Heterobasidion abietinum on Abies species in western Turkey

Forty‐five basidiocarp specimens of Heterobasidion were collected from native Abies species in three locations in western Turkey: A. nordmanniana ssp. bornmülleriana in Bolu province, A. nordmanniana ssp. equi‐trojani in Balikesir province and A. cilicica in Antalya province. Pure cultures were isolated from the basidiocarps and identified to the species level with the aid of mating tests. All the specimens proved to belong to the species Heterobasidion abietinum. This root rot fungus is common in the forests investigated and appears to be relatively virulent on Abies in Turkey. This is the first report of H. abietinum outside Europe.     

Rasterelektronenmikroskopische Untersuchungen an von Vorratsschädlingen angegriffenen Verpackungsfolien aus synthetischen Kunststoffen und abgewandelten Naturstoffen

Packaging foils made of cellulose actetate, cellophane, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyester, polyvinyl chloride, attacked byRhizopertha dominica F.,Stegobium paniceum L.,Tribolium castaneum Hbst. and larvae ofPlodia interpunctella Hbn. were examined with the scanning electron microscope (SEM). Because of the destruction marks made by the insects, it is possible to determine with the SEM the side of packaging material which has been attacked by the pests. Due to the shape and position of the mouthparts of the insects the gnawing marks are rather typical for the different species. By means of a standard of comparison it might be possible to determine the family and perhaps the genus or species of the insects involved. The influence of shape and size of the mouthparts as well as the position of the mandibles in relation to the anatomy and to the axis of the body on the gnawing ability of stored-product pests is discussed. The reasons for the insect resistance of packaging materials are discussed (smoothness of the surface, rigidity, thickness).     

Analysis of the forest fires in the Antalya region of Turkey using the Keetch–Byram drought index

We investigated the correlation of large fires([300 ha) from 1992 to 2013 within the borders of the Antalya Regional Directorate of Forestry using the Keetch–Byram drought index(KBDI). Daily KBDI values were calculated for each year, and values for the period before the year 2000 differed significantly from those after2000. After 2000(large fires occurred in 2004, 2006, 2007,2008, 2010, and 2013), when KBDI values increased, the KBDI, but not the number of fires, was inversely correlated with the natural log of the burned area(NLBA). While there were both high and low KBDI values when the NLBA was small, only high KBDI values were associated with high NLBA values. Particularly for logarithmic values of 4 and higher, KBDI values increased in parallel with increases in NLBA values. On the basis of a Mann–Whitney U test done in addition to a Pearson correlation test, we found that when the burned areas were grouped according to small and large areas, the KBDI could be used to distinguish the two groups. Using a conditional probability analysis, we found that 4th, 5th and 6th class KBDI values may lead to large fires at the 60 % possibility.Similarly, the possibility of large fires greater than the median burned area in any given 6 years was found to be48 %. In addition, while the mean value of KBDI is 390.51 for the period from May to September for these 6 years, it is 359.93 for the other years. Consequently, the area burned also increased as the KBDI classes(Class 0: 0–99, Class 1:100–199, Class 2: 200–299, Class 3: 300–399, Class 4:400–499, Class 5: 500–599, Class 6: 600–699, and Class 7:700–800) increase.     

山西省蟒河自然保护区雀鹰的繁殖

1996年－1998年的3月－9月，在蟒河自然保护区对雀鹰的繁殖习性进行了观察。结果表明该鸟在本区繁殖前后的种群密度分别为0．08只/km^2和0．10只／km^2，营巢期为10d-13d，窝孵数3枚－4枚，孵卵期23d-25d，孵化率88．89％，育雏期21d-24d。其食物组成：鸟类占43．33％，鼠类占17．77％，蛙类占14．44％，昆虫占15．56％，其他占8．89％。     

Crystalline structure of heat-treated Scots pine [<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus sylvestris</Emphasis> L.] and Uludağ fir [<Emphasis Type="Italic">Abies nordmanniana</Emphasis> (Stev.) subsp. <Emphasis Type="Italic">bornmuelleriana</Emphasis> (Mattf.)] wood

The aim of this study was to determine changes in crystallinity and crystalline unit cell type of heat-treated Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and Uludağ fir (Abies nordmanniana stev. subsp. bornmuelleriana Mattf.) wood samples by means of FT-IR spectroscopic method. Heat treatment was applied on the test samples in an oven at three different temperatures (120, 150, and 180°C) and for two different periods of time (6 and 10 h) under atmospheric pressure. It was designated that crystallinity of both Scots pine and Uludağ fir wood samples increased during heat treatment depending on the duration. However, monoclinic structure in crystalline unit cells of Scots pine and Uludağ fir wood samples converted to triclinic structure when heat treated. It was estimated that monoclinic structure was dominant in the crystalline unit cell. It was established that the crystalline structure of Scots pine wood samples was more affected by heat treatment than that of Uludağ fir wood samples.     

Effect of temperature and compression on the mechanical behavior of steam-treated wood

The mechanical behavior of steamed spruce wood changes dramatically with compression along the grain, the change being much more moderate perpendicular to the grain. The stiffness decrement due to increased temperature is greatest in the tangential material direction. The stiffness decrement due to compression is greatest along the grain. Compression to 80% compressive strain at 131°C inverts the order of the material directions regarding stiffness, the stiffness being the least along the grain. Plastic strain due to compression is greater at higher temperatures. The compression-induced decrement of stiffness along the grain is greater at higher temperatures, but the off-axis decrement of stiffness is less at higher temperatures.     

