This study investigated the effects of applying modified bone char by sulfur (MBC) with humic acid and co-applying bone char (BC) with sulfur (S) or humic acid (HA) on chemical properties, phosphorus (P) availability, and spinach growth in calcareous sandy soil. This pot experiment has twelve treatments: Control (CK), bone + S (BS), bone + HA (BHA), BC + S (BCS), BC + HA (BCHA), MBC, MBC + HA (MBCHA), acidified BC with 0.1 N H2SO4 (0.1ABC), acidified BC with 1 N H2SO4 (1ABC), rock phosphate (RP), RP + S (RPS), and RP + HA (RPHA). The B, BC, MBC, 0.1ABC, 1ABC, and RP were added at 300 mg P kg− 1 soil doses. Spinach was grown in this experiment. Applying all treatments significantly increased soil phosphorus availability. Available phosphorus increased from 11.61 mg kg− 1 (CK) to 19.70, 19.76, 21.82, 22.25, 22.45, 26.09, 19.58, 21.01, 15.26, 18.95, and 17.77 mg kg− 1 for BS, BHA, BCS, BCHA, MBC, MBCHA, 0.1ABC, 1ABC, RP, RPS, and RPHA, respectively. The effectiveness of the treatments in this study on the available phosphorus improvement was in the order of MBCHA > MBC > BCHA > BCS > 1ABC > BHA > BS > 0.1ABC > RPS > RPHA > RP > control. Compared to the control treatment, applying BHA, BCS, BCHA, MBC, MBCHA, 1ABC, RPS, and RPHA to the soil significantly increased the fresh shoot of the spinach plant. Fresh shoot of spinach increased from 46.02 g pot− 1 for CK to 54.41, 54.36, 56.94, 50.39, 51.91, 48.83, 54.24, and 49.52 g pot− 1 for BHA, BCS, BCHA, MBC, MBCHA, 1ABC, RPS, and RPHA, respectively. The effectiveness of treatments in improving the fresh weight of spinach was in the order of BCHA > BHA ≈ BCS > RPS > MBCHA > MBC > RPHA > 1ABC > control > RP > BS > 0.1ABC. Our results concluded that co-applying bone char with sulfur is optimal for enhancing soil quality indicators and improving fresh and dry shoots of spinach. Due to its cheaper price, it is preferable to add sulfur with bone char rather than humic acid.

The bird cherry-oat aphid, Rhopalosiphum padi (Linnaeus), is considered one of the most dangerous and destructive pests of the cereal family. It directly affects nutrition and indirectly transmits viral diseases, leading to a reduction in quantity and quality. Therefore, the use of appropriate and effective control methods is vital. In this study, the effectiveness of emamectin benzoate on the nymph stage of R. padi on wheat was evaluated using the leaf-dip method. Mortality was recorded after exposure to different concentrations of the pesticide after 24, 48, and 72 hours under laboratory conditions. The results revealed the clear effectiveness of emamectin benzoate, especially after exposure at 48 and 72 hours, with LC50 values of 0.017 and 0.004 μg/ml, respectively. Additionally, the toxicity of emamectin benzoate increased from 10.59-fold after 48 hours to 45-fold after 72 hours based on the time dependent increase in toxicity. Therefore, emamectin benzoate is an effective pesticide for controlling R. padi on wheat and a promising tool in integrated pest management programs.

HortScience, 61(1), 139–150. http

 (2026) .  61(1):39–47. 2026. 

The present work was initiated to study genetic differences by fingerprint technics and determine biological traits for the three Trichogramma populations inhabiting different Egyptian agroecosystems, including Abo Qurqas, Minia Governorate (Trichogramma M), Kharga, New Valley Government (Trichogramma NV), and Armant, Luxor Governorate (Trichogramma Lux). Molecular techniques, RAPD, and ISSR markers were used to distinguish the three Trichogramma populations. Results indicated that the three Trichogramma populations were separated into two clusters with individual RAPD and ISSR markers. Cluster I included TM and TLux groups, while Cluster II included only the TNV group. Biological studies included the effect of five host Sitotroga cerealella (SC) densities on three egg parasitoids, TM, TNV, and TLux populations. Biological criteria include percentages of parasitism, successive parasitized eggs, adult emerged from parasitized eggs, and female emerged parasitoids. Results indicated that the maximum female emerged parasitoids% was 56.12 ±15.27 in the TM group (F value= 4.49**). However, the minimum female emerged parasitoids% was 28.02 ±3.98 in the TLux group.
                So, the present study highlights the need to integrate morphogenetic and biological descriptions for rapid and accurate identification of Trichogramma species within diverse Egyptian agroecosystems, thereby promoting effective and sustainable pest control.

Spiders are a significant predatory group across many agricultural crop systems. In Egypt, pomegranate is one of the most considerable fruit crops. Unfortunately, pomegranate fruits are attacked by a range of insect pests. These pests reduce the quality and marketing of pomegranate fruits. So, the present study focuses on identifying true spiders inhabiting economically important pomegranate orchards at Assiut.The pitfall trap method was conducted for a survey of two years (during the 2020 and 2021 growing seasons) to determine the composition and abundance of spiders' species in pomegranate plants in the experimental farm, Faculty of Agriculture, Assiut University, 31° 11' 21.4188'' E; “27° 10' 48.4824'' N”. The canonical corresponded analysis (CCA) is unimodal method to analyze the spiders' species community composition response to ecological factors. In total, 12 spider genera were identified from 11 families. Hogna ferox was the most dominant species which represented the highest number during the whole study period. The results of CCA in both growing seasons revealed that spiders' species community composition was mainly related to relative humidity, while wind velocity (W.V.MIN) had the slightest effect on the collected species.So, the main objective of this study is to discuss the functional response of environmental factors to the abundance of spiders' species as well as their effective role in integrated pest management (IPM) programs and achieve sustainable development goals (SDGs) particularly biodiversity goal for pomegranate orchards.