The genetic characterization of Turkish watermelon (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Citrullus lanatus</Emphasis>) accessions using RAPD markers

Genetic diversity of the Turkish watermelon genetic resources was evaluated using different Citrullus species, wild relatives, foreign landraces, open pollinated (OP) and commercial hybrid cultivars by RAPD markers. The germplasm was consisted of 303 accessions collected from various geographical regions. Twenty-two of 35 RAPD primers generated a total of 241 reproducible bands, 146 (60.6%) of which were polymorphic. Based on the RAPD data the genetic similarity coefficients were calculated and the dendrogram was constructed using UPGMA (Unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic average). Cluster analysis of the 303 accessions employing RAPD data resulted in a multi-branched dendrogram indicating that most of the Turkish accessions belonging to var. lanatus of Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum et Nakai were grouped together. Accessions of different Citrullus species and Praecitrullus fistulosus (Stocks) Pangalo formed distant clusters from C. lanatus var. lanatus. Among 303 accessions, a subset of 56 accessions was selected representing different groups and a second dendrogram was constructed. The genetic similarity coefficients (GS) within the Turkish accessions were ranged from 0.76 to 1.00 with 0.94 average indicating that they are closely related. Taken together, our results indicated that low genetic variability exist among the watermelon genetic resources collected from Turkey contrary to their remarkable phenotypic diversity.     

Nitrate Poisoning in Horses Associated With Ingestion of Forage and Alfalfa

This report describes nitrate poisoning observed in thoroughbred mares. Nine horses died at a farm in Bursa, Turkey, between February and April of 2008. Five of them were pregnant. Clinical findings developed over a short period and included severe abdominal pain, limited response to analgesics and antispasmodics, diarrhea, shallow and rapid breathing, tachycardia, blue-brown discoloration of the mucosal membranes, tremors, ataxia, convulsions before death, and abortion in the pregnant mares. The main postmortem finding was chocolate brown–colored blood as well as congestion and inflammation of the intra-abdominal organs. Uterine rupture, colonic ruptures, and torsio uteri were seen in the pregnant mares. Stomach and intestinal ruptures were seen in four nonpregnant mares. High nitrate concentrations were determined in some grass and alfalfa samples used to feed the animals. Nitrate poisoning is considered to be very rare in horses, but, in this case, the clinical symptoms, postmortem findings, and nitrate levels in the collected samples supported nitrate and nitrite poisoning as the cause of deaths.     

Volatile organic compounds in watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) grafted onto 21 local and two commercial bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria) rootstocks

Summary

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are responsible for flavour development in watermelon (Citrullus lanatus). The objective of this study was to investigate the rootstock effects of 21 local bottle gourd [Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standl.] accessions collected from the Mediterranean region (Turkey) on the concentrations of VOCs in watermelon over 2 years. The watermelon cultivar ‘Crimson Tide’ was used as the scion and two commercial bottle gourd rootstocks were also used for comparison. The VOCs in each rootstock-scion combination were analysed using static headspace (SHS) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). A total of 24 VOCs were identified in watermelon fruit, including 11 aldehydes, seven alcohols, four ketones, one heterocyclic compound, and one acid. Acetaldehyde (25.9 – 39.5% of the total peak areas), propanal (5.0 – 8.3%), 2-propanone (2.5 – 4.9%), pentanal (2.1 – 3.6%), hexenal (14.5 – 22.6%), (E)-2-hexenal (0.4 – 2.3%), 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one (10.0 – 19.05%), nonanal (1.6 – 4.4%), (Z)-6-nonenal (4.0 – 9.8%), (E)-2-nonenal (0.6 – 2.0%), (E,Z)-2,6-nonadienal (2.1 – 3.7%), (Z)-6-nonenol (1.0 – 3.2%), and (E,Z)-3,6-nonadienol (1.0 – 3.7%) were the most abundant VOCs found in all watermelon scions. There was no significant effect (P ≥ 0.05) of rootstock on the concentrations of acetaldehyde, propanal, pentanal, heptanal, ethanol, 1-pentanol, 2-propanone, 2-pentyl furan, or acetic acid. Propanal, 2-propanone, and acetic acid were identified as VOCs in watermelon for the first time. Hexanal, (Z)-6-nonanal, and 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one concentrations were strongly affected by rootstock. The results showed that the local bottle gourd accessions 07-06 and 31-09, in particular, were the most promising genotypes in terms of producing favourable VOCs. Except for the local bottle gourd accessions 33-35, 01-17, and 07-04, the other 18 gourds accessions had high potential as rootstocks for breeding programmes in watermelon with regard to desirable VOC concentrations. Rootstock 31-09 should be considered for commercial production in terms of improved disease resistance, fruit yield, and fruit quality.     

