NULL Field experiment was conducted for two successive summer seasons of 2007/2008 and 2008/2009 at the Experimental Research Station of the Desert Research Center at El-Kharga Oasis, the New Valley governorate. The objective of this work was to study the effect of bio, nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers on the growth, yield and yield components of sunflower crop. Results indicated that application of biofertilizer had significant effect on plant height, head diameter, 1000-seed weight, seed yield and oil% in seeds and oil yield respectively in the second growing season. Biofertilizer increased seed yield (kg/fed) and oil yield (kg/fed) by 11.0%, 12.0% and 16.6%, 14.0% over the control in the first and second growth seasons respectively. Nitrogen fertilization at rates of 30, 60 and 90 kg/fed, significantly resulted in increases in all studied parameters. Addition of nitrogen fertilizer at 90 kg N/fed gave the highest seed and oil yields in the two season when compared with 30 and 60 kg/fed. Results also showed that application of phosphorus at rates of 0, 15 and 45 P2O5 kg/fed were of highly significant influence on all studied traits.

The objective of this study was to evaluate if short-term high-energy diet treatments have any overstimulatory effects on ovarian function and metabolic status in Ossimi ewes synchronized with progesterone sponge. Thirteen ewes were divided into high-energy (HEG; n = 7) and normal-energy or control (NEG; n = 6) groups. Progesterone sponges were placed intravaginally for 14 days during the winter breeding season (December–February). Four days before the removal of the sponges, a high-energy diet (130% of maintenance) was fed to HEG, whereas NEG was offered maintenance diet throughout the experiment. Ovarian performance and progesterone, estradiol, and blood metabolites were assessed daily starting from the day of removal of the sponges. Estrus period was longer in HEG (P 0.05) when compared with NEG. Ovulation took place considerably longer with larger ovulatory follicles in HEG (P 0.05). A marked increase in the level of total protein, albumin, glucose, and blood urea during the first 2 days following the removal of progesterone sponge was noticed in HEG when compared with NEG ewes. Eighty-five percentage (85.7%; 6/7) and 66.6% (4/6) had ovulation for the HEG and NEG, respectively. Dietary energy had a nonsignificant effect on the number of the recruited follicles, whereas a significant effect was observed for the diameter of the ovulatory follicle and ovulation rate (HEG, 2.3 ± 0.1 vs. NEG, 1.2 ± 0.3). It is concluded that short-term energy supplementation improves estrus expression and ovarian activity in fluorgestone acetate (FGA)–synchronized Ossimi ewes.

The objective of this study was to evaluate if short-term high-energy diet treatments have any overstimulatory effects on ovarian function and metabolic status in Ossimi ewes synchronized with progesterone sponge. Thirteen ewes were divided into high-energy (HEG; n = 7) and normal-energy or control (NEG; n = 6) groups. Progesterone sponges were placed intravaginally for 14 days during the winter breeding season (December–February). Four days before the removal of the sponges, a high-energy diet (130% of maintenance) was fed to HEG, whereas NEG was offered maintenance diet throughout the experiment. Ovarian performance and progesterone, estradiol, and blood metabolites were assessed daily starting from the day of removal of the sponges. Estrus period was longer in HEG (P 0.05) when compared with NEG. Ovulation took place considerably longer with larger ovulatory follicles in HEG (P 0.05). A marked increase in the level of total protein, albumin, glucose, and blood urea during the first 2 days following the removal of progesterone sponge was noticed in HEG when compared with NEG ewes. Eighty-five percentage (85.7%; 6/7) and 66.6% (4/6) had ovulation for the HEG and NEG, respectively. Dietary energy had a nonsignificant effect on the number of the recruited follicles, whereas a significant effect was observed for the diameter of the ovulatory follicle and ovulation rate (HEG, 2.3 ± 0.1 vs. NEG, 1.2 ± 0.3). It is concluded that short-term energy supplementation improves estrus expression and ovarian activity in fluorgestone acetate (FGA)–synchronized Ossimi ewes.

