Journal of Kerbala for Agricultural Sciences

Okra Enation Leaf Curl Virus (OELCuV) is a monopartite Be-gomovirus often associated with betasatellites and alphasatellites. OELCuV has been reported in different countries. However, it had not yet been reported from Iraq. Transcriptome sequencing data from Karbala fields grown with viral-infected okra were investigat-ed for viruses and their satellites via de novo assembly of the un-mapped reads to the okra genomes. Predicted nucleotides and pro-teins from these assembled unmapped reads aligned OELCuV and its betasatellite sequences with 97.9% and 96.3% identity, respec-tively. The Phylogenetic analysis confirmed the species identity as Okra Enation Leaf Curl Virus and Okra enation leaf curl betasatel-lite by gathering them in separated clades with the identical isolates and strains. This report documents for the first time the earliest OELCuV and its betasatellite infection of okra plants in Iraq.

The study aimed to evaluate the effect of adding fenugreek and thyme leaf powders at different levels to the diet and their impact on the production and physiological traits of broiler chickens. A total of 210 one-day-old Ross 308 chicks were used, which were divided into seven treatments, with three replicates for each treatment and 10 birds/ replicate. The treatments were as follows: T1 (control treat-ment, without additives, basic diet), T2 basic diet with the addition of 2 g of fenugreek powder/kg, T3 basic diet with the addition of 4 g of fenugreek powder/kg, T4 basic diet with the addition of 2 g of thyme powder/kg, T5 basic diet with the addition of 4 gof thyme pow-der/kg, T6 basic diet with the addition of 1 gm of fenugreek powder and 1 g of thyme powder/kg, and T7 basic diet with the addition of 2 g of fenugreek powder and 2 g of thyme powder/kg. Treatments T2 (basic diet with the addition of 2 g of fenugreek powder/kg) and T5 (basic diet with the addition of 4 g of thyme powder/kg) significantly affected (P≤0.05) body weight, weight gain, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio. Fenugreek also altered the morphology of the intes-tines by increasing the height of the villi relative to the depth of the crypts.

This study analysed socio-economic determinants of smallholder maize \'farmers\' drought adaptation strategies in the Sudan Savanna Regions of Kano State, Nigeria. Using multistage sampling proce-dure, data were collected from 373 smallholder farmers via a survey with structured questionnaires. Data collected was analysed using De-scriptive Statistics and Multivariate probit regression model (MVP). Results indicated that maize is produced predominantly by married and average-aged and male farmers with an average age of 43 years. The average household size is 11 people, with a mean farming expe-rience of 19 years and a land size of 1.68 hectares. Multivariate probit results showed that household size (p<0.03), maize farm income (p < 0.001), maize farm yield (p < 0.000), total off-farm income (p<0.000) and gender (p<0.018) significantly influenced adoption of ex-post drought adaptation strategies. In contrast, age (p<0.002) was found to negatively influence adoption of ex-post drought adaptation strategies. For ex-ante, cooperative membership (p<0.019), house-hold size (p<0.006), and land ownership (p<0.029), had positive sig-nificance influence while contact with extension agents (p=0.031), age (p<0.004), off-farm income (p<0.000) and maize farm yield (p<0.000) had negative significant effect on adoption of ex-post drought adaptation strategies. Taking into account the socio-economic background of the farmers in the dissemination of knowledge on drought strategies and providing institutional support can improve resilience, which will subsequently ensure sustainable maize production in the region.

