Exploration and synthesis of degradable plastics can alleviate and avoid environmental pollution induced by petroleum-based plastics. In this study, a konjac glucomannan (KGM)/zein/PVA ternary blend plastic was successfully prepared by casting. The results showed that, despite the presence of particle aggregation from incompatible components in blend plastic, the addition of KGM and zein improved its compatibility which is consistent with the formation of continuous dark regions and the reduction of roughness average (Ra) results in the AFM characterization. Also, XRD and FT-IR results indicated that the addition of KGM and zein disrupted the molecular and crystalline structure of PVA, induced stretching vibration of alcohol and hydroxyl groups, and crystallinity reduction. In addition, KGM deacetylation (d-KGM) reduced the intramolecular hydroxyl groups, reduced the water absorption and water vapor transmission rate of the blend plastics, and increased the crystallization temperature (Tc) and melting temperature (Tm). Furthermore, the blended plastics exhibited the best tensile strength (TS), elongation at break (E), and elastic modulus (EM) when the proportion of KGM to zein was 9:1. Notably, the blended plastic with KGM and zein added displayed more pores and cracks after soil burial, implying that the lack of degradability of pure PVA plastic was improved.

The pomegranate butterfly, Virachola livia (Klug), is one of the most important pests in Egypt affects the quantity and quality of fruits. At the end of the season, 20 healthy fruits and 20 infested fruits were collected from Manfaloty, Higazy and Araby cultivars to determine the effect of infestation on some chemical compositions of pomegranate fruits (juice and peels). Results showed that the infestation of pomegranate butterfly reduced the percentage of total soluble solids (14.73, 13.93 and 13.90%), TSS/acidity ratio (12.42, 11.71 and 8.49%), total sugars (12.92, 12.48 and 12.34%) and total reducing sugars (11.32, 11.03 and 10.33%) and caused a significant increase of total titratable acidity (1.19,1.39 and 1.54) in the infested fruits compared to the healthy fruits TSS (16.43, 16.33 and 14.37%), TSS/acidity ratio (14.41, 14.24 and 10.97%), TS (14.88, 14.62 and 13.42%) and TRS (14.13, 13.23 and 11.19%) and TTA (1.13, 1.26 and 1.35) of Mnafaloty, Higazy and Araby cultivars, respectively. In addition, the infestation of this pest also affects the chemical composition of pomegranate peels which reduced the percentage of moisture (72.96, 65.53 and 61.78%), protein (4.52, 4.07 and 3.62%), Potassium (12.70, 10.72 and 10.01 g/kg) and caused a significant increase in total carbohydrates (28.89, 27.27 and 12.93%), Calcium (3.26, 3.70 and 3.95 g/kg) and pH values (3.87, 3.90 and 4.19) in the infested fruits compared to the healthy fruits moisture (74.53, 67.08 and 62.76%), protein (4.93, 4.28 and 4.91%), potassium (15.92, 13.16 and 12.21g/kg), total carbohydrates (22.37, 25.51 and 12.21%), Calcium (2.59, 2.54 and 3.21g/kg) and pH values (4.09, 3.99 and 4.46). These results show that the pomegranate butterfly infestation affects the chemical composition of fruits and decreased the economic importance of pomegranate. Therefore, an integrated control program must be developed for this pest to improve the quality and quantity of pomegranate fruits and to reduce its damage to the crop.

