Among the plants which are determined to be a promising source of anticarcenogenic agents are members of Agavaceae family which are common in tropical and subtropical regions such as Egypt. In this study, cytotoxic activity were assessed for the methanolic extracts and fractions from five members of Agavaceae family: Sansevieria cylindrica Bojer., Polianthes tuberosa L., Sansevieria trifasciata Prain., Yucca filamentosa L. and Furcraea watsoniana Hort. against MCF-7 (breast), HepG-2 (hepatoma), and Caco-2 (colon) cancer cell lines by MTT method. The n-hexane fraction of P. tuberosa leaves extract demonstrated strong cytotoxic potential against all three cancer cell lines (CC5020 µg/ml). The ethyl acetate fractions of Y. filamentosa and F. watsoniana leaves significantly inhibited proliferation of hepatocellular HepG-2 (CC50 = 6.21 µg/ml and 19.07 µg/ml, respectively) and intestinal epithelium Caco-2 carcinoma cells (CC50 = 18.86 µg/ml and 23.25 µg/ml, respectively). Presumably, the cytotoxic activity exhibited by n-hexane fraction of P. tuberosa, ethyl acetate fractions of Y. filamentosa and F. watsoniana may be related to the steroidal saponins that are present in these samples.

Abstract A study of molecular variation among Botrytis spp., the causal pathogen of scape and umbel blights of onion, as well as the biocontrol of the virulent pathogen using Bacillus subtilis PHYS7 under greenhouse conditions was carried out. Twenty-three isolates of Botrytis spp. were recovered from onion plants showing umbel blight symptoms. They were able to infect onion plants with varied severity. All Botrytis spp. produced cellulases; owever, almost all of them produced pectinase. The highest activities of cellulases and pectinase were achieved by B. allii PHYOA1; however, B. cinerea PHYOC3 showed a high activity of cellulases but it failed to produce pectinase. the genetic variability among the pathogens was assessed by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers, using 5 random 10-mer primers: OPA03, OPA05, OPA06, OPI09, and OPW15. The results showed that 50 DNA bands ranging from 100 bp (OPA03) to 1600 bp (OPA05) were generated by the 5 primers that differentiated 9 isolates of Botrytis spp. The dual culture test showed that Bacillus subtilis PHYS77 and PHYS78 had a high ntagonistic potentiality against the pathogen and involved in 60–62% reduction in its growth. Application of Ridomil Gold MZ and Bacillus subtilis PHYS77 on onion plants, 2 days after or before infection with the pathogen, significantly reduced the disease severity than the control. The study approved the molecular tool as a reliable and quick method to differentiate among the virulent and non-virulent strains of Botrytis spp. The application of B. subtilis PHYS77 as an effective biocontrol agent in the management of the onion blight disease can be recommended.

Abstract A study of molecular variation among Botrytis spp., the causal pathogen of scape and umbel blights of onion, as well as the biocontrol of the virulent pathogen using Bacillus subtilis PHYS7 under greenhouse conditions was carried out. Twenty-three isolates of Botrytis spp. were recovered from onion plants showing umbel blight symptoms. They were able to infect onion plants with varied severity. All Botrytis spp. produced cellulases; owever, almost all of them produced pectinase. The highest activities of cellulases and pectinase were achieved by B. allii PHYOA1; however, B. cinerea PHYOC3 showed a high activity of cellulases but it failed to produce pectinase. the genetic variability among the pathogens was assessed by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers, using 5 random 10-mer primers: OPA03, OPA05, OPA06, OPI09, and OPW15. The results showed that 50 DNA bands ranging from 100 bp (OPA03) to 1600 bp (OPA05) were generated by the 5 primers that differentiated 9 isolates of Botrytis spp. The dual culture test showed that Bacillus subtilis PHYS77 and PHYS78 had a high ntagonistic potentiality against the pathogen and involved in 60–62% reduction in its growth. Application of Ridomil Gold MZ and Bacillus subtilis PHYS77 on onion plants, 2 days after or before infection with the pathogen, significantly reduced the disease severity than the control. The study approved the molecular tool as a reliable and quick method to differentiate among the virulent and non-virulent strains of Botrytis spp. The application of B. subtilis PHYS77 as an effective biocontrol agent in the management of the onion blight disease can be recommended.

