BACKGROUND:Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) is a facultative halophyte showing various mechanisms of salt resistance among different ecotype cultivars. This study aimed to determine salt resistance limits for a Peruvian sea level ecotype "Hualhuas" and a Bolivian salar ecotype "Real" and elucidate individual mechanisms conferring differences in salt resistance between these cultivars. The plants were grown in sandy soil and irrigated with various saline solutions concentrations (0, 100, 200, 300, 400, and 500 mM NaCl) under controlled conditions.RESULTS:High salinity treatment (500 mM NaCl) reduced the plant growth by 80% and 87% in Hualhuas and Real cultivars, respectively. EC50 (water salinity which reduces the maximum yield by 50%) was at a salinity of 300 mM NaCl for Hualhuas and between 100 and 200 mM NaCl for Real plants. Both cultivars were able to lower the osmotic potential of all organs due to substantial Na+ accumulation. However, Hualhuas plants exhibited distinctly lower Na+ contents and consequently a higher K+/Na+ ratio compared to Real plants, suggesting a more efficient control mechanism for Na+ loading and better K+ retention in Hualhuas plants. Net CO2 assimilation rates (Anet) were reduced, being only 22.4% and 36.2% of the control values in Hualhuas and Real, respectively, at the highest salt concentration. At this salinity level, Hualhuas plants showed lower stomatal conductance (gs) and transpiration rates (E), but higher photosynthetic water use efficiency (PWUE), indicative of an efficient control mechanism over the whole gas-exchange machinery.CONCLUSION:These results reveal that Hualhuas is a promising candidate in terms of salt resistance and biomass production compared to Real.

Quinoa may be a promising alternative solution for arid regions, and it is necessary to test yield and mineral accumulation in grains under different soil types. Field experiments with Chenopodium quinoa (cv. CICA-17) were performed in Egypt in non-saline (electrical conductivity, 1.9 dS m−1) and saline (20 dS m−1) soils. Thirty-four chemical elements were studied in these crops. Results show different yields and mineral accumulations in the grains. Potassium (K), P, Mg, Ca, Na, Mn, and Fe are the main elements occurring in the quinoa grains, but their concentrations change between both soil types. Besides, soil salinity induced changes in the mineral pattern distribution among the different grain organs. Sodium was detected in the pericarp but not in other tissues. Pericarp structure may be a shield to prevent sodium entry to the underlying tissues but not for chloride, increasing its content in saline conditions. Under saline conditions, yield decreased to near 47%, and grain sizes greater than 1.68 mm were unfavored. Quinoa may serve as a complementary crop in the marginal lands of Egypt. It has an excellent nutrition perspective due to its mineral content and has a high potential to adapt to semi-arid and arid environments.

There is little evidence that the nitrogen nu-trition supply at rates above or less than what is considered optimal in non-saline conditions improves growth and yield of halophyte crop cultivated under salt stress. Therefore, hypoth-esize of the present work was to find out the magnitude to which N could restore the harm-ful effects of salt stress on quinoa plants. A pot experiment was performed in greenhouse con-ditions to evaluate quinoa's response grown under water salinity treatments (0.0 & 200 mM NaCl) when nitrogen nutrition rates were limiting (50ppm), adequate (250 ppm), and ex-cess (450 ppm) to guide proper application rate of nitrogen fertilizer under salinity stress. The results indicated that, salinity caused a signifi-cant decrease in the vegetative growth of the plant. Consequently, all vegetative measure-ments were negatively affected. As a result, the seed yield decreased to more than 50%. The application of a moderate level of nitrogen (250 ppm) caused a significant ameliorative effect on seed yield by 126% under non saline conditions and 34.5 % under saline conditions compared to the low nitrogen level. The results did not improve any further with the applica-tion of a higher level of nitrogen. These results indicate that applying (N) in adequate may im-prove most traits and prove to be a physiolog-ical treatment to increase resistance against the negative effects of salt stress in quinoa.

