Estimation of Potence Ratio and Heterosis for Some Quantitative Traits in Single Hybrids of Yellow MaizeEstimation of Potence Ratio and Heterosis for Some Quantitative Traits in Single Hybrids of Yellow Maize **(Zea Mays L.)**

Reem Saleem Ali^*(1) Samir AL-Ahmad⁽²⁾ Bolous Khoury⁽³⁾

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

(2). Agricultural Research Center of Tartous, GCSAR, Damascus, Syria.

(3). Field Crops Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Tishreen University, Latakia, Syria.

(* Corresponding author: Eng. Reem Ali. E-Mail: m.reem.s.ali@gmail.com).

Received: 22/07/2018 Accepted: 08/10/2018

Abstract

The present research was conducted at the Agriculture Scientific Research Center in Latakia to estimate heterosis and potence ratio for plant height, ear height, ear length, number of rows per ear, 100 seeds weight, and grain yield. Thirty hybrids produced using Line × Tester method (10 × 3) in 2015 season which were evaluated during 2016 season. Results indicated that most of hybrids revealed desirable heterosis values compared with mid and better parents for all of studied traits. The hybrids (IL.21×IL.155), (IL.21× IL.358) and (IL.21× IL.1) showed highly significant and positive heterosis values relative to mid and better parent in grain yield. Results of potence ratio indicated that inheritance of grain yield, plant height, ear length and number of rows per ear, were controlled by over dominance for all of hybrids, while inheritance of ear height and 100 seeds weight were controlled by over dominance for most of hybrids and partial dominance for some of hybrid’s behavior.

Key words: Maize, Heterosis, Potence ratio, Grain yield.

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**Study of Genetic Variability and Traits Correlations in Some Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) Genotypes under Wet and Dry Conditions in Syria**

Abdullatef Ahmad Al-Assaf^*(¹⁾ Mohammad Shafik Hakim⁽²⁾ Mohammad Fadi Basmaji⁽¹⁾ and Stefania Grando⁽³⁾

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

(2). Department of Field Crops, Faculty of Agriculture, Aleppo University, Aleppo, Syria.

(3) . International Center of Agricultural Research in Dry Area (ICARDA), Aleppo, Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Eng. Abdullatef Ahmad Al-Assaf. E-Mail: a.alassaf74@gmail.com).

Received: 14/10/2018 Accepted: 29/11/2018

Abstract

The experiment was conducted at Tal Hadya and Houmeimeh Agricultural Stations in Aleppo Research Center, General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Researche (GCSAR) during 2008/2009 and 2009/2010 seasons. Forty-three barley genotypes were used with three replications under RCBD design. The aim of the research was to study the phenotypic, genetic and environmental variability, heritability, genetic and phenotypic correlations. Genotypes were evaluated for plant height, spike length, grain number per spike, thousand grains weight and grain yield, besides some root traits. The results showed a large variability within studied traits. The genetic and phenotypic variances were larger than environmental variance for most traits. The highest value of heritability was 91.12% for plant high. Under dry conditions, plant growth was significantly decreased as measured by all characters. The percentages of reduction, ranged from 66.96 % to 1.90 % for grain yield and grain weight, respectively. The injury index ranged from 2,03 to 0.02 for grain yield and grain weight, respectively. The correlation coefficients among characters were nearly the same in the wet and dry locations. Positive and highly significant correlation (r=0.95**) was found between the percentage of reduction and injury index. Using GGE Biplot the genotypes were arranged in three groups that varied in their tolerance to drought stress. The genotypes 4, 17, 16, 18, and 28 were tolerant to drought stress.

Key words: Barley, Genotypic variation, Genotypic correlation, Injury index, Drought tolerance.

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Using Carbon Isotope Discrimination Technique as a Selection Tool for High Water Use Efficiency Genotypes in Wheat

Abdulwahid Abdullah Saif*⁽¹⁾ Hazem Hezam Alashwal⁽¹⁾ Aref Abdulbaqi Alshamiri⁽¹⁾ and Ammar Wahbi⁽²⁾

(1). Agricultural Research and Extension Authority (AREA), Yemen.

(2). Seibersdorf Laboratories, Vienna, Austria.

(*Corresponding author: Dr. Abdulwahid Abdullah Saif. E-mail: amozaid@yahoo.com).

