Soil salinity is one of the serious abiotic stresses adversely affects crop production. The objectives of this study were to screen fifteen long-staple cotton belong to Gossypium barbadense L. for salinity tolerance, salinity indices, genotypic correlations, and path-coefficient analysis. Under normal soil the genotypes differed significantly in most traits in both years. Under saline soil the differences among genotypes re significant in one year and in the combined analysis for SCY/P, LY/P, SI, NS/B, PH, and Pressley index. The cultivars “G 90 x Aus”, G95, G 90, G 80, and G 83 showed the highest performance in SCY/P, LY/P, Lint%, NB/P and NS/B either under normal or saline soil. The reduction% caused by salinity was observed for PH (55.92%), LY/P (52.21%), SCY/P (48 75%), NB/P (32.47%), LI (5.68%), Micronaire reading (11.22%), Pressley index (6.63%) and UHM length (0.89%). Giz90 x Aus followed by Giza 90 showed the best tolerance to salinity stress. The STI, MP, GMP, HM and DI detected both of tolerant and susceptible genotypes and could be considered the best tolerant indices. The direct and indirect effects of SCY/P components varied greatly under both environments. The direct effects of the SCY/P components under normal soil were 0.504, 0.401, 0.153 and 0.147 for NB/P, LY/P, SI, and NS/B, respectively. However, under saline soil the direct effects were 0.802, 0.178, 0.128 and 0.050 for LY/P, NB/P, NS/B and SI, respectively. Therefore, under both environments, selection should be paid mainly on NB/P and LY/P.

Fusarium is one of the most dangerous fungal diseases that cause great loss of the sesame yield worldwide. The
present work aimed to improve tolerance and/or resistance to Fusarium through two cycles of pedigree selection on sesame population for eight selection criteria started in the F3-generation. Genotypic coefficient of variability in the F3 varied from 4.34% for days to 50% flowering to 38.15% for seed yield (SY/P). Days to 50% flowering showed negative correlations with all traits except height to first capsule (HFC). Height to first capsule was negatively correlated with length of fruiting zone (LFZ), 1000-SW, oil% and infection%, and positively correlated with capsules/plant (NC/P) and SY/P. Single trait selection was an efficient method to improve selection criterion, but it caused adverse effects on some correlated traits. Selection for days to 50% flowering improved earliness, but it was better in improving yield if the selection was restricted by SY/P. Selection for oil% restricted by yield was better in improving yield than selection for oil% per se. Therefore, the inclusion of a trait as independent culling level improved the efficiency of selection. The best genetic gain in SY/P in percentage from the mid-parent was obtained from selection for days to 50% flowering restricted by SY/P (35.56**), LFZ restricted by HFC (19.53**), days to 50% flowering (19.32**), oil% restricted by SY/P (19.02**), SY/P (17.38**), 1000 SW (14.09**) and LFZ (14.032**). Therefore, selection index incorporating favorable trait is recommended.

Background and Objective: Wheat plants exposed to heat stress due to late sowing often leads to great yield loss. Genotype×Environment interaction (GGE) biplot approach is a powerful tool for graphical multi-environment trials data analysis. The main objective of this investigation was to identify high yielding and stable genotypes of wheat under late sowing date over a range of environmental conditions in Egypt through GGE-biplot analysis. Materials and Methods: We investigated grain yield t haG1 and its attributes of forty-nine CIMMYT’s lines along with three local cultivars of bread wheat at two locations in two sowing dates and over two consecutive years (8 environments). Results: Highly significant variations were obtained for all investigated traits among all sources of
variation. Since the environment was the main source of variation. Maximum reduction percentage due to late sowing date was observed for grain yield t haG1 in both locations and this may be because of high temperature and short grains filling duration. The GGE biplot method revealed that L33, L40 and L44 were the highest yielding genotypes at the Assiut location. Genotypes L8, L9 and L42 were the superior yielding entries at Nubariah location environments. Conclusion: L30, L32, L37, L21, L27 and L33 were the most stable entries as they were subtended by relatively low PC2 scores. The results of GGE and STI indicated that L28 and L33 gave high grain yield with superior stability and could be considered as the most suitable genotype for late sowing.

