The obtained results could be displayed the effeteness of stepwise regression analysis to determine the strongest trait/s to produce the high sugar, cane yields and sugar recovery in sugarcane. The model which has two independent traits of cane yield (CY) and sugar recovery (SR) resembled to be the fit model for sugar yield and gave R2 = 1.000 in second and third ratoon crops as well as over both of them. Also, the model which has two independent traits of sugar yield (SY) and sugar recovery (SR) resembled to be the fit model for cane yield and gave R2 = 1.000 in second and third ratoon crops as well as over both of them. The model included three traits of sucrose (SUC), brix (BR) and pol (PO) with R2=1.000 in second ratoon or SUC and BR with R2= 0.999 in third and over both ratoons crops, resembled to be the fit model for sugar recovery. High positive and significant estimates of correlation coefficients were recorded between cane yield and each of stalk height, stalk weight, stalk number/fed and sugar yield in all studied ratoon crops. High and positive significant estimates of correlation coefficients were recorded between sugar yield and each of stalk height, stalk weight and stalks number/fed over the two ratoon crops. It is remark result that the traits of brix, purity %, pol and sugar recovery were correlated each other in high significant and positive estimates in both ratoon crops, revealing the high quality traits as important components express high sugar in sugarcane. Pathcoefficient analysis through the second, third and over both of ratoon crops revealed that the stalk weight, stalk number/fed and cane yield had the greatest direct and indirect influences on sugar yield. Moreover, the stalk number and stalk weight had the greatest direct and indirect influences on cane yield. The path coefficient analysis exhibited that sucrose contributed the greatest effects on sugar recovery even direct or indirect effects via pol, brix and purity over the both ratoon crops.

The obtained results could be displayed the effeteness of stepwise regression analysis to determine the strongest trait/s to produce the high sugar, cane yields and sugar recovery in sugarcane. The model which has two independent traits of cane yield (CY) and sugar recovery (SR) resembled to be the fit model for sugar yield and gave R2 = 1.000 in second and third ratoon crops as well as over both of them. Also, the model which has two independent traits of sugar yield (SY) and sugar recovery (SR) resembled to be the fit model for cane yield and gave R2 = 1.000 in second and third ratoon crops as well as over both of them. The model included three traits of sucrose (SUC), brix (BR) and pol (PO) with R2=1.000 in second ratoon or SUC and BR with R2= 0.999 in third and over both ratoons crops, resembled to be the fit model for sugar recovery. High positive and significant estimates of correlation coefficients were recorded between cane yield and each of stalk height, stalk weight, stalk number/fed and sugar yield in all studied ratoon crops. High and positive significant estimates of correlation coefficients were recorded between sugar yield and each of stalk height, stalk weight and stalks number/fed over the two ratoon crops. It is remark result that the traits of brix, purity %, pol and sugar recovery were correlated each other in high significant and positive estimates in both ratoon crops, revealing the high quality traits as important components express high sugar in sugarcane. Pathcoefficient analysis through the second, third and over both of ratoon crops revealed that the stalk weight, stalk number/fed and cane yield had the greatest direct and indirect influences on sugar yield. Moreover, the stalk number and stalk weight had the greatest direct and indirect influences on cane yield. The path coefficient analysis exhibited that sucrose contributed the greatest effects on sugar recovery even direct or indirect effects via pol, brix and purity over the both ratoon crops.

This investigation was carried out to study the effect of temperature resulting from different sowing dates, varieties and their interaction on forage yield and its components of alfalfa. A set of seven varieties (Aswan, Balady, Dakhla, Ismailia-1, Nitrogen fixed, Genan, and Siwa) were sown on three sowing dates (20th of October, November and December) in randomized complete block design with three replicates in experimental farm of South Valley University during 2014/2015 and 2015/2016 seasons. Three cuts were taken after 80, 125 and 165 days from sowing. The results showed that the sowing dates and varieties had a significant effects on plant height, number of branches/plant, leaf/stem ratio, fresh and protein forage yields over the two seasons. Aswan population gave the tallest plant height, and highest forage yields over all sowing dates. Moreover, the tallest plant heightm highest number of branches/plant and seasonal fresh, dry and protein forage yields were obtained from the plants sown on 20th December over the two seasons. The sowing dates and varieties and their interactions were significant for plant height, number of branches/plant, and seasonal, fresh, dry and protein forage yields. Finally the stability analysis revealed that the average stability region involved Siwa, Balady, Dakhla and Nitrogen fixed populations for plant height and Genan and Ismailia populations for seasonal fresh forage yield. Moreover, all seven populations except Dakhla and Aswan populations were involved in stability region for seasonal protein forage yield.

