IN vitro propagation techniques were studied to establish a protocol for rapid and mass production of Rosa spp. cv. Eiffel Tower, an important and endangered cultivar. Several experiments were conducted through a two-stage procedure: multiplication stage and rooting of microshoots stage. For multiplication, the best results were obtained when nodal segments were cultured on MS medium supplemented with BAP at 1mg/l and/or Kinetin at 0.5 mg/l. The highest shoots number (3.17 shoots/explant) was obtained when 0.5 mg/l BAP was added to the medium. Kinetin at 0.5 mg/l produced the highest shoot number/explant (3.67 shoots), and shoot length (3.67 cm). The interaction between BAP at 1 mg/l plus kinetin at 0.5 mg/l gave the highest shoot number/explant (4 shoots). For rooting, the best interaction effect on rooting percentage (61.00%), highest number of roots/shoot (5.12) and root length (3.33 cm) were observed when the shoots were cultured on hormone-free MS medium and pH level was adjusted to 5.5. Moreover, adjusting the medium pH to 5.5 formed roots faster in 17.67 days followed by medium with pH level 4.5 (18 days). The medium with pH at 5.5 supplemented with 50 g/l sucrose produced the highest significant value of rooting (85%) and enhanced root formation in 7.5 days. The rooted plantlets were transplanted into the potting substrate and successfully acclimatized in the laboratory then transferred to the field with a survival rate of 55%. After 6 month, the plantlets reached ~ 22 cm in length and 5.50 leaves/plant

Climatic changes affect agriculture and alter cultivated land area worldwide. Among which, low-temperature has a general negative impact on plant growth and productivity especially on tropical and subtropical species. To assess the effect of cold stress on banana, two global cultivated varieties (i.e. Grand Nain and Williams) were used for in vitro physio-biochemical evaluation. Cold stress was performed at constant 5 °C for 6, 12, 24 and 48 h, to assess the changes in the pool of proline, total phenolics, total soluble carbohydrates, K+ and Ca+ 2 ions as well as the photosynthesis related pigments chlorophyll and carotenoids). Significant differences between cultivars and among exposure times were found in most of the studied traits. Results indicated that cold-stressed plants were capable to enhance their cold tolerance by over-accumulation of cryoprotectants, particularly under extended cold stress. Importantly, Williams showed more tolerance than Grand Nain by accumulating higher amounts of total phenolics, total soluble carbohydrates, higher concentrations of K+ and Ca+ 2 ions as well as more content of the photosynthetic pigments, compared to Grand Nain. Meanwhile, Grand Nain produced greater amounts of proline than Williams. These findings suggest that compatible solutes increased in relation to cold tolerance mechanisms which modulate chilling-induced oxidative damage in banana. These imperative mechanisms could be utilized as important tools and selectable markers for cold tolerance screening in banana genotypes which could be helpful in breeding programs.

Climatic changes affect agriculture and alter cultivated land area worldwide. Among which, low-temperature has a general negative impact on plant growth and productivity especially on tropical and subtropical species. To assess the effect of cold stress on banana, two global cultivated varieties (i.e. Grand Nain and Williams) were used for in vitro physio-biochemical evaluation. Cold stress was performed at constant 5 °C for 6, 12, 24 and 48 h, to assess the changes in the pool of proline, total phenolics, total soluble carbohydrates, K+ and Ca+ 2 ions as well as the photosynthesis related pigments chlorophyll and carotenoids). Significant differences between cultivars and among exposure times were found in most of the studied traits. Results indicated that cold-stressed plants were capable to enhance their cold tolerance by over-accumulation of cryoprotectants, particularly under extended cold stress. Importantly, Williams showed more tolerance than Grand Nain by accumulating higher amounts of total phenolics, total soluble carbohydrates, higher concentrations of K+ and Ca+ 2 ions as well as more content of the photosynthetic pigments, compared to Grand Nain. Meanwhile, Grand Nain produced greater amounts of proline than Williams. These findings suggest that compatible solutes increased in relation to cold tolerance mechanisms which modulate chilling-induced oxidative damage in banana. These imperative mechanisms could be utilized as important tools and selectable markers for cold tolerance screening in banana genotypes which could be helpful in breeding programs.

