Category Archives: vol5-no1-2018

Aromatic Oil Composition of Myrtle Myrtus communis L. Leaves in Syria

Omar Farouk Fahel*(1) Waleed Mansour(2) Fateh Khatib(3) and Bader AL-Deen Galab(1)

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

(2). Department of Renewable Natural Resources and Ecology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria.

(3). Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria.

 (*Corresponding author: Eng. Omar Farouk Fahel. E-mail: ofaroukfa@gmail.com).

Received: 17/12/2016                           Accepted: 29/01/2017

Abstract

This research was carried out to determine the quantity of essential oil extracted from myrtle Myrtus communis L leaves, by hydro distillation, and to identify the major and minor components, besides to determine its quantities in the essential oil by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry GC-MS. The samples were collected on November 2013 from eight different climatic locations (Aleppo, Zarzour, Al-zenea, Katra AL-Rayhan, Al- Rayhana, Kasab, Mashta al-Holou and Mosiaf). The quantity and composition of the essential oil were estimated on the basis of the leaves dry weight. Oil quantity varied between the studied genotypes from different locations, which range from 0.46 to 0.55 ml, with non-significant differences. Eighteen compounds were identified in myrtle essential oil, and there were significant differences in 13 compounds. 1,8-Cineole performed the highest rate (18.85%) compared with other components, followed by α-Pinene (16.93%). While the lowest percentage was (0.31%) of Myrcene. The results showed superiority of humid and sub-humid areas in having higher content of the monoterpenes hydrocarbon compounds, compared to the semi-arid areas. While semi-arid areas performed high content in oxygenated monoterpenes compounds. The total content of oil components ranged between (78.53 to 86.26) %. The proportion of the major and minor components reached (59.45-22.71%) respectively.

Key words: Essential oil, Myrtus communis L., Gas Chromatography, Oil components, Hydrodistillation.

Full paper in Arabic: PDF

Marketing Efficiency of Sheep Milk and its Derivatives in the Middle Area (Homs & Hama)

Khetam Idris*(1)

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

(*Corresponding author: Dr. Khetam Idris. E-Mail: vera_naya@yahoo.com).

Received: 25/12/2016                           Accepted: 22/01/2017

Abstract

This research aimed to identify the value added and marketing efficiency of Syrian sheep milk which it utilized in livestock products. The central region of Syria (Homs and Hama) was selected, it has a comparative advantages of processing sheep milk products, according to a questionnaire of sheep owners sample. The questionnaire depended upon the type of breeding (resident, semi-nomadic and nomadic) in 2011. The results showed that the marketing of fresh milk is very important for the three groups of sheep breeders, followed by yogurt, then cheese, then the rest of the products, which has less comparative advantage such as shanklish, that made for the resident breeders only. The results showed that home manufacturing process was profitable, where the value added was achieved by manufacturing sheep milk into cheese, labna, ghee, yogurt, shanklish, and qarishah, respectively. The results showed that there are many marketing chains to market the products, starts from the producers who sell directly to the consumers, or to the retailers or to the wholesalers, or to the cheese makers. Heckman model with two steps was used to determine the marketing efficiency of sheep milk and its products. The effects of independent variables on farmers’ decisions to participate in the marketing with the best way were studied. The independent variables that affected positively milk processing and the quantities marketed were: The education level of the breeder, number of working years in the field of sheep breeding, stability, getting a loan, cattle size and the price of milk and cheese. While the independent variables that have significant and negative affect, in terms of the reduction of milk processing, and marketing were: Price of milk, permanent Bedouin, and distance to the nearest market to sell products.

Key words: Value-added, Marketing chains, Marketing efficiency, Marketing of sheep milk.

Full paper in Arabic: PDF

Applying  ARIMA Models for Forecasting the Production of Cotton Crop in Syria

Salwa Almohammad(1) Ibtessam Jasem*(2) and Mai Lubboss(1)

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

(2). Cotton Crop Administration, General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research (GCSAR), Damascus, Syria.

(*Correspoding author: Dr. Ibtessam Jasem. E-Mail: e_sam_0@hotmail.com).

Received: 31/12/2016                           Accepted: 25/01/2017

Abstract

Prediction acquired a great importance in economic studies, that made the decision-makers draw economic and social policies for future, depending on the available data of the phenomenon history. Many economic prediction methods were used as Autoregressive Integrated Moving Averages (ARIMA). This model is a mixture of autoregressive technique and moving averages. The objective of this research is to use ARIMA models for predicting production area and productivity of cotton crop in Syria, and at the level of the major producing provinces (Al Hasakah, Aleppo, Rakka and Al-Ghab), because of their high accuracy in time series analysis and prediction. Annual data of the production area and productivity of irrigated cotton crop during the period (1985-2012) was used. The results revealed that ARIMA model (1.0.0) is the most appropriate one for predicting the production area and productivity of cotton in Syria up till 2020 according to the statistical tests of the accuracy of predictive models. The results suggested an increase in area and productivity for the next eight years with an annual growth rate higher than the annual growth rate for the studied period (1985-2012), where the annual growth rates of the area and production were (0.48% and 0.30%), respectively.

Keywords: ARIMA models, Cotton , Syria.