Twenty four Barki lambs with an average body weight of 20.7 ± 0.17 kg were used in a complete randomized design to evaluate the effects of replacing clover (Trifolium alexandrinum L) hay as a traditional basal diet (C) with moringa tree stalks (MS) treated with fungi (Trichoderma reesei) (MF) and yeast (Saccharomyces cervisiae) (MY) under solid-state fermentation on nitrogen and water metabolism, rumen fermentation and economic efficiency of feeds. Lambs were divided into three groups each with eight lambs depending on their live weight. Concentrate feed mixture was similar for all groups and was offered at 2% of live weight with the basal roughage offered ad libitum. The results show that the rations had significant effects (P < 0.05) on DM, crude protein and nitrogen free extract digestibility. Percentage total digestible nutrients was not affected (P < 0.05) by the experimental rations and the values ranged between 0.62 and 0.64. The MY ration had the highest (P < 0.05) digestible crude protein followed by C and MF. The roughage intake expressed as a percentage of total feed intake for MF and MY groups were higher by 4 and 2%, respectively compared to the control group. Average daily gains were 173, 139 and 146 g/head/day, for C, MF and MY groups, respectively. Average dressing percentages based on either fasting weight or empty weight were not affected by the experimental rations. There were no differences (P < 0.05) among groups in N and water balance. Rumen NH3-N concentrations for the MF and MY groups peaked (P < 0.05) at 3 h post feeding whereas for the control it peaked at 6 h post feeding. Rumen TVFA’s concentrations for all treatments increased gradually from zero to 6 h post-feeding. MY diet recorded the highest (P < 0.05) economical feed efficiency compared with MF and control diet. These results suggest that treatment of moringa stalks with S. cerevisiae for 21 days in a solid-state fermentation system improved its nutritive value and is more suitable for practical feeding in sheep rations.

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) is one of the oldest food crops in the world, with evidence of cultivation dating back for more than 7000 years in Andean region. Using of quinoa fresh leaves as a vegetable have not been reported or well-studied yet. Therefore, the present study was conducted during winter growing seasons of 2014 and 2015 at the Experimental Farm of Agricultural Botany Dept., Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University, Shoubra El-Kheima, Cairo, Egypt. Intended to examine the potential use of fresh leaves of two quinoa cultivars (Hualhuas and CICA), as a new non-traditional leafy vegetable crop compared to spinach cultivar (Balady). The vegetative growth, yield and leaf chemical compositions for young plants harvested at 45 days after sowing date were evaluated. The experiments were designed in a complete randomized block design with 4 replicates. The obtained results revealed that young quinoa plants of CICA showed the highest performance for all investigated vegetative growth characters and yield compared with Hualhuas and spinach plants in both seasons. Except for leaf area in both seasons and fresh weight of leaves/plant in the second season, whereas the highest values were attained by spinach plant. Concerning leaf chemical compositions, the obtained results showed that Hualhuas cultivar recorded the highest values for leaf pigments, ash, crude fats, crude proteins, total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoids content (TFC) and antioxidant activity% compared to CICA and spinach plants. However, spinach plants gave the highest values of crude fiber, total soluble carbohydrates (TSC), nitrate (NO3) and nitrite (NO2) contents in both seasons. It is likely that the levels of anti-nutritional factors (NO3, NO2 and oxalate) in the leaves of the three studied cultivars are far below the limits permitted to be found in leafy vegetables. As for leaf mineral contents, the leaves of CICA plants had higher K, Ca and Fe contents, while spinach plants exhibited relatively higher Na, Zn and Cu contents. It is appeared from the obtained results that the contents of evaluated nutritive values were significantly influenced by cultivar, both quinoa cultivars had higher ash, crude fats, crude proteins, TPC, TFC, antioxidant activity%, N, K, Ca and Mn contents compared to spinach cultivar in both seasons. The obtained results confirmed the suitability of potential use of young quinoa plants as a new non-traditional leafy vegetable crop under Egyptian conditions, but further researches are still needed.

