Dijlah Journal of Agricultural Sciences

The current research studied the properties of stirred yogurt, its composition, texture, rheology, and
morphology, after fortification with varying levels of oat powder. Yogurt samples were prepared with
1%, 2%, 3% and 5% added oat powder and tested at multiple time points. The chemical analysis of
these samples showed increases in total solids, dietary fibre and ash with increasing levels of oat
powder, while the concentration of protein decreased due to dilution. oat supplementation did not
influence the fermentation process or the rate at which it occurred, as there were no differences in pH
between control and oat fortified yogurts. The textural analysis of the yogurts showed significant
decreases in hardness and improvements in cohesiveness with increasing amounts of oat powder used
in the formulation. Significant increases in water holding capacity (WHC) of the yogurt occurred with
the addition of oat powder; this will result in greater moisture retention and reduction of syneresis. The
results from FT-IR spectroscopy were consistent with these findings and suggested an embedding of
polysaccharides within the yogurt matrix without altering the milk proteins. Viscosity showed non-
linear behavior; thus, yogurt samples supplemented with high oat fiber concentration (5%) regained
their flowability by virtue of polysaccharide networks. Consequently, oat powder fortification at 3-5%
concentration could be an interesting approach in designing high fiber-added functional yogurt
products having better composition and characteristics.

This study was conducted to evaluate the oil extract of Moringa oleifera seeds and assess its
effectiveness against selected food-contaminating bacteria. The effectiveness of the oil extract in
inhibiting bacteria was tested at concentrations of 50, 100, 200, and 300 mg/ml) against (Pseudomonas
spp., Escherichia coli, and Bacillus spp. bacterial isolates. The results indicated that the concentration
of 50 mg/ml exhibited the lowest inhibitory activity, whereas 300 mg/ml showed the highest
antibacterial effect. However, the concentration of 200 mg/ml demonstrated moderate inhibitory
activity, with inhibition zones measuring 14, 12, and 8 mm, respectively), and (was therefore selected
for application in food preservation tests involving cheese, milk, and ground meat. The effectiveness
of the oil extract at a concentration of 200 mg/ml was tested in reducing the total number of aerobic
bacteria in cheese, local yoghurt, and minced meat samples during storage periods of (1, 3, 5, 7, and
12 days) at (6 ± 1°C). In comparison with untreated control samples, the results showed that the oil
extract at 200 mg/ml effectively reduced total aerobic bacterial counts in accordance with the Iraqi
Central Organization for Standardization and Quality Control specifications for soft minced meat and
yoghurt intended for human consumption.

The experimental study was conducted during the spring season of 2023 in Ghosn Nursery for
Flower Production in Diyala Governorate to study the impact of foliar spraying with Triacontanol and
Zinc on the growth and flowering of zinnia plants. The experiment was designed according to
randomized complete block design (RCBD) as a factorial experiment (4×4). The first stage in the
experiment included planting seeds in cork plates containing peat moss; one seed was planted in each
eye. The findings of this study can be concluded that foliar spraying with triacontanol and Zinc sulfate
(ZnSO4) has significant superiority in all studied traits. The concentration of 18 mgL-1 and 3 g L-1 of
triacontanol and Zinc sulfate concentration respectively, was superior in all studied traits. This
pioneering investigation explores applying zinc sulfate (ZnSO4) as a targeted supplement, optimizing
Zinnia growth and flowering. In addition to focusing specifically on the companying effect of
triacontanol and ZnSO4 doses and holistically evaluating Zinnia performance.