Keywords: Pomegranate, Virachola livia, chemical composition, cultivars

Weeds are very problematic for tomato production worldwide. Differences in formulations of the same herbicide have different effects on weeds and crops. There are no published studies on the effect of the capsule suspension of pendimethalin (Pend) products on tomato in Egypt. The present study aims at evaluating three pre-plant Pend products compared with a post-plant metribuzin (Met) and hand hoeing on their efficiency on weed control and on the growth, yield, yield attributes, stand loss rate of tomato plants, and their economic benefit implications in tomato production. During the fall-winter seasons of 2019/2020 and 2020/2021, six weed control treatments were studied including three pre-plant Pend products, a post-plant Met, hand hoeing, and un-weeded control in tomato field experiments. Weed density, fresh weight [FW], and FW reduction% were measured. Tomato measurements included stand loss rate, vegetative growth parameters, leaf chlorophyll concentration, fruit diameter and length, marketable and total yields, fruit total soluble solids, and pH. All herbicides and hand hoeing treatments significantly reduced weeds FW. Stand loss rates of tomato were 0% in hand hoeing followed by Sencor (~ 9.3–11.1%). Vegetative growth and leaf chlorophyll concentration were improved in all treated plots as compared to the control. The highest significant increases in tomato branch number, plant height, stem diameter, and shoot FW were observed in Sencor and Mostmicro treatments. The highest marketable and total fruit yields were observed with Sencor. Met had the highest benefit–cost ratio in the study. All herbicides were effective against various noxious weeds, but tomato “hybrid 65,010” was more tolerant to Met which resulted in better yields than those obtained with Pend products. The most cost-effective method of weed control was Met.

Keywords:Solanum lycopersicum; Herbicides; Hand hoeing; Plant stand loss; Vegetative growth; Marketable and total yield

 Herbicides are the most frequently used pesticides, accounting for more than 60% of all pesticides used in agriculture around the world. Clethodim (CTD) (Vixtol  Super® 24% EC), haloxyfop-p-methyl (HFM) (Gallant  Super®10.8% EC), and their mixture (CTD (15%) + HFM (7.5%) (Fine®22.5% EC) are among the most  commonly used post-emergence graminicides in Egypt and worldwide. However, little data on their toxicological effects on honey bees (Apis melliferaL.) is known. In this study, the lethal and sublethal effects of CTD or HFM and their mixture were assessed in the laboratory on foragers and nurse honey bee workers, respectively. In the acute toxicity test, HFM was more toxic to forager workers   (LC50= 0.95 mg a.i./ml) after 96 h of oral exposure, followed by CTD then the mixture which was the least toxic one. In a chronic toxicity test, newly emerged bees were fed sugar syrup that was herbicide-free (control) or sugar syrup that contained a sublethal concentration of HFM (0.2 mg/ml; 1/5 of 96 h-LC50) or CTD (0.6 mg/ml; 1/5 96 h-LC50) or the mixture (0.2 mg/ml; 1/15 96 h-LC50) for 20 days. CTD significantly reduced bee survival and dry body weight compared to nonexposed control bees and bees exposed to HFM or the mixture. Chronic sublethal exposure to these herbicides also caused a considerable reduction in hypopharyngeal glan (HPG) acini volume, severe morphologic alterations, and a deleterious impact on hemocyte account and differentiation. This is the first study of its kind to indicate that herbicides that inhibit acetyl-CoA-carboxylase (ACCase) have a negative impact on honey bee 
health at sublethal levels.
Keywords: honey bees / herbicides / hypopharyngeal glands / hemolymph / sublethal concentrations

The current study estimates the impact of different common herbicides on antioxidant defenses and histological 
structure of liver and spinal cord of juvenile tilapia. Eighty-four fish were divided into seven groups: group 1 fish 
acted as controls and the remaining fish were exposed to sublethal concentrations of acetochlor, bispyribac- 
sodium, bentazon, bensulfuron-methyl, halosulfuron-methyl, or quinclorac at sublethal concentrations 2.625, 
0.800, 36.00, 2.50, 1.275, and 11.250 mg/l, respectively, for 96 h. Antioxidant parameters changed in response 
to some test herbicides and the greatest effects were caused by exposure to acetochlor and quinelorac for all 
antioxidant measurements. Prominent histological changes in liver tissue included loss of liver architecture and 
the appearance of fatty liver cells, necrotic areas, foci of leukocytic infiltration and many apoptotic cells. The 
most obvious changes in the spinal cord in all treated fish were degradation of myelinated white matter fibers 
with the emergence of empty spaces, large aggregation of pyknotic neuroglial nuclei, and damaged areas in the 
dorsal horn of gray matter. Collectively, the harmful effect of tested herbicides on antioxidant capacity and 
significant alterations in histological structures of liver and spinal cord of Oreochromis niloticus.

