A series of pot experiments was conducted under plastic house at the nursery of Hort. Res. Inst., ARC, Giza, Egypt during 2012 and 2013 seasons to reveal the individual and combined effects of actosol (a humic acid NPK liquid fertilizer) when applied monthly as a foliar spray at the rates of 0.0, 2.5 and 5.0 ml/l and as a soil drench at the rates of 0.0, 10.0 and 15.0 ml/l on growth and chemical composition of mistletoe fig (Ficus deltoidea Jack.) transplants (6- months-old) grown in 20-cm-diameter plastic pots filled with about 2.5 kg of a mixture of sand, clay and peatmoss (1:1:1, v/v/v). The obtained results indicated that all vegetative and root growth parameters, the photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a, b and carotenoids) in the leaves, as well as N, P, K, Fe, Zn and Mn concentration in the leaves and roots were markedly improved in response to spraying or drenching with humic acid liquid fertilizer at various levels, with the superiority of the combination between 5.0 ml/l level as foliar spray and 10.0 ml/l level as soil drench, which gave, in general the highest records in the two seasons compared to control and all other treatments. Hence, it could be recommended to apply humic acid liquid fertilizer (actosol) monthly during the active growing period at the rate of 5.0 ml/l as foliage spray combined with 10.0 ml/l level as soil drench in order to get good and healthy mistletoe fig (Ficus deltoidea Jack.) plants suitable for commercial marketing.

The experimental trial was consummated throughout two successive seasons (2012 and 2013) at the Post-Harvest Lab. of Ornamental Plants and Landscape Gardening Research Dept., Hort. Res. Inst.; Giza, Egypt on Gypsophila paniculata L. “Perfecta” cut flowers. Short postharvest vase life is one of the most important problems on the cut flowers. In this study we investigated the effect of natural plant extracts of thyme (Thymus vulgaris) or moringa (Moringa oleifera Lam), chemical solutions (8-Hydroxyquinoline citrate, salicylic acid and sucrose) as holding solution and storage periods (0 and 7 days at 4°C) on extending the vase life of gypsophila cut flowers. The treatments were: distilled water (D.W.), thyme extract (25%), thyme extract (25%) + sucrose (2%) + salicylic acid (150 mg/l), moringa extract (25%), moringa extract (25%) + sucrose (2%) + salicylic acid (150 mg/l) and 8-Hydroxyquinoline citrate (200 mg/l) + sucrose (2%) + salicylic acid (150 mg/l). Results showed that holding solution containing natural extracts: thyme (25%) + sucrose (2%) + salicylic acid (150 mg/l), moringa (25%), moringa (25%) + sucrose (2%) + salicylic acid (150 mg/l) increased flower longevity followed by the chemical solution of 8- Hydroxyquinoline citrate (200 mg/l) + sucrose (2%) + salicylic acid (150 mg/l) as compared to D.W. The results also revealed that extracts solution (thyme or moringa plus sucrose and salicylic acid) increased fresh weight %, total carbohydrates % and water uptake, but decreased water loss, maintained quality rate, water balance, and decreased number of bacteria in the solution. Concerning the effect of storage period (dry cold storage for 7 days) it has shown favorable effect on vase life and the other studied characters, but 0 day (unstored flowers) significantly surpassed the storage for 7 days. The results of interaction showed that holding solutions containing natural extracts with storage for 0 days (unstored flowers) had the highest effect on vase life, fresh weight %, total carbohydrates % , water uptake, water loss, water balance and quality rate. It could be concluded that the best treatments were natural extracts: thyme (25%) + sucrose (2%) + salicylic acid (150 mg/l) and moringa (25%) + sucrose (2%) + salicylic acid (150 mg/l) stored 0 day (unstored flowers), which significantly improved the studied characters compared to the other treatments.

