Abstract: Field experiments were carried out at Faculty of Agriculture, Sohag University, Egypt to estimate observed and expected response to selection and genetic parameters after two cycles of phenotypic selection in F₂ population. Highly significant differences among F₃ and F₄ families under normal and drought stress conditions for no. of spikes/plant (NS), 100-Seed weight (SW), plant height (PH), days to heading (DH) and grain yield/plant (GY) were observed. Direct response to selection for NS, SW and PH were positive and highly significant with values of 15.16, 26.34 and 6.18 %, respectively compared with check cultivar ( 1) in F₄ generation under normal conditions. Meanwhile, under drought conditions, they were 14.39, 20.35 and 6.35%, respectively. Correlated response to selection was significant and positive for GY compared with check cultivar under two conditions. While, it was very significant and negative for HD under normal and drought stress. Expected response to selection for NS, SW and PH were (1.45 and 1.62 spikes/plant), (0.37 and 0.23 gm) and (6.21 and 5.90 cm), respectively in F₄ under normal and water stress conditions, respectively. High broad sense heritability values for NS, SW and PH was obtained under normal and drought stress in F₃ and F₄ generations. Narrow sense heritability in F4 were (48.24 and 55.31%), (53.34 and 43.43%) and (52.12 and 48.73%) for NS, SW and PH, respectively, under normal and drought stress, respectively. Positive and significant correlation between three characters (no. of spikes/pant, 100 kernel weight and plant height) and grain yield/plant under normal and drought stress conditions. Thus, direct selection of these characters should be of major concern for increased grain yield under two conditions. Drought susceptibility index (DSI) showed that four families were superior for drought tolerance and had high grain yield under drought stress in F₄ generations. These genotypes could be used as source of drought tolerance/or factors contributing to general adaptation.

Abstract: The study was carried out in Makonde District, located 17°21' S and 30°12' E in Mashonaland West Province to assess the efficiency of improved and traditional granaries in protecting traditional and hybrid maize from Prostephanus truncatus. Ten farmers were randomly selected from 20 wards in the District. Multistage cluster sampling and purposive sampling techniques were used. Amongst the 10 selected farmers, 5 were using traditional granaries and the other 5 were using improved granaries. Four farmers used in the study stored a traditional maize variety (Hickory King) and six farmers stored a hybrid variety (SC 513). Demographic data on the farmers was captured on a questionnaire which was conducted at the beginning of the study. The questionnaire had information on type of storage granary, age of farmers, type of stored maize variety, amount of maize stored, major prevalent pests and grain management practices. Hybrid and traditional maize varieties stored in selected improved and traditional granaries. The maize varieties were first fumigated for a week using phosphine tablets and granaries were first disinfected using Deltamethrin (2.4% w.p) at 1.5g/l water at 20ml/m². Fumigated traditional and hybrid maize were then stored in disinfected granaries. Maize grains were stored for 6 months. Traditional, intermediate traditional, intermediate improved, improved granaries had 36%, 16%, 30% and 18% utilization amongst farmers respectively. Age of farmers showed a significant influence on the type of granary used to store their grain. Sitophilus zeamais, Prostephanus truncatus, Sitotroga cereallela were most prevalent insect species. The relative abundance of these pests in the granaries was 100%, 70% and 85% respectively. Hybrid maize (SC 513) was re-infested with Prostephanus truncatus after 3 months during storage in traditional granaries. The relative abundance of pests in a granary was influenced by the farmer duration of storage and the treatment. It was concluded that traditional granaries used by farmers were found to be prone to Prostephanus truncatus infestation as compared to improved granaries. There was a significant difference in the variations between granary type, maize variety and levels of Prostephanus truncatus infestation.

Abstract: The response of cocoyam (Colocasia esuclenta (L.) Schott) to various treatments(Twenty combinations of Treatments) of inorganic and organic amendments were studied under field conditions in 2011 and 2012 growing seasons at farm of the Regional Centre of Central Tuber Crops Research Institute, (CTCRI), Bhubaneswar. Odisha, India. Various enzymatic activities were studied for optimization cornel production. The physio chemical properties of soil quality with effect of integrated use of lime, biological, inorganic and organics on soil micro-flora were statistically analyzed for cocoyam production in lowland of Eastern India.

Abstract: The present work incorporates thorough investigations on Biology and Taxonomic studies of some insect pests belonging to family Noctuidae, damaging agricultural crops (cereals, vegetables, fruits, oilseeds fodders, medicinal plants and forest range plantation) at different sites viz., Afferwatt; 4000m, Sheeshnag; 3500m, Aru; 2800m, Chandanwari; 3000m, Daksum; 2800m, Bangus valley; 3500m, Sadna Pass; 3500m, Doodpather, 2870m, Dood Ganga, 2600m, of Kashmir Himalaya. The pest immature stages were collected alive from field in different types of collection containers and reared in the Biosystematics Laboratory of SKUAST-K, Shalimar, Srinagar (Jammu & Kashmir), India. Adults were also collected with the help of light traps. The experiment was conducted during 2011-2012 and resulted a total of 69 noctuid adult pest individuals, six noctuid pest species were reared viz., Thysanoplusia orichalcea (Fabricius), Cucullia verbasci Linnaeus, Heliothis armigera (Hubner), Agrotis ipsilon (Hufnagel), Garella ruficirra Hampson, and Amphipyra monolitha Guenee. Taxonomic study of these six species was also carried out.

Abstract: Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is an important cash crop and protein source for farmers in many parts of Ethiopia. However, its production is limited by phosphorus fertilizer. Therefore, field experiment was conducted at the Arba Minch farm field the main rain season of 2011 to investigate the responses of common bean to different levels of phosphorus fertilizer and its effect on growth, dry matter yield and yield component of the crop. Five phosphorus rates (0, 10, 20, 30 and 40kg ha^-1) were used as treatments. Red Wolaita common bean variety was used as planting material. Recommended rate of N (60 kg/ha) was applied to all treatments. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The effect of phosphorus was significantly increased dry matter yield, yield components and growth parameters such as leaf area and number of branches per plant, whereas its effect was not significant on plant height. Based on result obtained, application of 20P kgha^-1is recommended for better production of common bean at Arba Minch and similar areas which have the same soil property.