Received: 21/01/2019 Accepted: 24/03/2019

Abstract

A factorial experiment was carried at the Research Farm of the Northern Highlands Regional Research Station during spring seasons 2014 and 2015 to evaluate six local durum wheat genotypes for water use efficiency and the effect of water stress on grain productivity using carbon isotope discrimination technique. Four irrigation treatments were used as main treatments with the following mode of adding water irrigation. T1: 70 mm. 10 days interval (farmers practices as a control), T2: 55 mm. 10 days interval, T3: 55 mm14 days interval and 55 mm. 18 days interval. Split plot design was used for experimentation with three replications. Results showed a variation was detected among genotypes to water stress treatments and this was reflected on growth parameters and grain productivity. The advanced line No.29 * local var. Alass25 (Shara No.154) and advanced line No. 35 were surpassed in most growth indicators and grain productivity than the other genotypes including the Arabi variety which attained the lowest values. The advanced line No.29 * local var. Alass25 (Shara No.154) attained a higher water use efficiency at the irrigation treatment T3 (55 mm every 14 days) with no significant difference in grain productivity of the treatment T1 (70 mm every 10 days) saving irrigation water of about 29.9% with decrease in grain productivity by 13.64%. In general, T2V2, T1V2, T2V3 treatments attained the highest means in grain yield over the two seasons. A positive correlation was found between Δ_grain, Δl_eave, grain yield and some growth indicators of genotypes. There were significant differences between the studied genotypes in terms of content of carbon isotope discrimination Δ13C in grain and leaves. This indicator was reflected in the differences in a variation of water use efficiency and grain yield. With regards of the averages of genotypes, the advanced line models No.29 * local var. Alass25 (Shara No.154) and advanced line No. 35 surpassed the other in grain yield and gave averages of 1543 and 1430 kg/ha, respectively. However, T1 and T2 treatments were significantly increased the other treatments. T1 attained the highest values of 1481, 1373 and 1427 kg/ha in 2014 and 2015 seasons and the average of the two seasons, respectively, according to the water use efficiency and carbon isotope discrimination indicators for the studied genotypes it can be concluded that the advanced line models No.29 * local var. Alass25 (Shara No.154) and advanced line No. 35 were the best under T1 and T2 irrigation treatments.

Key words: Carbon Isotope Discrimination, Wheat genotypes, Water use efficiency.

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**Combining Ability Estimation of Earliness Traits and Yield Components in Some Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) Genotypes**

Saleh Saleh⁽¹⁾ Mohammed Shafik Hakim⁽¹⁾ Abdullah Al-Yousef^*(2) and Ahmed Shams ElDien Shaaban⁽³⁾

(1). Department of Field Crops, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering, University of Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria.

(2). Aleppo Agricultural Research Center, General Community for Scientific Agricultural Research (GCSAR), Damascus, Syria.

(3). Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Faculty of Technical Engineering, University of Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria.

(* Corresponding author: Dr. Addullah Al-Youssef. E-Mail: dr.abdalyoussef@gmail.com).

Received: 19/03/2018 Accepted: 19/04/2018

Abstract

The research was conducted at Al_Sfireh location in Aleppo during 2015/2016 and 2016/207 seasons to estimate general combining ability GCA and specific combining ability SCA for seven genotypes of barley. Three of them were local: Arabi Aswad (P1), Arabi Abyad (P2) and Furat 3 (P3), and four entries were: Alanda-01 (P4), Rihan-03 (P5), Arizona (P6) and Avit (P7). Half-Diallel cross system were preformed between parents at first season. In the second season, parents and hybrids were planted to study days to heading (DTH), days to maturity (DTM), fertile tillering number per plant (FT), grain number per main spike (GN) and thousand kernel weight (TKW). The parents p1 and p3 showed a high general combining ability for the most studied traits. The hybrid (P1×P3) had significant value for SCA effects in most studied traits. The hybrids: (P4×P6, P5×P7, P4×P5) had significant value for SCA effects for (GN). Variance component of GCA and SCA were highly significant, and this indicates to the importance of additive and non-additive gene action in inheritance of the studied traits. The ratio of GCA/SCA was less than 1.0 for DTH, DTM and TKW and this indicates to importance of dominant and over dominant genes in inheritance of these traits. Whereas the ratio was bigger than 1.0 for FT and GN and this indicates to importance of accumulated genes in inheritance of these traits

Key Words: Half-Diallel cross, Combining ability, Earliness, Yield, Barley.

