The effect of light intensity on early life development of common dentex Dentex dentex (L. 1758) larvae

The effects of different levels of illumination on common dentex Dentex dentex (L.) larvae have been examined. Illumination affected the relationships between total length and digestive tube length, total length and oil globule volume, and total length and yolk sac. The relationship between total length development and yolk sac utilization in dark and light conditions was found to be significant (P<0.05). However, it was determined that the relationship between digestive tube development and oil globule absorption was not significant (P>0.05). Besides, there is no effect of different light intensities on absorption of yolk sac and oil globule and digestive tube development (P>0.05). In addition, total length development was not significant (P>0.05). Survival rate was found to be not significantly different in dark conditions (P>0.05).     

Development of the common dentex (Dentex dentex) eggs in relation to temperature

Embryonic development of common dentex (Dentex dentex) was investigated at nine different constant water temperatures (8°C, 10°C, 12°C, 14°C, 16°C, 18°C, 20°C, 22°C and 24°C). The observed effects were compared using of regression analysis. Constant water temperatures between 12°C and 18°C were found to support successful embryonic development. A negative relationship between the rate of embryonic development and incubation temperature was observed. While embryonic development was completed within this range (12°C–18°C), there was no cell division at water temperatures of 8°C and 24°C. Total mortalities were observed at the 128 cleavage stage at a temperature of 10°C, and after the beginning of gastrulation at 20°C and 22°C.     

Effect of plant growth-promoting bacteria and soil compaction on barley seedling growth, nutrient uptake, soil properties and rhizosphere microflora

Inoculants are of great importance in sustainable and/or organic agriculture. In the present study, plant growth of barley (Hordeum vulgare) has been studied in sterile soil inoculated with four plant growth-promoting bacteria and mineral fertilizers at three different soil bulk densities and in three harvests of plants. Three bacterial species were isolated from the rhizosphere of barley and wheat. These bacteria fixed N₂, dissolved P and significantly increased growth of barley seedlings. Available phosphate in soil was significantly increased by seed inoculation of Bacillus M-13 and Bacillus RC01. Total culturable bacteria, fungi and P-solubilizing bacteria count increased with time. Data suggest that seed inoculation of barley with Bacillus RC01, Bacillus RC02, Bacillus RC03 and Bacillus M-13 increased root weight by 16.7, 12.5, 8.9 and 12.5% as compared to the control (without bacteria inoculation and mineral fertilizers) and shoot weight by 34.7, 34.7, 28.6 and 32.7%, respectively. Bacterial inoculation gave increases of 20.3–25.7% over the control as compared with 18.9 and 35.1% total biomass weight increases by P and NP application. The concentration of N and P in soil was decreased by increasing soil compaction. In contrast to macronutrients, the concentration of Fe, Cu and Mn was lower in plants grown in the loosest soil. Soil compaction induced a limitation in root and shoot growth that was reflected by a decrease in the microbial population and activity. Our results show that bacterial population was stimulated by the decrease in soil bulk density. The results suggest that the N₂-fixing and P-solubilizing bacterial strains tested have a potential on plant growth activity of barley.     

Proximate,Mineral Composition,Color Properties of Organic and Conventional Grown Hazelnuts (Corylus avellana L.)

In this research, proximate composition, mineral composition and color characteristics of hazelnuts grown by conventional and organic methods in East, Central and West Black Sea Regions (Turkey) that are the center of world hazelnut production were investigated. Commercially important ‘Çak?ldak’, ‘Fo?a’, ‘Mincane’, ‘Palaz’, ‘Sivri’ and ‘Tombul’ varieties were selected as research material. As a result of the analysis, it was determined that organic hazelnuts contain lower moisture and higher ash, no difference was found in protein, fat and carbohydrate amounts. In terms of all micro elements (boron, copper, iron, manganese, zinc) organic hazelnuts were found to be richer and potassium from macro elements were found to be higher in conventionally grown hazelnuts. Color properties were generally not affected by the production method and no loss of color was observed in organic hazelnuts. The high ash and micro element content of organic hazelnuts compared to the conventional hazelnuts would be a good alternative for the elimination of micro element deficiency, which is frequently seen in human nutrition.

