Vol. 6 Issue 2
Amin M. Karam and Mohamed A. Said
The large scale circulation in three different water layers, namely; intermediate water, mid-depth water and deep water, in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea was inferred using an isopycnal analysis technique applied to a relatively homogeneous and up-to-date data set.
The α0=29.03 surface was selected to examine the circulation in the Levantine intermediate water. The α1 = 33.55 and α2= 37.84 surfaces (potential densities referred to 1000 and 2000 db respectively) were selected to examine the circulation in the mid-depth and deep layers.
Some new features in the water circulation pattern were observed.
S.O. Elhiweris
Observations of the effects of Striga hermonthica (Del) Benth. on Sorghum vulgare Pers. before emergence of the parasite above the soil and the characteristic symptoms on sorghum of white blotches or chlorosis which differs from those due to mineral deficiency suggest that the parasite is allelopathic to its host. Investigation on the presence of growth inhibitors in S. hermonthica shoots or seeds was carried out, using inhibition of sorghum seed germination and seedling growth. Aqueous extract from striga seeds reduced the percent germination of sorghum seeds with greater effects than shoot extract. The growth of sorghum shoots and rootlets was also reduced. Aqueous extracts from striga seeds reduced the growth of sorghum shoots, but extracts from striga shoots reduced the growth of sorghum rootlets more than seed extracts.
Extracts from the shoots of striga infected sorghum also reduced the growth of shoots and rootlets of sorghum seedlings. Aqueous extracts from shoots of non-infected sorghum plants did not affect the growth of either shoots or rootlets of the seedlings tested. This result indicates that S. hermonthica contains chemical inhibitors of S. vulgare. These inhibitors are present in the shoots and seeds of S. hermonthica.
Various concentrations (5%, 10%, and 20%) of aqueous extracts from S. hermonthica shoots reduced the growth of the shoots of the five S. vulgare cultivars examined to different degrees.. Shoot growth of cultivars Debaikri, Dabar and Framida was reduced more than Dobbs and IS9830. The growth of the rootlets of the five cultivars was more affected than shoot growth, and significant reduction of root development was found for all seedlings and with all concentrations. The mean effect of treatments on the growth of shoots and rootlets as percentage of controls showed that susceptible cultivars Debaikri and Dabar were more affected than tolerant cultivars Framida and IS9830, and the intermediate cultivar, Dobbs. The response of the five sorghum cultivars to treatment with striga plant extracts resembles to some degree their response to striga infection. This proves that the effects of the parasite on its host resulted from inhibiting substances present in its seeds and/or its shoots.
M.A. Abouheif, A.A. Alsobayel and S. Basmaeil
Fifteen ram lambs from each of Najdi and Naeimi sheep breeds were slaughtered at 50 kg live weight. The objective was to examine the effect of breed on the chemical composition of the carcasses and the distribution of various chemical constituents in wholesale cuts. The results showed the the differences between boneless weights for each of leg, loin, shoulder and breast cuts from Najdi and Naeimi were not statistically different. Najdi carcasses had heavier (p< 0.01) rack and flank cuts than those of Naeimi. However, in each cut, Najdi contained more (p<0.01) separable and chemical fats and correspondingly less ash and moisture contents than that of Naeimi. On the other hand, Najdi and Naeimi had similar amounts of protein in each studied boneless wholesale cut. In general, the flank cut had a higher (p<0.01) percentage separable fat and lower percentages of chemical fat, protein, ash and moisture than the other cuts. On the contrary, the shoulder cut had the lowest percentage separable fat and the highest (p<0.01) percentage moisture compared to the other cuts.
The R2 values for the best equations for prediction of various chemical compositions of Najdi and Naeimi whole carcasses ranged from 0.43 to 0.72 and from 0.56 to 0.98, respectively.
Abdullah S. Al-Ghamdi, G.M. Al-Hassan and M. Jahjah
Some morphological characters of eight seedling males grown in Al-Hassa were studied. Males varied considerably with respect to vegetative and reproductive characters. Pollen quality, percent germination and pollen tube length after six hours showed major differences. Pollen from the eight seedlings males was used to pollinate three commercially important female cultivars, i.e. Khalas, Rizaiz and Shieshi. Fruitset, Fruit weight, flesh or pulp weight, fruit diameter, fruit length, moisture content, seed weight and seed length and diameter were recorded. Pollen source was found to affect fruit and seed characters and exhibited met axenic effect depending on the female cultivar used and the character investigated. The influence of seedling males on fruit and seed characters showed within and between female variation.