This investigation was carried out to study the effect of temperature resulting from different sowing dates, varieties and their interaction on forage yield and its components of alfalfa. A set of seven varieties (Aswan, Balady, Dakhla, Ismailia-1, Nitrogen fixed, Genan, and Siwa) were sown on three sowing dates (20th of October, November and December) in randomized complete block design with three replicates in experimental farm of South Valley University during 2014/2015 and 2015/2016 seasons. Three cuts were taken after 80, 125 and 165 days from sowing. The results showed that the sowing dates and varieties had a significant effects on plant height, number of branches/plant, leaf/stem ratio, fresh and protein forage yields over the two seasons. Aswan population gave the tallest plant height, and highest forage yields over all sowing dates. Moreover, the tallest plant heightm highest number of branches/plant and seasonal fresh, dry and protein forage yields were obtained from the plants sown on 20th December over the two seasons. The sowing dates and varieties and their interactions were significant for plant height, number of branches/plant, and seasonal, fresh, dry and protein forage yields. Finally the stability analysis revealed that the average stability region involved Siwa, Balady, Dakhla and Nitrogen fixed populations for plant height and Genan and Ismailia populations for seasonal fresh forage yield. Moreover, all seven populations except Dakhla and Aswan populations were involved in stability region for seasonal protein forage yield.

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Drought is a main abiotic stress that restricts plant growth and development. The increased global demand of anti-cancer alkaloids extracted from periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus) is mainly related to plant growth and development, which are severely affected by drought. Chitosan nanoparticles (CSNPs) have been used to boost plant growth and defense mechanism, however their impact to alleviate drought stress of C. roseus has not been investigated yet. In this study, control and stressed plants (100 and 50% of field capacity [FC], respectively) were subjected to CSNPs application at 1%. Drought stress considerably reduced plant growth, relative water content (RWC), stomatal conductance and total chlorophyll; however, CSNPs mitigated these effects. They enhanced proline accumulation and the activity of catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) with possible mitigation of drought-induced oxidative stress. Therefore, they reduced H2O2 and malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation, and eventually preserved membrane integrity. Drought stress increased alkaloid accumulation, and further increase was observed with the application of CSNPs. High alkaloid content was associated with induced gene expression of strictosidine synthase (STR), deacetylvindoline-4-O-acetyltransferase (DAT), peroxidase 1 (PRX1) and geissoschizine synthase (GS) up to 5.6 folds under drought stress, but more accumulation was noticed with the application of CSNPs. Overall, this study is the first on using CSNPs to mitigate drought stress of C. roseus by inducing the antioxidant potential and gene expression of alkaloid biosynthesis.

Drought is a main abiotic stress that restricts plant growth and development. The increased global demand of anti-cancer alkaloids extracted from periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus) is mainly related to plant growth and development, which are severely affected by drought. Chitosan nanoparticles (CSNPs) have been used to boost plant growth and defense mechanism, however their impact to alleviate drought stress of C. roseus has not been investigated yet. In this study, control and stressed plants (100 and 50% of field capacity [FC], respectively) were subjected to CSNPs application at 1%. Drought stress considerably reduced plant growth, relative water content (RWC), stomatal conductance and total chlorophyll; however, CSNPs mitigated these effects. They enhanced proline accumulation and the activity of catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) with possible mitigation of drought-induced oxidative stress. Therefore, they reduced H2O2 and malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation, and eventually preserved membrane integrity. Drought stress increased alkaloid accumulation, and further increase was observed with the application of CSNPs. High alkaloid content was associated with induced gene expression of strictosidine synthase (STR), deacetylvindoline-4-O-acetyltransferase (DAT), peroxidase 1 (PRX1) and geissoschizine synthase (GS) up to 5.6 folds under drought stress, but more accumulation was noticed with the application of CSNPs. Overall, this study is the first on using CSNPs to mitigate drought stress of C. roseus by inducing the antioxidant potential and gene expression of alkaloid biosynthesis.

Drought is a main abiotic stress that restricts plant growth and development. The increased global demand of anti-cancer alkaloids extracted from periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus) is mainly related to plant growth and development, which are severely affected by drought. Chitosan nanoparticles (CSNPs) have been used to boost plant growth and defense mechanism, however their impact to alleviate drought stress of C. roseus has not been investigated yet. In this study, control and stressed plants (100 and 50% of field capacity [FC], respectively) were subjected to CSNPs application at 1%. Drought stress considerably reduced plant growth, relative water content (RWC), stomatal conductance and total chlorophyll; however, CSNPs mitigated these effects. They enhanced proline accumulation and the activity of catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) with possible mitigation of drought-induced oxidative stress. Therefore, they reduced H2O2 and malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation, and eventually preserved membrane integrity. Drought stress increased alkaloid accumulation, and further increase was observed with the application of CSNPs. High alkaloid content was associated with induced gene expression of strictosidine synthase (STR), deacetylvindoline-4-O-acetyltransferase (DAT), peroxidase 1 (PRX1) and geissoschizine synthase (GS) up to 5.6 folds under drought stress, but more accumulation was noticed with the application of CSNPs. Overall, this study is the first on using CSNPs to mitigate drought stress of C. roseus by inducing the antioxidant potential and gene expression of alkaloid biosynthesis.