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Assessment of genetic variability is crucial in developing new genotypes with desired yield and quality traits. This evaluation allows breeders to identify superior germplasm, breeding genotypes with specific combinations, and enhance crop performance across diverse environmental conditions. Hence, this study aimed to study the performance of ten eggplant genotypes (Solanum melongena L.); i.e., Little Fingers (LF), Ping Tung (PT), Antigua (An), Aswad (As), Japanese White Egg (JWE), Apple Green (AG), Rotonda Bianca Stumata di Rosa (BSR), Korean Red (KR), Black Oblong (BO) and Black Very Long (BL). In addition, to explore genetic advance and correlation among studied traits under three intra-row plant spacings, (30, 45 and 60 cm). The study was performed at Zagazig District, Egypt during the two successive summer seasons of 2017 and 2018. The results indicated significant variation among the tested genotypes.The broad sense heritability (hb 2) exhibited the highest percentage at narrow planting spaces and decreased with increased spaces in all studied traits. Broad sense heritabilities were moderate magnitude for number of branches (39% and 30.9%) at 45 and 60 cm spaces, respectively. Genetic advance (GA %) was high for all studied traits except number of branches. High heritability estimates and a high predicted genetic advance indicated that these qualities and genotypes could be effective in developing breeding programs to increase fruit quality and yield. Strong genetic correlations between morphological and yield-related variables were found via correlation studies. The path analysis results showed that the fruit weight had the largest direct effect on yield/ plant (2.984 and 3.11) followed by number of fruits (0.579 and 1.525), and branches number/ plant (0.161 and 0.304) at 30 and 45 cm planting spaces, respectively. While the branches number/ plant exhibited the largest direct effect on yield/ plant (5.341) followed by fruit length (3.328), and fruit diameter (0.625) at 60 cm planting space, indicating the effectiveness of direct selection for these traits for developing high yielding genotypes of eggplant under different planting spaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An integrated control program for peaches and apples powdery mildew was evaluatedboth Burg Al-Arab and South of Tahreer regions. In the first season, the efficiency of the program’s fungicides were tested in terms of the number of sprays and the most appropriate time to repeat the sprays, as well as the best effective fungicides. It was found that they all treatments were effective in controlling the disease. The best time to repeat spraying was from seven up to 10 days. In the second season, the chosen fungicides were evaluated compared with the farm fungicides individually, and the general control (sprayed with water only). On the other hand, evaluation of essential oils and fertilizers were done individually. The results showed the efficiency of systemic fungicide (Scor), copper and sulfur (preventive fungicides) and cinnamon oil and chitosan as Eco - friendly alternatives in controlling the disease. In the third season all tested fungicides used at the dormancy stage of trees at first January before buds swelling, data showed that all fungicides indicate high effect in decreasing the disease comparing with control at the in first of May compared to the control (100% disease severity). The tested fungicides gave 2.9% and 3.3% in case of peach at Borg Al-Arab and South of Tahreer respectively and 6%, 8.6% in apple at Borg Al-Arab and South of Tahreer respectively. At the fourth season all treatments combined in the integrated program were done at beginning spray (at 8 January while dormancy stage of trees) on apple. The tested program showed significant reduction on peach and apple powdery mildew compared to the control (100% disease severity) at the end of tested program comparing with the farm of tested program in case of peach and apple at Borg Al-Arab and South of Tahreer respectively, in May before harvest. In the fifth season the same tested program applied at t at the first of November during the winter tree service. The tested program was effective in control peach and apple powdery disease in locations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Field experiments had been conducted using different pesticides commonly used on vegetable crops searching for suitable compound could be successfully used in controlling of the glassy clover snail, Monacha cartusiana, during the activity period at Sharkia Governorate. The obtained data clearly showed, the percent reductions of snail under field conditions were significantly differed from one pesticide to another and from vegetable crop to another more over the date of examination after application was also affected in addition to; densities of infestation, the crop cultivation rates, ecological behavior of the snails and types of dispersion in each crop. Since, the tested pesticides reduced snails’ population in squash with varying degrees, the general means of percent reduction three days after application recorded maximum reduction with malathion and methomyl with 57.26 and 53.61% reduction, while the least effects were recorded with imidacloprid and acetamiprid with 31.25 and 27.07%. The same trend was observed two and three weeks after application with a slight increase or decrease in reduction percentages with all tested compounds. On the other site, the tested pesticides reducing populations on cabbage one week after application with maximum reduction by methomyl and malathion, 56.09 and 52.51%, while the least effects were recorded with acetamiprid and imidacloprid with 30.61and 26.51% reduction, respectively. When regarding reducing in snails’ populations on eggplant three weeks after application, the highest effect was recorded with malathion; moderate effect was with fipronil while imidacloprid showed the least effect in reduction. As soon as, on tomato one week after application, the reduction recorded with malathion was 57.25% followed by methomyl 53.60%, while with imidacloprid 31.25% and acetamiprid 27.07% reduction percentages. On green pea the efficacy of pesticides after the third week of application reducing the populations with highest effect by methomyl; moderate effect with fipronil while the least effect recorded with imidacloprid. While in spinach one week after application the reduction percentages recorded 59.24% with methomyl, 55.47% with malathion, 32.33% with acetamiprid and 28.01% reduction, with imidacloprid moreover the same trend was observed two and three weeks after application. Generally, the molluscicidal determination of all tested pesticides in controlling the glassy clover snail, M. cartusiana infesting vegetable crops under field conditions at Sharkia Governorate could be arranged as; total general means of percent reduction, after four weeks of application as follows: Methomyl < Malathion < Emamectin benzoate < Fipronil < Acetamiprid and Imidacloprid with percentage reductions of 59.06, 54.24, 47.77, 43.26, 30.75 and 28.96%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Brucellosis is a highly contagious zoonotic disease caused by an intracellular facultative microorganism termed Brucella spp. Control of brucellosis depends on test and slaughter policy as well as vaccination programs. Aim: Estimation of the cell-mediated immunity (CMI) [total leukocytic count (TLC), phagocytic activity, phagocytic index, interleukin 6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α)] in camels after vaccination with RB51 using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Methods: A total of eight camels were grouped into two groups as follows: group (A): vaccinated with RB51 vaccine [1 dose/2 ml S/C (3 × 1010 CFU)] and group (B): control group. IL-6 and TNF-α were used for estimation of the CMI using real-time PCR on serum samples that were collected at 0, 7, 14, 21, 28, and 60 days after vaccination from each group. In addition, TLC, phagocytic activity, and phagocytic index were evaluated on heparinized blood samples at 0 and 60 days post-vaccination. Results: RB51 vaccine provides a protective immune response which progressively increases from the first week to 60 days after vaccination. Moreover, the levels of TNF-α and IL-6 differed between camels in the vaccinated group. Conclusion: Vaccination of camels with RB51 vaccine (with dose 3 × 1010 CFU) could induce good protective immune responses and this immunological response will be a good indication for a safe field vaccine that can be used for the control of camel brucellosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]