Basrah Journal of Agricultural Sciences

An investigation was carried out during the growing season of 2004 from the fruits of date palm cv.Hallawi , with objective of having some in sight the best more of numbers of flower inflorescence to give better the fruits inphysical, chemical and rate of ripening
The result showed the treatment with seven flower inflorescence were best more nine and eleven flower inflorescence with ,percentage in weight, length ,diameter, total and reducing sugars , total soluble solid and rate of fruits ripening , whereas the sucrose , titratable acids and water content was the lowest .

Results showed that the female flowers of date palms cultured in vitro were able to form callus from its meristimatic cells. Flowers which were taken at first(influences are complete but still not seen in the axial of leaves) and second stage (influences started to release out of leave axial) were superior in callus formation and quality of callus compared with that taken at third stage( Complete influences and grown out of leave axial but not opened and ready for pollination) . Results also showed no significant differences between 50 and 100mg/L of 2,4-D in their effect on percentage of callus induction and quality of callus producted. Whereas, NAA at 30mg/L has more significant effect than 15mg/L on callus induction and quality of callus producted. Primary callus which were produced from first and second stages were developed to nodular callus which was a primordia of somatic and cylinderical embryos.

The present experiment was under taken in agriculture collage/ Basrah university during the growing season of 2003-2004 with objective of studying the effect on irrigation water salinity on absorption macro mineral N.P.K. of sour orang transplanting. The experiment included the effect of four levels of irrigation water salinity (o,4,8,12 ds/m).
The result showed that irrigation water salinity at the level of (0,4,8 ds/m) caused no significant on leaf area and plant length but there are significant effect in level (12ds/m). The sodium concentration increase with the salinity level. The nitrogen and phosphor concentration not appear significant different for any level. Potassium level decrease in leaf with increase salt concentration.

This study was conducted under desert conditions at Al-Basrah city/Iraq during the winter season of 2005/2006.
The aim of the experiment was to study the influence of cultivars and plastic covering method on infection of tomatoes plant in early blight disease.
Experiment included 9 treatments resulting from the interaction between three cultivars ( "Douna"," Hatouf" and "Saria") and three methods of plastic covering ( Double layers air space between them, Double layers without air space and Single layer ).. Randomized Complete Block Design was used with three replicates. R.L.S.D. test was used at probability of 5% to compare mean variations. Results can be summarized as follows:-
Results showed that highest decreasing percentage of productivity was 20.11% due to the incidence of early blight disease was at planting "Hatouf" cultivar plant under double layers of plastic covering without air space, whereas the least was 6.37% from "Saria" cultivar under single layer, which gave the highest damage factor 93.6% and least economic loses percentage about 5.99%, whereas the expected will gave the least yield (3279.8 g. plant-1) in the absence of the disease and therefore it gave the lowest economic loses in its yield about 196.5 g. plant-1 regarding with "Douna" cultivar planting under the double layers covering without air space which gave the lowest damage factor 76.2% and the highest economic loses percentage 18.14% and the expected yield (3457.1 g. plant-1) in the absence of the disease, whereas it gave 2830.0 g. plant and therefore it gave the highest economic loses in its yield 627.1 g. plant-1.

