Mesopotamia Journal of Agriculture

The effect of Nigella sativa oil (0.8ml/kg B.W) on testis, accessory sex glands and epididymal sperm characters was studied in mature male albino rats treated with hydrogen peroxide H2O2(0.5% in drinking water) for 30 days orally. The results showed thatH2O2 treatment caused a significant decrease in the percentage of live/dead sperms 13.66% associated with a significant increase in the percentage of and morphologically abnormal sperms 39.5%.While a significant increase in the percentage of live/dead sperms in both Nigella sativa oil treated group and Nigella sativa oil joined to H2O2 (85%), (72.16%) , respectively accompanied with a decrease in percentage of morphologically abnormal sperms compared with H2O2 treated group. It is concluded that Nigella sativa oil possess an antioxidative actions to counter act the impairment in the epididymal sperm characters caused by H2O2 treatment.

A PROTOCOL FOR SHOOT REGENERATION FROM LEAVES
PETIOLES TISSUE CULTURE OF NEEM TREES ( Melia azedarach )

Semi-hard wood cuttings of Carissa grandiflora planted at 15 April 2005 on river sand media, half of them were proposed to magnetic field 0.3 × 10-3 Tesla at the base of cutting for 30 second and other cuttings did not, each group divided into two halves, one irrigated by usual water ( non - magnetic water ) and the other irrigated with ٢٠٠٦ (١) المجلد (٣٤) العدد (ISSN 1815-316X) مجلة زراعة الرافدینmagnetic water (which gained by passing the water through magnetron unit with 2.5cm diameter with magnetic field 0.3 × 10-3 Tesla), the results showed that there were no significant differences between cutting treated with magnetic field and did not for all character studied. On the other hand, cutting irrigated with magnetic water gave the best results of rooting percentage 86.6% and highest roots number / cutting 12.6 root for cutting after 10 weeks from planting date, when compared with cuttings irrigated with non-magnetic water which gave rooting percentage 68.3% and roots number/cutting 11.1 root per cutting, and results show that magnetic cuttings which irrigated by magnetic water caused significant increase in rooting percentage 90% after 3 weeks from planting date when compared with 56.6% to the cuttings not proposed to magnetic field which irrigated with nonmagnetic water. Highest rooting percentage 93.3% occur after ten weeks from planting magnetic cuttings which irrigated with magnetic water and that cuttings had significant effect when compared with cuttings didn't proposed to magnetic field and did irrigated with non-magnetic water and their rooting percentage is 73.3%.

Ten soil samples have been collected from different locations in Nineva province with different textures ranged from sand to clay having different content of total carbonates range from (53-265)g / kg . Each soil sample was divided in to two parts, the first one was kept on its natural condition while the total carbonate was removed from the second one . the soil particle size distribution has been measured in the presence and after removal of the total carbonate in all soil samples. The results have shown that most of the soil samples were changed to finer texture after the carbonate has been removed where as clay percents were increased and the sand percents were decrease .

This experiment was conducted in the farms of Animal Resource at College of Agriculture and Forestry, Mosul University using some farm records. 18 calves were used in this study, these calves were raised for a period of (140) days which include five consecutive fattening periods to study the effect of these periods on some growth and body dimensions traits (live body weight, heart girth, body length, fore and rear height, fore and rear deepness, fore and rear thickness). Results observed that highly significant effect (P<0.01) of fattening period on live body weight and other body dimensions traits. Live body weight was (234.5 Kg.), other traits were (143.5, 122.5, 108.0, 112.5, 51.31, 46.83, 33.0 and 34.83 cm) respectively. Results also indicated there were positive and significant correlation coefficient (P<0.01) between live body weight and other body measurements, these estimates were (0.9445 , 0.8189 , 0.9047 , 0.9094 , 0.9117 , 0.8660 , 0.9230 , 0.9205) respectively. Stepwise regression analysis showed the possibility of predicting total weight gain by using heart girth and body length.