The present work was aimed to evaluate Chenopodium quinoa cultivar CICA (Chenopodium quinoa Willd. cv. CICA), in field experiments, as a new and non-traditional leafy crop in Egypt under saline (ECe 17.9 dSm-1) and non-saline (ECe 1.9 dSm-1) soil conditions. Production of biomass, some morphological, physiochemical and yield components traits were estimated at 40 days from sowing date. Biomass production of young quinoa shoot under saline soil was significantly higher by 25% than non-saline soil. Quinoa plants cultivated under saline soil also showed significant high performances for most of morphological traits. Although salinity led to accumulate Na+ concentrations in the leaves by six folds higher than that found in the leaves produced under non-saline soil conditions, but no significant reduction has been observed for K+ concentrations. Moreover, salinity was significantly increased magnesium concentrations in quinoa leaves. On the other hand, no significant increase has been detected of proline or total soluble carbohydrates concentrations in leaves of quinoa grown under saline soil as compared to non-saline soil. This clearly indicated that quinoa plants, during early growth stage, tended to utilize inorganic ions rather than organic solutes to regulate its osmotic potential under saline conditions. Chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and carotenoid concentrations were significantly decreased under saline soil. Also, concentrations of crude fiber, crude fat and iron in the leaves of quinoa plants grown under saline soil conditions were significantly decreased. Meanwhile, salinity has no significant influence on crude protein concentrations. These results revealed that the quinoa has the ability to grow and produce considerable high leafy vegetable yield with good quality, in terms of high protein, in land unsuitable for conventional vegetable crops.

Grain quinoa is a halophyte crop with potentially increasing cultivation area. Yet, no standards exist for optimum plant density in arid-regions. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of planting density on Peruvian valley type of Chenopodium quinoa Willd. cv. CICA from the standpoint of yield and seed quality in marginal area. Two Field experiments were conducted over two consecutive seasons viz., 2015-2016 in a marginal land at El-Fayoum oasis, Egypt with one quinoa cultivar and two planting densities namely, 56.000 plant ha -1 (Low) and 167.000 plant ha -1 (High). A complete randomized block design with six replicates was used. Seed yield increased by 34.7% with increase of plant density from 56.000 plant ha -1 to 167.000 plant ha -1 . The increase of plant density significantly decreased weight of 1000-seeds and weight of hectoliter. Protein and ash concentrations in seeds increased at low planting density, whereas carbohydrate concentration decreased. However, there were no significant differences between the two planting densities on the seed concentration of the crude fiber or total fat. Regarding effects of plant density on mineral content in quinoa seeds, the calcium and magnesium contents significantly increased at low density compared with high planting density. Meanwhile, no significant effects of plant density on phosphorus, potassium, iron and zinc content in quinoa seeds were detected. Thus, the present study concludes that the plant density that gives higher seed yield is associated with significant reduction in seed quality in terms of protein content. On the other hand, low plant density significantly increased weight of 1000-seeds and hectoliter, which is reflected on the grain size. The latter is considered as a very important parameter for quinoa global market preference.

This study aimed to evaluate seed yield, morphological variability and nutritional quality for two cultivars of Chenopodium quinoa under high saline soil conditions (ECe 22 dSm-1) in Egyptian Northeastern coast. Responses to salinity were greatly differed between the two cultivars. The Peruvian cultivar CICA produced seed yield significantly higher than Bolivian cultivar Real. CICA cultivar also showed significant high performances for most of morphological traits. Among the 10 morphological traits, leaves dry weight, shoot fresh weight and leaves fresh weight showed significant positive association with seed yield. No significant difference has been found between both cultivars for most seed quality traits except for the concentration of crude protein and crude fiber in seeds were significantly higher in CICA cultivar. Although CICA cultivar exhibited significantly higher sodium concentration in the leaves than that found in the leaves of Real cultivar, but it was much more efficient in restricting sodium uploading into seed. These results revealed that the Peruvian cultivar CICA seems to be adaptable and more suited to dry-saline soil in Northeastern coastal region of Egypt, as it gave considerable high seed yield with better quality in terms of high protein and fiber percentage and low Na concentration in seeds.

