Synergistic effect of growth-promoting microorganisms on bio-control of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. pisi, growth, yield, physiological and anatomical characteristics of pea plants.

Fusarium root rot caused by Fusarium oxysporum is an aggressive disease-causing damping-off, root rot, and vascular wilt in all peas growing fields. The disease can cause 100% yield losses under favorable conditions. The present study aims to control Fusarium root rot using Trichoderma harzianum, Pseudomonas fluorescens, and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, singly or in combinations. The results showed that all treatments significantly enhanced not only the plant growth, total phenol, activities of antioxidant enzymes, but also, the yield and seed quality. Several changes in the anatomical, physiological, and characteristics of the treated plants were also recorded. Compared to the untreated control treatment, under greenhouse conditions, the maximum reduction of the disease severity (80%) was achieved by the synergistic triple treatment consists of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, Trichoderma harzianum, and Pseudomonas fluorescens, as they gave the best growth and yield parameters. The same combination showed the highest activity of the antioxidant enzyme peroxidase (57.1%), as well as the highest total phenol content (117.7%), over the control. The synergistic triple increased the contents of protein (64.6%), total soluble sugars (48.5%), and total carbohydrate (24.8%) in seeds of pea compared with the control. The synergistic triple treatment led to an increase in the thickness of the root section (25%), the thickness of the cortex (24.8%), the thickness of the vascular cylinder (31.5%), and the diameter of the xylem vessels (81.5%) of the root. Based on their efficiency and eco-safety, this synergistic triple might be very effective for controlling root rot disease of pea caused by F. oxysporum, as well as improve the growth, yield, and seed quality.

Prediction of sofosbuvir response using interleukin-6 serum level and single nucleotide polymorphism of interferon lambda- 4.

INTRODUCTION: In Egypt, 15% of the populations are suffering from chronic hepatitis C especially genotype 4. Sofosbuvir was approved by FDA in December 2013 for treatment of HCV genotypes 2 and 3 in combination with Ribavirin, and for genotypes 1 and 4 in combination with Peg-IFN. Recently, polymorphism of different genes and plasma levels of IL-6 were utilized for better prediction of HCV clearance. This study aimed at early prediction of the efficacy of HCV treatment with Sofosbuvir (Sovaldi) and comparing the antiviral efficacy of dual and triple Sovaldi combination therapy. METHODOLOGY: Blood samples were collected from 100 HCV positive patients and detected by real time PCR at three time intervals. SNP genotyping of INFL-4 gene was estimated by using real-time PCR with predesigned primers and Taqman probes. IL-6 serum level was estimated before, during and after the end of the treatment using ELISA assay based on human IL-6 KIT. RESULTS: SNP genotyping of INFL-4 gene showed that 13.1% of patients carried ∆G/∆G, 30.4% patients had TT/TT and 56.5% patients possessed heterozygote allele ∆G/TT. Clinical data displayed that 13 patients were got relapsed at SVR 12. Serum level of IL-6 was noticed higher in HCV patients than healthy ones. Noteworthy, it was increased during treatment then decreased to a minimal level than begining of treatment. CONCLUSION: SNP in INFL-4 gene has displayed no effect in response to Sofosbuvir. Dual therapy had the same effect like triple therapy, so interferon could be withdrawn from the treatment regimen.

Evaluation of Potassium Sources, Rates and Pattern on the Yield and Quality Traits of Fertigated Wheat Grown in Sandy Soil.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Fertigation provide efficient method for fertilizer and irrigation of water in order to evaluate some potassium sources on wheat (Giza 168) production in sandy soil at El-Sadat City, El-Menoufia Governorate, Egypt, amid the two winter seasons 2016/2017 and 2017/2018. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A split-split plot design in a randomized complete block arrangement was used with 3 replications. The main plots were allocated to the 2 potassium sources (potassium sulfate and potassium chloride) 3 potassium rates (60, 120 and 180 kg ha-1 K2O beside one treatment without potassium fertilization) were devoted to sub-plot and three patterns (1, 2 weeks and 1 month) were devoted to sub-sub plot. RESULTS: The results showed that potassium had essentially influenced the yield and yield components of wheat and potassium fertilizers such as K2SO4 and KCl improved the quantity and quality of wheat. These results suggest that potassium application at 180 kg ha-1 associated with one pattern under fertigation can be good for obtaining an optimum yield of wheat. CONCLUSION: From this study can be concluded that the potassium application influence at 180 kg ha-1 K2O gave highly yield and chemical constituents under fertigation.