Effects of Freezing and Frozen Storage on Protein Functionality and Texture of Some Cephalopod Muscles

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of freezing and frozen storage on protein functionality and texture of squid (Loligo vulgaris), octopus (Octopus vulgaris), and cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) muscles. Squid, octopus, and cuttlefish samples were cut into pieces of 4 × 4 cm. These pieces were packed in polyethylene bags. The bags were frozen in a blast freezer at ?45°C until the thermal center reached ?18°C. Frozen samples were stored in a deep freezer at ?18°C for 30 days. After freezing and during frozen storage, total soluble protein and water holding capacity decreased and total free amino acid and cooking loss increased in all cephalopod muscles. According to instrumental texture analysis results, freezing and frozen storage affected textural characteristics of squid and cuttlefish but not of octopus. Sensory hardness and chewiness values of all cephalopods increased after freezing, but elasticity values did not change. There were no significant differences between storage days in hardness values of squid and octopus. However, significant differences in hardness values of cuttlefish were observed between the 1st day of storage and the last day.     

Determination of Variations of Some Enzymes in Orchardgrass ( Dactylis glomerata L.) Ecotypes

In the present study, wild orchardgrass ( Dactylis glomerata L.) collected from four different locations (Oltu, Olur, Uzundere and Uluba < ) of Erzurum (Turkey) were used to investigate various electrophoretic analyses within and between four ecotypes based on peroxidase (PRX), polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and malate dehydrogenase (MDH) enzymes. Four natural populations of Dactylis glomerata showed genetic variability within and among ecotypes based on similarities and polymorphism of isoenzyme bands. In addition, a dendogram analysis was made according to band patterns indicating that ecotypes could be grouped showing characteristics in relation to each other, notably Oltu-Uluba < and Olur-Uzundere. However, the degree of relationship of Oltu-Uluba < (6 units) was higher than Olur-Uzundere (12 units).     

Utilizing of the Common Dehydrating Techniques to obtain maximum benefit from the Protein and mineral Composition of rosemary leaves for Spice and Herbal Tea Production

In the study, we examined in detail the effect of dehydrating using natural drying in the shade, convection drying, and microwave drying, which are the most widely used techniques, especially for tea and spices, both in practice and in theory, on the protein, and mineral composition of rosemary leaves. Also, we determined the color parameters, which are the reason for the selection because it creates the allure for spices. In microwave drying at 600 W, we obtained results close to fresh rosemary in all color parameters, especially brightness and greenness. Although natural drying, which does not have any energy and investment costs, is the second-best method in terms of color, 50 °C, which is the most common drying technique in the market, caused significant color losses affecting the commercial value of the product. We reached the closest protein and P, Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, Mn, and contents to fresh products in dried ones at 600 W. In contrast, in K only, the highest measurement was at 200 W. Strikingly, we observed dramatic losses reducing the benefit obtained from the product regarding protein and almost all nutrients in both convective and natural drying techniques, the most common methods in practice.

     

Antioxidative role of selenium against the toxic effect of heavy metals (Cd<Superscript>+2</Superscript>, Cr<Superscript>+3</Superscript>) on liver of rainbow trout (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Oncorhynchus mykiss</Emphasis> Walbaum 1792)

The main purpose of this study is to discuss the effect of Cd⁺², Cr⁺³ and Se metals on biochemical parameters in liver tissue of Oncorhynchus mykiss. The rainbow trout were exposed to heavy metal stress (Cd⁺², Cr⁺³) at 2 ppm dosage. The present study was undertaken to determine the protective effect of selenium treatment at the same dosage (2 ppm) on some biochemical parameters. The activity of catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the changes in levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) from biochemical parameters were determined in liver tissue of the fish groups exposed to heavy metals, especially for the selenium-applied groups. Results of this study showed that the activities of CAT, GSH-Px and SOD in the tissues of fish exposed to the stress of Cd⁺² and Cr⁺³ were significantly lower than the control groups (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, the closer values to the control groups were obtained in selenium-added groups (Cr⁺³ + Se⁺⁴, Cd⁺² + Se⁺⁴). For the level of MDA, the last production of lipid peroxidation showed increases (P < 0.05) in the groups exposed to the metal stress, whereas significant decreases were obtained in selenium-applied groups. The result of the statistical evaluation showed that the negative effects occurring in the biochemical parameters of the applied groups exposed to the toxicity of heavy metal were significantly eliminated (P < 0.05) as a result of selenium treatment.