Two Field experiments were conducted under newly reclaimed saline area at Experimental Station of Desert Research Center, Sahll El-Tina, North Sinai governorate, Egypt, soil salinity reached 3500 ppm. during two successive summer seasons of 2013 and 2014. The main objective was to study the effect of four different foliar application treatments i.e., Thidiazuron (TDZ) at 2 ppb, KCl at 2%, Boron at 0.02% and tap water as a control with two cultivation dates (1 of April and the 1 of May) on growth traits, yield, yield components and physiological traits as well as chemical compositions of Maize hybrid 352. Split plot design with three replications was used. Early cultivation date (April 1) was better than late date (May1) for all growth traits, yield and its componants, physiological traits as well as chemical compositions of maize plant under saline soil during 2013 and 2014. TDZ at 2 ppb as foliar application produced the highest significant mean values for all growth traits, yield and its componants and physiological traits as well as chemical compositions of corn. Physiological parameters in term of chlorophyll content, TSS%, potassium content, total carbohydrate and protein % were segnificanty increased by foliar application of TDZ at 2 ppb while proline cntent and transpiration rate were decreased.

A prerequisite for sustainable saline agriculture of cash crop halophytes in salt affected areas implies exact knowledge of their limits of salinity resistance.Hence, the first part of this study was carried out in pot experiment under greenhouse conditions to evaluate growth and seed yield of C. quinoa Willd.cv.Hualhuas to varying water salinity levels (0, 100, 200, 300, 400 and 500 mM NaCl).The limit of salinity resistance was estimated at 200 mM NaCl (~20 dSm -1 ) based on seed yield production.Depending on the results obtained from pot experiment, field trials were conducted in saline soil location (ECe 17.9 dSm -1 ) and in non-saline soil location (ECe 1.9 dSm -1 ).Seed yield significantly decreased under saline soil by about 61.7% .Beside quantity, soil salinity led to reduce the percentage of moisture, total carbohydrate and total fat contents in seeds.Salinity did not significantly alter the protein content in quinoa seeds.Significant increases in the content of ash and fiber were detected in response to high soil salinity.The high er ash content in seeds under saline conditions was due to the increase of Na + as well as K + , P 3-and Fe ++ concentrations.By contrast, soil salinity led to significant decrease of Ca ++ and Zn ++ contents in seed.Energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis showed that most of Na + in the seeds produced at saline soil was mainly accumulated in the pericarp followed by embryo tissues, while, the interior reserving tissue (perisperm) exhibiting comparatively low concentration.Increasing most of essential minerals, especially Fe, in quino a seeds produced under high saline conditions given quinoa a distinctive value for human consumption.Quinoa can be grown and yielded successfully in salt-affected soils (ECe 17.9 dSm -1 ), where, most if not all of traditional crops cannot grow, although the yield was reduced however, the seed quality was not highly affected.

Phytoextraction of heavy metal from contaminated soils is promising remediation technology. In the present study, hyper-accumulator plants, indian mustard (Brassica juncea.( L) czern) and ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam) have been used to remove the excess undesirable concentrations of zinc and copper from contaminated soil. Zinc and copper uptake have been enhanced by adding EDTA to the contaminated soil using two concentrations (2.5 and 7.5 mmol/Kg soil). Accumulation of Zn by the indian mustard shoots and roots under the effect of EDTA recorded 4 to 6 times as adsorbed by the control while less enhancement of Zn uptake was recorded by the ryegrass shoots and roots. On the other hand, Cu accumulation showed significant enhancing by the ryegrass shoot comparing to the indian mustard shoot at the both employed EDTA concentrations. The ryegrass roots gave enhanced Cu uptake at the EDTA conc. 7.5 mmol/Kg soil only while the indian mustard roots recorded an increasing in the Cu-uptake with the two EDTA concentrations

