Mesopotamia Journal of Agriculture

Inheritance of yield, combining ability and inbreeding depression were
investigated in durum wheat of F2 half diallel crossing among the 7 varieties Vis:
Leeds, Waha, Azeghar1, Um-Rabie3, Brashua, Cyprus1 and Korfila. Genotypes,
general and specific combining ability mean square were highly significant. The
durum wheat yield was under the dominance gene effect. The parents Leeds and
Um-Rabie3 were considered suitable according to their yield capacities and general
combining ability effects. The two hybrids (Leeds x Brashua) and (Waha x
Brashua) had significantly higher yield (2.943 and 2.955 ton per hectare
respectively) as compared with others, and also possessed significant positive
specific combining ability effects, highly significant positive inbreeding depression
values and deviation from local variety Um-Rabei5, therefore they were considered
to be promising hybrids.

The study aimed at analyze the content of extension bulletins which are
produced by the general faculty of agricultural extension and cooperation 2007-
2008 according to the content the (What says?) and the shape (How says?). Content
analysis technique was used to describe the content of bulletins. Results showed
that 28.57% of bulletins contented themes belong to the field of plant protection.
55% From the bulletins were prepared by participators have Ph.D. certificates.
28.58% from the bulletins were aimed to improve the level of knowledge about
controlling the agric pests and diseases by using the developed irrigation systems.
57.14% of the bulletins consist pictures and painting with less than 10% from the
whole area of each bulletins. The researchers concluded that the extension bulletins
were concentrated on serious themes for farmer especially the diffusion of diseases
and pest. So the researchers recommended that there were importance to produce
bulletins in the fields of forestry, husbandry and food industries, in addition to
increasing the size of pictures and paintings in the bulletins and devoting budget to
produce periodical enables the college of agriculture new bulletins.

This Study was conducted at private apple orchard located at AL-Rashidia
region in Mosul , Iraq , during the season of 2008 . To study the effect of different
levels of Nitrogen fertilization (0,60,120 and 180KgN.h
-1
and foliar application of
Boron (0,50,100 and 150mgB.l
-1
) as boric acid H3BO3 (17%B) on fruit set ,
vegetative growth and some quality and quantity of yield characteristics of Anna
apple cultivar.The results showed response of apple trees to nutrient treatments
especially with using 120KgN.h-1 which caused increased on fruit set, leaf area,
total chlorophyll in the leaves, TSS in fruit, fruit weight and tree yield, while this
treatment caused a significant decrease in total acidity in fruit. In the same direction
of results when foliar application with 100mgB.l
-1
for these characteristics. The best
results of growth and quntity Anna, apple yield and quality were obtained by
interaction between application containing 120KgN.h-1
+ 100mg B.L-1

The objectives of this research were to determine the knowledge needs of rural women in sheep breeding, and to determine the differences of these needs according to some variables. The research population consisted of all rural women in Al-Quair district/ Nineveh Governorate. A random Sample of 127 rural women was selected, and data were collected through questionnaire consisted of tow parts, the first was to measure the independent variables, while the second part consisted of 18 items from which distributed to seven dimensions of sheep breeding. Content validity and comparison of extreme groups were used, also, reliability was tested by using Kuder-Richardson estimates, which was 0.94. Item analysis was used, and data were analyzed by using means, mann-whitney test, and Kruskal-Wallis test. The results showed that 75.59% of the respondents have medium knowledge needs and the highest need was is sheep nutrition domain and the lowest need was in sheep barns. The results also showed no significant differences in knowledge needs according to age, educational level, working years in sheep breeding, type of family, while there were significant differences according to number of owned sheep and number of daily working hours in sheep breeding and number of information sources. The research included some conclusions and recommendations.

Greenhouse experiment was carried out to study the effects of seed size and
seed iron and zinc content on seedling growth of 15 promising and dominant
varieties of barley plant in the North part of Iraq. Three groups of seed size with
different seed quality (Fe and Zn content) of each variety were sown in Fe and Zn
deficient alkaline calcareous soil. After six weeks root and shoot dry weights of
barley plants grew from different seed size and seed quality were compared.
Seedlings derived from larger seed size and with high Fe and Zn content had greater
root and shoot dry weights. Barley varieties El-Kheir, 1/1105,Amal and local black
performed better seedling growth

