Category Archives: v6n2-2019

The First Record of the Parasite Zombie fly (Apocephalus borealis Brues) on Honey Bee Apis mellifera in Syria

Menos Assad*(1)

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

(*Corresponding author: Eng. Menos Assad. E-Mail: menos.asaad@hotmail.com).

Received: 01/06/2018                                Accepted: 01/07/2018

Abstract

Honey bee colonies are infected by numerous pests like pathogens and parasites, which cause Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) phenomenon, where the infected foragers left their hives at night and dying shortly thereafter. Zombie fly (Apocephalus borealis), is considered one of the parasites that attacks honey bees in many countries in the world. Samples of adult honey bees were collected from two locations in latakia. This study confirmed the first record of Apocephallus borealis in honey bees in Syria.

Key words: Honey bee, Zombie fly, Apocephalus borealis, Syria.

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-1 were 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-1 were 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.

Full Paper in English: PDF

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.

Full Paper in English: PDF

Limestone Dust as an Abiotic Disease Factor Affecting Vegetables and Olives in Palestine

Hazem Sawalha*(1) Lamya Shalabi(1) and Anan Hussein(2) and Nasser Sholi(1)

(1). Department of Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Sciences, Arab American University, Palestine.

(2). Department of Physics, Faculty of Sciences, Arab American University, Palestine.

(*Corresponding author: Dr. Hazem Sawalha. E-Mail: hazem.sawalha@aaup.edu).

Received: 28/01/2019                                Accepted: 25/03/2019

Abstract

An experiment was carried out in 2011 to study the effect of limestone dust of quarries on agricultural crops of vegetables and olive trees. The effect of such dust on vegetables including tomato and pepper plants was studied in the open fields of the Arab American University of Jenin (AAUJ). In addition, the effect of such dust was studied on olive orchards nearby quarries in Qabatya region. The Two-Sample Test of Proportions (TSTP) was used as a statistical method to analyze data obtained from the studied regions. The results showed that plant exposure to dust causes drastic negative effect on leaf surface area and productivity for both vegetable crops and olive trees. Chlorophyll content and flowering percentages of pepper plants decreased with increasing the amount of dust. Furthermore, the results revealed that long-term exposure of olive trees to dust decreases oil productivity by 55.3-84.4% and minimizes the percentage of seed maturity and germination percentages.

Keywords: Limestone dust, Olive trees, Vegetable, Palestine.

Full Paper in English: PDF

The First Record of crossopriza maculipes (Araneae, Pholcidae) in Iraq

Shurooq Abdullah Najim*(1)  and Azhar Mohammed Al-Khazali(2)

(1). Natural History Museum, Universty of Basrah, Basrah, Iraq.

(2). Department of Science, Branch Biology, College of Basic Education, University of Sumer, Thi Qar. Iraq.

(*Corresponding auther: Dr. Shurooq Abdullah Najim. E-Mail: shurooqarachnida@gmail.com).

Received: 12/04/2019                                Accepted: 18/05/2019

Abstract

The species Crossopriza maculipes (Spassky, 1934) was recorded in Iraq for the first time. The specimens were collected from six locations of Basrah province, which located south of Iraq (Al-mdaina, Al-hwair, Shatalarab, Abulkhaseeb, Safwan and Alzubair), during the period 1 December 2017-1 December 2018.

Key words: First record Crossopriza maculipes, Iraq, Pholcidae.

Full Paper in English: PDF

Allelopathic Effects of Sodom Apple (Calotropis  procera L.) on Seed Germination and Seedling Growth of Some Poaceous Crops

Awadallah Belal Dafaalla* (1) and Salwa Gadkareem Osman(1)

(1). Crop Protection Department, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Gezira, Sudan.

(*Corresponding author. Dr. Awadallah Belal Dafaallah. E-mail: awadna@hotmail.com; awadna@uofg.edu.sd)

Received: 22/01/2019                                Accepted: 24/03/2019

Abstract

Laboratory and greenhouse experiments were conducted at the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Gezira, Sudan in 2014/15 season to study the allelopathic effect of aqueous extract and powder of sodom apple (Calotropis procera L.) leaves on seed germination and seedling growth of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor [L.] Moench), millet (Pennisetum glaucum [L.] R. Br.), maize (Zea mays L.) and wheat (Triticum vulgare L.). Treatments were arranged in completely randomized design with four replicates. Data were subjected to analysis of variance (P £ 0.05) and means were separated using LSD test. The results showed that the leaves aqueous extract of sodom apple significantly reduced seed germination and there was direct relationship between concentration and reduction in germination. Also, the results showed that incorporating the leaves powder into the soil at the rate of 1 – 5%, significantly, reduced plant height, number of leaves, and root length of crop seedlings as well as plant fresh and dry weight. In addition, the reduction in seedling growth was increased as the leaves powder increased in the soil. This study confirmed that the sodom apple had allelopathic effects on seed germination and seedling growth of the poaceous crops. Therefore, isolation and identification of allelochemical compounds from this plant could provide means to minimize their negative effects over the cultivated plants and potentially could provide structural models for the development of bio-herbicides.

Keywords: Allelopathic; Calotropis; Sorghum; Millet; Maize; Wheat.

Full paper in English: PDF