This study was conducted under desert conditions at Al-Basrah city during the winter season of 2004/2005. The aim of the experiment was to study the influence of low temperature on flowering growth behaviors and yield of three tomato cultivars. Experiment included (24) treatments resulting from the interaction between three cultivars ( "Douna"," Hatouf" and "Super Marmande"), two sowing dates (1/9 and 1/10) and four sorts of plastic cover ( 1. New plastic G.E.P.I. production 2. Old plastic G.E.P.I. production 3. Yellow plastic Yugoslavia production 4. Commercial plastic Lebanon production). Randomized Complete Block Design was used with three replicates. L.S.D. test was used at probability of 5% to compare mean variations. Results can be summarized as follows:- It was found that sowing date of 1/9 gave a significant increase in the damage percentage of fruits comparing with 1/10 as well as inflorescence and fruit number after 90 and 180 days from sowing and yield per plant,(2.571kg ), early yield (2.437ton.donum-1) and total yield(13.845 ton.donum-1). "Super Marmand" cultivar gave a significant increase in percentage of damage comparing with " Hatouf" and " Douna". Inflorescences and fruits number "Douna" and "Hatouf" cultivars gave a significant increases after 90 and 180 days from sowing as well as yield per plant,(2.506 and 2.716kg respectably ) and total yield(13.506 and 14.693 ton.donum-1 respectably). " Hatouf " gave a significant increase in inflorescence number after 90 day and fruits number after 90 and 180 days comparing with " Douna" as well as yield per plant and total yield . Plastic covers, the commercial one gave heights percentage of damage, than new plastic G.E.P.I , old plastic G.E.P.I lastly the yellow one they were 28.5%, 20.5%, 11.5% and 5.2% respectably. Regarding growth vigor plants sowing under the yellow one gave significant increases in inflorescence and fruit number after 90 and 180 days as well as yield per plant, early yield and total yield(2.504 kg, 2.591 and 13.541 ton.donum-1especially. comparing with other covers. Interaction between the three factors gave a significant increases in damage percentage as well plant yield.

This study was conducted under desert conditions at Al-Basrah city during the winter season of 2004/2005. The aim of the experiment was to study the influence of low temperature on vegetative growth behaviors of three tomato cultivars.Experiment included (24) treatments resulting from the interaction between three cultivars ( "Douna"," Hatouf" and "Super Marmande"), two sowing dates (1/9 and 1/10) and four sorts of plastic cover ( 1. New plastic G.E.P.I. production 2. Old plastic G.E.P.I. production 3. Yellow plastic Yugoslavia production 4. Commercial plastic Lebanon production). Randomized Complete Block Design was used with three replicates. L.S.D. test was used at probability of 5% to compare mean variations. Results can be summarized as follows: It was found that sowing date of 1/9 gave a significant increase in the damage percentage of vegetative growth comparing with 1/10 as well as plant height and leaves number after 90 and 180 days from sowing and branches number after 180 days, whereas their were not differ at damage intensity. "Super Marmand" cultivar gave a significant increase in both percentage and intensity of damage comparing with " Hatouf" and " Douna" and than "Hatouf". Regarding growth vigor "Douna" "Hatouf" cultivars gave a significant increases in plant height and leaves number after 90 and 180 days from sowing and branches number after 180 days, and "Douna" gave a significant increase in leaves number after 180 day comparing with " Hatouf". Plastic covers, the commercial one gave heights percentage and intensity of damage, than new plastic G.E.P.I , old plastic G.E.P.I lastly the yellow one theywere (51.6%, 19.1), (43.0%,15.1), (30.9%, 10.7) and (17.7%, 5.2) respectably. Regarding growth vigor plants sowing under the yellow one gave significant increases in plant height and leaves number after 90 and 180 days, and branching number after 180 days after sowing comparing with other covers. Most interaction between the three factors gave a significant increases in
damage percentage as well as plant height.

This experiment was conducted during winter season of 2004-2005 at Barjeseuia Research Station at the desert area Basrah. The aim was to study
the effect of period of seedling conditioning by using saline water (4 ds.m-1) for (0 , 4 , 8 and 12 days) before transplanting and date of sowing ( 10/9 and 10/10 ) of tomato hybrids Hatouf .
Results showed that seedling conditioning for (8 days) gave a significant increase in leaf number , plant length after 60 and 120 days of sowing and number of branches per plant , number of trusses per plant after 120 days of sowing . Increased in both early and total yield at a ratio 46.6 and
34.2 % respectively , comparing with control . Seedling conditioning period had no significant effect on number of flowers abortion, averagefruit weight and fruits chemical constitutions ( total soluble solid , total titratable acidity and ascorbic acid ) .
The first date sowing increased significant comparing with the second sowing date in leaf number after 60 and 120 days of sowing, plant length after 60 days of sowing , number of trusses per plant, decreased in percentage of flowers abortion , increased in both early and total yield and average fruit weight at a ratio 49.7 , 14.5 , 10.5 % respectively comparing with second sowing. No significant effects on number of branches per plant and number of flowers per inflorescence . second date sowing increased significant on fruits chemical constitutions ( total soluble solid, total titratable acidity and ascorbic acid ) .

