Effect of delaying the time of insemination with sex-sorted semen on pregnancy rate in Holstein heifers

The objective of the study was to evaluate the interval from onset of oestrus to time of artificial insemination (AI) to obtain the optimum pregnancy rate with sex-sorted semen in Holstein heifers. Heifers in oestrus were detected and inseminated only by using heat–rumination neck collar comprised electronic identification tag at the age of 13–14 months. Heifers (n = 283) were randomly assigned to one of three groups according to the timing of insemination at 12–16 hr (G1, n = 97), at 16.1–20 hr (G2, n = 94) and at 20.1–24 hr (G3, n = 92) after reaching the activity threshold. The mean duration of oestrus was 18.6 ± 0.1 hr, and mean peak activity was found at 7.5 ± 0.1 hr after activity threshold. The mean interval from activity threshold to ovulation was 29.4 ± 0.4 hr. The overall pregnancy per AI (P/AI) was 53.0% at 29–35 days and 50.9% at 60–66 days after AI. There was a significant reduction between G1 (13.8 ± 1.4 hr) and G3 (7.9 ± 1.4 hr) related to the intervals from AI to ovulation time. Sex-sorted semen resulted in significantly higher P/AI at 29–35 days when heifers inseminated in G3 (60.9%) after oestrus than those inseminated in G1 (49.5%) and G2 (48.9%). In terms of fertility, when the temperature–humidity index (THI) was below the threshold value (THI ≤65) at the time of AI, there was a tendency (≤65; 57.2% vs. > 65; 47.1%) for high pregnancy rate. There was no effect of sire on P/AI. In addition, the interaction of the technician with the time of AI was found significant, and three-way interaction of technician, sire and time of AI was tended to be significant on pregnancy rate. Thus, in addition to delaying the time of insemination (between 20.1 and 24 hr) after oestrous detection, THI and experienced technician were also found to be critical factors in increasing fertility with the use of sex-sorted semen in Holstein heifers.     

Relationships Among some Pears Genotypes (Pyrus Communis L.) Based on ISSR and RAPD Analysis

Thirty one pears genotypes from east blacksea region were evaluated for genetic relationships by using Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and ISSR (Inter-Simple Sequence Repeats) markers from total 70 RAPD and ISSR primer investigated, 22 could amplify clearly and consistently. Cluster analysis of the pears genotypes was performed based on data from polymorphic bands RAPD and ISSR by using Jaccard’s similarity coefficient and the Unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic average (UPGMA) clustering method. The 31 pear genotypes were classified into two major groups. Cluster A was divided into 2 subclusters: Gumushane pears and Trabzon pears. Cluster B consisted of Artvin pears. The similarity matrix values ranged between 0.105 and 0.968.     

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.     

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.     

Comparative efficiency of novel laparoscopic and routine vaginal inseminations with cryopreserved semen in rabbits

Laparoscopic artificial insemination technique (LAI) is described to overcome reduced fertility problems in sheep artificial insemination (AI) programmes with frozen semen. Later on, this technology was modified for endangered non-domestic cats to deposit low quality or reduced number of sperm cells hardly obtained by electro-ejaculation into the oviduct. This technique by passes the complex structure of cervix and efficiently transfers the sperm cells to the point of fertilization. In recent years, rabbits are becoming popular transgenic animal models producing various therapeutic and commercial products, as well as being experimental animals for disease models. The worldwide transportation of frozen semen and re-establishment of transgenic lines using AI technology has become a common practice. Therefore, this study was designed to describe a laparoscopic intrauterine insemination technique, which might assist in conceiving the animals with limited number of sperm cells. The female rabbits were laparoscopically (n = 22) or vaginally (n = 13) inseminated with frozen–thawed semen samples containing approximately 10 × 10⁶ motile sperm. The laparoscopic insemination technique provided higher pregnancy rate (45.5%) than vaginal insemination technique (7.7%) (p < .05). In conclusion, the described laparoscopic AI might be a new alternative technique, thus enabling limited or low-quality frozen sperm samples to establish pregnancy in rabbits.     

Analysis of genetic diversity in Turkish sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) populations using RAPD markers⋆

The genetic diversity of 38 cultivated populations of Sesamum indicum L. from four different regions of Turkey was estimated at the DNA level with the random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique. Sixty-one bands were obtained for all populations 78% of which were polymorphic. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) was used to investigate the genetic diversity of the populations which yielded highly significant differences among populations within regions (91.9% of the total genetic diversity). According to AMOVA and Shannon's index that were performed separately for each region, the highest value of genetic variation was observed among Northwest region populations (CV = 7.7; H₀ = 0.304) and lowest in the Southeast regions' populations (CV = 2.6; H₀ = 0.068). Nei and Li's similarity index was calculated and phylogenetic tree was established using the neighbor-joining algorithm. This phenetic analysis grouped 35 of 38 accessions in six groups leaving three highly diverse accessions outside. Wagner phylogenetic method was used to assess the phylogenetic relationships among the populations. In the majority-rule consensus tree, only 7 of the 32 forks showed above 60% occurrence. Using Principal Coordinate Analysis (PCO) of the RAPD data set, the groups were clearly separated along the first three axis. These results indicate that RAPD technique is useful for sesame systematics, and should be valuable for the maintenance of germplasm banks and the efficient choice of parents in breeding programs.