In order to evaluate the effect of phosphorus and zinc fertilizer on the elements concentration, growth, and oil ratio of safflower (Car-thamus tinctorius L.) under calcareous soil conditions, this study was conducted at the farm of the Agricultural Research Station in Qaragool, during the winter season of 2022-2023. A randomised complete block design (RCBD) with three replicates was used to carry out a factorial experiment. The factors examined included the factor P with three levels of phosphorus fertilizer (0, 100, 200 kg P2O5 ha-1) from the source of triple superphosphate and factor Zn with three levels of zinc spraying in concentrations of (0, 15, 30 kg Zn ha-1) from the source of zinc sulfate. The results of this investi-gation confirm that both levels of (200 kg P2O5 ha-1 + 30 kg Zn ha-1 and 100 kg P2O5 ha-1 + 30 kg Zn ha-1) have a significant impact on some characteristics of yield and yield components of the plant, for example, plant height (141.667cm), main branches.plant-1 (30.000), number of heads.plant-1 (95.667), number of seeds.head-1 (19.000), weight of 100 seeds (3.757g), and seed yield (13.450Mg.ha-1). Furthermore, variance analysis showed that the interaction between different levels of phosphorus with zinc fertiliz-er has a significant effect on nutrient content in the rhizosphere soil, nutrient content in the seed, and the shoot of the safflower plant. Also, the oil content (42.660%) in the seed and fatty acids such as linoleic acid (65.620%) and linolenic acid (0.097%) in the seed oil of safflower were affected by the interaction between different lev-els of phosphorus and zinc fertilizer.

This study evaluated the influence of different row spacing and clipping stages on the fodder yield and nutritional quality of Egyp-tian clover at Kanipanka location of Sulaimani region during the winter season of 2021-2022. The field experiment was laid out in a split-plot design arranged according to RCBD with three replica-tions. Main plots consisted of three row spacings (20, 30, and 40 cm), and three clipping stages (no clip (control), clip at tillering stage, and clip at flowering stage) were executed in subplots. The results showed that the effect of row spacing on green, dry fodder yield, and dry matter% was significant and increased as row spacing was increased; also, biological, pod, and seed yield increased with increasing row spacing. Clipping at the whole flowering stage rec-orded maximum green, dry fodder yield, and dry matter percentage. No clip gave the most significant values of biological, seed yield, and straw yield, but the highest harvest index was recorded at the tillering stage. The effect of row spacing on nutritional values of berseem clover was significant for all traits except phosphorus%, which was not significant. Maximum percent of protein, fat, ash, and K were exhibited by the treatment of 20cm row spacing, while 40cm row spacing gave a maximum value of fiber%. On the other hand, the clipping stage\'s effect on nutritional value was significant for all characters except Ca% and P%. Protein, fat, ash, and K rec-orded the highest percent at the tillering stage, while the maximum fiber percent was obtained when clipped at the whole flowering stage.

This study was conducted on one of the most important medicinal plants with significant pharmaceutical value, namely Mentha piperi-ta. The aim was to propagate peppermint using tissue culture tech-niques and combinations of plant growth regulators to obtain path-ogen-free plants in large numbers. The study was carried out in the Tissue Culture Laboratory, College of Agriculture, University of Karbala, during the fall season of 2024, and included several exper-iments. The first experiment investigated the effect of NaOCl at dif-ferent concentrations and exposure times on sterilizing seeds used as explants. The second experiment evaluated different concentra-tions of growth regulators at the initiation stage. The third experi-ment examined two types of cytokinins at different concentrations during the multiplication stage. The sterilization experiment showed that treatment with 2% NaOCl for 15 minutes achieved the lowest contamination rate (0%) without affecting explant viability. In the second experiment, BA at 1 mg L⁻¹ resulted in the highest response rate (82.50%), while NAA at 0.1 mg L⁻¹ gave the best response among auxin treatments (66.66%). In the third experiment, BA at 2 mg L⁻¹ was superior in producing the highest shoot number, length, and fresh and dry weights of the vegetative growth, which were 34.02 branches plant⁻¹, 9.06 cm, 13.65 mg, and 3.85 mg, respectively. Regarding the effect of Kin, the concentration of 1 mg L⁻¹ gave the highest values for the number and length of shoots and their fresh and dry weights, which were 25.70 branches plant⁻¹, 7.72 cm, 13.19 mg, and 3.15 mg, respectively.

