Abstract

Drought is a major abiotic stress that causes a reduction in plant growth and yields of agricultural crops. Naturally, Plants differ in their susceptibility to drought adaptation and tolerance and research confirmed that many genes and transcription factors are involved in the response to water deficit. I tested Arabidopsis OSM1 (for osmotic stress-sensitive mutant 1) (At1g28490) gene- which is similar to SYP61 (SYNTAXIN OF PLANTS 61) -under drought stress for the first time in plants grown on soil. The investigations included wild type plants and osm 1 mutant line (SALK_107167) subjected to drought. The sequence analysis showed that the T-DNA in this mutant is inserted in the promoter and in the correct site as reported by the database but showed smaller product size than the expected confirming missing of 86 bases at the left border of the T-DNA. Genotyping investigations showed that the lines segregated out according to the mendelian bases. The mutant plants were significantly more sensitive to wilting when grown with limited soil moisture compared to wild-type plants but plant survival was not affected. These results indicate that this gene may be involved in drought stress response and wider experimentation is needed to include transcript accumulations under such kind of stress in parallel with the use of a mutant that carries a T-DNA within the gene.

Abstract

Urea is not necessary in the diet ruminant animals, but because of the ruminant unique ability to utilize the nitrogen from urea to form high quality microbial protein, therefore, urea can be fed as a replacement for part of the protein in a ration. Poultry litter, consisting of manure, bedding, and feathers, is high in nitrogen content and shows promise as a feed for ruminant animals. This review examines the nutritional composition of broiler litter, highlighting its high crude protein content (around 30% on a dry matter basis), energy value, and mineral richness (including Ca, P, K, and trace elements). It discusses the efficient utilization of non-protein nitrogen (NPN), primarily uric acid, by rumen microorganisms in cattle, sheep, and goats. The paper outlines successful incorporation levels in rations for beef cattle (up to 25% in finishing rations, even 80% for wintering beef cows with energy supplementation) and sheep (with caution due to copper toxicity risks, recommending limits below 30% and for short durations). Handling methods to ensure safety, such as heat treatment to destroy pathogens and removal of foreign objects, are emphasized. The economic advantage of using litter as feed compared to fertilizer is noted. While generally safe for cattle, the primary documented health concern is copper toxicity in sheep. The conclusion affirms the substantial value of properly processed poultry litter as a nutritious and economical feed ingredient for ruminants, contributing to sustainable waste management.

Abstract

This experiment was conducted to study the vegetative characters of eight date palm cultivars at the Agricultural Experiments Station in Sebha, namely: Asbeer, Adhwee, Awreeg, Tasfert, Taghyat, Talees, Saiedi, and Khadrai. The results indicated significant differences among the different cultivars. The trunks of the Awreeg and Adhwee cultivars were tall, while the trunks of the Saiedi cultivar were short; the rest of the cultivars were of medium length. Regarding trunk circumference, the Taghyat cultivar was of medium thickness (159.3 cm) compared to the other cultivars, whose thickness ranged between (187.25-233.50 cm). The lowest number of leaves per palm was recorded for the Khadrai and Saiedi cultivars, with an average of 65 leaves per palm, compared to the other cultivars, which were similar in leaf number with an average of 78 leaves per palm. The number of leaflets per single leaf ranged between 123.25 -- 187.25 leaflets per leaf. Some leaves were short, such as those of the Adhwee and Khadrai cultivars, while others were of medium length in the remaining cultivars. It was found that the leaflets were short and of medium width for the Saiedi, Khadrai, and Talees cultivars, while the leaflets of the other cultivars were short. The length of the spine region ranged from long for the Khadrai, Talees, and Adhwee cultivars to medium length for the rest of the cultivars. Concerning the number of spines per leaf, it ranged from medium for the Saiedi cultivar to numerous in the other cultivars.

Abstract

This experiment was conducted at the Agricultural Research Center - Tripoli Branch, during the spring season, to study the effect of fertilization with different rates of nitrogen on the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of three imported potato cultivars: Ajax, Concorde, and Liseta. The results showed the superiority of the Ajax and Liseta cultivars over the Concorde cultivar in total yield, as the total yield of the Ajax cultivar reached 29.48 tons/ha, while the total marketable yield of the Concorde cultivar was 22.23 tons/ha. The Ajax cultivar statistically outperformed the Concorde and Liseta cultivars in dry matter percentage, reducing sugars, starch, tuber specific gravity, and the Liseta cultivar in average tuber weight for total marketable yield. The Concorde cultivar significantly outperformed the Liseta cultivar in total soluble solids percentage, and both Concorde and Liseta in tuber protein percentage. The results indicate that nitrogen fertilization at rates ranging from (50 to 350 kg nitrogen/ha) led to a significant increase in total marketable yield, where the total yield for the rate of 150 kg nitrogen per hectare was (29.89 tons/ha) and the marketable yield was 28.22 tons/ha, as well as in the average tuber weight for total yield, the number of aerial stems per plant, and the protein percentage in tubers. Meanwhile, the percentages of dry matter, total soluble solids, specific gravity of tubers, starch, and reducing sugars were not significantly affected by the different nitrogen rates.