Nassar Al-Helou^1* Talal Al-Abban² Muhammed Khair Othman² Saleh Al-Moustafa³

1 Department of Field Crops, Faculty of Agriculture, Alfurat University, Dier-Ezzor, Syria.
2 General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Researcher, Dier-Ezzor Agricultural Research, Syria.
(*Corresponding author Nassar Al-Helou1, Email: nsaralhlw784@gmail.com). 

Received: 21/ 12/ 2025          Accepted: 24/ 2/ 2026

Abstract: 

A field experiment was conducted at Salo Research Station, Deir ez-Zor Agricultural Research Center (Syria) in 2024 to assess planting dates and plant densities effects on soybean (Glycine max L.) line SB-335. The trial followed a split-plot RCBD with three replications: planting dates (1, 15 and 30 May) in main plots and three plant densities (166000 ،83000 ،55000/ha-1) in subplots. Results showed that early planting (1 May) increased pods per plant (28.43), 100-seed weight (13.52 g), seed yield (3.16 ton/ha-1) and oil content (16.44 %) and reduced first-pod height (6.5 cm) and the early planting dates with higher density (166 plants ha−1). increased seed yield that it reached 3.61 ton/ha-1.

Keywords: soybean; planting date; plant density; seed yield; oil content; Deir Ezzor.

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Maisaa Kakeh^1*

1 Department of Renewable Natural Resources and Environment, Faculty of Agriculture, Aleppo University, Syria.
(*Corresponding author: Maisaa Kakeh, Email: maisaakakeh@yahoo.com)

Received: 10/ 8/ 2025      Accepted: 26/ 3/ 2026

Abstract: 

This study aims to investigate the feasibility of producing environmentally friendly biopolymers based on cellulose for potential use in the manufacture of water boxes (Water box) intended for arid and semi-arid regions, where water scarcity necessitates efficient water management to ensure successful afforestation. The experimental work was conducted in the laboratories of the Faculty of Agricultural Engineering, University of Aleppo. Cellulose was extracted from various renewable agricultural residues, including wood, corn cobs, wheat straw, and potato peels. The extracted cellulose was subsequently converted into cellulose-based materials through the addition of glycerin and gelatin, while gum arabic and starch were used as additives to reduce water leakage. Cellulose derived from corn cobs was molded into a prototype simulating a water box, and its water retention capacity was evaluated. The results indicated that cellulose extracted from corn cobs exhibited superior performance, as it could be used without the addition of leakage-preventing materials. In contrast, cellulose obtained from wood, wheat straw, and potato peels required the incorporation of such additives. Corn cob cellulose samples demonstrated the lowest water leakage and retained water for more than 24 hours. Furthermore, these samples showed good biodegradability in soil over time, contributing positively to environmental sustainability, whereas samples made from plastic-based cellulose retained their structure but lacked biodegradability. The study concludes that cellulose extracted from corn cobs represents a promising biodegradable material for the production of water storage units suitable for arid and semi-arid environments. However, further mechanical testing is recommended to assess their load-bearing capacity under natural field conditions.

Keywords: Water box (cocoon), cellulose, water leakage, biodegradable materials.

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Manhal Ali^1*, Abobud Aljasim² and Ibrahim ALshtywy²

1 Ph.D. Student, Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Alfurat University, Syria.
2 Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Alfurat University, Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Manhal Fadel Ali, Email: manhalfadelali01@gmail.com / 0992611823). 

Received: 27/ 6/ 2025             Accepted: 6/ 11/ 2025

Abstract: 

This research was conducted to study the effect of grafting three pumpkin rootstocks onto four watermelon cultivars and their impact on productivity traits. Four watermelon cultivars (Raad, Elita, Nevada, and Slyn Black) were grafted using the side grafting method onto three pumpkin rootstocks belonging to the genus Cucurbita moschata (Zag, Speder, and Sasha), in addition to an un-grafted control. The research was conducted in Hasaka Governorate (Hasaka City, Syria) for the 2024-2025 seasons. The research was conducted according to a split-block design with three replicates, and the averages of each genotype of the watermelon plant were compared separately. Watermelon seeds were planted in (5/2/2024-2025), while pumpkin seeds were planted on (17/2/2024-2025). The side grafting process was carried out on (27/2/2024-2025). The results showed the following: The rootstock (Zag) outperformed the rest of the rootstocks (Speder Sasha), and the control without grafting, in all production traits: dry weight of the vegetative system (g. plant-1), dry weight of the root system (g. plant-1), thickness of the fruit peel (cm. fruit-1), thickness of the pulp of the pod (cm. fruit-1), weight of the fruit (kg. fruit-1), productivity of the plant (kg plant-1), productivity of the marketable pods (ton. ha-1), and total productivity (ton. ha-1). No differences appeared between the grafts used (Raad, Elita, Nevada, Shelian Black), and they all outperformed the control plant without grafting (Control).

