Category Archives: vol4-no3-2017

Some Factors Effecting Twins Lambing in the Syrian Awassi Sheep

Abd Al-Naser AL-Omar*(1)  Mohammad Roukbi(2) Abd Al-Karem Sultan(1) and Ayman Dubaa( 3)

(1). Hama Agriculture Research Center, General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research (GSCAR), Damascus, Syria.

(2). Aleppo Agriculture Research Center, (GSCAR), Damascus, Syria..

(3). Animal Wealth Research Administration, (GSCAR), Damascus, Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Dr. Abdul Naser Al-Omar. E-Mail: abdnaser64@gmail.com).

Received: 04/07/2016                       Accepted: 21/08/2017

Abstract
This study aimed to study the effect of birth type, age and year of the ewes, and season of lambing on multiple lambing in the Syrian Awassi sheep. The research was conducted at Jidrin Research Station of Awassi Sheep, General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research (GCSAR), Hama, Syria, during seven seasons (2005-2011). Data of 4437 animals was collected (1976 ewes, 68 males, 2393 lambs). Birth date and type of birth (single, multiple) were registered. Also, multiple born births, number and percentage of dead lambs were recorded. The animals were divided into four groups: (1) Twin-born ewes that mated with multiple-born rams, (2) multiple born ewes that mated with single born rams, (3) single born ewes that mated with multiple born rams, and (4) single born ewes that mated with single born rams. The percentage of multiple births in groups (1), (2), (3) and (4) were (23.9%, 30.3%, 19.2% and 19.03%, respectively). Significant difference (p≤0.05) was noticed for the group (2) (mmultiple born ewes that mated with single born rams). Multiple lambing increased from 16.2% in 2005 to 25% in 2011. Season of lambing had a significant effect (p≤0.01) on multiple lambing. High significant correlation (r=0.99) between multiple lambing and the age of the ewe was resulted. The number of multiple births increased from 11.3% at the age of 2 years to 27.1% at the age of 5 years old. The average of mortality rate of lambs between birth and weaning was (6.4%) without a significant difference between single and twin born lambs. It has been concluded that multiple born ewes should be preferred and maintained for the selection programs to rise the multiple lambing and get the economic revenue of the Awassi sheep breed.
Key words: Animal birth type; Multiple lambing; Syrian Awassi sheep.

Full paper in Arabic: PDF

Identification of Some Local Apple Cultivars and Genotypes Using SSR Markers

Bayan Muzher*(1) and Ola Al-Halabi(1)

(1). Biotechnology Division, Apple Center Department, General Commission for Scientific Agriculture Research (GCSAR), Damascus, Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Dr. Bayan Muzher. E-mail: bmuzher@hotmail.com).

Received: 24/08/2016                           Accepted: 27/09/2016

Abstract

The current research was carried out during 2012-2013 to identify and screening some of local apple cultivars and genotypes, which distributed in different environmental regions using SSR markers. Fifteen local apple cultivars and genotypes were collected, in addition to two commercial cultivars; Golden delicious and Royal gala and three seedling genotypes. Genetic analysis were achieved using 16 SSR primer pairs, 15 of them were able to detect the polymorphism in the studied genotypes. The total number of polymorphic alleles was 40, with polymorphism percentage of 97.56%. The number of alleles ranged between 1- 4 alleles, with an average 2.56 alleles per locus. Genetic similarity ranged from 13 to 100%. The Cluster analysis divided the studied genotypes into two clusters, the first cluster included Golden delicious with Royal gala and the two seedling genotypes A and B in addition to most of genotypes collected from the coastal region, and Skarji cultivar, while the second cluster included C seedling genotype besides the local apple cultivars Sukari1, Sukari2, and Shmamti, also four local apple genotypes. Expected heterozygosity (He) was 0.495, while observed heterozygosity (Ho) was 0.285. Consequently, SSR markers were able to detect the genetic variability among studied genotypes that belong to local apple cultivars, which lead to reduce the time and efforts for determining their genetic identity.

Key words: Apple, Local cultivars, SSR, Genetic similarity.

Full paper in Arabic: PDF

Effect of Different Treatments of Fertilizing on the Nutritional Status of Micronutrients on the Al-Helwani Grapevine

Mahmoud Al-Shihadat*(1)

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

(*Corresponding author: Dr. Mahmoud Al-Shihadat. E-Mail: mahmod.h.sh@hotmail.com).

Received: 14/06/2016                         Accepted: 06/04/2016

Abstract

A research was carried out in Daraa Governorate, Syria, during three seasons (2008, 2009 and 2010) with 10 years old grapevines of cultivar Al-Helwani (Vitis vinifera L.) to study the effect of different treatments of fertilizing on the nutritional status of micronutrients. Three mineral fertilizer rates of (N.P.K) 75-25-50, 150-50-100, 300-100-200 Kg/ha were used, in addition to a control without fertilization. The triple super-phosphate was added by broadcast on the soil surface, and in bands on depth of 30 cm. All experiment trees were sprayed with a solution of fertilizer containing micronutrients iron sulphate 26% and zinc sulphate 24% and boric acid 17%, in a rate of 1g /L of each of the previous fertilizer compounds. Whereas the dried granulated manure was added with average 30 t/ha. The addition of organic manure led to improve the nutritional status of the grapevine throughout the increasing of the content of their petioles from the nutrients. There was a significant increase in the petioles content of the nutrients when organic manure was added comparing with other treatments, except petioles content of copper. A significant increasing in petioles content of (iron 249.61 PPM, manganese 195.56 PPM, boron 54.30 PPM, magnesium 0.430 %, and calcium 2.42 %) was observed when phosphate fertilizer was added in depth of soil comparing with broadcast treatments (iron 227.15 PPM, manganese 186.36 PPM, boron 52.51 PPM, magnesium 0.378 %, calcium 2.18 %). While there was no effect of phosphate placement on the content of petioles from copper. In opposite side, the concentration of zinc in the petioles decreased under the treatments of adding the phosphate in depth (36.27 PPM), comparing with their addition on soil surface (43.10 PPM). The third rate of fertilizer was the best of mineral fertilization in increasing the content of petioles from manganese (237.31 PPM) and boron (60.15 PPM). Whereas the first rate of mineral fertilizer was the best in increasing the content of petioles from copper (10.93PPM), zinc (49.71 PPM), magnesium (0.46 %) and calcium (2.46 %). At the same time, the second rate was the best rate in increasing the concentration of iron in the petioles (299.06 PPM), compared to the control (139.06 PPM). So it is advisable to add the organic manure in the vineyards for its positive impact in increasing the efficiency of absorption of mineral minor and major elements, and it is recommended the addition of phosphate fertilizer at a depth of 30 cm for its effect in increasing petioles content of iron and manganese, boron and magnesium.

Key words: Grapevine, Al-Helwani cultivar, Organic fertilization, Phosphate fertilizer, Microelements.

Full paper in Arabic: PDF