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The Effect of Planting Date on the Morphological Traits of Some Sweet Corn Genotypes (Zea mays L. saccharata. sturt)

Loubna Nasr Haidar^*(1)

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

(*Corresponding author: Dr. Lounna Nasr Haidar. E-Mail: lubnanaser82@gmail.com).

Received: 01/02/2018 Accepted: 02/03/2018

Abstract

The present research carried out at AL Salamieh city, Hama Governorate, during the season 2015, aiming to evaluate the morphological traits of three genotypes of sweet corn i.e Faihaa1, Randevo and Snekofa Karaliva under the effect of different sowing dates; 1^st and 15^th April, in order to determine the best variety and the most suitable sowing date in spring season. The results showed that the morphological traits of Faihaa1 genotype was higher than those of Randevo and Snekofa Karaliva in the first sowing date (1^st April), and the increase of ear length recorded (1.78-1.48 cm), and height of plant recorded in Faihaa1 and Randevo and Snekofa Karaliva were (130.95, 71.11 and 68.33 cm) respectively. Also, the results showed that there was a significant increase in kernel diameter, leaf area, and stem diameter in Faihaa1, comparing to Randevo and Snekofa Karaliva, while the highest ear length and kernel diameter were at the beginning of April for all genotypes.

Key words: Sweet corn, Genotypes, Sowing dates.

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Individual Selection in a Local population of (Zea mays L.) for the Most Important Economic Characteristics under Saline Stress Conditions

Mohammed Nael Khattab^*(1)Majd Darwish⁽¹⁾ and Alaa Merhej⁽¹⁾

(1). Crops Field Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Tishreen University, Latakia, Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Dr. Mohammed Nael Khattab. E-Mail: blackdream.m1991@gmail.com).

Received: 06/12/2018 Accepted: 17/01/2019

Abstract

The research was carried out in the coastal region (Beit Yashout village of Jibla district) and in the laboratories of the Faculty of Agriculture, Tishreen University during 2018 season to estimate the individual plants of a local population of Zea maize L. (Gouta 82) for the most important phenological, morphological, physiological and production characteristics under irrigation with saline water and different stages of growth. The selected plants, which were salt tolerance and had high yield will be introduced in subsequent breeding studies. All of the genotypes were divided into 7 treatments: (T1) was irrigated with normal water (control), saline stress was measured at 6 mL / cm³ concentration at the stages of seedling (T2), 6 leaf (T3), seedling and 6 leaf (T4), and saline stress was measured at 12 mL/cm³ at the stages of seedling (T5), 6 leaf (T6), seedling and 6 leaf (T7), (12 were conducted during the research season taking into account the specificity of quantity and content of each irrigation(. The salinity resulted in a decrease in the values of some traits such as the number of grains per ear, number of rows ear, ear length, weight of grains per ear and ear weight in all the treatments, and more decrease was noticed at the concentration of 12 millimes compared to the concentration of 6 millimes, especially in the treatments (T4), (T6) and T7. The values of diameter and length of the plant, especially in the treatments (5T), (T6) and (T7), the number of days until maturity, the concentration of proline in the irrigation treatment (T3), and the leaf area index in the treatment (T7) and (T4(. Salinity also increased values of some traits such as the number of rows under salinity in (T2), (T3) and (T5), and the leaf area index in the treatment (T3), (T5) and (T6(, days to maturity, and proline concentration in treatments (5T), (T6) and (T7), and the diameter of the spike (T2 and T3) and plant length in the treatment (T2). Some selected plants from Goata82 were distinguished by their various parameters (superior plants) of the number of days until maturity (plant number 37) (119 days), plant length (plant number 42) (275 cm), leaf area index (plant number 21) (6.71), ear length (plant number 13) (18cm), ear diameter (plant number 10) (5.41cm), number of rows per ear (plant number 46) (20 row), number of kernel per ear (plant number 9) (469), ear grain weight (plant number 16) (185g) and ear weight (plant number 16) (260g).

Key words: (Zea mays L.), Saline stress, Gouta82, Individual selection.

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**Confronting Climate Changes by Detecting New Planting Dates of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in Algeria**

Yaseen BouBazin^*(1)

(1). Research Unit, The National Algerian Institute of Agricultural Research (INRAA/URC), Constantine, Algeria.

(*Corresponding author: Dr. Yaseen BouBazin. E-Mail: yboubazine@yahoo.fr).