This study is considered part of the studies that concern with assessment of
the growth rates for the agricultural product and productivity in the Arab states. The
assessment of the product and productivity growth rates has been made in Iraq as
well as the analysis of the effective factors on the product through aggregate
production function. The results of the reports indicated that there are growth rates
in the agricultural product and productivity. But through the compares on with the
standard numbers of the average share of person from the agricultural product in the
progressing countries and with that in Iraq, that comparison pointed out that the
growth rates in Iraq are still low and below the desired level to achieve the
agricultural development. The study has made some conclusions first dropping in
the areas that are good for agriculture comparing with the total area. Second
dropping in the planted crops in these areas and in sufficiency of growing rates'
standards of product and productivity as to meet the shortage which is happening in
the local exhibit. Finally dropping in the average share of the Iraqi person in
agricultural product as compared with some other countries. So as to increase the
unit area's productivity.

A field Experiments in two agricultural locations were carried out to evaluate three levels of phosphorous fertilizer (60,80,120)Kg P/ha, as super phosphate and five varieties of sugar beet, Monogerm (Vero, Rosana, Rosa) and, Multigerm (Gitane, Monterosa). Results showed the yield of root (ton/ha) increased significantly as the fertilizer increased, which gives (20. 3 % ,24.6%) when compared with first level added of phosphorous fertilizer respectively , The root sugar also increased as compared to the first level (0.65%,0.89%) respectively in both locations, Monogerm (Vero, Rosana, Rosa) gave a high yield of sugar and purity when compared with the Multigerm ,Vero surmount to the others Monogerm Rosana and Rosa at the two locations .So phosphorous fertilizer and the Monogerm of the sugar beet increased the quantity and Improved quality at the two locations under Iraqi conditions.

This study was carried out in the vegetable field of Department of Horticulture and land Scape Design, College of Agriculture and forestry/ Mosul University, during spring and autumn seasons 2007 ,by using a randomized complete block design with three replications .The aim of the study was to evaluate four parents and their hybrids to estimate heterosis , genetic variability and heritability for the studied traits by full diallel crosses of four summer squash varieties : 1 Local , 2 Syrian , 3 Tala &4 Bather Elbethor. The results of statistical analysis showed that there was significant differences among the parents and their hybrids for all the studied characters. The parent Tala (3) was higher than for early and total yield, while the hybrid 2×3 gave highest value for early yield and the hybrid 2×4 for total yield. All the hybrids exhibited significant heterosis for all the studied characters whete the hybrid 4×1 had the highest positive significant value for plant length the hybrid 3×1 fruit length and the hybrid 2×3 for fruit weight, while the hybrid 4×2 showed superiority for fruit number and early yield, and the hybrid 2×4 for total yield. The results also showed that narrow sense heritability was in the range of medium to high for plant height, number of leaves/ plant, male flowering date, fruit length and width and number of fruits / plant. Average degree of dominance was greater that one for all the characters except for plant length, indicating that over dominance control the inheritance of these characters.

This research was conducted to study physico – chemical behavior of potassium
adsorption–desorption phenomena in some soils of Nineveh Governorate. To fulfill the
mentioned target above 10 different locations in their rainfall and land management.
Series chemical experiments were done . The results of the above experiments
revealed the following:
1- Potassium adsorption was ranged between 32 – 64% of added potassium while K
– desorption was ranged between 22 – 56% of added potassium.
2- The adsorption amounts were significantly correlated with Cation Exchange
capacity (r = 0.48*) and organic matter (r = 0.36*).
3- According to kinetic approach showed a significant effect of time on potassium
adsorption and soils a different pathways of adsorption curves, the first order
equation was the best to describe the adsorption of potassium. The studied soils
appeared to be high in potassium adsorption rate (310-3
 6610-3 min-1
).
4- Potassium desorption according to kinetic approach showed a significant effect of
time on potassium desorption, there are two stages of K release, and first order
equation was the best to describe the desorption of potassium by using missible
displacement. Rate coefficient of K – desorption according to first order
equation were range between (1.7 – 2.510-3
) min-1
. Studied soils appeared to be
low in potassium desorption rate coefficient as well.
5- Desorption index ranged between 0.2 – 0.9 according to (Kd/Ka) by using first
order equation. Studied soils appeared to be high–moderate fixing.

