Tomatoes are usually consumed daily in the human diet. High temperatures reduce the number of tomato yields per year. Heat stress has been considered one of the most prominent causes of alterations in morphological and molecular characteristics in crops that decrease normal growth, production, and yield in diverse plants, including tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.). In this study, we evaluated six tomato lines, namely G1, G2, G3, G4, G5, and G6, at morphological, molecular, and cytological levels under heat stress. The average results of two seasons (2018 and 2019) clarified that the G6, G1, and G2 lines recorded the highest flowering values, as well as some fruit and vegetative growth traits. Furthermore, G6 and G2 had the maximum number of fruits/plant, whereas G2 and G1 produced the highest yield/plant under high temperatures. The number of chromosomes in all lines was 2n = 24, except for G5, in which the number was 2n = 26, whereas chromosome sizes were small, ranging from 323.08 to 464.48 µm. The G1 cultivar was a symmetrical cultivar (primitive), having the highest total form percentage (TF%) and symmetry index (Syi) values and the minimum karyotype asymmetry index (ASK) value, whereas G4 was asymmetrical (advanced). Molecular marker analysis demonstrated that intersimple sequence repeat (ISSR) primers 49A, HB-14, 49A, 49B, and 89B presented the highest values for polymorphism percentage P%, marker index (MI), effective multiplex ratio (EMR), and polymorphism information content (PIC), respectively. In contrast, OP-A3, OP-B3, SCoT 2, and SCoT 12 primers showed the highest PIC, EMR, MI, P%, and resolving power (Rp) values across the studied random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and start codon-targeted (SCoT) primers. Moreover, ISSR revealed the highest number of unique specific markers (6), followed by RAPD (4) and SCoT (3) markers. Cluster analysis of combined cytological data and data relating to molecular marker attributes separated the G1, G2, and G3 lines into one group, whereas the other lines were clustered in another group. On the whole, the application of combined analysis using morphological, cytological, and molecular genetics techniques could be considered to provide suitable parameters for studying the evolution of the genetic divergence between the studied tomato lines.

The present investigation aimed to assess twenty genotypes of eggplant under open field conditions of El-Arish region during two seasons (2016 and 2017) at the Experimental Farm, Faculty of Environmental Agricultural Sciences, Arish University. The evaluation was conducted using a randomized complete block design in three replications. Results of mean performance showed highly significant differences among genotypes for all traits, the best lines were Jor-2 for early flowering, PIG-4 for both early and total yield (kg/plant) and Spa-3 for average fruit weight (g). Estimation of phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) was higher than genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) for all traits. However, close estimates of GCV and PCV indicated that genetic variance contributed with large portion in phenotypic expression of most characters. Therefore, phenotypic selection is effective and suitable for improvement. The genotypic (GCV) and phenotypic (PCV) coefficients of variation were moderate for plant height, early yield/plant, total yield and fruit firmness. On the other hand, estimations were high for number of branches/plant, average fruit weight, fruit length, fruit diameter and TSS (%), indicating sufficient genetic variability for these traits and so, genetic improvement through selection is effective. Heritability estimates in broad sense were high for early yield/plant, total yield /plant, average fruit weight, fruit length, fruit diameter and TSS (%). High heritability accompanied with high GAM were found for early yield/plant, total yield/plant, average fruit weight, fruit length, fruit diameter and TSS (%) , suggesting preponderance of additive gene action and improvement through selection is effective. The genetic divergence based on Euclidean distance among twenty genotypes were grouped into five divergent clusters. The pattern of distribution showed that cluster 5 involved the largest number (nine lines), followed by cluster 1 (consisted of six lines) and cluster 4 (included three lines). While, both clusters 2 and 3 involved one genotype. Cluster means showed that first cluster gave high performance for only fruit firmness, second cluster recorded the highest mean values for total yield /plant, fruit length and TSS (%). also, third cluster produced the highest mean value for plant height, early yield/plant, average fruit weight and fruit diameter. However, fourth cluster exhibited maximum values for number of branches/plant and early flowering. So, more emphasis should be given on clusters 1, 2, 3 and 4 for choosing parents for crossing which may produce new recombinants with desired economic traits.

