This investigation was carried out in the experimental orchard, Faculty of Agriculture, Assiut University, Egypt, to study the influence of slow release N, organic and bio-form fertilizers on growth vigour and fruiting of Balady mandarin trees during 2006, 2007 and 2008 seasons. The experiment was arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications, using a tree as an experimental unit and it consisted of 7 treatments. Fast release nitrogen fertilize was added at three equal doses in March, May and August, while the slow-release N, and bio-fertilizers were applied once at the start of spring growth. The obtained results could be summarized as follow: - The application of slow release N and other three fertilizers once a year surpassed the application of fast release (mineral) N in improving shoot and leaf traits. - The slow release-N fertilizer and organic, bio and inorganic forms (three forms) significantly increased N, P and K contents of leaves as well as the total carbohydrates and C/N ratio of shoots compared to using the fast release-N fertilizer. - The fertilization using either 80% of the recommended N dose as slow release-N or other three forms would achieve a beneficial improvement to vigour and nutrient status of the trees. - The use of slow release-N fertilizer and either bio-fertilization or organic and bio-forms plus mineral-N form increased the yield and improved the fruit quality of Balady mandarin trees. - No significant influence was detected on such traits due to rising the slow release-N from 80 to 100% of the recommended N dose (RND). It is evident from the foregoing results that using either 80% of the RND as a slow release-N fertilizer or other three fertilization forms improved the tree nutrient status, yield and fruit quality. In addition, it minimized the production costs and environmental pollution which could be occurred by excess of chemical fertilizers.

This investigation was carried out in the experimental orchard, Faculty of Agriculture, Assiut University, Egypt, to study the influence of slow release N, organic and bio-form fertilizers on growth vigour and fruiting of Balady mandarin trees during 2006, 2007 and 2008 seasons. The experiment was arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications, using a tree as an experimental unit and it consisted of 7 treatments. Fast release nitrogen fertilize was added at three equal doses in March, May and August, while the slow-release N, and bio-fertilizers were applied once at the start of spring growth. The obtained results could be summarized as follow: - The application of slow release N and other three fertilizers once a year surpassed the application of fast release (mineral) N in improving shoot and leaf traits. - The slow release-N fertilizer and organic, bio and inorganic forms (three forms) significantly increased N, P and K contents of leaves as well as the total carbohydrates and C/N ratio of shoots compared to using the fast release-N fertilizer. - The fertilization using either 80% of the recommended N dose as slow release-N or other three forms would achieve a beneficial improvement to vigour and nutrient status of the trees. - The use of slow release-N fertilizer and either bio-fertilization or organic and bio-forms plus mineral-N form increased the yield and improved the fruit quality of Balady mandarin trees. - No significant influence was detected on such traits due to rising the slow release-N from 80 to 100% of the recommended N dose (RND). It is evident from the foregoing results that using either 80% of the RND as a slow release-N fertilizer or other three fertilization forms improved the tree nutrient status, yield and fruit quality. In addition, it minimized the production costs and environmental pollution which could be occurred by excess of chemical fertilizers.

In previous study conducted in neighboring province (Sohag) it has been noticed that "El-Zarka" (C. maxima) Damietta landrace did not flowered, "Connecticut Field cv" (C. pepo) flowered but there was no fruit set, while pumpkin landraces (C. moschata) produced markedly reduced fruit yield. These results were obtained when planting was done at the regular season dates (middle April). Our current study was carried out at the Experimen-tal Farm of Faculty of Agricul-ture, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt, during 2008 and 2009 seasons. Seeds of the aforemen-tioned 3 pumpkin entries were imbibed in tap water for 24 or 36 h and chilled at 4-5 oC for 10 or 12 d. Results showed that shorter plants with higher sex ratio (fe-male/male) were obtained from seeds imbibed for 36 h and chilled for 12 d. These plants produced greater number of smaller-sized fruits with high TSS % and dry matter in the fruit as compared to fruits of plants from untreated seeds. Such plants gave higher total fruit yield. The overall results substantiate that seed chilling prior to sowing is recommended to produce higher fruit yield and quality in pumpkin under Assiut and/or similar con-ditions.

