Some anther structures in Sanguisorba minor Scop. (Rosaceae)

In this study, investigation of some anther structures in Sanguisorba minor Scop. subsp. muricata was aimed. Therefore, anthers were squashed by modified glycerine-gelatine method and additionally different histochemical stainings also were tested. The result illustrated that in different parts of anther, such as marginal, connection tissue, starch and protein granules accumulated. Furthermore, during maturation these deposits were detected in pollen grains also. In addition, a very interesting feature, balloon-like structures filled by proteins, were observed in anther cavity. In the light of these findings, their importance on pollen development was discussed.     

Determination of Energy Use Efficiency and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions of Pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) Production in Adıyaman Province

The purpose of this research is to perform the energy use efficiency and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of pistachio production. This research was performed for 2016 and 2017 production season in Ad?yaman province of Turkey in dry conditions in 2017. The data supplied from research were collected from 152 different farms by face to face surveys with simple random sampling method. The agricultural input energies and output energies used in pistachio production were computed to determine the energy use efficiency. According to the research findings, the energy inputs in pistachio production were computed respectively as 4561.11?MJ ha^?1 (35.50%) diesel fuel energy, 3206.24?MJ ha^?1 (24.96%) chemical fertilizers energy, 2420.93?MJ ha^?1 (18.84%) machinery energy, 1020.06?MJ ha^?1 (7.94%) human labour energy, 715.69?MJ ha^?1 (5.57%) animal labour energy, 656.95?MJ ha^?1 (5.11%) farmyard manure energy and 266.16?MJ ha^?1 (2.07%) chemicals energy. Total input energy was computed as 12,847.14?MJ ha^?1. Energy values of pistachio yield were computed as 15,008.65?MJ ha^?1. Energy use efficiency, specific energy, energy productivity and net energy computations were computed respectively as 1.17, 22.32?MJ kg^?1, 0.04?kg MJ^?1 and 2161.51?MJ ha^?1. The consumed total energy input in pistachio production can be classified as 49.01% direct, 50.99% indirect, 18.62% renewable and 81.38% non-renewable. Total GHG emission was computed as 1123.72?kg CO_2?eqha^?1 for pistachio production with the greatest portions for human labour (32.42%). The human labour followed up chemical fertilizers usage (23.21%), diesel fuel consumption (19.89%), machinery usage (15.30%), farmyard manure usage (5.65%), chemicals usage (3.25%) and animal labour usage (0.27%), respectively. Additionally, GHG ratio value was computed as 1.95 kgCO_2?eqkg^?1 in pistachio production.

     

Molecular Characterization of Some Apple Accessions Using DNA Markers Associated with Fruit Skin and Flesh Colour

Apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) is one of the most widely grown and economically important fruit crops in the world. Skin colour is one of the most important criteria for marketing of apple fruits. Thus, improving fruit colouring is one of the main objectives of apple breeding programs. Even though environmental conditions may affect the colouring of apple, understanding the genetic basis of colouring is important to accelerate the breeding process. In recent years, molecular biology and genetic studies were conducted to explore the molecular basis of colouring in apple. Many genes responsible for the anthocyanin synthesis were identified and their associations with colouring of apple fruit flesh and/or skin were demonstrated. In addition, some DNA markers associated with fruit flesh and skin colour have been developed for screening apple cultivars and hybrids. In this study, 90 apple accessions of international, national, and local decents were selected from the genetic resources collection. Genomic DNA was isolated from leaf tissue of all acession and screened with four different DNA markers associated with fruit flesh and skin colour. Apple accessions in the collection were characterized and their genotypes and genetic potential for fruit colouration were determined by different DNA markers. Additionally, the use of these DNA markers in different apple accessions, well-characterized cultivars and uncharacterized local and national types were investigated.

     

Interaction Effect of Water Magnetization and Water Salinity on Yield,Water Productivity and Morpho-Physiological of Balkız Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris)

Developing new tools for using low-quality irrigation waters is vital for the sustainability of irrigated agriculture and minimizing salt accumulation. Therefore, the present study focused on the interactive influence of irrigation treatments (magnetized (MT) and non-magnetized (NMT)) and water salinities (0.38, 1.5, 4.5, and 7.0?dSm^?1) on soil salinity, water use efficiency, yield and morpho-physiological changes of Balk?z bean. A pot experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design with three replications under the rain shelter condition. Irrigation water MT treatment increased fresh bean yield, water use efficiency (WUE) and irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) by 21.35, 23.00 and 14.8%, respectively, while saturated soil salinity was reduced by 20%, compared to NMT treatments. The leaf area, stomata, and leaf succulence in green beans in the MT treatment significantly increased by 13.4, 23.9, and 3.3% compared with those in the NMT treatment. Stems of the bean crops were more sensitive to salinity stress followed by roots and leaves. The study revealed that irrigation with magnetically treated water manages salinity related yield loss through increased morphological features as well as osmotic and stomatal adjustments. In addition, the bean crops showed an ability to protect water in tissue against salinity toxicity up to 5.24?dSm^?1 soil salinity level under magnetized saline water conditions. Finally, irrigation with magnetically treated 0.38?dSm^?1 irrigation water can be recommended due to providing a higher yield, WUE, IWUE, and sustainable production under saline irrigation in water scarcity regions.

