Abstract Beta-carotene (precursor of vitamin A) is required not only for maintaining vital tissues in the reproductive tract but also for keeping the body in good health. Although green forages are the major source of carotenoids including beta-carotene (BC), but they are not available throughout the year. Therefore, the aim of this study is to figure out the long-term effect of BC synthesized chemically on live body weight (LBW), age at puberty, estrous cycle (EC) length and progesterone (P4) and estradiol -17 β (E2) profiles during pre and post-puberty in Farafra ewe lambs. 48 ewe lambs with mean body weight 13.25 ± 0.43 kg were divided into two equal groups (24 per each), the first group was injected i.m. with arachis oil (peanut oil) and considered control for the other treated group, the second group was injected i.m. 0.1 mg/kg by BC loaded on arachis oil 2 times a week for 4 months starting from weaning period to age at puberty. Beside detection of estrus by a ram, P4 value was taken as a marker in determining age at puberty. All ewe lambs were fed maintenance ration and housed in semi-open pens under Upper-Egypt environment conditions, El-Minia Governorate. Blood samples (10 ml/animal) were withdrawn from 6 animals per each group (control and treatment) by jugular vein puncture into tubes without anticoagulant. After clotting blood samples were centrifuged at 3,000×g for 10 min to separate the sera, which were stored at −20°C until P4 and E2 assay. Statistical analysis showed that LBW was significantly higher in the treated animals than the controls. BC did not significantly affect age at puberty and level of P4 during post-puberty, but it influenced significantly on E2 concentration at puberty and post-puberty. All animals exhibited their first short EC (puberty) with average of 6.20 ± 1.74 days (treatment) and 7.40 ± 1.97 days (control). The percentage of short EC observed during 69 days post-puberty was significantly (p0.05) higher in the treated animals than the controls (73.3 % vs. 20 %). While, percentages of normal and long EC in the treated animals were 6.7 % and 20 % compared with the controls (40 % and 40 %, respectively). Mean P4 value was 1.0 ng/ml three times during 35 days post-puberty (days 14, 31 and 35) in the treated animals and days 17, 28 and 35 in the controls. From weaning to the day 53 pre-puberty, P4 was 1.0 ng/ml in the two groups, then it reached 2.64 ± 1.38 ng/ml on day 45 pre-puberty in the treated animals vs. 0.88 ± 0.25 ng/ml in the control group. Furthermore, from the day 45 to the day 3 pre-puberty, P4 level was around 2.0 ng/ml in the two groups. At puberty, the mean P4 concentration in the two groups was between 1.0 and 1.1 ng/ml blood serum. The total mean P4 concentration did not differ in the two groups during pre and post-puberty. From weaning to the day 53 pre-puberty, E2 level was very low except one animal in the treated group and another in the controls, after that, the E2 level rose several times until the animals reached puberty in the two groups. The mean E2 level at puberty and post-puberty was significantly higher in the treated group than the controls. This means that BC may have a positive effect on development of ovarian follicle granulosa cells more than the luteal cells. In conclusion, BC had a positive effect on LBW. All animals displayed their first short EC almost 7 days of puberty, and the percentage of short cycles were significantly higher in the treated animals than the controls. P4 level during puberty and EC (estrous and met-estrous phases) was ≥ 1.0 ng/ml, 1.0 ng/ml and > 1.0 ng/ml in the two groups. The long-term BC injections did not advance the age at puberty in Farafra ewes, and did not increase the levels of P4 pre or post-puberty. Otherwise, BC had a significant positive effect on E2 levels during puberty and post-puberty (a day 28) in Farafra ewe lambs. However, increasing E2 concentration by BC may open other study in investigating the role of BC on estrous induction out of breeding season.