Twenty Barki rams with average body weight 42.8 kg were used in a complete randomized design with five treatments to evaluate the nutritive value of treated moringa stalks (MS) under solid state conditions with fungi (Trichoderma reesei), yeast (Cellulomonas cellulasea) and bacteria (Cellulomonas cellulasea) comparing with untreated MS as a positive control and berssem hay as a negative control.Results revealed that DM, OM, CF, EE, NFE, and ADL contents in biological treated MS were lower than untreated MS.However, the CP, ash, NDF, hemicellulose, and cellulose contents were higher in treated MS compared with untreated MS.DM intake was higher in group fed treated MS than untreated MS.All biological treatments resulted in a significant (P<0.05)higher digestibility of all nutrients compared with untreated MS.The impact of biological treatments was more obvious with the yeast treatment on TDN and DCP comparing with the other treatments and untreated MS.All groups showed positive nitrogen retained value except that group fed untreated MS showed negative value.Water utilization, rumen fermentation and biochemical blood constituents were also investigated.

Samples of shoot system of Salsola tetrandra were collected from three different habitats: Coastal ooletic sand dunes, salt marshes and coastal plain along the North-western coast of Egypt during wet season (EC: 1.9, 6.8 and 1.5 dSm(-1)) and dry season (EC: 10.3, 20.7 and 3.8 dSm(-1)). Lipid peroxidation in terms of malondialdehyde (MDA) content, carotenoid content, ascorbic acid content, proline content, glycine-betaine content, total phenols content and specific activities of peroxidase (POD), polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) were determined. Lipid peroxidation significantly increased during dry season to record the highest value in S. tetrandra inhabiting salt marshes associated with the lowest carotenoids and POD specific activity. However, the harmful effect of ROS in S. tetrandra inhabiting coastal ooletic sand dunes, during dry season, was achieved by stimulating specific activities of POD and PPO. Content of glycine-betaine and total phenols exhibited a significant increase in plants inhabiting coastal plain during dry season, while the proline had a reverse effect and generally decreased during dry season.

Two field experiments were conducted at 2010–2011 and 2011–2012 winter seasons under the saline conditions of El-Tena plain (17,000ppm), North Sinai, to investigate the effect of different organic fertilization sources (30m3fed.−1 of animal dung, 6tonesfed.−1 of each of rice straw with Olive Mill Wastewater compost (OMW compost) and the regular rice straw compost (RS-compost) besides 20m3fed.−1 as the conventional dose of animal dung as the control treatment in addition to foliar application with different concentrations of zinc sulphate (0, 10, 20 and 30ppm) on the growth, productivity, free proline content and total chlorophyll content of Giza 123 Cultivar of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.).

The study on the Flora of El Qantara Sharq revealed that the presence of 138 species belonging to 110 genera follows 39 Angiospermae families. The percentages of the representation of these families were Gramineae by 15.9%, Compositae by 13.7%, Leguminosae by 10.8%, Chenopodiaceae by 10.1%, and Cruciferae by 4.3%, while each of Caryophyllaceae, Cyperaceae and Polygonaceae was represented by 3.6% and the percentage was 2.8% for both of Convolvulaceae and Zygophyllaceae whereas it was 2.1% for each of Aizoaceae, Amaranthaceae and Tamaricaceae. The percentage was 1.4% for each of Euphorbiaceae, Orobanchaceae, Solanaceae and Umbelliferae. The remainder families, Asclepiadaceae, Ceratophyllaceae, Combretaceae, Geraniaceae, Haloragiadaceae, Juncaceae, Labiatae, Malvaceae, Neuradaceae, Nitrariaceae, Palmae, Plantaginaceae, Potamogetonaceae, Primulaceae, Ranunculaceae, Salicaceae, Scrophulariaceae, Thymelaeaceae, Typhaceae, Urticaceae and Verbenaceae were represented by one species (0.7%) for each. Shrubs were represented by 11.5% of the recorded species while the percentages of perennial and annual herbs were 21.7% and 63% respectively. Three parasite species were recorded: Cistanche phelypaea (L.) Cout., Cuscuta campestris Yunck. and Orobanche crenata Forssk.