Ammonia volatilization phenomena from urea fertilizer was studied by using
three different textures of calcareous soil(loamy sand ,clay loamand clay) from
Mosul city – northern Iraq, classified as calciorthids .Urea was added at three rates
(100,200 and 400 mg N.kg-1
),using plastic pots (5kg soil) during Spring season
2008 with average minmum and maximum temperature (8-22c ْ ◌ ). The soil
moisture content was monorated around field capacity during period of
incubation.The amount of ammonia volatilized from surface was measured after
5,12,27,39,,,and 53 days.The results showed that a higher accumulationof NH3
volatilization was in loamy sand soil followed by clay loam ,then clay soil.The
results also showed a significant increases in the accumulated NH3volatilized with
increasing fertilizer rates and incubation periods.The mathematical discrption of
kinetics equation showed the following order: parabolic diffusion , first order ,
power function ,second order ,elovich ,and zero order equations respectively
according to a highest R2
and lowest SE values. The rate coefficients of parabolic
diffusion equation were high at loamy sand when compered with the other textures.
Also the increasing rate of urea fertilization from 100 to 400 mg N.kg-1
soil caused
an increase in the rate of coefficient of NH3 volatilization from (0.118 -0.392)
,(0.108 -0.145) and (0.04-0.108) mg.kg-1
day-1/2 for loamy sand ,clay loam ,and clay
soils respectivily.Using a hetrogenous diffusion model showed the sutability of this
model to describe the volatilization potential under fertilization non-stability

Fruits planted in the field is sweet bean sheets (1x2 m2
) of soil type Silty Loam
on 15.10.2006, using four levels of major elements (nitrogen, phosphorus and
potassium) are N0P0K0 , N60P30K20 , N90P45K30 and N120P60K40 kg. ha - 1
by using
urea, single super phosphate and potassium sulfate as a source of elements, with the
elements is small (2.5% Iron , 2.5% zinc ,0.5% manganese and 0.5% copper) are
five levels (0, 0.50, 1.5, 2.5, 3.5) gm.liter -1
foliar spray and land, three iterations ,
harvested plants in 15/5/2007, and the results were : over-treatment N90P45K30 + 2.5
gm . liter -1
of micronutrients, Wet weight of the shoot 33212 kg. foliar spray ha -1
and 28235 kg. ha -1
ground. The dry weight of shoots 3690 kg. foliar spray ha -1
and
2488 kg. ha -1
ground. The number of flowering per plant 30.4 foliar spray and 28.6
ground.

Fruits planted in the field is sweet bean sheets (1x2 m2
) of soil type (Silty Loam)
on 15.10.2006, using four levels of major elements (nitrogen, phosphorus and
potassium) are N0P0K0 , N60P30K20 , N90P45K30 and N120P60K40 kg. ha - 1
by using
urea, single super phosphate and potassium sulfate as a source of elements, with the
elements is small (2.5% Iron , 2.5% zinc , 0.5% manganese and 0.5% copper) are
five levels (0, 0.50, 1.5, 2.5, 3.5) gm . liter -1
foliar spray and land, three iterations ,
harvested plants in 15/5/2007, and the results were: Fruit holds 4355 kg. foliar spray
ha -1
and 4100 kg. ha -1
to the ground and the amount of oil, 56.62 liters. foliar spray
liter. ha -1
and 49.20 liter. ha -1
to the ground when the transaction N90P45K30 + 2.5
gm . liter -1
, while the proportion of oil was 1.35 ml / 100 grams fruits of foliar
spray and 1.25 ml / 100 grams fruits of the ground when the transaction N60P30K20 +
M1.5.

This study was regionally for one of local aquatic plants called duckweed
Lemna spp. And it\'s life in natural conditions for different regions water study of
Baghdad within year seasons. The results of statistical analysis showed that there
are significantly (p<0.05), differences in water properties in which the plant grows,
such as temperature between 10-28ºC and pH between 6.80-8.35 and different
concentrations of ammonia between 5.62-13.79 mg/l, nitrite between 0.0004-0.0038
mg/l, nitrate between 0.13-24.00 mg/l and phosphorus between 0.15-9.08 mg/l. and
the concentration of water included various heavy elements like zinc between 0.07-
0.70 mg/L and iron between 0.03-0.33 mg/L and lead 0.01-1.05 mg/L and Copper
between 0.03-0.55 mg/L. The conciliation of the study is that duckweed plant can
be obtained throughout the year depending on the suitable climatic conditions in our
country at regions of the lowest levels of nutrients.

