Begomoviruses infecting zucchini squash were investigated. Leaf samples were collected from zucchini squash growing areas in Baghdad (Jhadryaa and Yusufiyah), Babylon (Jibela and Mahmudiyah) and Diyala (Khan Bani Saad) Provinces. Samples were screened for the presence of begomoviruses using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Deng genus specific primers. Sixteen out of 40 samples were begomovirus positive. Sequence analysis confirmed the detection of Tomato leaf curl Palampur virus (TLCPALV)
Land snails constitute an important group of mollusks distributed worldwide. This study reports on land snails found in Iraq. A survey of terrestrial gastropods was performed during their activity seasons in gardens, agricultural lands and nurseries in Iraq from March 2022 to September 2023. Fifteen terrestrial snails belonging to seven families were documented. The species Euchondrus michonii (Bourguignat, 1853) was identified and recorded based on several distinct conchological characters for the first time in Iraq. The recently collected specimens, along with those previously recorded in Iraq, were included in this checklist. Essential information on each species is also presented. As there is no previous checklist or study that
... Show MoreIn this paper, an experimental study of the thermal performance for hybrid solar air conditioning system was carried out, to investigate system suitability for the hot climate in Iraq. The system consists of vapor compression unit combined with evacuated tube solar collector and liquid storage tank. A three-way valve was installed after the compressor to control the direction flow of the refrigerant, either to the storage tank or directly to the condenser. The performance parameters were collected by data logger to display and record in the computer by using LabVIEW software. The results show that the average coefficient of performance of hybrid solar air conditioning system (R=1) was about 2.42 to 2.77 and the average p
... Show MoreThe present study aims to isolate and identify ectoparasites, specifically hard ticks, that infest both domestic and wild rabbits. This research is motivated by the heightened sensitivity of rabbits to infestations by hard ticks, which are recognized as the primary vectors of certain blood-borne diseases, particularly Viral Hemorrhagic Fever (VHF). The study areas were spread across five provinces in Iraq: Baghdad, Karbala, Wasit, Mosul, and Al-Anbar. A total of 85 hard ticks (42 male and 43 female) were infested by 57 rabbits (Leporidae Family), including 19 wild rabbits (hare) with an infestation rate of 100% and 38 domestic rabbits with an infestation rate of 18.42%. Total of infestation was 45.61%. The current results are the oc
... Show MorePollen morphology characterization is an important field in taxonomy. This study aims to identify and characterize the pollen morphology for fourteen species from subfamily Caesalpiniodeae (Fabaceae). The results showed the similarity of all species pollen in terms of being monad and tri,zono-colporate type, and each Ceratonia siliqua and Senna occidentalis distinguished by having tetra,zono-colporate pollen as well, and the results revealed the prevalence of reticulate configuration in most studies species, while Ceratonia siliqua characterized by striates configuration, Cassia fistula distinguished by verrrucate-gemmate wall, and Senna species by verrrucate- perforate, as for the shape, showed a discrepancy in the general shape fr
... Show MoreObjectives: This research aims to assess the suitability and availability of climatic conditions for olive cultivation in Iraq. The study identifies the most and least suitable areas, along with intermediate areas, utilizing the ArcMap program for mapping and delineating agriculturally favorable regions. Methods: A descriptive approach was employed in this research, as an analytical approach was deemed essential for describing and analyzing data to attain scientific accuracy. Results: The research findings indicate that certain areas, namely Mosul, Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, and Kirkuk, exhibit high suitability for olive tree cultivation. The station at Al-Rutba demonstrates moderate feasibility, while Basra, Nasiriyah, Amarah, Baghdad,
... Show MoreThe purpose of this study is to describe the extent and nature of informal tenure practices in urban areas in Iraq, through undertaking a rapid assessment in Baghdad city. The UN-HABITAT 2008 publication Secure Land Rights for All discusses the importance of access and rights to land throughout the developing world. Secure land rights are critical to development and poverty reduction, and the greatest challenge in providing secure land rights are in urban areas, where overcrowding can lead to a number of informal tenure practices ranging from individually unregistered or unauthorised housing, to large informal settlements. Access to land is a fundamental basis for human shelter, food production, and other economic activity. Secur
... Show MoreBackground: Mycotoxins have a significant impact on population health worldwide. Ochratoxin is a common mycotoxin that can be detected in the serum of healthy people due to its prevalence in food. Researches on ochratoxin and its metabolites in biological fluids can help us better understand the toxin's biological impacts. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate whether individuals in Baghdad, Iraq, were exposed to ochratoxin A. Methodology: Serum samples were obtained from 90 healthy persons (ages 14–40 years) and evaluated for ochratoxin A using the human Ochratoxin A ELISA Kit, an accurate, quantitative, and sensitive technique (limit of detection 0.34 ng/ml). Results: We detected Ochratoxin A in all serum samples, with a m
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