Changes in total protein profiles of barley cultivars in response to toxic boron concentration

In this study, ten‐day‐old seedlings of barley {Hordeum vulgare L. cultivar Anadolu [boron (B)‐tolerant] and Hamidiye (B‐sensitive)} were used. Boron‐treated plants were grown on H₃BO₃ solution (final concentration of 10 mM) for five days. Control plants received no B treatment during this period. Total protein patterns were obtained by analysis of total protein extract from root and leaf tissues of control and B‐treated plants using two‐dimensional gel electrophoresis followed by silver staining. The protein profile of B‐treated seedlings of each cultivar was compared to the profile of control (no stress treatment) plants of the same cultivar. Silver‐stained gels showed that B stress caused increases or decreases in a number of proteins in root and leaf tissues. Moreover, as a result of B treatment, one newly synthesized protein with relative molecular weight (M_r) of 35.0 kDa was detected in root profile of the tolerant cultivar. This protein failed to show up in root profile of the B‐treated sensitive cultivar. Three proteins were quantitatively increased in B‐treated root profile of both cultivars. Following B treatment, three proteins were increased in root profile of the tolerant cultivar, but were not changed in the sensitive one. In leaf tissues, however, there were remarkable changes in total protein profiles after B treatment, relative to the control. Following B treatment, in leaf tissues, at least seven proteins were increased in amount in tolerant cultivar but were unchanged in the susceptible one. In tolerant and sensitive cultivars, amounts of two proteins were increased in B‐treated plants, relative to control seedlings. In addition, four proteins (M_r:29, 58, 58, and 22 kDa) were unchanged in control and B‐treated seedlings of the tolerant cultivar. In the susceptible cultivar however, among these four proteins, the first one (M_r:29) was very much reduced and the others (M_r: 58, 58, and 22 kDa) were completely lost in B‐treated seedlings. Moreover, following B treatment, a set of high‐molecular‐weight proteins was quantitatively decreased in the susceptible cultivar but was unchanged in the tolerant cultivar. These results indicate that in barley, certain proteins may be involved in tolerance to B toxicity. In this study, changes in polypeptide composition as a result of B toxic concentration in leaf tissues were more abundant than in roots. Therefore, it is suggested that these changes, especially at shoot level may form the basis of the tolerance mechanism to B toxicity.     

A parasitological, molecular and serological survey of Hepatozoon canis infection in dogs around the Aegean coast of Turkey

Canine hepatozoonosis is caused by the tick-borne protozoon Hepatozoon spp. The prevalence of the infection in the Aegean coast of Turkey was investigated by examination of blood smear parasitology and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using blood samples from 349 dogs collected from Central Aydin, Kusadasi, Selcuk, Central Manisa, Bodrum and Marmaris within the Aegean coast of Turkey. The indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) for the detection of Hepatozoon canis antibodies was also used to detect the exposure rate to H. canis. PCR amplifying a 666bp fragment of 18S rRNA gene of Hepatozoon spp. was used in the epidemiological survey. The prevalence of Hepatozoon spp. infection was 10.6% by blood smear parasitology and 25.8% by PCR. IFAT revealed that 36.8% of serum samples were positive for antibodies reactive with Hepatozoon spp. The PCR products of 18S rRNA gene of Hepatozoon spp. isolated from six infected dogs, one isolate originating from each of the six different locations, were sequenced. The results of sequence analysis indicate that they are closely related to Indian and Japanese isolates of H. canis. This is the first epidemiological study on the prevalence of H. canis infection in the dog, in Turkey.     

Effectiveness of a naturally derived insecticide, spinosad, against the pine processionary moth Thaumetopoea wilkinsoni Tams (Lepidoptera: Thaumetopoeidae) under laboratory conditions

The pine processionary moth Thaumetopoea wilkinsoni Tams is a serious pest on pine trees in southwestern Turkey. The efficacy of a naturally derived insecticide, spinosad, on fourth-fifth instar larvae of T. wilkinsoni was studied under laboratory conditions. The product exhibited strong larvicidal activity and at doses above 5 mg litre(-1) caused > 90% mortality in the fourth-fifth larval stages of the species after 72 h. At 72 h the LD50 and LD90 values were 3.26 and 5.69 mg litre(-1) respectively. The results showed that spinosad is highly effective on T. wilkinsoni larvae.     

Color and whiteness properties of fabrics knitted from different hybrid core-spun yarns containing metal wire

In this study, the color and whiteness properties of fabrics knitted from ring, siro and compact core-spun yarns containing metal wire were investigated. In general, an increase in the metal ratio of yarns causes a decrease in the whiteness and color strengths of fabrics. In our study, spinning method had no statistically significant effect on either the T _w or K/S values of fabrics while the effect of spinning method on the whiteness index of fabrics was briefly observed. Fabrics knitted from siro spun yarns showed higher whiteness properties than those of fabrics knitted from compact and ring spun yarns. This might be explained by the superior covering effectiveness of the siro spinning method on metal wire.     

