Mohamed Nasr Alrez^1*

¹ Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Hama, Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Mohamed Nasr Alrez, Email: m.alriz@hama-univ.edu.sy). 

Received: 29/ 9/ 2025                   Accepted: 4/ 1/ 2026

Abstract: 

The aim of the research was to study the effect of nano-selenium Nano-Se on reproductive efficiency in Awassi sheep. Forty ewes of similar ages and weights were used in the experiment, and they were fed a uniform concentrated feed. The ewes were distributed into four groups: Group T1 was considered a control and was given a daily dose of distilled water. Group T2 was given a dose of 0.25 mg/kg per day of Nano-Se, while Group T3 was given a dose of 0.5 mg/kg per day of Nano-Se. Group T4 was given a dose of 1 mg/kg per day of Nano-Se. The treatment lasted from July 1st to 30th, for a month before the start of the breeding season. The results indicated a significant increase (P≤0.05) in the rate of onset of estrus and the length of the estrus period, as well as a decrease in the onset of estrus period after the end of treatment with Nano-Se. A significant increase in the pregnancy rate was observed in the treatment groups compared to the control group (T1). Meanwhile, the T3 group, treated with a dose of 0.5 mg/kg, achieved a higher rate of twin births and birth rate compared to the control group and the other treatment groups. The results also showed a significant improvement (P≤0.05) in the weights and growth of lambs born in the treatment groups compared to the control group (T1). The study concludes that administering Nano-Se to Awassi ewes before the start of the breeding season led to improved reproductive parameters, increased pregnancy rates, twin births, and higher birth weights.

Keywords: Oral administration, Nano selenium, Reproductive efficiency, Awassi sheep.

 Full paper in Arabic: PDF

Mohamed Baker Alabd Alwahed^1*, Faisal Bakor¹ and Thamer Alhenish²

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: Mohamed Baker, Email:  Baker963949351833@gmail.com )

Received: 1/ 2/ 2026      Accepted: 12/ 3/ 2026

Abstract: 

Three single crosses of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) were evaluated at the Qarahta Research Station during the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 seasons. The study aimed to assess the correlation relationships between grain yield and its components, and to identify the most significant traits influencing yield using path coefficient analysis. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Data were statistically analyzed to determine simple correlation coefficients, direct and indirect effects of yield components, the coefficient of determination (R2), and the relative importance of each trait in explaining grain yield variation. Correlation analysis revealed positive and highly significant relationships (p ≤ 0.01) between grain yield and grains per plant (GPP), grain per spike (GPS), thousand kernel weight (TKW), spikes per plant (SPP), and harvest index (HI) across all three crosses. Path coefficient analysis indicated that grains per plant (GPP) had the highest direct contribution to grain yield variation in all crosses. The direct effect values were 0.749, 0.613, and 0.980 for the first, second, and third crosses, respectively. The relative importance of this trait was 68.35%, 53.61%, and 88.91%, respectively, followed by thousand kernel weight (TKW). The coefficient of determination (R2) values for the statistical models of the three crosses were 0.979, 0.994, and 0.996, respectively, indicating that the studied traits accounted for more than 98% of the total variation in grain yield. These results confirm that grains per plant is a primary trait to target during direct selection in breeding programs. It can be adopted as a fundamental selection criterion for improving grain yield, while also considering the simultaneous improvement of thousand kernel weight and the maintenance of high tillering capacity (spikes per plant) as supporting factors to maximize productivity in these promising bread wheat crosses.

Keywords: Bread Wheat, Correlation Coefficient, Path Analysis, Grain Yield.

 Full paper in Arabic: PDF

Fatima Alzhraa Enjrini*¹,  Imad Aldeen Alkhalaf¹ and Njwa Moslmani¹

¹ Dept. of Botany, Faculty of Science, University of Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Fatima Alzhraa Enjrini, Email: fatimaenj92@gmail.com)

Received:24 / 12/ 2025                Accepted: 4/03 /2026

Abstract: 