Received: 29/12/2018 Accepted: 24/03/2019

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out at the field station of the village of Bounouara in Constantine, Algeria, during the agricultural seasons 2016/2017 and 2017/2018, with the aim of studying the impact of four agricultural dates (14^th November, 1^st December, 2^nd January and 17^th January). Seven soft wheat varieties (Plateaus, Cedar, Ein ebeid, Arhamocho, Tides, Masin and Pomerzov), according to the design of split plot with three replicates. The results showed that agricultural traits had a significant effect on the phenological stages, plants height and grain yield and its components. The results showed that the decrease in blooming stage in a percentage of 22.52% led to a decrement in plant height (20.81%), number of spikelet (14.02%), number of kernels (12.53%), 1000 kernel weight (10.92%) and grain yield (69.96%). The varieties differed within each other, where the variety Plateaus was the most adaptability and stability one in Bounouara with a grain yield of 4456 Kg/ha. The study recommends taking into consideration the life cycle of wheat varieties when grown, where at the early dates the long-life wheat varieties should be sown, and vice versa.

Keyword: Climate changes, Agricultural dates, Soft wheat, Productivity, Adaptation.

Full Paper in Arabic: PDF

TheAhmed Moursy^(1) and Mazen Ismail⁽¹⁾(1). Soil and Water Research Department, Nuclear Research Center, Atomic Energy Authority, Abou-Zaabl, Egypt.(Corresponding author: Ahmed Moursy. E-mail address ahmad1a2m3@yahoo.com).Received: 07/04/2019 Accepted: 11/05/2019AbstractAn experiment was conducted at the Soils and Water Research Department, Nuclear Research Center, Atomic Energy Authority, Egypt, in the year 2018, to study the effect of gamma radiation at different doses (zero, 40, 80 and 160 Gy) on growth and yield of wheat fertilized with 0.0, 120 and 240 N kg ha^-1 as urea fertilizer. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with three replicates. Results revealed that, straw and grains yields were significantly fluctuated between the increase and decrease, furthermore, under 80 Gy gamma rays, the highest value was 15.677 kg plot^-1, observed at rate of 240 N kg ha^-1 in addition to 80 Gy. Grains increased compared to all treatments and control. Under gamma rays, the highest values of straw and grains were 9.974 kg plot^-1 and 15.677 kg plot^-1 observed rate of 240 kg ha^-1 plus dose of 40 and 80 Gy radiation respectively. The data indicated that, N uptake by straw and grains, in non-irradiated treatments, were significantly increased with increasing the doses of nitrogen fertilizer levels 100 kg N fed^-1 and gamma rays dose up to 80 Gy. Furthermore, the highest N uptake of 98.3 g plot^-1 and 181.1 g plot^-1were observed at rate of 240 kg N ha^-1 in addition to zero Gy, compared to control, whereas, under doses 80 Gy the highest values of N uptake were 120.1 g plot^-1 and 195 g plot^-1 which recorded with straw weight and grains yield, respectively.The Effect of Gamma Rays and Different levels of Nitrogen Fertilizer on the Productivity of Wheat (Triricum aestivum L.)

Ahmed Moursy^*(1) and Mazen Ismail⁽¹⁾

(1). Soil and Water Research Department, Nuclear Research Center, Atomic Energy Authority, Abou-Zaabl, Egypt.

(*Corresponding author: Ahmed Moursy. E-mail address ahmad1a2m3@yahoo.com).

Received: 07/04/2019 Accepted: 11/05/2019

Abstract

An experiment was conducted at the Soils and Water Research Department, Nuclear Research Center, Atomic Energy Authority, Egypt, in the year 2018, to study the effect of gamma radiation at different doses (zero, 40, 80 and 160 Gy) on growth and yield of wheat fertilized with 0.0, 120 and 240 N kg ha^-1 as urea fertilizer. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with three replicates. Results revealed that, straw and grains yields were significantly fluctuated between the increase and decrease, furthermore, under 80 Gy gamma rays, the highest value was 15.677 kg plot^-1, observed at rate of 240 N kg ha^-1 in addition to 80 Gy. Grains increased compared to all treatments and control. Under gamma rays, the highest values of straw and grains were 9.974 kg plot^-1 and 15.677 kg plot^-1 observed rate of 240 kg ha^-1 plus dose of 40 and 80 Gy radiation respectively. The data indicated that, N uptake by straw and grains, in non-irradiated treatments, were significantly increased with increasing the doses of nitrogen fertilizer levels 100 kg N fed^-1 and gamma rays dose up to 80 Gy. Furthermore, the highest N uptake of 98.3 g plot^-1 and 181.1 g plot^-1were observed at rate of 240 kg N ha^-1 in addition to zero Gy, compared to control, whereas, under doses 80 Gy the highest values of N uptake were 120.1 g plot^-1 and 195 g plot^-1 which recorded with straw weight and grains yield, respectively.

