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Improving frost tolerance and winter hardiness with high agronomic features are the main objectives in winter faba bean (Vicia faba L.) breeding programs especially in cool temperate regions of Europe. 189 single seed descent (SSD) lines of Göttingen Winter Bean Population (GWBP) were evaluated in field trials (winter hardiness and yield traits). A total of seven traits were examined [three winter hardiness traits and four yield traits] and scored in this study. Of the 189 genotypes, 11 lines were addressed as winter hardy and high seed yielding genotypes. The highest repeatability (h2) estimates was found for leaf frost susceptibility (LFS) (0.86) among winter hardiness traits and for days to flowering (DTF) (0.95) for yield traits. 25 putative quantitative trait loci (QTLs) were identified for winter survival rate (one QTL), 1000 seed weight (one QTL), field plant height (two QTLs), days to flowering (nine QTLs), and seed yield (12 QTLs) based on association mapping approach using 156 Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) markers. Candidate genes were identified for QTLs using synteny between Vicia faba and Medicago truncatula. SNP markers identified in this study may be used for accelerating breeding program in faba bean to improve winter hardiness and yield traits.

Understanding the population structure and genetic diversity is a very important goal to improve the economic value of crops. In rice, loss of genetic diversity in the last few centuries is observed. To address this challenge, a set of 22 lines from three different regions: India (two), and Philippines (six), and Egypt (fourteen) were used to assess the genetic diversity and the features of population structure. These genotypes were analyzed using 106 SSR markers which showed a clear polymorphism among the lines. The genetic diversity was estimated based on the number of different alleles, polymorphism information content (PIC), and gene diversity. A total of 106 SSR alleles was identified from the 23 SSR and used to study the population structure and cluster analysis. All SSR loci showed a wide range of the number of different alleles extended from two (one loci) to seven alleles (three loci). Five and eight Loci showed high PIC and gene diversity (≥0.70). The results of population structure are in agreement with cluster analysis results. Both analyses revealed two different subpopulations (G1 and G2) with different genetic properties in a number of private alleles, a number of different alleles (Na), a number of effective alleles (Ne), expected heterozygosity (He) and Shannon's Information Index (I). Our findings indicate that five SSR loci (RM 111, RM 307, RM 22, RM 19, and RM 271) could be used in breeding programs to enhance marker-assisted selection through QTL mapping and association studies. Moreover, the genotypes in G2 showed a remarkable genetic diversity among them. These genotypes can be also used to produce rice cultivar with high agronomic features and resistance to abiotic stresses

Abstract: The experiment included three Egyptian pomegranate cultivars namely as Manfalouty, Hejazy and Nab-El-Gamal. The study aimed to assess some physical and chemical characteristics in the fruits and estimate their content of some anti- oxidants at different stages of development. The study revealed that there were significant differences between the stud- ied cultivars in most traits. The average weight and fruit dimension (length and diameter) significantly increased and reached their maximum values at 165 days after full bloom (maturity stage). Total soluble solids (TSS) and sugars increased while the acidity gradually decreased until they reached the optimum level in ma- turity. Vitamin C concentration increased progressively until the fruits reached their maturity. The total phenolics content (T.P.C) measured in the fruit peel and arils started high, and then there was a gradual decline until they minimized at fruit maturity. Total anthocyanin content of pomegranate arils and peel began low for the three cultivars and gradually increased till the end of fruit develop- ment. Hydrolysable tannin content (as mg tannic acid/ gm of dry weight basis) in peel and lit. of juice began high and rapidly decreased reaching its lowest level at fruit maturity. The differences were significant between the studied cultivars in both seasons for most abovementioned attributes.

Abstract: The experiment included three Egyptian pomegranate cultivars namely as Manfalouty, Hejazy and Nab-El-Gamal. The study aimed to assess some physical and chemical characteristics in the fruits and estimate their content of some anti- oxidants at different stages of development. The study revealed that there were significant differences between the stud- ied cultivars in most traits. The average weight and fruit dimension (length and diameter) significantly increased and reached their maximum values at 165 days after full bloom (maturity stage). Total soluble solids (TSS) and sugars increased while the acidity gradually decreased until they reached the optimum level in ma- turity. Vitamin C concentration increased progressively until the fruits reached their maturity. The total phenolics content (T.P.C) measured in the fruit peel and arils started high, and then there was a gradual decline until they minimized at fruit maturity. Total anthocyanin content of pomegranate arils and peel began low for the three cultivars and gradually increased till the end of fruit develop- ment. Hydrolysable tannin content (as mg tannic acid/ gm of dry weight basis) in peel and lit. of juice began high and rapidly decreased reaching its lowest level at fruit maturity. The differences were significant between the studied cultivars in both seasons for most abovementioned attributes.