Two pot experiments were conducted under plastic house (temperature, R.H. and light intensity inside the plastic house during the course of study were ranged between: 24.5-38.7°C, 46.6- 81.5% and 500-600 lux, respectively) at the nursery of Hort. Res. Int., ARC, Giza, Egypt during 2012 and 2013 seasons to study the effect of a liquid commercial product which contains 1g/l sodium 5- nitroguaiacolate + 2g/l sodium ortho-nitrophenolate + 3g/l sodium para-nitrophenolate when added individually or in combination, monthly for 5 repeats during the growing season, either as a foliar spray or as a soil drench at the rates of 0.25, 0.50 and 1.00 cm3/l on growth performance and chemical composition of the slow-growing Ficus deltoidea Jack. foliage pot-plant. The results of the experiments showed that all vegetative and root growth parameters were improved in response to the various treatments used in this work with the different significance levels relative to an untreated control in both seasons. Spraying the foliage with the low and medium levels gave, to some extent better results than the high level, while that was true for soil drench method when nitrophenolates were drenched at the low rate. Increasing level of nitrophenolates to 1.0 cm3/l did not cause any additional improvement in growth, whereas combining between the two application methods clearly enhanced growth. So, the supremacy was for the combination of foliar spray and soil drench at 1.0 cm3/l for each, as this combination gave the highest means in most cases of the two seasons. A similar trend was also attained concerning the leaf content of chlorophylls a and b, carotenoids , N, P, K, Fe, Zn and Mn, as these constituents were higher in the leaves of treated plants by the two methods of application at the high level for both (1.0 cm3/l) than in the leaves of plants treated with other treatments. Hence, it is recommended to apply the liquid commercial product of nitrophenolates to mistletoe fig plant, monthly for 5 times during the growing season, as a foliar spray and soil drench at the rate of 1.0 cm3/l for each to attain better growth performance and chemical composition.

A field experiment was conducted at the Botanical Gardens Research Department Land, Hort. Res. Inst. Alex., Egypt, during 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 seasons to study the effect of Kfeldspar rock fertilizer on growth and mineral content of Moringa seedlings. Feldspar grinded rock and potassium sulphate were used as fertilizer sources of K fertilizer to Moringa plants. Fertilizer treatments consisted of three rates of K-feldspar (0, 200, 400 g /tree) and three rates of K-sulphate (0, 100, 200 g /tree), besides six combinations prepared from K-feldspar and K-sulphate. These amounts were added as a soil drench in two equal doses, the first one was applied immediately after planting (on April, 15th.), while the other after 3 months from the first (on July, 15th.). In addition, all Moringa seedlings received phosphate (50 g P2O5/ tree), organic manure (3kg/tree) and N (50 g / tree) at processing and preparing the soil to planting seedlings. Also, in the second season, Moringa seedlings were cultivated at the same age and height as well as the same agricultural practices as in the first one. The obtained results indicated that all treatments increased plant height and stem diameter with various significant differences compared to the control at the different determinations assessed in the two seasons. However, the superiority in the two seasons was for the combination of 200g K-F + 100g K-S, which gave the tallest plants and widest stems, as well as K mineral content of either soil or plant. In general, connecting between K-F and K-S recorded better results than the individual application of each in most determinations registered in both seasons. Also, increasing the rate of either K-F or KS, individually or in combination caused an addition improvement in all previous characters measured in different stages of the two seasons. Moreover, treatments that involved K-feldspar gave better results in the second period of each season than that included K-sulphate alone, indicating its ability to provide plants with K+ ions for a long period. So, it can be recommended to fertilize Moringa seedlings with 200g K-feldspar grinded rock + 100g of K-sulphate for to obtain the best growth with the least cost.