The experiment has been conducted on 58 Hammdani ewes 2-5 years old at the sheep farm/ Girdarasha/College of Agric. – Univ. of Salahaddin during 2003-2004.The average length of gestation period and birth weight were 151.290 days and 5.025 kg respectively. Weight of the ewes at mating, and birth weight had significant effect (pž0.05) on gestation period; ewes weight 80-89kg had shorter gestation periods 150.133 days, and ewes carried lambs weight at birth
(≥5.6 kg) had longer gestation periods 152.304 days) .Age of ewes at mating, sex of lambs, Type of birth and month of parturition did not show significant effects on length of gestation period in Hammdani sheep . Type of birth, age and weight of Dams at mating were significant effect birth weight, single and twins lambs weight at birth were 5.289 and 4.459 kg respectively. Lambs born from ewes 3 and 4 years age largest than lambs born from ewes 2 years age. Sex of lamb and month of birth did not show significant effects on birth weight in Hammdani sheep.

This study was conducted to compared the use of multi enzyme
commercial preparation (Avizyme) and β-glucanase for improving the
nutritional value of common carp Cyprinus carpio L. diets, which contained 30-60% barley and
improved sunflower meal 5-20% as main ingredients. Feeding trail was
conducted with 144 fish at initial weight 17 ± 2 g. using closed system for 8
weeks. Statistical analysis for criteria being : relative growth rate , specific
growth rate, food conversion ratio and protein efficiency ratio showed that the
best efficiency for criteria above by using multi enzyme (β-glucanase, xylase,
protease) to improve the nutritional value of diet contained 60% barley with
20% improved sunflower meal. Body Chemical body composition of fish
(Crude protein, ether extract as well as ash) was studied.

A simple and rapid method was performed to detect dulteration of liquid milk
with dried milk powder .The method was based on the determination of
hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) produced from Meillard reaction .The HMF value in
cow raw milk was 6.69 m.mole/l.while it was in the UHT milk 4and sterilized milk
12.48 and 13.12µ.mole/L, respectively .The HMF value in reconstituted(15% W/V)
dried milk was 32.40µ.mole/L .On the basis of these HMF values it is possible to
detect adulteration of raw, UHT milk and sterilized liquid milk with dried milk
powder

Food grade gelatin and animal glue were extracted from cow bones. Three
extraction methods were employed beging alkali , lime and acid . The acidic
extraction was the best as far as quantity , quality and economey aspects The
yield was 6.8 % , 2.51 % ash and 8.35 % moisture .It was found that gelatin
appeared to have good properties comparing with imported and better than
commercial especially solubility as far as jelling strength .However its setting
time was lower than that of commercial and higher than that of imported gelatin
, in addition to its viscosity was higher than that of sheet gelatin . Animal glue
was recovered after gelatin isolation possessed good physical and functional
properties comparing with commercial as far as solubility , viscosity and
considerably stronger adhesive power

Growth mathematical model had been used to estimate yield Per unit
area for Platanus orientalis L. fifty five sample plot were used, which selected
randomly by different ages. The non-linear regression model was used to
develop, the relationship between the yield per unit area, as the dependent
variable, and ages of stand as the independent variable. Selecting the best
model ,different measures of precision such as , coefficient of determination,
stander error of percent, and Ohtomo graphical test were used, as are result the
model

Experiment was conducted for two seasons : 2001-2002 and 2002-2003 at AlKuba region , Nineva , with clay loam soil , to study the effect of three plant densities
: 74100 , 88900 and 111100 plant ha-1with three varieties : Vero-monogerm ,Oscar
Poly and Desprez- multigerm , on yield and some qualities of sugar beet characters .
the results showed that the density 88900 plant ha-1× Vero × growing season 2002-
2003 had high significant on root yield, total sugar yield and extractable sugar yield
which gave 55.2, 7.48 and 3.34 t ha-1respectively . On other hand, the second season
2002-2003 was more significantly than the first season in the above characteristic. No
significant difference in sugar percentage was observed for plant density in both
seasons, but Desprez variety had high significant. juice purity percentage had reached
maximum (84%) with plant density 74100 plant ha-1× Vero variety at first season.

