Category Archives: Hurticulture

The Influence of IBA Auxin on Stem Cuttings Rooting of Some Prunus cerasia Blanche Shrubs

Mohammad Nizam*(1) Haitham Ismael(2) and Hafez Mahfoud(1)

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

(*Corresponding author: Eng. Mohammad Nizam. E-Mail: mohammad.nizam85@hotmail.com).

Received: 09/07/2018                                Accepted: 16/09/2018

Abstract

The research was carried out in 2017 on twenty-four shrubs of Prunus cerasia Blanche naturally prevailing in 12 sites in the Syrian coast to determine the ability of their stem cuttings to rooting after treatment with different concentrations of IBA (Indole-3 Butyric Acid): 1000, 2000 and 4000 ppm and the control. The findings showed that treatment (2000) ppm was the most significant and giving the highest rooting percentage, number of roots and root length for both wood and semi-wood cuttings. The shrubs LK1 and LK2 from Kassab location gave the best results for rooting of wood and semi-wood cuttings. LK1 shrub gave the highest rooting percentage, number of roots and root length for wood cuttings at concentration of 2000 ppm (26.66%, 4.33 root/cutting, 4.85 cm respectively). As for semi-wood cutting, the highest rooting percentage was for LK1 and LK2 shrubs at concentrations of (2000 and 4000) ppm (33.33)%, while the highest number of roots was for LK2 cuttings at concentration of (2000) ppm (6.19) root/cutting, and the highest root length was for LK1 cuttings at concentration of (2000) ppm (6.63) cm.

Key words: Wild plum, Stem cuttings, Prunus, IBA.

Full Paper in Arabic: PDF

Quantitative Flow of Water, Sugars and Organic Acids in Individual Grape Fruits During Maturity

Rezk Shahood*(1) and Charles Romieu(2)

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

(2). INRA, Montpellier, France.

(*Corresponding author: Dr. Rezk Shahood. E-Mail: rezk.sh@hotmail.com).

Received: 10/05/2019                                Accepted: 04/06/2019

Abstract

The study was conducted in order to compare the development of the individual grape fruit with those samples represented by the average number of asynchronous fruits in their development, so the flows of water, sugars and malic acid were determined in the individual fruits and their timing of development. The varieties of Pinot meunier and Syrah were used in the experimental SubAgro field, and the dwarf variety ML1 was used under laboratory-controlled conditions in Montpellier, France, during 2014/2015 season. The study was conducted using a single non-synchronized fruit (the ripening date not determined), and single fruits with defined ripening dates. The results showed non synchronicity at the beginning of sucrose storage, which is the main reason of fruits differentiation. Sugars import activity through the phloem started from softening and lasted for 26 days only. Sugar imports stopped at a concentration of 0.9 M, then sugar concentration is determined by shriveling in volume as a result of transpiration and evaporation.  Growth enhanced during the first six days after ripening, then resumed. Malic acid became the major respiratory element during early ripening, where its contribution decreased rapidly and stopped in two weeks only.

Key words:  Grapes, Fruits development, Metabolic flux, Sugars, Malic acid.

Full paper in Arabic: PDF

Study the Effect of Hybridization of Some Olive (Oleaeuropaea L.) Varieties on the Qualitative and Quantitative Characteristics of Fruits and Seeds

Tala Al Fozo*(1)

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

(*Corresponding author: Dr. Tala Al Fozo. E-Mail: talalfo544@gmail.com).

Received: 07/02/2018                                Accepted: 04/04/2018

Abstract

The study was conducted on some local olive varieties i.e. Al Beareny (♀) and Al Gellet (♀), and on some foreign olive varieties i.e. Al Zorzalina (♂), Al – Frantoio  (♂) and Picholine (♂), where grown in the genetic complex in Homs Agricultural Research Center, during 2016/2017, to study the effect of hybridization of the studied olive varieties on the qualitative and quantitative characteristics of fruits and seeds, and to determine the best pollinator of the studied varieties, besides to study the incompatibility of each olive variety. According to the cross-pollination between olive varieties i.e. Al Beareny(♀), AlKaissi(♂), Al Zorzalina (♂), and Al – Frantoio  (♂), the results showed that there were some changes in qualitative traits (fruits and seed shape), besides some quantitative changes (fruit and seed weight). It was noticed that self-compatibility of Al Beareny variety was partial. AlKaissi, Al Zorzalina and Al – Frantoio varieties cannot be used as good pollinators for Al Beareny. The results also exhibited the effect of hybridization Al Gellet (♀) variety with Picholine (♂) and AlDan (♂) on the quantitative traits of fruits and seed compared to the qualitative traits which did not influenced. Moreover, the self-compatibility of Al Gellet also was partial, and Picholineis is considered a good pollinator of AlGellet variety, while AlDan cannot be used as a good pollinator for Al Gellet.

