There is an urgent need to evaluate and introduce alternatives for the unsustainable and traditional feed
stuffs in poultry. This study evaluated the effects of graded replacement of soybean meal (SBM) by peanut
meal (PNM) on egg production, egg quality, oxidative status, and yolk fatty acid profile in laying ducks. In
total, 360 Longyan ducks aged 21 weeks were allocated to five treatments, each containing six replicates
of 12 birds. Birds were fed the diets containing PNM replacing 0 (control), 25, 50, 75 or 100% of SBM for
16 weeks. With the increase of PNM level, egg production was improved (quadratic, P < 0.05), egg weight
and feed consumption were decreased, feed conversion ratio and egg mass were impaired at 100% PNM,
and yolk colour was enhanced (quadratic, P < 0.05). Plasma malondialdehyde concentration was
increased at 100% PNM, while plasma glutathione concentration was decreased (quadratic, P < 0.01) as
PNM substitution increased. Total cholesterol content in yolk decreased (P < 0.01) in response to
increased PNM substitution. The contents of saturated fatty acids C20:0 and C22:0 in yolk increased (linear
or quadratic, P < 0.05) with increased PNM substitution, but the contents of saturated fatty acid C18:0,
monounsaturated fatty acid C22:1, and polyunsaturated fatty acids C18:3n-3 and C22:6n-3 in yolk were
decreased (linear, P < 0.05) as PNM replacement increased. The contents in yolk of polyunsaturated fatty
acid C18:2n-6, C20:2n-6, C20:3n-6, C20:4n-6, and total amount of polyunsaturated fatty acids increased
with the highest contents obtained at 75% PNM substitution. The ratio between n-6 and n-3 increased
(linear, P < 0.05) as PNM substitution increased. The transcript abundance in liver of peroxisome
proliferators-activated receptors c and fatty acid synthase showed quadratic (P < 0.05) responses with
PNM replacement, with the highest expression of both genes being obtained with 75% substitution with
PNM. Replacement of dietary SBM with 100% PNM decreased egg production and antioxidant capacity
and increased the ratio of omega fatty acid in yolk between n-6 and n-3 in laying ducks. The obtained
results indicate that PNM can be used to replace up to 75% of SBM in the diet of laying ducks without
negative effects on the egg-laying production or egg quality. The regression model indicated that the
maximal egg mass was obtained at no more than 67.6% replacement of SBM with PNM in the diet of laying
ducks.

This study was designed to evaluate the effects of different dietary levels of cassava starch extraction residue meal (CReM) on egg production, egg quality, oxidative status, egg yolk fatty acid profile, and hepatic expression of fatty acid metabolism-related genes. In total, 288 Longyan laying ducks aged 21 wk with similar BW were randomly assigned to 4 dietary treatments, each consisting of 6 replicates of 12 birds. The birds were fed a typical corn-soybean meal diet, which contained 0% (control), 5%, 10%, and 15% CReM, mainly replacing wheat bran, and the experiment lasted for 16 wk. The tested CReM levels did not show significant effects on the egg production, nonmarketable egg percentage, egg weight, daily egg mass, and FCR (g feed: g egg), but daily feed intake was reduced with increased CReM level (linear P < 0.001, quadratic P < 0.05). Yolk color increased (linear and quadratic, P < 0.01) with the increase in CReM level, but the Haugh unit, yolk proportion, albumen proportion, shell proportion, eggshell thickness, and eggshell strength were unaffected. Yolk contents of C11:0 and C12:0 (linear, quadratic, P < 0.01) and total saturated fatty acids increased, and the C22:1 level decreased (linear P < 0.01, quadratic P < 0.05) with the increase in CReM level, but the total monounsaturated fatty acids, the individual and total polyunsaturated fatty acids and n−6 and n−3 fatty acids, triglycerides, and total cholesterol in egg yolk were not affected. Hepatic gene expression revealed a significant increase in peroxisome proliferators-activated receptors γ (linear, quadratic, P < 0.001), but the expression of fatty acid synthase, sterol regulatory element binding protein 1 and apolipoprotein A1 genes were unaffected by CReM level. In conclusion, the results of the current study indicated that the CReM could be included up to 15% in laying duck diets without negative effects on the egg-laying rate, egg quality, and oxidative status. Dietary inclusion of CReM increased the yolk content of total saturated fatty acids and SOD activity in the liver.

