Influence of growing season and donor plant age on anther culture response of some pepper cultivars (Capsicum annuum L.)

The effects of growing season and donor plant age on anther culture in Capsicum were investigated. Pepper cultivars Kekova and Sera Demre 8 were grown under unheated greenhouse conditions in winter season and field conditions in summer season. Flower buds were collected and cultured in weekly intervals from November to May in winter and from April to December in summer. The results of this study indicated that anthers from these two pepper genotypes gave different embryogenic response to seasonal effects. Kekova cultivar gave the highest embryogenic yield in summer season while this was occurred in winter season for Sera Demre 8 cultivar. The results of the study revealed that the effect of donor plant age was also an important factor in anther culture of pepper. Since 4-month-old plants gave the highest embryo yield in both cultivars in each seasons, it is possible to say that anthers collected from old plants have sufficient embryogenic response when the optimum developmental stage is selected.     

The efficacy of selected biological and chemical control agents against Heterobasidion abietinum on Abies cilicica

The efficacy of 30% aqueous urea solution, borax powder and spore suspensions of Phlebiopsis gigantea and Trichoderma harzianum against establishment of artificially inoculated Heterobasidion abietinum on Abies cilicica was tested both in the field and in a simulated stump treatment experiment carried out in a growth chamber. In the field, in each of the four selected stands 20 fresh stumps per control agent were treated and 20 stumps were left as untreated controls. In two of the stands, the treatments were applied in June and in the two others in November. Stumps were sampled twice, at 6‐ and 12‐months after treatment. In the growth chamber, 10 log pieces per treatment and control were used, and sampling performed after 6‐week incubation. Results of the urea and borax treatments were consistent between the experiments; the mean efficacies were 98.8 and 99.4% in the growth chamber, and 80.2–91.3 and 89.4–90.1% in the two samplings of the field experiment, respectively. Despite the high efficacies of the P. gigantea (85.9%) and T. harzianum (97.5%) treatments in the growth chamber, efficacies of these biological control agents in the field were 47.1–49.2 and 61.3–65.5%, respectively.     

Molecular and pathological investigations of EHV-1 and EHV-4 infections in horses in Turkey

The aim of the present study was to investigate abortion storms that occurred in the Marmara region of Turkey in 2008-2009 using a real-time PCR. Two aborted foetuses were necropsied and histo-pathological findings reported herein. Ten lungs, 3 brains and one nasal swab from 10 aborted foetuses, 6 nasal swabs and 3 vaginal swabs from aborting mares were included in this study. EHV-1 was isolated from the lung, liver and brain of 1 aborted foetus. EHV-1 DNA was detected in the lungs, livers and spleens of 2 necropsied foetuses and in 3 lungs from 10 foetuses submitted for diagnosis. A brain from one of the aborted foetuses was also positive for EHV-1 DNA. EHV-4 DNA was detected only in a nasal swab of one of the tested foetuses. Neither EHV-1 nor EHV-4 DNA was detected in the swabs of aborting mares. Sequence analysis of the glycoprotein B of the strains was performed and a phylogenetic tree was generated. The results indicated that 4 of the 5 Turkish EHV-1 strains (TR02, TR03, TR04 and TR05) clustered together; the fifth strain (TR01) was slightly removed from the group and clustered with other EHV-1 from various origins. Single nucleotide polyporphism (SNP in ORF30) associated with neuropathogenesis was not detected in any of the strains. At necropsy, sub-milier focal necrosis in the liver and spleen was observed. Microscopically, focal coagulation necrosis and marked eosinophilic intranuclear and intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies in the hepatocytes localised around the necrotic areas in the liver. Severe coagulation necrosis in white pulp of the spleen was also observed.     

Genetic basis of penicillin resistance of S. aureus isolated in bovine mastitis

Background

The blaZ gene encoding penicillin resistance can be located either chromosomally or on plasmids. The aim of this study was to investigate the genetic relationships and to determine the location of the blaZ gene in S. aureus isolated in bovine mastitis in Finland and Sweden.