Key words: Olea europaea L. Cross-pollination, Pollinator, Self-compatibility.

Full paper in Arabic: PDF

The Effect of Organic Farming System on Some Soil Characteristics and Productivity Indicators of Olive Variety Doebli

Ghada Kattmah* (1) Georges Makhoul(2) Soheel Makhool(1)  Mohamad Al Naddaf(2) Mohamad Ahmad(2) Nizar Hamoud(1) Wisam Massa(3)  and Mahmoud Dawood(4)

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

(2). Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Tishreen University Latakia, Syria.

(3). Barshen Research Station, Hamah Research Center, GCSAR, Damascus, Syria.

(4). Beit Kamouna Research Station, Tartous Research Center, GCSAR, Damascus, Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Dr. Ghada Kattmah. E-Mail: ghada978@gmail.com).

Received: 18/03/2018                                Accepted: 04/08/2018

Abstract

This research was conducted during the period (2015-2017) as a part of project included in the Cooperation Agreement between the Ministry of High Education and the General Commission of Agricultural Scientific Research (GCSAR) and was funded equally by two participating sides, in order to study the impact of the organic production system on soil properties and productivity indicators of olive variety “Doebli” in two sites: Moseif and Safita, the orchard in each site was divided into two plots with an area of 1 dunum. The first one is managed under the organic system according to Syrian Organic Law (sheep manure fertilizer: 2 tone/dunum, green manure grass pea: barley 9:1 in rate of 15 kg/dunum, excessive pruning in the year of heavy production and 3 tillages per year), while the second part was managed under the conventional practices used by farmer (chemical fertilizer NPK, Urea 46%: 500g/tree in two patches in March and April, potassium sulfate 50%: 300g/tree in March, superphosphate 45%: 300g/tree in November, balanced pruning, 5 tillages per year), and the two plots were separated by two lines of trees. The soil analysis was carried out before and after the organic and conventional treatments, as well as some indicators of productivity (the length of recent vegetative shoots, sex ratio and fruit set ratio). The results of soil analysis at the two sites showed that the organic treatment was significantly higher than its conventional counterparts in terms of organic matter, total nitrogen, phosphorus and potash. The effect of the experimental treatments appeared increasingly at the end of the second season, these elements were gradually released as a result of the fermentation of manure and green manure, and the release of organic acids in the soil. It was observed that the organic treatments were superior to the conventional ones in term of the length of recent vegetative growths (7.32, 3.39 cm, respectively), and the number of flowers per inflorescence which was 14.73 in the organic treatment compared to 12.53 in the conventional one, so the difference between the two treatments was significant, the superior revealed also in the sex ratio (2.74 and 2.11, respectively) and fruit set ratio (4.71 and 3.8%, respectively). This study confirmed the positive effect of the organic production system in improving the olive farm environment and the soil, in order to achieve more yield and production sustainability in farm by using safe and healthy environmental methods.

Key words: Olive, Organic treatment, Conventional treatment, Soil character, Productivity.

Full paper in Arabic: PDF

Studying Seeds Germination Physiology and Pollen Grains Palynology of Some Prunus cerasia Blanche Shrubs Prevailing in the Syrian Coast

Haitham Ismael(1) Hafez Mahfoud(2) and Mohammad Nizam*(1)

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

(2). Department of Biotechnology, General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research, Latakia, Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Eng. mohammad.nizam85@hotmail.com).

Received: 20/02/2018                                Accepted: 29/03/2018

Abstract

The research was carried during 2016 and 2017 to evaluate the physiological behavior of seed germination and micromorphological characterization of pollen grains using a light microscope as a comparative indicator for 24 shrubs of Prunus cerasia Blanche naturally prevailing on 12 sites of the Syrian coast. The results showed physiological similarity of the seeds within the same site and difference in different sites. So, the shrubs LK1 and LK2 in Kassab showed the highest and fastest germination percentage, followed by LD1 and LD2 in Al-Daliya site. However, the lowest and slowest germination percentage were for LRsh1 and LRsh2 in Ras al-Shamra site. Investigated pollen grains were similar: spherical, medium size and tri-apertures, but they were different in the average lengths of polar and equator axes. LRsh1 and LRsh2 in Ras al-Shamra site were significant than other shrubs. The investigated shrubs were also variant in the dimensions of anthers and number of pollen grains within the anther. A direct relation was noticed between the anther dimensions and number of pollen grains in the anther for all studied shrubs.

