Influence of Different Soilless Substrates to Morpho-physiological Characteristics and Yield Relations in Strawberries

Some of the advantages of soilless production systems over conventional systems are higher yield, better pest control management and more efficient labor use. Among berries, strawberry responds quite well to soilless production systems. Major yield-affecting factors for strawberries in soilless systems may be listed as; growing medium, source and types of plantlets, density of plants and efficiency of fertigation system. The present research was conducted with strawberry plants (Fragaria x ananassa ‘Camarosa’) grown in four different media; (1) Cocopeat (C), (2) Peat (P) and (3 and 4) 1:1 mixtures with Pumice (Pu), to evaluate the effects of soilless media on marketable yield and root-shoot morpho-physiological parameters. Correlation measurements were made to assess if there is any interaction between yield and any tested morpho-physiological feature. The experiment was conducted in greenhouse, using frigo plantlets (11.6 plantlet/m²) planted in July and through 1 June of following year. Results showed that growth medium had an effect on yield, numbers of developed leaves, shoot-root dry mass, number and length of roots. Yield was correlated with these morphological features. Growth medium also had an influence on plant nutrient accumulations i.?e., shoot accumulation of nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) and root accumulation of phosphorus (P) and all the micro-nutrients that with exception of boron (B). There were some interactions between yield and plant nutrient content of tissues determined by correlation analyses. The most striking were negative correlations with yield and shoot N–K amounts and positive correlation with yield and root P amount. Some positive correlations were also found between yield and copper (Cu), manganese (Mn) and zinc (Zn) contents of both shoot and root tissues. Boron (B) contents was correlated only with the root tissues. The medium which had the best overall performance for soilless strawberry production was C?+?Pu and should be recommended to be used with frigo plantlets of ‘Camarosa’.     

RESPONSE OF ‘GRANNY SMITH’ APPLE TREES TO FOLIAR TITANIUM SPRAYS UNDER CONDITIONS OF LOW SOIL AVAILABILITY OF IRON,MANGANESE, AND ZINC

The aim of the study was to examine impact of foliar titanium (Ti) sprays on vegetative and reproductive response of apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) trees under conditions of low soil availability of iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), and zinc (Zn). The experiment was conducted during 2005–2006 at a Experimental Station in Isparta region, Turkey, on mature ‘Granny Smith’ apple trees/M.9, planted at a spacing of 3.5 × 1.5 m, on fine-textured soil with neutral reaction, medium status of organic matter, high amounts of available phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and magnesium (Mg), and low availability of Fe, Mn, and Zn. The trees were sprayed with Ti-ascorbate at the green and pink bud stage, petal fall, and 3, 6, and 9 weeks after full bloom, at a rate of 3 g Ti ha^?1 per spray. The efficiency of Ti sprays was compared to combined sprays of Fe, Mn, and Zn [chelated with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)], applied at the same terms as Ti sprays, at rate of 36 g, 36 g and 24 g per spray, respectively. Trees unsprayed with Ti, Fe, Mn, and Zn served as the control. It was shown that summer leaf Ti concentrations of the trees untreated with Ti were high, varying from 34 to 36 mg kg^?1 dry matter. Foliar Ti sprays increased leaf status of this nutrient but they had no effect on nutrition of essential macro- and microelements, tree vigor, and fruit yield. Mean apple weight, coloring, firmness, soluble solids concentration, and titratable acidity of fruit were not also influenced by Ti sprays. Foliar sprays of Fe, Mn, and Zn improved leaf status of nitrogen (N), Mg, Fe, Mn, and Zn; leaves of the trees sprayed with those micronutrients were also greener, and contained more Fe²⁺ than those of the control plants. Combined sprays of Fe, Mn, and Zn improved tree vigor and fruit yield.     

In vitro propagation of banana (Musa spp.) using thidiazuron and activated charcoal

Abstract

Rapid clonal propagation potential of banana was investigated by using excised shoot tips of Musa spp. Shoot tips isolated from young suckers of ‘Anamur 2’, ‘Dwarf Cavendish’, and ‘Gazipasa 6'genotypes were used. Excised shoot tips were transferred immediately to Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium with different concentrations of 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) and thidiazuron (TDZ) either alone or with indoleacetic acid (IAA). Rooting was achieved with indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) in the presence or absence of activated charcoal (AC). The results showed that shoot proliferation rate was statistically affected by cytokinin types and their concentration. The responses to TDZ were better than to BAP. BAP or TDZ with IAA increased shoot elongation compared with BAP or TDZ alone. An increase in plant height, root numbers and average number of roots per explant was obtained using AC. Hence, for multiplication of ‘Dwarf Cavendish’, the use of MS medium with 2.5 µM TDZ with 1 µM IAA followed by rooting with AC only is recommended. For multiplication of banana genotypes ‘Anamur 2’ and ‘Gazipasa 6’, the use of MS medium with 1 µM TDZ and 1 µM IAA followed by rooting with AC only is recommended.     

