Abstract

Climate change has a strong effect on agricultural production, and consequently on food supply and security. In addition, the agricultural techniques play a minor role in the production of most of crops in Libya and therefore they are very sensitive to climate effects. This study aims to examine the causal relationship between climatic conditions and annual production of important crops during the period (1980–2010) using the Pairwise Granger Causality test. The climatic variables were rainfall and temperature, and the crops were wheat, barley, onion, watermelons, tomatoes and potatoes. There was bidirectional causality between temperature trend and potato production and unidirectional causality between temperature and watermelon and wheat production. There was no causality between temperature on the one hand and production of barley, onion and tomatoes on the other hand. The results also show a unidirectional causality running from rainfall to potatoes and wheat, and a bidirectional relationship between rainfall and watermelon. There was no directional causation from rainfall to barley or tomatoes. Based on these findings, Libyan authorities should pay more attention to the planting of crop varieties that are resistant to drought and heat and focus on the development of such varieties.

Abstract

The Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) method was used to analyze the genetic material (DNA) of ten local barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) genotypes with five primers for using the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). The results of the genetic relationships among the studied cultivars indicated that five primers provided twenty seven bands, eleven (40%) were polymorphic. These polymorphic bands were used in the statistical analyses to provide the genetic similarity matrix and dendrograms. Paired comparison analysis was carried out to measure the genetic similarity between the cultivars. The results of the analysis indicated that the values of the genetic similarity ranged from 0.474 between Acsad-176 and Delimi, and 1.000 between Tagermin and Wadi Alhai. The genetic tree obtained had two branches (groups of cultivars); the first group contained six cultivars and the second contained four cultivars. The genetic tree indicated that Acsad-176 was the most distant genetically from the other cultivars. On the other hand, Tagermin and Wadi Alhai were the most related cultivars genetically. The ten studied barley cultivars seemed to have a great deal in common in their genetic materials as a result of a tightly linked genetic base.

Abstract

The present study was carried out during the autumn season in 2002-2003 in the crop sciences department laboratories, agriculture college, Tripoli University. Seeds of six tobacco varieties were exposed to four different levels of gamma radiation namely 0, 100, 200 and 400 Gry. The irradiated seeds were planted in sterilized glass Petri dishes in a completely randomized design. As a preliminary study, seed germination speed and percentage were studied starting in the seventh day to the fifteenth day from planting. From the results of the statistical analysis, there were clear and significant differences between the varieties in percent germination and days to germination. Also there was a clear and significant effect of the three way interaction, indicating the dependence percent germination and speed of germination on time in days and on radiation levels.

Abstract

The efficacy of Mass Trapping Technique by using (FLYCAP®) vs. Dimethoate was tested against Medfly Ceratitis capitata (Wied.) in Citrus orchards in El-Zahara area, Western Tripoli during 2009-2010. Results of investigating 3500 fruit in mass trapping treatment and 1000 fruit in each of insecticide treatment and control showed a good efficacy of the technique. The fruit infestation rates were 17.35% ± 1.165 and 15.17% ± 1.889 for mass trapping and Dimethoate treatment respectively. The statistical analysis showed no significant differences between them, while the infestation rate for the control treatment was 36.5% ± 12.911.

Abstract

This study was conducted in the Masalata area near the Central Hospital. It included four olive cultivars (*Olea europeae* L.): Rasly, Zrazy, Jaddawy, and Gergashy. Leaves and fruits were collected from November 15, 2007, to January 30, 2008. Samples from the test group were collected from an area with untreated sewage water, while control samples were collected from the same cultivars in an area free of sewage water, located about 3 km from the study area. The aim was to study the effect of untreated sewage water on the concentration of elements in the leaves. The analysis results showed significant differences in mineral element content between the leaves of the test and control cultivars. The average percentages of nitrogen and magnesium in the leaves of the test Rasly cultivar were 1.11% and 0.42%, respectively, showing a significant difference compared to the control Rasly (1.01% and 0.28%). For the Zrazy test cultivar, the average percentages of nitrogen, potassium, and sodium were 1.42%, 0.30%, and 0.07%, respectively, significantly higher than the control (0.92%, 0.24%, 0.03%). The Jaddawy test cultivar showed significantly higher average percentages of nitrogen and chloride (1.13%, 0.30%) compared to the control (0.77%, 0.26%). The Gergashy test cultivar had significantly higher average percentages of nitrogen, calcium, and magnesium (0.95%, 0.99%, 0.33%) compared to the control (0.76%, 0.31%, 0.21%). For trace elements, the average zinc content was significantly higher in the test Rasly cultivar (22 ppm) compared to the control (17 ppm). Manganese average was significantly higher in the control Rasly (41 ppm) compared to the test (20 ppm). Lead and cadmium were not detected in any cultivars, likely due to absence or levels below detection. No significant differences were found for other elements in Rasly. For Zrazy, average iron was significantly higher in the control (130 ppm) than the test (113 ppm), with no significant differences for other elements. No significant differences were found for all elements in Jaddawy. For Gergashy, average iron and manganese were significantly higher in the control (105, 23 ppm) than the test (75, 15 ppm).

Abstract

Weight gain has become a prevalent and increasing phenomenon in many societies. Several studies have reported a potential association between obesity and various pathological conditions. The aim of this study is to analyze the prevalence of obesity in different age groups of the Libyan population and to assess the possible correlation between parents' health status and their offspring's health status to predict the likelihood of developing obesity and cardiometabolic disorders such as diabetes and hypertension. This study relied on a random sample from different age groups of school students in Tripoli. The total sample size was 865 individuals (460 males and 405 females). The age groups were as follows: children (5-11 years), adolescents (12-17 years), and young adults (18-25 years). The International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) reference standard was used to classify the samples into one of the following groups: non-obese, overweight, or obese. The results showed that the overweight and obese groups increased progressively with age. The study also recorded that overweight was highly prevalent in young adults (males and females), followed by adolescents and children. The obesity rate was high in young adults of both sexes (29.5% for males and 33.6% for females). It was also observed that the obesity rate was 1.1 times higher in females than in males. Obesity is closely related to genetic and environmental factors, leading to several serious diseases. As in the world, obesity in Libyan society is continuously increasing, and there is an urgent need to develop a plan to reduce the obesity rate in the Libyan community. This phenomenon requires the attention of researchers to conduct further studies and research to identify the causes of this disease and the possibility of treatment or containment.