Keywords: Wild plum, Prunus cerasia, Pollen grains.

Full paper in Arabic: PDF

Study of Relationship Within Some Species of Genus Astragalus in the Syrian Flora Using Seeds Characteristics

Walid Ali Ali *(1)

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

(*Corresponding author. Dr. Walid Ali. E-Mail: botanist.waleed2014@gmail.com).

Received: 02/05/2018                                Accepted: 01/10/2018

Abstract

Morphological, anatomical and physic-mechanical characters were studied for 10 Astragalus species which were: A. asterias , A. boeticus , A. brachyceras , A. corrugatus , A. guttatus , A. hamosus , A. oxyglottis , A. schemperi , A. tribuloides and A. trimestris at El Jemmaseh Station, Tartous Research Center in 2017/2018, to characterize the seeds of the studied species and  determine the importance of these characters at systematic in classification and genetic relationship within the same genus. The results of cluster analysis exhibited two main groups with similarity level of 25. The first group included one species A. boeticus, while the second group split into two sub-groups which included: A. hamosus, A. trimestris, A. asterias, A. oxyglottis, A. brachyceras, A. tribuloides, A. corrugatus and A. guttatus.

Key Words: Astragalus, Seeds, Morphology traits, Physic-mechanical traits.

Full paper in Arabic: PDF

Micropropagation of Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) Khadhrawy cv.

Wathiq Abdulmajeed*(1) Zahra Al- Hattab(1) Mahmood Al- Ani(1) Shuker Ebraheem(1) and Jabbar Jabr(1)

(1). Department of Genetic Engineering, Biotechnology Center, Ministry of Science and Technology, Baghdad, Iraq.

(*Corresponding author: Dr. Wathiq Abdulmajeed. E-Mail:zainab.goldy@yahoo.com).

Received: 06/04/2019                                Accepted: 03/08/2019

Abstract

This research was conducted at the Tissue Culture Laboratory, Department of Genetic Engineering, Directorate of Agriculture Research, Ministry of Science and Technology, Iraq, in 2017. The main objective was to establish the best method for In Vitro micropropagation of Khadhrawy economical Iraqi date palm cultivar. Shoot tips, lateral buds and leaf primordial were detached from the offshoots and surface was sterilized with 1% sodium hypochlorite with Tween 20. Explants were cultured on modified MS medium supplemented with 10 mg.l-1 of NAA, 10 mg.l-1 2,4-D, 10 mg.l-1 NAA+ 2 mg.l-1 2,4-D or 10 mg.l-1 2,4-D + 2 mg.l-1  NAA for callus initiation. Induced calli were transferred to regeneration medium. Regenerated shoots were rooted on medium supplemented with 1 mg.L-1 IBA. The results showed that the highest quality of calli was induced on medium supplemented with 10 mg.l-1 2,4-D + 2 mg.l1  NAA which was significantly different from the other treatments. Moreover, the shoot tips were the best explants to induce calli from Khadrawy cultivar compared with leaf primordial and lateral buds. The interaction analysis showed that the highest quantity of calli was produced from shoot tips cultured on medium supplemented with 10 mg.l-1  2,4-D + 2 mg.l-1  NAA which was highly significant from  all other combinations, while the lowest quantity of calli was produced from lateral buds cultured on medium supplemented with 10 mg.l-1 NAA. The average number of plants regenerated from 0.5 g calli was 30 after 2 months. The rooted shoots were successfully acclimatized and transferred to the nursery.

Keywords: Date palm, Khadhrawy c.v., Micropropagation, 2,4-D, NAA

Full paper in English: PDF

Generate Identification Key of Some Wild Trifolium L. Species Distributed in Syria Using Decision Tree

Aya Kanawaty*(1) Naseh Olabi(2) and Ali Shehadeh(3)

(1). Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Aleppo University, Syria.

(2). International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), Aleppo, Syria.

(3). International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), Egypt.

(*Corresponding author: Dr. Aya Kanawaty. E-Mail: aya.kanawaty87@gmail.com).

