Determining phenological and genetic variation in genotypes obtained from open-pollinated seeds of ‘Maraş 12’ walnut (Juglans regia L.) cultivar

Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution - In the present study, the phenological and genetic differences/similarities of 95 walnut genotypes were considered. These genotypes had been propagated...     

SODIUM CHLORIDE PRIMING IMPROVES SALINITY RESPONSE OF TOMATO AT SEEDLING STAGE

We aimed to investigate whether sodium chloride seed priming and irrigation at seedling stage enhance response of 5-leaf stage tomato plants (Lycopersium esculentum Mill.) to high salt stress. Three experimental groups were as; non-primed seeds, seeds primed with 0.05M sodium chloride (NaCl), and seeds primed and irrigated with 0.05M NaCl starting from sowing to salt stress application. Sodium chloride solutions (0.1M, 0.2M, 0.4M, and 0.6M) were added to cups under pots in every 2 days for 10 days to treatment groups. Control groups were irrigated with distilled water at the same time intervals. At least two experimental setups contained at least four plants, and two samplings of leaf and root tissues were performed for analysis of each plant to evaluate changes in pigment and proline contents, lipid peroxidation and electrolyte leakage levels, and ascorbate peroxidase and catalase activity. Priming reduced mean germination time, and increased final germination percentage together with energy of germination. Increased root and hypocotyl lengths as well as increases in fresh weights supported enhanced seedling vigor. Considering growth and stress parameters such as chlorophyll content, chlorophyll to carotenoid ratios, and lipid peroxidation and electrolyte leakage were less affected in primed plants. Moreover, improvement of the accumulation of osmoregulating defense molecules, such as proline and anthocyanin, and of the inductions of the antioxidative enzyme system points out to higher adaptive response of these plants against deleterious effects of salt.     

EFFECTS OF FOLIAR AND SOIL APPLICATIONS OF DIFFERENT MANGANESE FERTILIZERS ON YIELD AND NET RETURN OF BEAN

This study was carried out in order to determine the effect of various manganese fertilizers [manganese sulfate (MnSO₄.3H₂O) (MS), 27% manganese (Mn) and manganese ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (Mn-EDTA) (ME), 12% Mn], their doses (0, 6, 9, 12 mg Mn kg^?1 for the soil and 0, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4% for the leaf) on yield and net return of dwarf bean. Field experiments were conducted in the randomized blocks split plot design with four replications under Konya ecological conditions in Turkey. Soil applications were made on bands as a single application at sowing whereas foliar applications (FA) were made at two times. Results of the field experiments showed the highest bean yields were significantly obtained by the fertilizer of ME-FA sprayed (243.80 and 257.74 kg da^?1). For both years, the lowest yields were obtained by the MS-SA applications (166.97 and 180.60 kg da^?1). The maximum net income was US $104.16 da^?1 and US $156.06 da^?1 by years.     

Biosorption of Methylene Blue from Aqueous Solutions by Hazelnut Shells: Equilibrium, Parameters and Isotherms

This paper presents a study on the batch adsorption of a basic dye, methylene blue (MB), from aqueous solution onto ground hazelnut shell in order to explore its potential use as a low-cost adsorbent for wastewater dye removal. A contact time of 24 h was required to reach equilibrium. Batch adsorption studies were carried out by varying initial dye concentration, initial pH value (3–9), ionic strength (0.0–0.1 mol L^?1), particle size (0–200 μm) and temperature (25–55°C). The extent of the MB removal increased with increasing in the solution pH, ionic strength and temperature but decreased with increase in the particle size. The equilibrium data were analysed using the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. The characteristic parameters for each isotherm were determined. By considering the experimental results and adsorption models applied in this study, it can be concluded that equilibrium data were represented well by Langmuir isotherm equation. The maximum adsorption capacities for MB were 2.14?×?10^?4, 2.17?×?10^?4, 2.20?×?10^?4 and 2.31?×?10^?4 mol g^?1 at temperature of 25, 35, 45 and 55°C, respectively. Adsorption heat revealed that the adsorption of MB is endothermic in nature. The results indicated that the MB strongly interacts with the hazelnut shell powder.     

Quantitation of fatty acids, sterols, and tocopherols in turpentine (Pistacia terebinthus Chia) growing wild in Turkey

The chemical composition (fatty acids, tocopherols, and sterols) of the oil from 14 samples of turpentine (Pistacia terebinthus L.) fruits is presented in this study. The oil content of the samples varied in a relatively small range between 38.4 g/100 g and 45.1 g/100 g. The dominating fatty acid of the oil is oleic acid, which accounted for 43.0 to 51.3% of the total fatty acids. The total content of vitamin E active compounds in the oils ranged between 396.8 and 517.7 mg/kg. The predominant isomers were alpha- and gamma-tocopherol, with approximate equal amounts between about 110 and 150 mg/kg. The seed oil of P. terebinthus also contained different tocotrienols, with gamma-tocotrienol as the dominate compound of this group, which amounted to between 79 and 114 mg/kg. The total content of sterols of the oils was determined to be between 1341.3 and 1802.5 mg/kg, with beta-sitosterol as the predominent sterol that accounted for more than 80% of the total amount of sterols. Other sterols in noteworthy amounts were campesterol, Delta5-avenasterol, and stigmasterol, which came to about 3-5% of the total sterols.     

Understanding Constraints and Facilitators to Salmon Angling Participation: Insights from Structural Equation Modeling

Atlantic salmon sport fisheries have declined remarkably in many countries and participation seems to correlate with salmon abundance. We investigated angling participation in the Atlantic salmon sport fishery in Norwegian rivers by incorporating facilitators for participation in a constraint–negotiation model. We conducted an Internet survey of Norwegian anglers yielding 3,635 responses (40% response rate). The structural model confirmed our hypotheses and supported the conceptual constraints-effects-mitigation model of leisure constraint negotiation. Of the constraints and facilitators investigated, the structural constraints and facilitators subcategory “quality of fishing” exerted the largest influence on angling participation. The influence of constraints and facilitators was mitigated by use of corresponding negotiation strategies where “skills, knowledge, and money,” and different substitution strategies were important. To increase participation, we suggest increasing salmon abundance, offering longer fishing stretches per angler, and providing better information about where to book salmon angling.     

Multilayer Perceptron Neural Network Approach to Estimate Chlorophyll Concentration Index of Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.)

Nitrogen is an essential nutrient for greenhouse-grown lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.); however, excessive nutrient availability causes disease and detrimental effects on the leaf and root development. In this study, nitrogen content of the lettuce leaves was estimated by determining the chlorophyll concentrations of the leaves using image processing technique. The Hoagland solution was used as a fertilizer in five different doses (control, quarter of the solution, half of the solution, standard solution, and two times more of the solution). Multilayer perceptron neural network (MLPNN) model was developed based on the red, green, and blue components of the color image captured to estimate chlorophyll content and chlorophyll concentration index (SPAD values). According to the obtained results, the MLPNN model was capable of estimating the lettuce leaf chlorophyll content with a reasonable accuracy. The coefficient of determination was 0.98, and mean square error was 0.006 in validation process.