The Effect of Salinity Irrigation Water on Improving Qualitative Characteristics of Tomato Fruits Under Different Potassium Fertilizer Levels

Ayman Mustafa*⁽¹⁾ and Riad Baladia⁽²⁾

(1). Rural Damascus Scientific Agricultural Research Centre, General Commission of Scientific Agriculture Research (GCSAR), Damascus, Syria.
(2). Rural Engineering Department, Faculty of Agriculture. Damascus University, Damascus, Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Eng. Ayman Mustafa. Rural Damascus Scientific Agricultural Research Centre, General Commission of Scientific Agriculture Research (GCSAR), Damascus, Syria. E-mail: aymanmustafa1983@gmail.com).

Received: 22 / 01 / 2015 Accepted: 11/ 2 / 2015

Abstract:

A field experiment was conducted in Al-Nashabiya Research Station in split plot design aimed to study the effect of salinity irrigation water and potassium fertilization on qualitative characteristics of tomato fruits for two seasons 2008-2009. Salinity irrigation water levels were (I =1.06, II =1.95 and III =2.83 dS/m). potassium fertilization levels were (K₀=0, K₁=150 and K₂=300 kg potassium oxide/ha). Results showed that the increasing of salinity irrigation water increased tomato fruit dry matter weight, total soluble solids and sugars, and decreased pH value, compared with fresh water irrigated treatments. Furthermore, the application of supplemental potassium fertilizer led to higher percentages of tomato fruit dry matter weight, total soluble solids and sugars, and lower pH value, compared with those unfertilized with potassium. The highest percentages of fruit dry matter weight, total soluble solids and sugars, and the lowest value of fruit pH, were gained by the treatment III K₂. Therefore, qualitative characteristics of tomato fruits can be improved by application of supplemental potassium fertilizer in saline irrigation conditions.

Key words: Tomato, Salinity water, Potassium fertilization, Qualitative characteristics.

Full paper in Arabic :تأثير ملوحة مياه الري في تحسين المواصفات النوعية لثمار البندورة عند استخدام مستويات مختلفة من السماد البوتاسي

Regression Between Number of Productive and Quality Components of some Primitive Wheat Genotypes under Rainfed Condition

Maysoun Saleh⁽¹⁾ Yousef Wjhani*⁽¹⁾ and Mokhles Shaherli⁽²⁾

⁽¹⁾ Genetic Resources Department, General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research (GCSAR). Damascus, Syria.
⁽²⁾ Agronomy Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Damascus University. Damascus, Syria.(*corresponding author: Dr. Yousef Wjhani, Genetic Resource Department, (GCSAR), Damascus, Syria. E-mail: yowj2015@hotmail.com).

Received: 17/07/2014 Accepted: 11/02/2015

Abstract

The study was conducted at Izraa Research Station and Cereal Technology Lab of The General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research (GCSAR) in Syria, during two growing seasons 2009/2010 and 2010/2011. Fifteen local and entries genotypes and three local cultivated varieties were planted in Randomized Complete Block Design RCBD in three replications, Correlations and Regressions between number and weight of grains per spike with quality components contents in grains were studied after harvest. Results showed that number of grains per spike had a negative and significant correlation with each of protein content and wet gluten content and sedimentation rate, while it was positive with starch content in grains. Weight of grains per spike had a negative and significant correlation with each of protein content and wet gluten content. Results showed that all regression relations were negative and significant, thereby breeding programs for increasing number of grains per spike will cause a reduction in each of protein content and wet gluten content and sedimentation rate about (36, 17, 17%) respectively, while breeding program for increasing grain weight per spike will negatively affect protein and wet gluten content in grains about (28, 14%), respectively.

Key Words: Productivity components, Quality components, Correlation, Regression, Genotypes, Primitive Wheat.

Full paper in Arabic : علاقات الانحدار بين عدد من المكونات الإنتاجية والنوعيّة لطرز من القمح المبدئي ضمن ظروف الزراعة المطرية

Estimation of Some Genetic Parameters and Heritability for Earliness and Seed Yield Traits in Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.)

Ghrood Al-Aswd^*(1) Mahmud Sabbouh⁽²⁾Waleed Alek⁽³⁾ and Samir AL-Ahmad ⁽⁴⁾

(1). General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research (GCSAR), Crops Research Administration, Damascus, Syria.
(2). Agronomy Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Damascus University, Damascus, Syria.
(3). (GCSAR), Crops Research Administration, Damascus, Syria.
(4). (GCSAR), Tartos Agricultural Research Center, Tartos , Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Ghrood Al-Aswd: General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research (GCSAR), Crops Research Administration, Damascus, Syria. E-mail: ghroodaswd@yahoo.com).