Climatic changes affect agriculture and alter cultivated land area worldwide. Among which, low-temperature has a general negative impact on plant growth and productivity especially on tropical and subtropical species. To assess the effect of cold stress on banana, two global cultivated varieties (i.e. Grand Nain and Williams) were used for in vitro physio-biochemical evaluation. Cold stress was performed at constant 5 °C for 6, 12, 24 and 48 h, to assess the changes in the pool of proline, total phenolics, total soluble carbohydrates, K+ and Ca+ 2 ions as well as the photosynthesis related pigments chlorophyll and carotenoids). Significant differences between cultivars and among exposure times were found in most of the studied traits. Results indicated that cold-stressed plants were capable to enhance their cold tolerance by over-accumulation of cryoprotectants, particularly under extended cold stress. Importantly, Williams showed more tolerance than Grand Nain by accumulating higher amounts of total phenolics, total soluble carbohydrates, higher concentrations of K+ and Ca+ 2 ions as well as more content of the photosynthetic pigments, compared to Grand Nain. Meanwhile, Grand Nain produced greater amounts of proline than Williams. These findings suggest that compatible solutes increased in relation to cold tolerance mechanisms which modulate chilling-induced oxidative damage in banana. These imperative mechanisms could be utilized as important tools and selectable markers for cold tolerance screening in banana genotypes which could be helpful in breeding programs.

Here, two Punica species, viz., P. protopunica Balf. fil., reported as native to Socotra, and P. granatum L., were compared for the first time. Analysis of one P. protopunica and eleven P. granatum accessions was performed using three molecular markers, i.e., sequence related amplified polymorphism (SRAP), target region amplification polymorphism (TRAP), and intron targeted amplified polymorphism (ITAP), along with analysis of pgWD40 sequences, a gene involved in anthocyanin biosynthesis. All markers revealed the relationship between the two species and placed them at 33% similarity. SRAP, TRAP, and ITAP generated a total of 299, 260, and 160 bands, respectively. Of these, 78, 74, and 41 bands were specific for P. protopunica, and 92, 85, and 57 bands, respectively, were shared between both species. Sequence analysis of pgWD40~870 bp amplicons exhibited 100% identity among P. granatum accessions and 98% identity to that of P. protopunica. Phylogenetic analysis of WD40 sequences from monocot and dicot species, including both Punica species confirmed the relation between P. protopunica and P. granatum, supporting earlier reports that P. protopunica could be an ancestral species of P. granatum. Furthermore, the genetic diversity among and within P. granatum accessions from Egypt (3), Mexico (5), and Yemen (3) was assessed. Molecular marker-based relationships among region-bulked accessions was approximately the same (~90% similarity), whereas the degree of genetic variation was altered within each region. Specific bands (alleles) for accessions of each region along with those shared among them were identified. Thus, these bands could be used for pomegranate genotyping and breeding programs.

BARLEY is one of the most important cereal crops worldwide. An advanced backcross doubled haploid mapping population was grown in four locations across Egypt (Assuit, Al Wady Al Asuity, Matrouh and Nubaria). The population included 301 BC2DH lines derived from crossing between a German elite cultivar of H. vulgare ssp. vulgare ‘Scarlett’ with an exotic accession of H. vulgare ssp. spontaneum ‘ISR42-8’. A linkage map including 371 different types of genetic markers was used to perform QTL analysis. We detected 56 putative QTLs for traits of interest. In addition, the study identified four markers with marker main and marker × environment interaction effects. The exotic alleles of those four markers could be responsible for increasing their traits across environments. Furthermore, eight markers showed pleiotropic effect across locations. Some DH lines performed better than their parents and check varieties in each environment and across four environments as well. These results might be useful in MAS for barley breeding programs in Egypt.

