Effects of two different neem products on different stages of Nezara viridula (L.) (Heteroptera, Pentatomidae)

In this study, the effects of two different commercial neem insecticides (NeemAzal T/S and Neem Oil) were determined on different stages of Nezara viridula (L.) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) under laboratory conditions. Neem Azal and Neem Oil were applied at concentrations of 0.5 % and 2 %, respectively. Mortality was recorded after 3, 7 and 14 days for nymphs and adults; 7 and 14 days for old (4-day-old) eggs; and 14 days for newly laid (one-day-old) eggs. Both products have no significant effect on adults and newly laid eggs. However Neem Oil was found to be more effective than NeemAzal T/S on nymphs and on old laid eggs after 7 and 14 days. It can be concluded that both neem products have potential for insecticidal efficacy (approximately 60 %) against nymphs of N. viridula. at concentrations recommended by manufacturers for registered pests.     

Determination of amino acid and fatty acid composition of goldband goatfish [Upeneus moluccensis (Bleeker, 1855)] fishing from the Gulf of Antalya (Turkey)

In this study, we aimed to determine the basic food components, fatty acids and amino acids, and variations in these components with months in goldband goatfish (Upeneus moluccensis) that fishing from Gulf of Antalya. As a result of the analyzes, the crude fat values were determined between 1.43 and 3.78%, and the crude protein values were determined between 20.79 and 22.16%. The most abundant fatty acids were determined: palmitic acid (C16:0), stearic acid (C18:0), palmitoleic acid (C16:1c9), oleic acid (C18:1c9), linoleic acid (C18:2n-6), eicosatrienoic acid (C20:3n-3), arachidonic acid (C20:4n-6), eicosapentaenoic acid (C20:5n-3), docosapentaenoic acid (C22:5n-6), and docosahexaenoic acid (C22:6n-3). The most abundant amino acids were determined lysine and leucine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, alanine, and glycine. The differentiations of essential nutrient components, fatty acids, and amino acids were found generally significant (P < 0.05).

     

Phenology and damage of Anarsia lineatella Zell. (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) in peach,apricot and nectarine orchards under semi-arid conditions

This study was conducted under semi-arid conditions in ?anl?urfa province (Turkey) in 2010–2011. One orchard each of peach, apricot and nectarine was selected for the study. There was less than one mile distance separating the orchards, and therefore climate, soil and topography were similar. Adult emergence, population peaks, number of generations per year and damage of the peach twig borer [PTB] [Anarsia lineatella Zell. (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae)] on twigs and fruits were determined. Sex pheromone traps were used to determine moth population dynamics. Fruits and twigs were checked to determine damage rate and host preference of the PTB among peach, apricot and nectarine. This study showed that the first adults of the PTB were detected in early May and pest populations peaked four times during both years. The highest numbers of adults captured by the pheromone traps in peach, apricot and nectarine orchards were 115, 86 and 70 adults/trap, respectively. The PTB damage rates on twigs were 38, 18 and 16% (2010) (P < 0.05) and 30, 22 and 14% (2011) (P < 0.05), while damage rates on fruits were 29, 6 and 6% (2010) (P < 0.05) and 14, 8 and 5% (2011) (P < 0.05) in peach, nectarine and apricot, respectively. The results showed that A. lineatella caused greater damage on peaches than on apricots and nectarines.     

Active ingredient contents of ‘me-too’ registered abamectin products and differences in their efficacy onTetranychus cinnabarinus

Many agrochemical companies in Turkey purchase generic active ingredients (a.i.) and, by way of ‘me-too’ registration, sell pesticides under different brand names. Farmers and researchers often claim that these products are ineffective. In order to determine the a.i. content and efficacy of me-too registered abamectin-based products, we studied seven (in 2004) and ten (in 2005) products, which were chosen based on their availability and high market share. Differences in both efficacy and a.i. contents were observed in the products investigated in the study, but making speculative statements that could affect all me-too registered products based on our investigations of only 17 abamectin-based samples is not realistic. Timectin® was found to be statistically less effective onTetranychus cinnabarinus in both laboratory and greenhouse trials than all other tested products. Furthermore, Timectin was determined to have 69.8% less a.i. than in its product specifications. Our findings make it clear that grower complaints about the qualities of agricultural pesticides are based on actual chemical inadequacies of formulated pesticides. Analysis of the a.i. should be carried out as part of regular market inspection in order to determine whether agricultural pesticides comply with their product specifications. In this way growers will be provided with good quality but inexpensive products.     

Effect of Foliar Salicylic Acid Applications on Growth,Chlorophyll, and Mineral Content of Cucumber Grown Under Salt Stress

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of foliar salicylic acid (SA) applications on growth, chlorophyll, and mineral content of cucumber grown under salt stress. The study was conducted in pot experiments under greenhouse conditions. Cucumber seedlings were treated with foliar SA applications at different concentrations (0.0, 0.25, 0.50, and 1.00 mM). Salinity treatments were established by adding 0, 60, and 120 mM of sodium chloride (NaCl) to a base complete nutrient solution. The SA was applied with spraying two times as before and after transplanting. Salt stress negatively affected the growth, chlorophyll content and mineral uptake of cucumber plants. However, foliar applications of SA resulted in greater shoot fresh weight, shoot dry weight, root fresh weight, and root dry weight as well as higher plants under salt stress. Shoot diameter and leaf number per plant increased with SA treatments under salt stress. The greatest chlorophyll content was obtained with 1.00 mM SA treatment in both saline and non-saline conditions. Leaf water relative content (LWRC) reduced in response to salt stress while SA raised LWRC of salt stressed cucumber plants. Salinity treatments induced significant increases in electrolyte leakage. Plants treated with foliar SA had lower values of electrolyte leakage than non-treated ones. In regard to nutrient content, it can be interfered that foliar SA applications increased almost all nutrient content in leaves and roots of cucumber plants under salt stress. Generally, the greatest values were obtained from 1.00 mM SA application. Based on these findings, the SA treatments may help alleviate the negative effect of salinity on the growth of cucumber.     

