PLANT CELL BIOTECHNOLOGY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY

The current study was conducted at the Experimental Farm of Sakha Agricultural Research Station (31^o06 N,30^o 56 E) during the two growing seasons of 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 to evaluate sixteen genotypes of bread wheat, such as ten promising lines from the local breeding program and six local cultivars, under normal, water deficit, and soil salinity conditions. The genotypes were arranged in three experiments representing the growing conditions. The used design was a randomized complete block design with four replications. Results appeared that there was significant decrease in all studied characters as result of water deficit and soil salinity conditions compared to the normal one, except 1000-kernel weight which increased under water deficit conditions. The effect of genotypes x growing conditions interaction was significant for days to heading, days to maturity and grain yield in both seasons while it was only significant in the 1^st season for number of spikes m^-2 and 1000-kerenl weight. The mean comparisons indicated that Line 7, Line 10 and Line 9 had moderate values of grain yield under both water deficit and soil salinity stresses with low grain yield reduction under those conditions. Therefore, Line 7, Line 10 and Line 9 may be applied in breeding program to generate new recombination with good soil salinity and water deficit tolerance characteristics. Meanwhile, the three cultivars; Misr 3, Sakha 95 and Giza 171 exhibited the highest grain yield under the three conditions with lowest grain yield reduction under both water deficit and soil salinity conditions indicating their good ability to tolerant difficult growing conditions. Therefore, these cultivars can recommend to be grown under water deficit or salt affected soil conditions. These results may be helpful to plan appropriate selection strategies to improve grain yield under water deficit and soil salinity in wheat crop in Egypt.

Lamium amplexicaule. L is a plant of the Lamiaceae family, widespread in Algeria and North Africa. In the literature, no detailed research elucidating the methods of extraction of phenolic compounds from this species is available. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the efficient method between cold and hot extraction conditions. Ethanolic extracts were obtained by maceration and Soxhlet apparatus. Phytochemical composition was determined by liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method. Results demonstrate that the major compound in both extracts was chlorogenic acid. However, 18 compounds were identified in the extract obtained by Soxhlet and 17 in that obtained by maceration. The quantification of these constituents showed higher amounts in the Soxhlet extract than the maceration one. Therefore, it can be concluded that the Soxhlet extraction is more efficient for L. amplexicaule than the maceration one.

Different intercropping systems between sweet pepper plants (Capsicum annum cv. California wonder) as a main crop with snap bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L. cv. Valantino) as intercrop were examined under two rates from mineral fertilization. The field experiments were executed during two successive seasons of 2017 and 2018. The results showed that the plants of sweet pepper which fertilized by added100% of the recommended mineral fertilization of sweet pepper +50% of the recommended mineral fertilization of snap bean and planting snap bean on the other side of sweet pepper gave augmentvalues with significant increase on most vegetative growth parameters, yield and its quality in both growing seasons in addition the maximum increase in net return, benefit cost ratio and land equivalent ratio (LER).. Meanwhile total green pods yield for snap bean per feddan significant increase when snap bean was planted on the other side of sweet pepper plants and between them under same fertilizer rate in both seasons.

Among the environmental problems, salinity is one of the major threats to agriculture around the globe which affects more than 6% of the available land on earth. However halophytes are blessed with the ability to cope with high salinity by various mechanisms. The present study was aimed to explore adaptive components of Cyperus exaltatus which is now growing widely at a number of saline areas across the Pakistan. Extensive trips were made across the country to collect the populations of Cyperus exaltatus from all sorts of environments with varying levels of salinity.  The morphological study of ecotypes showed that many growth parameters were affected negatively under higher salinity. However, root length, shoot length, plant height, shoot fresh and dry weight showed a high association with hyper saline sites. Moreover the physiological parameters such as proline content, total soluble proteins and total soluble sugars were accumulated in higher concentrations among populations at hyper saline sites while in lower concentrations at moderately saline and less saline sits which may have supported the production of higher biomass under salinity. The results show that the plants like Cyperus exaltatus can be grown under various types of environmental stresses especially under salinity. Thus the barren saline lands can be used to produce fodder as well as the growth of plants may also help to reduce the levels of salinity in such areas.