Keywords: Nile tilapia; Antioxidant activity; Liver; Spinal cord; Histological structure

This study was conducted to determine for the first time the immunological, histopathological, histochemical, 
and ultrastructural changes; hematological and biochemical alterations; and poikilocytosis induced in Clarias 
gariepinus by Voliam flexi® 40% WG (thiamethoxam +chlorantraniliprole). Beside control fish, juvenile 
C. gariepinus were subjected to three sublethal concentrations of Voliam flexi® (43.5, 87.5, and 175 mg/L) for 15
days. Voliam flexi® induced immunotoxic impairments in C. gariepinus, such as a decrease in some immunity 
variables (lysozyme and phagocyte activity, immunoglobulin concentration, and nitro blue tetrazolium level). It 
also caused an extreme increase in the levels of primary cytokines (interleukin-1β and IL-6), compared with the 
control. The toxic effects of Voliam flexi® increased gradually with the increasing concentrations tested. Histological examination of the liver demonstrated necrosis, vacuolated hepatocytes (fatty deposition), melanomacrophage centers, foci of inflammatory cells, congested and dilated blood sinusoids, hepatic degeneration, fibrosis increment (Sirius Red stain), and glycogen depletion, as well as cytopathological alterations. We conclude that the toxic effects of Voliam flexi® must be restricted or prevented by using control mechanisms in aquatic systems

Keywords: 
Thiamethoxam; Chlorantraniliprole; Clarias gariepinus; IL-1β; Immunity

Background:The object of this work was to evaluate of the hepatic effects of the herbicides glyphosate-Roundup®
by different doses in both sexes of albino rats.
Methods:Forty animals divided into four groups with ten animals for each (both sexes) were treated orally with
vehicle (controls) and 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg bwt of glyphosate-Roundup® (treated groups) for 15 days daily.
Results:The most conspicuous changes occurred on the liver treated groups due to glyphosate toxicity were the
increase of enzymes activities of ALT and AST, cellular infiltration, many signs of nucleus degeneration, focal
necrosis, rarified cytoplasm, disorganization of cellular organelles, and deposition of lipid droplets. The increase in
the amount of collagenous fibers and the number of the mast cell were also observed.
Conclusion:Our results indicated that the administration of glyphosate-Roundup® in different doses may cause
adverse effects on the histopathological, ultrastructure, and biochemical alternations on the liver of the albino rats.
Keywords:Glyphosate-Roundup®, ALT and AST, Liver, Histopathology, Ultrastructure

Drought stress is a common environmental stress, which adversely affects the yield and quality of crops. Due to its excellent drought tolerance, wild barley from the Middle East region is considered a valuable source for barley improvement. Here, we compared the growth rate, stomatal regulation and capacity to metabolize reactive oxygen species (ROS) of two barley cultivars and one wild barley accession. The results indicated the wild barley EC_S1 showed a more significant decline in stomatal aperture and less ROS production. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that EC_S1 has slower transcriptional regulation (5,050 DEGs) in the early stage of drought stress (14 days) than Baudin (7,022 DEGs) and Tadmor (6,090 DEGs). In addition, 30 hub genes, including nine known drought-related genes were identified by WGCNA analysis. Then, we cloned a novel bZIP transcription factor, HvbZIP21, from EC_S1. HvbZIP21 was subcellularly targeted to the nucleus. Overexpression of HvbZIP21 in Arabidopsis enhanced drought tolerance due to increasing activities of superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and catalase activities as well as glutathione content. Silencing of HvbZIP21 in EC_S1 suppressed drought tolerance in BSMV: HvbZIP21-inoculated plants. Taken together, our findings suggest that HvbZIP21 play a critical role in drought tolerance by manipulating ROS scavenging.