Optimization of germination, callus induction, and cell suspension culture of African locust beans Parkia biglobosa (Jacq.) Benth.

The present study was carried out to determine the best pre-sowing treatments that can enhance the germination and seedling growth of Parkia biglobosa (Jacq.) Also, to establish and long-term maintenance of calli and cell suspension cultures . The result of various pre-sowing treatments showed that seeds soaked in concentrated H2SO4 treatment appeared the highest germination percentage, higher value of plant height, number of leaves, number of branches and stem girth. The MS medium containing 1mg/l 2, 4-D was the best for callus induction of stem explants. The addition of 50 mg /l citric acid to the MS medium was effective for reducing browning of callus than other treatments. However, the viability percent recorded the maximum (87.76%) on the 9th day while the concentration of viable cells per ml reached the higher record (137.5 viable cell/ml) at the 12th and cell viability remains (≈ 68.39%) throughout 18 days of culture.

Behavior of Thiophanate Methyl and Propiconazole in Grape and Mango Fruits Under the Egyptian Field Conditions.

This research aims at determining residues of thiophanate methyl and propiconazole in grape and mango fruits as an indication for their persistence in this environmental compartment. Fruit extracts were analyzed for thiophanate methyl using High Performance Liquid Chromatography and using Gas Chromatography Electron Capture Detector (GC/ECD), respectively. The results indicated that propiconazole had a less environmental impact since propiconazole had shorter residue half-lives which were 1.24 and 1.19 days in grape and mango fruits, respectively, while thiophanate methyl had half-lives of 2.49 and 2.64 days in mango and grape, respectively. The degradation rates of propiconazole in grape and mango fruits did not change significantly and neither did those of thiophanate methyl. According to the maximum residue level, the pre-harvest intervals of propiconazole were set to be 3 and 7 days for grape and mango fruits, respectively, and the pre-harvest intervals for thiophanate methyl were 15 days for both grape and mango fruits. Propiconazole was generally considered to be less hazardous to humans and will leave the environment less altered because of its faster degradation than that of thiophanate methyl.

An efficient in vitro propagation protocol of cocoyam [Xanthosoma sagittifolium (L) Schott].

Sprouted corm sections of "South Dade" white cocoyam were potted and maintained in a greenhouse for 8 weeks. Shoot tips of 3-5 mm comprising the apical meristem with 4-6 leaf primordial, and approximately 0.5 mm of corm tissue at the base. These explants were treated to be used into the culture medium. A modified Gamborg's B5 mineral salts supplemented with 0.05 µM 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) were used throughout the study. Thidiazuron (TDZ) solution containing 0.01% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) was used. Erlenmeyer flasks and test tubes were used for growing cultures. The effect of different media substrate, thidiazuron, and the interaction between TDZ and Benzylaminopurine (BAP) on cocoyam culture were tested. Results indicated that cocoyam can be successfully micropropagated in vitro through various procedures. All concentrations tested (5-20 µM BAP and 1-4 µM TDZ) produced more axillary shoots per shoot tip than the control without cytokinins. Greater proliferation rates were obtained through the use of 20 µM BAP and 2 µM TDZ, respectively, 12 weeks from initiation. Shoots produced with BAP were larger and more normal in appearance than those produced with TDZ, which were small, compressed, and stunted. The use of stationary liquid media is recommended for economic reasons.