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The goal of this study was to characterize diversity of fungal biota in soil, roots and green leaves of onion plant. Seventy- nine fungal species belonging to 32 genera were isolated from soil (29 genera and 72 species), rhizosphere (25 and 52), rhizoplane (24 and 38), phyllosphere (17 and 41) and phylloplane (17 and 35) on PDA medium at 19º and 28ºC. The number of fungal genera and species in soil was higher than those on roots and leaves, while those on the surface of roots (rhizosphere) or leaves (phyllosphere) were higher than those adhering to roots (rhizoplane) or leaves (phylloplane). Aspergillus (A. niger and A. terreus), followed by Penicillium (P. funiculosum and P. chrysogenum), Rhizopus (R. stolonifer) and Fusarium (F. oxysporum) were the most common fungi. A new record species is reported for the first time to Egypt namely, Zopfiella latipes (from phylloplane of onion).

The goal of this study was to characterize diversity of fungal biota in soil, roots and green leaves of onion plant. Seventy- nine fungal species belonging to 32 genera were isolated from soil (29 genera and 72 species), rhizosphere (25 and 52), rhizoplane (24 and 38), phyllosphere (17 and 41) and phylloplane (17 and 35) on PDA medium at 19º and 28ºC. The number of fungal genera and species in soil was higher than those on roots and leaves, while those on the surface of roots (rhizosphere) or leaves (phyllosphere) were higher than those adhering to roots (rhizoplane) or leaves (phylloplane). Aspergillus (A. niger and A. terreus), followed by Penicillium (P. funiculosum and P. chrysogenum), Rhizopus (R. stolonifer) and Fusarium (F. oxysporum) were the most common fungi. A new record species is reported for the first time to Egypt namely, Zopfiella latipes (from phylloplane of onion).

The goal of this study was to characterize diversity of fungal biota in soil, roots and green leaves of onion plant. Seventy- nine fungal species belonging to 32 genera were isolated from soil (29 genera and 72 species), rhizosphere (25 and 52), rhizoplane (24 and 38), phyllosphere (17 and 41) and phylloplane (17 and 35) on PDA medium at 19º and 28ºC. The number of fungal genera and species in soil was higher than those on roots and leaves, while those on the surface of roots (rhizosphere) or leaves (phyllosphere) were higher than those adhering to roots (rhizoplane) or leaves (phylloplane). Aspergillus (A. niger and A. terreus), followed by Penicillium (P. funiculosum and P. chrysogenum), Rhizopus (R. stolonifer) and Fusarium (F. oxysporum) were the most common fungi. A new record species is reported for the first time to Egypt namely, Zopfiella latipes (from phylloplane of onion).

The goal of this study was to characterize diversity of fungal biota in soil, roots and green leaves of onion plant. Seventy- nine fungal species belonging to 32 genera were isolated from soil (29 genera and 72 species), rhizosphere (25 and 52), rhizoplane (24 and 38), phyllosphere (17 and 41) and phylloplane (17 and 35) on PDA medium at 19º and 28ºC. The number of fungal genera and species in soil was higher than those on roots and leaves, while those on the surface of roots (rhizosphere) or leaves (phyllosphere) were higher than those adhering to roots (rhizoplane) or leaves (phylloplane). Aspergillus (A. niger and A. terreus), followed by Penicillium (P. funiculosum and P. chrysogenum), Rhizopus (R. stolonifer) and Fusarium (F. oxysporum) were the most common fungi. A new record species is reported for the first time to Egypt namely, Zopfiella latipes (from phylloplane of onion).

Exposure to xenoestrogens like 4-nonylphenol (NP) is recognized by disrupting endocrine functions and causes reproductive dysfunction in male fish. The present study aimed at investigating the 4-nonylphenol propensity to induce oxidative stress and hormonal disturbances in male catfish and at studying the protective role of quince (Cydonia oblonga). To fulfill this aim, catfish Clarias gariepinus were exposed to pure 100 μg/L 4-NP and to quince the leaf extract added to 4-NP, both for 15 days. The 4-NP exposure induced a marked increase in 17ß-estradiol (E2), LH, and cortisol, while thyroid hormone (TSH, T3), testosterone (T), and FSH levels noticeably decreased; however, 4-NP had no effect on T4 level. Moreover, 4-NP exposure was accompanied by histological impairments in testes. Existence of 4-NP was associated with oxidative damage as evidenced by the significant increase (p 0.05) of the enzymes, superoxidase dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), acetylcholinesterase (AchE), glutathione s-transferase, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and malondialdehyde (MDA). Adding quince was effective to neutralize hormonal levels and to repair the testicular histological alterations. In response to quince remedy, the enzymes AchE and MDA reduced significantly (p 0.05), while limited or no response was detected for other tested enzymes. Our results concluded that quince can antagonize 4-NP toxicity in catfish, confirming that quince leaf extract displayed antioxidant activities against the toxicity of hazardous chemicals.

