Kufa Journal for Agricultural Sciences

An experiment was conducted to use Aspergillus flavus filtrate in treating different stages of Callosobruchus maculatus (eggs, larvae, pupae) after diluting it with sterile distilled water at concentrations of 30%, 50 and %, 70% directly to calculate the mortality rates after (1, 3, 5) days After treatment, the best results of egg inhibition were in the 5th day, with rates reaching 36.9, 53.7 and 83.87%; respectively, and the best results of larvae mortality were in the 3rd, 5th, and 5th day; respectively, with rates reaching 50.33, 80.47and 93.93%, respectively. While the best results of pupae mortality were on the 5th, 5th, and 5th day; respectively, with rates that reached 63.50, 86.93and 96.97%; respectively, and the best results of mortality for adults were on the 3rd, 5th, and5th days; respectively, with rates that reached 43.73, 90.83, and 93.93% respectively. The best results of mortality were in the 1th, 3th, and 5th day respectively on adults of C. maculatus via the indirect method, as the highest mortality rates were at the concentration of 70% and reached 56.83, 60.36 and 67.1%, respectively. The best results were on the amount of laying eggs from an adult C. maculatus and by direct and indirect spraying on females. The results showed that the lowest rate of laying eggs for one female after three days of mating was zero eggs/female with a concentration of 70% compared to the indirect method which reached to 24.13 eggs/female.

The experiment was conducted under laboratory conditions, in the insect laboratory of the Faculty of Education for women r, at the University of Kufa in 2021. The aim of this study was to test the effect of extracts, regular and Nano-oil of cinnamon, Cinnamomum zeylanicu, turmeric Curcuma longa, and Elettaria cardamomum on the eggs and third-stage larvae of date moth. Where the three Nano-oils excelled in mortality eggs, a mortality rate of 100% was observed compared to a significantly lower mortality rate with) the regular oil and the boiled extract. The Nano-oils resulted in the mortality rate of the third instar larva after undergoing treatment for 72 hours. The Nano cinnamon oil excelled in mortality larvae, where the mortality rate was 94.4%, compared to turmeric Nano oil and Nano cardamom oil, respectively, as THEY reached 89.2 and 61.8% at 2% concentration.

This study aimed to test the effect of the physical factor (UV-C) in degrading insecticide Flash residue in post-harvest wheat seeds and soil. As for Flash residual in the soil, the highest concentration (3.10 ppm ) was detected in seeds produced from plants treated with UV-C untreated Flash, while the lowest concentration (below the detectable level) was in the wheat seeds from plants sprayed with UV-C treated Flash. As for Flash residual in the soil, the highest concentration was 12.50 ppm detected in uncultivated soil treated with Flash untreated, while the lowest residue (0.00 ppm) was in wheat-planted soil treated with UV-C treated Flash. Findings also showed that exposing the insecticide to UV-C for 20 min resulted in the best degradation rate.

The current study was conducted in a private dairy cow's station located in the middle of Iraq by using 80 samples of blood during the period 2021 – 2022 in the aim to determine the effect of Interleukin-6 (IL-6) concentration on reproductive performance. Results showed a significant effect (P≤0.05) of IL-6 level on reproductive parameters. Days open differed significantly according to this interleukin and the highest days open was recorded in cows with low IL-6 level namely, 187.37 pg/ml. Service per conception differed significantly according to IL-6 level in blood plasma, the highest number of services per conception was recorded in cows with low IL-6 interleukin about 3.77 service. Calving interval differed significantly according to IL-6 concentration, the longest period was noticed in cows with low IL-6 level compared with the shortest period which was noticed in cows with moderate IL-6 level namely, 482.48 and 400.25 day respectively. Ovulation weakness differ significantly (P≤0.05) according to IL-6, the highest rate of infection was recorded in cows with high IL-6 level (63.64%) from total number about 33 cases while the lowest rate of ovulation weakness was noticed in cows with low IL-6 level namely, 21.21%.

The study was conducted in the Molecular Biology Laboratory - Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Kufa during 2020-2021 to evaluate the possibility of producing a biocide using Bacillus spp. B. firmus, B. cereus. and B. simplex. The results of manufacturing bionematicide from these bacteria showed that the three species did not differ in their growth on the same compost medium (palm fronds, rice residues, wheat residues), while the growth of each Bacillus spp. differed from other species on different culture media. The palm frond medium, regardless of the type of bacteria, was the least favorable and did not support many bacterial populations, and allowed no more than 83*108 CFU. Whereas the bacterial colonies ranged from 219*108 CFU to 254*108 CFU on fermented wheat residues, with a slight difference from rice residues, which led to bacterial colonies of 198*108 CFU to 214*108 CFU. In the case of carriers used for the biocide, preparation using sand was always better than with calcium sulfate. The effect of packing materials (plastic bags, paper bags, or plastic containers) on the efficiency and vitality of bacteria in the biocide content was also evaluated. It is noted that the highest bacterial colonies, which ranged from 267 to 253 *108 CFU, in the case of using plastic containers significantly differed from storing in paper bags (233-230*108 CFU) and plastic bags (235 -216 *108 CFU), after 15 days of storage in laboratory conditions. However, the viability and effectiveness of the prepared biocide decreased with the increase of storage periods to 30, 60, and 90 days, regardless of the type of bacteria.

