IRAQ JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH

The quality properties of grain are an important factor in determining the final use of wheat flour and contribute to increasing the performance of the value chain. Therefore, quality properties are one of the main objectives of wheat breeding programs, as they are taken into account in the process of developing new varieties. Therefore, the current study aims to evaluate the grain yield, its components, and the chemical and rheological properties of five bread wheat genotypes, namely: (Doma 6, 2MA, 8-T2-49, 11-T3-50, and 13-T4-30). These genotypes were planted in mid-November at the Al-Suwaira Research Station Agricultural Research Office. During the years 2020 and 2021. The results showed that there were significant differences in grain yield, its components, where the genotypes (2MA, 11-T3-50 and 8-T2-49) exceeded in grain yield and gave averages (5340, 5833, 5213) and (6873, 6849, 6460) kg .hectare for the first and second seasons of study, respectively. This superiority in grain yield was the result of having high combinations of yield components. The results also showed significant differences in farinograph parameters, where the values ranged (61.4 - 67.7) % for water absorption and (4.3 - 7.8) minutes for dough development time and (4.2 - 11.8) minutes for dough stability and (71 - 150) for the degree of farinograph. The differences in extensograph tests were also significant, and the values ranged (85 - 190) cm2 for area under the curve and (259 - 483) Brabender units for resistance and (178 - 309) mm for extensibility. Significant differences were also found between genotypes in the percentage of the wet and dry gluten and the gluten index, and the values ranged (25 - 38) %, (8.2 - 12.3) % and (12-92) % of these properties, respectively.
The two genotypes (2MA and 8-T2-49) showed superiority in the productivity and quality characteristics. As they possessed the highest averages of grain yield and its components and the best values for most of the rheological characteristics and the quantity and strength of the gluten and these characteristics qualify it to be a candidate for submission for registration and release.

The research was carried out in the lath house wood canopy which belong to Agricultural Research and Experiment Station - College of Agriculture / University of Kirkuk from 1/3/2022 to 1/3/2023, to evaluat the ability of the oleander plant in the phytoremediation of heavy metals resulting from environmental pollutants that accompany the extraction and transportation processes. And refining and burning of oil companies, in addition to the exhaust gases of cars and private factories. The experiment was designed according to the randomized complete block design (R.C.B.D) with three replications. Two factors were used to enhance the ability of the oleander plant to absorb and accumulate heavy metals. The first is agricultural sulfur in three concentrations (0, 5, 10) g. pot-1,The second is humic in three concentrations (0,5,10) ml.pot-1 addition directly to the soil. The results of plant efficiency measures in extracting heavy metals showed an increase in the concentration of lead and cadmium in the shoot and root system with an increase in the concentrations of sulfur and humic. The values of the Translocation Factor (TF) and the Bioaccumulation Factor (BAF) also increased and were all values greater than one and for all concentrations of coefficients

This study was conducted in the Laboratory of the cell and plant tissue culture in the Department of Biology at the College of Education for pure Sciences, University of Diyala, during the period from 2020 until 2021 to study the effect of some growth regulators on the induction of callus of Momordica charantia. (leaves and cotyledons of Momordica charantia) (at three weeks of age) and different growth regulators: BA (0.0,0.5 and1.0) mg.l-1 on induced callus And the interaction between (BA) (1.0and2.0)mg.l-1 and (NAA) (0.5mg.l-1)at callus propagated stage. Also, BA at 0.5 and 1.0 mg.l-1 was tested at regeneration stage. The result showed the medium MS supplemented with a concentration of 0.5 mg.l-1 BA gave the highest response rate for callus induction from leaves at 60% and gave the highest fresh weight rate of 2.4g from cotyledons, after four weeks of culture. The interaction between 2.0 mg.l-1BA and 0.5mg.l-1 NAA gave the highest callus maintenance from recorded values of 2.74 and 5.72gm for both true and cotyledon leaves respectively. Callus of true leaves of bitter gourd showed the ability to Differentiation and formation of vegetative branches, gave the highest number of 4 shoots. explant-1 and the number of leaves 9.5 leaves part branches on MS medium supplemented with a concentration of 1.0 mg.l-1 BA