Methods

Seventy-eight β-lactamase positive S. aureus isolates from bovine mastitis (34 from Finland and 44 from Sweden) were included in the study. The localization of blaZ gene was determined by Southern blotting. The blaZ genes of the isolates were sequenced and the sequences were translated to beta-lactamase proteins and further grouped as different protein signatures. The isolates and, as control, 33 Swedish and 36 Finnish beta-lactamase negative isolates were typed with pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE).

Results

In 26 out of 34 Finnish isolates (76.5%) and in 25 out of 44 Swedish isolates (56.8%) the blaZ gene was localized on a plasmid. Six different protein signatures were found. One signature was found only in four Swedish isolates, but all other signatures were found both in Finnish and Swedish isolates. The PFGE results revealed a diversity of S. aureus clones. The protein signatures were not clearly associated with certain pulsotypes.

Conclusions

The plasmid location of the blaZ gene was not statistically significantly more common in Finland than in Sweden, and hence does not explain the higher proportion of penicillin-resistant isolates of S. aureus causing bovine mastitis in Finland compared to Sweden.     

Effects of Preharvest Foliar Calcium Applications on the Storage Quality of ‘0900 Ziraat’ Sweet Cherry Cultivar

The objective of this study was to investigate effects of foliar calcium application on storage of sweet cherry. Different concentrations of CaCl₂ (2.4, 3.2, and 4.0 g/l) and Ca(NO₃)₂ (3.4, 4.6, and 5.8 g/l) were applied six times by foliar spraying on leaves and fruits of the sweet cherry variety ‘0900 Ziraat’. Harvested fruits were packaged in 500 g plastic boxes and stored for four weeks at 0 ⁰C and 90–95?% relative humidity. During the experiment, flesh firmness, titratable acidity value (TA), pH, total soluble solids content (SSC) ratio, and weight losses were weekly assessed. The results indicated that there were positive effects of foliar calcium applications on fruit quality coupled with improved firmness, and enhancement of TA, an additional advantage for consumer acceptability.     

Ceratocystis platani is killing plane trees in Istanbul (Turkey)

Ceratocystis platani was detected at several locations in the European side of Istanbul, causing severe dieback and mortality, mainly on Platanus × acerifolia imported from Italy approximately 160 years ago, but also on Platanus orientalis. In the work reported here, the causal agent of the dieback and mortality was identified based on morphological characteristics in culture and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequencing, confirming the presence of C. platani in Turkey. All analysed C. platani isolates from Istanbul shared the same ITS sequence with European C. platani strains available in the NCBI, but differed from other species previously ascribed to the Ceratocystis fimbriata species complex. Pathogenicity of C. platani was proven by inoculation onto 25‐cm‐long and 4–9 mm diam. P. orientalis twigs and the causal agent reisolated from symptomatic tissues. In a survey of 976 Platanus in streets and parks of Istanbul, 26.5% of trees showed symptoms of C. platani infections, whilst 5.6% were dead. The proportion of symptomatic trees was higher where management interventions, such as topping or pruning and felling infected trees had been carried out.     

Distribution and genetic diversity of Dothistroma septosporum in Pinus brutia forests of south-western Turkey

Dothistroma needle blight (DNB) is a serious disease of the Pinaceae, mainly Pinus species, caused by the fungi Dothistroma septosporum and D. pini. Both species are regarded as invasive forest pathogens worldwide, with rising incidence in central and northern Europe over the last three decades. In this work, 29 sites were investigated between 2013 and 2015 in south-western Turkey. Morphological examination of needles confirmed DNB infection (i.e., Dothistroma conidiospores observed) at 18 sites, and a total of 108 Dothistroma sp. isolates were obtained from 11 of the sites. Host age seemed to be an important factor in both occurrence and severity of DNB in Pinus brutia forests. Continuous rainy days, especially in December, may increase severity of disease; however, extreme rain events may reduce available conidiospores on plant tissues or in the air. Species-specific mating type primers showed that all isolates were D. septosporum; D. pini was not detected. The mating type ratio was close to 1:1, indicating sexual recombination was occurring. Eleven microsatellite markers revealed 59 unique multilocus haplotypes (MLHs) among the 73 isolates originating from different conidiomata. The majority of MLHs were represented by a single isolate (n = 52) and only one MLH was shared between two localities. Analyses showed high genetic diversity, isolation-by-distance, and clear population clusters. These findings suggest that D. septosporum is well established in south-western Turkey and is probably not a recent introduction.     

