Molecular characterization of stem gall disease caused by Agrobacterium tumefaciens (= Agrobacterium biovar 1) on Citrus trees as a new host,in the Eastern Mediterranean region of Turkey

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - Citrus (Citrus spp. L.), which has high nutritional and economic value, is one of the most commonly grown fruits in Turkey. In spring 2020, large aerial...     

Determination of vc and mating types of Cryphonectria parasitica isolates by multiplex PCR and their genetic diversity in 13 chestnut-growing provinces of Turkey

Vegetative compatibility (vc) and mating types and genetic diversity of Cryphonectria parasitica isolates were determined using 183 isolates obtained from 215 infected chestnut trees growing in 13 provinces of Turkey. Based on the cultural aspects, 143 of these isolates were evaluated as virulent whereas the remaining 40 isolates were hypovirulent. When vc types of 183 isolates were classically differentiated, 135 of them matched to EU-1 (82.3%), 29 of them to EU-12 (17.6%) vc type, whereas 19 of them did not match to the two. When molecular vic markers were used, all the isolates were assigned to two EU vc types; 149 to EU-1 (81.4%) and 34 (18.5%) to EU-12. Of the majority of the isolates, 134 (73.2%) had mating-type MAT-1, while 44 (24%) isolates had MAT-2 and 5 (2.8%) isolates had both mating types. The population analysis based on two DNA marker systems, Inter-Primer Binding Site and Start Codon Targeted Polymorphism, showed no intraspecific genetic variation among the C. parasitica isolates. The prevalence of two dominant vc types revealed by this study shows that biological control with hypovirulent EU-1 and EU-12 isolates will be significant for the country. The results might be helpful to chestnut breeders carrying out resistance breeding studies to manage this disease based on hypovirulence attributed to Cryphonectria hypovirus 1.     

New records of endoparasitoidBassus fabricius, 1804 (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Agathidinae) species from Turkey

SixBassus species were recorded for the first time in Turkey:B. calculator (Fabricius, 1798),B. cingulipes (Nees, 1814),B. conspicuus (Wesmael, 1837),B. graecus Achterberg, 1992,B. rugulosus (Needs, 1834) andB. zaykovi (Nixon, 1986). By adding these new records, the number ofBassus species in Turkey has been raısed from seven to 13. Distribution and known hosts are given.     

Comparison of different bronchial closure techniques following pneumonectomy in dogs

The comparison of the histologic healing and bronchopleural fistula (BPF) complications encountered with three different BS closure techniques (manual suture, stapler and manual suture plus tissue flab) after pneumonectomy in dogs was investigated for a one-month period. The dogs were separated into two groups: group I (GI) (n = 9) and group II (GII) (n = 9). Right and left pneumonectomies were performed on the animals in GI and GII, respectively. Each group was further divided into three subgroups according to BS closure technique: subgroup I (SGI) (n = 3), manual suture; subgroup II (SGII) (n = 3), stapler; and subgroup III (SGIII) (n = 3), manual suture plus tissue flab. The dogs were sacrificed after one month of observation, and the bronchial stumps were removed for histological examination. The complications observed during a one-month period following pneumonectomy in nine dogs (n = 9) were: BPF (n = 5), peri-operative cardiac arrest (n = 1), post-operative respiratory arrest (n = 1), post-operative cardiac failure (n = 1) and cardio-pulmonary failure (n = 1). Histological healing was classified as complete or incomplete healing. Histological healing and BPF complications in the subgroups were analyzed statistically. There was no significant difference in histological healing between SGI and SGIII (p = 1.00; p > 0.05), nor between SGII and SGIII (p = 1.00; p > 0.05). Similarly, no significant difference was observed between the subgroups in terms of BPF (p = 0.945; p > 0.05). The results of the statistical analysis indicated that manual suture, stapler or manual suture plus tissue flab could be alternative methods for BS closure following pneumonectomy in dogs.     

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.