This study looked at the effects of biological control strategies for root and stem rot disease caused by Rhizoctonia solani using soil organisms as biocontrol agents. The results of the field survey showed the spread of root and stem rot disease on broad bean plants in some areas of Najaf Governorate, where the infection rate ranged from 32- to 89.5%. The Isolation process showed that five fungal isolates of Rhizoctonia solani were associated with the disease, which differed in some phenotypic characteristics in terms of growth speed and color difference. The results of the molecular diagnosis using the ITS marker sequencing for the three most pathogenic isolates showed that they were belonging to Rhizoctonia solani, thus were named Ahmed 1, 3, 4 and registered in the GenBank under accession numbers; ON 394595.1, ON 394597.1, and ON 394599.1, respectively. In the pathogenicity test, R. solani isolates displayed a difference in their virulence on broad bean plants, where R. solani 1 (Al-Mashkhab isolate) was the most virulent among the isolates and was selected for subsequent studies. Isolate T. longibrachiatum (T3) showed high antagonistic efficiency against isolate of the pathogenic fungus R. solani on P.D.A culture media, gave the highest inhibitory percentage 75.06% compared to isolates T1 and T2 of Trichoderma harzianum, which led to inhibition of the pathogen to 68.71% and 68.94%, respectively. In the culture filtrate test of isolates of the living fungi, isolate T3 had the highest inhibition in the growth of pathogenic R. solani, which was 5.20 cm compared to the two live fungi T1 and T2, which led to 6.20 and 5.95 cm, respectively. As for the pots experiment, the results revealed that the isolate of T. longibrachiatum (T3) protected the broad beans plants from root and stem rot pathogen, where the disease was not seen compared to the treatment of the pathogenic fungus R. solani, only in which the infection severity was 80%.

This study was conducted during the period from 23rd September 2021 to 1st May 2022 in Horticulture stations / Akre / Iraqi Kurdistan region, amid to schedule the flower production of Chrysanthemum (Dendrathema grandiflora Tzvelev), by use the supplemental light with (Natural (unlit), 1.5-month, 3-month), BA with 0, 200 and 400 mg.l-1 and two cultivars Avalon (pink) and Flirt (red). The study was performed by use Random Complete Block Design (RCBD). The best results include, use 3-monthof supplemental light significantly increased the number of day to flower bud appearance and the number of days to flower anthesis to 143.36 and 201.10 day for the two cultivars Avalon and Flirt respectively compared with 1.5 month which need 119.61, 175.02 day and clontrol which need 49.28, 78.31 day for the two cultivars respectively, this mean that 3-month delay the flower production by 122.79 day than control. Plant height, flower grade and Plant growth index also increased significantly with increased the supplemental light to 1.5 and 3-month compared with control. Sprayed Chrysanthemum with BA increased significantly the day to flower bud appearance, vase life and flower grade compared with control. The Flirt (red) cultivar significantly superior than Avalon (pink) in day to flower bud appearance, day to flowering anthesis, plant high and flower grade.

This study was carried out in the bee laboratory in the Faculty of Agriculture –University of Kufa in September 2021 to evaluate some protein sources and hive products against the oriental hornet Vespa orientalis Linnaeus 1771 (Hymenoptera: Vespidae). The food sources included: beef meat, gut fish, beef lung, honeybee, wax, propolis, pollen, bee worker, and water, in addition to control which was an empty petri dish. The number of visits and their duration were calculated. The results showed that the wasps preferred bee honey and wax significantly higher than the rest of the stimuli.

Maintaining a certain level of rice production must coincide with maintaining soil fertility, reducing pollution to the environment, and reducing water consumption. A field experiment was carried out during the 2020 summer growing season in a spot of Al-Issa county-Abbasiya district in the province of Najaf, in order to study the effect of different levels of irrigation and organic fertilizers on the growth, yield and components of the local rice variety Jasmine. The experimental plants were planted on June 17, according to the rice intensification system (SRI) method, by seedling method, at distances of 25 cm between seedlings and lines, with one seedling in the hole. Weeds were removed by hand three times. It was designed as a factorial experiment using a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replicates, where the irrigation levels (daily, 3 or 7 days irrigation intervals) as the main factor, while the organic fertilizers at two levels (10 and 5 ton.hˉ¹) were the secondary factor. The results showed that irrigation at 3 days intervals in clay soil mixed with the use of 10 ton.h-1 of organic fertilizers in SRI gave the highest rates of growth characteristics and yield components of Jasmine rice. In the case of irrigation and soil conditions in the study site, SRI is recommended to reduce water consumption and maintain an acceptable level of soil fertility, taking into account maintaining a level of production.

