Tikrit Journal for Agricultural Sciences

The study aims to manufacture edible gelatinous films with alcoholic extracts of thyme and green tea, to inhibit the E. coli growth as a negative bacteria and Staphylococcus aureus at a concentration of (0.100, 0.250, 0.500, 0.750, 1.000 mg), and determining the effect of this addition on the chemical tests of soft cheese stored for 14 days at a temperature of 7 ° C. The results indicate that the moisture percentage of cheese samples coated with gelatinous films decreased significantly (P <0.05) at the end of the storage period, and the treatment T2 gave the lowest percentage, which was 58.45% compared to the control sample T1 that was without gelatinous coating 58.13%. It was also found that the percentage of fat increased until the end of the storage period, and it gave significant differences at the level (P<0.05). As for the protein percentage, it does not give any significant differences at the end of the storage period. The pH starts to decrease and it gives significant differences to reach the end of the storage period for the treatments T2 6.17, T3 6.27 and T4 6.28 compared with the control sample T1 which reaches 5.96. It is also found that the ash percentage increased to the end of the storage period and gave significant differences, and the treatment T4 gives the lowest percentage of ash at (2.78%), while the percentage of carbohydrates occurs in a gradual difference between the treatments until the end of the storage period and does not give any significant difference at the level (P <0.05).

This study was carry out to investigate from the contamination of packed tea samples collected from different markets with Aspergillus species. The extent of contamination of these samples with Ochratoxin A (OTA) was examined by using ELISA and the ability of Aspergillus niger to produce this toxin was determined by using the (HPLC) technique. The results showed that Aspergillus species contaminated 66 packed tea samples. Aspergillus niger was isolated from 34 black tea samples while Aspergillus ochraceus isolated from 20 samples and Aspergillus fumigatus from 23 samples. On the other hand, the green tea showed 22 samples contaminated with A.niger, 21 A. ochraceus and 15 A. fumigatus. The rate of fungi isolation from the different tea samples were Aspergillus niger (41.48 %), A. ochraceus )30.37%( and Aspergillus fumigatus (28.1%).The quantitative detection of Ochratoxin A by using ELISA technique showed the presence of OTA in tea samples as it reached in the samples of Ahmad black tea (2.27 µg/kg), which is the least concentrated than the rest of the studied teas and the highest concentration rate (6.46 µg /kg) it appeared in samples of Ahmed green tea. The results of quantitative estimation using (HPLC) also showed the ability of A. niger to produce OTA as it produced this toxin at a concentration of 12.36 ppb / 100 ml.

The study aimed to identify the level of nutritional awareness and the extent of its impact on weight gain in people in particular. The study was twofold, the first is to know the body mass index (BMI) by knowing the height and weight, and the second is to know the nutritional habits followed by people through the food eaten and nutritional culture This was done through a questionnaire that was distributed to the sample, which included (160) people, 76 males and 84 females, who were randomly selected from the city of Tikrit. The results showed that there were significant differences at the significance level (P < 0.05) in the (BMI) rate. The results also showed the presence of significant differences at the level (P < 0.01) in the eaten foods by males and females, as well as the presence of significant differences at the level (P < 0.05) and (P < 0.01) in the level of nutritional culture in males and females. As for the relationship between gender, age and body mass index with the level of nutritional awareness, it was noted that there were significant differences at the level of significance (P < 0.05) between age and the level of nutritional awareness. The researcher recommended some recommendations, which are to spread food culture among all segments of society and to focus and urge awareness and nutritional education by institutions and the media in order to raise food awareness, and urge the Ministry of Education to include nutritional education within school curricula.

The seed rates are a significant factor influencing the vegetative, reproductive, and yield traits of wheat (Triticum aestivum L). Therefore, the response of varieties to different seed rates is constantly studied to find a suitable combination among them. The experiment was performed with three replications using a split-plot design within a randomized complete block design (RCBD). Three seed rates were placed in the main plots (150, 200, 250 kg h-1), and seven wheat cultivars were placed in the sub-main plots (Sham 6, Tammuz2, Latifia, Sally, IPA 99, Rabiaa, and Abu Gharib). The results indicated that the IPA 99 during the average of the three seed rates was given the highest area of a flag leaf (44.25 cm2), grain per spike (78.85), spike per unit area m2 (441.81), and the grain yield (5.9) ton h-1. While the Sham6 gave the highest spike length (11.11 cm) and the weight of 1000 grains (35.20 g). The first seed rate (150 kg h-1) during the average of the seven cultivars was surpassed other seed rates for all traits except the plant height. IPA 99 and first seed rates combination was given the highest grain yield with (6.7) tons/hectare. Hence, it would suggest planting IPA 99 with first seed rates (150) kg h-1 in the location of this experiment. More tests can, however, be carried out at various locations in Iraq and with a wide variety of seed rates, to achieve the required combination for growing wheat and achieving high productivity with the cultivated cultivars.

