Effects of 17β-estradiol injection on the reproductive efficiency of freshwater crayfish,Astacus leptodactylus (Eschscholtz, 1823)

The effects of 17β-estradiol injection (10^?7mol/crayfish) in adult female Astacus leptodactylus on the reproductive efficiency (i.e., pleopodal egg and stage 1 juvenile numbers) were investigated. In addition, hepatosomatic index, gonodosomatic index, and 17β-estradiol (E2) levels of crayfish ovary, hepatopancreas, and heamolymph before and after injections were also determined. Results showed that E2 injection to females enhances the reproductive efficiency of A.leptodctylus. E2 injection significantly increased pleopodal egg and stage 1 juvenile numbers, GSI, HSI, and concentrations of E2 in heamolymph, ovary, and hepatopancreas. However, E2 injection did not accelerate time of mating and proportion of pleopodal egg-berried females at the first week of reproduction season in this species. This study highlights that to improve the reproductive efficiency of A.leptodctylus by using hormones to regulate the ovarian cycle, E2 should be used at least 1.5 months before the commencement of the breeding season.     

Properties of Edible Films Made From Anchovy By-Product Proteins and Determination of Optimum Protein and Glycerol Concentration by the TOPSIS Method

In the present study, the physicochemical and mechanical properties of films made from anchovy (Engraulis encrasicholus) by-product proteins (ABPs) were characterized as a function of protein (3, 4, and 5%) and glycerol (30, 40, 50, and 60%) concentration. In particular, the thickness, color, transparency, water vapor permeability (WVP), solubility, oxygen permeability (OP), and mechanical properties of the films were measured, and generally, these properties were affected by both protein and glycerol concentration. The thickness, redness, WVP and solubility values of films increased, while their lightness and yellowness values decreased as protein concentration increased. Furthermore, lightness, yellowness, and elongation at break (EAB) values were found to increase at higher glycerol concentrations within ABP films, whereas tensile strength (TS) and elastic modulus (EM) values decreased. ABP films became more transparent with increase of glycerol concentration and decrease of protein concentration. The OP values of all films decreased depending on protein and glycerol concentration. The techniques for order performance by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) method was used to determine optimum protein and glycerol concentrations. According to this method, an edible film containing 4% protein and 40% glycerol was the best film with a C value of 0.6665.     

Energy Analysis and Emissions of Greenhouse Gases of Pomegranate Production in Antalya Province of Turkey

In this study, energy use patterns and the functional relationship between energy inputs and output for pomegranate production were investigated in Antalya province in Turkey. It further objective to identify greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in pomegranate production. Data were obtained from 75 farms using face-to-face interview method. The results indicated that 50,605.5?MJ ? ha^?1 of total energy input was required for 76,252.3?MG ? ha^?1 pomegranate energy output. 1.51 unit energy output was provided by using 1 unit energy input. 1 unit energy output and 1?kg pomegranate require 0.66 unit and 2.57?MJ energy input, respectively. The average CO₂ emission amounts were also calculated to be 1.73?t CO₂ per hectare and 88.1?kg CO₂ per 1000?kg pomegranate production. Electricity, fertilizers and pesticides were the highest contributors to GHG emissions. Both total energy input usage and GHG emission amounts have been found to be decreasing as the farm size increases. Increasing scale of pomegranates orchards will not only increase energy efficiency and productivity but also decrease environmental pollution and damages. The regression analysis revealed that, excessive use of machinery and fuel inputs results in a decline in energy production in pomegranate.     

Effects of cypermethrin on antioxidant status,oxidative stress biomarkers,behavior, and mortality in the freshwater mussel <Emphasis Type="Italic">Unio elongatulus eucirrus</Emphasis>

In this study, the effects of cypermethrin on antioxidant status, oxidative stress biomarkers, behavior, and mortality in the freshwater mussel Unio elongatulus eucirrus were examined. Cypermethrin was applied at concentrations of 5, 10, 20, 40, 80, and 160 μg/L, for 1, 24, 48, 72, and 96 h. With increasing cypermethrin concentrations, the mussels showed significantly (P < 0.05) increased lipid peroxidation (MDA), which might be associated with decreased levels of reduced glutathione (GSH) and catalase (CAT) activity in the digestive glands and gills of the mussels. Negative correlations were observed between the MDA and the GSH and CAT levels after cypermethrin exposure, indicating a protective role of GSH and CAT against lipid peroxidation, and suggesting the use of these antioxidants as a potential biomarker of toxicity associated with contaminant exposure in freshwater mussels. In addition, at 5 μg/L, cypermethrin had no effect on the duration of the active and rest periods. All higher concentrations caused inhibition of the filtration activity by reducing the active periods and lengthening the rest periods. The active periods shortened as the cypermethrin concentrations increased, the reduction being 90% of the control at 160 μg/L. Rest periods were longest (237% longer than the control) at 160 μg/L. The 48, 72, and 96 h LC50 values of cypermethrin for mussels were determined as 96.50, 77.96, and 59.20 μg/L, respectively (P < 0.05). The results indicate that the insecticide cypermethrin has a harmful effect not only on nontarget aquatic arthropods and fish, but also on mollusks, although the sensitivity of mussels is less than that of fish. Being a general toxicant for aquatic life, cypermethrin should be used with great caution in agriculture to protect natural waters from contamination.     