This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae in inhibiting the growth of the fungus Aspergillus piperis isolated from orange fruits, and in reducing the resulting toxin Ochratoxin A (OTA) under laboratory and storage conditions. The results demonstrated the dominance of A. piperis in samples of local and imported orange fruits collected from Muthanna and Karbala governorates. Associated fungi were isolated and identified, and the most virulent was identified using a pathogenicity test. The results showed that the most virulent fungal isolate was A. piperis.Its identity was confirmed using molecular analysis of the ITS region sequence and registered in the NCBI database. This isolate also demonstrated a high capacity to produce OTA, reaching a concentration of 95.7 ng/g in sorghum media. When testing the bioactivity of yeast, different concentrations of S. cerevisiae showed remarkable effectiveness in inhibiting fungal growth, with the highest inhibition rate reaching 83.33% at the sixth dilution. In the storage experiment, treating the fruits with yeast contributed to a significant reduction in the OTA concentration from 125.33 to 59.70 ng/g, a significant difference. These results confirm the effectiveness of yeast as a promising bioagent for reducing post-harvest rot and toxic fungal contamination in orange fruits

The study aimed to implement one of the integrated management strategies in controlling the seed rot and seedling damping-off dis-ease of faba bean caused by the fungus Rizoctonia solani, using plant cultivars and some environmentally friendly agents. The isola-tion and identification results showed that 12 fungal isolates associ-ated with the seedling damping-off disease belong to the genus Rhizoctonia spp., eight isolates of the fungus F. solani, six isolates of the fungus F. oxysporum, and six isolates of the fungus Mac-rophomina spp., and others. The pathogenicity test results showed that all fungal isolates were pathogenic. However, the percentage of seed germination inhibition, seedling death, and symptoms ap-peared varied. The isolate K.h.R1 of the fungus Rizoctonia sp. was outperformed in its virulence, as its infection Percentage to100%. This was molecularly identified as R.solani under the deposit num-ber PV939284.1 in NCBI.Meanwhile, the results of the field exper-iment showed that all treatments used to control the disease caused by the pathogenic fungus R. solani were effective in controlling the disease; the integrated treatment of factors (Azotobacter chrocoocum, salicylic acid, and Zinc) was significantly outper-formed in reducing the infection percentage and severity of 41.66% and 18.11%, respectively, compared to the pathogen-only treatment of 96.67% and 85.86%, respectively. By increasing the activity of the enzymes peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase and raising the to-tal phenolic content, the integrated treatment (SA + Zn + Azo) also clearly contributed to the development of systemic resistance in the plant against the pathogenic agent. Furthermore, the plant cultivar response results revealed that the Cypriot cultivar performed signif-icantly better than the others in terms of disease resistance, register-ing the lowest levels of infection and severity with mean values of 49.33% and 39.09%, respectively, in contrast to the Syrian cultivar, which recorded 66.66% and 56.15%, respectively.

This study investigated the effect of the growth regulator DTA-6, applied at varying concentrations (30, 60, and 90 mg L⁻¹) during two critical growth stages—branching (GS-22) and flowering (GS-51)—on the productivity and quality attributes of two locally adapted soybean cultivars (Shaima and Abaa). Results revealed that DTA-6 positively influenced several agronomic traits, including fertility percentage, seed yield, and various seed quality parameters such as oil content and fatty-acid composition. Notably, the highest DTA-6 concentration (90 mg L⁻¹), when applied at the flowering stage, yielded the most significant improvements in fertility percent-age, seed yield, and certain fatty-acid profiles, albeit accompanied by a reduction in protein content. Genetic differences between the two cultivars—Shaima and Abaa—clearly influenced their respons-es to DTA-6. Shaima excelled in seed yield and exhibited lower seed wrinkling along with higher oil and oleic acid content, sug-gesting an enhanced genetic capacity for efficient resource alloca-tion and lipid biosynthesis. In contrast, Abaa showed superior fer-tility percentage and higher protein content, likely due to genetic traits favoring reproductive development and nitrogen assimilation. These findings underscore the importance of selecting suitable cul-tivars and optimizing the timing of DTA-6 application to maximize agronomic and quality-related benefits. A significant interaction be-tween cultivar, application timing, and DTA-6 concentration was observed, highlighting that the response varied according to the ge-netic background and treatment combination. Consequently, the strategic integration of DTA-6 into soybean crop management could enhance yield and seed quality, paving the way for more effi-cient and profitable production in environments like those studied.