Abstract In rabbits, progesterone (P4) levels have to be sufficient for maintenance of pregnancy particularly in does which gestate at first time. Hence, lack of P4 in pregnant does may result in detrimental influence on embryo development. Therefore, the goal of this study was to quantify the effect of single long-acting progesterone dose (SLA P4) injected i.m. 2 days post-mating in the first pregnancy of pubertal does on some productive and reproductive traits at first and second kindling. A total of 12 virgin female New Zealand White rabbits of 6 months of age with mean body weight 2.59 ± 0.43 kg were used in this study and divided randomly into 2 groups of 6 does/each. The first group was considered the control and injected i.m. by saline solution, while the second group was injected i.m. by 1.0 mg/kg SLAP4 (P4, hydroxy-progesterone caprote, Cidolut Depot). Does were naturally mated by fertile bucks and re-mating interval was fixed at 10 days after kindling. Does were individually weighed, fed ad libitum on maintenance ration and reared indoor in individual cages equipped with an automatic drinker and a manual feeder. Blood samples were withdrawn from all does during pre-mating, d 7 post-mating and mid-pregnancy. Data of productive and reproductive traits with treatment were analyzed statistically by two and three-way analysis of variance using GLM procedure of SPSS software. Measures of does development (live body weight (BW) during first and second pregnancy and moment of kindling) and reproductive traits (number of mating/conception, conception rate (CR), gestation length (GL), abortion, litter size (LS) and total litter weight (TLW) at birth, and litter size and mortality rate (MR) at weaning) were recorded in this experiment. Also, the correlation between mean P4 concentration and these traits was recorded. Present findings showed that does BW was not significantly differed between the two groups during the first gestation, and significantly (p0.05) in the first 10 days of gestation during the second gestation. Furthermore, BW gain was significantly higher in the group injected by SLA P4 (0.20 kg) than in the controls (0.02 kg) particularly during the transition from d 10 post-mating to d 20 of first pregnancy.. While, the transition from d 20 of pregnancy to moment of second kindling, the treatment with SLA P4 resulted in significantly (p0.05) increased BW (0.26 kg) compared with the controls (-0.04 kg). After first kindling, the drop in doe BW was not differed significantly between the two groups. No significant differences in GL between the two groups of both two kindling. Despite absence of significance, the treatment with SLAP4 resulted in GL slightly lower at first and second kindling than in the controls. Numbers of mating per first and second conception were significantly lower in the does treated by SLAP4 than the control. CR at first and second parity was significantly (p 0.05) higher in the does injected by SLAP4 (88.88 ± 11.12) than the controls (55.53 ± 14.06). Abortion was significantly (p0.05) lower in the does inject by SLAP4 than the controls of both kindling. LS and kit weight at birth and MR at weaning of both two kindling were not significantly differed between the two groups, while TLW at birth of first kindling was significantly (p0.05) higher in the SLAP4 group than the controls. P4 concentrations were significantly higher at first week and mid- pregnancy of does injected by SLAP4 than the controls (4.97 ± 1.27 and 12.45 ± 2.79 ng/ml blood serum vs. 1.69 ± 0.66 and 5.11 ± 1.96 ng /ml blood serum). Also, the overall mean of P4 concentration from mating to mid pregnancy was significantly higher in the does treated by SLAP4 than the controls. Otherwise, levels of P4 at mating were insignificantly 1.0 ng/ml blood serum in all does. The correlation between mean p4 concentration and TLW at birth was significantly positive (r = 0.90; p0.05) of does injected in the first pregnancy by SLAP4 compared with the control group. Conclusively, the SLAP4 improved doe BW, numbers of service/conception and CR of both two kindling, reduced abortion of two kindling, and increased TLW at first kindling. Otherwise, SLAP4 had no significant effect on GL, MR and LS of both two kindling.