Introduction Dry Land significantly increases by global warming effects, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. Egypt is located in hyper-arid region, uncultivated lands occupies 96% of its total area. Bringing these lands under-cultivation requires not only modern techniques for both irrigation and fertilization, but also non-traditional crops characterized by high yield production under such harsh conditions. Chenopodium quinoa Willd is a multi-purpose crop from Andes region of South America grown on poorer soils (Jacobsen et al., 2005). Quinoa has a highly unbelievable potential as a grain crop due to its high nutritional value of seeds. quinoa is classified as a halophyte cash crop, because of its ability to complete life cycle under seawater salinity level (Koyro and Eisa, 2008). These characteristic make it an attractive crop for arid and semi-arid regions. The aim of this study was to determine the optimum rate of nitrogen fertilization required to obtain a higher seed yield and better quality for quinoa cultivated in sandy soil under sprinkler irrigation.

Polymyxa betae Keskin is the only natural transmitting vector of the Beet necrotic yellow vein virus (BNYVV) among the cultivated sugar beet. This work aims to study the impact of salt stress on fungus-virus-host relationships. The fungal infected fine roots of sugar beet plant naturally infected with BNYVV were collected and treated with different salt concentrations (0, 2000, 4000, 6000 and 8000 ppm) of NaCl for one day prior to mixing it with a sterile soil. After virus symptoms appeared on leaves, disease severity has been determined, leave and roots tissues were collected for BNYVV detection. It was found that severe symptoms on sugar beet inoculated with treated roots by low salt concentrations (2000 and 4000 ppm) while at high salt concentrations, 8000 ppm less injury approximately as control treated with H2O. On the other hand it was found the cystosorial colonization was increased in low salt concentrations (2000 and 4000 ppm) while decrease in high salt concentrations (6000 and 8000 ppm) especially in 8000 ppm. The same trend results were observed in virus concentration in roots where as the BNYVV concentration was increased in low salt concentrations (2000 and 4000 ppm) while decrease in high salt concentrations (6000 and 8000 ppm). So the relation between capacity of fungal vector to infect the plant by virus and salinity concentration are antagonistic. Soil salinity extremes most often lead to decrease infection of BNYVV via effect on fungal zoospore. Key words: Polymyxa betae, sugar beet, rhizomania, beet necrotic yellow vein virus (BNYVV), salinity.

Despite the large interest in the use of Chenopodium quinoa as a crop on extreme habitats, very little is known about growth response and seed yield under saline conditions. As a prerequisite for its sustainable utilization in salt-affected areas, this study aimed to unravel individual physiological and morphological mechanisms that determine its salt tolerance. Hence, the plants were grown in a hydroponic quick check system with 0, 100, 200, 300, 400, and 500 mM NaCl (equivalent to 0, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100% seawater salinity). Growth of C. quinoa was slightly stimulated with increasing water salinity, with an optimum at 100 mM NaCl. This was mainly due to enhanced tissue water content and succulence. Higher salinities considerably reduced plant growth, with maximum reduction of 82% observed at 500 mM NaCl. The plants were able to reduce the leaf water potential below the soil water potential. This was associated with substantial decrease in osmotic potential mainly by accumulation of Na+ and Cl-. Interestingly, the plants were able to maintain favorable ion relations in their roots and juvenile leaves, where the metabolic demands are expected to be greatest even under high NaCl salinity. The net photosynthesis rates were greatly decreased by high salinity, being 28% of initial control values at 500 mM NaCl. Salt-induced photosynthesis inhibition was accompanied with a decrease in transpiration rates but also with improved water use efficiency. Neither osmotic stress nor ion deficiency/toxicity appeared to be determinant for C. quinoa under high saline condition. Salt-induced growth reduction is presumably due to low photosynthate supply as a consequence of impaired photosynthetic capacity. Together, these indicate that C. quinoa is a promising salt-tolerant, in terms of biomass production and can be grown productively under low to moderate saline condition up to 40% sws.