A Survey was carried out on three flocks at three locations namely (Duhok,
Zakho and Emadia) in Dohuk governorate to study the effect of different
physiological status on blood parameters (blood hemoglobin, cholesterol, glucose
and total protein in blood) and ( concentration of T3 ,T4 and TSH). Eighteen does 3-
4 years old were ear tagged. Blood samples (10 ml) were withdrawn every 45 days
from each animal for nine months. Physiological status was divided into three
stages namely pregnancy, lactation and drying and mating. Data showed the
following results: Blood hemoglobin, cholesterol, sugar, total protein, T3, T4 and
TSH averaged respectively, 10.00 gm/100m1, 99.33 mg/100 ml, 47.63 mg/100
ml5.82 gm/100ml 12.22 mg/100 ml, 103.9 ng/100 ml and 0.341 ngm /ml. With the
exception of total protein and T4, A highly significant (P <0.01) effect of
physiological stage of the animals on all studied traits were noticed. blood
cholesterol and TSH, were higher during drying and mating season. Blood sugar
was at highest during pregnancy, whereas hemoglobin was highest during suckling
stage. A highly significant effect (P<0.01) of location on all studied traits were
observed.

This experiment was carried out in Grdarasha Farm , College of Agriculture,
University of Salahaddin, Erbil, during 22/4/2008 to 2/7/2008. A total of 12 Karadi
lambs of 5.5 – 6 months old weighting 29.12 kg were used in this investigation. The
lambs were divided randomly into three groups (G1, G2 and G3) of 4 lambs each.
All groups were fed a basal diet of 250 gm barley and ad libitum of either untreated
straw (G1), treated straw with urea (G2) or untreated straw plus 200 gm of alfalfa
hay (G3) to investigate the influence of these diets on lamb's growth. The result
revealed that daily dry matter consumed by G1, G2 and G3 were 615, 650 and 645
gm, respectively. Lambs in groups 2 and 3 exceeded group 1(P<0.05) in average
daily weight gains. The respective averages daily weight gains were 110, 139 and
133 gm . The results also indicated that groups fed hay and urea treated straw (G2
and G3) surpassed (P<0.05) the digestion coefficient of dry matter, organic matter,
and crude protein and crude fiber of the group fed untreated straw (G1). Whereas,
there was no significant differences in digestion coefficients of feed elements
between G2 and G3. It was concluded that treated straw or adding alfalfa hay will
improve lambs feeding efficiency compared to feeding untreated straw

The constituents of hydrodistilled essential oils from wild Mentha longofolia
L. and Thymbra spicata L. grow in Mosul and Duhok regions of Northern Iraq
while Salvia officinalis L. and Rosmarinus officinalis L. were imported from Syria.
The study showed that the major components of the essential oils mentioned above,
were carvone (26.47%), carvacrol (67.65%), 1,8-cineole (55.68%) and 1,8-cineole
(53.86%) respectively.Further the study showed that the addition of 1000mg/kg of
Rosmarinus officinalis L. and Thymbra spicata L. oils had a positive effect while
the addition of same ratio of Mentha longifolia L. and Salvia officinalis L. oils
gave a negative effect on oxidative stability of Sunflower oil

Bifidobacterium bifidum was isolated from the stool of newly born infant using
the morphological and biological tests of the Berge’s Manual,1986.The B. bifidum
antimicrobial substances were extracted and purified by Gel-filtration. Results
showed that two peptides were found for the bifidin . The inhibition zone of the first
peptide for Staphylococcus aureus was 13 mm , whereas the second peptide was 8
mm. The activity of the inhibited substances of the above local strain was increased
during the incubation period . The total numbers of B. bifidum were 78 x 106
c.f.u /
ml after incubation for 24 hr and decreased to 11 x 106
c.f.u / ml for 48 hr . The
inhibition zone was 12 mm after incubation for 24 hr and increased to 15 mm after
incubation for 48 hr.Results also showed that heat treatment at 60 , 80 and 100 C
°
at
درجة الحرارة ( مئوي) الوقت ( دقیقة) قطر منطقة التثبیط ( ملم ) المعاملھ الحراریھ
٦٠
صفر ١٥
١٥ ١٥
١٤ ٣٠
٨٠
صفر ١٥
١٤ ١٥
١٣ ٣٠
١٣ صفر ١٠٠
١٢ ١٥
١٢ ٣٠
(pH) : (٦) ال
Staph. aureus بكتیریا نمو في B. bifidum
pH قطر منطقة التثبیط ( ملم )
30 minutes were not affected and the inhibition zone had been stable. The inhibition
zones at these temperatures was 14, 13, 12 mm, respectively . The most effective
PH values was 6 PH and the inhibition zone was 15 mm. Staph. aureus was the
most sensitive species, whereas E. coli was the most resistant to bifidin and the
zone of inhibition, were 15 , 9 mm, respectively . The zones of inhibition for
B. subtilis , Proteus vulgaris , Brevibacterium sp. , Klepsella aerogenes , Salmonella
typhi were 13 , 12 , 11 , 10 and 10 mm, respectively .In conclusion, due to the
bacteriocin and in view of health benefits , the B. bifidum could be used for
elongating the shelf life of some fermanted dairy products .

