Effect of temperature and phytoplankton concentration on Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus (L.) filtration rate

Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus (L.) held in timed‐pulse feeding chambers, were provided with algal‐rich water dominated by either green algae (Scenedesmus, Ankistrodesmus, Chlorella and Tetraedron) or cyanobacteria (Microcystis) to determine the effect of temperature and phytoplankton concentration on filtration rates. Green algae and cyanobacteria filtration rates were measured as suspended particulate organic carbon (POC) kg^?1 wet fish weight h^?1. Ivlev's filter‐feeding model described the relationships between filtration rates and suspended POC concentration of green algae and cyanobacteria. Filtration rates of both green algae and cyanobacteria increased linearly as water temperature increased from 17 °C to 32 °C and were significantly higher in the warm‐water regime (26–32 °C) than in the cool‐water regime (17–23 °C). Filtration rates at 95% saturation POC (FR₉₅) in green algal and cyanobacterial waters were 700 mg C kg^?1 h^?1 and 851 mg C kg^?1 h^?1 in the warm‐water regime and 369 mg C kg^?1 h^?1 and 439 mg C kg^?1 h^?1 in the cool‐water regime respectively. The FR₉₅ in warm water were achieved at lower POC concentrations than in cool water.     

Crop water stress index for potato under furrow and drip irrigation systems

Summary This study was conducted to determine the crop water stress index (CWSI) for potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) grown under furrow and drip irrigation methods and subjected to three different irrigation levels (100, 50 and 0% replenishment of soil water depleted). The lower (non-stressed) and upper (stressed) baselines were determined empirically from measurements of canopy temperatures, ambient air temperatures and vapor pressure deficit values. Tuber yield decreased when mean CWSI prior to irrigation exceeded 0.68 in furrow and 0.81 in drip irrigation. The tuber yield was directly correlated with the seasonal CWSI values and the linear equations for furrow and drip irrigation methods, Y = −45.82 CWSI + 50.69 and Y = −52.65 CWSI + 58.44, respectively, can be used for yield prediction.     

Identification by culture, PCR, and immunohistochemistry of mycoplasmas and their molecular typing in sheep and lamb lungs with pneumonia in Eastern Turkey

This study used cultures, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and immunoperoxidase to examine samples from 216 lungs from sheep and lambs with macroscopic pneumonia lesions for the presence of Mycoplasma species. DNA was extracted from lung tissue samples and broth cultures with the help of a DNA extraction kit and replicated using genus-specific and species-specific primers for mycoplasma. The lung samples were examined by the immunoperoxidase method using hyperimmune Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae serum. The randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) test was used for the molecular typing of M. ovipneumoniae isolates. Mycoplasma was isolated in the cultures of 80 (37.03 %) of a total of 216 lung samples. Genus-specific mycoplasma DNA was identified by PCR in 96 (44.44 %) samples in broth cultures and 36 (16.66 %) directly in the lung tissue. Of these 96 cases in which genus-specific identification was made, 57 (59.37 %) were positive for reaction with species-specific primers for M. ovipneumoniae and 31 (32.29 %) for Mycoplasma arginini. The DNA of neither of the latter two species could be identified in the remaining eight samples (8.33 %) where mycoplasma had been identified. As for the immunoperoxidase method, it identified M. ovipneumoniae in 61 of 216 lung samples (28 %). Positive staining was concentrated in the bronchial epithelium cell cytoplasm and cell surface. RAPD analysis resulted in 15 different profiles. Our results suggest that PCR methods could be successfully used in the diagnosis of mycoplasma infections as an alternative to culture method and identifying this agent at the species level.     

Nutritional and physicochemical variation in Turkish kabuli chickpea (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cicer arietinum</Emphasis> L.) landraces

We examined the physical, physicochemical, and cooking properties of 91 kabuli chickpea landraces from Turkey, using two cultivars (İnci and İzmir-92) as controls. All landraces were grown under the same agroclimatic conditions to eliminate variance caused by genotype × environment interactions. There was high diversity among the landraces in the contents of protein (17.55–23.31%), fat (4.45–6.11%), ash (2.54–3.41%), fiber (2.03–4.18%), starch (41.76–49.07%), moisture (6.39–10.57%), 100-seed weight (25.03–51.67 g), hydration capacity (0.2585–0.6169 g/ml), swelling index (0.7207–1.1859), swelling capacity (0.15–0.32 ml seed⁻¹), cooking time (33–72 min), and seed density (0.8450–1.4800 g/ml). Regional analysis of landraces showed significant differences with respect to nutritional characteristics and cooking parameters. There were also significant relationships between various seed quality and cooking parameters. Together, our results provide an initial step toward identification of chickpea landraces that may be useful for development of high-quality chickpea cultivars.     

