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To alleviate the harmful effects of NaCl salinity on the development, antioxidants defense system and yield of eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) using foliar application of zinc sulphate (ZnSO4), a pot experiment was conducted during two summer seasons 2017 and 2018 at the Experimental Farm, Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University. Eight treatments were the combination of two sodium chloride levels of irrigation water 0 and 100 mM, and four levels of ZnSO4 0, 0.7, 1.5 and 3 mM. Results indicated that, under 100 mM NaCl concentration of the macronutrients (N, K, Mg and Ca) in leaves significantly decreased, while sodium concentration increased in both leaves and fruits which led to an increase in the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) which in turn reflecting on the reduction of vegetative growth, photosynthetic pigments, flowers number, fruits number, fruit setting and total yield of eggplant in both seasons. The foliar application of ZnSO4 alleviated the adverse effects of salinity by stimulating the growth, antioxidants defense system in the form of superoxide dismutase (SOD), total soluble sugars, proline, free amino acids and total soluble protein, which enhanced the flowers number, fruits number, fruit setting and total fruits yield. The most effective application that antagonized the adverse effects of salinity stress was 1.5 mM ZnSO4. Keywords: Solanum melongena L., Eggplant, NaCl-salinity, Yield, Lipid peroxidation, Antioxidants, Foliar spray, Zinc

Two pot experiments were conducted during 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 winter seasons to study the effect of biochar (BC) as soil amendments at two rates 2% and 5%, seaweed extract (SWE) as foliar applications at 1 and 2 g/l and the combination between BC 2% and SWE treatments on growth, yield attributes and some macro- and micronutrients concentration in roots, leaves and grains of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivar Sakha 93. Two samples were taken at 105 and 150 days after sowing. At the first sample date, plant height, leaves number per main tiller, number of tillers/plant, shoot fresh weight, root length, root fresh weight, chlorophyll reading, spikes number per plant, main spike length and N, P, K, Mg, Ca, Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu concentrations in roots and leaves were determined. At the second sample date (harvesting time), spike weight, number of grains per spike, weight of grains/spike and weight of 100 grains were recorded and nutrients concentrations in grains were determined. Obtained results revealed that, adding biochar, sprayed seaweed extract treatments individually or in combination have stimulating effect on the most of morphological characters and yield components as compared with control plants in both seasons. Generally, using the low level of BC at 2% individually or in combination with SWE treatments has more promotion effect on the most of growth parameters and yield components and achieved the highest concentrations on the most of macro- and micronutrients in roots, leaves and grains as compared with the control in both seasons.

Snap bean is a salt sensitive plant and suffers from losses in yield and pod quality with any little increase of salt concentration in irrigation water. In order to study the effect of salicylic acid (SA), spermidine (Spd), and glycine betaine (GB) as phytoprotectants on enhancing growth, yield and pod quality of snap bean under different levels of NaCl salinity, an outdoor pot experiment was conducted in 2012 and 2013 seasons. Salinity was applied as NaCl form at 0 and 2000 ppm. The concentrations of foliar treatments were two levels for each treatment; the first level was 0 mM which served as control, and the second level was 1 mM SA, 0.5 mM Spd and 5 mM GB, in addition to their combinations. NaCl salinity at 2000 ppm reduced most of vegetative growth parameters such as plant f.w., leaf area ratio and leaf area index, which in turn reflected on the reduction of pods no./plant and yield f.w./plant and an increase in the fruit abscission percentage. Pod moisture % decreased under 2000 ppm NaCl which reduced pod f.w., and increased pod curvature %. Under 2000 ppm NaCl, GB at 5 mM and all its combinations increased membrane stability index, total soluble sugars and total soluble proteins concentration, while reducing free amino acids concentration, which were concomitant with decreasing pod curvature %. Meanwhile, application of SA at 1 mM, GB at 5 mM, and GB5 + SA1 + Spd0.5 increased leaves and pods no./plant, pod moisture %, and pod f.w., which reflected on increasing green pod yield.