An investigation was carried out to study the storability of five cvs. of tomato fruits grown in Basrah (Hatouf F1,Douna F1,Rio F1,Super Marmande and Primato F1) . Results showed that tomato fruits could be stored for 30 days at 5±2ºc, after packing in polyethylene bags. Results also showed that primato cv. and super marmande were superior to others in decreasing the loss of weight and total soluble solids of fruits during storage. In additions, primato cv. was the best in controlling decay as compared with others. General condition of primato and super marmande fruits after 30 days of storage was very good in apperance and good in test, while the apperance ofother cvs. was good and a test was accepted at the end of storage .

SUMMARY
The present work was conducted to study the effect of different concentrations of nickel nitrate(0-50 mg/L) on the growth and content of some trace elements (Cu,Zn,Fe,Mn,Co,Cd) of tomato plant. Results showed that treating tomato plants with (10mg/L) gave a significant increase in plant height and chlorophyll concentration, as well as the content of (Cu,Zn,Fe,Mn,Co,Cd),while the plants which treated with nickel nitrate(25mg/L) caused a significant reduce of plant height and chlorophyll concentration and some trace elements content. The plants which treated with(50mg/L) of nickel nitrate was highly toxic and caused the death of plants.

To study the best combination foliar fertilizers application N and K on
yield and some yield component of rice cv .Anbar - 33 , a field experiment
was conducted at the Agric . Res. Station Mishkhab , during 1995-1996
seasons, the design of the experiment was according to RCBD with 3
replications.
There were 17 treatments, one of these was the check treatment (soil
application ) was a combination of N P + 0K) Kg .ha-1 and the
other 16 treatments was applied as foliar treatments as well as added 1/4
from the check treatment N and K quantities with 60 Kg P .ha-1 to the all
foliar treatments in which there were four levels of N (0 , 10 , 17.5 , 25 )
Kg .ha-1 and P ( 0 , 10 , 15 , 20 ) ) Kg . ha-1 .
The results showed that the suitable N- foliar fertilization treatment
was 17.5 kg N.ha-1 (N2) which caused significant differences in biological
rice yield and grain yield of the two seasons .The mean increased to about
14.3 and 20.7 % for biological rice yield and 11.0 and 22.5 % for grain
yield compared with the water foliar (N0 ) and N1 (10) kg N. ha-1-
respectively.Using K- foliar fertilization treatment ( K2 ) caused significant
differences in biological yield ,and grain yield
the mean increased to
about 9.5 and 14.6 % for biological yield and grain yield to about 9.8 and
20.0 % compared to the water foliar (K0) and 10 Kg K.ha-1- (K2)
respectively.
The application of (17.5 N + 20 K ) kg.ha-1 significantly
increased biological yield Kg/ha , rice grains yield Kg/ha ,
Number of panicles 236 and Number of grains 180 compared with the
other foliar treatment, While no significant differences recorded in the other
plant parameters ,this treatment also had increased effects compared with the
soil application treatment

This study was conducted to determine types of bacteria contaminating three types of callus of date palm cultivars: Al – Barhee , Al- Khudrawi & Al- Hillawi ; in addition to shoot tips of offsets of date palm grown in Murashige – Skoog tissue culture medium . Six genera of bacteria were identified from contamination detected 24 –48 h. after growing cultures ( External contamination ) . These are : Bacillus (33.5%) , Staphylococcus (28.8%) , Agrobacterium (14.4%) , Pseudomonas (12.8%) , Serratia (6.7%) & Proteus (3.6%) . Bacillus was found axenically in 22% of cultures and Staphylococcus was also found axenically but in 15% of them ; these two genera were never isolated together from the same sample . Bacillus was the only genus isolated from contamination detected 4-8 weeks after growing cultures ( Internal contamination ) . Identification of the genus Bacillus showed the prevalence of the two species : B.subtilis & B. brevis from external contamination , and the species B . circulans from internal contamination .
Intensity of internal bacteria has markedly increased in shoot tips of offsets of date palm with the increase of lawyer thickness adjacent to m

