Identifying high yielding stable winter wheat genotypes for irrigated environments in Central and West Asia

Improved winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars are needed for the diverse environments in Central and West Asia to improve rural livelihoods. This study was conducted to determine the performance of elite winter wheat breeding lines developed by the International Winter Wheat Improvement Program (IWWIP), to analyze their stability across diverse environments, and to identify superior genotypes that could be valuable for winter wheat improvement or varietal release. One hundred and one advanced winter wheat breeding lines and four check cultivars were tested over a 5-year period (2004–2008). Grain yield and agronomic traits were analyzed. Stability and genotypic superiority for grain yield were determined using genotype and genotype × environment (GGE) biplot analysis. The experimental genotypes showed high levels of grain yield in each year, with mean values ranging from 3.9 to 6.7 t ha⁻¹. A set of 25 experimental genotypes was identified. These were either equal or superior to the best check based on their high mean yield and stability across environments as assessed by the GGE biplot analysis. The more stable high yielding genotypes were ID800994.W/Falke, Agri/Nac//Attila, ID800994W/Vee//F900K/3/Pony/Opata, AU//YT542/N10B/3/II8260/4/JI/Hys/5/Yunnat Esskiy/6/KS82W409/Spn and F130-L-1-12/MV12. The superior genotypes also had acceptable maturity, plant height and 1,000-kernel weight. Among the superior lines, Agri/Nac//Attila and Shark/F4105W2.1 have already been proposed for release in Kyrgyzstan and Georgia, respectively. The findings provide information on wide adaptation of the internationally important winter wheat genotypes, and demonstrate that the IWWIP program is enriching the germplasm base in the region with superior winter wheat genotypes to the benefit of national and international winter wheat improvement programs.     

Nitrate Poisoning in Horses Associated With Ingestion of Forage and Alfalfa

This report describes nitrate poisoning observed in thoroughbred mares. Nine horses died at a farm in Bursa, Turkey, between February and April of 2008. Five of them were pregnant. Clinical findings developed over a short period and included severe abdominal pain, limited response to analgesics and antispasmodics, diarrhea, shallow and rapid breathing, tachycardia, blue-brown discoloration of the mucosal membranes, tremors, ataxia, convulsions before death, and abortion in the pregnant mares. The main postmortem finding was chocolate brown–colored blood as well as congestion and inflammation of the intra-abdominal organs. Uterine rupture, colonic ruptures, and torsio uteri were seen in the pregnant mares. Stomach and intestinal ruptures were seen in four nonpregnant mares. High nitrate concentrations were determined in some grass and alfalfa samples used to feed the animals. Nitrate poisoning is considered to be very rare in horses, but, in this case, the clinical symptoms, postmortem findings, and nitrate levels in the collected samples supported nitrate and nitrite poisoning as the cause of deaths.     

Assessment of genetic relationships among 29 introduced and 49 local sweet cherry accessions in Turkey using AFLP and SSR markers

Summary

The characterisation of sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) genetic resources in Turkey may help to increase their use in breeding programmes worldwide, as Turkey is the centre of origin of sweet cherry. Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) and simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers were therefore used to analyse genetic diversity among a total of 78 local and introduced sweet cherry cultivars. Four AFLP primer combinations, and six SSR primer pairs for sweet cherry were used for genetic diversity analysis. A genetic similarity matrix was calculated using the combined data from AFLP and SSR analyses with simple matching coefficient. Genetic similarities among the sweet cherry genotypes studied were higher than 42%. No two accessions had an identical AFLP and SSR marker profile, indicating that all 78 genotypes were unique. An UPGMA dendrogram, based on the similarity matrix, revealed 18 separate Groups at or above the 70% similarity level. While some Groups consisted of both introduced and local genotypes, other Groups had only local genotypes. This result suggests that there was broad genetic diversity among the local Turkish sweet cherry genotypes, which was not present in the introduced sweet cherry accessions. The genetic variation present in local Turkish sweet cherry genotypes may be useful for future breeding programmes. We found that the use of both SSR and AFLP marker systems was effective for distinguishing between genetically-close sweet cherry genotypes. These marker systems can be used to complement pomological and morphological markers during the characterisation and identification of sweet cherry genotypes.     