Background and Objective: Late sowing of wheat exposes the anthesis and grain filling stages of the crop to a terminal heat temperature stress Therefore, detecting putative QTL associated with grain yield and its attributes and identifying the most tolerant genotypes to terminal drought and heat stress across environments will be beneficial in wheat breeding programs. Materials and Methods: In the present study, among 49 CIMMYT wheat lines evaluated for yield and stability in eight environments, we selected the highest ten high-yielding (HYL) and the lowest ten low yielding lines (LYL) along with three wheat check cultivars (CC) for screening with eighteen
previously published SSR molecular markers associated with drought and heat stress tolerance. Results: Two SSR markers (BARC126 and BARC11) on 7D were associated with delay heading dates under normal and late sowing dates. Likewise, the SSR markers WMC396, GWM537 and XGWM577 which were mapped on 7B, were significantly linked with grain yield-related traits under one/or both sowing dates, most of them showed desirable effects, indicating terminal heat stress tolerance. Different SSR markers viz., BARC11, XGWM132 and GWM537 showed pleiotropic effects. Conclusion: The SSR markers BARC186-5A, XGWM132-6B, WMC396-7B, GWM577-7B and GWM165-4B were more prominently associated with heat tolerance by showing a desirable performance of grain yield-related traits under late sowing or across environments, some of these desirable alleles were corresponding to previously QTL in various genotypes that could be valuable in breeding for high-yield in wheat.

Increased salinity is one of the major consequences of climatic change affecting global
crop production. The early stages in the barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) life cycle are considered the
most critical phases due to their contributions to final crop yield. Particularly, the germination and
seedling development are sensitive to numerous environmental stresses, especially soil salinity. In
this study, we aimed to identify SNP markers linked with germination and seedling development
at 150 mM NaCl as a salinity treatment. We performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS)
using a panel of 208 intermedium-spike barley (H. vulgare convar. intermedium (Körn.) Mansf.)
accessions and their genotype data (i.e., 10,323 SNPs) using the genome reference sequence of
“Morex”. The phenotypic results showed that the 150 mM NaCl salinity treatment significantly
reduced all recorded germination and seedling-related traits compared to the control treatment.
Furthermore, six accessions (HOR 11747, HOR 11718, HOR 11640, HOR 11256, HOR 11275 and
HOR 11291) were identified as the most salinity tolerant from the intermedium-spike barley collection.
GWAS analysis indicated that a total of 38 highly significantly associated SNP markers under control
and/or salinity traits were identified. Of these, two SNP markers on chromosome (chr) 1H, two
on chr 3H, and one on chr 4H were significantly linked to seedling fresh and dry weight under
salinity stress treatment. In addition, two SNP markers on chr 7H were also significantly associated
with seedling fresh and dry weight but under control condition. Under salinity stress, one SNP
marker on chr 1H, 5H and 7H were detected for more than one phenotypic trait. We found that in
most of the accessions exhibiting the highest salinity tolerance, most of the salinity-related QTLs
were presented. These results form the basis for detailed studies, leading to improved salt tolerance
breeding programs in barley.

This study aimed to use organic fertilizers, e.g., compost and manures, and a halophytic plant [wavy-leaved saltbush (Atriplex undulata)] to remediate an agricultural soil polluted with toxic elements. Compost or manure (1% w/w) was added to a polluted soil in a pot trial. The application of the organic fertilizer, whether compost or manure, led to a significant improvement in the growth of the tested plant. From the physiological point of view, the application of organic fertilizers to polluted soil significantly increased the content of chlorophyll, carotenoid, and proline and, furthermore, led to a clear decrease in malondialdehyde (MDA) in the plant leaves. The highest significant values of organic carbon in the polluted soil (SOC) and cation exchange capacity (CEC) were found for the soil amended by compost and planted with wavy-leaved saltbush. Manure significantly reduced the soil pH to 7.52. Compost significantly decreased Zn, Cu, Cd, and Pb availability by 19, 8, 12, and 13%, respectively, compared to the control. On the other hand, manure increased Zn, Cu, Cd, and Pb availability by 8, 15, 18, and 14%, respectively. Compost and manure reduced the bioconcentration factor (BCF) and translocation factor (TF) of Cd and Pb. Compost was more effective in increasing the phytostabilization of toxic metals by wavy-leaved saltbush plants compared to manure. The results of the current study confirm that the application of non-decomposed organic fertilizers to polluted soils increases the risk of pollution of the ecosystem with toxic elements. The cultivation of contaminated soils with halophytic plants with the addition of aged organic materials, e. g …