This study was conducted to determine types of bacteria contaminating three types of callus of date palm cultivars: Al – Barhee , Al- Khudrawi & Al- Hillawi ; in addition to shoot tips of offsets of date palm grown in Murashige – Skoog tissue culture medium . Six genera of bacteria were identified from contamination detected 24 –48 h. after growing cultures ( External contamination ) . These are : Bacillus (33.5%) , Staphylococcus (28.8%) , Agrobacterium (14.4%) , Pseudomonas (12.8%) , Serratia (6.7%) & Proteus (3.6%) . Bacillus was found axenically in 22% of cultures and Staphylococcus was also found axenically but in 15% of them ; these two genera were never isolated together from the same sample . Bacillus was the only genus isolated from contamination detected 4-8 weeks after growing cultures ( Internal contamination ) . Identification of the genus Bacillus showed the prevalence of the two species : B.subtilis & B. brevis from external contamination , and the species B . circulans from internal contamination .
Intensity of internal bacteria has markedly increased in shoot tips of offsets of date palm with the increase of lawyer thickness adjacent to m

The present work was conducted over growing seasons (5/9/2004- 20/4/2005) in a private orchard, at Abu- Al- Khaseeb- Basrah- Iraq to study the effect of CaCl2 ( 0, 1000 , 2000 ) mg.L-1 by spraying on some physical characters of Ziziphus Mill. and its relation to fruits cracking. The results showed that spraying trees with CaCl2 concentration ( 2000 ) mg.L-1 had to decrease the percentage, length, and width of cracking in both cultivars Zaytoni and Bambawi which reached ( 8 & 4 ) % & ( 1.85 & 1.44) cm , ( 1.77 & 2.37 ) mm in Zaytoni and Bambawi respectively , while it reached ( 13.33 & 7.33 ) % , ( 2.34 & 2.12 ) cm and ( 3.63 & 3.73 ) mm in the treatment without CaCl2 spraying in both cultivars, but no significant effect of CaCl2 in number of cracking in the fruit in both cultivars . Spraying of CaCl2 cause to increase the length, diameter and volume of fruits compared with control treatment ( without CaCl2) in both cultivars. High percentage and length of cracking was shown in Zaytoni cultivar which reached ( 10.22 ) % compared with Bambawi cultivar ( 5.56% ). A negative correlation was noticed between percentage of cracking and length, diameter and volume of fruits and between cracking length and the length and volume of fruits in both cultivars . This relationship caused by CaCl2 on this characters . Positive correlation was shown between percentage of cracking and length and width of cracking and length and volume of fruit inboth cultivars Zaytoni and Bamba

Aspectrofluorometric method used for the analysis of fenvalerate residue in samples of soil leaves and tomato fruit after extraction. Percentage recoveries were estimated to be 58. 26, 77 and 72.4 % for soil, leaves and fruits respectively. The variance of coefficient were (1.6 - 12.7), (0.8 – 11.8) and (3.8 – 24.2) respectively. Spray of fenvalerate concentrations 0.5 and 1 m 1/1 for times in 15 day intervals indicated that fenvalerate residue increased in the soil after the 5th spraying time. After 15 days from the 1st spray the residue were 0.699 and 0.75 mg /kg for 0.5 mg/ kg to both concentrations respectively. The residue in the leaves after I st spraying were 1.107 and 1.951 mg/kg while the residue decrease after 5th spraying were 0.584 and 0.701mg/kg to both concentrations respectively. The fenvalerate residue in tomoto fruit reached 2.036 and 8.79 mg/kg after fifteen days the value of residues reached 0.550 and 0.610 mg/kg to the same concentrations respectively.

The present study has been investigate the fungal species which lived
in Shatt Al –Arab River, and the ability of some of them to produce lipase, as well as the effect of salinity on the activity of lipase production. Different species of fungi were isolated from water at the sites: Al-Faw , Abu - Floos Port and Ashar during the period 3/3 -29/9/2005.True aquatic fungi belong to Saprolegniaceae were isolated from Abu- Floos Port and Ashar during March and April, with no sign of their occurrence in Al- Faw. A lot of different fungal species which belong to Deuteromycetes, few of Ascomycetes, and very few belong to Zygomycetes were isolated. The activity of ten species were investigated for production of lipase . It is appeared that seven species have the ability to produce this enzyme. The most active fungi was Alternaria chlamydospora followed by Aspergillus candidus and Fusarium sp. and the lowest activity was the fungi Stachybotrys sp and Scytalidium lignicola. The effect of salinity on the lipase activity of seven fungal species was examined at salty concentration 15 , 20 , 25 , 30 , 35 and 40 ppt, they have show significant effect in the reduce of redial growth and the lipase production by these fungi.