     

ELEMENTAL COMPOSITION OF PEPPER PLANTS FERTILIZED WITH PELLETIZED POULTRY MANURE

Poultry manure (PM) has been traditionally applied to crops for decades as an organic fertilizer, because it is a good and balanced source of plant nutrients. Its effect on plant growth and yield has been widely investigated and is well known. However, there has been little effort to relate elemental compositions of the manure applied to their concentrations in the plants. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of PM on the growth, and essential and non-essential element composition of pepper (Capsicum annuum) leaves and also fruits. Pepper plants were grown in soil with 0, 10, 20, and 40 g kg^?1 PM under greenhouse conditions. Concentrations of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sulfur (S), silicon (Si), aluminum (Al), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), chloride (Cl), nickel (Ni), bromine (Br), rubidium (Rb), strontium (Sr), barium (Ba), lanthanum (La), and cerium (Ce) in leaves at the flowering stage and in fruits were determined by polarized energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (PEDXRF). Poultry manure fertilization significantly improved pepper shoot growth and also fruit yield, and increased leaf and fruit P concentrations but not N, K, Mg, Si, Al, Ni, and Fe. Leaf Ca was significantly reduced by increased rate of PM application. Applied PM increased the concentrations of leaf and fruit Zn and Cl. Poultry manure applications had a positive effect on the concentrations of leaf Cu, and fruit Mn. The concentrations of Rb and Ce in fruits and Br in fruit and leaves were increased by PM treatments. Applied PM levels had no clear effect on the concentrations of Ba and La in pepper leaves. The leaf Ba was the highest with 10 g kg^?1 PM, and leaf La was higher in 20 and 40 g kg^?1 PM treatments than in the control.     

Screening of antioxidant activity of three Euphorbia species from Turkey

Euphorbia acanthothamnos, E. macroclada and E. rigida were investigated for their antioxidant activity. The antioxidant potential of extracts of E. acanthothamnos, E. macroclada and E. rigida was evaluated using different complementary antioxidant tests.     

Antidiabetic,Antihypertensive and Antioxidant Properties of Grapevine Leaf Extracts Obtained by Ultrasound,Microwave Assisted,and Classical Solvent Extraction

Grapevine leaves are consumed as a food in Mediterranean countries. At the same time, it is a byproduct of the wine industry. Antioxidant, antihypertensive and antidiabetic properties of grapevine leaves after ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), microwave assisted extraction (MAE) and classical solvent extraction (CSE) were evaluated and compared by using water and methanol as solvent. DPPH radical scavenging activity, total phenolic content (TPC), total antioxidant capacity (TEAC), metal chelating activity, ACE inhibitory activity and α?glucosidase inhibitory activity of grapevine leaves extracts were determined. The highest values of grapevine leave extracts for antioxidant properties; DPPH (61.60%), TPC (910.18?mg GAE?g^?1), TEAC (6.23?µg Trolox mg^?1) and metal chelating activity (IC50; 3.18?mg mL^?1) were obtained from UAE when the methanol was used extracting solvent. However antihypertensive activity (13.68%) and antidiabetic activity (83.00%) values obtained from MAE by using water as a solvent were relatively highest. The effectiveness of UAE, MAE and CSE methods in terms of antioxidant, antihypertensive and antidiabetic properties of grapevine leaves were significantly (p?<?0.05) different from each other. This differences depending on the solvent used.     

Design of Neural Network Predictor for the Physical Properties of Almond Nuts

In this study, an adaptive neuro fuzzy interface system (ANFIS) based predictor was designed to predict the physical properties of four almond types. Measurements of the dimensions, length, width and thickness were carried out for one hundred randomly selected samples of each type. With using these three major perpendicular dimensions, some physical parameters such as projected area, arithmetic mean diameter, geometric mean diameter, sphericity, surface area, volume, shape index and aspect ratio were estimated. In in a various Artificial Neural Network (ANN) structures, ANFIS structure which has given the best results was selected. The parameters analytically estimated and those predicted were given in the form of figures. The root mean-squared error (RMSE) was found to be 0.0001 which is quite low. ANFIS approach has given a superior outcome in the prediction of the Physical Properties of Almond Nuts.