Experiments were carried out to determine the periods of acquisition, latent period, inoculation and retention of bean yellow mosaic virus (BYMV) when transmitted by the green peach aphid. Trials were set up with broad bean plants, and the method of indirect-ELISA was used to determine the latent carriers of the virus. Even a single viruliferous aphid was capable of transmitting the virus. However, the maximum transmission was obtained when 10 aphids per plant were employed. It was stablished that after acquisition of BYMV, Myzus persicae remains short time. The optimal period for acquisition of BYMV by the green peach aphid is determined to be 48 hours, and the minimal is 45 minutes. The optimal latent period of the virus in the vector for inoculation of BYMV by the green peach aphid is 48 hours and the minimal is 20 minutes

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Fifty bread wheat lines were evaluated for heat tolerance and compared to some local cultivars under three sowing dates (November 25th, December 15th and January 5th). Four agronomic traits were evaluated, i.e. No. of spikes per plant, grain yield per plant, 100-kernel weight and harvest index under normal and stress conditions. Analysis of variance showed highly significant variations among the tested lines and demonstrating that the main effect of sowing dates was due to the late date. Grain yield per plant was the most affected trait by heat followed by 100-kernel weight and No. of spikes per plant, while harvest index showed the lowest reduction due to heat stress. Six lines (L1, L11, L16, L34, L37 and L41) showed heat tolerance based on high performance in grain yield/plant by 29.45, 29.75, 27.75, 27.43, 27.37 and 31.90 g, respectively under late sowing conditions as well as low heat sensitivity index. The sequence related amplified polymorphism (SRAP) was able to differentiate between bulked DNA samples of lines with the highest and lowest performance in agronomic traits under heat stress. SRAP generated 2, 1 and 3 bands specific for lines with high performance of No. of spikes per plant, grain yield per plant and harvest index, respectively as well as it showed 5 and 3 bands specific for lines with low performance of grain yield per plant and harvest index, respectively. These specific bands could serve in wheat genotyping and screening, and might be used as SRAP markers associated with heat tolerance in wheat breeding programs.

The present study was designed to investigate the effect of light source and type on growth performance, carcass traits and blood constitutes of Sharkasi chickens. Three hundred and sixty birds were randomly assigned to 6 groups and housed in floor pens under two light source and type from 4 wk till 24 wk of age. The first, second and third groups were reared under incandescent bulbs with continues light for 12 hours per day (C), 6 h continues light +6 h flash light/day (T1) and 12 hours flash light per day (T2), respectively. While the fourth, fifth and sixth groups were reared under fluorescent bulbs with continues light for 12 hours per day (T3), 6 h continues light +6 h flash light/day (T4) and 12 hours flash light per day (T5), respectively. Feed and water were available ad lib. and all the other conditions were the same during the experimental period. The results showed that light type significantly affected body weight, daily weight gain, feed conversion and carcass traits. However, it had insignificant effects on blood traits. In addition, birds reared under light source had significantly (P≤0.05) body weight, daily weight gain and feed conversion as compared to the other two groups. No significant differences (P≤0.05) were found between groups in leg problems and carcass traits. Finally, the economical efficiency of the birds reared under fluorescent bulbs was better than the incandescent light groups. However, the economical efficiency of the birds reared under flash light bulbs was better than the continues light groups.

The present study was designed to investigate the effect of light source and type on growth performance, carcass traits and blood constitutes of Sharkasi chickens. Three hundred and sixty birds were randomly assigned to 6 groups and housed in floor pens under two light source and type from 4 wk till 24 wk of age. The first, second and third groups were reared under incandescent bulbs with continues light for 12 hours per day (C), 6 h continues light +6 h flash light/day (T1) and 12 hours flash light per day (T2), respectively. While the fourth, fifth and sixth groups were reared under fluorescent bulbs with continues light for 12 hours per day (T3), 6 h continues light +6 h flash light/day (T4) and 12 hours flash light per day (T5), respectively. Feed and water were available ad lib. and all the other conditions were the same during the experimental period. The results showed that light type significantly affected body weight, daily weight gain, feed conversion and carcass traits. However, it had insignificant effects on blood traits. In addition, birds reared under light source had significantly (P≤0.05) body weight, daily weight gain and feed conversion as compared to the other two groups. No significant differences (P≤0.05) were found between groups in leg problems and carcass traits. Finally, the economical efficiency of the birds reared under fluorescent bulbs was better than the incandescent light groups. However, the economical efficiency of the birds reared under flash light bulbs was better than the continues light groups.

Objectives of this study were to estimate the effects of calf-hood fitness and health traits on age at first calving (AFC). Data of 2230 US Holstein heifers were collected from three farms located in Minnesota from 2003 to 2011 were used. AFC, calculated as a difference between birth date and date of first calving ranged from 571 to 1059 days ( = 716.66 ± 47.4). Multiple trait animal models were applied using REMLf90 software. Fixed effects considered as revealed in; a previous nutritional experiment applied on almost half of these animals (n = 1226), (P 0.01), and interaction between month and year of birth, while covariate effects were serum protein upon arriving to facility (SP), (P 0.01). Fitness traits effects included arrival to facility body weight (ABW), weaning weight (W56), weaning hip height (HH56), adjusted weight to 200d (W200), and adjusted hip height to 200d (HH200). Health traits recorded were scours (Sc) and respiratory disease (RD). Health traits were recorded as categorical traits according to incidence of occurrence (0: non occurrence; 1: occurrence once; and 2: occurrence twice or more). Heritability estimate of AFC was (0.07). Genetic correlations between calf-hood fitness traits and AFC were highly significant (0.45, 0.38, 0.34, 0.75, and 0.33) with ABW, W56, HH56, W200, and HH200, respectively. Meanwhile, genetic correlations between AFC and both health traits (Sc and RD) were (-0.19 and -0.01), respectively. Therefore, it is possible to build a selection index comprising calf-hood’s fitness and health performance and AFC.