The effectiveness of three species of local Entomopathogenic nematodes isolated from different regions of Iraq were tested(Baghdad, Salahaddin, Ninawa): eterorhabditis bacteriophora H. indica and Steinernema carpocapsae and two types of ineoduced nematodes, S. carpocapsae and H. bacteriophora, and the chemical pesticide alpha-cypermethrin and their combinations on pupae of the peach fruit fly B. zonata under laboratory conditions.
The results showed that pathogenicity of the isolate (Ninawa) S. carpocapsea, which the highest percentage of mortality reached 100% for the two concentrations 200 and 250 IJS/pupa, While the chemical pesticide alfa- cypermethrin achieved the highest percentage of rate pupa and reached to 98.33% at the field recommended of 2.5 ml/L after 11 days of treatment. The results of that combinations of entomopathogenic nematode isolates and the chemical pesticide alfa-cypermethrin showed superiority to the ineoduced of the the pesticide and the imported H. bacteriophora + the pesticide at a concentration imported isolates H. bacteriophora + the pesticide and (Salahaddin) H. indica + of 250 IJS/pupa with the highest percentage of rate reaching 100% for each of them after nine days of treatment, ineoduced with the two combinations: (Mosul) S. carpocapsea + pesticide and (Baghdad) H. bacteriophora+ pesticide, with
killing rates of 90 and 80%, respectively and without significant differences between them at the same concentration

A machine was manufactured for the purpose of packing the tropical mushroom substrate for the first time in Iraq. Its purpose was to increase the production of edible tropical mushrooms, the design capacity is 250 kg / hour, it dedicated to packing the cylindrical bags used in mushroom cultivation. Three types of food fungi were tested, Pleurotus ostreatus and Ganoderma lucidum and Flammulina velutipes by using mechanical packaging compared to manual packaging. The results showed that the number of completed bags reached 42 bags in a period of 10 minutes by using the machine compared to 10 bags in the same period using the manual method. Regarding the total production at the same time, the mechanical method was recorded a higher productivity for all tested species compared with manual method. At this point, the mechanical method is considered very important for increase production

The manufactured locally steam sterilizer system designed to sterilize the tropical mushroom substrate, consists of two devices the first for generating steam (Boiler) and the second is sterilization cabinet with dimensions of 2.5 x 1.25 x 1.25 meters (length x width x height). Two tropical mushroom species, the king oyster mushroom (Pleurotus eryngii) and the medicinal mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum), were grown to assess the effectiveness of the sterilizer system. The findings demonstrated that the manufactured locally system required a shorter period of time for the required pressure to be reached and the temperature to rise in the steam generating system. It required 40 minutes to reach the boiling point of 100 °C. While it required 90 minutes for the imported equipment. The sterilization cabinet of the device required less time to reach the sterilization temperature, and the sterilization procedure had no impact on the quantity produced or the biological effectiveness of the two studied mushroom species.

This study was conducted in the various regions of Iraq (north, center, and south) from January to September 2023. It collected data on 572 local sheep, consisting of 100 Karadi breeds, including 90 ewes, 10 rams, and 100 Hamdani sheep strains. Eighty-seven ewes, 13 rams, 100 Arabi sheep, 91 ewes and nine rams, and finally 271 Awassi sheep, 221 ewes, and 50 rams, from the governorates of Baghdad, Babylon, Najaf, and Anbar, as they are the areas that represent the environment of these breeds of Iraqi sheep. Moreover, one hundred and twenty Guraishi sheep, including 108 ewes and 12 rams, were also involved. The goal was to study the local sheep spread in these areas, record their appearance and productivity and compare them with the exact measurements in previous studies. The current study showe0d that the Hamdani sheep were significantly superior (P≤ 0.01) in body weight, followed by the Guraishi sheep. The Karadi and Awassi sheep were the least weighted, and the Arabi sheep were the least weighted. At a time when the body weight characteristics of the rams of the Guraishi and Hamdani sheep models were similar, they were significantly superior (P ≤ 0.01) over other breeds. This superior of the Guraishi and Hamdani strains included most of the studied characteristics. At the same time, the Awassi breeds came third, and the Arabi breeds came last, except for chest circumference, which did not show a significant difference between all breeds and models. It can be concluded that as we move from south to north, Iraqi sheep increase in weight and size, and their colors tend to take on almost one pattern: the white body, with the head and legs being black or brown. The Arabi breed is unique in having more than one color among its individuals.

Field experiment conducted at winter season 2022-2023 on clay sandy soil in Al-Diwanyia. The experiment was design as Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications arranged for split-pilot design, the main treatment included two groups inoculation and non-inoculation within each group four levels of Nano NPK (0, 1, 2, 3) g.L-1 added in two steps (20 and 50) day of plant growth. A sample was taken of soil (30 cm depth) to analysis it and to know its physical and chemical properties. Table (1) phouslus voulgares L were sowing at a rate 25 kg.ha-1 [40 cm between plants (30 cm depth)] at 1/9, after 7 months a sample was taken to measure. The results showed all factors and interactions were significant effect and increased all growth features (plant content of protein, carbohydrates and fats, Dibenzyloxynitrobenzene, Benzoylpentanoic acid, Valylvaline, Grain yield) max values respectively (30.24, 58, 2.637)%, 3.09 2.92, 1.89, 6.86 T.ha-1) come from interaction of Rhizobium inoculation and 3 g.l-1 while the lowest values respectively [(22.41, 52.26, 2.19)%, 0.02, 0.02, 0.02, 4.39 T.ha-1] come from interaction of non-Rhizobium inoculation and 0 g.L-1 Nano NPK level.