Received: 14/07/ 2014 Accepted: 19/2/ 2015

Abstract

The present study was undertaken at May First Station in (GCSAR), Damascus, Syria, during 2011 and 2012 seasons, to estimate the gene action, heritability, genotypic and phenotypic coefficient variation of five population seeds of two single crosses (Sb181 × Sb235, Sb235 × Sb298). The crosses were grown in a randomized complete block design with three replications to evaluate the number of days to flowering, number of days to initiation of first pod, number of days to physiological maturity, number of days to full maturity and seed yield traits. The mean square analysis showed significant differences between the five populations for all studied traits in all crosses. The cross Sb235 × Sb298 achieved the highest heritability in broad and narrow senses (92% and 46%) respectively, for number of days to physiological maturity, while the highest value of phenotypic and genotypic variations (15.29 and12.80) respectively, were achieved for seed yield in the cross Sb181 × Sb235, but the highest value of genetic advance for that cross was 10.08%. The epistasis or dominance gene action controlled the inheritance of the most traits, this leads to the importance of selection in late generations to improve those traits, because of the high value of heritability, and low to moderate genetic advance in the two crosses.

Keywords: Soybean, Gene action, Phenotypic and genotypic variations, Heritability, Genetic advance

Full paper in Arabic : تقدير بعض المؤشرات الوراثية ودرجة التوريث لصفات التبكير وغلة البذور في فول الصويا

Effect of Seeding Rates on The Productivity of Durum Wheat in Climatic Zone B in Hama Governorate

Ola Moustafa*⁽¹⁾ FadiaGuniem⁽¹⁾ Abdu Al-Latif Al-Shami⁽²⁾ Osama Al-Houmsi⁽²⁾ AdilMshoulbeh⁽²⁾ Adnan Al-Naser⁽²⁾and KawtherAlhamed⁽³⁾

(1). General Commission of Scientific Agricultural Research (GCSAR), Crops Research Administration, Technology Packages Department, Damascus, Syria.
(2). Hama Scientific Agricultural Research Center, (GCSAR), Hama, Syria.
(3). General Commission of Scientific Agricultural Research (GCSAR), Crops Research Administration, Cereal Technology Lap.

(*Corresponding author: Dr. Ola Moustafa: (GCSAR), Crops Research Administration, Technology Packages Department, Damascus, Syria. email: o-moustafa@hotmail.com).

Received: 17/07/ 2014 Accepted: 11/2/ 2015

Abstract:

The research was conducted in Hama Scientific Agricultural Research Center, Hama, Syria, during three growing seasons (2010/2011, 2011/2012 and 2012/2013), and in farmer’s field during the growing season (2010/2011), with the aim to identify the best seeding rate of durum wheat variety Cham3 in climatic zone B in Hama. The experiment was designed using randomized complete block design with three replications. Data analyses were done, and least significant difference (LSD) test at 5% was applied for comparison of means. The results of three seasons showed no significant differences among the three seeding rates (150, 200 and 250 kg/ha), the best grain and biological yields were obtained by using 150 kg/ha. The combined analysis of the two sites clarified that the seeding rate of 150 kg/ha surpassed 250 kg/ha seeding rate in biological yield. As the seeding rate of 150 kg/ha for Cham3 was the best to be applied in climatic zone B in Hama Governorate, so no need to increase the seeding rate at farmer’s field over recommended seeding rate.

Keywords: Durum wheat; Seeding rates, Grain yield, Biological yield.