Abstract: The experiment included three Egyptian pomegranate cultivars namely as Manfalouty, Hejazy and Nab-El-Gamal. The study aimed to assess some physical and chemical characteristics in the fruits and estimate their content of some anti- oxidants at different stages of development. The study revealed that there were significant differences between the stud- ied cultivars in most traits. The average weight and fruit dimension (length and diameter) significantly increased and reached their maximum values at 165 days after full bloom (maturity stage). Total soluble solids (TSS) and sugars increased while the acidity gradually decreased until they reached the optimum level in ma- turity. Vitamin C concentration increased progressively until the fruits reached their maturity. The total phenolics content (T.P.C) measured in the fruit peel and arils started high, and then there was a gradual decline until they minimized at fruit maturity. Total anthocyanin content of pomegranate arils and peel began low for the three cultivars and gradually increased till the end of fruit develop- ment. Hydrolysable tannin content (as mg tannic acid/ gm of dry weight basis) in peel and lit. of juice began high and rapidly decreased reaching its lowest level at fruit maturity. The differences were significant between the studied cultivars in both seasons for most abovementioned attributes.

Abstract: The experiment included three Egyptian pomegranate cultivars namely as Manfalouty, Hejazy and Nab-El-Gamal. The study aimed to assess some physical and chemical characteristics in the fruits and estimate their content of some anti- oxidants at different stages of development. The study revealed that there were significant differences between the stud- ied cultivars in most traits. The average weight and fruit dimension (length and diameter) significantly increased and reached their maximum values at 165 days after full bloom (maturity stage). Total soluble solids (TSS) and sugars increased while the acidity gradually decreased until they reached the optimum level in ma- turity. Vitamin C concentration increased progressively until the fruits reached their maturity. The total phenolics content (T.P.C) measured in the fruit peel and arils started high, and then there was a gradual decline until they minimized at fruit maturity. Total anthocyanin content of pomegranate arils and peel began low for the three cultivars and gradually increased till the end of fruit develop- ment. Hydrolysable tannin content (as mg tannic acid/ gm of dry weight basis) in peel and lit. of juice began high and rapidly decreased reaching its lowest level at fruit maturity. The differences were significant between the studied cultivars in both seasons for most abovementioned attributes.

Abstract This study was carried out during 2011, 2012 and 2013 seasons on eight date palm cultivars namely Zaghloul, Haiany, Halawy, Eraby, Bent Aisha, Samani, Sewy and Amry grown at the Experimental Orchard, Faculty of Agriculture, Assiut University, Egypt. The main objectives of this study were to: 1- Compare the morphological characteristics of the bunches of eight date palm cultivars. 2- Study the relation between bunch emergence level and its morphological characteristics. 3- Determine the optimum patterns and fruit thinning percentage of the eight cultivars. The results of the present study showed that bunches and strands morphological characteristics were differed according to the cultivar and bunch emergence level. All the studied characteristics tended to increase according to bunch emergence level from lower to upper. Fruit thinning percentage determined according to cultivar and bunch emergence level. It is worth notable that cutting back (1 cm) of strand, reduced the initial fruit load by 3.11, 3.74 and 4.64% as average of upper, middle and lower bunches respectively for tested cultivars. So the fruit thinning method could be selected according to the bunch and their strand characteristics. This study is important from economic and cultural view to obtain high yield with good fruit quality of date palm production.

Abstract This study was carried out during 2011, 2012 and 2013 seasons on eight date palm cultivars namely Zaghloul, Haiany, Halawy, Eraby, Bent Aisha, Samani, Sewy and Amry grown at the Experimental Orchard, Faculty of Agriculture, Assiut University, Egypt. The main objectives of this study were to: 1- Compare the morphological characteristics of the bunches of eight date palm cultivars. 2- Study the relation between bunch emergence level and its morphological characteristics. 3- Determine the optimum patterns and fruit thinning percentage of the eight cultivars. The results of the present study showed that bunches and strands morphological characteristics were differed according to the cultivar and bunch emergence level. All the studied characteristics tended to increase according to bunch emergence level from lower to upper. Fruit thinning percentage determined according to cultivar and bunch emergence level. It is worth notable that cutting back (1 cm) of strand, reduced the initial fruit load by 3.11, 3.74 and 4.64% as average of upper, middle and lower bunches respectively for tested cultivars. So the fruit thinning method could be selected according to the bunch and their strand characteristics. This study is important from economic and cultural view to obtain high yield with good fruit quality of date palm production.