Vitamin D status in cattle with malignant catarrhal fever

The aim of the present study was to determine the vitamin D status in cattle with malignant catarrhal fever (MCF). Twelve cattle diagnosed as MCF and 6 healthy cattle (controls) were used in the study. Serum 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) (1,25-D), 25-hydroxyvitamin D(3) (25-D), calcium, phosphorus and parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels were determined as 96.83 pg/ml, 30.0 ng/ml, 2.19 mmol/l, 1.57 mmol/l and 15.21 pg/ml in MCF group and 42.33 pg/ml, 37.0 ng/ml, 2.43 mmol/l, 1.96 mmol/l and 36.08 pg/ml in controls, respectively. Although serum 1,25-D level in the MCF group was increased (P<0.01), serum calcium (P<0.01) and PTH (P<0.05) levels were decreased compared to the controls. The results suggest that there might be an interaction between vitamin D status and MCF.     

Evaluation of Analytical Methods for Boron Determination in Maize Shoots

For the comparison of the digestion and spectroscopic determination methods used to measure boron (B) concentrations in maize shoots, increasing doses of boron (0, 2.5, 5, and 10 mg kg^?1 B) were applied to soil and maize plants (Zea mays L.) cultivar “Euralis Es Armandi” (FAO 640). The plants were grown under greenhouse conditions. Dried and ground maize shoots were digested according to two digestion procedures of microwave and dry ashing. Boron concentrations were determined using spectrophotometer and inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). The concentrations of boron influenced statistically (p < 0.01) due to the B applications and analysis methods. Spectrophotometric measurement of B amounts of the samples prepared with microwave digestion method was found irrelevant with other indicated methods. However, the ICP-OES measurements were found compatible with the dry ashing also with microwave digestion and suggested as a suitable method to determine boron contents of the maize shoots.     

Response of maize for grain to potassium and magnesium fertilizers in soils with high lime contents

An antagonistic reaction between calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) and potassium (K) may lead to low absorption of K and Mg by plants from soils with high Ca contents even when levels of K and Mg should be adequate. Two separate field studies were carried out in 2009 and 2010 to determine the effects of potassium (0, 40, 80, 120 kg K₂O ha^?1; as potassium sulfate) and magnesium (0, 20, 40, 60 kg magnesium oxide (MgO)ha^?1; as magnesium sulfate) applied to a soil with high lime content either separately or in combinations, on the grain yield and yield components of maize for grain in semi-arid Central Anatolia in Turkey. One dose of the K, Mg-fertilizers was applied during sowing in both years. According to the results, increasing the dosage of K increased yield components more than increases in Mg dosages. Combinations of K and Mg tended to maximize the yield components. Moreover, the greatest plant heights, first ear lengths, grain weights per ear and protein ratios were obtained for the K₈₀Mg₄₀ dose.     

Assessment of spatial and seasonal changes in groundwater nitrate pollution of agricultural lands through ordinary and indicator kriging techniques

Geostatistical approaches (ordinary kriging (OK) and indicator kriging (IK)) were used in this study to investigate the spatial and temporal variations in groundwater nitrate concentrations in Çar?amba plain of Turkey. Groundwater samples were taken in April 2012, July 2012, September 2012 and March 2013 from 78 groundwater wells. The experimental semivariograms were often fitted well by a Gauss model for April 2012 and September 2012, whereas a spherical model was fitted to experimental semivariograms for July 2012 and March 2013. Spatial distribution maps revealed that groundwater nitrate concentrations were above the threshold value of 50 mg L^?1 specified for drinking water in 4.3% of the study area in April 2012, 40.8% in July 2012, 32.8% in September 2012 and 19.1% in March 2013. Probability maps created with IK showed that 3.1% and 3.2% of the total area had very strong probability (0.8–1.0) of exceeding the threshold nitrate concentration in July 2012 and September 2012, respectively. Current findings revealed that groundwater nitrate concentrations changed seasonally and increased much more in summer. It was concluded that OK and IK may yield significant outcomes for groundwater management, identification of risky sites for potential pollution and identification of the sites with excessive fertilizer uses.     