In previous study conducted in neighboring province (Sohag) it has been noticed that "El-Zarka" (C. maxima) Damietta landrace did not flowered, "Connecticut Field cv" (C. pepo) flowered but there was no fruit set, while pumpkin landraces (C. moschata) produced markedly reduced fruit yield. These results were obtained when planting was done at the regular season dates (middle April). Our current study was carried out at the Experimen-tal Farm of Faculty of Agricul-ture, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt, during 2008 and 2009 seasons. Seeds of the aforemen-tioned 3 pumpkin entries were imbibed in tap water for 24 or 36 h and chilled at 4-5 oC for 10 or 12 d. Results showed that shorter plants with higher sex ratio (fe-male/male) were obtained from seeds imbibed for 36 h and chilled for 12 d. These plants produced greater number of smaller-sized fruits with high TSS % and dry matter in the fruit as compared to fruits of plants from untreated seeds. Such plants gave higher total fruit yield. The overall results substantiate that seed chilling prior to sowing is recommended to produce higher fruit yield and quality in pumpkin under Assiut and/or similar con-ditions.

In previous study conducted in neighboring province (Sohag) it has been noticed that "El-Zarka" (C. maxima) Damietta landrace did not flowered, "Connecticut Field cv" (C. pepo) flowered but there was no fruit set, while pumpkin landraces (C. moschata) produced markedly reduced fruit yield. These results were obtained when planting was done at the regular season dates (middle April). Our current study was carried out at the Experimen-tal Farm of Faculty of Agricul-ture, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt, during 2008 and 2009 seasons. Seeds of the aforemen-tioned 3 pumpkin entries were imbibed in tap water for 24 or 36 h and chilled at 4-5 oC for 10 or 12 d. Results showed that shorter plants with higher sex ratio (fe-male/male) were obtained from seeds imbibed for 36 h and chilled for 12 d. These plants produced greater number of smaller-sized fruits with high TSS % and dry matter in the fruit as compared to fruits of plants from untreated seeds. Such plants gave higher total fruit yield. The overall results substantiate that seed chilling prior to sowing is recommended to produce higher fruit yield and quality in pumpkin under Assiut and/or similar con-ditions.

This study was carried out during the period from 2004/05 to 2006/07 growing seasons, at Faculty of Agriculture, Sohag University, Egypt to estimate observed and expected response to selection and other genetic parameters and calculate drought susceptibility index. Results re-vealed highly significant differ-ences between F3 and F4 families under normal and drought condi-tions for days to heading, spike length, no. of spikes/plant, no. of kernels/spike, 100-kernel weight and grain yield/plant. Observed direct response to selection for days to heading was negative and highly significant compared with bulk and the check cultivar in F4 with values of -5.58 and - 13.88 % and -6.13 and -13.88 % under normal and drought conditions, respectively. The expected response to selec-tion was 3.15 and 3.68% under normal and drought conditions, respectively. Observed direct response to selection for grain yield/plant was positive and highly significant compared with bulk, better parent and the check in F4 with values of 28.19, 18.59 and 26.09 % and 27.49, 16.67 and 21.20 % under normal and water stress conditions, respec-tively. On the other hand, the expected response to selection was 11.98 and 9.06% under nor-mal and drought conditions, re-spectively. Phenotypic and genotypic coefficients of variation under normal conditions for days to heading of the early families were 4.75 and 4.26% in F3 and 5.17 and 4.84% in F4 generation, respectively. While under drought stress conditions those values were 4.26 and 4.05% in F3 and 4.84 and 4.78% in F4 genera-tion, respectively. Phenotypic coefficient of variation for grain yield of the highest yielding families under favourable condi-tions was 14.57 and 13.40 % in F3 and F4 generations, respec-tively, while, it was 13.32 and 12.43 % in the same generations, respectively under water stress conditions. Likewise the genotypic coeffi-cient of variability under normal conditions was 12.48 and 11.96 % in F3 and F4 generations, re-spectively. Meanwhile, it was 10.82 and 10.89 % under drought stress conditions in the two gen-erations, respectively. High broad sense heritability values for days to heading of the early families was obtained under normal and drought stress in F3 and F4 generations. While narrow sense heritability was 34.34 and 39.40 % in F4 generation under normal and drought stress, re-spectively. The broad sense heritability for grain yield/plant of the highest yielding families was high under normal and water stress in F3 and F4 generation, while, the narrow sense heritabil-ity was 53.34 and 43.43 % in F4 generation under the two studied conditions, respectively. These results showed that the pedigree method of selection was effective to produce new lines tolerant to drought stress with high grain yield. Drought susceptibility index showed that the nine families, i.e., no. 19, 22, 24, 25, 33, 35, 37, 38 and 39 produced relatively high grain yield under drought stress environments due to high yield potential, rather than having low susceptibility to stress envi-ronments. These genotypes could be used as source of drought tol-erance/or factors contributing to general adaptation.

