RETRACTED ARTICLE: Efficacy of inundative releases of Trichogramma evanescens in controlling Lobesia botrana in vineyards in Egypt

The present work was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of Trichogramma evanescens (Westwood) in controlling the European grape berry moth Lobesia botrana (Den. & Schiff.) in two vineyards, in El-Beheira and El-Gharbia Governorates, northern Egypt during the 2004 and 2005 seasons. T. evanescens was mass produced on Sitotroga cerealella (Olivier) eggs in National Research Center in Egypt. The horizontal and vertical searching activity of T. evanescens was studied to determine the proper way of distributing the Trichogramma cards in vineyards in 2004. Field experiments were also conducted to evaluate inundative releases of T. evanescens to control L. botrana on large scale in 2005. Parasitism by T. evanescens on L. botrana eggs was greatly affected with the horizontal or vertical distance from the release points. Parasitism reached over 97% and reduction percents of infestation were caused by the pest reached 96.8% in treated plots. A significant increase in the crop was achieved in treated plots. The results showed that the release cards should be distributed in every three grape rows and on height 130–170 cm to obtain good parasitism rates. T. evanescens could be a potential candidate for biological control of L. botrana in vineyards.     

Relationship between angioarchitecture of the testicular artery and spermiogram parameters in Egyptian buffalo bulls (bubalus bubalis)

The current study aimed to investigate the effect of testicular artery angioarchitecture on the spermiogram parameters in Egyptian Buffalo bulls. Eight adult buffalo bulls aged between 2 and 8 years were used for semen evaluation. For anatomical studies, the masculine gonads were collected after slaughtering 30 adult bulls and prepared for injection by different masses (Urographine^®, Latex and Epoxy) through the testicular artery. The mass activity of the ejaculate was assessed immediately after collection. The sperm motility in fresh bull ejaculate was more than 80%. The overall mean percentage of sperm abnormalities was <18%. The recorded sperm abnormalities were mostly secondary one including distal protoplasmic droplet, fragmented tail, detached head, detached galea capitis and bent tail. The highest percentage of sperm viability was recorded just after sperm collection (alive > 85%). The results revealed that testicular artery can be divided into three parts (abdominal, funicular and marginal parts) along its course. The coils of the funicular part forming a cone-like structure with its base fixed to the head of the testis. Two epididymal branches to the head and tail of epididymis emanate from the funicular part which continues as pars marginalis on the lateral surface of testis before its division into the lateral and medial testicular arteries on approaching the tail extremity of the testis. The increase in the length of the testicular artery with increase in the size of the testes played a great role in the degree of complexity of the architectural vascular patterns. The degree of complexity is affected by the number of coils formed by the vessel. The increase in the convolutions of the vessel will reduce the speed of blood flow to the gonads. Thus in turn will enabling the thermoregulatory mechanism to work more efficiently and will affect the semen value.     

Herbicidal Activities of Seven Native Plants on the Germination and Growth of Phalaris minor,Echinochloa crusgalli,Portulaca oleracea and Lactuca sativa

Plant extracts could turn out to be herbicides used in weed control. We evaluated the herbicidal effect of seven plants from the Al-Qassim Region of Saudi Arabia on germination and growth of Phalaris minor, Echinochloa crusgalli, Portulaca oleracea and Lactuca sativa. In the laboratory, plant extracts at 5, 10, 20 and 40 g/L inhibited the germination and seedling growth of test seeds. P. minor and P. oleracea were more sensitive to the extracts than L. sativa and E. crusgalli. The germination of either P. minor or P. oleracea were completely inhibited by Prosopisjuliflora at 10 g/L and by Rumex vesicarius and Teucrium baccatus at 20 g/L. Extract of Pulicaria undulate completely inhibited germination of target seeds at concentrations ranged from l 0 g/L to 40 g/L. The rank order of bioactivity was Prosopis jul（17ora 〉 Pulicaria undulata 〉 Rumex vesicarius 〉 Withania somnifera 〉 Teucrium baccatus 〉 Artemisia monosperma 〉 Anvillea garcinii. In the greenhouse trial, the extracts of seven plant species at 30, 60 and 90 g/L reduced growth of six-weeks-old target plants. Anvillea garcinii and Prosopisjuliflora showed the greatest effects. At 90 g/L, the reduction in the growth of target species reached between 20% and 30% for Anvillea garcinii and between I 1% and 25% for Prosopis juliflora. Overall, Prosopis juliflora, Pulicaria undulata, Anvillea garcinii and Rumex vesicarius had potential for use as natural herbicides or for development as novel plant-derived herbicides.