Use of a hand-held meter for detecting subclinical ketosis in dairy cows

The Optium Xceed is a new hand-held meter for determining blood β-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA) and glucose in human medicine. The objective of this study was to compare BHBA and glucose results obtained using the hand-held meter with those results made with a laboratory method and to evaluate its usefulness as a cowside test in the diagnosis of subclinical ketosis (SCK) in dairy cows. Seventy-eight blood samples from clinically healthy Holstein cows between 5 and 60 days post-calving were analysed. BHBA and glucose values were significantly higher with the hand-held meter versus laboratory methods. Correlation coefficients (r) for BHBA and glucose with the Optium Xceed versus laboratory methods were 0.97 and 0.63, respectively. Based on Bland–Altman plot and Passing–Bablok regression, agreement between two methods was good for BHBA but the agreement for glucose was only fair. When SCK was defined as plasma BHBA levels 1200 μmol/L, the sensitivity and specificity of the hand-held meter ketone testing in determining SCK were 85% and 94%, respectively. Raising the threshold of the laboratory method to 1400 μmol/L, the sensitivity and specificity incremented to 0.90 and 0.98, respectively.In conclusion, the blood ketone-monitoring device can be used as a rapid and reliable diagnostic test to detect SCK under field conditions.     

Evaluation of Yield Criteria for Drought and Heat Resistance in Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

The chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is usually grown under rainfed, rather than irrigated conditions, where drought accompanied by heat stress is a major growth constraint. The aim of this study was to select chickpea genotypes having resistance to drought/heat stress and to identify the most appropriate selection criteria for this. A total of 377 chickpea accessions were sown 2 months later than normal for the Antalya region (Turkey) to increase their exposure to the drought and high‐temperature conditions of a typical summer in this part of the world. Interspersed between every 10 test genotypes as benchmark genotypes, were plants of the two known genotypes ILC 3279 (drought‐susceptible) and ILC 8617 (drought‐susceptible), while ICC 4958 (known drought‐resistant) and ICCV 96029 (known very early, double‐podded) were also sown for confirmation. All plants were subsequently screened for drought and heat stress resistance. Soon after the two known susceptible genotypes had died, evaluations of the entire trial were made visually on a scale from ‘1’ (free from drought/heat damage) to ‘9’ (all plants died from drought/heat). Yield loss in many of the test genotypes and in the two known susceptible genotypes (ILC 3279 and ILC 8617) rose to 100 %. The desi chickpeas (smaller, dark seeds) were generally more drought‐ and heat‐resistant than the kabuli chickpeas (larger, pale seeds). Two desi chickpeas, ACC 316 and ACC 317, were selected for drought and heat (>40 °C) resistance under field conditions. Seed weight was the trait least affected by adverse environmental conditions and having the highest heritability, and it should be used in early breeding selections. When breeding drought‐ and heat‐resistant chickpeas, path and multivariate analyses showed that days to the first flowering and maturity to escape terminal drought and heat stresses should be evaluated ahead of many other phenological traits, and harvest index, biological yield and pods per plant for increased yield should also be considered.     

Use of doramectin for treatment of sarcoptic mange in five Angora rabbits

The efficacy of administering doramectin after moxidectin treatment, which has previously proved only partially effective, was evaluated in five Angora rabbits naturally infested with Sarcoptes scabiei mange. Evaluations included physical examination for clinical signs of sarcoptic mange and collection of skin scrapings for determination of mites. The rabbits first received two subcutaneous injections, 10 days apart, of moxidectin 1% injectable solution at a dosage of 0.2 mg kg(-1) of bodyweight. Although moxidectin treatment resulted in clinical improvement within 10 days post initial injection, on days 10 and 35 post initial treatment live mites were present in skin scrapings. Administration of doramectin 1% injectable solution using the same route and dosage and at similar intervals to moxidectin led to complete disappearance of signs of scabies and parasitological cure in all rabbits.     

Efficacy of topical administration of eprinomectin for treatment of ear mite infestation in six rabbits

Six rabbits naturally infested with Psoroptes cuniculi were treated topically on the skin at the base of the neck with 0.5 mg kg(-1) of 0.5% pour-on eprinomectin for cattle, twice at 14-day intervals. Efficacy of the drug was based on the disappearance of clinical signs and the absence of live mites for a period of 6 weeks. Clinical improvement was seen within 3 days of the first application; however, complete recovery of clinical signs and elimination of mites in 5/6 rabbits did not occur until the end of the study. No adverse reactions attributable to eprinomectin treatment were observed during the observation period. Results of this trial indicated that eprinomectin was partially effective in the treatment of psoroptic mange in rabbits.