Factors Influencing Consumers' Attitudes Toward Organic Agricultural Products

The purpose of this study was to determine the factors influencing consumers' attitudes toward organic agricultural products. The study is correlational research. Results of regression analysis indicated that the variables of health awareness, knowledge of organic products, and consumers' motivations and age explained 32% of the changes in attitudes about organic products. The authors therefore recommend educational initiatives to increase knowledge and awareness and influence attitudes and consumption habits.     

Surface Modification of Sporopollenin with Calixarene Derivative

In this study, p-tert-butylcalix[4]-aza-crown (CAC) immobilized sporopollenin (Sp) was used as a sorbent for the removal of Cu(II), Pb(II) and Zn(II) from aqueous media. Sporopollenin was firstly functionalized with 3-chloropropyltrimethoxysilane (CPTS) in order to obtain chloro-sporopollenin (Sp-Cl). The Sp-Cl was reacted subsequently with CAC yielding CAC-bonded sporopollenin (Sp-Cl-CAC). The new sorbent was characterized by infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermal analysis (TG/DTG) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The sorption properties of modified sorbent (Sp-Cl-CAC) are also investigated. The optimum pH values for the separation of metal ions from aqueous solution onto Sp-Cl-CAC were 5.0 for Pb(II) and Cu(II) and 5.5 for Zn(II). The maximum sorption capacities for Cu(II), Pb(II) and Zn(II) were 0.07 (4.44?mg?g^?1), 0.07 (4.58?mg?g^?1) and 0.14 (29.00?mg?g^?1) mmol?g^?1, respectively. Sorption thermodynamic parameters of such as free energy (?G ^o), enthalpy (?H ^o), and entropy (?S ^o) were evaluated.     

Improved method for the determination of hydroxymethylfurfural in baby foods using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

An improved analytical method for the rapid, reliable, and sensitive determination of hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) in baby foods is described. It entailed aqueous extraction from food matrix with simultaneous clarification using Carrez I and II reagents, solid-phase extraction cleanup using Oasis HLB, and analysis by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. A narrow-bore column allowed fast chromatographic separation with good resolution of HMF and matrix coextractives. In positive atmospheric pressure chemical ionization conditions, precursor and compound-specific ions were sensitively detected in selected ion monitoring mode. Sample preparation with efficient cleanup followed by fast chromatographic analysis allowed the analysis to be completed in <20 min. Recovery ranged between 91.8 and 94.7% for spiking levels of 0.25, 1.0, and 5.0 mg/kg HMF in cereal-based baby foods. The method was shown to be successful when using liquid chromatography coupled to ultraviolet detection at 285 nm.     

Production potential of cavendish cultivars (Musa spp. AAA) under greenhouse and field conditions in subtropical areas of Turkey

The objective of this study was to evaluate the production potential of banana cultivars, ‘Grand Nain’, ‘Petit Nain’, ‘Poyo’, ‘Williams’ and ‘Basrai’, as alternatives to the ‘Dwarf Cavendish’ for open-field and greenhouse cultivation in subtropical conditions. Stem circumference, stem height, total leaf number, bunch stalk circumference, days from shooting to harvest, number of hands per bunch, number of fingers per bunch, finger circumference, finger length and bunch weight were measured in open-field and greenhouse cultivation. Cultivars ‘Williams’ and ‘Grand Nain’ were superior to ‘Dwarf Cavendish’ in greenhouse cultivation, while these two cultivars and ‘Petit Nain’ and ‘Basrai’ were superior to ‘Dwarf Cavendish’ in open-field cultivation. ‘Poyo’ was not suitable for greenhouse cultivation because of its excessive height and for open-field cultivation due to its sensitivity to wind damage. Greenhouse cultivation of bananas was superior to open-field cultivation for all cultivars with increases in yield of 19 to 28% according to the cultivar.     