The drought stress has been considered as one of the most important environmental factors that
hamper the growth and productivity of plants particularly in medicinal and aromatic plants whose
physiological functions have direct effect on the production of bioactive compounds. Artemisia herba-
alba is a highly significant medicinal plant that is known to possess antimicrobial, antioxidant as well
as anti-inflammatory effects because it contains a high level of bioactive compounds which include
flavonoids, phenolics, and essential oils. The study was aimed at determining the effects of the
cytokinins in alleviating the unfavorable effects of water-stress on the vegetative growth and
physiological phenotypes of the Artemisia herba-alba. The experiment was done through a completely
randomized design (CRD), in which six treatments were taken, and they were control, drought stress,
drought + BAP (0 mg L -1 ), drought + BAP (25 mg L -1 ), drought + BAP (50 mg L -1 ), and drought
+ kinetin (50 mg L -1 ). The various treatments of cytokinin were used as foliar sprays where the
treatments included 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) and kinetin used at a given concentration. The
treatments were repeated 10 times. Irrigation was cut down to half field capacity to cause drought
stress. Measurement of the performance of the various treatments included plant height, leaf area, shoot
dry weight, relative water content (RWC) and chlorophyll content and transpiration rate. Plants that
were subjected to drought stress were found to have a significant drop in all the parameters that were
measured compared to the control plants. Cytokinin application on the leaves of the drought-stressed
plants led to a considerable growth in the plants and their physiological activity. Plants treated with
kinetin at 50 mg L -1 had the highest plant height, biomass accumulation, leaf area, chlorophyll content
and relative water content. The analysis of the data statistically showed that the differences that were
seen in treatments are statistically significant (P ≤ 0.05). The study states that cytokinins are relevant
since they can be used to enhance drought resistance in Artemisia herba-alba by assisting in enhancing
the capacity of the plant to use water, as well as retain its capacity to carry out photosynthesis and to
develop vegetatively. Thus, this study demonstrates that cytokinins would be applicable under certain
conditions as a viable tool to alleviate drought stress in the production of medicinal plants in both dry
and semi-dry environments.

The research aimed to identify the personal characteristics of farmers in the study area, determine the
obstacles that limit the use of modern irrigation techniques, and examine the correlational and
regression relationships between the studied factors influencing farmers’ adoption of modern irrigation
technologies. The study targeted farmers affiliated with the Jassan Agricultural Division in Wasit
Province. The research population consisted of approximately 1000 farms, from which a random
sample representing about 10% was selected. Accordingly, the study sample included 100 farmers who
represented the target group of the research. The results showed that the majority of the respondents
were men (92%). Regarding the age variable, the highest proportion of respondents belonged to the
middle-age group (53%). The findings also indicated that 58% of the respondents worked in agriculture
as their main occupation, while most respondents had a high level of farming experience (75%). In
addition, the annual non-agricultural income of the respondents was highest among the middle-income
group (39%).The results further revealed a positive and statistically significant correlation at the 0.05
level between the dependent variable, represented by water scarcity obstacles, and several independent
variables, including the level of education, the total number of family members, and annual non-
agricultural income. Based on these findings, the study recommends attracting international
agricultural companies specialized in modern irrigation technologies to the study area in order to
support farmers and encourage them to adopt advanced water management practices.

This study aimed to study the effects of nanotechnology on improving the physical properties of
degraded soil in Dhi Qar Governorate, which faces environmental challenges such as high salt content,
water shortage, and deterioration of the physical structure of the soil. Emphasis has been placed on the
use of nano-materials such as nano-silica and nano-clay, improving bulk density, permeability, water
conductivity and water-holding capacity of soil .
Preliminary results show that nanomaterials contribute significantly to enhancing soil structural
cohesion, increasing in-situ capacity, reducing permeability in sandy soil, and improving pore
distribution. In addition, the use of nanotechnology has improved water use efficiency and reduced
degradation caused by corrosion or erosion. The study recommends broader application of
nanotechnology in affected areas in Iraq, with a focus on conducting long-term field studies to ensure
effectiveness and environmental sustainability. Technology is a promising tool for achieving
sustainability of agriculture and water resources in the face of increasing environmental challenges.

his research determined the biochemical impact of aqueous leaf extract of Origanum vulgare
on the female albino mice. There were twelve mice who were randomly assigned control and
treated groups (n=6). The extract was given orally at 100 mg/kg to the treated group in the course
of four weeks. Serum samples were examined on the antioxidant status, metabolic markers, and
liver functioning. A significant change toward reduced glutathione (GSH) levels (7.76 ± 0.49
mmol/L) and a decrease in malondialdehyde (MDA) levels (0.93 ± 0.06 mmol/L) was also found
relative to the controls, which suggested an improved antioxidant defense and a decrease in lipid
peroxidation. The level of vitamin C declined considerably, whereas the amount of vitamin E did
not change significantly. Metabolic profiles showed that serum urea (53.66 ± 2.45 mg/dL) and
blood glucose (80.33 ± 2.15 mg/dL) were significantly lower, which was an indication that there
was better metabolism of nitrogen and possible hypoglycemia. There was no significant difference
in creatinine levels which implies intact renal functioning. The liver function tests showed no
improvement in the ALP, ALT, total protein, albumin or globulin. But there was a significant
increase in the levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in the treated group. These results
indicate that O. vulgare extract has got strong antioxidant and hypoglycemic effects. The high
levels of AST, however, should be investigated further in terms of hepatic metabolic activity. In
general, the extract has therapeutic potential in spite of the slight enzymatic changes.