Received: 01/08/2017                                Accepted: 20/02/2018

Abstract

Identification key of 60 species of Trifolium L. were made by using 84 morphological characters for seeds, which planted under greenhouse conditions and then when they were grown, and were compared with local floras for identifying, or as herbarium specimen. The 84 morphological characters studied were concern about habit, stem, leaf, stipule, inflorescence, peduncle, bracts, pedicel, calyx, corolla, fruiting head and seeds. All data was entered to Orange program (C4.5) to make decision tree. Results showed that 60 species of Trifolium L. could be identified with a limited number of characters (7 specific characters) compared with local floras, which require whole plant material to be identified, so that, there were selective character could separate species from each other, which could help researcher in plant taxonomy.

Keywords: Wild species, Trifolium, Identification key, Decision tree, Syria.

Full Paper in Arabic: PDF

In vitro Conservation of Guava (Psidium guajava L.) var. Al-Baladi

Rehab Al Mousa*(1) Neveen Hassan(2) Ramzy Stino(3) and Amina Gomaa(3)

(1). Department of Biotechnology, General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research, Damascus, Syria.

(2). National Gene Bank and Genetic Resources, Agricultural Research Center, Giza, Egypt.

(3). Pomology Department, Faculty of agriculture, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt.

(*Corresponding author: Dr. Rehab Al Mousa. E-Mail: bebo_moussa13@yahoo.com).

Received: 04/01/2018                                Accepted: 06/02/2018

Abstract

This study was conducted at the National Gene Bank, Egypt, from 2012 to 2014; to find out in vitro conservation protocol of guava (Psidium guajava L. var. Al-Baladi). The medium-term conservation study was initiated at 10 and 15°C under complete darkness conditions. Shoot tip explants were cultured on MS medium with different concentrations (3.0, 4.0, 5.0 and 6.0%) of sucrose or sorbitol. After 6 months of conservation, up to 83.33% of explants survived on medium with 5.0% sorbitol at 15ºC, while the same survival% (66.67%) was noticed when explants conserved on medium with 6.0% of sorbitol at 15ºC and on medium with 5.0 or 6.0% of sorbitol at 10ºC. Regeneration%, shoot number of explant and shoot length were not affected by osmotic concentrations. Meanwhile, all explants lost their ability to regenerate new shoots when conserved for 6 months on medium with 3.0% sucrose (control) at 10ºC. Guava seeds recorded 100% germination when desiccated for 6 h before cryopreservation in liquid nitrogen.

Keywords: Guava, Medium-term conservation, Sucrose, Sorbitol, Cryopreservation, Desiccation.

Full Paper in Arabic: PDF

Growth Characters and Dynamic of Some Apple Genotypes Selected as Rootstock

Ola Al-Halabi*(1) Bayan Muzher(1) and Faisal Hamed(2)

(1). Pome and Grapevine Division, Sweida Research Center, General Commission for Scientific Agriculture Research (GCSAR), Damascus Syria.

(2). Faculty of Agriculture, Damascus University, Damascus, Syria.

(*Corresponding author: Dr. Ola Al-Halabi. E-Mail: ola_halabi@msn.com).

Received: 06/01/2018                                Accepted: 23/03/2018

Abstract

This research was conducted at Pome and Grapevine Division in Sweida Research Center, GCSAR, during 2011-2012, to study growth characters and dynamic of five apple genotypes selected as rootstocks, through studying the changes in primary and secondary shoots length, and the number of leaves during the growth season, in addition to their length, leaves number and spiny shoots at the end of growth season of one year seedlings. The results showed differences among studied genotypes in growth dynamic during the growing season, and synchronization between structure units (primary and secondary shoots), this was clearly through significant values of auto and cross correlation coefficients, which correlated with the height and the decrease in growth rate according to the genotype. At the end of the growing season, the genotype S distinguished by highest average primary shoot of (77.9 cm) and secondary shoots (53.1 cm), these were in significant with genotype A. The differences in the average of total leaves number were insignificant among studied genotypes, and genotype B have significantly the highest number of spines on primary shoot (11 spines) with A, S and H, and on secondary shoots (13 spines) with C, S and H. Consequently, these results help to know the mechanism of rootstocks which affect the growth of cultivar scion.

Keyword: Apple Malus spp., Rootstock, Growth dynamic, Primary and secondary shoots.

Full Paper in Arabic: PDF