and 59.73 kg/tree respectively). The average grading of the fruit were; excellent, first, second, and third under the addition of foliar spray for three times with boric acid and soil fertilizer addition (6.06%, 60.74, 32.54%, and 0.66% respectively), but the grading percentage under the addition of foliar spray for twice with the soil addition of fertilizer were 4.56%, 57% , 37.61% and 0.83%, respectively, while under the control treatment the grading percentages were 0.79%, 26.23%, 57.76% and 15.22%, respectively. It was concluded that the application of these factors contributed in the increase of the average productivity and improved the quality of the fruits.

Keywords: Apples, Golden delicious, Boric acid, Productivity, Foliar spray.

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Loubna Nasr Haidar*(1)

Bashar Tobo*(1) Hikmat Abbas(1) and Osama Radwan(1)

Loubna Nasr Haidar^*(1)

Bashar Tobo^*⁽¹⁾ Hikmat Abbas⁽¹⁾ and Osama Radwan⁽¹⁾