Abstract A study of molecular variation among Botrytis spp., the causal pathogen of scape and umbel blights of onion, as well as the biocontrol of the virulent pathogen using Bacillus subtilis PHYS7 under greenhouse conditions was carried out. Twenty-three isolates of Botrytis spp. were recovered from onion plants showing umbel blight symptoms. They were able to infect onion plants with varied severity. All Botrytis spp. produced cellulases; owever, almost all of them produced pectinase. The highest activities of cellulases and pectinase were achieved by B. allii PHYOA1; however, B. cinerea PHYOC3 showed a high activity of cellulases but it failed to produce pectinase. the genetic variability among the pathogens was assessed by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers, using 5 random 10-mer primers: OPA03, OPA05, OPA06, OPI09, and OPW15. The results showed that 50 DNA bands ranging from 100 bp (OPA03) to 1600 bp (OPA05) were generated by the 5 primers that differentiated 9 isolates of Botrytis spp. The dual culture test showed that Bacillus subtilis PHYS77 and PHYS78 had a high ntagonistic potentiality against the pathogen and involved in 60–62% reduction in its growth. Application of Ridomil Gold MZ and Bacillus subtilis PHYS77 on onion plants, 2 days after or before infection with the pathogen, significantly reduced the disease severity than the control. The study approved the molecular tool as a reliable and quick method to differentiate among the virulent and non-virulent strains of Botrytis spp. The application of B. subtilis PHYS77 as an effective biocontrol agent in the management of the onion blight disease can be recommended.

Abstract A study of molecular variation among Botrytis spp., the causal pathogen of scape and umbel blights of onion, as well as the biocontrol of the virulent pathogen using Bacillus subtilis PHYS7 under greenhouse conditions was carried out. Twenty-three isolates of Botrytis spp. were recovered from onion plants showing umbel blight symptoms. They were able to infect onion plants with varied severity. All Botrytis spp. produced cellulases; owever, almost all of them produced pectinase. The highest activities of cellulases and pectinase were achieved by B. allii PHYOA1; however, B. cinerea PHYOC3 showed a high activity of cellulases but it failed to produce pectinase. the genetic variability among the pathogens was assessed by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers, using 5 random 10-mer primers: OPA03, OPA05, OPA06, OPI09, and OPW15. The results showed that 50 DNA bands ranging from 100 bp (OPA03) to 1600 bp (OPA05) were generated by the 5 primers that differentiated 9 isolates of Botrytis spp. The dual culture test showed that Bacillus subtilis PHYS77 and PHYS78 had a high ntagonistic potentiality against the pathogen and involved in 60–62% reduction in its growth. Application of Ridomil Gold MZ and Bacillus subtilis PHYS77 on onion plants, 2 days after or before infection with the pathogen, significantly reduced the disease severity than the control. The study approved the molecular tool as a reliable and quick method to differentiate among the virulent and non-virulent strains of Botrytis spp. The application of B. subtilis PHYS77 as an effective biocontrol agent in the management of the onion blight disease can be recommended.

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This study is to validate the utilization of Monte Carlo (MC) simulation to model the head of Primus linear accelerator, thereafter, using it to estimate the energy fluence distribution (EFD), the percentage depth dose (PDD), and beam profiles. Materials and Methods: The BEAMNRC code that is based on the EGSNRC code has been used for modeling the linear accelerator head for 10 MeV electron beam with different applicator sizes (10 × 10, 15 × 15, and 20 × 20 cm2). The phase space was acquired from BEAMNRC at the end of each applicator and then used as an input file to DOSXYZNRC and BEAMDP to calculate the EFD, PDD, and beam profiles. Results: There were a good consistency between the outcomes of the MC simulation and measured PDD and off‐axis dose profiles that performed in a water phantom for all applicators. The PDD for the applicators proved to be favorable as a direct comparison of R100, R90, R80, and R50 yielded results of 2 mm, while it was 6 mm in R100 for the applicator 15 × 15 cm2. The discrepancies in the surface doses (3%) showed a quick decline in the build‐up region and differences reached 0% within the first 2.4 mm. For the beam profiles comparison, the differences ranged from 2% (2 mm) to 3% (6 mm) for all applicators. Conclusion: Our examination demonstrated that the MC simulation by BEAMNRC code was accurate in modeling the Primus linear accelerator head.

This study is to validate the utilization of Monte Carlo (MC) simulation to model the head of Primus linear accelerator, thereafter, using it to estimate the energy fluence distribution (EFD), the percentage depth dose (PDD), and beam profiles. Materials and Methods: The BEAMNRC code that is based on the EGSNRC code has been used for modeling the linear accelerator head for 10 MeV electron beam with different applicator sizes (10 × 10, 15 × 15, and 20 × 20 cm2). The phase space was acquired from BEAMNRC at the end of each applicator and then used as an input file to DOSXYZNRC and BEAMDP to calculate the EFD, PDD, and beam profiles. Results: There were a good consistency between the outcomes of the MC simulation and measured PDD and off‐axis dose profiles that performed in a water phantom for all applicators. The PDD for the applicators proved to be favorable as a direct comparison of R100, R90, R80, and R50 yielded results of 2 mm, while it was 6 mm in R100 for the applicator 15 × 15 cm2. The discrepancies in the surface doses (3%) showed a quick decline in the build‐up region and differences reached 0% within the first 2.4 mm. For the beam profiles comparison, the differences ranged from 2% (2 mm) to 3% (6 mm) for all applicators. Conclusion: Our examination demonstrated that the MC simulation by BEAMNRC code was accurate in modeling the Primus linear accelerator head.