The genetic distance between ten cultivated olive was determined through Microsatellite, method at DNA level from Baghdad, and Al-Mosel, position. The genetic distance matrix, UPGMA, and NJ dendrograms, and PCA were performed. The Assessment of genetic relation among olive varieties cultivated in Iraq was ensured exactly through these markers. The study showed Fifteen, Simple, sequence, repeat loci were studied, and produced, 243 amplified, fragment 243 of these loci (99.16%) were polymorphic. Five primers generated sufficient polymorphic bands to figure out the genetic diversity among the cultivars., the results showed that cultivar Shami is a hybrid of two cultivars Arbqween and Nepali while the two cultivars Sorani and Manzenllo with 100% similarity. Which indicates due to belong to the same origin. Establishing the genetic relationship of those varieties would be suitable to use for future genetic improvement studies in olive cultivars

Cucurbitaceae family comprises of prominent vegetables like cucumber, squash, melon, watermelon, and pumpkin which are valuable from medicinal and nutritional aspects. The excessive use of chemical inputs caused serious problems to public health and the environment leading to suppress soil fertility and crop palatability for consumers. Hence, utilization of humic substances including humic acid, fulvic acid, and potassium humate as natural fertilizers and bio-stimulants is a good substitute since they are enriched with nutrients, hormone and hormone like substances that activates plant to grow and yield efficiently and to combat environmental stresses. The present review article put the spotlight on the possible role of humic substances in activating growth of cucurbit foliage and yield. The possible role in improving the resistance of certain cucurbits to environmental stress is briefly discussed.

The research aimed to identify the role of agricultural extension activities in confronting climate change from the point of view of wheat farmers in Beygee District, Salah Al-Deen Governorate in general, and to determine the difference between the averages of the respondents’ answers about the role of extension activities and the studied independent variables, which are: (age, educational level, exposure to information sources related to climate change, and the attitude towards extension activities related to climate change). The research included all wheat farmers in Beygee District, Salah al-Din Governorate, distributed among five agricultural divisions. A random sample was taken, namely the Hajaj Agriculture Office and the Al-Synia Agriculture Office, which represented 45% of the total agricultural offices. The total number of farmers officially registered in the annual plan of the agricultural office of Beygee District in the two divisions was 750 farmers, distributed as follows: 432 farmers in the Hajaj Agriculture Office, and 318 farmers in the Al-Synia Agriculture District. A random sample of 20% of the farmers in each division was taken, amounting to 150 researchers. A simple random sample of 4% was taken to conduct the exploratory sample from the research population and from outside the research sample, comprising 30 researchers. A questionnaire was prepared consisting of two parts, the first part of which included data related to the independent variables of wheat crop farmers, and the second part included the preparation of a four-part scale to measure the role of extension activities in confronting climate change, consisting of 58 items distributed on four levels (large, medium, small, none). Reliability was found using the split-half method, where its value reached 0.87, and the validity of the scale reached 0.93. Research data was collected from the respondents during the time period from (11/12/2024 - 29/12/2024).
The results showed that the general level of the role of extension activities is average and tends to increase. It is concluded that agricultural extension has implemented extension activities for wheat farmers in the study area. The results also showed a significant difference between the averages of the respondents at the probability level of 0.01 and 0.05 according to the variables (educational level, exposure to information sources related to climate change, and the trend towards extension activities). Except for the age variable, the difference was not significant between the averages of the respondents. The research recommended that agricultural extension identify the determinants of applying scientific extension recommendations to find appropriate solutions and avoid their negative impact. There is a need to consider the variables that show significant differences in the respondents’ answers regarding the role of extension activities.

The study aimed to determine the knowledge level of tomato farmers regarding agricultural practices to prevent pests that affect the tomato crop, as well as their relationship with certain personal variables, in three villages in Wasit Governorate. A sample of 120 farmers were selected as respondents from the population of 1,200 farmers in three villages in Al-Suwaira District, Wasit Governorate. Several statistical methods were employed to analyze the data, including percentage, weighted mean, percentage weight, and correlation coefficient. The results of the study concluded that the knowledge level of tomato farmers regarding agricultural practices to prevent pests that affect the tomato crop was low. As for the relationship between the knowledge level and a set of independent variables and characteristics, a significant relationship was found between the knowledge level and each of (monthly income, type of work, and ability to solve problems). Therefore, the study recommends intensifying extension efforts to improve tomato farmers' knowledge of practices and methods for preventing and controlling agricultural pests. It also recommends educating farmers about avoiding the excessive use of chemical pesticides and relying on biological control as a safe, easy, and inexpensive method.