Surfactant-Enhanced Permanganate Oxidation on Mass-Flux Reduction and Mass Removal (MFR-MR) Relationship for Pool-Dominated TCE Source Zones in Heterogeneous Porous Media

Chlorinated solvents generally enter the subsurface as dense nonaqueous phase liquids (DNAPL) and accumulation mostly occurs in aquifers as pool-dominated zones that can cause long-term aqueous phase groundwater contamination. In situ remediation of DNAPL source zones in such systems is crucial for protecting and/or restoring groundwater quality in these aquifer systems having significant groundwater potential. The objective of the project was to investigate the surfactant-enhanced permanganate oxidation efficacy for pool-dominated DNAPL source zones in heterogeneous aquifer media. A complementary objective of this study was to investigate the impact of nonuniform distribution of DNAPL source zones, surfactant-enhanced dissolution and surfactant-enhanced permanganate oxidation conditions on mass-flux reduction/mass-removal behavior relationships. A series of 2-D flow-cell tank experiments using various grain sizes silica sand and natural soil were conducted as part of this study. DNAPL trichloroethene (TCE) was used as a chlorinated solvent, and SDS (sodium dodecyl sulfate) and KMnO₄ (potassium permanganate) were used as anionic surfactant and oxidant (remediation agents), respectively. The results were compared with a water-flooding experiment to test the remediation effort. Although, high fractions of TCE source zones in the heterogeneous porous media were removed by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-enhanced flushing, TCE removal in this system exhibited an extended multi-step concentration elution behavior. This nonideal behavior was observed for both the water-flood and SDS-flushing experiments. The results emphasized that in the early stage, some portion of the organic liquid is hydraulically accessible (matrix) whereas the later stage of mass removal was controlled by the more poorly accessible mass (pool) associated with higher saturation zones. Our results also showed that the distribution and the emplacement of organic liquid and flow-field heterogeneity had a significant influence on remediation and removal for both flushing solution (SDS and water). It was postulated that when SDS/MnO₄ was applied with sufficient dosage and provided enough contact time, pool-dominated source zones could be remediated more efficiently compared to surfactant flushing alone. As a result, the performance of technology depends on the site characteristics which are critical to characterize effective DNAPL remediation strategies for contaminated sites.     

Genotypic variation in the response of pepper to salinity

Using 102 pepper (Capsicum annuum) genotypes, a greenhouse experiment has been conducted to study genotypic variation in tolerance to 100 mM sodium chloride (NaCl) in nutrient solution. Based on the severity of leaf symptoms caused by the NaCl treatment there was a substantial genotypic variation in salt tolerance. From this screening experiment, six sensitive and six tolerant genotypes were chosen to study dry matter production and root and shoot concentrations of sodium (Na), potassium (K) and calcium (Ca) in a growth chamber experiment in a nutrient solution with and without 150 mM NaCl. The genotypes selected as sensitive were highly damaged and developed severe chlorosis and necrosis under NaCl treatment, while the genotypes selected as tolerant were slightly affected. On average, decreases in shoot dry matter production caused by NaCl were greater in the sensitive than the tolerant genotypes. Application of salt increased shoot Na concentration at greater amount in the sensitive than the tolerant genotypes. Of the tolerant genotypes, the genotype Cac (Capsicum annuum var. cerasiforme) and 1245 F1 had around 2.45% Na in shoot while the sensitive genotypes Kandil and Pazarcik contained, on average, 5.4% Na. All sensitive and tolerant genotypes exhibited more or less similar shoot concentrations of K and Ca. There was very significant and positive correlation between severity of leaf symptoms and shoot Na concentration, but no correlation could be found in the case of K or Ca concentrations with the severity of leaf symptoms. The results indicate existence of substantial genotypic variation in tolerance to NaCl stress in pepper. It seems very likely that exclusion of Na from roots into growth medium plays a critical role in expression of high Na tolerance in pepper.