Germination of three wheat varieties under equipotential levels of matric [vm] and osmotic [vs] stress

Choice of a crop plant to be suitable for cultivation in desert areas must be within some considerations. Desert areas are generally characterized by: [I] lack of water, [2] climatic extremes, [3] several wide deficiencies in nutrient elements, [4] salinity and ion toxicity problems and [5] interaction between one or more of such previous factors. In this work, the response of three wheat varieties [Sids 1, Sakha 93 and Glza 168] to major environmental hazards existing in desert habitats is accounted for. Besides, the combined effects of temperature, matric or osmotic water potentials under different temperatures on different germination characteristics are studied. The study is concerned with both the germination stage and the early seedling stage to ensure success of the vegetative growth later. In most cases, temperature as a single factor had the dominant effect on germination characteristics

Effect of long-term dehydration on serum constituents in extreme climatic conditions in camel (Camelus dromedarius).

Eight healthy female adult camels were used to study the effect of long term dehydration on serum constituents in extreme climatic conditions viz. cold and hot. The dehydration phases were of 24 days in cold and 13 days in hot conditions. The changes in sodium, potassium, calcium and phosphorus were non significant (P > 0.05) while in chloride, glucose, total proteins, urea, bilirubin, cholesterol and creatinine were significant (P < or = 0.05) during dehydration phase. The mean values of all the constituents tended to return to normal as the rehydration phase advanced. Changes in sodium and potassium in dehydrated camels reflected that they were able to maintain the salt balance.