Keywords: Graft, Rootstock, Grafting, Watermelon, Pumpkin.

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Muslim Ashor Aletby^1*

1 Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Basrah Iraq.
(*Corresponding author: Muslim Ashor Aletby, Email: muslim.abdel_wahed@uobasrah.edu.iq). 

Received: 11/ 9/ 2025            Accepted: 12/ 3/ 2026

Abstract: 

This study aimed to analyze the genetic diversity of honey bees Apis mellifera in Basrah Governorate, southern Iraq, using restriction fragment length polymorphism PCR (RFLP-PCR) of the intergenic COI-COII region in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). We collected 980 samples from 98 bee colonies distributed across six geographical regions. Results revealed moderate genetic diversity (75%), with three dominant bands (1200 bp, 800 bp, 400 bp) indicating polymorphism. UPGMA phylogenetic analysis clustered the samples into two main groups, reflecting genetic differences associated with geographical distribution. These findings underscore the significant role of geographic factors in shaping the genetic diversity of honey bees in the region.

Keywords: Apis mellifera, Mitochondrial DNA, Genetic polymorphism, RFLP-PCR, honeybees, Iraq.

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Muhammad Nour Al-Assaf*¹,  Jamila Derbas¹ and Ahmad Shams Al-Dien Shaaban²

1 General Center of scientific agriculture research, Cotton Research Department, Aleppo.
2 University of Aleppo, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering, Field crop Department.
(*Corresponding author: Muhammad Nour Al-Assaf, Email: assafnoor57@gmail.com).

Received: 1/ 1/ 2026                  Accepted: 7/ 4/ 2026

Abstract: 

The research was carried out at Tal Hadya Cotton Research Station of the Cotton Research Department in Syria, during the season 2022, for study the general and specific combining ability to select the best genetic segregations for some technological traits of sixteen hybrids (F2) obtained according to the hybridization design (line x tester) from eight genotypes of cotton as lines: Aleppo118, Aleppo90, Raqqa5 and Aleppo124, and as testers: Lider, Stonvill468, Fantum and Ncch. The parental lines and hybrids were planted in three replicates according to a randomized complete block design (RCBD). The results of the analysis of variance for the mean squares of lines and testers (GCA) and the mean squares of lines × testers (SCA) indicated statistically significant differences for all genotypes in the fiber length and for hybrids and testers in the trait of cohesion, and for testers in the trait of fineness. The variance resulting from the testers (GCA) was significant for all of the studied traits except for the trait of elongation, which indicates the importance of additive gene action in the inheritance of the studied traits. It was also found that the Stonvill468 genotype had highly significant GCA values for fiber length and fiber fineness, and the Lider genotype had desirable GCA values for fiber length and fiber strength (Pressly), while the Ncch genotype had highly significant GCA values for strength (cohesion). The Aleppo 118 was also characterized by a highly significant effect value for the fiber length trait. Significant and highly significant values appeared for the specific ability of combining for the fiber length trait in the two hybrids (Aleppo 118×Lider), (Aleppo 124× Stonvill 468), for the strength (Pressly) in the hybrid (Aleppo 90×Lider), for the cohesion trait in the hybrid (Aleppo 90×Ncch), and for the fineness and strength trait (Pressley) in the hybrid (Raqqah 5×Lider), and for the length and fineness traits, strength (Pressley) and elongation in the hybrid (Aleppo 118× Stonevill468), These hybrids were the result of two parents whose general ability of combining is high to moderate, and their gene action was (additive x additive). Selecting in these hybrids in future progenies is useful because the genetic segregations are low.

Keywords: combining ability effects, line x testers analysis, cotton, Hybrids.