Objectives of this study were to estimate the effects of calf-hood fitness and health traits on age at first calving (AFC). Data of 2230 US Holstein heifers were collected from three farms located in Minnesota from 2003 to 2011 were used. AFC, calculated as a difference between birth date and date of first calving ranged from 571 to 1059 days ( = 716.66 ± 47.4). Multiple trait animal models were applied using REMLf90 software. Fixed effects considered as revealed in; a previous nutritional experiment applied on almost half of these animals (n = 1226), (P 0.01), and interaction between month and year of birth, while covariate effects were serum protein upon arriving to facility (SP), (P 0.01). Fitness traits effects included arrival to facility body weight (ABW), weaning weight (W56), weaning hip height (HH56), adjusted weight to 200d (W200), and adjusted hip height to 200d (HH200). Health traits recorded were scours (Sc) and respiratory disease (RD). Health traits were recorded as categorical traits according to incidence of occurrence (0: non occurrence; 1: occurrence once; and 2: occurrence twice or more). Heritability estimate of AFC was (0.07). Genetic correlations between calf-hood fitness traits and AFC were highly significant (0.45, 0.38, 0.34, 0.75, and 0.33) with ABW, W56, HH56, W200, and HH200, respectively. Meanwhile, genetic correlations between AFC and both health traits (Sc and RD) were (-0.19 and -0.01), respectively. Therefore, it is possible to build a selection index comprising calf-hood’s fitness and health performance and AFC.

Objectives of this study were to estimate the effects of calf-hood fitness and health traits on age at first calving (AFC). Data of 2230 US Holstein heifers were collected from three farms located in Minnesota from 2003 to 2011 were used. AFC, calculated as a difference between birth date and date of first calving ranged from 571 to 1059 days ( = 716.66 ± 47.4). Multiple trait animal models were applied using REMLf90 software. Fixed effects considered as revealed in; a previous nutritional experiment applied on almost half of these animals (n = 1226), (P 0.01), and interaction between month and year of birth, while covariate effects were serum protein upon arriving to facility (SP), (P 0.01). Fitness traits effects included arrival to facility body weight (ABW), weaning weight (W56), weaning hip height (HH56), adjusted weight to 200d (W200), and adjusted hip height to 200d (HH200). Health traits recorded were scours (Sc) and respiratory disease (RD). Health traits were recorded as categorical traits according to incidence of occurrence (0: non occurrence; 1: occurrence once; and 2: occurrence twice or more). Heritability estimate of AFC was (0.07). Genetic correlations between calf-hood fitness traits and AFC were highly significant (0.45, 0.38, 0.34, 0.75, and 0.33) with ABW, W56, HH56, W200, and HH200, respectively. Meanwhile, genetic correlations between AFC and both health traits (Sc and RD) were (-0.19 and -0.01), respectively. Therefore, it is possible to build a selection index comprising calf-hood’s fitness and health performance and AFC.

Abstract Two field experiments were conducted during 2011/2012 and 2012/2013 seasons at Agronomy Dept. Farm., Agric. Fac., Assiut Univ., to study the response of lentil to foliar application of mixture phosphorus and potassium under different irrigation treatment. The results showed that: Irrigation treatments had a highly significant influence on the all studied traits except harvest index in both seasons. So, plants which received one irrigation (I1) at pre-flowering (45 days after sowing) produced the highest values of all studied traits. While, plants which received highest values of foliar application of mixture phosphorus and potassium produced the highest mean values of all studied traits except harvest index and protein% in both seasons. The interaction between irrigation management and foliar application of mixture phosphorus and potassium had a significant effect on all studied traits except harvest index and protein% in both seasons. Plants which received the mixture phosphorus and potassium with I1 irrigation produced the highest values of plant height (47.34 and 45.36 cm), number of branches plant-1 (4.52 and 4.25), number of pods plant-1 (46.25 and 44.35), seed yield (1.46 and 1.42 g plant-1), seed yield (1.42 and 1.41 kg plot-1), seed index (26.57 and 27.05), straw yield (6.43 and 6.65 kg plot-1), and seed yield (568.0 and 560.0 kg fed.-1) in the first and second season respectively, comparing with plants control.

ABSTRACT For studying the effect of intercropping system of onion plants on sugar beet plants, a field experiment was conducted at the Experimental Farm, Faculty of Agriculture, Assiut University, during two winter growing seasons of 2011/2012 and 2012/2013 to study the relative advantage of intercropping systems of sugar beet with onion on the growth, yield and yield components of the two crops intercropping parameters are also considered. The results showed that the root yield was not significantly decreased by intercropping with onion comparing with pure stand. Nevertheless the yield of sugar beet grown in monoculture was slightly high than obtained from any intercrop combination under study. Effect the associated cropping patterns of onion with sugar beet on yield and its components of onion crop were significant decreased by intercropping. These results may be due to competition between sugar beet and onion plants for nutrient, water and solar radiation. The highest values of LER and gross return were observed when sugar beet intercropping with onion as compared to mono crops of either species. This investigation showed that grown sugar beet intercropping with onion gave the highest economic return for the farmers.