Four varieties of broad bean (French, Syrian, Tewwtha and
Babylon) were used in a complete diallel cross.Genotypes(parents and F1
hybrids) were sowing in college of agriculture and forestry fields at
Hammam Al-Alil using randomized complete block design with three
replications. The studied characters were plant
height (cm), no. of days to heading and maturity, no. of branches per
plant, leaf aera index , no. of stem nods ,no. of florets, pod setting ,pod
length, no. of pods per plant, no of seeds per pod, 100 seed weight (gm) ,
seed yield (gm/ plant) and biological yield. The parents and F1’S were
significantly different for all studied characters except heading date.
General combining ability was significant for heading and maturity date,
no. of branches , no. of node, leaf area index, pod length, no. of seeds per
pod and seed yield, while specific combining ability was significant for
all studied characters except no. of node , no. of florets and pod setting .
Reciprocal effects exhibited significant differences for all characters
except for heading date. A significant additive variance were found for all
studied characters except 100 seed weight, while a significant dominance
variance was detected for all characters except heading date, pod length,
pod setting and no. of pods per plant . Broad sense heritability (H2)
estimates were high for maturity date, leaf area index, no. of seeds per
pod ,100 seed weight and seed yield, while narrow sense heritability (h2)estimates were low for all characters except maturity date, leaf area index, no. of pods ,pod length , no. of pods per plant and no. of seeds per pod.

Three varieties of barley (Hatra ,Gizera 1 and Rehan )and their two crosses
(Hatra X Gizera1 and Hatra X Rehan ) were used to study heterosis ,
heritability and correlations of some quantitative characters: number of days to
flowering and maturation , plant height ,number of spikes per 1 m, number of
grains per spike, 100 grain weight , and grain yield . The cross (Hatra XGizera
1) exhibited significant heterosis for plant height ,number of spikes per 1m,
number of grains per spike and 100 grain weight ,while (Hatra X Rehan )
showed significant heterosis for number of days to maturation , plant height ,
number of grains per spike, and 100 grains weight. High broad sense
heritability values were obtained for all characters except for number of days to
flowering and number of spikes which were moderate values . Genetic
correlation was high and significant negative between grain yield and number
of days to flowering and maturation while it was positive with 100 grain.

A factorial mating analysis between four males inbred lines of maize
(Agr183, W13R, W17.161 and R153) and six females lines (OH40, IK58, IK8,
ZP, DK and SH) were studied using a randomized complete block design with
three replications. Data were collected for yield, its components, protein and oil
percent. The analysis carried out according to the factorial mating design
method of to study the combining ability and gene action. The results showed
highly significant differences among genotypes for all studied characters.The
line SH appear to have good general combining ability for larger number of
characters followed by IK8 and ZP. The crosses showed differences in its
specific combining ability effects. The crosses (ZP x W13R) and (OH40 x
W17.161) have specific combining ability effects in desirable direction for
most characters. The dominance genetic variance was more important than the
additive variance for the most studied characters, and the estimates of average
degree of dominance was greater than one for all characters. Broad sense
heritability ranged from 86.77% for ear diameter to 99.62% for 100 grain
weight, while narrow sense heritability ranged from 20.92% for protein percent
to 61.40% for number of rows per ear.

A field test was conducted during the season of 2004-2005 at kileasan
Research Center in Agriculture college- Sulaimani University, to study the
influence of varieties(Nainava, American selected), cultural methods(row, sowing)
and three seed rates (15, 25 and 35 kg/D) on the lentil growth, yield and its
associated weeds. RCBD with three replicate was laid out in factorial experiment.
The results indicated that Nainava variety was found to be superior when
compared with American selected variety for the characters of pod weight, 1000
seed weight, seed weight/plant, seed yield/m2, but there was no significant
difference between the two varieties for the other characters. Row cultural method
posses higher and significant value than sowing method for total weed dry
weight/m2, plant height, lowest pod height and empty pod no./plant, although an
inverse result was recorded for plant dry weight and seed yield/m2. Among the
seed rate, the high rate was surpassed the low one in total weed dry weight/m2,
lowest pod height, 1000 seed weight and seed yield/m2. A significant interaction
between the varieties and cultural methods especially at Nainava culturing by
sowing was shown, also a significant interaction was observed between the
varieties and different seed rate in one side & between cultural methods and seed
rate in other side which revealed linearly increasing of seed yield by increasingseed rate. Simple correlation coefficient data confirm significant correlation
between the characters.