Abstract: Wheat is one of the most important sources of food worldwide. A selection index helps in making selection decisions and permits the exploitation of information on correlated traits to improve yields. Two cycles of pedigree selection based on the desired-genetic-gain selection index were  imposed to identify the best index to isolate promising lines. The base population was composed of 120 families of bread wheat in the F6 generation. Eight combinations were constructed from six traits, i.e., days to heading (DH), number of spikes/plant (NS/P), grain yield/plant (GY/P), number of grains/spike (NG/S), mean spike weight (MSW) and mean grain weight (GW). The narrow-sense
heritability of NS/P, NG/S, MSW and GW increased from cycle 1 to cycle 2, revealing an increase in the observed gain and homogeneity of the selected families for these traits from cycle to cycle. After the second cycle, the observed gain in GY/P ranged from 9.5 to 23.75% of the mid-parent. The best index for improving GY/P was index 2 (composed of GY/P, NS/P, NG/S, MSW and GW). The indices involving DH were inferior for improving GY/P. The desired-genetic-gain index was efficient in simultaneously improving several involved traits and was a good method to preserve genetic variability. Furthermore, six superior promising families were identified.
Keywords: Triticum aestivum L.; selection index; narrow-sense heritability; observed genetic gain;
crop breeding

Abstract: Two cycles of pedigree selection for grain yield/plant (GY/P) and grain weight (GW) (100-grain weight) were imposed under drought stress and normal irrigation to study the direct and indirect selection of GY/P and GW in bread wheat. The selection started in the F6-generation (Cycle0-C0) of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) traced back to the cross (Giza 164/Sids 4) of two Egyptian cultivars. The narrow sense heritability was higher under drought than under normal irrigation and increased by selection. Under drought, the observed direct gain after two cycles of selection for GW was 21.51% (p  0.01), and accompanied with an indirect gain in GY/P of 15.52%. The observed direct gain for GY/P was 17.98% and the indirect gain in GW was 13.81%. Under normal irrigation, the observed direct gain for GW was 12.86% and the indirect gain for GY/P was 16.04%. The direct gain in GY/P was 16.04% and the indirect gain in GW was 11.95%. The genotypic
correlations were different in both environments before and after selection. Single trait selection was effective in improving the selection criterion, and selection greatly affected gene associations Keywords: pedigree selection; Triticum aestivum; drought stress; heritability; genotypic correlation; observed gain

Abstract: Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.), the Queen of oilseeds, is infected with different pathogens,restricting its yield. Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. sesami is the most destructive disease of sesame worldwide, causing economic losses. This work aimed to develop new high-yielding strains, resistant and/or tolerant to Fusarium. Two cycles of pedigree selection were achieved under infection of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. sesami. Two populations in the F2 (600 plants each) were used. The selection criteria were five single traits and another three restricted by yield. The restricted selection was better
in preserving variability than the single trait selection. The observed genetic gain in percentage from the mid-parent in the F4-generation was significant for the eight selection criteria. Single trait selection proved to be an effective method for improving the selection criterion, but it caused deleterious effects on the other correlated traits in most cases. The seed yield increased by 30.67% and 20.31% from the better parent in the first and second populations, respectively. The infection% was significantly reduced by 24.04% in the first, and 9.3% in the second, population. The selection index improved seed yield, and its attributes can be recommended.
Keywords: pedigree selection; restricted selection; observed genetic gain; heritability

Abstract
Fusarium is one of the most dangerous fungal diseases that cause great loss of the sesame yield worldwide. The
present work aimed to improve tolerance and/or resistance to Fusarium through two cycles of pedigree selection on
sesame population for eight selection criteria started in the F3-generation. Genotypic coefficient of variability in the
F3 varied from 4.34% for days to 50% flowering to 38.15% for seed yield (SY/P). Days to 50% flowering showed
negative correlations with all traits except height to first capsule (HFC). Height to first capsule was negatively
correlated with length of fruiting zone (LFZ), 1000-SW, oil% and infection%, and positively correlated with
capsules/plant (NC/P) and SY/P. Single trait selection was an efficient method to improve selection criterion, but it
caused adverse effects on some correlated traits. Selection for days to 50% flowering improved earliness, but it was
better in improving yield if the selection was restricted by SY/P. Selection for oil% restricted by yield was better in
improving yield than selection for oil% per se. Therefore, the inclusion of a trait as independent culling level
improved the efficiency of selection. The best genetic gain in SY/P in percentage from the mid-parent was obtained
from selection for days to 50% flowering restricted by SY/P (35.56**), LFZ restricted by HFC (19.53**), days to
50% flowering (19.32**), oil% restricted by SY/P (19.02**), SY/P (17.38**), 1000 SW (14.09**) and LFZ (14.032**).
Therefore, selection index incorporating favorable trait is recommended.
Keywords: Sesame; Fusarium oxysporum; Pedigree selection; Genotypic correlation; Observed gain.

