At the Faculty of Agriculture, Tanta University, and under the patronage of Prof. Essawy Qassem Mahmoud, Faculty Dean, and Prof. Amgad Abdel Ghafar El-Gammal, Vice Dean for Postgraduate Studies and Research, and hosted by the Department of of Horticulture, headed by Prof. Fahmy Abdel Rahman Sadeq, the public defense of the master’s thesis submitted by researcher Ahmed El-Sayed Ahmed Hemeida — Demonstrator at the Department of Horticulture (Vegetable Crops) — was held on Wednesday, September 16, 2026. The research was registered for the Master’s degree at the Department of Horticulture (Vegetable Crops).  

Thesis Title:

"Heterosis, Genetic Parameters, and Molecular-based Diversity in Summer Squash (Cucurbita pepo L.) using a Half Diallel Crosses" 

Supervisory Committee:

Prof. Mohamed Imam Ragab, Professor of Vegetable Crops, Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University.

Asst. Prof. Ibrahim El-Sawy El-Balat, Assistant Professor of Vegetable Crops, Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Tanta University.

Asst. Prof. Assem Abdel Maged El-Araby, Assistant Professor of Vegetable Crops, Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Tanta University.

Judgment and Discussion Committee:

Prof. Mohamed Imam Ragab, Professor of Vegetable Crops, Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University (representing the Supervisory Committee and Chairman).

Prof. Soliman Ahmed Omran, Research Professor, Horticulture Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center (External Examiner).

Asst. Prof. Ibrahim El-Sawy El-Balat, Assistant Professor of Vegetable Crops, Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Tanta University (representing the Supervisory Committee).

Asst. Prof. Mohamed Hussein Abdel Fattah, Assistant Professor of Genetics, Department of Genetics, Faculty of Agriculture, Tanta University (Internal Examiner).

    The researcher gave an excellent presentation of the thesis, followed by a discussion by the Judgment and Discussion Committee of its content. The researcher competently and confidently answered all questions and inquiries. The committee commended the thesis presentation and its scientific value and recommended awarding the researcher the Master’s degree in Agricultural Science (specialization of Horticulture - Vegetable Crops). 

   The defense was attended by faculty members and teaching assistants from the department and the faculty, as well as researchers and postgraduate students from the faculty, faculties of agriculture at Egyptian universities, and research centers, in addition to the researcher’s family, relatives, and friends.

   Congratulations to the researcher and the members of both the Supervisory Committee and the Judgment and Discussion Committee, with best wishes for continued success and achievement.

9/30/2026