The comparative study of direct and conventional sowing conducted during two years in semiarid zone of Tunisia showed a difference in behavior of the durum wheat crop and in five tested varieties (Karim, Khiar, Om Rabia, Razzak and Nasr). In the first year of crop management, the conventional mode expressed the highest yield compared to direct sowing (28.8 and 19.7 quintals / ha * respectively). After the second year, the practice of direct sowing has given yields that approximate the conventional sowing (11.9 and 12.1 quintals / ha respectively). It should be noted that during the second year the yield was low due to marked drought conditions.
Data analysis of two trial years also showed the potential production of Om Rabia and Khiar varieties in direct sowing (18.2 and 17 quintals / ha respectively). These two varieties seem to have a satisfactory performance at direct seeding for two years.
Under this work, the mean protein content in both years of study is not affected by cultivation method with 13.58 and 13.40% / DM for conventional and direct sowing, respectively. It should be noted that in direct sowing, Khiar variety was distinguished by a fairly good protein content compared to the conventional method (14.46 vs. 13.34% / MS, respectively). The extraction results of gluten show that the rate of all varieties in both years of essay showed a slight difference in favor of the conventional method compared to direct seeding with 16.5 and 15.94% respectively. For this parameter, the varieties Om Rabia, Nasr, Karim and Khiar have a balanced gluten reflecting good technological value and suitable to make pasta or couscous.

The comparative study of direct and conventional sowing conducted during two years in semiarid zone of Tunisia showed a difference in behavior of the durum wheat crop and in five tested varieties (Karim, Khiar, Om Rabia, Razzak and Nasr). In the first year of crop management, the conventional mode expressed the highest yield compared to direct sowing (28.8 and 19.7 quintals / ha * respectively). After the second year, the practice of direct sowing has given yields that approximate the conventional sowing (11.9 and 12.1 quintals / ha respectively). It should be noted that during the second year the yield was low due to marked drought conditions.
Data analysis of two trial years also showed the potential production of Om Rabia and Khiar varieties in direct sowing (18.2 and 17 quintals / ha respectively). These two varieties seem to have a satisfactory performance at direct seeding for two years.
Under this work, the mean protein content in both years of study is not affected by cultivation method with 13.58 and 13.40% / DM for conventional and direct sowing, respectively. It should be noted that in direct sowing, Khiar variety was distinguished by a fairly good protein content compared to the conventional method (14.46 vs. 13.34% / MS, respectively). The extraction results of gluten show that the rate of all varieties in both years of essay showed a slight difference in favor of the conventional method compared to direct seeding with 16.5 and 15.94% respectively. For this parameter, the varieties Om Rabia, Nasr, Karim and Khiar have a balanced gluten reflecting good technological value and suitable to make pasta or couscous.

By the end of 2008, a year described by its economical dramatic
changes, Field Crops Research Institute held its Second Field Crops
Conference during 14 – 16 Oct. 2008 with the theme "Shaping the Future of
Field Crops in Egypt" under the auspices of H.E. Minister of Agriculture and
Land Reclamation Mr. Amin A. Abaza.
Considering the major challenges and constraints facing crop production
due to limited water and land resources, free market forces, and privatization
besides issues related to global warming and crop usage in producing fuel, the
conference recommends the following:
1. Strengthen and enhance cooperation with the agriculture
Extension Sector to improve technology transfer programs and
increase the fund for such programs to lessen the gap between
actual and attainable yield for field crops.
2. Continue subsidizing prices of foremost food crops received from
the farmers to encourage them growing such strategic crops.
3. Establish new profitable cropping systems (i.e. soybean with
maize intercropping, faba bean with sugar beet and sugar cane,
and faba bean with tomatoes), suitable for each region coincide
with reapply the crop rotation concept, which has almost been
demolished using those marginal crops.
4. Rationale use of irrigation water, especially in the Valley and
Delta to assure cultivating about 3.5 mil. feddans annually in a
long-term plan with bringing governmental investment into
agricultural sector.
5. Set laws and legislations to activate those projects of land
reclamation in the new areas (about 3.5 feddans) such as East of
Eweinat, Toshki, North Sinai and Northwest Coast by El-
Hammam Canal.
6. Encourage Investment in seed industry to increase percentage of
quality seed coverage of certified seed of most crops, especially
those less strategic one such as berseem, oil crops, and food
legumes.
xxiv
7. Balanced use of fertilizer and irrigation water to maximize net
return of natural resources and use new irrigation systems, i.e.
sprinkler and drip irrigation, especially in the new reclaimed
desert lands.
8. Research strategies should be directed towards problem-solving
research using both conventional and biotechnological techniques.
9. Efforts should be emphasized on to developing crop cultivars that
cope with water scarcity problem which is further aggravated by
global climatic changes.
10. More attention should be given to crop quality improvement
besides productivity improvement.
11. Biofuel production should be considered for the future, especially
from farm residues, i.e. rice straw and make some feasibility
studies.
12. Improve human capacity building, especially in the areas of
English language and scientific writing.
13. A Follow-up Committee should be formed to make sure of the
execution of the above-mentioned recommendations. It was
suggested to hold the next Conference during the third week of
Oct. 2010.