Full paper in Arabic :أثر معدلات البذار في إنتاجية القمح القاسي في منطقة الاستقرار الثانية في محافظة حماه

Effect of Planting Method in Some Productivity and Quality Traits of Tow Sugar Beet Varieties Grown in Summer Season in Syria

Entessar Al-Jbawi*⁽¹⁾Thamer Al Huniesh⁽¹⁾Zuhair Al Jasem⁽²⁾Nahla Al Mahmoud⁽²⁾Ziad Al Ibrahim⁽²⁾ and Ahmad Al Abdallah⁽²⁾

(1). Crops Research Administration, General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research (GCSAR), Damascus, Syria.
(2). Der Al Zur Agricultural Research Center, (GCSAR), Der Al Zur, Syria

(*Corresponding author: Dr. Entessar Al Jbawi, Damascus, Syria. E-mail: dr.entessara@gmail.com , Mobile: 0988699884)

Received: 01/02/ 2015 Accepted: 18/03/ 2015

Abstract

The field experiment was carried out at the Scientific Agricultural Research Center, Der Al Zur, Syria, during the growing seasons 2009/2010 and 2010/2011, to determine the effect of planting method on some productivity and quality traits of two sugar beet varieties, one was monogerm i.e. Dita, while the other was multigerm i.e. Reda. The experiment was sown in three methods i.e. ridges (50 cm), ridges (100 cm), and rows, each planting method with plant distance (20 cm between plants). The experiment was laid out in a split plot design, with four replications. The combined analysis exhibited significant effect of the planting method (M) and non significant effect of the varieties (V) for most of the studied traits. The results showed that planting in ridges were more important compared with sown in rows however, planting in ridges with width 100 cm caused an increase in root and sugar yields, and sucrose% (65.9 ton/ha, 10.1 ton/ha and 17.5 %, respectively). ). We can consider planting in ridges the best planting method in summer season in Der Al Zur governorate in Syria.

Keywords: Planting method, Productivity and quality traits, Sugar beet varieties.

Full paper in Arabic : تأثير طريقة الزراعة في بعض الصفات الإنتاجية والتكنولوجية لصنفين من الشوندر السكري في العروة الصيفية في سورية

The Impact of Some Social and Economic Factors on the Farmers Adoption of Fodder, Feeding, and Breeding Technologies in the Middle Area of Syria

Mohammad Mardini*⁽¹⁾ Mohammad Al-Abdalla⁽²⁾ and Toni Talab⁽¹⁾

(1). Technology Transfer Department, General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research (GCSAR), Damascus, Syria.
(2). Economic Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Damascus University, Damascus, Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Eng: Mohammad Mardini, Technology Transfer Department, (GCSAR), Damascus, Syria, E-mail: mardiny1981@gmail.com ).

Received: 17/11/ 2014 Accepted: 9/03/ 2015

Abstract

The study was carried out in Al-Salamya and Al-Mesherfa areas of Hama and Homs governorates, Syria, during 2009, using a randomized sample of 120 farmers, to investigate the farmers’ knowledge and adoption of some fodder, feeding, and breeding technologies. The results showed that the rate of adoption of growing fodder crops was 76.7%, and 69% of the farmers had weak knowledge with fodder technologies, 10% was the adoption rate of haymaking, and 6.7% for the straws treated with urea. The results also exhibited that 61.7% of the farmers raise livestock and about 56.7% of them have low knowledge in using feeding and breeding technologies, 37.8% was the adoption rate of ram’s isolation, and 6.8% was for adopting the artificial insemination, while 44.6% was for early weaning adopting, and 8.1% for having the improved rams. The statistical analysis clarified a positive, significant correlation between the educational level, average yield of barley, availability of agriculture machinery, the level of extension communication, the average of family income, and the degree of farmer’s knowledge about the usage of fodder technologies. The results also showed a negative significant correlation between this knowledge and the planting of fruit trees, the period of feeding on the crops residues. The statistical analysis also showed a positive significant correlation between the average yield of barley, availability of agricultue machinery, the level of extension communication, the average of family income, and adoption of farmers for the usage of fodder technologies. The most important problems that face farmers were lack of water, high costs of fuel, transportation, and production inputs, lack of machinery to invest the agricultural wastes, and the poor knowledge in fodder technologies.

Key words: Fodder technologies, Feeding and breeding technologies, Farmers’ adoption, Economic and social factors.

Full paper in Arabic : أثر بعض العوامل الاقتصادية والاجتماعية في تبنّي المزارعين لتقانات الأعلاف والتغذية والتربية في المنطقة الوسطى من سورية

Genetic Studies of Some Local Syrian Bread Wheat Using RAPD

Nedal Jerodieh⁽¹⁾Yousef Wjhani*⁽¹⁾Fakhri Al mousa⁽²⁾Wafaa Reda⁽⁴⁾ and Ossama Mouhra⁽¹⁾

Genetic Resource Department, General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research (GCSAR), Damascus, Syria.
Field Crops Research Administration, (GCSAR), Damascus, Syria.