Watermelon is a plant crop rich in water, which constitutes 92% of its content, making it ideal for hydrating the body in the summer. It also contains many vitamins and minerals. It is grown in more than 100 countries. Watermelon is not just a fruit; it is an integral part of Iraqi food culture and a symbol of special occasions and the summer table. The study aimed to identify the optimal resource combinations used by watermelon farmers in Rabia District for the 2024 agricultural sea-son. The Cobb-Douglas production function was calculated to deter-mine the optimal quantities of resources that maximize profit and minimize cost, and compared to the actual situation. Multiple resource combinations and different production levels were also calculated us-ing isoquant curves, using data collected by a questionnaire for (34) farms, representing 25% of the study population, with an average ar-ea of (6) dunums. One of the most prominent results is that the opti-mal production reached (37,762) kg. The farmers\' profits were (5,704,102) dinars. When compared to the actual farmers\' production of (29,040) kg, the profits amounted to (2,869,452) dinars. Mean-while, Profits, including cost reductions, amounted to (4,224,380) dinars. Based on the presented results, the study recommends that watermelon farmers be guided by optimal supply quantities, whether those that maximize profit or minimize cost, to maximize their profits.

An experiment was carried out in the horticultural development project of the Directorate of Agriculture in Karbala, located in the Um Gharagher area / Al-Husseiniya District - Karbala Governorate, during the growing season 2024 to investigate the response of palm trees of the Barhi variety to fertilization with humic acid and bio-fertilizers in the chemical qualities of date palm leaves Barhi variety. The study was carried out as a factorial experiment (4×4) according to the Completely randomized block design (R.C.B.D). with three replicates, the study included two factors, the first is the addition of humic acid in four concentrations (0, 5, 10 and 15) g 20 liters per palm-1 in four batches and the second is the addition of bio-fertilizers in four concentrations (Control and adding Azotobacter chrooccum bacteria at a concentration of 150 ml 20 liters per palm-1 and Bacillus megatherium at a concentration of 150 ml 20 liters per palm -1 and Azotobacter chrooccum bacteria at a concentration of 75 ml + adding Bacillus megatherium bacteria at a concentration of 75 ml) 20 liters per palm -1. The results showed that the ground addition treatment of humic acid (A15) outperformed the rest of the coefficients by giving the highest averages in the total leaf content of chlorophyll, carbohydrates, protein, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (0.970 mg g-1, 12.376%, 6.397%, 1.024%, 0.495% and 1.293%), respectively. The ground addition treatment of bio-fertilizers (B3) also gave the highest averages in the total leaves content of chlorophyll, carbohydrates, protein, nitrogen, phospho-rus, and potassium (0.993 mg g-1, 12.535%, 6.397%, 1.047%, 0.503% and 1.290%), respectively. As for the bilateral interaction between the two study factors, the treatment (A15B3) excelled by recording the highest average of all the studied traits.

This study aims to investigate the effects of the difference in vege-tation cover and land use on spatial distribution of soil electrical conductivity (EC), cation exchange capacity (CEC) and soluble ions. Soil samples from sixty sites were randomly selected on 14585 hectares area located at Algadwal Algharby in Karbala Gov-ernorate. Soil samples were collected to a depth of 0-0.3 m, air dried, ground and passed through a 2 mm sieve for laboratory analysis. The results showed that the EC values ranged from ( 1.02 to 53.40) dS m-1 and were greater in the fallow soil than the EC of soils with plant cover. Values of CEC ranged from (12.35 to 32.75) cmol+.kg-1 where lower CEC values were obtained under fallow soils compared to cultivated soils. Generally the coefficients of skewness and kurtosis revealed highly skewed distribution with leptokurtic and platykurtic distributions for the studied characteristics. Geostatistical parameters of the fitted semivariogram models resulted mostly in strong spatial dependence and circular matching model. The fallow soils contents from soluble ions were greater than that of the plant-covered soils due to increasing salinity.