This study was conducted at the Plant Environmental and Pollution Research Laboratory, Department of Plant Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Aleppo/Syria, to evaluate the effects of ultraviolet (UV-C, 254 nm) and microwave radiation (2450 MHz) on tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) seed germination. Seeds were treated by direct radiation exposure, irrigation with irradiated water, or soaking in treated water. Germination percentage, germination speed, mean germination time, and seedling growth parameters were assessed after seven days. UV-C treatments significantly enhanced germination performance, with germination percentage reaching 98.8% under irrigation with UV-treated water (120 min) compared to 93.4% in the control. Germination speed increased to 11.9 seeds/day, while mean germination time decreased to 1.5 days, accompanied by increased root (10.1 cm) and shoot length (6.5 cm). Microwave radiation showed a dual response: short exposure times (5–10 s) slightly improved germination, whereas prolonged exposure caused a sharp decline, with germination percentage dropping to 1.2% at 60 s due to thermal stress. The results showed that soaking the seeds in microwave treated water for 30 seconds or in ultraviolet treated water for 120 minutes produced the best outcomes across all studied parameters.

Keywords: UVC, Microwave radiation, Germination percentage, Germination rate, Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.

 Full paper in Arabic: PDF

Camillia Halabi^*1

¹Department of Food Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering ,University of Latakia, Latakia, Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Dr. Camellia Halabi, Email: Camellia-halabi@latakia-univ.edu.sy, 0991674923)

Received:4 /12 /2025                  Accepted:26 /03 /2026

Abstract: 

This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of using sesame protein powder, derived from sesame seeds, as a sustainable alternative to cream in the production of low-fat cream cheese, focusing on the analysis of molecular interactions and their impact on sensory and functional characteristics. The results showed that replacing cream with sesame protein powder led to significant improvements in chemical properties. The fat content decreased from 35.2% in the control sample to 8.2% in the full replacement sample (T4), while the protein content increased from 12.1% to 28.4%, respectively. Samples containing sesame protein powder also exhibited a notable improvement in emulsion stability, reaching 94.3% in the T4 sample compared to 72.3% in the control sample. In terms of sensory evaluation, the sample with 50% replacement (T2) received the highest overall acceptability score (8.2/10). The study concluded that sesame protein powder represents an effective and sustainable alternative to cream, enhancing the nutritional value and functional properties of low-fat cream cheese, with a recommendation not to exceed a 50% replacement ratio to maintain the desired sensory acceptance.

Keywords: Cream cheese, Sesame protein, Fat replacers, Molecular interactions, Sensory properties, Emulsion stability.

 Full paper in Arabic: PDF

Leen Badawi*¹, Zainab Hasso¹ and Khetam Edrees²

1Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria.
2 General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research, Economic and Social Studies Department.
(*Corresponding author: Eng. Leen Badawi, Email: Leen.badawi@alepuniv,edu.sy)

Received:31 /01 / 2026    Accepted:8 / 04/ 2026

This research aimed to estimate the cotton production function and analyze the economic efficiency of inputs used in its cultivation in Aleppo Governorate, Syria, employing a Cobb-Douglas model. The analysis relied on field data collected from (109) cotton farms during the 2024 agricultural season. The results demonstrated that the following inputs had a statistically significant positive effect on cotton productivity across all farm size categories: chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and human labor. Furthermore, economic efficiency coefficients exceeding one indicated the potential to increase profits through a measured expansion in the use of these inputs until their marginal value product equals their marginal cost. The total production elasticity was estimated at 0.748, suggesting the presence of decreasing returns to scale. Additionally, the analysis revealed that farmers are not operating at the profit-maximizing optimum levels, as the actual quantities used of key inputs (such as fertilizer, pesticides, and labor) were lower than the theoretically calculated optimal quantities. In light of these findings, the research recommends: guiding farmers towards optimal input usage levels, strengthening agricultural extension efforts to disseminate marginal economic concepts, and increasing reliance on farm mechanization to enhance economic efficiency and productivity.

Keywords: Production function, Returns to scale, Economic efficiency, Cotton, Cobb-Douglas.

 Full paper in Arabic: PDF

Mohamed Baker Alabd Alwahed*¹, Faisal Bakor¹ and Thamer Alhenish²

1 Department of Field Crops, Faculty of Agriculture, Homs University, Homs, Syria.
2 Crops Research Administration, General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research (GCSAR), Damascus, Syria.
(*Corresponding author Mohamed Baker, Email: Baker963949351833@gmail.com).

