Six- populations i.e., P1 , P2, F1, F2, BC1 and BC2 were used in order to assess the nature of gene effects for six traits in three bread wheat crosses. Generation were grown in a field experiment at Sers- El-laian Agricultural Research station, A.R.C. during three successive seasons.
Significant useful heterosis in a positive direction was detected for number of kernels / spike and 100-kernel weight in the three crosses, spike weight in the first and second crosses. Highly significant negative inbreeding depression was obtained for number of spikes/ plant in three crosses, spike length and number of kernels / spike in the third cross one and grain yield/ plant in the first and second crosses .
Over - dominance toward the higher parent were detected for; number of spikes / plant, spike length and number of kernels / spike in the first and second crosses, 100- kernel weight in the three crosses and grain yield / plant in the second cross .
Significant E1 and E2 were detected for most studied traits. Additive gene effect were significant exhibited in all studied traits. Except for; number of spikes /plant , spike length and grain yield / plant in the first cross one and 100 - kernel weight in the first and second crosses .
Both dominance and epistasis were found to be significant for most of the attributes under investigations .
Heritability estimates in broad sense were high to moderate in magnitude with values between 93.98 for grain yield / plant to 44.99 for 100 - kernel weight. High to moderate values of heritability estimates were found to be associated with high to moderate genetic advance as percentage of F2 main in most cases.

Phenotypic and genotypic correlation coefficients (rp and rg) and path coefficient for eight traits were estimated in 36 genotypes of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L). High estimates of rp and rg indicated scope for improvement through simple selection for days to heading, no. of spikes per plant and 1000 – grain weight . path analysis showed the importance of days to heading, no-of spikes per plant and 1000 – grain weight . Direct effects of no-of spikes/plant, no-of spikelets per spike, spike weight and 1000-grain weight were mostly found to be most important contributing traits for grain yield simple correlation and path coefficient analysis were applied to yield components to determine their functional relationships to yield in wheat .
The obtained results are summarized as follows :
1. Grain yield showed highly significant and positive correlation with days to heading, no. of spike per plant and 1000-grain weight at the two levels of correlations .
2. Number of spikes per plant and number of spikelets per spike per plant had a high direct relationships with grain yield per plant .
3. Wheat cultivar number (8) and crosses number (1x2) , (1x3) , (1x4) , (1x5) , (1x6) , (1x7) , (2x6) , (3x4) and (3x5) were selected as a superior genotypes which gave the highest mean performance for grain yield and most contributing traits .

This investigation aimed to study the phenotypic stability and performance across 6 environments of twenty genotypes of grain yield and its components. Combined analysis of variance across environments indicated that, the mean squares due to (E), (G) and G x E were highly significant for all traits studied. Yield performance of each genotype showed different ranking across the studied environments at two seasons (2005 (Y1) and 2006 (Y2) and the three locations i.e., Gemmeiza (L1), Sers El-Lian (L2) and Ettai El-Baroud (L3). Phenotypic stabilities were computed for number of days to 50 % heading, and maturity, Plant height, number of spikes/m2, number of grains/spike, 1000-grain weight and grain yield (ard./fad.) .
The results revealed highly significant differences among wheat genotypes (G), environments (E) and their interactions. Wheat genotypes differed in their response to the changes in environments. The most stable desired wheat genotypes were 3,4,6,9,15 and 20 for grain yield. On the other hand, the results confirmed the importance of number of spikes/m2 in increasing grain yield in wheat that it is a major component for grain yield. Also, these genotypes showed high stable under this study and could be used in breeding programs for improving the productivity of wheat in different environments .

Twenty grain sorghum genotypes were evaluated under eight different environments (two nitrogen fertilizer levels, i.e. 60 and 100 kg N/fad at two locations, i.e. Shandaweel and Assiut Agric Res Stns, ARC, in two successive growing seasons, 2004 and 2005). The combined analysis of variance over all environments indicated significant differences between all studied genotypes respecting grain yield and other agronomic traits. The response of genotypes to environments varied greatly and significantly, all genotypes exhibited better performance under high level of nitrogen fertilization (rich environments). The range of the studied traits ranged from 69.6-74.9 days for flowering date, 113.6-138.7 cm for plant height, 7.1-9.1 for number of green leaves/plant, 19.8-24.0 g for 1000-27.9-59.8 g/plant for grain yield/plant. Highly significant genotype-environment interaction was found for all studied characters. A large portion of this interaction was accounted for by the linear regression on the environmental means. The magnitude of non-linear components was considerably small. Stability parameters across all environments indicated that All hybrids exhibited significant linear response to environmental conditions. Five genotypes, i.e., BTX-629, BTX-630, ICSB-88003, ICSB-20 and ICSB-155 showed stability in grain yield and other traits since they had high means and exhibited high regression coefficient (approximately one).

