Effect of improved fallow on crop productivity, soil fertility and climate-forcing gas emissions in semi-arid conditions

The impacts of fallow on soil fertility, crop production and climate-forcing gas emissions were determined in two contrasting legumes, Gliricidia sepium and Acacia colei, in comparison with traditional unamended fallow and continuous cultivation systems. After 2 years, the amount of foliar material produced did not differ between the two improved fallow species; however, grain yield was significantly elevated by 55% in the first and second cropping season after G. sepium compared with traditional fallow. By contrast, relative to the unamended fallow, a drop in grain yield was observed in the first cropping season after A. colei, followed by no improvement in the second. G. sepium had higher foliar N, K and Mg, while A. colei had lower foliar N but higher lignin and polyphenols. In the third year after fallow improvement, a simulated rainfall experiment was performed on soils to compare efflux of N₂O and CO₂. Improved fallow effects on soil nutrient composition and microbial activity were demonstrated through elevated N₂O and CO₂ efflux from soils in G. sepium fallows compared with other treatments. N₂O emissions were around six times higher from this nitrogen-fixing soil treatment, evolving 69.9 ngN₂O–N g⁻¹soil h⁻¹ after a simulated rainfall event, compared with only 8.5 and 4.8 ngN₂O–N g⁻¹soil h⁻¹ from soil under traditional fallow and continuous cultivation, respectively. The findings indicate that selection of improved fallows for short-term fertility enhancement has implications for regional N₂O emissions for dry land regions.     

Phylogenetic relationships among Triticum L. and Aegilops L. species as genome progenitors of bread wheat based on sequence diversity in trnT-F region of chloroplast DNA

Cultivated wheat, (Triticum aestivum L.), is one of the most important food crops in the world. The Aegilops L. genus is frequently utilized by plant breeders for improving the current wheat cultivars due to their close relationships. Therefore, understanding the phylogenetic relationships among the species of these genera is not only valuable for plant taxonomy, but also for plant breeding efforts. The presented phylogenetic analysis was based on the sequences of trnT-F chloroplast DNA containing three non-coding sub-regions. Twelve genotypes belonging to four species of Triticum L. genus and twenty-four genotypes belonging to eight species of Aegilops genus were used in the current study. The results postulated a close genetic relationship between diploid Aegilops species containing the BB genome and polyploid Triticum species. With the exception of Aegilops cylindrica Host (CCDD), all other Aegilops species having the CC genome were alienated from Aegilops speltoides Tausch (BB) and clustered together. These two clusters joined by a third cluster including the AA genome containing diploid Triticum species.     

The contribution of agricultural practices to nitrous oxide emissions in semi-arid Mali

The yield and flux of nitrous oxide (N₂O) emitted from continuous cereals (with and without urea), legumes/cereal in rotation and cereal/legume in rotation all with or without organic manure was monitored from January 2004 to February 2005. All treatments except continuous cereals had phosphate added. The cereal grown July–October in 2003 and 2004 was pearl millet ( Pennisetum glaucum) and the legume was a bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris ). The 10 m × 10 m plots were established in a semi-arid climate in Mali. The addition of organic manure and both inorganic fertilizers increased yield and N₂O emissions. Continuous cereals treated with both organic manure and urea emitted significantly less N₂O (882 g N/ha per year) than plots receiving no organic manure(1535 g N/ha per year). Growing N-fixing crops in rotation did not significantly increase N₂O emissions. This study supports the new practice of growing cereal and legumes in rotation as an environmentally sustainable system in semi-arid Mali.     

Effect of biofloc technology on growth of speckled shrimp,Metapenaeus monoceros (Fabricus) in different feeding regimes

The effects of biofloc technology (BFT) were tested on growth performance, water quality, haemolymph parameters and hepatopancreas histology with and without BFT for the speckled shrimp. In this study, eight different experimental groups were formed (four BFT and four control groups) to measure the effects of different feeding rates on compensatory growth of speckled shrimp. BFT treatments were performed with zero water exchange and planned as BFT1: gradually feed decreasing group 4, 2 and 1% bw, BFT2: 4% bw, BFT3: 2‐days feed with 4% bw, 1‐day fasted, and BFT4: 1‐day feed with 4% bw, 1‐day fasted. In control treatment, the same trial groups were constituted for comparing with BFT at a 50% daily water exchange: C1 (gradually feed decreasing group: 4%, 2% and 1% bw), C2 (4% bw), C3 (2‐days feed with 4% bw, 1‐day fasted), C4 (1‐day feed with 4% bw, 1‐day fasted). There were significant differences between BFT and C groups in terms of some water quality (p < 0.05). In general, BFT had an effect on haemocyte profile. At the histological examination, there were no pathological findings in both BFT and control groups. The growth parameters of speckled shrimps in BFT groups, as well as the whole body crude protein ratios and crude ash contents, were higher than the control group (p < 0.05). The results confirmed that biofloc utilization increased with decreasing feeding.     