Effects of Bio-Bor Fertilizer Applications on Fruit Yield,Antioxidant Enzyme Activity and Freeze Injury of Strawberry

Deficiency of Boron (B) is widespread in the many parts of region of Turkey. So, the effects of boron and plant growth promoting bacteria (Bio-B) on the fruit yield, antioxidant enzyme activity and plant freeze injury of strawberry cv. Fern were investigated under field conditions between 2013 and 2014. The experimental plot was a completely randomized design with 4 replicates. Control and Bio-B were used as fertilizer agent in the experiment. Bio-B fertilizer was applied in three methods as soil, foliar and soil + foliar application methods to strawberry plants. Data through 2 years showed that the use of Bio-B significantly increased fruit yield, antioxidant enzyme activity and decreased freeze injury of strawberry leaf. Soil + foliar applications of Bio-B fertilizer increased to fruit yield compared to the control by 55.91?%. However, foliar application of Bio-B fertilizer increased to catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzyme activity compared with the control treatment 41.86?%, 48.99?%, and 26.59?%, respectively and decreased freeze injury of strawberry leaves 27.41?%. Overall, the results of this study suggest that Bio-B fertilizer application have the potential to increase the yield, antioxidant enzyme activity and decreased freeze injury of strawberry plants under field conditions.     

Effects of different nutrient solution formulations on morphological and biochemical characteristics of nursery fig trees grown in substrate culture

This research was carried out to determine the effects of different nutrient solution formulations on the growth of nursery fig trees in substrate culture, which is one of the soil-less culture techniques. The hardwood cuttings of Ficus carica L. cv. “Sar?lop” (Calimyrna) were planted into pots filled with 13 L of perlite. Five different nutrient solution formulations were tested on the quality and growth progress of nursery fig trees. The trials were conducted in two different growing conditions, namely, high-tunnel and open-field conditions in substrate culture. To observe the effect of different nutrient solution formulations on nursery fig trees, some morphological and biochemical characteristics were determined. It was concluded that the use of Hewitt's and Hoagland's nutrient solution formulations led to increased growth of nursery fig trees in high-tunnel and open-field conditions, respectively.     

Molecular typing and cdt genes prevalence of Campylobacter jejuni isolates from various sources

The genetic diversity of 168 Campylobacter jejuni isolates originating from human (n = 30), cattle (n = 36), sheep (n = 44), dog (n = 35), and poultry (n = 21) and cdt genes prevalence of the isolates were investigated. To determine the genetic diversity of these strains, random amplified polymorphic DNA–polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using a random primer (M13) was performed. The numbers of genotypes determined in human, cattle, sheep, dog, and poultry isolates were 19, 18, 17, 18, and 6, respectively. To find out the prevalence of cdt genes in C. jejuni isolates simultaneously, a multiplex PCR was performed. The prevalence of the separate cdt genes was found to vary from 69% to 100% for cdtA, 92% to 100% for cdtB, and 39% to 98% for cdtC. These rates without host discriminating were 95%, 98%, and 93% for cdtA, cdtB, and cdtC, respectively. The prevalence of all three cdt genes in strains originating from human, cattle, sheep, dog, and poultry were 87%, 67%, 84%, 89%, and 39%, respectively. These results showed the relatively high genetic heterogeneity and variation of cdt genes among C. jejuni isolates from various sources except for poultry isolates. This study gives baseline data on molecular characterization of C. jejuni strains from different sources.     

Prevalence and Characterization of Coagulase Positive Staphylococci Isolated from Salted Anchovy

A total of 100 salted anchovy samples were used to investigate the prevalence of S. aureus and other coagulase positive Staphylococci (CPS) as well as to determine the methicillin (MR) and antibiotic resistance (AR) profile, the presence of Panton-Valentine leukocidine (PVL) toxin gene (lukS/F-PV), slime factor properties (SFP), and the genotypic relatedness of the isolates. Agar disc diffusion assay (ADDA) and microdilution broth susceptibility test (MDBST) were applied to compare the specificity and sensitivity of the MR detection methods. A total of 41 CPS isolates were detected at the 10² and 10³ CFU/g levels in contrast to S. aureus. The 16S rRNA (genus specific) was detected in all the isolates in contrast to nuc (species-specific) and lukS/F-PV genes. A total of 16/41 isolates were found to be MR by using the three methods. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was a more sensitive and reliable method for the detection of MR isolates. The antibiotic resistance rates were 75.60, 73.17, 51.21, 31.70, 12.19, and 4.87% to penicillin, ampicillin, tetracycline, erythromycin, ciprofloxacin, and clindamycin, respectively. All the isolates were sensitive to gentamicin and vancomycin. The SFP were determined in all the isolates by using Congo Red agar, and 20 different genotypes were determined by using randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD)-PCR assay.