A note on the evolution of kabuli chickpeas as shown by induced mutations in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cicer reticulatum</Emphasis> Ladizinsky

Two distinct chickpeas of the domestic chickpea, C. arietinum L., exist and are referred to as ‘desi’ or microsperma and ‘kabuli’ or macrosperma. Cicer reticulatum Ladiz. is considered to be the wild progenitor of the domestic chickpea. However, the morphological variation in 18 original accessions of C. reticulatum is narrower than those of the domestic chickpeas. The aim of the study is to increase the variability in C. reticulatum. In M₂ generation, a mutant with white flower color was isolated despite of the fact that the parent has the pink flower. Although seed coat color of the parent was dark brown, the mutant was cream like ‘kabuli’ chickpea. It is commonly accepted that the large seeded domestic ‘kabuli’ chickpeas originated from the small seeded ‘desi’ chickpeas, but the induced mutants (white flower and cream seed coat color) of C. reticulatum may suggest an additional path for the evolution of ‘kabuli’ chickpea. ‘Kabuli’ chickpeas could have originated from spontaneous mutants of C. reticulatum. In M₃ generation, multipinnate leaf, erect growth habit, green seed and double-podded chickpeas were isolated. Among these progenies, morphologic variability increased and approached domesticated chickpea. Based on historical records and the induced mutants obtained from this study, the domestic ‘kabuli’ chickpea could have directly emerged from C. reticulatum in ancient Eastern Turkey.     

Photo-Degradation of Some Dyes using Ag-Loaded Titaniumdioxide

The photocatalytic degradation of organic dyes using TiO₂ andsilver-loaded TiO₂ has beenstudied. The dyes which were chosen (methyl violet, a cationicdye; Cibacron Blue FMR, areactive dye; and Maxilon Red GRL, a mono azo basic dye)represent the major structuralfamilies of organic dyes. Ag-loading dramatically reduceddegradation time. While theundoped TiO₂ degraded about 63% of the total amount ofmethyl violet within 4 min,degradation rose to 95% with Ag-loaded TiO₂ within the sametime period. The photo-decomposition of dyes was monitored as a function of pH anddissolved organic and inorganic matters.     

The importance of staphylococci and threshold value of somatic cell count for diagnosis of sub-clinical mastitis in Pirlak sheep at mid-lactation

This study investigated the bacterial agents causing sub-clinical mastitis and the mean somatic cell counts (SCC) of milk in Pirlak sheep at mid-lactation. The percentage of infected udder halves was 11.4% (53/464). The most frequently isolated species were coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) (64.2%), followed by Staphylococcus aureus (24.5%) and Escherichia coli (11.3%). Among the CNS, the most common species was Staphylococcus epidermidis (38.2%). The other species isolated from milk samples were Staphylococcus xylosus (17.7%), Staphylococcus chromogenes (14.7%), Staphylococcus simulans (8.8%) and Staphylococcus hyicus (8.8%). The mean SCC for culture positive and negative samples was 1742×10(3) and 161×10(3) cells/ml, respectively. A significant difference (p<0.05) was determined between with and without microbial growth groups in terms of the SCC values. Threshold limit for SCC was 374×10(3) cells/ml for Pirlak sheep. In conclusion, it was considered that SCC is an important predictor of sub-clinical mastitis in Pirlak sheep. This is the first study to describe the bacterial agents causing sub-clinical mastitis and threshold limit for SCC in Pirlak sheep in Turkey.     

Determination of chemical profile, antioxidant, DNA damage protection and antiamoebic activities of Teucrium polium and Stachys iberica

This work deals with the evaluation of in vitro antioxidant, DNA preventing and antiamoebic activities of the water extracts of Teucrium polium and Stachys iberica. In all systems, T. polium extract exhibited excellent activity potential than that of S. iberica. The amount of total phenolics and flavonoids were high in this extract. In the presence of 40 mg/ml T. polium extract, a significant protection was observed for native super coiled DNA of pBR322 plasmid DNA. In the presence of 32 mg/ml of T. polium extract, no trophozoite was after the 24th hour.     

The role of goats as reservoir hosts for bovine herpes virus 1 under field conditions

Bovine herpesvirus 1 (BoHV1) is the cause of economically significant viral infections in cattle. Respiratory symptoms associated with the infection are known as Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis (IBR). Sheep and goats are less sensitive to the infection although their role in inter-species viral transmission under field conditions is subject to controversy. The objective of this study was to investigate seroprevalence of BoHV1 infections in cattle, sheep, and goats raised together for at least a year. Blood serum samples were taken from 226 cattle, 1.053 sheep, and 277 goats from 17 small- to medium-scale farms. BoHV1-specific antibody presence and titers were determined using virus neutralization test. In total, 73 of the 226 cattle (32.3%) were seropositive. The infection was detected in 13 of the 17 farms. Infection rates ranged from 5.8 to 88.8%. Only one of the 1053 sheep (0.09%) was seropositive. However, 58 of the 277 (20.9%) goats were seropositive. Goat samples taken from 8 of the 17 farms were seropositive with infection rates ranging from 17 to 38.9%. Statistical analysis showed a significant correlation in infection rates between cattle and goats but not sheep. These results suggest that goats may be more sensitive to the BHV1 infection than sheep and the role of goats as possible reservoirs for BoHV1 in the control and eradication of BHV1 in cattle should be considered in future studies.