The Effect of Frying – the Chemical,Microbiological, and Acrylamide Composition of Mussels as a Street Food

The effects of frying methods and covering processes on the proximate composition, fatty acid profile, amino acid profile, cholesterol, acrylamide, and microbiological content of fried mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis 1819) were investigated in the present study. The group of mussels that were purchased for study was divided into six groups (control – unprocessed mussel meat; Group A – covered mussels fried in deep fat; Group B – mussel fried in low fat; Group C – uncoated mussel meat fried in deep fat; Group D – uncoated mussel fried in low fat; and Group E – mussel served in restaurants). It was determined that the mussel frying methods can affect the nutritional composition and cause changes in the amino acid, fatty acid, and cholesterol content.     

Phytochemical accumulation and antioxidant capacity at four maturity stages of cranberry fruit

Specific components of cranberry fruit are being associated with human health attributes, such as maintenance of urinary tract health and antioxidant status. Some of the chemical properties and antioxidant capacity of cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon Ait. cv. Pilgrim) fruits were investigated at light green, blush, light red and dark red maturation stages. Fruit total phenolics, total monomeric anthocyanins, soluble solids, titratable acidity and individual organic acids were examined. Antioxidant capacity of fruits were determined by both the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) assays. The fruit color was measured using a portable chromameter. A converse relationship was found between total phenolics and anthocyanin as fruits mature. Total phenolic concentration was declined from 7990 to 4745 mg GAE/kg fw, while total monomeric anthocyanin content was increased from 0.8 to 111.0 mg/kg fw from green to dark red stage. Brix was increased from 6 to 9.3% as well. The main organic acid was citric acid determined by the HPLC method. The antioxidant capacity of cranberries decreased to light red stage; when a fruit accumulates more anthocyanin the activity increased again in both FRAP and TEAC methods. Averaged antioxidant capacity measured was 12.61 and 17.48 mmol TE/kg fw by FRAP and TEAC methods.     

Effect of seasonal conditions on oestrus occurrence and postpartum period in Anatolian water buffaloes

Oestrus and calving records of Anatolian buffaloes were analyzed to investigate influence of climatic conditions on oestrus occurrence and postpartum period. Oestrus records showed a seasonal pattern concentrated between July and September which is the warmest period of the year. Likewise, more than half (52.7%) of the total calvings occurred between May and August. Month of calving significantly influenced the length of calving to first oestrus interval and open period (P < 0.01). The average length of open period was significantly shorter in autumn and summer calvers compared to those calved in spring and winter (P < 0.05) during long days. The humidity rate was negatively correlated with both calving to first oestrus interval and open period (P < 0.05). In conclusion, exposure to high environmental temperatures around 20 degrees C exerted no suppressive influence on ovarian activity in Anatolian buffaloes. Although humidity rate (P < 0.05) and ambient temperature (P < 0.01) was found to be correlated with the duration of postpartum period, day length might be the main factor regulating reproductive biorhythm and postpartum events in Anatolian buffalo cows.     

Phytochemical and antioxidant properties of anthocyanin-rich Morus nigra and Morus rubra fruits

In this study, phytochemical and antioxidant properties of anthocyanin-rich mulberry species of Morus nigra L. (black mulberry) and Morus rubra L. (red mulberry) fruits harvested from across Turkey were investigated. Fruit color, total phenolics (TP), total monomeric anthocyanin (TMA), titratable acidity (TA), and individual sugar and organic acid compositions were determined. Total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of fruits was assessed by both the trolox-equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) and the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. Black mulberry exhibited higher TP, TMA, TAC and TA when compared to red mulberry. The average TP contents of M. nigra and M. rubra were 2737 and 1603 μg gallic acid equivalent in g fresh weight basis (GAE/g fw), respectively. M. nigra had the richest amount of anthocyanin with an average of 571 μg cy-3-glu/g fw. Overall, TAC averaged 10.5 and 12.0 mmol TE/L by the TEAC and FRAP methods, respectively. We found that FRAP, TEAC, TP and TMA were significantly correlated (r = 0.64–0.99) with each other. Fructose (5.27 g/100 mL) and glucose (5.81 g/100 mL) were determined to be the major sugars in both mulberries. M. nigra displayed a higher TA (2.05 g/100 mL) than M. rubra (0.78 g/100 mL), with citric acid as the major acid.     