Two pot experiments were carried out at the Nursery of Antoniades Botanical Garden, Hort. Res. Inst., Alexandria, Egypt during the years of 2012 and 2013. The objectives of this study were to study the effect of soaking corms of three cultivars of Gladiolus sp., namely: Eurovision (Red), Nova Lux (Yellow) and Peter Pears (Peach) in the aqueous solution of either ethyl methane sulfonate (EMS) at the rates of 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3 and 0.4 % concentrations for 24 hrs. or colchicine at the rates of 0 and 0.1% concentrations for 24 or 48 hrs. on growth performance and corm production. The obtained results indicated that the different levels of EMS had a slight effect on sprouting date, but colchicine treatments induced a significant earliness in both seasons, with the dominance of soaking for 24 hrs. treatment. Cultivar factor had no pronounced effect on sprouting date. All treatments increased plant height over control, but the tallest plants were obtained from corms soaked in EMS at 0.1 or 0.2% concentrations. Plants of cv. Peter Pears were generally taller than those of Eurovision and Nova Lux cultivars. The greatest No. leaves/plant were recorded in the two seasons by soaking the corms in 0.1% colchicine solution for 24 hrs. Furthermore, soaking in 0.1% colchicine solution for 48 hrs. and in EMS one up to 0.3% level recorded also a higher No. leaves. Eurovision and Nova Lux cvs. gave higher No. Leaves than cv. Peter Pears in both seasons. However, the greatest No. Leaves/plant for the 3 used cultivars in both seasons were also attributed to treating with 0.1% colchicine solution for 24 hrs. Colchicine at 0.1% for 24 hrs. resulted the widest diameter and heaviest fresh weight of the new formed corms, as well as the highest number of cormels/plant over control and other treatments in most cases of the two seasons. The highest No. cormels/plant in the two seasons were recorded for Eurovision and Nova Lux cvs. also by soaking in 0.1% colchicine solution for 24 hrs., but for cv. Peter Pears that was gained by soaking in 0.1% EMS solution for 24 hrs. Therefore the study recommended to soak the corms of the three studied cultivars in 0.1% colchicine solution for 24 hrs. immediately before planting to get better growth performance and higher corm production.

This investigation was carried out during three successive seasons (2011, 2012 and 2013) at Siwa Oasis, Matruh Governorate and Tamiya District, Fayoum Governorate. The investigation included three types of experiments; the first was concerned with the evaluation of twenty chosen seedling palm males in order to select the most promising males. Five male pollinizers were selected according to spathes number, flowers number/spathe, start and duration of spathe burst, pollen grains weight, pollen grains viability (at Siwa Oasis in 2011 and 2012 seasons). The numerical selection of selected male palms showed that pollinizer No. 5 (98.9 units), No. 14 (98.8 units), No. 7 (83.6 units), No. 12 (81.9 units) and No. 13 (81.8 units). The results indicated that the five selected pollinators increased the yield of both Seewy and Barhee cultivars in both two seasons (2012 and 2013) grown at Tamiya District, Fayoum Governorate. Pollinizer No. 12 induced an early harvesting in both Barhee and Seewy cultivars, while pollinizer No. 7 gave the highest yield in both Seewy and Barhee cultivars as well as moisture percentage. Meanwhile, pollinizer No. 12 gave the highest values of total sugar content and TSS % in Seewy cultivar. The results indicated that pollinizer No. 13 gave the highest dry matter %. Also, the results indicated that pollinizer No. 14 gave the highest fruit dimensions as well as both fruit weight and flesh weight. The pollinizer No. 5 gave the lowest seed weight in both two seasons. The selected five pollinators seedling were genetically discriminated by inter-simple sequence repeats for characterization and construction of genetic linkage maps and the molecular genetic diversity among the five selected pollinators. The results indicated that pollinizers No. 12 and 14 recorded the highest similarity (100%), while the lowest similarity (0.0%) was detected between pollinizer No. 7 and No. 13.