This experiment was conducted at the research field of College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences-University of Sulaimani at Bakrajo, Sulaimani, Iraq during the growing season of 2016-2017 to assess the effect of three-row spaces (10, 15 and 20) cm and three plant densities (160, 200 and 240) kg/ha with their interaction on grain yield and yield components of two bread wheat cultivars (Adana-99 and Aras). For each trait, ranges of statistical analysis were performed, including a Factorial Experiment in a Completely Randomized Block Design (CRBD) with three replications. At a 5% significance level, mean comparisons were done using the least significant difference (L.S.D). Plant height, number of spikes/m2, spike length, spike weight, number of spikelets/spike, number of grain/spike, the weight of grain/spike, 1000-grain weight, harvest index, biological yield, and grain yield were all calculated as part of grain yield. The results show that row spaces have a significant impact on the studied characters, with 10 cm producing the highest values for all characteristics except the number of spikes/m2, spike length, and harvest index, which were provided by 15 cm. With the exception of the number of spikes/m2, spike length, and biological yields, the impact of varieties on agronomic traits was significant; the Adana-99 variety provided maximum values for all of the studied characters. With the exception of spike length, where 200kg/ha density had the ultimate value, plant density had a major impact on the studied characters, with 160kg/ha density producing maximum values for almost all of the characters, and 240kg/ha density producing maximum values for the number of spikes/m2 and biological yield. Based on our findings, the Adana-99 cultivar should be sown at a seed rate of 160 kg/ha with a 10 cm inter-row spacing in Bakrajo, Sulaimani Region under guaranteed rained conditions.

The importance of assessing the ge‎net‎ic parameters comes in knowing how the ge‎net‎ic factors are transmitted from one generation to another, as well as their relationship to each other and their effect on determining the ph‎enotypic of the plant. And this is through knowing the ge‎net‎ic behavior and the nature of the ge‎net‎ic action, which is of great importance in determining the appropriate method for breeding and improvement. Selection for a high yield in crops, including faba bean, requires knowledge of the nature and amount of varia‎nce in germplasm because ge‎net‎ic differences are desirable for plant breeders. The success of any breeding program must depend on the desired ge‎net‎ic varia‎nce present in the plant community, and had it not been for the occurrence of these variants, the plant species that surpassed their parents in productive and qualitative characteristics would not have been found. In view of the increasing demand for the crop of faba bean as an important food and medical source for humans, as well as the absence of breeding stations concerned with preserving the varieties cultivated in the country or developing new varieties with desirable production and quality specifications, for the purpose of advancing the current reality of producing this crop, researchers have devoted their efforts to exploit the means and ge‎net‎ic information they have available as tributaries of breeding and improving this crop, where many plant breeders were interested in the phenomenon of heterosis, and it was exploited in the development of many hybrids with high productivity and good quality.

Incorporating green manure in soil increases the availability of nutrient elements and improve of quality characteristics in the succeeding crops. So, a field experiment was conducted at the experimental farm and laboratory of Institute of Sustainable Agrotechnology, Universiti Malaysia Perlis, Padang Besar, Perlis, Malaysia. This study was about effect of green manure with mungbean (Vigna radiata L.) on some quality characteristics of sweet potato under two grown conditions; open field and greenhouse. The green manuring of mungbean was compared with the control. Results of the study show of that there were different effect of treatments on quality characteristics of sweet potato. The highest nitrogen content in leaves and protein content in tuberous root 1.64% and 2.49%, respectively, were observed in the treatment of mungbean residue. But the highest sugar content of 19.93% in tuberous root was recorded in control treatment. Mungbean residue and control treatment were not significantly different between them in phosphorous and potassium content in leaves, hardness of tuberous root and starch content. There was significant increment in nitrogen and potassium contents in sweet potato leaves under open field condition. On the other hand, there was significant increment in sugar content under greenhouse condition. But the different conditions were at par in phosphorous content in leaves, starch content in tuberous root and hardness of tuberous root. The nitrogen content in leaves was greatest at treatment of mungbean residue under open field condition, while treatment of mungbean residue under greenhouse condition gave highest protein content in tuberous root compared to other treatments. Highest starch content and sugar in tuberous root were found in control treatment under greenhouse condition 52.90% and 20.92%, respectively.