Lactose is converted to lactic acid through fermentation and ripening of cheese using starter cultures. The content of lactic acid and organic acids formed during storage of cheese are different based on the type of starter cultures, pH, processing, and storage conditions. The objective of this study was to determine the carbohydrates and organic acids of four different commercial cheese samples (Parmesan, Mozzarella, Swiss, and Cheddar cheese) using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The lactose content in Cheddar cheese was significantly high (p< 0.05) as compared to Parmesan cheese while Mozzarella and Swiss cheese did not have lactose. However, galactose was low in Swiss cheese as compared to other cheese types, while glucose did not detect in all cheese samples. Organic acids such as citric, succinic, lactic, and butanoic acids were high in Parmesan cheese relative to other cheese types. Additionally, pyruvic and propanoic acids were high (p< 0.05) in Swiss cheese while acetic and orotic acids were elevated (p< 0.05) in Mozzarella cheese relative to other types of cheese

Carrots (the main source of carotenoids) have multiple
nutritional and health benefits. The objectives of
this study were to evaluate the compositional, antioxidant,
and antimicrobial properties of carrot powder
and to examine its effect on the sensory characteristics,
chemical properties, and microbial viability of probiotic
soft cheese at a rate of 0.2, 0.4, and 0.6%. The
carrot was turned into powder before being analyzed
and incorporated as an ingredient in making probiotic
soft cheese. Probiotic soft cheese was made from buffalo
milk. The buffalo milk (~6.9% fat, 4.4% protein, 9.2%
milk solids not fat, and 0.7% ash) was pasteurized at
75 ± 1°C for 5 min and cooled to 40–42°C. The milk
was then divided into 4 aliquots. Sodium chloride (local
market, Assiut, Egypt) was added at a ratio of 5%
followed by starter cultures. The carrot powder (4.5%
moisture, 4.8% ash, 2.7% fat, 8.2% protein, 11.9% fibers,
and 72.3% carbohydrate) was added at a rate of
0.2, 0.4, and 0.6%, followed by addition of 0.02 g/kg
rennet. The cheese was cut again into cubes, pickled in
jars filled with whey, and stored for 28 d at 6 ± 1°C.
The results of this study illustrated the nutritional and
antioxidant properties of carrot powder. Incorporation
of carrot powder in probiotic soft cheese affected the
moisture and salt content at 0 d. The total bacteria
count decreased from 7.5 to 7.3 log cfu/g in the cheese
when carrot powder was used at a rate of 0.6%. The
reduction of total bacteria count was noticed during the
28 d of storage by adding carrot powder. Furthermore,
lactic acid bacteria and Bifidobacterium longum counts
elevated with adding carrot powder during the 28 d of
storage.

The popularity of rosemary has grown as a natural alternative over the synthetic supplements due to its potential health benefits. The rosemary plant has been utilized to preserve food due to its ability to prevent oxidation and microbial contamination. The reason for this study was to determine the phytochemical components and antimicrobial activity of rosemary essential oil (REO) and the effect of REO addition (0.5 and 0.7%) on the chemical, microbiological, and sensory properties of stirred-like yogurt (SLY) during 16 days of storage at 4 °C. The obtained data observed that REO exhibited antimicrobial action against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmonella marcescens, as well as fungi (Aspergillus flavus) and yeasts (Candida albicans). Increased REO to 0.7% accelerated (p < 0.05) the development of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in SLY (8.3 log cfu/g) and delayed yeast growth up to 12 days. Molds and coliforms were also not found in the SLY samples with REO. In comparison to control samples, sensory results showed that the addition of REO improves the overall acceptance of SLY (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the current study found that REO could be used as a natural preservative during the production of SLY to extend shelf-life and promote LAB development.