Received: 31/01 / 2025         Accepted: 12/03 /2026

Abstract: 

Three single crosses of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) were studied at the Qarahta Research Station during the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 seasons with the aim of estimating genetic parameters and understanding the nature of gene action controlling yield traits and their components. The experiment was designed according to a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications, and the data were statistically analyzed to estimate the phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) and the genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV), broad-sense heritability (HBS) and narrow-sense heritability (HNS), and expected genetic advance (GA%). The results showed a close proximity between the values of (PCV) and (GCV) for spikes per plant (SPP), where the values of (PCV) ranged between (10.37 and 12.31%) and the values of (GCV) ranged between (8.89 and 11.12%). Similar proximity was observed for grains per spike (GPS) with a range of (PCV) (9.47 – 9.68%) and (GCV) (8.58 – 8.91%), and for thousand kernel weight (TKW) with a range of (PCV) (6.86 – 7.49%) and (GCV) (6.18 – 6.76%) in all crosses. This proximity indicates the limited environmental influence and the stability of these traits. The results of the genetic analysis revealed that broad-sense heritability was high to very high for all traits in all crosses (ranging between 0.73 and 0.85), whereas narrow-sense heritability varied, as the first cross was characterized by moderate values of (HNS) for grain yield (0.56) and high values for harvest index (0.91), while these values decreased markedly in the second cross in favor of non-additive gene action. The values of expected genetic advance showed clear variation, as the first cross recorded the highest genetic advance for grain yield reaching (24.31%) and for harvest index (50.78%), indicating the predominance of additive gene action. The results confirm that direct selection for improving grain yield and harvest index is effective and feasible in the first cross starting from early generations, whereas in the second and third crosses it is recommended to delay selection to advanced generations to ensure the dissipation of dominance effects, due to the predominance of non-additive gene action controlling yield inheritance in them.

Keywords: Bread Wheat, Genetic Parameters, Heritability, Genetic Advance, Gene Action.

 Full paper in Arabic: PDF

Mary Odai Ali *¹, Mohammed Al-Azem ¹, Akram Al-Ahmad ¹, and Abeer Jawhar²

¹ Department of Food Engineering Technologies, Faculty of Technical Engineering, Aleppo University, Aleppo, Syria.

² Researcher at the General Authority for Agricultural Scientific Research, Aleppo, Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Eng. Mary Ali. E-Mail: maryodaiali@gmail.com).

Received: 20/01 /2026               Accepted: 22/04 /2026

The study was conducted in the laboratories of the Food Engineering Technology Department, Faculty of Technical Engineering, University of Aleppo, between 2024 and 2025. The study involved treating green table olives of the Kaissy variety using two methods; The Spanish method (processed olives) and the traditional method (natural olives) were used to study the most important chemical quality characteristics (moisture, ash, oil, salt, total acidity, pH), physical characteristics (firmness), and sensory characteristics (taste, texture, color) of olives processed by both methods, in addition to monitoring their changes during the 8-month storage period. The analysis results indicated an increase in the percentage of ash in both processed and natural olives compared to their initial levels in fresh olives, regardless of the processing method, while the oil content decreased during the storage period. Furthermore, the moisture content of olives processed using the Spanish method increased, whilst no significant difference was observed in moisture content for natural olives. the results showed that natural olives are of higher quality in terms of high acidity and firmness, nevertheless olives processed using the Spanish method were distinguished by desirable sensory characteristics such as the absence of bitterness and the ability to consume them immediately after processing and fermentation.

Keywords: Quality specifications, Processing methods, Storage period, Kaissy, Table olives.

 Full paper in Arabic: PDF

Alaa Hamo^1*

1 Directorate of Internal Trade and Consumer Protection in Damascus, Damascus, Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Alaa Hamo, Email: alaasuliman@outlook.com, Phone: 0951850626). 