A factorial experiment using a randomized complete block design (RCBD) was conducted in the spring of 2024 in clay loam soil at Ibn Al-Bitar Vocational Preparatory School/Al-Husainiya District, Holy Karbala, to study the effect of adding mineral fertilizers (NPK) and spraying with silicon on some growth and yield traits of maize. The experiment included two factors: mineral fertilizers (N, P, and K) at three levels: without fertilization, symbolized by M0, adding 50% of the fertilizer recommendation (150 kg N ha-1, 50 kg P ha-1, and 80 kg K ha-1) and symbolized by M1, and adding 100% of the fertilizer rec-ommendation (300 kg N ha-1, 100 kg P ha-1, and 160 kg K ha-1) and symbolized by M2, and the second factor is foliar feeding with Organ-ic silicon (80%) at three concentrations (0, 3 and 6 ml L-1), the results of the study showed the significant superiority of adding mineral ferti-lizers individually in most of the studied traits. Adding the full fertiliz-er recommendation 100% achieved the highest averages in the trait of number of leaves (11.884 leaf plant-1), leaf area (6220.60 cm2 plant-1), chlorophyll index (53.82 SPAD), biological yield (16.418 tons\' ha-1), and grain yield (7.827 tons\' ha-1). The increase in the concentration of silicon added as a spray on the vegetative group of maize led to a sig-nificant increase in the averages of the studied traits. The concentration (6 ml L-1) achieved a significant superiority in the trait of leaf area (5917.30 cm2 plant-1), chlorophyll index (52.55 SPAD), biological yield (16.418 tons\' ha-1), and grain yield (7.112 tons\' ha-1). The results also showed the response of maize to the two-way interaction between the two study factors. The treatment (M2Si2) was significantly superior in the number of leaves (12.013 leaf plant-1), leaf area (6303.80 cm2 plant-1), chlorophyll index (55.78 SPAD), biological yield (17.045 tons\' ha-1), and grain yield (8.250 tons\' ha-1) compared to the comparison treatment without fertilization.

This study was conducted in the nursery of the Forestry Department, College of Agriculture and Forestry/University of Mosul. On Cassia fistula seeds during 4/10/2023 to 10/15/2023, they were treated with sulfuric acid at two concentrations 98% and 50% for different periods (0, 5, 10, 15, 20 minutes) and then immersed in gibberellic acid at concentrations (0, 500, 1000 mg. L-1). The results showed that the 20-minute immersion treatment with sulfuric acid recorded the highest averages for the traits (germination percentage, germina-tion speed, seedling height, dry weight of the vegetative group). The study also showed that sulfuric acid at a concentration of 98% was superior to 50% in the characteristics (germination percentage, ger-mination speed, seedling height, number of leaves, and dry weight of the vegetative group), and gibberellic acid at a concentration of 500 mg. L-1 had a positive effect and recorded the highest averages in (germination percentage, germination speed, seedling height, number of leaves, dry weight of the vegetative group).