Twenty four grain sorghum crosses were developed from six introduced cytoplasmic male sterile lines (A-lines) and four restorer lines (R-lines) in 2003 season. Thirty five grain sorghum genotypes (twenty four crosses, ten their parents and hybrid Shandaweel-6 as check) were evaluated at Shandaweel Agric. Res. Station in 2004 and 2005 summer seasons. The obtained data showed that highly significant differences between years for all the studied traits except for 1000 grain weight which were insignificant. Moreover, highly significant mean squares were found due to genotypes, crosses, parents, parents vs. crosses, males, and males x females interaction for all the studied traits. Some crosses were earlier than its parents and most of the crosses were heavier in 1000 grain weight than the best parents. Moreover, all crosses were taller, higher in number of grains per panicle and higher in grain yield per plant than the best parents in 2004, 2005 and combined over two seasons. Both of additive and non-additive gene effects were important in the inheritance of all studied traits. The additive gene effect played the major role in the inheritance of plant height, 1000-grain weight and grain yield per plant. The female line ICSA-155 and the male line MR-812 were good general combiners for plant height, Number of grains per panicle and grain yield per plant. Some crosses showed positive and highly significant SCA for grain yield per plant and number of grains per panicle. Positive and highly significant phenotypic correlations were detected between grain yield/plant and plant height as well as number of grains per panicle. However, negative and significant correlations was obtained between grain yield and days to 50% flowering.

The present study was carried out at Shandaweel Agricultural Research Station, Sohag, Egypt during 2004, 2005 and 2006 summer seasons. The breeding material used in this study were F4, F5 and F6 generations from two crosses, i e., Dorado * Adv.7 ( pop.1) and Dorado* Adv5 (pop .Π ).
The objectives were to compare the efficiency of pedigree selection method and Independent culling levels in improving grain yield/ plant and correlated traits.
Highly significant differences among F4 families and satisfactory genotypic coefficient of variability and large magnitude of broad sense heritability were obtained for all studied traits.
In two base populations, grain yield/plant showed positive correlations with all studied traits except days to 50% flowering.
The results indicate that the genetic coefficient of variability of grain yield/plant in pop. І and pop. Π decreased greatly from the F4 (19.51 and 37.14%) to the second cycle (F6) either for single traits selection (17.20 and 10.88%) or independent culling levels procedures (8.28 and 7.79%), respectively.
Two cycles of pedigree selection increased grain yield/plant by 16.22 and 14.51 % from the bulk sample compared to 15.30 and 14.42 % for Independent culling levels in pop. І and Π, respectively.

Twenty grain sorghum genotypes were evaluated under eight different environments (two nitrogen fertilizer levels, Le 60 and 100 kg N/fad at two locations, i.e. Shandaweel and Assiut Agric Res Stns, ARC, in two successive growing seasons, 2004 and 2005). The combined analysis of variance over all environments indicated significant differences between all studied genotypes res..recting grain yield and other agronomic traits. The response of genotypes to environments varied greatly and significantly, all genotypes exhibited better performance under high level of nitrogen fertilization (rich environments). The range of the studied traits ranged from 69.6-74.9 days for flowering- date, 113.6-138.7 cm for plant height, 7.1-9.1 for number of green leaves/plant, 19.8-24.0 g for 1000-27.9-59.8 g/plant for grain yield/plant. Highly significant genotype-environment interaction was found for all studied characters. A large portion of this interaction was accounted for by the linear regression on the environmental means. The magnitude of non-linear components was considerably small. Stability parameters across all environments indicated that All hybrids exhibited significant linea~ response to environmental conditions .. Five genotypes, Le., BTX-629, BTX-630, ICSB-88003, ICSB-20 and ICSB¬155 showed stability in grain yield and other traits since they had high means and exhibited high regression coefficient (approximately one).