(*corresponding author: Dr. Yousef Wjhani, Genetic Resource Department, (GCSAR), Damascus, Syria. E-mail: yowj2015@hotmail.com).

Received: 10/07/ 2014 Accepted: 29/03/ 2015

Abstract:

The research was conducted at the Laboratory of Genetic Resource Department in the General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research (GCSAR), Damascus, Syria. The aim of the study was to investigate the genetic diversity between 9 local bread wheat cultivars (T. aestivum) i.e. Baladieh Hamraa, Florance Aurore, Salamoni, Maxibak, Kandahari Abiad, Kandahari Ahmar, Sweid, Briji, and Hreideh), and Cham 4 as control. The DNA was isolated, and the genetic diversity was studied by RAPD technique using 9 primers with a GC percentage between 60 to 70%. Results showed that the highest percentage of similarity was 56% between Maxibak and Salamoni and, between Briji and Sweid. The lowest percentage of similarity was 24% between Sweid and Baladieh Hamraa. The 9 primers generated 259 bands in averaging 28.8 band for each primer. 243 bands were polymorphic with a variation rate ranged between 58.6 and 100%. Whereas all studied cultivars were characterized by 89 positive unique bands from all primers, only three cultivars (Baladieh Hamraa, Cham 4 and Briji) were characterized by 5 negative unique bands from /5/ primers. The cultivar Baladieh Hamraa had the highest positive unique bands (18 bands) followed by Florance Aurore (15 bands) and Cham 4 had the highest negative unique bands (3 bands). In addition, VBC2-15 was the most characterizing primer, followed by VBC 3-9. The cluster analysis revealed that the cultivars under study were distributed into two branches, sub branches and groups separated by their environmental requirements. For instance, Salamoni (drought tolerant cultivar), which can grow under rainfed conditions was placed in a branch whereas the cultivars Baladieh Hamraa and Sweid that need irrigated conditions were placed under another branch.

Key words: Bread wheat, Local Syrian cultivars, Genetic Diversity, RAPD.

Full paper in Arabic : دراسة جزيئية لبعض الأصناف السورية المحلية من القمح الطري باستخدام تقنية RAPD

Evaluation of Some Atriplex Accessions under Salt Stress Conditions and their Molecular Characterization Using ISSR Technique

Basem Alsamman*⁽¹⁾ Yousef Wjhani⁽¹⁾ Marwan Cheikh-Al basatneh⁽²⁾ and Wael Yousef⁽¹⁾

(1). Biotechnology Department, General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research (GCSAR), Damascus, Syria.
(2). Damascus University, Faculty of Sciences, Ecology Department.

(*Corresponding author: Dr. Basem Alsamman, Biotechnology Department, (GCSAR), Damascus, Syria. E-mail: basemhsam1@yahoo.com).

Received: 08/08/ 2014 Accepted: 09/03/ 2015

Abstract

The study was carried out at Saalow Research Station, in Der Al Zur, General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research (GCSAR), Der Al Zur, Syria, during the agricultural seasons 2008/2009- 2009/2010, 2010/2011 to evaluate the performance of four accessions related to the genus Atriplex, i.e. A. leucoclada, A. canescens, A. halimus1 (from Syria) and A. halimus2 (from Tunisia) under soil salinity stress conditions depending on a number of morphological indicators. ISSR technique (Inter Simple Sequence Repeats) was used for molecular characterization using 10 primers. The results showed that the studied accessions varied in their response for salinity stress conditions, the average of plant height in Atriplex halimus2 (203.3 cm) was significantly higher than the other accessions, A. halimus1, A. leucoclada and A. canescens (177.8, 72 and 64.3 cm), respectively. A. halimus1 and A. halimus2 revealed the highest tolerance to soil salinity (EC₂₀ dSm^-1) followed by A. leucoclada and lastly A. canescens. Results showed vast genetic variation among the studied accessions, all primers proved their effectiveness in showing polymorphism between the studied accessions; primers gave 132 bands with a polymorphic percentage 98%. The number of bands of each primer varied from minimum 7 bands for the primer (ISSR-17899b) to maximum 22 bands in the primer (ISSR-862) with average of 13.2 bands of each primer.

Key words: Atriplex, Soil salinity, Molecular characterization, ISSR.