Immunosuppressant nephrotoxicity limits safe use. This study test-ed whether an aqueous extract of Rubus ulmifolius protects against cyclosporine-induced renal injury in rats, of clinical, agricultural, and veterinary relevance worldwide. Twenty-four male rats were randomized into four groups (n=6): G1 vehicle; G2 cyclosporine 0.2 mg/kg by oral gavage every other day; G3 extract 400 mg/kg daily for 30 days; G4 extract 400 mg/kg daily with Cyclosporine 4 h later on alternate days. Serum urea, creatinine, albumin, globulin, and total protein were assessed; kidneys were examined histologi-cally. Biochemical assays used standard colorimetric methods, and statistical significance was set at P<0.05. Cyclosporine increased urea and creatinine and decreased albumin, globulin, and total pro-tein versus G1. Extract alone matched control with no observable adverse effects. Pre-treatment prevented cyclosporine changes, normalizing values; G4 remained comparable to G1. Histology: G2 showed glomerular atrophy, widened Bowman’s space, tubular sloughing, congestion, hemorrhage, inflammatory infiltration, and tubular degeneration/necrosis; G4 appeared near normal with pre-served glomeruli and tubules. R. ulmifolius aqueous extract confers renoprotection against cyclosporine nephrotoxicity in male rats, normalizing renal biomarkers and preserving histology. These find-ings support its potential as a phytogenic adjunct to mitigate drug-induced kidney injury; dose–response and mechanistic studies are warranted.

The objective of this study was to examine adding lavender essential oil (LEO), rosemary essential oil (REO), or a combination of the two oils to laying quail diets affected productive performance, egg quali-ty, and physiological traits. The study material comprised 72 42-day-old quails, which were assigned to four treatments; each contained 18 quails, three males and 15 females, divided into three replicates reared in a cage system. Concerning the diet, the T1 control group quails were fed standard feed, the T2 group added 0.6% LEO to standard feed, the T3 group added 0.6% REO to the layer diet, and the T4 group added a 0.6% mix of 0.3% LEO and 0.3% REO to standard feed. As a result, it was found that diet supplementation with LEO and REO had no significant effect on feed conversion ratio (FCR) but had a substantial influence on performance metrics, feed intake (FI), and hen-day egg production (HD). No significant differ-ences were observed in egg quality parameters among treatments. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) significantly increased in all essential oil treatments as compared to the control group, but other physiologi-cal parameters and egg quality did not alter significantly when the two essential oils were supplemented. In conclusion, feeding laying quails LEO and REO increased their productivity while having a lim-ited impact on their physiological characteristics. However, egg quali-ty parameters did not show any significant differences.

The purpose of this research was to investigate whether Spirulina platensis (SP) had an impact on the growth performance, blood me-tabolism, antioxidant and oxidative status, MDA, and GPX-3 genes of Awassi male lambs. A total of 24 Awassi lambs (3.5-4 months) with an average initial weight of 27kg were used in the study. The lambs were divided into three groups: the control group fed a basal diet without SP supplementation, while the lambs in T1 and T2 were fed a basal diet supplemented with 2 and 3% SP, respectively. Lambs administered with 2% SP enhancement growth performance and in-creased carcass weight. It seems that 2% Spirulina supplementation significantly surpasses (P<0.05) those lambs fed control and 3% SP in daily gain in weight and had a lower feed conversion ratio. The levels of malondialdehyde decreased numerically in the liver and considerably (P<0.05) in the serum by supplementing Spirulina in the diet. Additionally, spirulina powder increased antioxidant capacity, which raised the liver and serum levels of GPX. While controlling the proportionate transcription of antioxidant genes, spirulina powder enhanced the proportionate amount of expression of genes linked to GPX-3\'s antioxidant activity by 3.068 times. It can be concluded that the 2% spirulina has a substantial effect on daily gain, immunity, an-tioxidant status, and carcass characteristics.

In order to evaluate the effect of phosphorus and zinc fertilizer on the elements concentration, growth, and oil ratio of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) under calcareous soil conditions, this study was conducted at the farm of the Agricultural Research Station in Qaragool, during the winter season of 2022-2023. A randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replicates was used to car-ry out a factorial experiment. The factors examined included the fac-tor P with three levels of phosphorus fertilizer (0, 100, 200) kg P2O5 ha-1 from the source of triple superphosphate and factor Zn with three levels of zinc spraying in concentrations of (0, 15, 30) kg Zn ha-1 from the source of zinc sulfate. The results of this investigation confirm that both levels of (200 kg P2O5 ha-1 + 30 kg Zn ha-1 and 100 kg P2O5 ha-1 + 30 kg Zn ha-1) have a significant impact on some characteristics of yield and its components of the plant, for example, plant height (141.667 cm), main branches plant-1 (30.000), number of heads plant-1 (95.667), number of seeds head-1 (19.000), weight of 100 seeds (3.757g), and seed yield (13.450 Mg ha-1). Moreover, variance analysis showed that the interaction between different levels of phosphorus with zinc fertilizer has a significant effect on nutrient content in the rhizosphere soil, nutrient content in the seed, and the shoot of the safflower plant. Also, the oil content (42.660%) in the seed and fatty acids such as linoleic acid (65.620%) and linolenic ac-id (0.097%) in the seed oil of safflower are affected by the interac-tion between different levels of phosphorus and zinc fertilizer.

