Radon Survey and Exposure Assessment in Karaca and ?al Caves, Turkey

Radon concentration and gamma activity concentration of naturally occurring radionuclides were determined and presented for two tourist caves (Karaca and Çal caves) in this study. These caves are reported to receive about 77,000 visitors during the summer season in 2007. It was seen that mean radon activity concentrations for the winter and summer seasons for the Karaca cave is 1,023 and 823 Bq/m³ and for the Çal cave is 264 and 473 Bq/m³. Mean ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K activity concentrations are found to be 43, 19, and 262 Bq/kg for the Karaca cave and 31, 27, and 460 Bq/kg for the Çal cave. Doses received by the cave guides due to radon were estimated to be 2.9 mSv/year for the winter season and 2.3 mSv/year for the summer season for the Karaca cave. Same values were estimated for the Çal cave, and the results were found to be 0.6 mSv/year for the winter season and 1.1 mSv/year for the summer season. Annual effective doses received by the visitors in both caves were estimated to be in the order of ??Sv/year because of the short exposure time comparing the cave guides. Although the reported values are below the recommended values, both groups are exposed to possible radiological risk during their stay inside the cave, since prolonged exposure to high radon concentration has been linked to lung cancer.     

Effects of Exogenous Glycinebetaine and Trehalose on Cadmium Accumulation and Biological Responses of an Aquatic Plant (Lemna gibba L.)

This study aimed to investigate and compare the effects of exogenous glycinebetaine (GB) and trehalose (TR) on the biological responses of duckweed (Lemna gibba L.) against cadmium (Cd) accumulation. Duckweed samples were exposed to 0.5, 1, and 3 mM of Cd for 6 days in the presence and absence of GB (0.5, 1, 2, and 5 mM) or TR (0.5, 1, 2, and 5 mM). The accumulation of Cd, GB, and TR were investigated, and their influence on the rates of lipid peroxidation, photosynthetic activity, proline content and enzymatic antioxidant performance was examined. Two-way ANOVA showed that exposure to Cd and/or GB or TR caused an increase in Cd accumulation concentration dependently. TR had significant effects on Cd accumulation. The application of 0.5 mM TR increased Cd accumulation, whereas 5 mM decreased Cd accumulation. However, Cd accumulation was not significantly affected by the presence of GB. Cd concentration alone or in combination with GB or TR had a significant effect on lipid peroxidation, photosynthetic activity, proline content, and antioxidant enzyme activities. In addition, statistically significant GB?CCd and TR?CCd interactions were observed. We conclude that both GB and TR play protective roles against Cd stress in aquatic plants. The use of a low level of TR (i.e., 0.5 mM) may be more useful than GB in phytoremediation studies.     

Chemical compositions and insecticidal effects of essential oils isolated from Achillea gypsicola, Satureja hortensis, Origanum acutidens and Hypericum scabrum against broadbean weevil (Bruchus dentipes)

The essential oils of aerial parts of Achillea gypsicola Hub.-Mor., Hypericum scabrum L., Satureja hortensis L., and Origanum acutidens (Hand.-Mazz.) Letswaart were analyzed in this study by GC and GC–MS and their oils were tested for toxicity against broadbean weevil (Bruchus dentipes). A. gypsicola oil contained camphor (40.17%), 1,8-cineole (22.01%), piperitone (11.29%), borneol (9.50%) and α-terpineol (1.56%) as major components. A total of 74 components were identified by GC–MS in H. scabrum oil, including α-pinene (9.26%), terpinen-4-ol (5.12%), camphor (5.94%), δ-cadinene (4.52%), pulegone (4.45%), γ-muurolene (4.12%), pinocarvone (3.97%) and β-caryophyllene (3.42%) as predominant components. The essential oils of O. acutidens and S. hortensis were characterized by high contents of carvacrol (86.99% and 55.74%), γ-terpinene (0.71% and 20.94%), p-cymene (1.95% and 12.30%), α-terpinene (0.13% and 2.04%) and β-caryophyllene (1.30% and 1.08%). All of the essential oils were toxic to adults of B. dentipes and insect mortality increased with increasing concentration of each oil. The oils (20 μl dose) brought about 100% mortality in 36 h. Although desirable insecticidal activities against the pest were achieved with the oils from all four plant species, S. hortensis and O. acutidens oils were more effective, particularly after 6 h of treatment. The current results concluded that the essential oils, in particular O. acutidens and S. hortensis oils, may be used as potential botanical insecticides against B. dentipes.     

