FACTOR AFFECTING BEE HONEY QUALITY ACCEPTANCE INCLUDING CONTENTS AND EXTRACTION METHOD

The Egyptian Standard ES: 355-1 / 2005 indicates that the content of nectar honeys from reducing sugars should not be less than 60%, while the content of reducing sugars in honeydew honeys should not be less than 40%. While the sucrose content should not exceed 10% in the case of citrus honey, and not more than 5% for each of Egyptian clover honey, cotton, fennel honey, and multifloral honey. These standards were examined within 165 randomized bee honey samples at the end of nectar honey flow and after honey extracted. The honey authenticity characterization according to the plants sources (i.e. citrus, clover, cotton, fennel, multifloral and unknown) In addition to artificial honey. Characters considered were extract method (only honey combs versus all combs), acceptance, pollen contents and percent sugars (i.e. fructose, glucose, sucrose, maltose and reducing sugars). For citrus honey 37 ones were accepted and 6 were rejected. For clover ones 5 were accepted and 16 were rejected. For cotton ones 18 were accepted and 5 were rejected. For fennel ones 26 were accepted and 4 were rejected. For multifloral honeys 10 were accepted and 8 were rejected for unknown honeys and artificial honey (30) all were rejected. Overall acceptance was 96 versus 69 rejections. For single factor affected acceptance higher fructose, and glucose were positively highly significant, while higher maltose was negatively significant. Applying multiple regressions indicated that increase of sucrose percentage and extracting methods were the significant factors influenced honey acceptance with Egyptian standards. The honey market needs future studies to follow up the management of apiaries in honey production and to limit the methods of honey adulteration.

Effect of Indigenous Bee Attractants on Qualitative and Quantitative Parameters of Egyptian Clover, Trifolium alexandrinum L.

Background: Egyptian clover (Trifolium alexandrinum L.) is one of the most important annual, winter, multi-cut fodder legumes grown in northern India. Many a times, poor activity of pollinators cited for lower seed production in berseem. Therefore, an appropriate local food-based bee attractants need to be identified and their effectiveness in enhancing berseem seed yield needs to be assessed. Methods: The experiment was conducted to evaluate the significance of bee visit on yield parameters of berseem. In addition, the effect of attractant (jaggery and sugar at 10%) in enticing honey bees towards the berseem flower was evaluated at ICAR- IGFRI, Jhansi during 2017 and 2018. Result: Both the attractants (jaggery and sugar at 10%) are equally effective in drawing the Apis dorsata towards berseem and higher bee visits (8.75 and 8.54/m2/5 min) were recorded one hour after application. Maximum seed setting percentage was recorded in plots sprayed with jaggery (83.53) followed by sugar solution (82.58), which is significantly superior over farmers practice i.e. crop left for open pollination (74.86). Maximum seed yield was obtained from plots sprayed with jaggery solution (8.15 q/ ha). The bee visit had significant positive effect on seed yield (0.685*) and 1000 seed weight (0.671*).

Improvement of Maize Productivity and N Use Efficiency in a No-Tillage Irrigated Farming System: Effect of Cropping Sequence and Fertilization Management

The sequence of the preceding crops in a no-tillage farming system, could interact with the integrated use of mineral and organic nitrogen (N) sources in a way that improves the growth and productivity of the terminal maize crop, meanwhile, enhancing its N use efficiency (NUE). In the current study, six legume-cereal crop sequences, including faba bean, soybean, Egyptian clover, wheat, and maize were evaluated along two experimental rotations that ended up by planting the terminal maize crop. In addition, the effects of applying variable mineral nitrogen (MN) rates with and without the incorporation of farmyard manure (FYM) on the productive performance of maize and its NUE were tested. The field experiments were conducted in a no-tillage irrigated farming system in Northern Egypt, a location that is characterized by its arid, Mediterranean climate. Results revealed that increasing the legume component in the evaluated crop sequences, up to 75%, resulted in improved maize ear leaf area, 1000-grain weight, and harvest index, thus, a higher final grain yield, with the inclusion of Egyptian clover was slightly better than faba bean. Comparing the crop sequences with 50% legume contribution uncovered the positive effects of soybean preceding crop on the terminal maize crop. Substituting 25% of the applied MN with FYM resulted in similar maize yields to the application of the equivalent 100% MN rates. The fertilizer treatments significantly interacted with the crop sequences in determining the maize grain yield, where the highest legume crop contribution in the crop sequence (75%) equalized the effects of the different fertilizer treatments on maize grain yield. The integrated use of FYM with MN in maize fertilization improved the NUE compared to the application of MN alone. Comparing fertilization treatments with similar MN content, with and without FYM, revealed that the difference in NUE was attributed to the additional amount of FYM. In similar conditions to the current study, it is recommended to grow faba bean two years before maize, while Egyptian clover could be grown directly preceding maize growth, with frequent inclusion of soybean in the sequence, this could be combined with the application of an average of 200 kg MN ha−1 in addition to FYM.

Efficacy of the entomopathogenic nematode isolates against Spodoptera littoralis (Boisduval) and Agrotis ipsilon (Hufnagel) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Background Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs), as biological control agents, have been isolated from many regions throughout the world. Local isolates of EPNs are usually more effective for controlling indigenous insect pests as they are adapted to the local environmental conditions and the insect pest species. Results In the present work, EPN isolates were searched in the soil under citrus and guava trees, and Egyptian clover at Noubaria region, Elbhaira governorate, Egypt, within two consecutive years. The EPNs were isolated from two positive soil samples of Egyptian clover (Trifolium alexandrinum) (TAN5) and guava trees (Psidium guajava) (PGN6), while the EPNs were not existent in the soil samples under citrus. Laboratory applications of the two EPNs isolates against the cotton leafworm, Spodoptera littoralis(Boisd.), and the black cutworm, Agrotis ipsilon (Hufn.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), were recorded. Nematodes naturally occurring in the soil were trapped by full-grown larvae of the greater wax moth (Galleria mellonella L.). Infected larvae turned from whitish beige to dark reddish color, proofed that these isolates belong to the genus Heterorhabditis. Laboratory results revealed that the mortality rate ranges from 24 to 100% with TAN5 while from 18 to 96% with PGN6 at A. ipsilon larvae. The LC50 values of TAN5 against A. ipsilon were 1285.527 and 1560.747 IJs/cup, while those values for S. littoralis were 1339.099 and 2531.605 IJs/cup in larvae and pupae, respectively. The 3rd instar larvae of A. ipsilon and S. littoralis were more sensitive than the pupae. Production of Heterorhabditis sp. strain TAN5 was the highest in the reproduction of infective juveniles than the strain PGN6 at all concentrations. Conclusions The EPNs isolated from the soil samples belonged to the genus Heterorhabditis. Heterorhabditis sp. strain (TAN5) collected from the soil under Egyptian clover at Noubaria region was the highest reproduction and the most effective against both tested pests, A. ipsilon and S. littoralis larvae and pupae. EPN species would serve as an alternative to chemical pesticides and fit well in an integrated pest management program against larvae as well as adults and pupae of many economic insect pests which inhabit the soil.