The present study was conducted at the Experimental Farm, Fac., Environ. Agric., Sci., Arish Univ., during successive summer seasons of 2018 and 2019, to screening twenty one genotypes of tomato as well as Galaxy 040 F1 as check to high temperature under North Sinai conditions. The analyses of variance for all studied traits revealed that mean squared of genotypes were highly significant under high average day/nighttime temperature (34.6 oC and 23.9 oC, respectively) of two seasons. The studied lines CLN 1621F, Rio Grande and CLN2514A were the best for floral traits. However, the superior genotypes for fruit set percentage were CLN2026D and Rio Grande. Results of screening revealed that CLN2514A was the best for no. fruits/plant, CLN2413D and CLN1466EA for average fruit weight and CLN1621F for fruit yield /plant (2.84 kg). The highest content of proline recorded by CLN1621F and CLN3125L. Tomato genotypes ranked based on cumulative score to tolerant, moderately tolerant, moderately sensitive and sensitive groups. The clustering pattern of tomato entries grouped into five clusters. The clusters 1, 3 and 4 consisted of three genotypes, whereas the clusters 2 and 5 involved nine and four ones, respectively. Principal component analysis revealed that first two components participating 81.3% of total variability. The highest contribution towards total variability in PC1 and PC2 reflected by no. pollen grains/anther, pollen viability%, branches/plant, fruit set%, fruit yield/plant, average fruit weight, no. seeds/fruit and proline content traits, suggesting that these traits might be taken in concern for successful selection of tomato genotypes under high temperature.

Six parental lines of indeterminate tomato were used in half diallel model to study performance, degree of heterosis and combining ability.This study was conducted at the Experimental Farm, Faculty of Environmental Agriculture Sciences, Arish University during two successive seasons of 2018/2019 and 2019/2020. Results revealed that the parental lines IRS-43-2, VR-6 and VL-5-4 exhibited the best values for most studied characters,however the cross combinations IRS-43-2 x VR-6, IR-44-2 x VR-6 and VR-6 x VL-5-4 were the best among the crosses.Hybrid vigour was observed in many traits, the significant positive heterosis over the check hybrid was detected in all characters and the highest values were reflected by the crosses VR-6 x VL-5-4 for growth traits and IRS-43-2 x VR-6 for early yield, total yield and Vit. C content. Variances of combining ability and genetic components revealed that additive gene action played the main role in the inheritance of fruit set percentage, total yield plant-1 , average fruit weight, fruit shape and Vit. C. Based on GCA effects, the good combiner was Vl-5-4, for growth traits; IRS-43-2 and VR-6 for early yield, total yield, number of locules, and Vit. C. The highly significant positive values of SCA effects observed in crosses VR-6 x VL-5-4 for growth traits and Vit. C; IRS-43-2 x VL-5-4 for early yield; and IR-44-1 x VL-7-4 for total yield and average fruit weight. Three promising crosses (IRS-43-2 x VR-6; IR-44-2 x VR-6; VR-6 x VL-5-4) could be used commercially as local hybrids after testing in multi locations and seasons.

The experiment was run for two successive growing winter seasons during 2016-2018. The synergistic effects of Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inoculation and foliar iron fertilizer on plant growth and yield parameters of broad bean plant (Vicia faba L.), grown in sandy loam soil, were conducted. Mycorrhizal colonization and their spore intensity, nodule formation and their number were also investigated. Two mycorrhizal treatments (Inoculum AMF and native AMF) and five foliar Fe-concentrations (0.0, 300, 400, 500 and 600 ppm) were applied. The interaction between different categories of AMF and foliar Fefertilization was also evaluated. The results obtained revealed that the application of inoculated AMF and spray with Fe at 400 ppm increased spore count and root colonization. However, total number of active nodules/plant increased with inoculated AMF and spraying iron at 600 ppm. Results indicated the superiority interaction treatment of inoculated AMF with the foliar Fe at the concentration of 400 ppm and/or 500 ppm by which it recorded the highest values of plant growth traits; viz, root length, number of branches/plant, total dry weight/plant and photosynthetic pigments content in both seasons. Moreover, the same treatment recorded the highest values with all pod characters and yield, except weight of number of green seeds/pod in first season and average pod weight (g) in the second one.