This study aimed to investigate the molecular diversity of the plant pathogen Fusarium solani using
molecular techniques, specifically polymerase chain reaction (PCR), due to its high accuracy compared
to conventional morphological identification of fungal pathogens in tomato plants. The internal
transcribed spacer regions (ITS1 and ITS4) within ribosomal DNA (rDNA) were targeted for
identification. Sequence analysis and comparison with reference sequences available in the NCBI
GenBank database confirmed that the studied isolate represents a newly recorded isolate in Iraq,
registered under the accession number (PV616682). Pathogenicity tests of F. solani showed a
significant reduction in seed germination percentage of tomato cultivar Mansoura F1. Germination
rates decreased to 73.33% in Petri dishes and 90.00% in plastic pots, compared to the control treatment,
which recorded 100% and 96.66%, respectively. Inhibition percentages reached 26.7% in Petri dishes
and 20.0% in pots, whereas the control recorded 0% and 3.34%, respectively. The results further
demonstrated that treatment with β-Aminobutyric Acid (BABA) effectively induced systemic
resistance in tomato plants by activating key defense-related enzymes, namely Peroxidase (POX) and
Catalase (CAT). The combined treatment (F. solani + BABA) recorded the highest enzyme activity
levels (2.56 and 2.45, respectively), compared to the control (1.49 and 1.38, respectively), at a
significance level of 0.05.

Textile wastewater is different because it has a lot of synthetic dyes, salts, surfactants, and dangerous
organic pollutants that pose a big risk to the environment. Conventional treatment procedures are often
costly and ineffectual in removing persistent azo dyes. This study evaluated the bioremediation
potential of three fungal strains,Trametes versicolor, Phanerochaete chrysosporium, and Aspergillus
nige for the treatment of textile wastewater during a 14-day period. The efficacy of decolorization and
the reductions in chemical oxygen demand COD biological oxygen demand BOD5 and total
suspended solids TSS were thoroughly assessed. T. versicolor was the most effective of the strains
tested, with 93% dye decolorization and 79% COD reduction. P. chrysosporium reduced the chemical
oxygen demand COD by 73% and the color by 86%. A. niger reduced the color by 70% and the
COD by 57%. The BOD levels went down by 67%, 62%, and 49%, while the TSS levels went down
by 59%, 53%, and 42% for T. versicolor, P. chrysosporium, and A. niger, respectively.
Spectrophotometric analysis revealed a substantial decrease in absorbance at λmax (520–620 nm),
confirming the cleavage of azo bonds and the deterioration of aromatic structures .
These results highlight the considerable potential of white-rot fungi, particularly T. versicolor, as viable
and environmentally friendly agents for the bioremediation of textile effluent.

Afield experiment was carried out during 2024 growing season ,to investigate the influence of
foliar application of vitamin E and concentration of( 0,100,200) mg.L-1 in addition to Calcium oxide
nanoparticles ( 0,50,100) mg.L-1 on yield wheat prameters of to salt stress( Nacl )at three levels (0, 4,
8)ds.m-1 .the experiment was conducted in factorial Randomized completely Blook Design (R.C.B.D)
whith three replicates and means were compared Duncan s test at probability of 0.05. Results indicated
that salt stress(Nacl) levels from 0 to 8 ds.m-1 reduced significantly the average of growth yield
parameters (Number of spikelets ,weight of 1000 grian , grian yield ,biological yield ).Moreover ,
application of vitamin E and Calcium oxide nanoparticles increased significantly the average of growth
yield parameters above,and had reduced the adverse effect of salt stress particulary 200 mg.l-1 vitamin
E and 100 mg.l -1 Calcium oxide nanoparticles.

