The results indicate the successful use of GA-AgNPs and AgNO 3 in enhancing the growth and yield of the Bronco and Nebraska varieties under pot experiment conditions, and present a viable alternative to genetically modified (GM) crops for ensuring food security.

Seeds of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill., variety Castle Rock) were osmoprimed in polyethylene glycol 6000 (PEG; 20%) or K 2 HPO 4 (200 mM) solution for 8 hours, 3 days or 7 days, while another group of seeds were left in water for the same periods. The GA 3 /ABA ratio was the most important hormone factor, which promoted germination in seeds soaked in H 2 O and led to improved germination performance. This ratio showed slight variations between hydroprimed and osmoprimed seeds after 8 hours, but afterwards, from 3 to 7 days, it was gradually increased in the osmoprimed seeds and was substantially elevated in seeds germinating in H 2 O. Changes in the concentrations of phenolic compounds suggested their possible role in germination silencing in the osmoprimed seeds, but at relatively low concentrations. Protein patterns showed no marked variations in hydroprimed and osmoprimed seeds after 8 hours, but different types were observed, particularly after 7 days. A comparison of the protein banding patterns of seeds after 1 day and 7 days in the osmoconditioning solutions (PEG or K 2 HPO 4 ), H 2 O, GA 3 or ABA showed certain treatment-specific protein bands, particularly in PEG and ABA solutions. Longitudinal sections of seeds (after 3 days) showed lysis of the micropylar endosperm and radicle protrusion in H 2 O or GA 3 , whereas in PEG or K 2 HPO 4 solution the radicle expanded inside the seed and the micropylar endosperm was completely intact. In ABA solution, the whole endosperm was compact and the seed became extensively desiccated.

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Foliar application with some amino acids provides plant with readymade nutrition, thus it has positive effect on plants metabolism with a corresponding promotion in crop quantity and quality. Thus, two field experiments were conducted at Kaha Vegetable Research Farm, Qalubia governorate, Egypt during the two successive winter seasons of 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 in a clayey loamy soil under flood irrigation system. Garlic (Allium sativum L.) cv. Sids 40 was used to study the effect of foliar application with three concentrations of each, moringa leaves extract (5, 10 and 15 g/ L), glutamine (50, 100 and 200 ppm) or cysteine (50, 100 and 200 ppm) on growth, yield, quality and gloves oil content. Gloves were planting at mid of September in both seasons. A Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications was used. The obtained results revealed that foliar spray with moringa leaves extract 10 g/ L, glutamine 200 ppm or cysteine 100 ppm treatments gave the highest values of plant growth criteria i.e. plant length, number of leaves/ plant, leaves chlorophyll content and leaves area of garlic at both seasons as compared to the other treatments and control. Concerning yield and yield components, spraying with moringa leaves extract 10 g/ L, glutamine 200 ppm or cysteine 100 ppm increased curing yield (ton/ fed.

Seed priming is a technique that improves seed performance in the field and hence ameliorates subsequent germination, growth and seed yield.Moreover, seed priming is often implicated in improving the stress-tolerance of germinating seeds. This study was initiated to determine the seed yield and quality of a local genotype okra var. Sabahia in relation to seed priming and water stress. Two field experiments were conducted during the summer seasons 2012 and 2013 at Kaha (Kalyiobia Governorate), Horticulture Research Station, Egypt. The experimental design used is split plot with four replications. The main plots represented two irrigation regimes either normal or stress 20 days or 30 days intervals respectively, whereas the priming treatments represented the subplots. For priming treatments, seeds were soaked for 24 hours either in water (hydropriming) or in a 3% solution of Na 2 HPO 4 , MgSO4, or KCl (osmopriming), whereas dry seeds represented the control.Results indicated that all plant traits determined were reduced under water stress while this reduction was improved in the primed seeds. Using Na 2 HPO 4 or MgSO 4 seed priming treatments under both water regimes applied gave the highest and best results regarding plant growth, seed yield and quality. Obtained results also showed that seed priming with KCl gave lower positive effects in this concern and such results seemed to be higher than those obtained by hydropriming treatments. In addition, results clearly showed that okra plants could resist the applied water stresses treatments as a result of seed priming processes used which were found to cause accumulation of some osmolytes as proline.Data of the present work showed proline accumulation in response to water stress, which might assume that this osmolyte could be enhanced by seed priming. Generally, it could be concluded that seed priming results in improving growth and seed criteria of okra especially under water stress conditions.