     

Comparison of the Salt Stress Tolerance of Promising Turkish Winter Squash (Cucurbita maxima Duch.) and Pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata Duch.) Lines and Interspecific Hybrids

The objective of this study was to evaluate several selected Cucurbita genotypes for their salt resistance in a rootstock breeding program for grafted watermelon seedling production. Specifically, changes in the relative water content (RWC), leaf area (LA), total chlorophyll content (TCC) and proline concentration (PC) of a commercial cultivar (G32 code), two promising winter squash (G12 and G13 of Cucurbita maxima Duch.) lines, six pumpkin (G3, G27, G28, G29, G30 and G31 of Cucurbita moschata Duch.) lines, and four C. maxima?×?C. mochata hybrids (G14, G15, G40 and G42), were investigated with a control treatment and four levels of salt stress (4, 8, 12 and 16?dS/m). In this study, Cucurbita cultivars which showed significant differences according to RWC, LA, TCC and PC at least significant difference (LSD) tests (P?<?0.05) and had salinity sensitivity index (SSI) value lower than 20%, were assessed as salt tolerant genotypes. The salt tolerant genotypes were grouped with principal component analysis (PCA) in each salt level. At the end of the study, all genotypes for all characteristics were generally tolerant at 4?dS/m salinity level. The G3, G12, G13, G14, G29 and G42 genotypes were resistant at 8?dS/m salinity, while the G15, G31, G32 and G40 were the most resistant genotypes at 12 and 16?dS/m. In conclusion, the selection of more salt resistant cultivars in rootstock breeding programs should be a priority to maintain growth performance in saline environments.

     

Nonlinear Varying-Coefficient Models with Applications to a Photosynthesis Study

Motivated by a study on factors affecting the level of photosynthetic activity in a natural ecosystem, we propose nonlinear varying-coefficient models, in which the relationship between the predictors and the response variable is allowed to be nonlinear. One-step local linear estimators are developed for the nonlinear varying-coefficient models and their asymptotic normality is established leading to point-wise asymptotic confidence bands for the coefficient functions. Two-step local linear estimators are also proposed for cases where the varying-coefficient functions admit different degrees of smoothness; bootstrap confidence intervals are utilized for inference based on the two-step estimators. We further propose a generalized F-test to study whether the coefficient functions vary over a covariate. We illustrate the proposed methodology via an application to an ecology data set and study the finite sample performance by Monte Carlo simulation studies.     

Influence of mixed biocide GCSC-BtA on the pupae and adult stages of Apanteles plutellae Kurd. (Hym., Braconidae) and its host. Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lep., Plutellidae)

This paper deals with the influence of the mixed biocide GCSC-BtA on the pupal and adult stages of Apanteles plutellae Kurd. (Hym., Braconidae) and its host, Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lep., Plutellidae). The results show that mortalities of the pupae of P. xylostella in the direct-dip bioassay were 84.67?%, that of the adults in the residue bioassay at 1.2500?mg/ml concentration of GCSC-BtA were 78.00?% which were significantly higher than the mortality values for the pupae with 54.62?% and adults with 48.13?% of A. plutellae. In contrast, cypermethrin showed extremely high toxicity to the pupae with 94.58?% and adults with 86.00?% mortality values of A. plutellae as compared to the low mortality values of 42.14?% for the pupae and 32.11?% for the adults of P. xylostella, with the same concentrations and bioassay methods. The LC₅₀ values of GCSC-BtA were 0.3402, 0.5516 and 1.2405, 1.9480?mg/ml for the pupae and adults of P. xylostella and A. plutellae, respectively, while the LC₅₀ values for cypermethrin were 1.5652, 2.3471 and 0.1096, 0.1152?mg/ml, respectively. GCSC-BtA was found more toxic to the pupae and adults of P. xylostella and safer to the pupae and adults of A. plutellae than cypermethrin. The possibilty of using GCSC-BtA against P. xylostella under partial control by A. plutellae in vegetable fields is discussed.     

Wirksamkeit des ParasitoidenEretmocerus debachi Rose und Rosen (Hym., Aphelinidae) gegenüber der Weißen FliegeParabemisia myricae (Kuwana) (Hom., Aleyrodidae)