Abstract In rabbits, progesterone (P4) levels have to be sufficient for maintenance of pregnancy particularly in does which gestate at first time. Hence, lack of P4 in pregnant does may result in detrimental influence on embryo development. Therefore, the goal of this study was to quantify the effect of single long-acting progesterone dose (SLA P4) injected i.m. 2 days post-mating in the first pregnancy of pubertal does on some productive and reproductive traits at first and second kindling. A total of 12 virgin female New Zealand White rabbits of 6 months of age with mean body weight 2.59 ± 0.43 kg were used in this study and divided randomly into 2 groups of 6 does/each. The first group was considered the control and injected i.m. by saline solution, while the second group was injected i.m. by 1.0 mg/kg SLAP4 (P4, hydroxy-progesterone caprote, Cidolut Depot). Does were naturally mated by fertile bucks and re-mating interval was fixed at 10 days after kindling. Does were individually weighed, fed ad libitum on maintenance ration and reared indoor in individual cages equipped with an automatic drinker and a manual feeder. Blood samples were withdrawn from all does during pre-mating, d 7 post-mating and mid-pregnancy. Data of productive and reproductive traits with treatment were analyzed statistically by two and three-way analysis of variance using GLM procedure of SPSS software. Measures of does development (live body weight (BW) during first and second pregnancy and moment of kindling) and reproductive traits (number of mating/conception, conception rate (CR), gestation length (GL), abortion, litter size (LS) and total litter weight (TLW) at birth, and litter size and mortality rate (MR) at weaning) were recorded in this experiment. Also, the correlation between mean P4 concentration and these traits was recorded. Present findings showed that does BW was not significantly differed between the two groups during the first gestation, and significantly (p0.05) in the first 10 days of gestation during the second gestation. Furthermore, BW gain was significantly higher in the group injected by SLA P4 (0.20 kg) than in the controls (0.02 kg) particularly during the transition from d 10 post-mating to d 20 of first pregnancy.. While, the transition from d 20 of pregnancy to moment of second kindling, the treatment with SLA P4 resulted in significantly (p0.05) increased BW (0.26 kg) compared with the controls (-0.04 kg). After first kindling, the drop in doe BW was not differed significantly between the two groups. No significant differences in GL between the two groups of both two kindling. Despite absence of significance, the treatment with SLAP4 resulted in GL slightly lower at first and second kindling than in the controls. Numbers of mating per first and second conception were significantly lower in the does treated by SLAP4 than the control. CR at first and second parity was significantly (p 0.05) higher in the does injected by SLAP4 (88.88 ± 11.12) than the controls (55.53 ± 14.06). Abortion was significantly (p0.05) lower in the does inject by SLAP4 than the controls of both kindling. LS and kit weight at birth and MR at weaning of both two kindling were not significantly differed between the two groups, while TLW at birth of first kindling was significantly (p0.05) higher in the SLAP4 group than the controls. P4 concentrations were significantly higher at first week and mid- pregnancy of does injected by SLAP4 than the controls (4.97 ± 1.27 and 12.45 ± 2.79 ng/ml blood serum vs. 1.69 ± 0.66 and 5.11 ± 1.96 ng /ml blood serum). Also, the overall mean of P4 concentration from mating to mid pregnancy was significantly higher in the does treated by SLAP4 than the controls. Otherwise, levels of P4 at mating were insignificantly 1.0 ng/ml blood serum in all does. The correlation between mean p4 concentration and TLW at birth was significantly positive (r = 0.90; p0.05) of does injected in the first pregnancy by SLAP4 compared with the control group. Conclusively, the SLAP4 improved doe BW, numbers of service/conception and CR of both two kindling, reduced abortion of two kindling, and increased TLW at first kindling. Otherwise, SLAP4 had no significant effect on GL, MR and LS of both two kindling.

Drought reduces faba bean yield in many parts of the world. Therefore, it is necessary to develop drought-tolerant faba bean cultivars. Plant breeders need to screen for drought-tolerant germplasm using fast and reliable screening tools, e.g., chlorophyll absorbance, thermo-imaging camera system, and electrical root capacitance. A set of faba bean genotypes was used to screen for drought tolerance. Leaf temperature depression (LTD), measured with the thermo imaging system, was significantly correlated with both dry regrowth weight (r = 0.423), dry matter 1 (r = 0.629), and fresh regrowth weight (r = 0.573). Moreover, root capacitance (RC) was significantly correlated with fresh weight 1 (r = −0.516). Genotypes S062 and S252 were considered drought tolerant. These two lines can be used in breeding programs to develop drought-tolerant cultivars. On the other hand, RC and LTD could be used as non-destructive screening tools for drought tolerance.

Abstract Alfalfa mosaic virus is one of the most important viruses infecting potato worldwide. Genetic comparison between Coat Protein (CP) gene of AMV isolate infecting potato in Upper Egypt (AMV-Assiut) and worldwide isolates was carried out in this study. The AMV-Assiut isolate shared similarity in CP gene ranged from 90-95 and 95-97% in nucleotide and amino acid sequences of CP gene, respectively. The AMV-Assiut shared the highest similarity with Egyptian AMV isolates (Wady Elnatron) and AMV isolate from Croatia in case of nucleotide and amino acid, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis showed that AMV isolates tend to cluster into two main groups, with additional clustering of AMV isolates in each group into two subgroups, supporting the hypothesis of existence two main strains of AMV. No clear geographical or host origin structure was found among AMV isolates.