Climate change poses challenges to agricultural production in general and to plant breeders in particular. Adaptation of cereals to the new conditions and increasingly variable situations arising from this process is essential to reduce risks and limit potential threats associated with climate hazards. This study presents the first attempt to assess the response and resilience of barley genotypes, with different growth habits across Egypt. For this purpose, eight field trials were conducted from 2013 to 2016 at three experimental sites with different winter climate configurations. The trials were sown at the end of November, following recommendations for the region. Fourteen barley genotypes were evaluated, comprising seven commercial Egyptian cultivars and seven European genotypes. The European genotypes were selected from successful cultivars from Spain, encompassing a range of growth types: two spring, three intermediate and two winter types. The cultivars were genotyped for six major adaptation genes, Vrn-H1-2-3, Ppd-H1-2 and HvCEN. One interesting finding is that, while the Egyptian cultivars were assumed to be of spring growth type, our results demonstrate that two cultivars, namely Giza123 and Giza126, are actually intermediate types (needing just a short period of vernalization). They contain the winter allele at Vrn-H2 together with Vrn-H1-4, the same as the European genotypes Cierzo and Orria, they also have an active allele at PpdH2, such as Hispanic. Overall, these four genotypes showed very good performance in all trials with low genotype-by-environment interaction. Moreover, a foreign late spring genotype (Pewter) was highly productive and a winter genotype (Hispanic) flowered as early as some intermediate and spring genotypes with a yield similar to genotypes currently grown in Egypt. A possible explanation for this surprising occurrence, the influence of an active allele at PpdH2 in winter cultivars, is discussed. In relation to low temperature, a high frequency of cold nights during wintertime was observed at all experimental sites, which seemed sufficient to promote timely flowering for intermediate genotypes, although this was inadequate for promoting flowering and achieving good productivity in strictly winter genotypes (e.g. Barberousse). Our findings also highlight the potential of exotic germplasm for breeding better and more resilient cultivars for autumn and for achieving good yield levels in regions with warm winters like Egypt. The results also provide insights into the usefulness of genetic variation in growth habit for breeders seeking adaptation to climate change conditions.

Identifying stable, high-yielding genotypes is essential for food security. This is particularly relevant in the current climate change scenario, which results in increasing occurrence of adverse conditions in the Mediterranean region. The objective of this study was to evaluate stability of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) grain yield, and its relationship to the duration of the growth cycle and its stability under Mediterranean conditions in Egypt. Nineteen genotypes were evaluated during three growing seasons (2013–14 to 2015–16) at two locations (Elkhatara, Ghazala) and two growing seasons (2014–15 and 2015–16) at a third location (Ras-Sudr), i.e. eight environments (location–year combinations) in total. The linear regression explained a significant 48.2% and 22.8% of GEI variation for days to heading and grain yield, respectively, and the genotypic linear slopes were highly related to the first principal component of the AMMI model. Although all genotypes were well adapted to the region, there were different GEI responses, with changes in ranking across locations. Some stable and broadly adapted genotypes were identified, as well as unstable genotypes with specific adaptations. High yields across environments were attained by very stable (G4, G5), intermediate and stable (G1, G9) and highly responsive (G18, G19) genotypes. In general, responsiveness (b values) of yield and days to heading were negatively correlated, and high yielding genotypes showed different patterns of responses of days to heading. Genotypes G1, G4, G5 and G9 seemed best adapted overall, with longer season genotypes (e.g. G18 and G19) offering prospects to explore other formats of varieties in breeding, particularly for situations of climate instability.

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The study was designed to investigate the effect of four phosphorus bio-chemical fertilization regimes (F 1 :100% chemical phosphorus"15.5 kg P 2 O 5 ", F 2 :50% of F 1 +phosphorein, F 3 :25% of F 1 + phosphorein and F 4 : sole phosphorein) on the yield and seed quality of three lentil varieties (Giza9, Sina1 and Giza29). Results indicated that, with exception for 1000 seed weight, lentil variety Giza-9 significantly surpassed Sina1 and Giza29 in plant height, No. of branches/plant, No. of pods/plant, seed yield/fad., and biological yield/fad., as well as harvest index. On the other hand, Sina1 recorded the highest 1000 seed weight. Although Giza29 recoded the lowest values in yield and its components, it has the highest seed protein (%) and seedling root length. The maximum plant height (cm), No. of branches/plant, No. of pods/plant and No. of seeds/pod was obtained with suppling 100% chemical phosphorus. Supremacy each of seed index, lentil seed yield /fad, biological yield /fad and harvest index was the result from suppling either % 15.5 kg P 2 O 5 /fad. 100% P or 50 %P+ phosphorein, both fertilization regimes 25% P + phosphorein and sole biofertilizer phosphorein ranked third and fourth. The same trend was noted in protein yield/fad, root length, shoot length as well as seedling vigor index.

<span>This paper presents an analytical comparison between two-level inverter and three-level neutral point diode clamped inverters for electric vehicle traction purposes. The main objective of the research is to declare the main differences in the performance of the two inverter schemes in terms of the switching and conduction losses over an entire domain of the modulation index and the phase angle distribution, steady-state operation, transient operation at a wide range of speed variation, and the total harmonic distortion THD% of the line voltage output waveform. It also declares the analysis of the three-level neutral point diode clamped inverter (NPCI) obstacle and the unbalance of the DC-link capacitor voltages. The introduced scheme presents an Induction Motor (IM) drive for electric vehicle (EV) applications. Considering the dynamic operation of the EV, the speed of the three-phase induction motor is controlled using a scalar V/Hz control for the full range of the IM power factor (PF). A comprehensive MATLAB/Simulink model for the proposed scheme is established.</span>