Laboratory experiments had been carried out in Technical college Al- Mussiab / Babylon during year 2005 to study bioactivity for different concentration form (aquneous ,alcohol and hexanic ) extracts of propolis material collected from three areas in Iraq ( Kerbala , Babylon and Wasit ) which were different in their plant covering against some of bacterial types which cause European Full –brood ( Millisococcus pluton , Bacillus alvei and B. letrosporus ) which had been isolated from infected arched with disease and from same areas .Two methods of diffusion were used digging and paper discs methods . Results showed that diffusion method by digging was more efficient in test of bacterial inhibition which lead to increase the activity of both propolis extracts and honey toxin in bacterial growth prevention .And alcoholic propolis extracts appeared high efficacy generally in bacteria ( M. pluton , B. alvei and B. letrosporus ) with diameters average reached 17.18 , 17. 35 and 19.7 mm respectively in the regions (Kerbala , Babylon and Wasit) respectively too . While aqueous extracts was the less efficacy in bacterial growth . Propolis played a role in its efficacy by increasing active compounds which it contains in respect plant types which had been collected from . Kerbala area propolis had exceeded areas of Babylon and wasit in effect of bacterial types. On the
other hand 40 % con. appeared high effect compare with other con. While 1 % con. the less effective in these bacteria .

Seasonal variation in primary production of phytoplankton at the northern part of shatt Al-Arab River along with impact of related ecological factors were investigated. Three stations were selected; first represent Al-Dare area, second nearby the factory of paper and third nearby the thermal energy station in Al-Harthah, water and phytoplankton samples were collected on monthly basis from July, 1998 to June 1999. The study revealed seasonal variation in ecological factors that were usually exceeded those recorded at pervious studies, with minor exceptions. Monthly changes in chlorophyll-a content of the phytoplankton were noted with one distinct peak at each station. The highest (11.60 mg.m-3) was recorded at station three during April.
One distinct maxima in primary production were also detected in all station. The highest was encountered during spring. Values ranged between 28.2 – 92.0 mg C/m3 / day. Correlation coefficient between various combinations of ecological factors and between primary production and related conditions were discussed.

Seasonal variation in primary production of phytoplankton at the northern part of shatt Al-Arab River along with impact of related ecological factors were investigated. Three stations were selected; first represent Al-Dare area, second nearby the factory of paper and third nearby the thermal energy station in Al-Harthah, water and phytoplankton samples were collected on monthly basis from July, 1998 to June 1999. The study revealed seasonal variation in ecological factors that were usually exceeded those recorded at pervious studies, with minor exceptions. Monthly changes in chlorophyll-a content of the phytoplankton were noted with one distinct peak at each station. The highest (11.60 mg.m-3) was recorded at station three during April.
One distinct maxima in primary production were also detected in all station. The highest was encountered during spring. Values ranged between 28.2 – 92.0 mg C/m3 / day. Correlation coefficient between various combinations of ecological factors and between primary production and related conditions were discussed.

Seasonal variation in primary production of phytoplankton at the northern part of shatt Al-Arab River along with impact of related ecological factors were investigated. Three stations were selected; first represent Al-Dare area, second nearby the factory of paper and third nearby the thermal energy station in Al-Harthah, water and phytoplankton samples were collected on monthly basis from July, 1998 to June 1999. The study revealed seasonal variation in ecological factors that were usually exceeded those recorded at pervious studies, with minor exceptions. Monthly changes in chlorophyll-a content of the phytoplankton were noted with one distinct peak at each station. The highest (11.60 mg.m-3) was recorded at station three during April.
One distinct maxima in primary production were also detected in all station. The highest was encountered during spring. Values ranged between 28.2 – 92.0 mg C/m3 / day. Correlation coefficient between various combinations of ecological factors and between primary production and related conditions were discussed.