Effects of red clover extract on growth performance and body composition of African catfish <Emphasis Type="Italic">Clarias gariepinus</Emphasis>

ABSTRACT:   The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of the red clover extract on growth, body composition and survival of African catfish Clarias gariepinus . Three concentrations (25, 50 and 75 mg/kg) of red clover at dietary were used for 120 days. The final weights of red clover-treated groups were significantly different from each other and the control group. The best growth was observed in the group receiving the 75 mg/red clover kg diet. Fish fed with all levels of red clover had higher weight gains than the control. The highest values of the specific growth rate and the food conversion rate were 1.14 ± 0.01 and 2.26 ± 0.04, respectively, for the 75 mg/red clover kg diet group. During the red clover administration period, the survival ranged from 97.78% for the 50 p.p.m. group to 95.56% for the 25 and 75 p.p.m. groups. Protein contents of the dosage groups were significantly different from control ( P  < 0.05). The highest value of protein content (19.97%) was observed for the 75 mg/ red clover kg diet. Lipid and ash contents were significantly affected by the red clover levels in the diets. The highest lipid contents were in the 75 mg/red clover kg diet (4.67%), and the highest ash content was 1.39% for the 25 mg/red clover kg diet.     

Occurrence, species distribution, antimicrobial resistance and clonality of methicillin- and erythromycin-resistant staphylococci in the nasal cavity of domestic animals

beta-Lactams and macrolides are important antibiotics for treatment of staphylococcal infections in both humans and animals. The aim of the study was to investigate the occurrence, species distribution and clonality of methicillin- and erythromycin-resistant staphylococci in the nasal cavity of dogs, horses, pigs, and cattle in Denmark. Nasal swabs were collected from a total of 400 animals, including 100 individuals of each species. Methicillin- and erythromycin-resistant staphylococci were isolated on selective media, identified by 16S rDNA sequencing, and typed by pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci (MRCoNS) harbouring mecA were isolated from horses (50%) and dogs (13%), but not from food animals. The species identified were S. haemolyticus (n=21), S. vitulinus (n=19), S. sciuri (n=13), S. epidermidis (n=8), and S. warneri (n=2). mecA-mediated methicillin resistance in S. vitulinus was described for the first time. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus was not detected. PFGE analysis revealed the presence of specific MRCoNS clones in samples originating from the same veterinary hospital or equine farm. Erythromycin-resistant S. aureus (ERSA) was detected in 38% of pigs and all isolates harboured a constitutively expressed erm(C) gene. The vast majority (37/38) of pigs carrying ERSA originated from a farm characterized by frequent use of macrolides. Most ERSA isolates (28/38) displayed indistinguishable or closely related PFGE patterns, indicating clonal distribution within the farm. Based on the analysis of data on antimicrobial consumption, the occurrence of MRCoNS in companion animals and that of ERSA in pigs reflected national and local patterns of antimicrobial usage.     

Effects of Nitrogen Fertilizer on Yield Quality and Nutrient Content in Broccoli

ABSTRACT

This study was conducted to determine the effects of nitrogen (N) doses on yield, quality, and nutrient content in broccoli heads. Treatments consisted of 0, 150, 300, 450, and 600 kg N ha^{? 1}. Nitrogen rates significantly increased yield, average weight of main and secondary heads, and the diameter in broccoli compared to control. The highest total yield (34631 kg ha^{? 1}) was obtained at 300 kg N ha^{? 1}. At harvest, the highest amount of the total N in broccoli heads was measured at 450 kg N ha^{? 1} application. Potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe), and zinc (Zn) content increased with increases in nitrogen treatments but, phosphorus (P), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), boron (B), and sodium (Na) contents were not influenced. Also, removed nutrients by broccoli head were highest at 300 kg ha^{? 1}N rate.