华南地区短枝木麻黄种源试验

对华南地区短枝木麻黄种源 16个性状的两试点联合方差分析表明 :除 PBA和 PBL 外 ,其它性状在地点间有极显著差异 ,表明参试种源在两个地点分别进行种源筛选 ;除 1年生树高、2～ 3年生单株材积外 ,其它数量性状在种源间有显著或极显著差异 ;4年生的树高、胸径、单株材积、PBD、PBT、PBL在种源×地点 ( P× S)互作间有显著或极显著差异。方差分量比例计算结算表明 ,2～ 4年生时 ,除 4年生单株材积方差分量比例略有降低外 ,树高、胸径和单株材积的地点方差分量比例及 P× S互作的方差分量比例均随年龄的增加而增加 ;质量性状 SFA、SFS、PBD和 PBT,地点方差分量比例最大 ,而种源或加上 P× S互作的方差分量 <10 %。当不考虑 P× S互作效应时 ,种源数量性状和质量性状的遗传变异系数和广义遗传力均比考虑互作效应时相应性状的遗传变异系数和广义遗传力大。4年生树高、胸径、保存率、SFA和 SF S等 6个性状 ,按地点对参试种源进行评定结果为 :试验 E94 6中 ,优良种源为 180 86、18118、183 55、180 13、182 4 4、18119、182 88、183 4 8、180 15和 180 0 8;试验 E94 4中优良种源有 18154、183 55、1812 8、18143、18153、1812 7、1813 4、142 3 3和 182 88。这些种源均好于国内对照种源 ,分别占各自参试种源的     

Characterization and Purification of Glutathione S-Transferase from the Liver and Gill Tissues of Ağrı Balık Lake Trout Salmo trutta labrax and the Effects of Heavy Metal Ions on Its Activity

Glutathione S-transferase (GST) from the liver and gill tissues of A?r? Bal?k Lake Trout (also known as Black Sea Trout) Salmo trutta labrax was characterized and purified, and the toxic effects of some heavy metal ions on the enzyme's activity were analyzed. Liver GST was purified 930 times, resulting in 56% yield using glutathione–agarose affinity chromatography and a specific activity of 60.87 endotoxin units (EU)/mg protein. Using the same procedure, gill GST was purified 576 times, resulting in a 60% yield and specific activity of 46.8 EU/mg protein. The purity check of the purified enzymes was determined with sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Optimal pH, ionic strength, and stable pH were found for each tissue, and separate K_M and V_max values were determined for reduced glutathione and 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene substrates. Heavy metal ions that have toxic effects on living organisms and are known to contribute to environmental pollution were selected, and their in vitro effects on enzyme activity were analyzed. The IC50 values and K_i constants of those metal ions showing an inhibitory effect on GST activity were determined.

Received November 24, 2014; accepted March 11, 2015     

Effects of dietary boron and phytase supplementation on growth performance and mineral profile of broiler chickens fed on diets adequate or deficient in calcium and phosphorus

1. Two experiments were designed to determine the effect of dietary boron (B) in broiler chickens. In Experiment 1, a 2 × 4 factorial arrangement of treatments was used to investigate the effect of dietary calcium (Ca) and available phosphorus (aP) (adequate or deficient) and supplemental B (0, 20, 40, and 60 mg/kg diet). In Experiment 2, B, at 20 mg/kg, and phytase (PHY) (500 FTU/kg diet) were incorporated into a basal diet deficient in Ca and aP, either alone or in combination.

2. The parameters that were measured were growth performance indices, serum biochemical activity as well as ash and mineral (i.e. Ca, P, Mg, Fe, Cu and Zn) content of tibia, breast muscle and liver.

3. Results indicated that both supplemental B and dietary Ca and aP had marginal effects on performance indices of chickens grown for 42 d.

4. There were positive correlations (linear effect) between B concentrations of serum, bone, breast muscle and liver and the amount of B consumed.

5. Serum T₃ and T₄ activities increased linearly with higher B supplementation.

6. Increasing supplemental B had significant implications on breast muscle and liver mineral composition. Lowering dietary Ca and aP level increased Cu content in liver and both Fe and Zn retention in breast muscle. Tibia ash content and mineral composition did not respond to dietary modifications with either Ca–aP or B.

7. The results also suggested that dietary contents of Ca and aP do not affect the response to B regarding tissue mineral profile. Dietary combination with B and PHY did not create a synergism with regard to growth performance and bioavailability of the minerals.     

Genotype,production system and sex effects on fatty acid composition of meat from goat kids

Two trials were performed to assess the meat fatty acid profile of goat kids from different genotypes, production systems and sex. In the first trial, genotype effect was determined in 24 suckling male kids from Turkish Saanen, Maltese and Gokceada breeds. In the second trial, male and female Gokceada Goat kids were used to compare the effect of extensive and semi‐intensive production systems on fatty acid composition of meat. Significant genotype effect was observed in the percentages of myristic acid (C14:0), palmitic acid (C16:0), oleic acid (C18:1 n‐9), linolenic acid (C18:3 n‐3), arachidonic acid (C20:4 n‐6) and docosahexaenoic acid (C22:6 n‐3), despite no differences on the ratios of polyunsaturated fatty acids to saturated fatty acids (PUFA/SFA) and n‐6/n‐3 (P > 0.05). The effect of production system had also significant effects on fatty acids, but sex only influenced significantly stearic acid (C18:0), C18:1 n‐9 and C18:3 n‐3 fatty acids and total PUFA level and PUFA/SFA ratio. This study confirms that dairy breeds are prone to produce higher levels of unsaturated fatty acids in their muscle. Meanwhile, meat from Gokceada goat kids, which is one of the indigenous breeds in Turkey, had similar PUFA/SFA and n‐6/n‐3 ratios to Turkish Saanen and Maltase.