Populus is a fast growing tree that attract the attention of people. This genus provides environment protection due to their ability in carbon sequestration, phytoremediation and wildlife inhabitant. Populus species are widely used as a source of wood, veneer, paper and bioenergy. This survey study aimed to identify the current status of Populus species inhabiting four different governorates of the Egyptian territories. In this survey, four different locations were surveyed, i.e. Cairo, Giza, Qaliobia and Gharbia governorates. According to the site survey, five species of Populus were found. Research findings indicate that the length and diameter of the trees varied according to various species in various localities. Selected trees of various species were subjected to different morphological, chemical parameters and genetic assessments. P. deltoides from Giza in addition to P. deltoides and P. nigra from Cairo gave somewhat close relation in their vegetative parameters. Furthermore, both P. nigra and P. alba from Gharbia location gave high similarity due to overall vegetative parameters and also both P. euramericana female from the Gharbia and P. nigra from Qaliobia. Genetic diversity was analyzed using molecular markers. Three different Inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) primers were used for the reaction (17899A, 17899B and HB13). ISSR primers markers yielded 67.5% polymorphic loci among the surveyed species and cluster analysis enabled separation of these populations on the basis of their genetic distances. P. euramericana female and male from Giza showed close relation at morphological level. From this study it can be concluded that: firstly; leaf parameters i.e. leaf area width and length were suitable for identifying the differences among species, and secondly; genetic analysis using molecular markers was enough to discriminate between species. Our results finally suggest that Populus species possess genetic variation and can adapt to new environmental conditions, which in its self-valuable information would potentially lead to promising applications.

This research study was carried out in the open field during the two successive seasons of 2012/2013 and 2013/2014. The aim of this investigation was to study the response of pot marigold (Calendula officinalis L.) to different application methods and concentrations of seaweed extracts applied as a commercial compound. Seven treatments were initiated, i.e. three concentrations of seaweed extracts (500, 1000, 1500) were used either as foliar spray or as soil drench in addition to the control treatment (tap water). Results indicated that foliar spray with 1500 ppm of seaweed extract increased significantly plant height, number of flowers per plant and vase life in the two tested seasons. However, foliar spray with the lowest concentration of seaweed extract (500 ppm) resulted in significant increments in flower stalk length, flower diameter and carbohydrates content. Moreover, the same concentration showed significant increases in total carotenoids, nitrogen, and phosphorus percentage when used as soil drench in the two tested seasons.

This research study was carried out in the plant tissue culture laboratory of the Agricultural Botany Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams Univ., Shoubra El-khaima, Cairo, Egypt. Experiments were executed for the duration of two consecutive years 2017 and 2018 on chicory plant. Chicory (Cichorium intybus L.), which belongs to Asteraceae family, is considered as an important medicinal plant due to the presence of many bioactive substances such flavonoids, phenolic compounds, alkaloids, steroids, terpenoids, including (coumarines, cichoriin, esculetin, inulin, sesquiterpene lactones, chicoric acid, caffeic acid and some vitamins). In this research in vitro experiments were carried out using full strength Murashige and Skoog basal medium (MS) supplemented with different combinations of two plant growth regulators; Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) including two concentrations (0.5-2.0 mg/l) and Naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) comprising four concentrations (0.5-2.0-3.0-5.0 mg/l). An abaxially (lower side) leaf explants (square pieces 0.5 × 0.5 cm) which were taken from 20 days old aseptic chicory seedlings were inoculated to (MS) surface. Initially, chicory seeds were aseptically germinated on half-strength MS medium, after surface sterilization by 70 % (v/v) ethanol for 60 seconds then soaking in 10 % Clorox (0.5% sodium hypochlorite NaOCl) for 10 min to produce the aseptic chicory seedlings which were the source of true leaf explants used in this research study. Total phenolic compounds and flavonoids content were extracted from six-week C. intybus friable callus produced under both light and dark in vitro culture conditions inside a growth chamber incubation room where temperature was adjusted at 25 o C ±1. Total phenolic compounds and flavonoids were determined by spectrophotometric methods. The highest values for their contents were from chicory calli when MS callus induction medium was supplemented with 2 mg/l NAA under total dark condition when compared with the other remaining growth regulator treatment combinations and alternative light regime conditions.

This reasearch work aimed to fine-tune micropropagation of Paulownia tomentosa in addition to assessing the genetic stability of in vitro raised clones from it. Paulownia tomentosa explants were surface sterilized using clorox (commercial bleach 5.25% sodium hypochlorite) at 10, 20, 25 and 30% + 0.5 g/l mercuric chloride (HgCl2) at different duration times, i.e. 10, 15, 20 and 25 min. In the multiplication stage, shoots were transferred to MS medium at ¾ strength containing BAP and Kin each at (0, 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 mg/l). Whereas, the rooting medium was MS medium at ¾ strength with IBA and NAA treatments each at 0, 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 mg/l. Sterilized explant with 30% Clorox for 20 min recorded highest survival percentage. The treatment of Kin at 4 mg/l gave higher significant shoot length. Whereas BAP application at 2 and 4 mg/l gave highest significant value of both shoot number and leaf number. Both IBA and NAA at 0.5 or 1 mg/l gave highest significant root number/shoot. Whereas, auxin at 4 mg/l gave highest significant root lengths. Young plantlets resulted from in vitro were acclimitized successfully in a mixture of peat moss: perlit (2: 1) by volume that showed 85.93% survival. The genetic stability of in vitro raised Paulownia tomentosa clones was assessed by using intersimple sequence repeats (ISSRs) markers. All of the three ISSR primers screened, produced clear, reproducible and scorable bands. The molecular size of Polymerase Chain reaction (PCR) products generated 22 fragments by these ISSR ranged from ≈460 to18660 bp. All banding profiles from micropropagated plants were monomorphic and similar to those of the mother plant, indicating 100% similarity. This confirmed the true to type nature of the in vitro raised clones.

Extracted oils from plants make up an important part of human life wellbeing all over the world, especially oils containing polyunsaturated acids, such as oleic, linoleic and palmitoleic acids. In Egypt, vegetable oils are produced from multiple sources such as: cotton, soybeans and sunflower. Unfortunately, all these sources do not fulfill consumer requirements. So it is important to find alternate sources of edible oils. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the chemical composition of three-year-old Moringa oleifera trees and their seed oil characterization as affected using foliar application with zinc (Z) and boron (B). Treatments included two doses of solo-foliar application of Zinc (Zn1 & Zn2) or Boron (B1 & B2) and four combinations between the two doses of Zn and B (Zn1B1, Zn1B2, Zn2B1 and Zn2B2) compared to untreated control. Chemical composition of Moringa oleifera leaves, i.e. N, P, K, Zn, B, Protein (%) and vitamin C including physical and chemical characters of Moringa oleifera oil, i.e. oil yield (%), specific gravity, refractive index, acid number, saponification number, ester number and free fatty acids were evaluated. The obtained results reflected that all foliar application treatments improved Moringa oleifera chemical composition in leaf samples, not to mention seed oil physical and chemical characters compared to the untreated control.