Full paper in Arabic: PDF

Determination Some Indicators of Pregnancy Toxemia in Shami Goat During the Peripartum

Abdulnaser Al Omar*(1) and Yasin Mohammad Almohsen(2)

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

(2). Function Organs Department, Faculty of Veterinary, Hama University. Hama, Syria.

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

Received: 31/05/2016                           Accepted: 19/06/2016

Abstract

The study was carried out at Hama Research Center/Syria, during 2014/2015 season, using twenty-five heads of Shami goat in the late pregnancy period aiming to determine some indicators of pregnancy toxemia in Shami goat during the peripartum. The animals were classified into two groups, the first one was considered as control group, and the second group was an experimental group. The blood samples were taken from both groups in different stages of the late pregnancy using biochemistry tests (BHB, NEFA, glucose, total protein, albumin and triglyceride). A quick analyze of the PH and acetone in the urine were applicated, also tests of died goat liver were conducted. The clinical findings showed a loss in appetite, general weakness, a decrease in rumen movements and obstruction, but in the early stages the animals were tend to lend in parallel with nervous symptoms (weak vision or complete blindness, trembling in neck muscles, which twisted back), and before the death of the animal, the animal enter into a deep coma for one or two days. There was a significant (p≤ 0.01-0.001) increase in BHB and NEFA concentrations, and a significant (p≤0.05) decrease in glucose concentration (2-3 weeks of antepartum), and albumin one week before birth. There was a significant (p≤0.05) increase in Triglycerides concentration Tg one to three weeks of antepartum. It was noticed a tendency to acidosis of pH in the urine of the experiment group, also positive indicator (+++) in acetone, one week before birth. The anatomical characteristic of the dead animals showed weakness, empty intestine, uterus included two or three fetuses and inflating and white yellow or orange to yellow liver, with fatty texture and thick edges. The conclusion of the study confirmed the importunacy of some clinical-biochemical evaluations and acetone and pH tests of urine, in order to have early diagnosis, and to evaluate the risks of pregnancy toxemia in Shami goats before birth time, so this can help to take the proper procedures.

Key Words: Shami goat, Pregnancy Toxemia, NEFA, BHB, Glucose. 

Full paper in Arabic: PDF              

     

Effect of Salinity and Radiation on Regeneration of Two Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) Genotypes Callus In vitro

Saadoon AL-Ajeely(1) Shaza Yousif(2) and Zeinab AL-Hussaini*(2)

(1). Faculty of Girl Education, Kufa University, Kufa, Iraq.

(2). Agricultural Research Directorate, Center of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Baghdad, Iraq.

(*Correponding author: Dr. Zienab Al-Hussaini. E-Mail: zainab.goldy@yahoo.com).

Received: 07/12/2017                           Accepted: 24/01/2018

Abstract

Experiments were conducted to study effect of radiation and salt levels on plant regeneration from callus for two cultivars of potato i.e. Riviera and Burren, under in vitro condition. Results showed that the efficiency of radiation in induced regeneration from callus in Riviera cultivar at salt level of (10 dS m-1) and Burren cultivar at salt levels (8, 12 dS  m-1). For the purpose of making sure inheritance of salinity tolerant, mutant clones (plants induced from salt tolerant calli, which planted at salt levels of 8, 10, 12 dS m-1 and plants induced from non salt tolerant calli, which planted at salt level of 6 dS m-1) and their parental cultivars (Riviera and Burren) by exposing to salt stress conditions and comparing them with control (6 dS m-1). Results revealed that the lowest percentage of reduction in plant height, number of nods per plant and tuberization were observed in salt tolerant mutants. Plant height and number of nodes/plant can be considered as selective morphological markers for  in vitro salt tolerance .

Key words: Potato,  Radiation,  Salinity, Regeneration, in vitro. 

Full paper in Arabic: PDF

Effect of Several Factors on Micrografting of Navel Orange Using Different Rootstocks

Kinda Ibrahim*(1) Ali Al-Khateeb(1) Fahd Al-biski(2) and Khalil Al-Maarri(3)

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

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

(3). Horticulture Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Damascus University, Damascus, Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Eng. Kinda Ibrahim. E-Mail: kindaib@yahoo.com).

Received: 31/05/2016                           Accepted: 19/06/2016

Abstract

The research was conducted at Faculty of Agriculture, Damascus University/Syria, with the help of Scientific Agricultural Research Center in Latakia during 2013 and 2014seasons. Three rootstocks were used i.e. Sour orange, citrumelo and troyer citrange, to study some factors affecting the success of micrografting technique (concentrations and periods of sterilization, rootstock, shoot tip size, type of nutritive medium and the grafting method). The nutritive medium was prepared, and the shoot tips was isolated from Navel orange source, then the micrografting was done for the three rootstocks. The results showed that contamination and germination of seeds were affected by the concentration and period of sterilization. Also, this effect varied among the three rootstocks that were used. Success of grafting depended on the rootstocks. Citrumelo rootstock gave the highest grafting rate (54.17 %). Regarding shoot tip size, the results revealed that this character played a crucial role for the success of micrografting. The highest grafting rate was achieved (62.50%) by using shoot tips of about 1 mm sized. Also, the results showed that grafting method and nutritive medium had vital role on the success of micro-grafting. Micro-grafting rates were better by using liquid medium (45.83%) and with the application of inverted T-incision method (75%).

Key words: Navel orange, In vitro micrografting, Rootstocks.

Full paper in Arabic: PDF