Citrus aurantifolia rootstock seedlings were treated with Seaweed extracts and copper sulfate. Seaweed extracts were added as a ground feed during the growing season at four levels (0, 10, 20, and 30 ml. seedling-1) and copper sulfate sprayed at four concentrations (15,10,5, 0 ml. L-1) alone or in combination with the control (watering with water only) during the growing seasons 2020-2021. The results showed that the treatment of seedlings grafted on rootstock aurantifolia with Seaweed extracts and spraying with copper sulfate affected (height, stem diameter, area Leaf, root length, and chlorophyll content of leaves (the results also showed that the addition of Seaweed extracts at a concentration of 30 ml overlapping with copper sulfate spraying at a concentration of 15 ml. L-1 is recommended to improve the vegetative, root and nutritional growth of lemon citrus seedlings.

This experiment was conducted in a private olive orchard located in the village of Kasara, Dohuk governorate, Kurdistan region, Iraq, during the growing season 2021-2022 on 14 years old olive trees CV. Basheqi (Olea europaewas a L.) planted at 4x8m apart in (silty clay loam) soil, under drip irrigation system. Three levels of organic manure (poultry manure) at (0, 4 and 8 kg.tree-1) was added to the soil at the second week of December in the 2021 season, and three concentrations of bio-fertilizers (Bio Health) at (0 , 10 and 15 g.l-1) and three concentrations (0, 300 and 600 mg.l-1 ) of foliar spray of ascorbic acid. Bio-fertilizers and ascorbic acid were carried out two times per season, First: prior flowering, Second: after fruit set in order to investigate their influence on the growth and fruit quality of olive trees. A factorial experiment with three replications was carried out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD), using one tree for each experimental unit. Results indicated that soil application of organic manure (poultry manure) at 8 kg.tree-1 significantly increased all studied characters { leaf area, chlorophyll content, leaves protein%, fruit total soluble solid TSS%, total carbohydrate%, anthocyanin content, ascorbic acid (Vit.C), oil content %}. Soil application of biofertilizer (bio health) at 15g.l-1significantly increased all study characters except TSS. Foliar application of ascorbic acid at 600 mg.l-1 significantly increased average leaf area, total chlorophyll content, protein% in leaves, ascorbic acid, and oil%. In comparison to other interactions, the interaction of (8 kg Organic manure.tree-1, 15 g.l-1 bio fertilizer, and 600 mg.l-1ascorbic acid) appeared to be more efficient in enhancing all characteristics studied in this experiment.

Invasive whitefly species in coconut plantations have become a matter of concern in the last half a decade as they cause direct and indirect infestation on the palms. The Rugose spiralling whitefly (RSW), Aleurodicus rugioperculatus Martin infestation was high on Cocos nucifera L. (coconut) followed by Dypsis lutescens (H. Wendl.) (Butterfly palm) and Annona squamosa L. (custard apple). The coconut varieties Malayan Yellow Dwarf and Chowghat Orange Dwarf were observed with higher infestation index while that of West coast tall was the lowest. Higher RSW parasitization levels were observed on Musa paradisiaca L. (banana) and Canna indica L. (Indian shot), with 85.96 and 71.59% parasitization, respectively. Identification of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) between healthy and RSW-infested coconut plants revealed the emission of 56 VOCs from the healthy coconut plant and 47 VOCs from RSW infested plant. 22 VOCs were common in both samples, and 25 VOCs were unique to RSW-infested coconut plants. The presence of 42 VOCs was identified from the headspace extracts of RSW-infested bananas. Differences in the VOCs emitted from RSW-infested banana and coconut plants revealed higher emission of terpenoids like β-Caryophyllene, (E, Z)-2,6-dimethyl-2,4,6-Octatriene, Humulene, α-Pinene, Farnesane, α-Copaene and β-cis-Ocimene from RSW infested banana plants that proved to be more attractive to the parasitoid. Identifying specific blends of volatile compounds influencing Encarsia guadeloupae Viggiani could help to augment the parasitotic for RSW management in coconut plantations.

Limited land, environmental contamination, the loss of agricultural culture, and the inability to use ethnobotany all contribute to the health problems city dwellers face. These problems cause air pollution, lack of a good diet, loss of traditional knowledge, and underutilization of natural therapeutic plants. Ethnobotany and urban farming can create healthier cities by maintaining biodiversity, socially enhancing community involvement, and economically offering local business opportunities and sustainable food security. This study aims to investigate the perception of urban communities regarding the relationship between the planet, people, and profit with ethnobotanical practices and urban farming in achieving the concept of “city healing”. This research uses the primary method of case and explanatory studies, purposive location determination of five major cities in Indonesia, with 150 respondents. The structural equation model (SEM) was used to test the model, while the partial least squares (PLS) was used to analyze survey data with interviews and observations. The results showed that people, the planet, and profit generally have excellent and significant effects on urban farming ethnobotany. Using ethnobotanical practices has a considerable and beneficial impact on urban health. Urban farming ethnobotany can promote city healing.