Assessing the genetic diversity among quinoa germplasm is of prime importance for its effective utilization in breeding programs. The aims of the present investigation were to evaluate the magnitude of genetic diversity, based on phenotypic data, among 37 quinoa genotypes, under organic and/or inorganic fertilizer conditions and assess interrelationships between seed yield and its related traits under both environments. Two experiments were carried out in two seasons; the 1^st experiment under organic fertilization and the 2^nd under mineral fertilization conditions. A randomized complete blocks design with three replications was used. Principle component analysis (PCA) and GT-Biplot technique were used. Quinoa genotypes recorded significant differences (P≤0.01) for all studied traits under each environment. The promising genotype(s) for each trait were identified. Results of GT-biplot indicated that the traits, branches/plant, seed diameter, seed yield/plant, seed nitrogen content, biological yield/plant, 1000-seed weight, seed oil content, plant height, inflorescence diameter, inflorescences/plant and chlorophyll concentration index were strongly correlated with seed yield/ha, had high estimates of heritability and genetic advance and thus could be considered as secondary traits for high seed yield either under organic or inorganic fertilization. The clustering analysis assigned the 37 quinoa genotypes into three groups. The highest genetic dissimilarity Euclidean coefficients were recorded between G23 and each of G8, G34, G4, G9, G24 and G5; they are the most unrelated genotypes, but the lowest dissimilarity was between G13 and G26, they are the most related genotypes. The identified promising genotypes and secondary traits could be offered to quinoa breeders for use in future breeding programs to improve seed yield.

Urinary tract infections are most significant cause of disease in females and children. Homoeopathic mother tinctures are clinically used for the management of different pathological conditions however; there are several controversial theories for their effectiveness. The objective of this study was to assess the antibacterial effect of Uva ursi tincture in comparison with antibiotic ampicillin. In this study, well diffusion method was used to determine the antibacterial activity of homoeopathic plant tincture Uva ursi against four uropathogenic bacterias (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae). Standard drug as positive control Ampicillin (Novadit injectable) used in concentration of 200mg/100ml and alcohol 70% was taken as negative control group. Inhibition zones were observed after 24-hour incubation. Standard drug Ampicillin showed significant antibacterial activity for Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae with zone of inhibition 40, 32, 30 and 22 mm respectively. Uva ursi mother tincture has maximum antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus with zone of inhibition range up to 31 mm and least against Klebsiella pneumoniae zone of inhibition range up to 13mm, showed less susceptibility as compared to Staphylococcus aureus. Uva ursi 30C (potency) showed maximum inhibition against Staphylococcus aureus was 13mm and least against Klebsiella pneumoniae 4mm. The results showed that Uva ursi tincture have significant result against some common uropathogenic bacteria.

Objective: To investigate the effect of polyherb (formulated by some plants) on physiological, biochemical alterations and oxidative stress induced by experimental diabetes in rats.

Materials and methods: Twenty female albino Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups (n=5); Control, Polyherb, diabetic rats and Diabetic rats treated with polyherb. All types of treatments were given to rats orally for 21 days.

Results: In vitro phytochemical analysis results revealed that polyherb contains phenols, flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, tannins and steroids. In vivo results, in diabetic group showed an alteration in lipid profile and biochemical parameters. While, results showed an increase in MDA level and a decrease in GSH and SOD levels compared to control. Moreover, the hematological parameters revealed that Diabetes induce a significant diminution (P<0.01) of RBC, MCV and HCT levels. In the other hand, histopathological analysis noted an alteration in pancreas tissues of diabetic rats group compared to control. However, treatment of Diabetic rats by Polyherb ensured a partial amelioration and correction of the previous parameters.

Conclusion: Use of Polyherb appears to be the dominant limited of development and complications of diabetes which can have a benefic effect against others diseases which oxidative stress plays an important role.

Plant-associated endophytes are producing important and unique secondary metabolites, and their outstanding biosynthetic process seems to be prospective avenues for phytochemists. This review summarized and updated novel natural compounds from endophytic fungi of plants and herbs focusing on the various of fungi genera. The fungal taxonomy, diversity, location, and biological activities have been reported. The results showed 138 new secondary metabolites isolated from 40 species of fungal strains belonging to 13 genera and six phyla. The present review will be heplful for scientists in the fields of phytochemistry, organic chemistry, and microbiology.