     

The occurrence of deep pectoral myopathy in broilers and associated changes in breast meat quality

1. Two experiments were conducted to determine the effect of slaughter weight on the incidence and intensity of deep pectoral myopathy (DPM) of M. pectoralis minor (p. minor muscle) in commercial conditions in Turkey and to evaluate the impact of DPM on meat quality traits of pectoralis major (p. major) muscle in broilers.

2. In Experiment 1, a total of 116 250 carcasses from 59 Ross-308 broiler flocks, classified according to slaughter weight as 2.0–2.2, 2.2–2.4, 2.4–2.6 and >2.6 kg, were evaluated for occurrence of DPM. In Experiment 2, p. major samples from unaffected broilers and each DPM stage were evaluated for meat quality, oxidant and antioxidant properties, nutritional value and fatty acid profile. DPM was characterised as 1: muscles with coagulative necrosis, 2: muscles with fibrous tissue texture and pink to plumb and 3: muscles with green necrotic area.

3. The average incidence of DPM was found to be 0.73% in Experiment 1 and independent of slaughter weight.

4. In Experiment 2, p. major muscle of broilers with DPM 1 and 2 had higher pH values with higher redness and drip loss. All DPM stages resulted in an increase in lipid content and malondialdehyde activity and lowered ash content of p. major muscle compared with unaffected birds. DPM 2 increased superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities in M. p. major. The p. major of broilers with DPM had lower content of C18:2 conjugated linoleic and C20:3n-6 fatty acids than those of unaffected broilers. Lower Δ6 desaturase and thiosterase activities and 18:2n-6 to 18:3n-3 ratio were observed for all DPM stages compared to unaffected.

5. It was concluded that these changes obtained in p. major muscle of broilers with DPM might indicate biochemical characteristics of muscle degenerations.     

Effect of weaning on behavior and serum parameters in dairy goat kids

This study aimed at investigating the effects of weaning kids abruptly at an average of 55 ± 13 days of age on intake, behavioral and serum parameters and, lasted for a total of six weeks; two weeks pre-weaning and four weeks post-weaning. Sixteen single kids with equal gender were used. Kids were only allowed to stay with their mothers for suckling (45 min/period) both in the morning and in the evening period during pre-weaning. Grower concentrate and hay were offered ad libitum . The duration of the study was divided into three periods for the sampling of behavioral and serum parameters; (i) pre-weaning period lasting for two weeks (P-BW) (ii) early post-weaning period lasting for one week (P-AW1) and (iii) late post-weaning period lasting for three weeks (P-AW2). Daily weight gain of kids gradually decreased as the observation period progressed ( P  = 0.001). However concentrate feed intake increased from 0.154 kg/day in P-BW to 0.479 kg/day in P-AW1 and 0.499 kg/day in P-AW2. Water intake, rumination and standing behaviors decreased in P-AW2 ( P  < 0.001), whereas activity towards concentrate feed (CF) ( P  < 0.001) and roughage ( P  = 0.012) increased as compared to P-BW and P-AW1. Abnormal oral activity was not affected by the periods ( P  = 0.906). CF was significantly higher in females ( P  = 0.003), whereas males displayed higher lying behavior ( P  = 0.007). Glucose, total protein, urea, cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol concentrations ( P  = 0.001) and ALP activity ( P  = 0.003) were significantly affected by the periods. The results of the present study suggest that behavioral and serum parameters across the periods describe changes in the nutritional conditions as a result of the transition from milk to solid feed in association with weaning.     

Calcium Sulfate Improves Salinity Tolerance in Rootstocks of Plum

ABSTRACT

Three vegetative rootstocks of plum (Prunus domestica), Marianna GF 8-1 (Prunus cerasifera × munsoniana), Myrobolan B (P. Cerasifera) and Pixy (P. Insititia) were grown in pots containing sand and irrigated with complete nutrient solution to investigate the effect of calcium sulfate supplied to the nutrient solution on plants grown under salt stress. Treatments were (1) control (C): nutrient solution alone; (2) S (salinity stress): 40 mM NaCl; (3) S+Ca1: 40 mM NaCl +2.5 mM calcium (Ca) and (4) S+Ca₂: 40 mM NaCl + 5 mM Ca. Calcium was supplied as CaSO₄. The plants grown under 40 mol L^?1 NaCl produced less dry matter and had lower chlorophyll content than those without NaCl. Supplementary CaSO₄ at both 2.5 and 5 mM concentrations ameliorated the negative effects of salinity on plant dry matter and chlorophyll content. Salt treatment impaired membrane permeability by increasing electrolyte leakage. The addition of calcium sulfate partially maintained membrane permeability. Sodium (Na) concentration in plant tissues increased in both leaves and roots of plants under the high NaCl treatment. Pixy had much lower Na. The CaSO₄ treatments lowered significantly the concentrations of Na in both leaves and roots. Pixy was more tolerant to salinity than the other two rootstocks. The accumulation of Na in leaves and roots indicates a possible mechanism whereby Pixy copes with salinity in the rooting medium, and/or may indicate the existence of an inhibition mechanism of Na transport to leaves. Concentrations of Ca and K were lower in the plants grown at high NaCl than in those under the control treatment, and these two element concentrations were increased by calcium sulfate treatments in both leaves and roots, but remained lower than control values in most cases.