Socioeconomic structure and analysis of the demand for wood raw materials in the poplar wood-processing companies of the Sakarya and Kocaeli provinces in Turkey

This study investigates the socioeconomic structure and factors affecting the demand for raw materials of the poplar wood-processing industrial companies within 11 districts of the Sakarya and Kocaeli provinces. A face-to-face survey was conducted in 53 current companies. The data were evaluated using percentage methods and the Kruskal–Wallis H-Test. The data on the raw material demand of the companies were also evaluated using statistical (factor and regression) analyses. The most important factors affecting the structure of the demand for raw materials were determined as follows: (a) the scale or size of company, (b) the demand level for products, (c) production form of the company, (d) price of raw materials, (e) external environmental conditions, (f) raw material types and features, (g) seasons, and (h) the procurement conditions for raw materials. Also, the variables influencing the change in the raw material demand were determined to be: (a) the principle activity area of the company, (b) its amount of capital, (c) the price of raw materials, and (d) the production as well as profit levels of the company. Economic, technical, and managerial proposals were developed to advise the companies on how to operate more efficiently and profitably.     

Risk factors for occupational brucellosis among veterinary personnel in Turkey

Veterinarians and veterinary technicians are at risk for occupational brucellosis. We described the risk factors of occupational brucellosis among veterinary personnel in Turkey. A multicenter retrospective survey was performed among veterinary personnel who were actively working in the field. Of 712 veterinary personnel, 84 (11.8%) had occupational brucellosis. The median number of years since graduation was 7 (interquartile ranges [IQR], 4–11) years in the occupational brucellosis group, whereas this number was 9 (IQR, 4–16) years in the non-brucellosis group (p < 0.001). In multivariable analysis, working in the private sector (odds ratio [OR], 2.8; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.55–5.28, p = 0.001), being male (OR, 4.5; 95% CI, 1.05–18.84, p = 0.041), number of performed deliveries (OR, 1.01; 95% CI, 1.002–1.02, p = 0.014), and injury during Brucella vaccine administration (OR, 5.4; 95% CI, 3.16–9.3, p < 0.001) were found to be risk factors for occupational brucellosis. We suggest that all veterinary personnel should be trained on brucellosis and the importance of using personal protective equipment in order to avoid this infection.     

Influence of native endophytic bacteria on the growth and bacterial crown rot tolerance of papaya (Carica papaya)

The native plant microbiome is composed of diverse microbial communities that influence overall plant health, with some species known to promote plant growth and pathogen resistance. Here, we show the antibacterial and growth promoting activities of autoclaved culture metabolites (ACM) from native endophytic bacteria (NEB). These NEB were isolated from a papaya cultivar (var. Cariflora) that is tolerant to bacterial crown rot (BCR) caused by Erwinia mallotivora. In this cultivar, bacterial colonization in tissues recovering from the disease was observed before onset of tissue regeneration or ‘regrowth’. We further isolated and characterized these bacteria and were able to identify two culturable stem NEB related to plant endophytic genera Kosakonia sp. (ex. Enterobacter sp., isolate EBW), and to Sphingomonas sp. (isolate EBY). We also identified root NEB under genus Bacillus (isolates BN, BS, and BT). Inhibition assays indicated that ACM from these NEB promptly (within 18-30 h) and efficiently inhibited (60–65% reduction) E. mallotivora proliferation in vitro. When surface-sterilized papaya seeds were soaked in ACM from isolates EBY and EBW, germination was variably retarded (20–60% reduction) depending on plant genotype, but plant biomass accumulation was significantly stimulated, at around two-fold increase. Moreover, greenhouse experiments show that ACM from all isolates, especially isolate EBW, significantly reduced BCR incidence and severity in a susceptible genotype (var. Solo), at around two-fold. In general, our observations of pathogen antagonism and plant growth promotion leading to disease reduction, suggested the influence of native endophytic bacteria to increased fitness in plants, and tolerance against the re-emerging crown rot disease of papaya.

     

Changes in gas exchange capacity and selected physiological properties of squash seedlings (Cucurbita pepo L.) under well-watered and drought stress conditions

Water use efficiency (WUE) is considered as an important component of adaptation to drought stress. This study was conducted to determine the effect of drought stress on gas exchange parameters and selected physiological properties, and also its relations with WUE in summer squash seedlings (Cucurbita pepo L.). Plants were grown in pots under different irrigation levels (D0: 100%, D1: 67% and D2: 33% of the water required to reach the field capacity) in controlled greenhouse. The results show that drought treatments significantly decreased the leaf chlorophyll reading values (LCRV), leaf relative water content (LRWC), stomatal conductance (g_s), photosynthetic rate (P_N), transpiration rate (T_r), fresh weight (FW) and dry weight (DW) of squash seedlings by 7, 42, 69, 62, 62 63 and 82%, respectively, in D2 treatment compared to D0. However, electrolyte leakage (EL) values increased 72% with severe drought treatments (D2). The highest WUE was obtained by D0 treatment as 0.26 g mm^?1. The relationship between P_N and WUE is the strongest one among all leaf gas exchange parameters. Together with T_r, the linear relation with WUE was considerably higher compared to other measured parameters.     

Population fluctuations of the citriculus mealybug,Pseudococcus cryptus Hempel (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), in citrus orchards of Samandağ, Hatay,Turkey

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - Population fluctuations of Pseudococcus cryptus Hempel (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) in citrus, role of the parasitoids, within total parasitism and levels...     

Seasonal variation of the lying and standing behavior indexes of dairy cattle at different daily time periods in free‐stall housing

The lying and standing behavior of dairy cattle reveal whether dairy cattle housing is appropriate to cow comfort. Lying and standing behavior indexes, such as cow comfort index (CCI), cow stress index (CSI) and stall usage index (SUI) are often used as an indication of animal welfare. This study was performed to determine the seasonal and hourly variation of cow behavioral indexes at different daily time periods (DTP) and evaluate appropriate DTP better representing daily behavioral activity of dairy cattle in free‐stall housing (FHS) in Konya, Turkey. Animal behaviors were videotaped for a total of 24 days (576 h) over four seasons in a FHS at a commercial dairy farm from November 2007 to March 2009 using continuous video data (24 h per day). The behaviors of cows in the barn were evaluated using 60‐min scan sampling. All phenotypes were evaluated on an hourly basis during the experimental period. The results show how these indexes can be accurately evaluated by analyzing video recordings taken on DTP between 08.00–15.00 and 19.00–24.00 hours for autumn and summer and 10.00–12.00 and 20.00–22.00 hours for spring, instead of continuous observation (r > 0.93, P < 0.01). Consequently, the evaluated method provides saving time and labor to accurately analyze cow behavior instead of observations over a long time.