Full paper in Arabic : تقييم بعض مدخلات الرغل تحت ظروف الإجهاد الملحي وتوصيفها جزيئياً باستخدام تقنية ISSR

Self-sterility in Some Olive Cultivars and its Influence on Parthenocarpic Fruits “Shotberries” Formation

Mohammad Mhnna*⁽¹⁾ Faisal Douay⁽²⁾ and Fadel Al-Qaiem⁽³⁾

(1). Siano Research Station, Scientific Agricultural Research Center of Lattakia, (GCSAR), Lattakia, Syria.
(2). Horticulture Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Tishreen University, Lattakia, Syria.
(3). Scientific Agricultural Research Center of Lattakia, (GCSAR), Lattakia, Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Eng. Mohammad Mhanna, Siano Research Station, Scientific Agricultural Research Center of Lattakia, (GCSAR), Lattakia, Syria.
E-Mail: Agrihort@yahoo.com. Mobile: +963 0999160267).

Received: 15/02/2015 Accepted: 12/03/2015

Abstract

The research was conducted in 2013 and 2014 at Bouqa region- Latakia governorate, Syria, to study the self-sterility on olive cultivars i.e. “Khodeiri”, “Frantoio” and french “Picholine, and its influence on commercially useless fruits” Shotberries “by evaluating self-incompatibility and “shotberries” ratios which are developed after self- vs.- open- pollination, also anatomical studies of fruits were conducted to estimate the fertilization if so. The results showed that the pollen viability was adequate and over 64% for all cultivars. All studied cultivars were suffering from self-incompatibility in different degrees (ISI_khodeiri=0.21-0.24, ISI_picholine=0-0.09, ISI_frantoio=0.12-0.19). Self-pollination produced high ratios of commercially useless fruits “Shotberries” and their ratios increased in 2014 season due to drought. Anatomical study showed that all “Shotberries” were seedless and were produced from un-fertilized flowers, which caused this an irregular development. Shotberries were completely dropped before harvesting time. The results confirmed the importance of planting a mixture of cultivars in olive fields to improve production and reduce the ratio of unwanted commercially useless fruits.

Key words: Olive, Parthenocarpic fruits, ISI.

Full paper in Arabic: العقم الذاتي في بعض أصناف الزيتون وتأثيره في تشكل الثمار البكرية
(Shotberries)

Disease Distribution and Physiologic Races of Wheat Yellow Rust Caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici in North Eastern Syria.

Alan A. Ramo*⁽¹⁾, Mohammad F. Azmeh⁽²⁾&Omran A. Youssef⁽¹⁾

(1). Scientific Agriculture Research Center of Al Qamishly, Al Qamishly, Syria.
(2). Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Damascus University, Damascus, Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Eng. Alan REMO: Scientific Agricultural Research Centre of Lattakia, Lattakia, Syria. E-mail: alan-remo@hotmail.com).

Received: 10 / 09 / 2014 Accepted: 30 / 11 / 2014

Abstract:

Yellow rust or stripe rust caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici is the most important fungal diseases on wheat. The disease spread in all wheat growing areas of Syria. To identify the distribution of the disease and its physiologic races, field survey have been conducted in 143 fields in 2013 and 109 fields in 2014 in different wheat growing areas in north eastern Syria. Diseased leaf samples were collected from farmers’ fields and uredeniospores were isolated from each field samples. Identification of physiologic races was performed by evaluating the reaction type of seedlings of the differential cultivars. Results of yellow rust survey showed that the distribution of disease was limited, with an infected fields’ ratio of 18.34% in 2014, while it was 40.55% in 2013. It was noticed that the infection did not appear on durum wheat during 2013 and 2014, while all infections were recorded on bread wheat. Results of race identification showed that a number of physiologic races were spread in wheat fields. Four races have been isolated and identified (6E16, 0E0, 82E16, 4E2), with race 6E16 being the most spread race during the study period, while the race 0E0 was the least spread.

Keywords: Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici,Survey, Syria, Wheat, Yellow rust.

Full paper in Arabic:

توزع مرض الصدأ الأصفر Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici على القمح وسلالاتها الفيزيولوجية في شمال شرق سورية.

(1). Crops Research Administration, General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research (GCSAR), Damascus, Syria. (2). Der Al Zur Agricultural Research Center, (GCSAR), Der Al Zur, Syria

(1). Crops Research Administration, General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research (GCSAR), Damascus, Syria.
(2). Der Al Zur Agricultural Research Center, (GCSAR), Der Al Zur, Syria