Encapsulation of phase change materials by complex coacervation to improve thermal performances and flame retardant properties of the cotton fabrics

This paper reports a study on the thermal stability and flame-retardant properties of microencapsulated phase change materials (PCMs) with clay nano-particles (Clay-NPs) doped gelatin/sodium alginate shell. The novel microcapsules were fabricated by the technique of complex coacervation using gelatin and sodium alginate as the shell and PCM n-eicosane as the core. Their flame retardant property as well as their practicable thermal performances when incorporated into woven cotton fabrics by pad-dry-cure were investigated. Thermal storage/release properties of the prepared microcapsules were analyzed using DSC instrument. Thermal gravimetry (TG) analysis was performed to measure the thermal stability and surface morphology of the microcapsules was observed by means of optical microscopy and SEM. The DSC results indicated that the latent heat storage capacity of prepared microcapsules changed in range of 97-114 J/g. The microcapsules had spherical shape with particle sizes between 1.37 μm and 1.6 μm. The PCM microcapsules (PCMMs) and nano-composite PCM microcapsules (NCPCMMs) with clay-NPs doped gelatin/sodium alginate shell were found to have good potential for developing thermal comfort in textiles. Comparing with conventional PCMMs, NCPCMMs have significantly better thermal stability. Nano-composite structure of the NCPCMMs, in which clay-NPs doped in the polymeric shell structure, attributed to increase the shell thermal stability. Improved flame retardant properties of the cotton fabrics treated with NCPCMs were declared as a result of flame retardant tests. Thermo-regulating properties of the fabrics were proved by thermal history (THistory) measurement results from releasing heat from microcapsules.     

Soil determinants for distribution of Halocnemum strobilaceum Bieb. (Chenopodiaceae) around Lake Tuz, Turkey

In this study we aimed to reveal the ranges and effectiveness of soil parameters on the distribution of H. strobilaceum. Halocnemum strobilaceum Bieb. is a widespread species in saline habitats and the distribution pattern of this halophytic species around Lake Tuz in Central Anatolia was examined according to the soil characteristics. pH, electrical conductivity, soil humidity, salt percentage, soluble Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+, CO3(2-), HCO3(-), Cl(-) and SO4(2-) values, total cations, cation exchange capacity, sodium adsorption ratio, exchangeable Na+, K+, Ca2+ and Mg2+ values were the examined soil properties. The most effective soil parameters for flowering period were found as Na, SO4, total cations, SAR and EC and for seed bearing period as EC, Mg, total cations, Cl, Na, SO4 and salt (%) content of the soil.     

网状内皮增殖病病毒(REV)感染SPF雏鸡后局部免疫组织抗体生成细胞的变化

对 SPF雏鸡人工感染 REV后局部免疫组织盲肠扁桃体和哈德氏腺的 Ig A、Ig G和 Ig M抗体生成细胞数量动态变化进行了检测。结果发现 ,REV感染 SPF雏鸡后 7～ 4 9天消化道局部免疫组织盲肠扁桃体和呼吸道相关局部免疫组织哈德氏腺的 Ig A、Ig G和 Ig M抗体生成细胞数量明显低于未感染对照雏鸡。表明雏鸡感染 REV后消化道局部组织盲肠扁桃体和呼吸道相关免疫组织哈德氏腺体液免疫机能均显著下降。     

Contribution of the xenograft bone plate-screw system in lumbar transpedicular stabilization of dogs: an in-vitro study

We performed biomechanical comparison of a xenograft bone plate-screw (XBPS) system for achieving cadaveric lumbar transpedicular stabilization (TS) in dogs. Twenty dogs'' cadaveric L_2-4 lumbar specimens were harvested and their muscles were removed, but the discs and ligaments were left intact. These specimens were separated to four groups: the L_2-4 intact group as control (group I, n = 5), the L₃ laminectomy and bilateral facetectomy group (LBF) (group II, n = 5), the LBF plus TS with metal plate-screw group (group III, n = 5) and the LBF plus TS with XBPS group (group IV, n = 5). Five kinds of biomechanical tests were applied to the specimens: flexion, extension, left-right bending and rotation. The averages of the 16 stiffness values were calculated and then these were statistically analyzed. The statistical results show that the XBPS system contributes spinal stability and this system can be a good choice for achieving TS.