The ability of 35 isolates from soil which belong to the endo-spore forming
bacteria Thermoactinomyces vulgaris , Thermoactinomyces intermedius , Bacillus
mycoides and Paenibacillus spp. to produce antibiotics against some gram positive
bacteria Corynebacterium spp. , Staphylococcus aureus subsp.aureus , Bacillus
cereus and gram negative bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa , Proteus mirabilis ,
Klebsiella oxytoca , Klebsiella spp. were card out , The antibiotics separated from
three strains which gave highest activity against bacteria under study, two strains
from Paenibacillus spp. and one strain form B.mycoides, by using thin-layer
Chromatographic technique , the spots distinguished by UV and Running factor (Rf)
compared with standard antibiotics , The extracted antibiotics from spots were
measured by UV spectrophotometry The maximum absorbance of antibiotic
extracted from Paenibacillus spp. was 200 nm and Rf = 0.42 which belong to
Tetracycline group , while the extracted antibiotic from the second strain which
belong to the species and gave Rf = 0.87 and maximum absorbance at 200nm so
,which indicate this antibiotic belong to the β-Lactams also the antibiotic extracted
from the strain belong to Bacillus mycoides developed Rf = 0.63 and 200nm which
appearance this antibiotic belong to β-Lactams group. The presence more than one
spots on TLC plate may indicate that the bacteria had produced other secondary
metabolites or the antibiotic is broad spectrum and produced more than one
antibiotic. Strains which belong to species Thermoactinomyces intermedius and
Thermoactinomyces vulgaris had a weak effect against the bacteria under the study.

Weed control study on bare fallow was conducted during growing season 2008/2009 at field of Agricultural College,Mosul University to determine the efficiency of two plowing ( disk plow,chisel plow and without plowing),time of plowing (winter,winter + spring,spring) and duration time for weed samples taken from the field (1st April,14th April,11 May)on narrow or broadleaf weed control in dry land farming.Result indicated that there is high density of weeds/m2 in untreated plowing up to137.1 . Disk plow gave the best treatment for weed control which reached up 96.8% when compared with chisel plow 65.5%. related to unplowing treatment.Disk plow was reduced numbers,dry weight and moisture content in weeds. Also plowing at winter + spring gave agood weed control when compard with other treatments while duration time for weed sampls which had been taken from different treatments were unsignificant . Disk plow showed suppriority in weed control when was used at different time of plowing (winter,winter + spring,spring) which gave efficiency in weed control until 11 May.Therefor, it is desirable to use disk plow in winter + spring or in spring to get 100% weed control of narrow or broadleave from beginning to mid April.

22 chickpea genotypes (cultivars and lines) were growing in five
different environments under rainfed conditions in north Iraq(Mosul and
Alkosh in season 2004-2005 and the same locations beside Al-Rashidia in
season 2005-2006) to evaluate stability of seed yield, its components and
protein content .Combined analysis showed a significant differences at 1%
level for genotype, environments and their interactions for all characters. Local
variety exhibited the highest stability order for no. of days to 50% flowering
and 90% maturaty with four stability methods. Dijla variety showed the highest
rank for plant height and protein content. Rafidain gave the highest order for
no. of secondary branches, no. of pods per plant and seed yield (kg/ ha) in most
stability methods