Yield response of wheat and barley to inoculation of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria at various levels of nitrogen fertilization

The yield response of a wheat (Kirik) and a barley (Tokak 157/37) cultivar to inoculation with Azospirillum brasilense Sp246 and Bacillus sp. OSU‐142 was studied in relation to three levels of N fertilization (0, 40, and 80 kg ha^–1) under field conditions in Erzurum, Turkey, in 1999 and 2000. Seed inoculation with A. brasilense Sp246 significantly affected yield and yield components, both in wheat and barley. On average of years and N doses, inoculation with A. brasilense Sp246 increased spike number per m², grain number per spike, grain yield, and crude protein content by 7.2, 5.9, 14.7, and 4.1 % in wheat and by 6.6, 8.1, 17.5, and 5.1 % in barley, respectively, as compared to control. Inoculation with Bacillus sp. OSU‐142 significantly increased kernel number per spike in wheat, but no significant effect was determined in the other characteristics. Grain yields and yield components were also higher at all levels of nitrogen fertilizer in the inoculated plots as compared to the control. However, these increases diminished at high fertilizer levels. These results suggest that application of the growth promoting bacteria A. brasilense Sp246 may have the potential to be used as a biofertilizer for spring wheat and barley cultivation in organic and low‐N input agriculture.     

Training System Plays a Key Role on Fruit Quality and Phenolic Acids of Sweet Cherry

In the study, the effects of different training systems (Steep Leader: SL, Spanish Bush: SB and Vogel Central Leader: VCL) on quality properties and bioactive components of “0900 Ziraat” sweet cherry fruit (Prunus avium L.) were investigated. The size, color and firmness values of the fruit varied depending on training system. The largest fruit was obtained in the SB training system. The fruit on trees trained VCL and SB had higher firmness than the fruit of trees trained SL. The color values of the fruit of VCL were higher than the other systems, while the vitamin C content was lower. The lowest acidity and soluble solids content (SSC) were measured in fruit trees trained SL. The highest values for bioactive compounds as phenolics, flavonoids were measured in fruit of SL training system. In the sweet cherry fruit, the major phenolic acid was catechin. The catechin, rutin, caffeic acid, 4?hydroxybenzoic acid, 4?aminobenzoic acid and transferulic acid content of the fruit in the SL training system were higher than those of SB and VCL. As a result, it was revealed that there is an effect of the training system on fruit quality; SB training system had higher values in terms of fruit size, whereas in terms of bioactive compound content, SL training system had higher values.

     

Effects of humic substances supplementation provided through drinking water on performance,carcass traits and meat quality of broilers

The present study aimed at evaluating the effects of different doses of humic substances (HS) in waterer pan on broiler performances and meat quality. For the trial, 480 chicks (ROSS 308) were allocated into four groups (HS0, HS150, HS300 and HS450) of 120 equally mixed‐sex birds, each receiving a drinking water supplemented with 0, 150, 300 and 450 ppm of a humic acid (provided by 0.0%, 0.5%, 1.0% and 1.5% of HS, v/v) respectively. At the age of 21 and 42 days, feed consumption and live weight were taken. At the age of 42 days, 16 birds per treatment were slaughtered, dressing percentages, digestive tract traits were evaluated and samples of breast (pectoralis major) and thigh (iliotibialis) meat were taken to evaluate the changes in colour characteristics (CIE L*, a* and b*) and chemical composition. The body weight gain increased by the HS300 in relation to the HS0 and HS450, and decreased by the HS450 in relation to the HS0. The feed consumption of birds in the HS450 and feed efficiency of birds in the HS300 were lower and higher than those in the other treatments respectively. The carcass weight of broilers in the HS150 and HS300 were higher than those of in the HS0 and HS450. The carcass weight decreased by the HS450 in relation to the other treatments. The dressing percentage increased by the HS150 in relation to the HS450. The HS450 resulted in breast and thigh meat colour that were lighter than those found in the HS0 birds. The HS450 increased fat content of thigh meat in relation to the HS0. It was concluded that the humic acid supplementation at 300 ppm and 450 ppm appears to have a measurable impact on live performance improving feed efficiency and lightness of breast and thigh meat colours in broilers respectively.     

Clinical assessment of epidural analgesia induced by xylazine-lidocaine combination accompanied by xylazine sedation in calves

: The aim of the present study was to investigate whether epidural administration of a xylazine-lidocaine combination accompanied by xylazine sedation would provide satisfactory analgesia for some surgical procedures on 10 calves admitted to the Department of Veterinary Surgery, University of Kafkas with perineal urolithiasis (n:2), rectovaginal fistula (n:1), atresia ani (n:2), omphalophlebitis (n:2), omphaloarteritis (n:1) and umbilical hernia (n:2).Following intramuscular injection of xylazine at a dose of 0.05 mg/kg for sedation, xylazine-lidocaine combination (0.2 mg/kg lidocaine + 0.02 mg/kg xylazine + 5 ml 0.9% NaCl) was administrated into the lumbosacral (L6-S1), sacrococcygeal (S5-Co1) or intercoccygeal (Co1-Co2) space. Heart rate, respiratory rate and rectal temperature were recorded prior to and during analgesia at 5, 10, 15, 30 and 60 minutes. Furthermore, depth and duration of analgesia were evaluated during surgical intervention.The study revealed that the combination of epidural xylazine-lidocaine with xylazine sedation was highly satisfactory for surgery of the lower urinary tract and the perineal region, but it was less so for surgery of the umbilical area.