BARLEY is one of the most important cereal crops worldwide. An advanced backcross doubled haploid mapping population was grown in four locations across Egypt (Assuit, Al Wady Al Asuity, Matrouh and Nubaria). The population included 301 BC2DH lines derived from crossing between a German elite cultivar of H. vulgare ssp. vulgare ‘Scarlett’ with an exotic accession of H. vulgare ssp. spontaneum ‘ISR42-8’. A linkage map including 371 different types of genetic markers was used to perform QTL analysis. We detected 56 putative QTLs for traits of interest. In addition, the study identified four markers with marker main and marker × environment interaction effects. The exotic alleles of those four markers could be responsible for increasing their traits across environments. Furthermore, eight markers showed pleiotropic effect across locations. Some DH lines performed better than their parents and check varieties in each environment and across four environments as well. These results might be useful in MAS for barley breeding programs in Egypt.

The present investigation was conducted at El Mattana Agricultural Research Station, Luxor Governorate, Egypt during three successive seasons i.e., 2013/2014, 2014/2015 and 2015/2016. The objective of this study was to achieve two cycles of pedigree line selection for improving seed yield/plant using two segregating populations of faba bean in the F4 and F5 generations. Remarkable variations among families of the both base populations as well as the selected families in cycle 1 and cycle 2 of pedigree line selection were observed for all studied traits. In Pop. I, families no. F233, F141, F182, F187 and F086 were the best families in most studied traits and out yielded both parents and bulk’s mean after two cycles of pedigree selection. In Pop. II, families no. F203, F177, F111, F076 and F036 were the best families and surpassed both bulk sample and better parent. The selected families of Pop. II were higher for seed weight, seed index, biological yield, pods weight and pods number than the selected families of Pop. I. These families could be considered as promising material for seed yield production. Accordingly, the pedigree selection would be reasonably effective for selecting the superior genotypes for seed yield/plant.

The present investigation was conducted at El Mattana Agricultural Research Station, Luxor Governorate, Egypt during three successive seasons i.e., 2013/2014, 2014/2015 and 2015/2016. The objective of this study was to achieve two cycles of pedigree line selection for improving seed yield/plant using two segregating populations of faba bean in the F4 and F5 generations. Remarkable variations among families of the both base populations as well as the selected families in cycle 1 and cycle 2 of pedigree line selection were observed for all studied traits. In Pop. I, families no. F233, F141, F182, F187 and F086 were the best families in most studied traits and out yielded both parents and bulk’s mean after two cycles of pedigree selection. In Pop. II, families no. F203, F177, F111, F076 and F036 were the best families and surpassed both bulk sample and better parent. The selected families of Pop. II were higher for seed weight, seed index, biological yield, pods weight and pods number than the selected families of Pop. I. These families could be considered as promising material for seed yield production. Accordingly, the pedigree selection would be reasonably effective for selecting the superior genotypes for seed yield/plant.

The present investigation was conducted at El Mattana Agricultural Research Station, Luxor Governorate, Egypt during three successive seasons i.e., 2013/2014, 2014/2015 and 2015/2016. The objective of this study was to achieve two cycles of pedigree line selection for improving seed yield/plant using two segregating populations of faba bean in the F4 and F5 generations. Remarkable variations among families of the both base populations as well as the selected families in cycle 1 and cycle 2 of pedigree line selection were observed for all studied traits. In Pop. I, families no. F233, F141, F182, F187 and F086 were the best families in most studied traits and out yielded both parents and bulk’s mean after two cycles of pedigree selection. In Pop. II, families no. F203, F177, F111, F076 and F036 were the best families and surpassed both bulk sample and better parent. The selected families of Pop. II were higher for seed weight, seed index, biological yield, pods weight and pods number than the selected families of Pop. I. These families could be considered as promising material for seed yield production. Accordingly, the pedigree selection would be reasonably effective for selecting the superior genotypes for seed yield/plant.