This study was carried out during two successive seasons of 2013 and 2014, to investigate the effect of alternative dormancy breaking agents on bud break, growth, yield and fruit characteristics of "Le-Cont" pear cultivar. The following treatments were investigated at the dormant bud stage; 2% Garlic extract (GE) + 4% Summer oil; 4% GE + 4% (summer oil); 2% hydrogen cyanamide (H 2 CN 2) + 4% (summer oil); 4% H 2 CN 2 + 4% (summer oil); 2 % urea phosphite (CO(NH 2) 2 .H 3 PO 3) + 4% (summer oil); 4 % (urea phosphite) + 4% (summer oil); 4% Summer oil alone. The effects of all treatments were compared with the control (untreated trees). It is noticed that the beginning of flowering to all treatments resulted in early flowering and shorter than the control. All treatments increased both bud burst percentage and floral bud percentage; especially garlic extracts at the highest concentration. Garlic extract and urea phosphite concentration gave the highest number of fruits/tree and yield kg/tree also fruit weight, size and their dimensions have been affected. Hydrogen cyanamide 4 % and urea phosphite 2 % gave the softener fruits. In addition, all treatments was affected to increase TSS, total and reducing sugars than control treatment. Hormonal changes during the rest period in flower buds of Le-Conte pear were determined in the 2 nd season of the study. The highest levels of IAA and GA 3 contents were found to be in endo-dormancy (on the end of Feb.), while Abscisic acid showed the highest values during the 1 st deep dormancy (on the end of Dec.). It was a remarkable increases in IAA and GA 3 occurred at bud swelling stage. Meanwhile, the lowest level of ABA was observed at the same stage.

T HIS study was carried out during two successive seasons 2014 and 2015 on 8-year-old "Anna" apple trees budded on Balady rootstock and planted at 4 x 4 m apart on sandy soil at South El-Tahrir in a private farm under drip irrigation system. Addition of natural elements compound (NEC) as soil application beside other biofertilizers extract was investigated as compared with the mineral fertilization. Biofertilizers markedly affected soil organic matter, pH and E.C. as their values changed with Azolla, Cyanobacteria individually and/or in combination. The higher increases in nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium and magnesium content in apple leaves nutrients were observed with the treatment (Azolla + Cyanobacteria and natural elements). Biofertilizer extracts alone or in combination with (NEC) increased leaf area, leaf fresh weight, total leaf chlorophyll content, fruit set %, and yield. Foliar application of Cyanobacteria reduced fruit drop than foliated by Azolla in the two seasons. Treating trees by a combination of biofertilizer and NEC resulted in the highest fruit firmness, TSS %, vitamin C and total fruit sugar as compared with the other treatments. During cold storage, results showed, that the least weight loss percentage was recorded by NEC + Cyanobacteria and Azolla treatment in the two seasons. While the highest acidity % was recorded by the control and NEC treatments. Generally, application of biofertilizers extract (Azolla, Cyanobacteria and their mixture) with natural element compound (NEC) improved growth, yield and fruit quality at harvest and after storability process. In addition, the increase in microbial activity in the soil may reduce additions of inorganic fertilizers.

This study was conducted during two successive seasons of 2016 and 2017 on Haied and Amal apricot cultivars trees (5 years old) grown at 5 x 4 meters apart in Sandy soil of a private orchard at Nobaria, Beheira governorate. The treatments including Hockley Alpha the commercial name of (Naphthyl acetic acid 45%, Naphthyl acetamide 1.20%) sprayed alone at 120 g / 200 L of water and Nano Bloom the commercial name of (Naphthyl acetic acid 2%, Naphsoxy acetic acid 3%,

This research work was carried out in 2013 and 2014 seasons on "Costata" persimmon trees at Kafr Ashma farm (Menoufeya Governorate),to test the effectiveness of foliar sprays of some stimulants (Ascopin, GA 3 , Glycine, Chitosan, Azolla, Yeast and Kaolin), on tree yield parameters and fruit quality of fruits, especially tannin content. Each treatment was carried out on a separate row of 10 trees. Five monthly sprays were applied starting from 2 weeks after full bloom (mid April), till mid August. Application of these stimulants had good and variable effects, as they caused a significant increase in fruit set %, number of fruits/tree, yield, fruit weight, dimensions, TSS, acidity, TSS/acidity and firmness compared to the control. Samples of fruits at maturity were picked and placed 4 weeks at 4 ºC, and 90 RH and their quality criteria were estimated weekly. Chitosan, Azolla and Yeast achieved the best results in this respect. Yeast treatment resulted in the least content of tannins during fruit growth at harvest and after cold storage, but Ascopin had no positive effect on other quality attributes contrary to the noticeable effects of Chitosan, GA 3 , Azolla and Yeast on increasing T.S.S. % vitamin C, and on decreasing acidity % of fruits and decreasing their weight loss after storage. Fruits from Yeast treatment had the best taste . It is recommended to use any of these stimulants on persimmon orchard, especially Yeast, GA 3 . Azolla and preferably Yeast, because it is highly effective in getting high yield and reducing tannins as well as being a cheap natural material.

This investigation was conducted for two successive seasons (2013/2014 and 2014/2015) in a private orchard in Regwa district at Giza Governorate, Egypt to evaluate mature trees of "Pioneer and Hollywood" plum cultivars budded on "Nemagard" rootstock. The chosen trees were seven years old, grown in a sandy soil, spaced at 4 X 4 meters apart, irrigated by the drip system. The results revealed that Pioneer was earlier than Hollywood with regard to the phenological studies, which was three to four days earlier for onset of flowering, full bloom and onset of fruit set dates, due to less chilling requirements of Pioneer trees than Hollywood trees to end the dormancy period. While, Pioneer cv. recorded higher number of days from full bloom till maturity date (71& 91days) and Hollywood cv. recorded (61 & 83 days) in the both seasons respectively. Hollywood trees were in an upright form with pink blossoms, dark purple foliage, medium-sized and round fruit with rich flavor and blood-red flesh and skin. Pioneer trees were in a spread form with white blossoms, green foliage, bright red skin and the a pale yellow flesh. Regarding the vegetative growth traits, it was noticed that Hollywood cv. attained the highest significant values of shoot diameter and length, leaf number, leaf area and total chlorophyll as compared to Pioneer in both seasons. With respect to yield attributes and fruit physiochemical characteristics, Pioneer cv. was the significant highest values of yield, fruit weight and dimensions, whereas Hollywood cv. had significantly the highest percentage of the total soluble solids and the lowest percentage of acidity in both seasons. Concerning histological studies, the two cultivars showed similar levels of partially self-incompatible. Pioneer cv. had a higher degree of partial self-incompatibility than Hollywood cv. So, they need additional cultivars as pollinators for good growing and fruiting. As for the storability, it was clear that Pioneer and Hollywood fruits kept a good characteristics, expressed decrease of fruit weight loss and improvement of fruits physical and chemical characteristics, including the increase of fruit color, total soluble solids and the decrease of juice acidity during cold storage period at 2 o C and 90-95 % RH for three weeks. Therefore, the widespread cultivation of these two cultivars in Egypt is recommended.