In a trial to solve one of the most important problems faced the production of Gladiolus plant in Egypt, i. e. the deterioration of corms production year after year. Therefore, they are annually imported from Netherlands. But in view of the rising prices of corms in recent years, studying the factors that may help to produce the corms locally is very necessary. So, the experimental trial was performed during two successive seasons (2011/2012 and 2012/2013) at the nursery of Horticulture Research Institute, Giza, Egypt. It intended to investigate the independent as well as the combined effects of different growing media (sand, sand/compost (1:1 v/v); sand/sewage sludge (3:1 v/v) and organic fertilization (actosol) and biostimulants (garlic and yeast extracts) on the production of Gladiolus corms from cormlets (cv. Novalux) locally. The results indicated that sand/compost (1:1 v/v) medium proved its mastery for increasing corms yield (No. of corms/experimental unit), corm fresh and dry weights, corm circumference, root length of the new formed corms, cormlets yield and cormlet fresh and dry weights. Using sand medium in plantation occupied the second rank in improving such parameters in both seasons. Meanwhile, slight effects were obtained on the same parameters due to using sand/sewage sludge medium in plantation. Chemical constituents of the new formed corms indicated also the prevalence of using sand/compost medium in raising N, P, K and total carbohydrates %. Actosol treatment proved its superiority in increasing both corms yield and quality in both seasons. Meanwhile, applying garlic extract occupied the second rank in improving the same traits with significant effect comparing with control in most cases. However, using yeast extract slightly improved these parameters and achieved the third position. Results, also showed the prevalence of treating plants with actosol for increasing cormlets yield (No. of cormlets/experimental unit) whereas, garlic extract achieved the second position for elevating the same parameter. Meanwhile, yeast application recorded the least effect in improving such trait. In the same time, either organic fertilization (actosol) or biostimulants (garlic and yeast) slightly improved cormlet fresh and dry weights, with insignificant effect in most cases. Also, the previous treatments showed slight increments on N, P, K and total carbohydrates % in new formed corms, where actosol was the best in this respect. Form the aforementioned results and interactions it could be recommended to grow Gladiolus (cv. Novalux) cormlets in sand/compost (1:1 v/v) medium and treating plants with organic fertilization (actosol) for producing the best corms and cormlets yield and quality.

The experimental trial was consummated during two successive seasons (2011/ 2012 and 2012/ 2013) at the nursery of Hort. Res. Inst., Giza, Egypt. It was intended to find out the solve of one of the most important problems faced the production of Gladiolus in Egypt, i.e. the deterioration of corms production year after year. So, the independent as well as the combined effects of different growing media (sand, sand/compost 1:1 v/v and sand/sewage sludge 3:1 v/v), fertilization treatments (NPK at 1:2:1, kristalon and EM 5%) and their interaction were investigated on the production of Gladiolus corms from cormlets locally. The results indicated that growing cormlets in sand/compost (1:1 v/v) medium proved its mastery in raising corms yield, corm fresh and dry weights, corm circumference and root length of corm as well as cormlets yield and quality in both seasons. Meanwhile, using sand medium in plantation achieved the second rank in improving the same parameters in the same seasons. Results indicated also the prevalence of all corms and cormlets parameters due to applying the mixture of N, P and K, whereas kristalon and EM 5% showed less effect in this regard. Chemical constituents of the new formed corms were also affected by the previous treatments, where growing cormlets in sand/compost medium showed its superiority in raising N, P and K as well as total carbohydrates content in the new corms. Also, NPK fertilization revealed an increment on the same parameters in the same organ. From the aforementioned results and interactions, it could be recommended to grow Gladiolus (cv. Novalux) cormlets in sand/compost medium along with treating the plants with NPK mixture at a ratio of 1: 2: 1 at the rate of 2 g/pot, 8 times at 15 day intervals to obtain high yield and quality of the new formed corms.

A series of pot experiments was conducted under plastic house at the nursery of Hort. Res. Inst., ARC, Giza, Egypt during 2012 and 2013 seasons to reveal the individual and combined effects of actosol (a humic acid NPK liquid fertilizer) when applied monthly as a foliar spray at the rates of 0.0, 2.5 and 5.0 ml/l and as a soil drench at the rates of 0.0, 10.0 and 15.0 ml/l on growth and chemical composition of mistletoe fig (Ficus deltoidea Jack.) transplants (6- months-old) grown in 20-cm-diameter plastic pots filled with about 2.5 kg of a mixture of sand, clay and peatmoss (1:1:1, v/v/v). The obtained results indicated that all vegetative and root growth parameters, the photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a, b and carotenoids) in the leaves, as well as N, P, K, Fe, Zn and Mn concentration in the leaves and roots were markedly improved in response to spraying or drenching with humic acid liquid fertilizer at various levels, with the superiority of the combination between 5.0 ml/l level as foliar spray and 10.0 ml/l level as soil drench, which gave, in general the highest records in the two seasons compared to control and all other treatments. Hence, it could be recommended to apply humic acid liquid fertilizer (actosol) monthly during the active growing period at the rate of 5.0 ml/l as foliage spray combined with 10.0 ml/l level as soil drench in order to get good and healthy mistletoe fig (Ficus deltoidea Jack.) plants suitable for commercial marketing.