Continuous cultivation significantly impacts soil health, altering its physical and chemical properties, which are critical for sustainable agriculture. This study evaluates the effects of long-term agricultur-al practices in the Bazian Plain, Sulaimaniyah Governorate, Kurdi-stan Region, focusing on key soil properties across ten locations over the period 2017–2024. Soil samples were collected annually from greenhouses following standardized agricultural practices, emphasizing the cultivation of the cucumber variety A1. Key soil parameters analyzed include bulk density, permeability, porosity, organic matter, and root and shoot system distributions. Results in-dicate a progressive increase in bulk density, particularly in Latif Awa and Kani Big, reaching critical values of 1.48g.cm-3 by 2024, which reflect compaction due to continuous tillage. Permeability and porosity declined across all sites, limiting water infiltration and root penetration. Organic matter content decreased significantly, with Warmizyar and Zeika experiencing reductions to critical levels of 1.93% and 2.08%, respectively, indicating severe nutrient deple-tion. Root and shoot systems were notably reduced, with Kani Big showing the most pronounced decline in root length from 268 cm in 2022 to 211 cm in 2024.

The aim of current study was to micro propagation the tarragon plant by applying the plant tissue culture technique in establishing vegeta-tive branch cultures. The laboratory work included conducting a number of experiments. The first experiment included testing the ability of NaOCl at different concentrations and durations to sterilize the explant used as a starting point for establishing tissue cultures, the second experiment included testing different concentrations of BA and NAA at concentrations of (0, 1, 1.5) mg L-1 and (0, 0.1) mg L-1 respectively for the establishment of tissue cultures, the third exper-iment included testing two types of cytokinine BA and 2IP at concen-trations of (0, 1, 2, 3) mg L-1 and (0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4) mg L-1 re-spectively with presence of a fixed concentration of NAA 0.1 mg l-1 for the purpose of multiplying shoot cultures. The results of the study can be summarized as follows: The 1% concentration of the steriliz-ing substance NaOCl at the 15 minute period achieved the lowest contamination rate of 0% without affecting the vitality of the explant, The results of the second experiment included the superiority of the concentration of 1.5 mg L-1 BA in achieving the highest response rate of 65%, while the concentration of 0.1 mg L-1 NAA achieved the highest response rate of 60.33%, The results of the third experiment included the superiority of BA at the concentration of 2 mg L-1 in achieving the highest rate of branch number, lengths, and fresh and dry weight of the vegetative system, which reached 35.21 branches plant-1, 4.54 cm, 3.16 mg, and 1.05 mg respectively. While the 2IP achieved the highest rates of branch number and fresh and dry weights of the vegetative system at the concentration of 0.3 mg L-1 which reached 31.05 branch plant-1, 2.83 mg, and 0.93 mg, respec-tively, the highest rate of branch length was at the concentration of 0.2 mg L-1 which reached 3.31 cm.