Characteristics of some almond kernel and oils

The proximate properties, the fatty acid and mineral contents of different almond kernel varieties were determined. The crude protein contents of kernels ranged between 12.7% (guara) and 16.3% (cristomorto). The oil yields from these kernels were established between 48.8% (cristomorto) and 55.7% (ferragnes). The acidity value of oils were found between 1.389 and 3.559%. In addition, peroxide values were established between 7.586 (nonpareil) and 15.590 mequiv./kg (cristomorto). The major fatty acids of almond kernel oils were oleic (72.5–79.9%), linoleic (13.5–19.8%) and palmitic acids (5.9–6.7%). The predominant mineral in most kernel was potassium (13.1–15.1 mg/100 g). The mineral contents of the kernels were established as 7.94–9.38 mg/100 g potassium, 2.9–4.0 mg/100 g magnesium and 1.84–2.94 mg/100 g calcium. From the results of the present study, it can be concluded that the kernels of almond varieties are being potential sources of valuable oil which might be used for edible and other industrial applications.     

Investigation of the stripping process of the reactive dyes using organic sulphur reducing agents in alkali condition

This paper focuses on the stripping application of the reactive dyes using different recipes set up with different reducing agents and working parameters. We tried to develop alternative stripping methods using two kinds of thioureadioxide because of several disadvantages of sodium dithionite. The pretreated woven fabrics were dyed at 0.25%, 1%, 4% owf% using five commercial reactive dyes by exhaust method. Totally, 180 specimens were dyed. Then, these specimens were stripped using alternative recipes. In these recipes, we investigated the effects of types of the reducing agents, the concentration of the reducing agents and caustic, process temperature and the presence of leveling agent on the stripping efficiency. In order to examine the efficiency of the stripping processes, we measured the colorimetric values (L*, ΔL, ΔE) of pretreated, dyed and the stripped samples using commercial spectrophotometer and international measurement method. The experimental results were statistically evaluated using analysis of variance (ANOVA) with significance level ofα=0.05. According to the measured and calculated spectral results, we achieved to develop alternative methods using thioureadioxide instead of sodium dithionite. In terms of ANOVA, we found out that only concentration of caustic itself did not have significant effects on the efficiency of stripping.     

Determination of Graft Compatibility of Pear Cultivars Grafted on Different Rootstocks by Carbohydrate Analyses

In modern pear cultivation, clonal quince and pear rootstocks are preferred because they are easy to maintain and harvest. Also, they form dwarf plants and improve fruit quality compared to pear seedling rootstocks. However, graft incompatibility can be involved between different species or genera. The aim of the study was to determine the graft compatibility of the ‘Deveci’ and ‘Williams’ pear cultivars with different pear and quince rootstocks by carbohydrate analysis. Carbohydrate accumulation in the graft union was also observed with iodized potassium iodide (KI) staining. In terms of rootstocks, there were no differences in starch and carbohydrate content, but statistically differences were found in sugar contents. Significant differences were also found between cultivars and graft union in terms of the examined traits. Sugar content was highest in OHxF 333 and lowest in seedling rootstocks. There were no statistical differences in the starch content between the graft unions of the ‘Deveci’ cultivar, while starch accumulation was higher above the graft union than below and graft union in the ‘Williams’ cultivar grafted on the quince rootstock. In the study, it was determined that there were higher carbohydrate accumulation in the scion and graft union than below the graft union in ‘Williams’ grafted quince rootstocks, which was also confirmed by staining with KI. As a result of the study, it was concluded that carbohydrate accumulation analysis can be used to determine the graft compatibility of the pear cultivars with the different quince and pear rootstocks.

     

Salinity effects on growth,proline and ion accumulation in strawberry plants

Abstract

Freeze tolerance of red raspberry cultivars and selections, including one specimen each from eight indigenous Norwegian Rubus idaeus L. populations, showed that there were significant differences in bud survival and tissue browning in a two-year test at Stj?rdal, Norway. Selections from the Norwegian breeding program and the Norwegian cultivar Balder had the most freeze-tolerant buds at the May screening in both years, while the Norwegian cultivar Vene was tolerant in one year. The cultivars Malling Admiral, Nootka, Chilcotin, Glen Isla and Gradina were tolerant in one of the years but not in the other. Meeker, Glen Moy, Skeena, Glen Prosen, Malling Joy, Malling Leo and Malling Orion were not tolerant in either year. The selections from indigenous Norwegian Rubus idaeus were all freeze-tolerant in one year, but less tolerant than the best the other year. Tissue browning was preferred as a screening test for freeze injury in midwinter, while bud growth is preferable in spring.     