Effect of scale color on the antioxidant capacity of onions

The bulb onion (Allium cepa L.) has been cultivated for thousands of years and used as an important component of human diet. Recent studies suggest that onions can be used to cure, reduce, or prevent some of the health problems such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, antidiabetic, asthma, antibiosis, and prebiotic effects due to its high antioxidant effect. In this study, we determined the antioxidant capacities of a wide range of onion cultivars; nine commercial cultivars and five advance selections differing in color. The variables tested include bulb size, scale color, total phenolic (TP), total antioxidant activity determined by both “Ferric reducing ability of plasma” (FRAP) and “Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity” (TEAC). We found that yellow onion had the greatest TP content (3.7 mg GAE/g dw); and, the red group had higher TP mean than the white group (2.2 mg GAE/g dw vs. 1.1 mg GAE/g dw). For the antioxidant capacity measurements, the red group had the greatest means by both methods (15.4 μmol TE/g dw and 9.3 μmol TE/g dw for TEAC and FRAP). Yellow onions had higher TEAC (14.7 μmol TE/g dw vs. 8.7 μmol TE/g dw) and FRAP values (9.8 μmol TE/g dw vs. 5.6 μmol TE/g dw) than white onions. Among the cultivars tested great differences of TP, TEAC and FRAP was observed. The TP content of Me-Tan 88 (8.3 mg GAE/g dw) was two times higher than the yellow group. Yellow color Dayton had the greatest TEAC (20.5 μmol TE/g dw) and FRAP (12.3 μmol TE/g dw) means followed by yellow color Me-Tan 88 (19.4 and 11.4 μmol TE/g dw). The two antioxidant measurements were found to be highly correlated (0.99) where absolute values of FRAP were about 40% less than those of TEAC. The values of TEAC and FRAP were significantly correlated by TP with similar rs (0.74 and 0.73, respectively). TP, TEAC and FRAP were significantly and positively correlated to soluble solids (0.41, 0.43, and 0.40, respectively). Our results suggested that the red onions had higher antioxidant activities than yellow and white onions although yellow onions had the richest phenolic contents.     

A retrospective study of gastrointestinal disorders in a predominantly Austrian leisure horse referral hospital population

The aim of our retrospective study was to produce and analyse epidemiological data on gastrointestinal (GI) disorders of Austrian leisure horses. Case records of horses referred to the Equine Clinic of the Veterinary University of Vienna were collected from an electronic hospital information system using its search options. All cases reported to have suffered a GI disorder between March 2003 and February 2015 were selected. In this period of 4314 days, data of 1833 GI cases, mostly accompanied by colic signs, were analysed. The vast majority of our GI cases appeared in the abdominal parts of the GI tract 96% (1760/1833) while just 1.3% (24/1833) could be definitively attributed to oesophageal disorders, whereas in 2.7% (49/1833) of the cases a definitive diagnosis could not be made. The highest prevalence of GI disorders was seen in July and October/November. A breakdown of figures for cases clustered under the colic syndrome showed that colon impactions in left ventral large and/or pelvic flexure (35%) were the major problem followed by gastric disorders (18%), spasmodic colic (9%), enteritis (7%), caecal tympany (6%); caecal impaction (4%), colitis (3%), abnormal anatomical positions of large colon including complete and partial strangulation/volvulus, nephrosplenic entrapment of the left ventral and dorsal colon and right dorsal displacement of the large colon (3%) and small intestinal volvulus (2.7%). In 12% of the cases, the cause of the abdominal discomfort was likely idiopathic paralytic ileus. The searching tool of the electronic patient data also brought up cases with malabsorbtion/IBD syndrome and GI ruptures, both these contributed less than 1% of the referred GI cases. Results suggested that the causes of colic are diverse, but the major reasons for referred cases of colic in the east Austrian horse population are large colon impaction or displacements. Seasonal distribution and specific causes of gastrointestinal disorders should be considered essential components of the initial clinical assessment of horses presenting with colic.