Effect of Foliar Spray With Urea and Iron on Vegetative Growth and Mineral Contente of Peach Transplants cv. Dixired

Peach (Prunus persica Batsch) transplants cv. Dixired were sprayed three times a season with three levels of urea (45% N) (2.5, 5.0 and 7.5 gm/ L), and two levels of iron (10 and 20 mg Fe/ L) using chelated iron Fe-EDDHA (6%iron), each alone or in combination. Meanwhile the control transplants sprayed with distilled water during 2006 and 2007 growing seasons, twenty days intervals between each spray and another, the first spray is done at the first week of May in both seasons. Results indicated that all spray treatments with urea and iron each alone or with each other significantly increased leaves N, K, Fe, chlorophyll and carbohydrate concentration, transplant leaves area, shoots number, transplants height, main stem diameter and vegetative and root dry weight. While leaves P concentration, significantly decreased with the foliar spray with two concentrations of iron alone, or in combination with all concentrations of urea. The best treatment was 7.5 gm urea/ L + 20 mg Fe/ L., which gave the highest means of all studied parameters, except leaves P concentration, which were the highest mean of it was in the control treatment at both seasons.

First Report: Plant Parasitic Nematodes Associated with Peachs (Prunus persica) at Damascus and Hama Governorates, Syria

A study was conducted to investigate the presence of root knot nematode (RKN) and other plant parasitic nematodes associated with Syrian most important peach plantation areas. 126 soil and root samples were taken from 63 peach orchards of Ghuta, Zabadani, Yabrod, Syrghaya and Kharabo at Damascus governorate, and Tezeen, Kufr Ton, Khattab, Arzeh, Sheha, Qamhaneh, Balhasen, Rastan, Mhardeh, Salmieh, Sqalbieh and Sharaya at Hama governorate.