Zusammenfassung Die Weiße Fliege,Parabemisia myricae (Kuwana) (Hom.: Aleyrodidae), stellt seit ihrer Verschleppung in die Zitrusanbaugebiete an der Südost-Mittelmeerküste der Türkei im Jahre 1982 eines der größten Probleme im dortigen Zitrusanbau dar. Zu ihrer biologischen Bekämpfung wurde im Jahre 1986 der spezifische Parasitoid,Eretmocerus debachi Rose und Rosen (Hym.: Aphelinidae) aus Kalifornien in die Türkei eingeführt. Der Parasitoid konnte sich nach Massenfreilassungen im gesamten Gebiet sehr gut einbürgern. In der vorliegenden Untersuchung wurde die Wirksamkeit vonE. debachi gegenüberP. myricae in zweijährigen Versuchen in natürlich befallenen Zitrusanlagen und auf künstlich infizierten und exponierten Zitrusjungpflanzen erfaßt.Innerhalb von zwei Wochen konnten auf den exponierten Zitrusjungpflanzen die ersten Parasitoiden festgestellt werden, wobei bis zu 10% derP. myricae-Nymphen und Puparien durchE. debachi parasitiert waren. In beiden Versuchsjahren und an allen 4 Standorten baute sich im weiteren Verlauf der Vegetation keine weitere Weiße-Fliegen-Population auf den Zitrusjungpflanzen auf. Die Populationsdichte vonP. myricae war auf den natürlichen befallenen Zitrusbäumen sehr viel geringer als auf den exponierten und künstlich infizierten Pflanzen. Dennoch traten mit den erstenP. myricae auch sofort durchE. debachi parasitierte Individuen auf. Die Parasitierungsrate erreichte teilweise 100%, so daß die Schädlingspopulation sehr schnell im weiteren Vegetationsverlauf abnahm und es zu keiner erneuten Gradation kam. Selbst auf sehr geringe Dichteerhöhungen derP. myricae-Population reagierte der Parasitoid mit einer erhöhten Parasitierung. Die Untersuchungen zeigten deutlich, daßE. debachi in der Lage ist, sowohl sehr hohe als auch sehr niedrige Populationen der Weißen Fliege in hohem Maße zu parasitieren und dadurch den Schädling erfolgreich zu bekämpfen.

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Efficiency ofEretmocerus debachi Rose and Rosen (Hym., Aphelinidae) in controlling the whiteflyParabemisia myricae (Kuwana) (Hom., Aleyrodidae)

The whitefly,Parabemisia myricae (Kuwana) (Hym.: Aleyrodidae) is a most serious problem in citrus since it was accidentally introduced into the Southeast Mediterranean region of Turkey in 1982. To control this pest biologically, the specific parasitoid,Eretmocerus debachi Rose and Rosen (Hym.: Aphelinidae), was imported from California to Turkey in 1986. The parasitoid settled very well after being mass released in the entire citrus growing area. In the present study the efficiencyE. debachi in controllingP. myricae was determined in naturally infested citrus orchards and on potted, artificially infested and exposed citrus seedlings over two years.Within two weeks, the first parasitods were determined on the exposed citrus seedlings at which 10% of theP. myricae-nymphal and-puparial stages were parasitized. In both years and at all four experimental sites no further population increase of the whitefly was observed on the citrus seedling over the entire vegetation period. TheP. myricae-densities were much lower on the naturally infested trees than they were on the exposed and artificially infested citrus seedlings. Nevertheless, the firstE. debachi were observed with the occurrence of the firstP. myricae. The parasitization rate reached sometimes up to 100%, so that the pest population decreased significantly in the following month to almost zero level. Even to smallest population increases ofP. myricae, the parasitoid reacted with increasing parasitization. The experiments proved, thatE. debachi was capable to parasitize high and low population densities of the whitefly completely and in consequence successfully controlled the pest.

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Investigation of acute toxicity of (2,4-dichlorophenoxy)acetic acid (2,4-D) herbicide on crayfish (Astacus leptodactylus Esch. 1823)

The acute 96 h LC₅₀ of (2,4-dichlorophenoxy)acetic acid (2,4-D), a widely used agricultural herbicide, was determined on crayfish (Astacus leptodactylus Esch. 1823). Crayfish of 23.5 ± 1.49 g mean weight and 9.6 ± 0.21 cm mean length were selected for the bioassay experiments. The experiments were repeated three times, in 10 L tap water. The data obtained were statistically evaluated by the use of the E.P.A computer program based on Finney’s probit analysis method and the 96 h LC₅₀ value for crayfish was calculated to be 32.6 mg/L in a static bioassay test system. 95% lower and upper confidence limits for the LC₅₀ were 15.10-327.16. In conclusion, 2,4-D is highly toxic to crayfish, a non-target organism in the ecosystem. Water temperature was 23 ± 1 °C. Behavioral changes of crayfish were recorded for all herbicide concentrations.