The field study (under plastic greenhouse conditions) in the fields of the Agriculture College of - Tikrit University for the agricultural season 2018-2019 showed variation in the numerical density of the lefminer Liriomyza sativae (Blanchard) on Climbing bean Phaseolus vulgaris L. The effect of temperature and relative humidity were evident in their density, as the average number of L. sativae larvae reached 35.3 larvae / plant in the second week of December2018, and reached their peak (62.8 larva / plant) in the first week of January2019 when the temperature was 12.5 ° C and the relative humidity was 92%. Five species of parasitoids belonging to the order Hymenoptera have been recorded as parasitizing the larvae and pupae of the L. sativae. The species included Hemiptarsenus varicornis, Halticoptera sp., Neochrysocharis sp., Chrysocharis parksi and Pnigalio sp. During the season, the highest rate of parasitism was 12.68% during the month of January.

The study was done to compare Awassi ewes and Holstein cow’s milk in morning and evening period, in a private animal project in Erbil/ Iraq. The physical properties (pH, specific gravity and freezing point °c) of milk samples which recorded insignificant differences between the morning and evening period of Awassi ewes and Holstein cow’s milk, as well as milk has flavor in ewes, while it increased in cow’s milk. The average yield of cows' milk increased in the morning compared to the evening, while the milk yield of ewes showed an insignificant difference between the morning and evening periods. Fat and fat percentage: protein ratio had decreased in the morning milk compared to the evening milk, instead of in cows the morning milk contained high fat (%) and fat: protein ratio compared to the evening, otherwise, Sheep's milk increased the rates of morning milk protein, lactose and SNF compared to the evening milk, there were insignificant differences between cows’ morning and evening milk protein, lactose and SNF percentages. At the animal or species level, sheep's milk outperformed cow's milk in chemical composition.

The (one-step) method has become widely used to isolate total RNA from living organism samples and from different tissues. The aim of this study is to extract RNA from the blood and testicular tissue of male local chickens. The principle behind the method is to separate the RNA from the DNA after extraction with an acid solution containing (Acid guanidinium thiocyanate-phenol-chloroform) with centrifugation, under acidic conditions, the total RNA remains in the upper aqueous phase while most of the acid descends. The DNA and proteins are either in the interphase or in the lower organic phase and then the total RNA is collected by precipitation with isopropanol. Our results showed a significant increase in the concentration of RNA extracted from the blood compared to the testis tissue of local roosters. This protocol made it possible to isolate RNA from cells and tissues in less than 4 hours and was the reason for the great advances in gene expression analysis in plant and animal models, as well as in pathological samples as clearly demonstrated by the huge number of citations the protocol has gained in the past 20 years.

Plant polyphenols, particularly flavonoids, are of graet intrigued due to their wide run of natural activities. Quercetin, an omnipresent flavonoid, is known to have antioxidant and antibacterial impacts. The aim of this experiment is to know the effect of adding different levels of quercetin on some productive and physiological Traits of normal and oxidative stress quail birds. In the study, (108) females quail at the (45 days)of age, randomly distributed into six treatments, with three replications per each and reared for (42 days). The experiment treatments, as follows: The first treatment (T1): control group and the second treatment (T2): the birds fed a standard diet and drinking water with hydrogen peroxide (0.01% H2O2 ), the third(T3) and fourth(T4) treatments :The birds fed a standard diet with (400 and 600 mg of Quercetin / kg feed) respectively, normal drinking water. About the fifth (T5) and six (T6) treatments,the birds consumed same as T3 and T4 diet except for supplemented drinking water with (0.01% H2O2).The results indicated that the addition of quercetin to diets of quail birds led to:Significant improvement in the production Traits of natural and stressful quails by increasing egg production rate. Significant improvement of some biochemical indicators in the blood serum of natural and stressful quails birds, such as Estrogen, cholesterol, total protein, globulin, Calcium, AST, ALT, Malondialdehyde enzyme and glutathione concentration. While it did not affect glucose and albumin concentration. In conclusion, our study present that quercetin has huge effect on production and physiological indicators in females quail.