Key word: Nitrogen fertilizer, Gamma rays, Wheat.

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**The Effect of Planting Dates and Varieties Interaction on Productivity and Some Morphological and Qualitative Traits of Fodder Beet (Beta vulgaris var. crassa)**

Ahmad Mohanna⁽¹⁾ Entessar Al-Jbawi^*(2) and Julnar Mansour⁽¹⁾

(1). Crops Department, Faculty of Agriculture, AL Baath University, Homs, Syria

(2). Sugar beet Research Department, Crops Research Administration, General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research (GCSAR), Damascus, Syria.

(^*Corresponding author: dr.entessara@gmail.com, dr.entessara@gcsar.gov.sy).

Received: 21/04/2019 Accepted: 07/05/2019

Abstract

Fodder beet is a high production crop, and is a very promising crop to be grown in Syria, and attention has grown to the cultivation of this crop. However, recommended agronomic practices for maximizing productivity are limited. A field experiment was conducted in season 2017/2018 to study the effect of planting date and varieties interaction on the production, and some qualitative and morphological traits of five fodder beet cultivars (Caribou, Varians, SV Four 16, Tarine and Lipari). The experiment was a randomized complete block design (RCBD) in split plots arrangement with three replicates, planting dates (mid Feb. and mid Mar.) were assigned to the main plots and fodder beet cultivars were allotted to the sub plots. The results of the statistical analysis exhibited the superiority of mid Feb. date as compared with mid-March for all the studied traits. Varieties exhibited highly significant (p≤0.05) differences in most of the studied characteristics except plant number per hectare. Lipari and Tarine surpassed the other varieties in terms of the production, morphology and qualitative traits. The conclusion is to plant fodder beet in mid-February time in Homs, Syria, to attain the highest yield, and quality traits of fodder beet crop. Also, the study recommends further trials identify optimum agronomic practices especially harvesting date, fertilization and spacing in the other sites in Syria.

Key words: Planting date, Fodder beet, Production, Morphological and qualitative traits.

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**Sugar Beet (Beta vulgaris L.) Seedlings Response to Potassium and Foliar Spray of Methanol under Drought Conditions Induced by Poly Ethylene Glycol (PEG-6000)**

Fadi Abbas *⁽¹⁾ Entessar AL-Jbawi ⁽²⁾ and Mahmoud Al–Hamdan⁽³⁾

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

(2). Sugar beet Research Department, Crops Research Administration, GCSAR, Damascus, Syria.

(3). Natural Resources Directorate, Scientific Agriculture Research Center of Homs, GCSAR, Damascus, Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Dr. Fadi Abbas. E-Mail: fadiab77@gmail.com).

Received: 24/09/2018 Accepted: 14/11/2018

Abstract

This experiment was conducted at Homs Agriculture Research Center Lab, during 2014, using two monogerm sugar beet varieties (Rival and Semper), to study the effects of drought induced by polyethylene glycol (PEG-6000) on seedling stage, and the role of potassium and foliar spray of methanol in reducing the negative effects of drought. Plants thinned to one plant per polyethylene sac which contains 10 kg of soil. Three osmotic solutions (0, -3, -6 bar) were applied, using three levels of potassium sulfate (0, 1.5, 3 g/plant), besides spraying 25% of methanol (four times), one week after emergence, then one-week interval between treatments. Results showed a significant effect of osmotic potential on growth stages, because of that, the time needed to complete each stage increased with decreasing osmotic potential level. Potassium had no significant effect on the early growth stages (germination, cotyledon pairs), while this factor affected the following stages (first, second and third true leaves pairs) significantly. Methanol had no significant effect on the early growth stages (germination, cotyledon pairs and first true leaves pairs), while it affected the following stages (second and third true leaves pairs) significantly. The values of leaves dry matter, leaves area and net assimilation rate decreased with the reduction of osmotic potential, and the differences were significant. Also, potassium and methanol enhanced growth, and had a positive effect on these attributes significantly. Rival variety surpassed Semper in all of studied attributes.

Key Words: Drought stress, Potassium, Methanol, Seedling, Sugar beet.

Full paper in Arabic: PDF

Loubna Nasr Haidar*(1)

Loubna Nasr Haidar^*(1)