This study was carried out during the period from 2004/05 to 2006/07 growing seasons, at Faculty of Agriculture, Sohag University, Egypt to estimate observed and expected response to selection and other genetic parameters and calculate drought susceptibility index. Results re-vealed highly significant differ-ences between F3 and F4 families under normal and drought condi-tions for days to heading, spike length, no. of spikes/plant, no. of kernels/spike, 100-kernel weight and grain yield/plant. Observed direct response to selection for days to heading was negative and highly significant compared with bulk and the check cultivar in F4 with values of -5.58 and - 13.88 % and -6.13 and -13.88 % under normal and drought conditions, respectively. The expected response to selec-tion was 3.15 and 3.68% under normal and drought conditions, respectively. Observed direct response to selection for grain yield/plant was positive and highly significant compared with bulk, better parent and the check in F4 with values of 28.19, 18.59 and 26.09 % and 27.49, 16.67 and 21.20 % under normal and water stress conditions, respec-tively. On the other hand, the expected response to selection was 11.98 and 9.06% under nor-mal and drought conditions, re-spectively. Phenotypic and genotypic coefficients of variation under normal conditions for days to heading of the early families were 4.75 and 4.26% in F3 and 5.17 and 4.84% in F4 generation, respectively. While under drought stress conditions those values were 4.26 and 4.05% in F3 and 4.84 and 4.78% in F4 genera-tion, respectively. Phenotypic coefficient of variation for grain yield of the highest yielding families under favourable condi-tions was 14.57 and 13.40 % in F3 and F4 generations, respec-tively, while, it was 13.32 and 12.43 % in the same generations, respectively under water stress conditions. Likewise the genotypic coeffi-cient of variability under normal conditions was 12.48 and 11.96 % in F3 and F4 generations, re-spectively. Meanwhile, it was 10.82 and 10.89 % under drought stress conditions in the two gen-erations, respectively. High broad sense heritability values for days to heading of the early families was obtained under normal and drought stress in F3 and F4 generations. While narrow sense heritability was 34.34 and 39.40 % in F4 generation under normal and drought stress, re-spectively. The broad sense heritability for grain yield/plant of the highest yielding families was high under normal and water stress in F3 and F4 generation, while, the narrow sense heritabil-ity was 53.34 and 43.43 % in F4 generation under the two studied conditions, respectively. These results showed that the pedigree method of selection was effective to produce new lines tolerant to drought stress with high grain yield. Drought susceptibility index showed that the nine families, i.e., no. 19, 22, 24, 25, 33, 35, 37, 38 and 39 produced relatively high grain yield under drought stress environments due to high yield potential, rather than having low susceptibility to stress envi-ronments. These genotypes could be used as source of drought tol-erance/or factors contributing to general adaptation.

The present study was carried out at animal production farm, Assiut University during the period of 2007 to 2009.Two dominant species of rodent were included in the study, white bellied rat, Rattus rattus frugivorus and grey rat, Rattus rattus alexandrinus with den-sity of 69.16% and 30.84%. The rodent ectoparasites were found to be fleas, lice, ticks and mites. The dominant spe-cies of fleas were the oriental rat flea, Xenopsylla cheopis and the human flea, Pulex irri-tans. The highest average den-sities of ectoparasites associ-ated with white bellied rat were observed in autumn and spring by 34.08% and 27.99%, and the lowest one was ob-served in winter by 15.62%. The highest average densities of ectoparasites associated with grey bellied rat were ob-served during spring and summer seasons by 40.96% and 27.39% and the lowest one during winter by 9.58%. In both species of rodent fe-males exibibited higher num-bers of ectoparasites because of females are larger and less active than males.

The present study was carried out at animal production farm, Assiut University during the period of 2007 to 2009.Two dominant species of rodent were included in the study, white bellied rat, Rattus rattus frugivorus and grey rat, Rattus rattus alexandrinus with den-sity of 69.16% and 30.84%. The rodent ectoparasites were found to be fleas, lice, ticks and mites. The dominant spe-cies of fleas were the oriental rat flea, Xenopsylla cheopis and the human flea, Pulex irri-tans. The highest average den-sities of ectoparasites associ-ated with white bellied rat were observed in autumn and spring by 34.08% and 27.99%, and the lowest one was ob-served in winter by 15.62%. The highest average densities of ectoparasites associated with grey bellied rat were ob-served during spring and summer seasons by 40.96% and 27.39% and the lowest one during winter by 9.58%. In both species of rodent fe-males exibibited higher num-bers of ectoparasites because of females are larger and less active than males.