Abstract
Soil salinity is one of the serious abiotic stresses adversely affects crop production. The objectives of this study were to screen fifteen long-staple cotton belong to Gossypium barbadense L. for salinity tolerance, salinity indices, genotypic correlations, and path-coefficient analysis. Under normal soil the genotypes differed significantly in most traits in both years. Under saline soil the differences among genotypes re significant in one year and in the combined analysis for SCY/P, LY/P, SI, NS/B, PH, and Pressley index. The cultivars “G 90 x Aus”, G95, G 90, G 80, and G 83 showed the highest performance in SCY/P, LY/P, Lint%, NB/P and NS/B either under normal or saline soil. The reduction% caused by salinity was observed for PH (55.92%), LY/P (52.21%), SCY/P (48 75%), NB/P (32.47%), LI (5.68%), Micronaire reading (11.22%), Pressley index (6.63%) and UHM length (0.89%). Giz90 x Aus followed by Giza 90 showed the best tolerance to salinity stress. The STI, MP, GMP, HM and DI detected both of tolerant and susceptible genotypes and could be considered the best tolerant indices. The direct and indirect effects of SCY/P components varied greatly under both environments. The direct effects of the SCY/P components under normal soil were 0.504, 0.401, 0.153 and 0.147 for NB/P, LY/P, SI, and NS/B, respectively. However, under saline soil the direct effects were 0.802, 0.178, 0.128 and 0.050 for LY/P, NB/P, NS/B and SI, respectively. Therefore, under both environments, selection should be paid mainly on NB/P and LY/P.
Keywords: G. barbadense; evaluation; Salinity tolerance; Correlation; Path-analysis.

Abstract
Drought stress is a serious abiotic factor that adversely affects cotton yield and fiber properties. The objectives of this study were to screen several genotypes of cotton belong to Gossypium barbadense L. for drought tolerance, study drought indices, correlations, and path-coefficient analysis. Fourteen long- staple kinds of cottons cultivated, and obsolete cultivars were screened for drought tolerance at normal irrigation and drought- stressed experiments for two years. Mean squares indicated significant (p ≤ 0.01) differences among genotypes in the separate and combined analysis. The effect of years showed significant (p≤ 0.05 to p≤ 0.01) differences in most cases. The interaction of genotypes by years was significant for all traits except few cases. The reduction % caused by drought stress in SCY/P ranged from 31.44 to 39.39 with an average of 33.93. Among ten tolerant indices STI, MP, GMP, HM and DI could be considered the best tolerant indices to detect both of tolerant and susceptible genotypes. The correlation of SCY/P under normal irrigation was high with LY/P, Lint %, NB/P, LI and BW, moderate with NS/B and upper half mean length, and low with DFF, Pressley index and negative with Micronaire reading. However, the picture was different under drought stress, in which drought affected lint rather than seeds. The direct and indirect effects of SCY/P components varied greatly under both environments, and LY/P, NB/P and NS/B should be considered as selection indices under normal irrigation, NB/P and NS/B under stress when selection practiced for SCY/P.

Keywords: Correlation; Drought indices; Drought tolerance; G. barbadense; Path-analysis

The study was established to examine the effect of three biochar types
(orange peels biochar (OPB), sorghum panicles biochar (SPB), and wood
chips biochar (WCB)) prepared at low temperature (270 °C) added at four
doses (0, 1, 3, and 6% w/w) on ammonia (NH3) volatilization and chemical
characteristics of a saline soil treated with urea. The results revealed that
treating the saline soil with different biochar types at all doses caused
a significant reduction of cumulative NH3 volatilization compared to the
unamended soil. The effectiveness of biochar types in decreasing NH3
volatilization from this soil was: WCB > SPB > OPB > unamended soil. Soil
pH decreased significantly with applying different types and doses of
biochar. Treating the saline soil with 3% each of SPB and WCB and 6%
WCB decreased electrical conductivity significantly in the soil extract
compared to the unamended soil. The sodium adsorption ratio decreased
significantly with applying SPB and WCB at 3 and 6%. The biochar produced at a low temperature was found to have an acidic effect.
Accordingly, biochar applications are currently one of the most promising
technologies and practices for rehabilitation and sustainable management of saline soils as well as mitigating climate change.
 

This study was conducted to study the use of different ratios of Lemongrass (2 & 4%) and Rosemary (1 & 2%) extracts in manufacture of fermented camel milk beverage. The chemical composition and nutritional values of camel milk, Lemongrass and Rosemary extracts were performed. All samples were analyzed for chemical, phenolic compounds, antioxidant activity, total volatile free fatty acids (TVFFA), microbiological and sensory properties when fresh and during storage (21 days) at 4±1°C. Our results indicated that, there were increases of total solids, fat, protein, ash and TVFFA contents in the flavored samples with two plant extracts than that of control samples. Moreover, all the pH values significant decreased with the prolonging the storage period in all treatments. In addition, there were decreases in antioxidant activity and phenolic compounds of all treatments during storage period in all treatments. Microbiologically, the counts of Str. thermophiles, Lb. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus and total count increased at the 14 days of storage then decreased up to the end of storage period in all treatments. Generally, the data concluded that using of 4% Lemongrass and 1% Rosemary extract were gained higher scores for organoleptic properties than other treatments