The current study was undertaken to investigate the quality of pump-kin pulp Cucurbita moschata and dry roselle Hibiscus sabdariffa jam formulations by using three different types of pectin (high methoxyl pectin, low methoxyl pectin, and commercial pectin), and stored at room temperature for 90 days. In this study, FTIR was used to identi-fy the functional groups of pectins. Consequently, physicochemical properties were analyzed using key parameters such as total soluble solids (TSS), pH, reducing sugar, total polyphenol (TPP), total caro-tene (TC), and total anthocyanin, as well as sensory evaluation were analyzed. The results showed that the range of TSS% was between 18.73-63.30% and increased after 90 days. Moreover, the range of total carotene in pumpkin, total anthocyanin in roselle, and total pol-yphenol in both pumpkin and roselle jams was observed as (13.20-16.93 mg/100g), (89.23-93.24 mg/100g), and (38.32-608.41 mg/100g), respectively. As well as all compounds significantly de-creased at the end of storage. Finally, the sensory evaluation, such as flavor, mouthfeel, taste an appearance, color, and overall acceptability of different jam formulations, was unstable during the storage period, and jam formulations with a high amount of sugar were more acceptable compared to those formulations with stevia.

This study was conducted in the Graduate Studies Laboratory of the College of Agriculture, University of Kerbala, with the aim of isolating and identifying fungi associated with root rot and head blight in wheat plants using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) technology. PCR analysis results showed that the most pathogenic isolates were Alternaria infectoria (B9), Fusarium equiseti (K1), Fusarium oxysporum (A4), Fusarium culmorum (SH2), Fusarium equiseti (K6), and Fusarium pseudograminearum (F2). The fungal isolates were registered at the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) under the accesstion numbers: PV769992.1, PV769993.1, PV769994.1, PV769995.1, PV769996.1, PV770002.1, respectively. The results also showed the frequent occurrence of several species of Fusarium in the studied samples.

Water stress is one of the most prominent environmental factors neg-atively impacting plant growth and represents a significant challenge in areas with limited water resources. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the impact of water stress on the growth of coastal hibiscus seedlings and the role of zeolite and glutamine in mitigating it. A pot experiment was conducted during the spring season of 2024 accord-ing to a split-split-plot design with three replicates. The study includ-ed two levels of water stress (50% and 100% of field capacity), add-ing zeolite (0, 500, and 1000 g pot-1) and spraying with glutamine (0, 150, and 300 mg L-1). The results showed an apparent decrease in the studied traits (percentage increase in plant height, percentage increase in stem diameter, percentage increase in number of leaves, leaf area, percentage of dry matter) in plants stressed by (50% of field capacity) with decreased percentages of (6.33%, 2.80%, 7.10%, 2.68%, and 11.69%), respectively, compared to non-stressed plants. The results also demonstrated the effective role of the studied factors in mitigat-ing the effects of water stress. Both zeolite and glutamine, either individually or in combination, contributed to reducing the resulting damage when applied to plants exposed to water stress at 50% of the field capacity. The results showed that growth rates were higher or similar to those recorded in non-stressed plants, which reinforces the role of these vital factors in improving the ability of plants to with-stand water stress conditions.

This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of selected control agents against the black bean aphid (Aphis fabae), with the experimental design comprising two primary components. The first involved a laboratory assessment of three control agents: the insect growth regulator Match, the botanical insecticide Oxymatrine, and the Entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae, each tested at concentrations of 0%, 50%, and 100% with three replicates per treatment. Based on laboratory findings, the optimal concentration (100%) for each agent was selected for subsequent field application. In the field experiment, treatments included individual applications of each agent and a combined application (Match + Oxymatrine + M. anisopliae) as an integrated spray treatment.
The experimental design also incorporated an evaluation of the ef-fect of bean cultivar on aphid mortality. Laboratory results demon-strated a marked efficacy of the 100% concentration for all agents tested. Match induced mortality rates of 88.44% and 83.55% for nymphal and adult stages, respectively; Oxymatrine achieved 96.67% and 97.78%, while M. anisopliae resulted in 63.75% and 62.39% mortality among nymphs and adults, respectively.
Field experiment outcomes revealed a significant increase in adult aphid mortality following application of the combined treatment (Match + Oxymatrine + M. anisopliae), which yielded the highest mortality rate 122.12 adults per plant. In contrast, the control treatment exhibited no mortality throughout the study.