This study aimed to survey the data collected from several commercial broiler farms in Akre region in order to evaluate the live body weight, carcass traits and their cuts, also to compare commercial projects of poultry in different farms in order to determine the best farm for rearing poultry. Statistical analysis was accomplished using the programme of Statistical Analysis System (SAS), also pairwise correlations among studied traits were determined.
At 42 days of age, broilers' live body weight, and dressing percentage averaged 2276.50 g, and 76.52 percent, respectively, and the differences between the 4 farms used in this study were significant in all the mentioned traits. The differences in breast, thigh, back, neck and wing percentages were significant due to the farm and their averages were 36.75%, 25.21%, 18.78%, 5.82% and 8.19% respectively. The lymphoid organs including spleen % and bursa % were averaged 0.155% and 0.179% respectively, and the differences in all the lymphoid traits according to farm were significant. The higher coefficient of correlation (0.78) obtained between breast % and back % and was very highly significant, while the negative and higher value (-0.83) calculated between live body weight and back % and also was very highly significant. It can be concluded that a significant difference was found in all studied traits which may be due to differences in some factors including rearing system. Some of the correlations between each pair of studied traits were positive and highly significant, so to improve some traits, the breeder can focus on measuring other related traits.

In order to illustrate the histological changes in kidney and liver associated with water drinking of ethylene glycol (EG) in domestic pigeons (Columba liviadomestica), 24 adult birds, weighing 350- 400 grams, aged 9-12 months were used, for the period from 5/2/2021- 16/3/2021 at Diyala University - College of Veterinary Medicine. They divided into two equal groups. One group control and other group gives EG with water at concentration 8.5ml/L for three weeks. Histological results illustrated normal structures of kidney and liver in the domestic pigeons of control group. It was observed histological alteration in both organs in the group which received EG such as degeneration of tubular epithelium, cellular infiltration, congestion in kidney, while detect increase inflammatory cell, degeneration, and precipitated materials in the lumen of central vein in liver. It concluded that the EG causes toxic injury to the renal and hepatic tissue in domestic pigeons.

Although; the liver has been studied in several types of birds, but regarding, Muscovy Duck, it is yet not to be done. Thus the current study has been accomplished to identify the anatomical features and recognize the histomorphological architecture and the differences in the structural components of the liver in this bird. The study was achieved on eight birds of both sexes, aged (ten to fifteen) months, slaughtered by the halal method and divided into two groups: anatomical and histological. Anatomical results showed that the liver of Muscovy duck is situated at the cranial part of the celomic cavity; the shape is adapted to the adjacent internal body wall and related organs like the proventriculus, gall bladder and gizzard. Histologically our results revealed that no histological difference between the right and left lobes of liver and it's a large lobed gland enclosed by serosal coat or covering which have a delicate capsule from connective tissue that extends to divided the gland into lobes with less extension to lobules. The liver parenchyma made of hepatic cells called hepatocytes that organized in branching cords that separated via sinusoids and be radiated around the central vein.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of repeated freeze-thaw cycles on some electrolytes’ concentration (Na+, K+, Ca+ and Cl−) and thyroid hormones (T3 and T4), in the serum of Karadi sheep breed. This study was conducted on 18 male and female sheep (aged over one year) in two lines of Karadi sheep Jeshana and Jaff in Sulaimaniyah province. Blood samples were collected from each animal and allowed to clot for 45 to 60 min, then centrifuged at 3000 × g for 10 min to separate the serum. The serum sample was frozen at (-40) degrees and was monitored for 18 months. Serum sample analyzed after (18 months) of storage. Our result showed that repeated freeze-thaw cycling has significant and relevant increases of serum T4 (Thyroxine hormone) in both male and female groups without affecting T3 (Triiodothyronine hormone). Na+ and Cl-‎ in both male and female groups showed a significant difference compared to the control group while the remaining electrolytes K+ and Ca+ didn’t show any relevant changes. This study has demonstrated that repeated freeze-thaw cycles do not cause changes in some biochemical constituents studied in sheep serum.