is among the developing countries that are facing many challenges to feed their
steadily growing populations. Arable land area of Egypt is about 3,234,000 ha (less than 4%) of
the total area, even with the expansion into new lands. Agriculture in Egypt is almost entirely
dependent on irrigation; the country has no effective rainfall except in a very narrow strip along
the Northern Coastal area. Agricultural production can be intensified only with improved
management of natural resources in a sustainable manner to cope with the rising demand for
food, feed, and fibers. The most important and strategic crops for Egypt are cereals, food
legumes, forages, oil crops, and fibers. Field Crops Research Institute (FCRI) was established in
1973 with the main goal of intensifying research and extension activities. The FCRI has 16
Research Departments specialized in different crops and disciplines related to field crops and
are represented in all the Research Stations across the country. Additional facilities are provided
in more than 36 nationwide agricultural research stations. The main objectives of the FCRI are
to develop, release and sustain high-yielding cultivars and hybrids of various field crops
resistant to hazardous conditions and to produce and maintain breeder and foundation seed of
the new improved and recommended cultivars beside providing and disseminating suitable
recommendation packages to extensionists and farmers. Another important objective is to
undertake extension and training programs to transfer technologies to farmers’ fields across the
country. Moreover, strengthen co-operation with national and international funding and
development agencies are very important goals. Dramatic increase in cereal crops, food
legumes, fiber and oil crops, forages and other major crops were achieved through the last two
decades in both area and productivity. Efforts have been carried out to train extension workers
and to create effective means of communication with farmers. In-country and out of-country
training is provided to research and technical staff of the institute. Some training programs are
designed for candidates from African and Asian countries. The FCRI will continue to
strengthen relations with international research and development centers and agencies to
exchange information and introduce new technologies necessary to achieve the goals of the
Institute. Regional activities will proceed for mutual interest and better use of available
resources of the region.

ABSTRACT


The aim of this study was to identify leaf anatomical characters in soybean related to cotton leaf worm resistance, which could be used in indirect selection for insect resistance. The study carried out in the laboratory of cell study research department, field crops research institute, agricultural research center in 2005. A total of fourteen soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) genotypes represent three categories of resistance to cotton leaf worm (Spodoptera littoralis ) were subject for leaf anatomical investigation related to varietal resistance to cotton leaf worm. Leaf hairs, cuticles of upper and lower leaf surface, epidermal cell type, mesophyll and vascular bundles features were studied in the young and adult leaves of all genotypes. Hair density and length, leaf cuticle thickness of lower epidermis, air spaces in the mesophyll tissue and vascular bundles size showed positive correlations with resistance to cotton leaf worm. The result indicated that the possibility for selection for hair length and hair frequency of the matured leaf with remarkable expected progress from selection for cuticle thickness of the leaf lower surface and mesophyll air space in the leaf. These traits would be useful as indirect selection for insect resistance genotypes.




KEY WORDS: anatomy, cotton leaf worm, soybean, Spodoptera littoralis



The first conference of field crops research institute, 22-24 August 2006, Giza, Egypt.

The present study was carried out at Shandaweel, Agric. Res. Station, (ARC), Egypt during the two successive summer seasons of 2004 and 2005 to estimate the phenotypic simple correlation and path coefficient analysis in twenty grain sorghum genotypes (R-Lines), which have restorer gene .The combined analysis of variance showed highly significant effects of genotypes and the genotype x year interaction on grain yield/plant, 1000-kernel weight, seed no/plant, panicle length and plant height. Grain yield/plant showed positive correlation with all studied traits except for days to 50% flowering. A Path coefficient analysis for genotypes indicated that seed no./plant and 1000-kernel weight played an important role in grain yield. Results indicated that the use of yield components (seed no./plant, 1000-kernel weight and panicle length) as selection criteria would be more effective than the use of morphological characters.