A field study was applied to determine the impact of brick factories in Wasit Governorate on
groundwater pollution with heavy metals in the areas surrounding the factories during the period
from August 25, 2023, to April 15, 2024. Water samples were collected from three locations located
250, 500, and 3000 meters from the source of pollution. Chemical analyses were performed on these
samples. The results showed local and seasonal variations in the concentrations of heavy metals in
the water, leading to an increase in the overall concentration of lead, cadmium, chromium, cobalt,
and copper in the studied locations of the water samples near the brick factories and in a southeasterly
direction. The brick factory\'s emissions indicate a significant level of heavy metal pollution in water
samples. This pollution stems from gases and vapors emitted from the factory and their transfer to the
water at the studied sites via the prevailing northwesterly winds. These metals have exceeded
internationally permissible limits. Comparing our study\'s results for heavy metal concentrations in
water samples from the studied sites with international and local standards, we find that the
concentration of lead, chromium, and cobalt in the water, particularly in the southeastern direction of
the brick factory, for both months exceeded the limits set by international and local organizations for
all study sites, as measured by the comparison model. This is attributed to the increased concentration
of these metals in the water due to emissions from the brick factory and the atmospheric transfer of
heavy metals to the water in the southeasterly direction. The values of lead, cadmium, chromium,
cobalt and copper concentrations in the water were generally low in August 2023 compared to April
2024. This is probably due to the variation in climate metals, as the increase in wind speed and the
decrease in rainfall in August caused to some extent an increase in the transport distance of the
particulates resulting from the emissions of the brick factory.

Al-Suda Marsh in southern Iraq is in danger of becoming uninhabitable because of a lack of
water and salinization. This study combines field soil analyses with Sentinel-2 remote sensing to
evaluate chemical degradation and salinity. Soil profiles from three horizons (0-60 cm) revealed
clay-dominated textures, high electrical conductivity (up to 11.60 dS/m in Cgk2), elevated sulfate
(46.5 mmol/L) and sodium, plus heavy metal accumulation (Fe: 1931 mg/kg surface). Spectral
indices (NDVI, Moisture Index) derived from October 2022 imagery validated extensive
vegetation loss and desiccation, exhibiting a strong correlation with ground data. The results show
that salt and metal can move up through low-permeability clays through capillary action, which
confirms that remote sensing can be used to monitor marshes. Urgent water restoration is
recommended to mitigate toxicity and restore biodiversity. Samples from three horizons (0-60 cm)
showed that the textures were mostly clay, the electrical conductivity was high (up to 11.60 dS/m
in Cgk2), the CaCO₃ levels were high (33-41%), the organic matter levels were high (19.8-25.3%),
and the heavy metals were mostly in the surface layers (Fe: 1911-1931 mg/kg; Cu: 26.9-30.3
mg/kg; Mn: 265-281 mg/kg). Spectral indices (NDVI, Moisture Index) corroborated extensive
vegetation loss and desiccation, substantiating ground data spatially. These results show that marsh
soils need to be restored quickly to lower salinity and metal toxicity.

Mitochondrial DNA markers have been widely used to study avian phylogenetics, and to identify
species, although their relative performance across major orders has not been comprehensively
assessed. This paper analyzed 16 COI and 13 cytochrome b sequences that were fetched in GenBank
and they represented species of Galliformes, Anseriformes and Columbiformes. A MEGA11
phylogenetic reconstruction with node robustness set to 1,000 bootstrap replicas was used to perform
phylogenetic reconstruction. Neighbor-Joining phylogenetic reconstruction, estimation of Kimura 2-
parameter (K2P) distance and multiple sequence alignment were performed with MEGA11. Analysis
of genetic distance and nucleotide composition was also done. Findings revealed that there was a highly
conserved intraspecific variation (0.000 -0.007) compared to a lot of interspecific and inter-order
divergence (0.12 -0.35), which creates an apparent hierarchical pattern of divergent change. These two
markers resolved three large order-level lineages with high bootstrap support (≥90%), and consistently
recovered three large order-level lineages, indicating high topological congruence. Despite the fact that
shallow nodes showed great support, deep basal relationships showed weak support, possibly because
of rapid evolutionary radiation or short sequence length. The compositionally stable content of GC
among taxa (mean: 47.248.6%). Collectively, these findings justify the use of COI and cytochrome b
as highly dependable markers as far as the distinction of avian species and phylogenetic inferences at
the shallow depths of evolution is concerned. The specified genetic distance thresholds offer useful
guidelines of future DNA barcoding and taxonomic research of birds.