This study was conducted on the farm of Agric. and Forestry College, Mosul
Univ. for three seasons (2005-2006, 2006-2007, 2007-2008) to compare grain yield
and it,
s components of eight barley genotypes namely (Local black, Rehan, Jazeera
(1), native white, Sameer and strains No.11, 21, 31) using RCBD with three
replicates for evaluating the best one or more genotypes suitable under northern
Iraqi condition. The result showed that the strain No.11gave higher number of
spike/m2
for the three seasons. Significant increasing was detected in the number of
grain/spike of each of jazeera (1) and strain No.31. The strains No. (21, 31) had the
highest grain and straw yield and harvest index during each season and the
cumulative of all seasons

The experiment include eight factorial treatments, represents the combinations
between the two cotton varieties Lachata and SP8886 and four spaces between
plants (15, 20, 25 and 30 cm), that carried out at Al-Hawyja, Karkuk Governorate
during the season of 2007 using randomized complete block design with three
replications. The seeds were planted through mid April using rows 60 cm apart. The
data were taken for characters: plant height, number of fruiting branches, number of
bolls per plant, boll weight, seed index, lint index and seed cotton yield. The results
showed significant differences among varieties and planting spaces for all
characters except number of fruiting branches, the differences among varieties for
lint index were not significant. The interaction between varieties and spaces was
significant for plant height, number of fruiting branches and boll weight. Trend analysis revealed that the regression relationships of plant spaces was linear with
seed index, lint index and boll weight, and cubic with plant height, number of bolls
per plant and seed cotton yield. It was shown that seed cotton yield had positive
highly significant correlations with boll weight and seed index, and negative highly
significant correlations with plant height and lint index. Path analysis results
indicated that plant height and lint index had higher negative direct effects on seed
cotton yield and important indirect effects through most of other characters, which
indicates that these two characters could be used in breeding programs to improve
yield, and stepwise regression analysis revealed that the best regression equation for
seed cotton yield prediction was that which contained these two characters with
determination coefficient equal 88.09%.

The first step of this study was manufacturing two shapes of subsoiler tines
in a local work shop in Mosul city, they were: tapered-top with constant width and
tapered-top with gradual width tine according to the conventional tine dimensions.
The field performance of these tines Then compared with the conventional tine in
silty clay soil field. Three depths of subsoiling have been studied, 20, 30, 40 cm in
two cases of soil cultivated and uncultivated. This was done through measuring
several indicators; disruption area, soil moisture content, soil penetration resistance
at/beneath the depth of subsoiling in the middle and end of season, and saturated
soil hydraulic conductivity at subsoiling depth in the end of season. Randomized
Complete Block Design by using Split-Split design was followed. The main results
are: The tapered-top tine with gradual width has achieved the highest values for
disruption area and soil moisture content at/beneath subsoiling depth in middle and
end of the season, and achieved the lowest values for soil penetration resistance at
subsoiling depth in middle and end of season. While the tapered-top tine with
constant width has achieved the lowest values for soil penetration resistance beneath
subsoiling depth in middle and end of the season. The subsoiling depth of 40 cm has
achieved the highest values for disruption area and soil moisture content at/beneath
subsoiling depth in the middle and end of season, While the subsoiling depth of 20
cm has achieved the lowest values of soil penetration resistance at/beneath
subsoiling depth in the middle and end of season and soil saturated hydraulic
conductivity. The cultivated soil case has achieve the highest values for disruption
area, soil moisture content at/beneath subsoiling depth in middle and end of season
and saturated soil hydraulic conductivity

A Systematic survey was conducted in alfalfa fields in the middle zones of
Iraq during June to November, 2001 and 2002, to detect the occurrence and
distribution of alfalfa wilt disease and identification the causal agents in each field.
Results revealed that the disease symptoms were very clear in most of alfalfa fields
in the area. High disease incidence 37.5 and 23.3% were detected in Baghdad and
Wasit respectively. Some soil borne pathogens were isolated and purified from
alfalfa root samples. Fusarium solani , Fusarium oxysporum and Verticillium
alboatrum were the most frequent among the isolated fungi,Mean while Pythium sp
and Pencillium sp . were with low frequency. Furthermore, three Corynebacterium
isolates were isolated from the infected alfalfa plants with high frequency and
purified. Results revealed that Verticilium alboatrum and Corynebacterium 1
caused 49% and 45% pre-emergency damping off alfalfa seedlings respectively and
also killed 100% and 95% of alfalfa plants after one month respectively when
compared with the control, followed by isolate 3 of Corynebacterium and F.
oxysporum 1 which killed 44 and 34% of the seedlings pre –emergency and 30 ,
45% post-emergency respectively. According to these results we can consider that
Verticillium alboatrum, F. oxysporum and Corynebacterium isolates are the principle causes of alfalfa wilt disease separately or in combination in alfalfa fields
in the middle zone of Iraq.