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Muhammad Nour Al-Assaf^1*, Naeem Al-Hussein², Reham Abu Al-Kanj², Jalal Abboud³, Ruba Youssef³ and Addi Ismaeel⁴

1 General Commission of Scientific Agricultural Research, Cotton Research Department.
2 General Commission of Scientific Agricultural Research, Aleppo Research Center.
3 General Commission of Scientific Agricultural Research, Tartous Research Center, Al-Jamasa Station.
4 General Commission of Scientific Agricultural Research, Alghab Research Center.
(*Corresponding author: Muhammad Nour Al-Assaf, Email: assafnoor57@gmail.com)

Received: 12/ 11/ 2025               Accepted: 22/ 1/ 2026

Abstract: 

The research was carried out at the Al-Jamasa (Tartous), Al-Ghab (Hama), and Tal Hadya (Aleppo) Research Stations of the General center for Scientific Agricultural Research during the season (2023/2024), and the biotechnology laboratory of the General center for Scientific Agricultural Research – Aleppo Research Center. The aim of evaluating eight promising lines of bread wheat (production efficiency stage) for yellow rust disease caused by Puccinia striiformis west. f. sp. tritici Eriks under natural infected conditions of the yellow rust.  This is based on the reaction of plants at the heading stage in the field and the detection of resistance genes present in these lines using molecular markers in the laboratory, in addition to evaluating some of the yield characteristics (spike length, number of grain/spikes, grain weight/spike, 1000 – grain weight). The study showed that the wheat lines derived from crossing (Babacha×Sham8) and (Babacha×Sham10) were distinguished by immune reaction, as in the lines (1,4,6,7,8) at Al-Jamasa station, and resistant to moderate resistance at the Al-Ghab Research Center and Tal Hadiya Station, compared to the cultivated cultivars of bread wheat (Sham8 and Sham10) which showed a susceptible reaction. Using molecular markers (SSR), it was also revealed the presence of the resistance gene (Yr15) (specialized resistance and at all stages of growth) in the lines studied and in the Babacha line, in addition to the presence of the resistance genes (Yr29, Yr18) (resistance of adult plants at high temperatures and horizontal resistance) which confirms the transfer of these genes to the cultivated cultivars Sham8 and Sham10. The lines (8,4,7) resulting from the cross (Babacha×Sham8) were characterized by the highest average number of grains/spike (79.14,66,53.74) as well as the highest average weight of grains/spike (2.99,2.78,2.13) g respectively, compared to the number and weight of grains/spike in the cultivar Sham8 (35.58), (1.22) g respectively. The lines (6,2,4) also excelled the average weight of 1000 – grain weight (46.9,45.9,43.4) with significant differences over the cultivars Sham8 and Sham10 (33.0,28.3) g. The lines (5,3,7) also showed the highest average spike length with an average of (11.1,10.4,10.3) cm. These results confirm the importance of continuously enhancing released bread wheat cultivars and to be a carrier of resistance genes at both the seedling and adult plant stages to develop cultivars with durable resistance, and high yield production.

Keywords: Bread Wheat, Grain yield, Yellow Rust, Resistance genes.

 Full paper in Arabic: PDF

Mohammad Naeim^1* and Mohammad Fadel²

1 PhD student- Hama University-Hama-Syria.
2 Professor of Poultry Diseases- Hama University-Hama-Syria.

(*Corresponding author: D. Mohammad Naeim, Email: mohammadstar2@gmail.com/ 0955640696)

Received: 6/ 11/ 2025                    Accepted: 4/ 1/ 2026

Abstract: 

This research aimed to conduct a comparative study of the efficacy of the medium – strength vaccine and the medium vaccine against infectious bursal disease in broiler chickens. The experiment was conducted on 300 chicks divided into three groups: Group (A): a positive control infected with Gumboro disease without vaccination; Group (D1): infected and given the intermediate vaccine; Group (E1): infected and given the intermediate plus vaccine. Blood samples were collected, and RNA was extracted using a special kit. The virus was then detected using PCR, and the half – life (LDH) was calculated to induce infection. Blood samples were then collected at three-time intervals (23 days, 33 days, and 43 days), and antibody levels were measured using ELISA. Significant differences were observed between the group attached to the intermediate vaccine (D1) and the group vaccinated with the intermediate plus vaccine (E1).

Keywords: Infectious Bursal Disease (IBD), Intermediate Plus Vaccine, IBD Vaccines, Bursa of Fabricius, Antibody Titer.

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Batoul Haytham Nayef¹, Mohammad Kassem^1*, Nader Assad2 and Naem Al-Houssien³

¹ Department of Field Crops, Faculty of Agricultural, Homs University, Syria.

