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Background: The Egyption fruit bat, Rousettus aegyptiacus, is considered a harmful pest that attacks agricultural crops, especially ripe fruits, causing economic losses. It is widespread in African sahara desert, Egypt, Pakistan and Northern India. This pest causes damage to many vegetables and fruits. The measuring of damage percentage will aid in the protection of these crops from bats attacking. Methods: The losses caused by Egyptian bats were estimated during two years (2019 and 2020) in many fruit orchards (date palm, citrus, apricot and mango) in reclaimed lands at Butt village, Dakhla Oasis, New-valley Governorate, to achieve integrated management of bat populations. Result: Only one species the Egyptian fruit bat, R. aegyptiacus, has been recorded with 167 individuals attacking fruit orchards. The highest average losses (11.1%) were found in date palms, from August to Oct., while the lowest (4.7%) were found in Apricot, during June and July. The second-highest losses were 7.6% in mango from June to August. The damage began from December to March in citrus with an average loss per cent of 7.0%. Therefore, bat dens must be monitored and dealt with to limit their populations and reduce their losses to these value crops in El-Dakhla Oasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The experiment was conducted at Biochemistry Section, Ayub Agricultural Research Institute, Faisalabad Pakistan, during the year 2017-18 to assess the total phenols and antioxidants potential of mango, grapes, banana, guava, mulberry, strawberry, loquat, melon, apricot and phalsa. Fruits samples were obtained from the market of Faisalabad Pakistan, washed, dry at room temperature, extracted their juice/pulp. Thejuice was stored at 4 °C for further analysis. Juice samples were processed for Vitamin-C, pH, TSS, total phenolics and total antioxidant capacity. The results showed that among all the ten fruits vitamin C was higher in mango (24.33 mg/100 mL) followed by phalsa (19.74 mg/100 mL) and Grapes (11.25 mg/100 mL), whereas lower value was observed in melon (3.3 mg/100 mL) and loquat (3.4 mg/100 mL). Vitamin C for other fruits lies between these. Highly acidic pH of fresh juices of all the fruits was observed except in melon (5.82) and guava (5.38) which is less acidic. Percentage of TSS was higher in phalsa, mulberry and mangoes (13.8, 13.5 and 13.9% respectively) and lesser in melon (5.6%). Antioxidant capacity (% DPPH reduction) was found higher in grapes (91.9%) and mango (91.2%) which was statistically at par with melon (90.9%), while lesser value was observed in mulberry (51.6%). Total phenolics were significantly higher in grapes (1266.4 pg GAE/mL), whereas minimum phenolic contents were found in melon (4.1 pg GAE/mL). Therefore, it was concluded that grapes are more nutritious and healthy fruit than other. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was conducted to find out the factors affecting the production of apricot in district Mansehra, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa-Pakistan. Data were collected from 132 respondents belonging to the district Mansehra's five agriculture circles through a pre-tested interview schedule. Results were obtained through frequency, percentage and multiple regression with a dummy variable model. The majority (46.2%) apricot growers cultivated apricot on 01 kanal of land and major group (31.8%) were getting 51-70 Kg yields per tree. Moreover, 68.9% of apricot growers used chemical fertilizers, and Farm Yard Manure (FYM) application was also in practice by 62.9%. Apricot growers in major cases (59.1%) irrigated their crops in drought periods. In the majority of cases through wells/tube wells followed by canals, while onethird of total cases were only rain water-dependent. Further, more than 50% of the cases aphids, scale and flat-headed borer insect/pest attacks were reported on the apricot crop. Besides scab, brown rot and shot hole were reported by more than 60%, apricot growers. Regarding dormant practices, 65.2% apricot growers pruned their trees, 67.4% applied winter oil and 69.7% Bordeaux mixture while unfortunately, 60.6% of the respondents were not doing hoeing practice. The Regression analysis results reported application of chemical fertilizers, FYM, irrigation in drought periods, pruning, winter oil and Bordeaux mixture application were positively and significantly related to apricot production while simultaneously flat-headed borer and brown rot were found inversely but significantly related. The study recommends special attention to improve stone fruit production through increased contacts with agricultural extension and research. Moreover, proper use and availability of chemical fertilizers, FYM and irrigation, and timely use of insecticides/pesticides, healthy hoeing practices with the elimination of weeds. Access to micro-level credit by introducing in farm techniques of intercropping, proper division and allocation of lands suitable to stone fruits, vegetables, grain crops, and other cash crops and relaxation in criteria for the government's establishment orchard and non-government agriculture departments/agencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was conducted to find out the factors affecting the production of apricot in district Mansehra, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa- Pakistan. Data were collected from 132 respondents belonging to the district Mansehra’s five agriculture circles through a pre-tested interview schedule. Results were obtained through frequency, percentage and multiple regression with a dummy variable model. The majority (46.2%) apricot growers cultivated apricot on 01 kanal of land and major group (31.8%) were getting 51- 70 Kg yields per tree. Moreover, 68.9% of apricot growers used chemical fertilizers, and Farm Yard Manure (FYM) application was also in practice by 62.9%. Apricot growers in major cases (59.1%) irrigated their crops in drought periods.In the majority of cases through wells/tube wells followed by canals, while onethird of total cases were only rain water-dependent. Further, more than 50% of the cases aphids, scale and flat-headed borer insect/pest attacks were reported on the apricot crop. Besides scab, brown rot and shot hole were reported by more than 60%, apricot growers.Regarding dormant practices, 65.2% apricot growers pruned their trees, 67.4% applied winter oil and 69.7% Bordeaux mixture while unfortunately,60.6% of the respondents were not doing hoeing practice. The Regression analysis results reported application of chemical fertilizers, FYM, irrigation in drought periods, pruning, winter oil and Bordeaux mixture application were positively and significantly related to apricot production while simultaneously flat-headed borer and brown rot were found inversely but significantly related. The study recommends special attention to improve stone fruit production through increased contacts with agricultural extension and research. Moreover,proper use and availability of chemical fertilizers, FYM and irrigation, and timely use of insecticides/pesticides, healthy hoeing practices with the elimination of weeds.Access to micro-level credit by introducing in farm techniques of intercropping, proper division and allocation of lands suitable to stone fruits, vegetables, grain crops, and other cash crops and relaxation in criteria for the government’s establishment orchard and non-government agriculture departments/agencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]