Exposure to xenoestrogens like 4-nonylphenol (NP) is recognized by disrupting endocrine functions and causes reproductive dysfunction in male fish. The present study aimed at investigating the 4-nonylphenol propensity to induce oxidative stress and hormonal disturbances in male catfish and at studying the protective role of quince (Cydonia oblonga). To fulfill this aim, catfish Clarias gariepinus were exposed to pure 100 μg/L 4-NP and to quince the leaf extract added to 4-NP, both for 15 days. The 4-NP exposure induced a marked increase in 17ß-estradiol (E2), LH, and cortisol, while thyroid hormone (TSH, T3), testosterone (T), and FSH levels noticeably decreased; however, 4-NP had no effect on T4 level. Moreover, 4-NP exposure was accompanied by histological impairments in testes. Existence of 4-NP was associated with oxidative damage as evidenced by the significant increase (p 0.05) of the enzymes, superoxidase dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), acetylcholinesterase (AchE), glutathione s-transferase, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and malondialdehyde (MDA). Adding quince was effective to neutralize hormonal levels and to repair the testicular histological alterations. In response to quince remedy, the enzymes AchE and MDA reduced significantly (p 0.05), while limited or no response was detected for other tested enzymes. Our results concluded that quince can antagonize 4-NP toxicity in catfish, confirming that quince leaf extract displayed antioxidant activities against the toxicity of hazardous chemicals.

The study of the DNA damage response in erythrocytes after g-irradiation may provide evidence for its effectiveness as a biomarkers for genotoxic environmental stress. We previously reported various malformations in erythrocytes of medaka irradiated with10 Gy, but not in their micronuclei. In this study, we optimized an assay method for g-H2AX and double strand breaks in erythrocytes of adult medaka fish after 15 Gy of g-irradiation. The highest level of apoptosis and nuclear abnormalities, including in micronuclei, were recorded 4 h after g-irradiation, as was the highest level of g-H2AX foci in erythrocytes. These results suggest that recognition and repair processes occur as a response to DNA damage in erythrocytes in medaka.

In this study, we assessed the toxic effects of sub lethal concentration (0.1 mg l−1) 4-nonylphenol (4-NP) on serum biochemical parameters, liver lipid peroxidation (LPO) and antioxidant enzymes of the African catfish Clarias gariepinus for 14 days and the ability of the quince leaf extract to alleviate the effects of (4-NP). Fish were categorized into four groups: control, exposure to 0.1 mg l−1 4-NP, exposure to 0.1 mg l−1 4-NP with quince leaf extract (10 ml/30 L water), and exposure to 0.1 mg l−1 4-NP with quince leaf extract (20 ml/30 L water). 4-NP exposure induced a significant (p0.05) increase in the levels of glucose, AST, ALT, creatinine, urea, uric acid, cholesterol, and G6PDH as well as, the percentages of hepatic LPO level, DNA fragmentation, and apoptotic erythrocytes (p0.05). A significant (p0.05) decrease in alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total protein, albumin, globulin, total lipids, and LDH were also recorded. Liver enzyme activities (SOD, CAT and TAC) were increased. Addition of the quince leaf extract into the water was able to reinstate the alterations in biochemical parameters, antioxidant biomarkers, apoptotic level and hepatic DNA damage induced by 4-NP.

Although there are many applications of silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) in human activities,there is still little known about their potential environmental toxicity, particularly to fish. Inthe present study, the effects of Ag-NPs on African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) were studiedusing melanomacrophage centers as immunohistological biomarkers. Fish were exposed to25 mg/L, 50 mg/L and 75 mg/L 100-nm Ag-NPs. We studied the effects on the size and num-ber of melanomacrophage centers in all target tissues. Many histopathological alterationsin those tissues were observed. The histological changes were represented as dislocationof the epithelium, dilatation of central veins associated with inflammatory leukocytic infil-tration, necrosis, and pyknotic nuclei of hepatocytes. There was shrinkage of Malpighiancorpuscles, dislocation of nuclei of convoluted tubules, cellular degeneration, and dispersedinfiltration of leukocytes in kidney tissue. Examination of spleen sections after exposure toAg-NPs showed rupture within the red pulp and hemorrhage, dislocation of nuclei, accumu-lation of inflammatory leukocytes, and congestion in blood vessels. In conclusion, exposureto Ag-NPs induced alterations in tissues, suggesting a possible increase in oxidative stressin those tissues.