The factorial pot experiment was conducted in order to investigate the
effect of some systemic herbicides ( Topik 60 , Focus ultra 300 , Fusaltat 66
and Glyphosate 930 cm3 a.i /ha) and unweeded check treatment when it applied
Tween 20(for wax removing from leaves)on growth and production of tubers of
purple nutsedge ( Cyperus rotundus L. ) in summer season 2005 at Agric and
Forestry college , Mosul univ. Data were collected after 107 day of sowing
tubers . The significant result indicate that Glyphosate had more efficiency for
reduce plant growth by reducing dry weight of roots , number , weight and size
of tubers up to 49.2 , 52.5 and 63.6 % ,respectively comparison with check
treatment , while Focus ultra herbicide had increased number ,weight and size
of nutsedge tubers up to 50 ,24 and 29 % ,respectively. Others herbicides had
less effectiveness . However the wax on the nutsedge leaves did not effect on
herbicides absorption and toxicity of the plants . Therefore insignificant result
had seen when it used material for wax removal (T20) . There was positive
correlation between shoot growth ( number of leaves and branches ) number ,
weight and size of new formation tubers , while number of tuber have negative
correlation with weight of new tubers .

The life cycle of the beet armyworm , Spodoptera exigua ( Huebner )
includes eggs ,larvae , pupae , and adults . An individual moth deposited eggs
in masses , the average number were 10 masses and the number
of the eggs for each mass were 30 – 140 eggs. The beet armyworm have five
instars larvae in prevailing , but showed in this study six instars larvae , this
sixth instars was recording first time in Iraq . The last instars larvae were
possess a dark lateral stripe, a series of dark spots or dashes were often present
dorsally and dorsolaterally .The average head capsule width was 1.85 mm for
the last instars larvae .The pupa was light brown in color and measures
length about 12 mm. The adults were moderately sized ,the wing span
measuring 25-30 mm .The forewings were mottled gray and brown ,and
normally with an irregular pattern and two a golden color spots. The hind
wings were a more uniform gray or white color and trimmed with a dark line at
the margin .

Pots experiment was carried out at Mosul University in 2005 summer
growing season to investigate the influence of time , level of cutting and their
interaction on growth of purple nut grass . CRD design with three replicates
was used as a factorial experiment Data were collected after 118 days of
sowing tubers . The significant result showed that sprouts of tubers had
markedly depressed at week interval but it was increased size and weight of
new tubers and dormant tubers number also increased when the cutting be
delay three weeks interval . Plants with out cutting ( control treatment) had
more number with large size and weight if it compared with the different period
of canopy cutting . Plants were cut at soil surface level was more effect and
reducing up to 64 , 83.3 and 68.5% for number , weight and size of tubers
while plants had cut 3 cm above the soil level was reducing up to 25.3 , 59.2
and 32 % respectively . Nut grass had completely control at one week interval
if it compared with plants cut at three weeks interval with 3 cm level above the
soil . There was positive correlation between number of dormant tubers and its
weight or size . Also positive correlation had seen between size and weight of
new tubers . Meanwhile , the correlation was negative between number of
leaves and number , weight or size of new tubers .

Early infection of sugar beet plants with BYV reduced fresh weight and
length of plant and root by 25,33,17,20 and 33% respectively ,in addition to the
reduction of sugar percentage and root content by 18.5 and 51% respectively
.Also early infection with BCTV reduced fresh weight of aerial and root
content by 28.5 , 40 as well as shoot and root length respectively .reduction of
the percentage of root sugar and its content in root by 17.4 and 50.2% was
recorded. The screening study for the susceptibility of sugar beet plant to BYV
and BCTV ,demonstrated that triple variety was the least susceptible to BYV
whereas semarive was the most susceptible. Also Triple showed resistance
against BCTV among other varieties. the varieties Viro, Tenor and S.H.1613
were susceptible