A.N. Khalil and A.M. Ibrahim
A total of 124 species of the phytoplankton belonging to 37 genera were recorded in Obhur Creek region, north Jeddah during 1982. Diatoms were the most numerous. Nine species of diatoms and four species of dinoflagellate were new records for the area. AS temperature rose during Spring and Summer, it was observed that the number of the dinoflagellate species increased noticeably, while the number of diatoms species decreased. Furthermore, a decline in the standing crop of the phytoplankton was noticed. Autumn represents the more favourable season for phytoplankton growth.
An obvious increase in the number of the phytoplankton species around the year was noted seaward off Obhur Creek.
Ahmed M.A. Ismail
The basal bifoliate leaf of broad bean on separate plants was supplied with 14CO2 at four stages during the development of the species and the distribution of radiocarbon products determined quantitatively 24h later. The fed leaves retained substantial amounts of the radiocarbon they fixed initially. Determination of the dry weight of the basal bifoliate leaf at four stages of development, from a plant with two expanded leaves to one with developing pods showed no statistically significant change of leaf dry weight during this time. Whole plants of broad bean were also allowed to assimilate 14CO2 for one hour. Samples of leaf 3 were then harvested after 1h, 3h, 6h, 24h and 7 days, dried and prepared for autoradiography. The results show that the intensity of 14C in leaf 3 declined with time but with a trace of radiocarbon retained by the 7th day. A survey of published information about the loss of photosynthetically fixed 14CO2 from leaves is included. The present results do not support some previously published conclusions that the rate o export of photosynthetic products from the leaves regulates the rate of photosynthesis
Mahmoud Abbas Saleh
The volatile constituents of Schinus terebenthfolius R. obtained by steam distillation of the fresh leaves have been investigated by capillary gas chromatography- mass spectrometry. Components that individually make up 1% or more of the total mixture were identified. The compounds reported here are three monoterpene hydrocarbons, eight sesquiterpene hydrocarbons and six other sesquiterpenoids. Major components of the oil are bulnesene, b-elemene, patchoulene, b-caryophyllene and b-elemol. The volatile oil is also shown to possess insecticidal activity
Abd El-Raheem, R. El-Shanshoury and Mostafa A. Al-Sayed
Terbutryn at concentrations of 10, 30 and 100 µg/g soil showed a significant stimulatory effect on the population of total bacteria, azotobacter, actinomycetes and fungi over those of the non-treated soil samples. The increases in the microbial populations were in proportion to the level of terbutryn, and persisted for at least 2 months. In liquid media, these levels caused substantial increase in the biosynthesis of indole-3-acetic acid by streptomycetes, fungi and azotobacter. The sensitivity of these organisms to the applied herbicide is a specific feature depending on the strain variation and the dose of the herbicide. The maximal biosynthesis of indole-3-acetic acid was 1.6, 2.8 and 8.1 fold, respectively, over that in the herbicide-free media.
Abd El-Raheem R. El-Shanshoury, Lotfy A.R. Sallam, Mostafa A. El-Sayed and Essam Azab
The enzymatic hydrolysis and ∆1- dehydration of cortisone-21-acetate with S. atro olivaceus were evaluated. Highest yields of prednisone were obtained when the transformation process was conducted using cells in their logarithmic growth phase (60 hr old culture). optimal conversion estimates of cortisone-21-acetate were obtained with 5 mg substrate/2 g cell fresh weight/50 ml reaction mixture. Supplementation of the reaction mixture with adenine and adenosine retarded the formation of prednisone while menadione and riboflavin led to the formation of high yields of prednisone. Similarly, Fe++ and Mg++ encouraged the formation of high yields of prednisone while Mn++ gave comparatively lower product yield.
Ahmad Al-Absy and Adnan Ajiad
Selected biometric characters, weight-length relationships and growth rates of Aqaba species Parupeneus cinnabarinus were studied. A total of 17 of the 20 morphometric measurements investigated grew isometrically with fish length. The eye diameter changed in a negative allometry while body depth and width showed a positive allometry. Counts of seven meristic characters were recorded. The weight of fish increased in positive allometry as the fish increased in size, with a growth factor (n) of 3.1748. The von Bertalanffy equation applied well for the growth calculations with growth factors of L∞ = 44.4 cm, K = 0.208 and tₒ= -0.998.