Antibodies to Schmallenberg virus in domestic livestock in Turkey

This, partly retrospective study, was designed to determine the seroprevalence of Schmallenberg virus (SBV), a new Orthobunyavirus first reported in Germany in late 2011, in domestic ruminants from the Middle Black Sea, West, and Southeast regions of Turkey. An indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to screen serum samples collected from slaughterhouse animals between 2006 and 2013. The overall seroprevalence was 335/1,362 (24.5 %) with 325/816 (39.8 %), 5/307 (1.6 %), 3/109 (2.8 %), and 2/130 (1.5 %) recorded in cattle, sheep, goats, and Anatolian water buffalo, respectively. This is the first study to demonstrate the presence of antibodies to SBV in Turkish ruminants; it indicates that cattle are more susceptible to infection than sheep, goats, or buffalo and that exposure of domestic ruminants to SBV in Turkey may have occurred up to 5 years prior to the first recorded outbreak of the disease in 2011.     

Blood Levels of Selected Metabolic Factors,Cytokines, and Lymphocyte Subpopulations in Arabian and Thoroughbred Horses During the Longest and Shortest Days of the Year

Day length-related alterations of several metabolic factors (glucose, leptin, insulin, and insulin-like growth factor-1 [IGF-1]), cytokines (interleukin-2 [IL-2], IL-4, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-α], interferon-gamma [IFN-γ], and lymphocyte subpopulations [CD2, CD3, CD4, CD8, CD19, natural killer (NK) cells) were evaluated in Arabian and Thoroughbred horses. Plasma glucose, leptin, IGF-1, insulin, and cytokines levels were measured on the longest day of the breeding season and on the shortest day of the nonbreeding season. Determination of lymphocyte subpopulations was performed by flow cytometry. Glucose and IL-2 levels, CD4:CD8 ratio, and NK cells showed variations that depended on the day length. Mean concentrations of plasma leptin were higher in Arabian horses than in Thoroughbred horses, whereas mean concentrations of IGF-1 and IL-2 were lower in Arabian horses. Day length-by-breed-by-gender interaction was found for insulin, IFN-γ, and IL-4 levels. An interaction was also found between day length and gender for the expressions of CD2, CD3, CD8, and CD19. Correlations were detected between expression of CD8⁺ cells and levels of TNF-α and IFN-γ and between percentages of NK cells and levels of IGF-1, insulin, and glucose. Results suggested that day length and, therefore, season are important determinants or factors in modulating the immune system and could affect lymphocyte subpopulations depending on the sex of the horse. Additionally, it seems that a complex relationship in horses, as in humans and mice, exists between the immune and metabolic system, which changes according to day length, breed, and gender.     

Effects of grafting height of MM106 rootstock on growth,lateral shoot formation and yield in apple trees

Summary

Between 2004 and 2008, the effects of different grafting heights on sylleptic shoots were tested in the apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) cultivars ‘Granny Smith’ and ‘Gloster’, and cumulative fruit yields were evaluated. MM106 apple rootstocks were grafted 10, 20, 40, or 60 cm above soil level in August 2004. The results showed that an increased grafting height significantly decreased tree height in both cultivars. The tallest and shortest trees were observed at grafting heights of 10 cm (153.0 and 170.0 cm) and 60 cm (141.3 and 143.5 cm) in ‘Granny Smith’ and ‘Gloster’, respectively.Among the various grafting heights tested, 60 cm in ‘Granny Smith’ and 20 cm in ‘Gloster’ gave the largest stem diameters (17.6 mm and 16.8 mm, respectively). The number of lateral shoots increased significantly with increased grafting height in both cultivars. The largest numbers of lateral shoots in ‘Granny Smith’ (10.75) and ‘Gloster’ (2.00) were obtained from a grafting height of 60 cm, while 2.55 and zero lateral shoots occurred at 10 cm grafting height in ‘Granny Smith’ and ‘Gloster’, respectively. Shoot lengths decreased significantly by increasing the grafting height. Grafting heights of 10 cm and 60 cm resulted in the tallest and shortest shoots in both cultivars. Cumulative fruit yields were significantly affected by grafting height in both cultivars. The highest yield was found for a 60 cm grafting height in both ‘Granny Smith’ (11.295 kg tree^–1) and ‘Gloster’ (4.818 kg tree^–1).The results of this study suggest that grafting heights of 40 cm and 60 cm have the potential to promote branching and early bearing for apple fruit production in sustainable and organic agricultural systems.