The study of the effect of some physiological and morphological features of
some pear varieties Zafarania, Othmani, Le-Conte and Calleryana on biology of the
lace pear bug showed that the average number and length of small hairs per ml2
have an effect on the average number of eggs per female. The number of eggs laid
was 142.4 egg per female on Le-Conte variety which has surpassed other varieties
in the average number of small hairs whose length was the least. Females were not
able to lay eggs on Calleryana variety as its leaves were void of small hairs. There
has been a significant difference between pear varieties in the average number of
osmic pressure; which were 20.7, 20.4 atmospheric pressure Zafarania and Othmani
varieties respectively. While they were significantly different with
Le-Conte and Calleryana varieties whose have 19.6, 25.5 atmospheric pressure
respectively. Results have shown that the water content was accompanied by an
increase in egg's number. An increase in the osmic pressure resulted in a decrease in
the eggs laid number compared to the Calleryana variety with low water content and
high osmic pressure, where females have laid no eggs on its leaves. Results have
also shown a different effect of water content and osmic pressure upon other insect's
biological features depending on pear variety. The study has shown that the decrease of chlorophyll, carotene and lipids in Calleryana in the leaves an inhibit
the growth and biogenesis of the insect on its leaves compared to other pear
varieties. The results also exhibited a superiority of Le-Conte variety in the average
increase of insect with 0.20% compared to Zafarania and Othmani variety where it
has reached 0.182% and 0.186% respectively, and were significantly different from
Calleryana variety

This study was conducted at the of Agric- College Labs., University of
Salahaddin, Erbil, Iraq to evaluate some physicochemical and natural characters of
the honey being produced in four regions (Khabbat, Erbil Center, Cedican and Haji
Aumran) belonge to Erbil Governorate. Chemical analysis results which had been
done by the Agricultural Research center – Food Technology Research Institute –
Cairo / Egypt showed some differences in physicochemical and natural composition
of different honey specimen's which effect the preference degree by the consumer
Khabbat honey had grade A, its percentage of humidity , fructose, glucose, sucrose,
and total saccharide were (16%, 34.68%, 31.25%, 4.34% and 77.02%), respectively,
while Haji Aumran and Erbil honey had grade B and C respectively and the latest
grade was D (Forth grade) for Cedican honey which had the following percentage
(17.2%, 36.31%, 32.28%, 5.03% and 77.11%), respectively

The objective of this study was to determine the influence of adding ascorbic
acid, nitrate and nitrite, sodium phosphate, lactic acid and acetic acid at different
concentrations on the growth of some pathogenic bacteria that contaminate the
locally manufactured \"basturma\" during storage period under natural climate
conditions from March till June 2006, and also on aflatoxins content . Results
indicated that the additives decreased the growth of some studied microorganisms
during storage based on the type and concentration of the additives . In general,
using different concentrations of ascorbic acid decreased the content of
Staphylococcus aureus, coliform sp., , Bacillus sp., and Clostridium sp.bacteria, and
resulted in a complete inhibition of Salmonella sp., and Shigella sp. growth along
with the period of storage. Different concentrations of nitrate and nitrite played a
general role in reducing the counts of Coliform sp.and Bacillus sp., and complete
inhibition of Salmonella sp., Shigella, S. aureus and Clostridium. Using different
concentrations of sodium phosphate decreased the counts of S.aureus, Coliform sp.
and Bacillus sp., however at higer concentrations, this compound inhibited most
types of these bacteria and resulted in ellimenate Salmonella sp., Shigella sp. and
Clostridium sp..Combination of ascorbic acid plus nitrate and nitrite resulted in
reducing S. aureus and ellimination of Coliform, Salmonella, Shigella, and Bacillus.
The treatment of meat before grinding with 5% of both acetic acid and lactic acid
generally led to the decrease of Coliform sp. count, and a complete inhibition of
Bacillus sp., Clostridium sp., S.aureus, Salmonella sp.and Shigella sp.. Results
demonstrated that the content of aflatoxin B1 and G1 in basturma was significantly
reduced during storage period