Physical and chemical characterization of Ceratonia siliqua L. germplasm in Turkey

Carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.) is natively grown in the coastal areas of the Aegean and Mediterranean region in Turkey. The main carob growing areas (Mediterranean and Aegean) were surveyed and a total 70 promising wild and grafted carob genotypes were selected based on physical and chemical pod properties. Preliminary results showed that Turkey has very rich carob genetic resources containing considerable variations for most of the pod traits. In general, wild carob had smaller pods than the grafted ones. Pod mass ranged from 29.16 g to 120.28 g in the wild genotypes and 71.71 g to 147.91 g in the grafted genotypes with an average 107.61 g for the grafted and 63.72 g for the wild genotypes. The average pod dimensions (width, length and thickness) were 18.16 mm, 16.18 cm and 6.42 mm for the wild genotypes and 21.79 mm, 16.91 cm and 8.79 mm for the grafted genotypes. The average soluble solid content ranged from 59.42% in the wild and 64.06% in the grafted genotypes. The average total acidity of the wild and grafted genotypes was similar (0.78%). The pod traits of the wild genotypes differ significantly from those of the grafted genotypes, and the wild genotypes showed higher variations in these traits compared to the grafted genotypes.     

EFFECT OF PREHARVEST SPRAYS OF CALCIUM CHLORIDE AND SUCROSE ON CRACKING AND QUALITY OF ‘BURLAT’ SWEET CHERRY FRUIT

The aim of the study was to examine impact of preharvest sprays of calcium (Ca) and sucrose on splitting and quality of ‘Burlat’ sweet cherry fruit. The study was carried out during 2009–2010 in Poland and Turkey, on mature trees planted at a moderate density on coarse- and medium-textured soils. Sweet cherries were sprayed with calcium chloride (CaCl₂) and/or sucrose at a rate of 5 kg of each material per ha, using ca. 1000 L of water. In Poland, sprays of CaCl₂ and/or sucrose were applied 8–14 h before each rain, starting 21 d before harvest, whereas in Turkey the spray treatments were made schematically: 7, 14 and 21 d before harvest. Sprays of water were treated as the control. The results showed that preharvest sprays of CaCl₂ and/or sucrose did not affect yield, mean fruit weight, and fruit acidity. Sprays of CaCl₂ increased fruit Ca status, and simultaneously reduced fruit cracking in an orchard or laboratory test. In the trial performed in Turkey, part of fruit sprayed with CaCl₂ (<5%) had spray deposit on the peel. Sucrose sprays did not affect fruit cracking. In one year of the study in Turkey, sucrose sprays increased soluble solids concentration of fruit; however, part of fruit treated with sucrose (<2%) had spray deposit on the skin.     

EFFECT OF AUTUMN CALCIUM SPRAY AT A HIGH RATE ON ‘GRANNY SMITH’ APPLE QUALITY AND STORABILITY

The aim of the study was to examine effect of autumn calcium (Ca) spray at a high rate on apple quality and storability. The investigation was carried out during 2005–2006 in Isparta district, Turkey, under semi-arid conditions, on mature ‘Granny Smith’ apple trees/M.9 EMLA, planted at a spacing of 3.5 × 1.5 m on fine-textured soil rich in Ca. The trees were sprayed with Ca in summer and/or in autumn, using organically complexed Ca to avoid possible leaf and fruit injuries. In autumn (10 days before harvest), the trees were sprayed with Ca at a rate of 8 kg ha^?1. In summer, the another trees were sprayed with Ca six times at a rate of 1.5 kg ha^?1 in each measure; the first spray treatment was performed 6 weeks after full bloom, and the others at 7–9 day intervals. The third part of the trees was sprayed with Ca in summer as well as in autumn, at the same terms and rates as given above. Trees unsprayed with Ca served as the control. It was found that Ca sprays in autumn or in summer plus in autumn damaged leaves; however those treatments did not caused defoliation. Calcium sprays had no effect on apple yield, mean fruit weight, fruit skin russeting, and firmness, soluble solids concentration and titratable acidity of fruit at harvest. Fruit flesh Ca concentrations of the control trees were high. However, the highest fruit Ca concentration was recorded on the trees sprayed with Ca in summer plus in autumn. Calcium sprays in summer or in autumn increased fruit Ca concentrations but their effects were weaker than summer plus autumn Ca applications. After 100 days of refrigerated air storage, soluble solids concentration of fruit did not differ between the studied combinations. Only apples sprayed with Ca in summer plus in autumn were firmer and contained more organic acids than the control fruit. During storage, there were neither pathogenic diseases nor physiological disorders. Based on the obtained results we conclude that Ca sprays in summer plus in autumn at high rate can prolong ‘Granny Smith’ apple storage even thought initial fruit Ca concentration is as high as 502–504 mg Ca kg^?1 DW or 84.1–84.8 mg Ca kg^?1 FW.