The present study was carried out at Shandaweel Agric. Res. Station, Sohag, Egypt during 2004, 2005 and 2006 summer seasons. The breeding material used in this study were F4, F5 and F6 generations from two crosses, i.e., Dorado × ICSV-273 ( pop.1) and Dorado × GD-47820 (pop .Π ).The objectives were to compare the efficiency of pedigree selection method and Independent culling levels in improving grain yield/ plant and correlated traits. Highly significant differences among F4 families and satisfactory genotypic coefficient of variability and large magnitude of broad sense heritability were obtained for all studied traits. In two base populations, grain yield/plant showed positive correlations with all studied traits except days to 50% flowering.
The results indicated that the genetic coefficient of variability of grain yield/plant in pop.-І and pop.-Π decreased greatly from 19.51 and 37.14% (F4) to the second cycle (F6) either for pedigree selection (17.20 and 10.88%) or independent culling levels procedures (8.28 and 7.79%), respectively. Two cycles of pedigree selection increased grain yield/plant by 16.22 and 14.51 % from the bulk sample compared to 15.30 and 14.42 % for Independent culling levels in pop. І and Π, respectively.

Twenty grain sorghum genotypes were evaluated under eight different environments (two nitrogen fertilizer levels, i.e 60 and 100 kg N/fad at two locations, i.e. Shandaweel and Assiut Agric Res Stns, ARC, in two successive growing seasons, 2004 and 2005). The combined analysis of variance over all environments indicated significant differences between all studied genotypes respecting grain yield and other agronomic traits. The response of genotypes to environments varied greatly and significantly, all genotypes exhibited better performance under high level of nitrogen fertilization (rich environments). The range of the studied traits ranged from 69.6-74.9 days for flowering date, 113.6-138.7 cm for plant height, 7.1-9.1 for number of green leaves/plant, 19.8-24.0 g for 1000-27.9-59.8 g/plant for grain yield/plant. Highly significant genotype-environment interaction was found for all studied characters. A large portion of this interaction was accounted for by the linear regression on the environmental means. The magnitude of non-linear components was considerably small. Stability parameters across all environments indicated that All hybrids exhibited significant linear response to environmental conditions. Five genotypes, i.e., BTX-629, BTX-630, ICSB-88003, ICSB-20 and ICSB-155 showed stability in grain yield and other traits since they had high means and exhibited high regression coefficient (approximately one).

With decreasing water availability for agriculture, and increasing demand for rice, water apply in rice production systems has to be well managed to increase its productivity. This investigation aimed to study the effect of scheduling irrigation based on Class A Pan Evaporation on grain yield and water use of two rice cultivars. Two field experiments were carried out at the Experimental Farm of Rice Research and Training Center, Sakha, Kafr El-Sheikh governorate, Egypt during 2003 and 2004 summer seasons. The two experiments were laid out in a split plot design, with four replications, where the main plots were occupied by irrigation every six days with applied water equal 1.0 , 1.5 and 2.0 times of accumulative pan evaporation (APE) as well as continuous flooding as a traditional irrigation (check treatment). However, the sub plots were assigned to rice cultivars i.e. Sakha 101 and Sakha 102.
The main results revealed no significant differences in grain yield among irrigation treatments having continuous flooding and irrigation every six days interval with applied water equal 1.5 and 2.0 times of APE . At the same time, they significantly produced higher grain yield and most of its components than irrigation every six days interval with applied water equal 1.0 of APE.
Rice cv. Sakha 101 produced higher dry matter, number of tillers/m2, number of panicls/m2, panicle length, total grains/panicle, sink capacity, panicle weight, and grain yield. However, cv. Sakha 102 surpassed Sakha 101 in plant height and 1000-grain weight. Over both seasons, irrigation water amounts applied were 10495, 13769, 17044, and 15878 m3/ha for irrigation every six days interval with applied water equal 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 times of APE as well as continuous flooding treatments, respectively. Water requirements for rice cvs. Sakha 101 and Sakha 102 were 14868 and 13725 m3/ha, respectively. Irrigation water applied equal 1.0 of APE had the highest value of water utilization efficiency (WUtE) compared to other irrigation schedules using Class A Pan and the continuous flooding as well. Mean WUtE ranged from 0.659 to 0.704 kg rice/m3 water for Sakha 101, while it was between 0.681 and 0.721 kg rice/m3 water for Sakha 102 in 2003 and 2004 seasons, respectively. The quantity of water used in producing one kg of rice was higher in irrigation every six days with water applied equal 2.0 times of APE, followed by contentious flooding, however, irrigation water every six days with applied equal 1.5 and 1.0 of APE came in between.
Therefore, watering every six days interval with applied water equal 1.5 times of APE using Sakha 101 and Sakha 102 could be applied under shortage of irrigation water.