² General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research, Field Crops Research Administration, Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Mohammad Kassem, Email:  agromohammad@gmail.com )

Received: 13/ 1/ 2026      Accepted: 24/ 2/ 2026

Abstract: 

Rhizctonia bataticola is one of the most important emerging pathogens affecting chickpea crops in most growing regions, and its importance has increased year after year due to prevailing drought conditions. This disease is considered a drought-associated pathogen. It began spreading and expanding in Syria at the beginning of the current decade. Therefore, this research aimed to investigate the prevalence of dry root rot on chickpeas in various fields in the northern (Aleppo) and central (Hama, Al-Ghab, and Idlib) regions of Syria in 2024. By determining the percentage of infected fields, the infection rate per field, the disease incidence, and evaluating local varieties against the pathogenic fungus in the field, the results of the field survey showed the prevalence of dry root rot on chickpeas in most chickpea-growing areas in both regions. The percentage of infected fields in the studied areas reached 87%. The percentage of fields classified as high and medium risk of infection in Aleppo fields, according to the disease index, was 44.8%, while it was only 3.2% for low-risk fields. In contrast, all fields in the central region were classified as high risk, i.e., 100%. On the other hand, chickpea varieties cultivated in Syria showed different responses to the pathogen in the adult plant stage under natural infection conditions. The reaction type of varieties Ghab 2, 3, and 5 WERE HS high susceptibility, while Ghab 1 and 4 were MR moderately susceptible. Thirty-nine fungal isolates of R. bataticola, the causative agent of dry root rot disease in chickpeas, were isolated from field samples from the study areas.

Keywords: R. bataticola, dry root rot, chickpeas, Syria.

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Muhamed Faez Al-Tabbaa1*, Abdul karem Kalbloze1 and Samer Ibrahim1

¹ Hama University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, HAMA, SYRIA.

(*Corresponding author: Muhamed Faez ALTABBAA, Email: p.m.f.tz7z@gmail.com)

Received: 28/ 4/ 2026               Accepted: 15/ 5/ 2026

Abstract: 

Rectal swab samples were examined from Awassi sheep, collected from 20 flocks in (300) a total of twenty different regions of the central region of Syria to detect Yersinia enterocolitica infection in sheep. The total number of sheep in the tested flocks was 6,784 heads. The study results indicated that the bacterial prevalence of Yersinia enterocolitica among sheep in the central region of Syria was 8.66%, with 26 out of 300 samples testing positive for Yersinia enterocolitica using bacterial culture, catalase test, and motility assay. The prevalence of Yersinia enterocolitica in sheep was 9% during winter and 17% during spring, while no prevalence was recorded during the other seasons in the central region of Syria. The prevalence among sheep aged six months or younger was 16%, while it was 4.8% among sheep older than six months and up to one and a half years. No prevalence was recorded among sheep older than one and a half years in the central region of Syria.

Keywords: Yersinia: enterocolitica, Sheep, Hama, risk factors, prevalence.

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Muhammad Sulieman^1*,  Nidal Darwish¹,  Hayan Suleman¹ and Sawsan Haifa ²

1 Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agriculture, Latakia University. Syria.
2 Department of Soil and Water sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Latakia University. Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Eng. Muhammad Sulieman, Email: Muhammad.suliemann@gmail.com – Muhammad.sulieman@Tishreen.edu.sy)

Received: 26/ 5/ 2025                Accepted: 23/ 1/ 2025

Abstract: 

The study was conducted during the period 2018–2023 with the aim of assessing the status of water stored in dams and the cultivated areas in Latakia Governorate, in addition to calculating the overall irrigation water productivity during the study period. This contributes to filling the knowledge gap concerning the efficiency of water resources in the agricultural sector and provides a scientific tool to assist policymakers and relevant authorities in planning water and agricultural policies. The descriptive-analytical approach was employed in addressing the study topic. The results indicated that the quantity of irrigation water plays a critical role in agricultural expansion. On average, irrigated winter vegetables accounted for 1% of total irrigated production, while irrigated summer vegetables represented approximately 8%, and fruit trees accounted for around 91% of total irrigated production. The average volume of water consumed for irrigating winter vegetables was about 1.63 million cubic meters per year, for summer vegetables approximately 13.71 million cubic meters per year, and for fruit trees around 147.6 million cubic meters per year. The average irrigation water productivity for winter vegetables was approximately 3.42 kg/m³, for summer vegetables about 4.25 kg/m³, and for fruit trees around 4.45 kg/m³. Citrus production constituted approximately 98% of total fruit tree production, with an annual irrigation water consumption of about 144.6 million cubic meters and an average productivity of 4.5 kg/m³. The water quota per hectare was approximately 5,507.3 m³/ha/year.

Keywords: dams, water, irrigated agriculture, irrigation water efficiency, water allowance.

 Full paper in Arabic: PDF