The objective of this study was to evaluate if short-term high-energy diet treatments have any overstimulatory effects on ovarian function and metabolic status in Ossimi ewes synchronized with progesterone sponge. Thirteen ewes were divided into high-energy (HEG; n = 7) and normal-energy or control (NEG; n = 6) groups. Progesterone sponges were placed intravaginally for 14 days during the winter breeding season (December–February). Four days before the removal of the sponges, a high-energy diet (130% of maintenance) was fed to HEG, whereas NEG was offered maintenance diet throughout the experiment. Ovarian performance and progesterone, estradiol, and blood metabolites were assessed daily starting from the day of removal of the sponges. Estrus period was longer in HEG (P 0.05) when compared with NEG. Ovulation took place considerably longer with larger ovulatory follicles in HEG (P 0.05). A marked increase in the level of total protein, albumin, glucose, and blood urea during the first 2 days following the removal of progesterone sponge was noticed in HEG when compared with NEG ewes. Eighty-five percentage (85.7%; 6/7) and 66.6% (4/6) had ovulation for the HEG and NEG, respectively. Dietary energy had a nonsignificant effect on the number of the recruited follicles, whereas a significant effect was observed for the diameter of the ovulatory follicle and ovulation rate (HEG, 2.3 ± 0.1 vs. NEG, 1.2 ± 0.3). It is concluded that short-term energy supplementation improves estrus expression and ovarian activity in fluorgestone acetate (FGA)–synchronized Ossimi ewes.

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Severe viral disease was observed on potato crops growing in Assiut governorate, Upper Egypt. Serological and Molecular identification proved the causal pathogen of this disease is Potato virus Y. comparison of nucleotide and amino sequences of coat protein genes of PVY isolate from Assiut (Upper Egypt) and PVY worldwide isolates revealed that PVY-Assiut shared the highest identity with PVY-NTN isolates and this identity was up to 99% at nucleotide level. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed this close relationship among PVY-Assiut and PVY-NTN strain. These data provided a proof that PVY-Assiut is a PVY-NTN strain. PVY-NTN occurrence has been reported before in North of Egypt but this is the first time to be reported in South of Egypt (Upper Egypt). These data proved the wide spread of this virus all over Egypt and indicated to this strain is replacing the old PVY stain especially PVY-O, PVY-N and presents a serious threat to potato production in Egypt. This study proposes that using nucleotide and amino acid sequences of coat protein gene is a potential tool for identification of PVY strains.

Severe viral disease was observed on potato crops growing in Assiut governorate, Upper Egypt. Serological and Molecular identification proved the causal pathogen of this disease is Potato virus Y. comparison of nucleotide and amino sequences of coat protein genes of PVY isolate from Assiut (Upper Egypt) and PVY worldwide isolates revealed that PVY-Assiut shared the highest identity with PVY-NTN isolates and this identity was up to 99% at nucleotide level. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed this close relationship among PVY-Assiut and PVY-NTN strain. These data provided a proof that PVY-Assiut is a PVY-NTN strain. PVY-NTN occurrence has been reported before in North of Egypt but this is the first time to be reported in South of Egypt (Upper Egypt). These data proved the wide spread of this virus all over Egypt and indicated to this strain is replacing the old PVY stain especially PVY-O, PVY-N and presents a serious threat to potato production in Egypt. This study proposes that using nucleotide and amino acid sequences of coat protein gene is a potential tool for identification of PVY strains.

Severe viral-like symptoms were observed on potato plants growing in Assiut governorate (Upper Egypt) during 2010, 2011 and 2012 growing seasons. Typical viral-like particles were observed under Electron microscopy exanimation. These parti- cles were either rod shape about 750 nm in length or bacilliform about 130 nm in length, and resemble Potato virusY (PVY) and Alfalfa mosaic virus (AMV) particles, respectively. Several biological, serological and molecular methods were applied to identify these particles. Serological tests proved that the causal viruses responsible for these symptoms were AMV and PVY. RNA extracted from infected potato as well as healthy potato plants was tested in Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) using specific primers to amplifycoat protein gene of AMV or PYV. RT-PCR results proved that the symptomatic potato plants are being infected with AMV or PVY, either separately or simultaneously (mixed infection). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first molecular identification of AMV and PVY infecting potato in Assiut governorate, Upper Egypt.

Severe viral-like symptoms were observed on potato plants growing in Assiut governorate (Upper Egypt) during 2010, 2011 and 2012 growing seasons. Typical viral-like particles were observed under Electron microscopy exanimation. These parti- cles were either rod shape about 750 nm in length or bacilliform about 130 nm in length, and resemble Potato virusY (PVY) and Alfalfa mosaic virus (AMV) particles, respectively. Several biological, serological and molecular methods were applied to identify these particles. Serological tests proved that the causal viruses responsible for these symptoms were AMV and PVY. RNA extracted from infected potato as well as healthy potato plants was tested in Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) using specific primers to amplifycoat protein gene of AMV or PYV. RT-PCR results proved that the symptomatic potato plants are being infected with AMV or PVY, either separately or simultaneously (mixed infection). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first molecular identification of AMV and PVY infecting potato in Assiut governorate, Upper Egypt.