Received: 14/12 /2025               Accepted: 26/03 /2026

Abstract: 

The study aimed to estimate the price and expenditure elasticities of demand for the main types of meat in Damascus Governorate during 2025, using the Linear Approximate Almost Ideal Demand System (LA-AIDS), which is widely regarded as one of the most appropriate models for analyzing interrelated goods in environments characterized by severe economic fluctuations. The analysis relied on primary data collected through a household field survey employing a multistage random cluster sampling design to ensure adequate representation of different income groups within the study population. Unit values were used as proxies for prices due to the absence of detailed retail price data in the survey. The demand system was estimated using the Seemingly Unrelated Regression (SUR) method, while imposing the theoretical restrictions of adding-up, homogeneity, and symmetry in accordance with demand theory. The results indicate that poultry meat is a necessity good, with an expenditure elasticity of 0.61, whereas beef and lamb are luxury goods, with expenditure elasticities of 1.25 and 1.45, respectively. Estimates of own-price elasticities further reveal that the demand for poultry is relatively inelastic (−0.889), reflecting households’ strong reliance on it as a primary source of animal protein. In contrast, the demand for beef and lamb is more price-elastic (−1.144 and −1.401, respectively), making their consumption more sensitive to price changes. The results also show a positive substitutability relationship among the three meat types, whereby an increase in the price of any one type leads to higher demand for its substitutes, particularly the strong effect of poultry prices on red meat consumption. Demographic variables exhibit clear effects: household size is positively associated with a higher expenditure share on poultry, while higher education levels are associated with increased demand for beef. Overall, these findings reflect a demand structure strongly influenced by income constraints and rising prices, underscoring the importance of stabilizing poultry prices as the most central commodity for food security, as well as the need to improve the production environment of red meat in order to reduce costs and enhance market stability.

Keywords: Demand Elasticities; LA-AIDS Model; Meats; Prices; Consumer Behavio.

 Full paper in Arabic: PDF

Abeer Moussa*¹,  Zuheir Shater¹ and Basima Alcheikh¹

¹ Department of Forestry and Ecology, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering, Latakia University, Lattakia, Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Abir moussa, Email: Abeerceta@gmail.com). 

Received: 26/01 / 2026             Accepted:13 /05 /2026

Abstract: 

The research aimed to document the spontaneous herbaceous plant species growing in the green spaces of Tartous city and identify the factors influencing their diversity. The study was conducted during 2025. Twenty-four parks were selected, and 78 samples with dimensions (3*3 m) were randomly identified within them. All plant species were recorded and their abundance was estimated according to the Braun-Blanquet method. Biodiversity was estimated using species richness, Shannon’s index, Simpson’s index, and Gleason’s index. Subsequently, the factors affecting the diversity of these plants were tested using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and stepwise regression. The total number of species recorded in the parks was 170 plant species belonging to 129 genera and 36 families. The species Hordeum murinum was the most frequently present and was recorded in all parks, followed by the species Phyla nodiflora, Sonchus oleraceus, and then Medicago polymorpha. Therophytes (58%) and Hemicryptophytes (31%) were the most represented life forms, and the highest values for diversity indices were recorded in parks located on the outskirts of the city. Statistical analysis identified park size and distance from the city center as the key factors significantly influencing the diversity of spontaneous plant species.

Keywords: Spontaneous plants, Plant diversity, Biodiversity, Urban ecology, Urban green space.

 Full paper in Arabic: PDF

Afraa Myhoub*¹, Mohammad Dikkeh¹, Basima Barhoum² and Qusay Al-Rahiya²

1 Department of Soil and Water Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering, University of Lattakia, Syria.
2 Agricultural Scientific Research Center, GCSAR,Lattakia, Syria.
(*Corresponding author: Afraa Myhoub, Email: afraa ismael@latakia.edu.sy)

Received: 1/09 /2025               Accepted: 31/03 / 2026

Abstract: 

Filed experiment was conducted in an olive orchard at the Agricultural Scientific Research Center in Al-Latamneh, Latakia Governorate. The experimental site had maintained an established NT system for eight years, which was compared against an adjacent CT practice. The experimental design was a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with two treatments (NT and CT) and three replications per treatment.Soil samples were systematically collected from all experimental plots across four depth intervals: 0–10 cm, 10–20 cm, 20–40 cm, and 40–60 cm during the 2022 and 2023 agricultural seasons. The results demonstrated a statistically significant superiority of the NT system over the CT system in enhancing nitrogen available content within the 0–20 cm. Conversely, no significant differences were observed between the treatments for the studied parameters in the deeper soil layers (>20 cm). Furthermore, the findings indicated a temporal increase in SOM and nitrogen content in the spring of 2023 compared to the spring of 2022. This increase was markedly more pronounced under the conservation tillage (NT) system.

Keywords: No-tillage, Conventional tillage, Soil organic matter, Total nitrogen, Available nitrogen.

 Full paper in Arabic: PDF