Six mixtures of amino acids and sugars were prepared . Factors effecting the formation of antioxidative Maillard Reaction Products (MRPs) ; types of amino acids and sugars , heating treatment , molar concentration , temperature and pH were studied by measuring color density , fluorescence , reducing power and antioxidative activity
Mixtures contained xylose showed higher color development and fluorescence density ,in comparison with mixtures contained glucose and fructose . Mixtures of (Arg-Xyl) and (Arg-Fru) showed maximum reduction power and highest antioxidative activity .Color development increased with molar concentration (sugar : amino acid) .Mixture of (Arg-Fru) showed higher increase in brown color development in comparison with that of mixture (Arg-Xyl). Maximum fluorescence density was at molar concentration (5:1) for (Arg-Xyl) and at (2:1) for (Arg-Fru) mixture .

Six mixtures of amino acids and sugars were prepared . Factors effecting the formation of antioxidative Maillard Reaction Products (MRPs) ; types of amino acids and sugars , heating treatment , molar concentration , temperature and pH were studied by measuring color density , fluorescence , reducing power and antioxidative activity
Mixtures contained xylose showed higher color development and fluorescence density ,in comparison with mixtures contained glucose and fructose . Mixtures of (Arg-Xyl) and (Arg-Fru) showed maximum reduction power and highest antioxidative activity .Color development increased with molar concentration (sugar : amino acid) .Mixture of (Arg-Fru) showed higher increase in brown color development in comparison with that of mixture (Arg-Xyl). Maximum fluorescence density was at molar concentration (5:1) for (Arg-Xyl) and at (2:1) for (Arg-Fru) mixture .

SUMMARY
The present investigation was undertaken to study chemical content of two local durum wheat varieties ( Um-Al-Rabee/5 , Al-Ibrahimia). The effect of substitution of wheat flour by durum wheat flour at levels of (25, 50, 75, 100)% on biscuit quality were studied. Chemical analysis showed that moisture content in Um-Al-Rabee/5 and Al-Ibrahimia which reached (13.45, 11.95)% respectively. Al-Ibrahimia had the highest content of protein, ash, values of wet and dry gluten which reached (15.37, 0.72, 40.15, 14.05)% respectively. Durum wheat flour were found to cause an increase in the flour water absorption and improve the biscuit spread factor. No significant difference were found in colour, texture, flavour and appearance when 75% of flour in the biscuit formula were replaced by durum. The results of biscuit firmness tests as a function of storage during 28 days at 25Co showed an increase in firmness for all treatments.

Three different stages in the development of the plerocercoid larvae of the trypanorhynch cestode Otobothrium penetrans Linton, 1907(two plerocerci and one post larva) were described from the various sites of needlefishes. First and second stages of plerocercoid found in the muscle, body cavity, gas bladder, kidney and some time in the heart of the yellow spot tail needlefish Strongylura strongylura, banded needlefish Strongylura leiura hound needlefish, Tylosurus crocodilus and flat needlefish Ablennes hians, while the post larva found only in intestine of S. leiura. All needlefishes except T. crocodilus consider new hosts record to Otobothrium penetrans in the world. No monthly pattern was observed either in prevalence of infection or mean of intensity except clear peak in mean intensity of infection in S. leiura during July (77) and T. crocodilus during October (75). Both the prevalence of infection and mean of intensity were increased from smallest fish length less than 200 mm until 500 mm and then the infection was decreased in the largest fish length more than 500 mm of S. strongylura.

The Oils of Loranthus europaeus L.seeds had been extracted with n-hexane. A number of qualitative chemical analysis were carried to the extract using different techniques such as: Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC), UV/ visible and IR. The results revealed that the isolated oily extract is monoterpenoid fraction consist of five glucoside compounds.
In an attempt to assess the possible antioxidant activity for monoterpene extract of Loranthus europaeus L.seed, several assays were conducted. We found that the extract had the most potent antioxidative effect toward linoleic acid model system. The extract possessed strong reducing power ability and exhibited ferrous ion chelating capability. The extract act as retardation agent effective of corn oil oxidation.