Compensatory growth response of European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.) under cycled starvation and restricted feeding rate

The compensatory growth response of the European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) that faced cycling starvation and restricted ration was assessed. Juveniles (10.5 g) were stocked into 15 tanks at a density of 25 fish per tank. Five different feeding regimes were tested on triplicate groups of fish: C_Satiation: control fed for 60 days without deprivation, C_Restricted: 25% restricted feeding, S‐R: 1 day starvation then 4 days C_Restricted feeding, R‐F: 1 day C_Restricted feeding then 4 days C_Satiation feeding, and, finally, S‐F: 1 day starvation then 4 days C_Satiation feeding. The specific growth rate of fish in the C_Satiation (2.5 ± 0.06% day^?1), S‐F (2.5 ± 0.11% day^?1) and R‐F (2.4 ± 0.18% day^?1) were significantly higher than that of C_Restricted (2.2 ± 0.05% day^?1) or S‐R (2.0 ± 0.01% day^?1). Fish in S‐F group were able to achieve catching up with the C_Satiation. There was no significant difference in feed conversion rates but R‐F and S‐F consumed approximately 34% more feed than C_Satiation following the first re‐feeding day. Although, the highest lipid content was observed in C_Satiation (14.4%), S‐R (33.3% dry matter) had the highest water content compared with the C_Satiation and C_Restricted (37.8% and 36.9% dry matter respectively). In conclusion, it may be concluded that sea bass has rapid response to cycling starvation/re‐feeding and that a 25% restricted feeding ratio is insufficient to invoke a compensatory growth response in sea bass.     

Effects of stocking density on survival,growth and biochemical composition of cultured mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis,Lamarck 1819) from an offshore submerged longline system

This study examined an offshore submerged mussel longline system, in the Black Sea, from May 2009 to May 2010. The system was allowed 1 year for spat collection. After a 1‐year spat collection period, some spat collectors were left untouched (NS), and some spat collectors were grazed and socked (S) for a grow‐out study in May 2009. The effects of stocking density on the growth and survival of the S and NS mussels were examined. The biochemical composition of the mussels was also determined. Environmental factors including temperature, salinity, chlorophyll a, total suspended matter, inorganic matter and organic matter were monitored monthly during the experimental period. In May 2010, the mean length and live weight of the S and NS mussels were 60.46 ± 0.60 mm and 53.34 ± 0.37 mm, respectively, and 20.50 ± 0.50 g and 13.11 ± 0.26 g respectively. Mean moisture and ash were 82.35 ± 0.47% and 6.67 ± 0.44% respectively. Mean carbohydrate, protein and lipid were 27.74 ± 2.40%, 57.68 ± 2.15% and 7.91 ± 0.68% respectively. These results indicate that a submerged offshore mussel culture system in the Black Sea can be commercially convenient. In addition, stock management via thinning out of the spat can considerably increase the marketable size of mussels, reduce harvest time and produce better growth.     

Simultaneous Determination of Phorate and Oxyfluorfen in Well Water Samples with High Accuracy by GC-MS After Binary Dispersive Liquid-Liquid Microextraction

The potential risk of pesticides to cause harm to humans and other organisms even at trace levels calls for sensitive and accurate analytical techniques for their simultaneous qualitative and quantitative determinations. In this study, a sensitive binary dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (B-DLLME) strategy was developed for the simultaneous determination of phorate and oxyfluorfen by gas chromatography mass spectrometry after extraction/preconcentration from aqueous solution. An experimental design was used to optimize parameters of the B-DLLME method to obtain maximum outcome. Under the optimum conditions of B-DLLME, the limit of detection (LOD) for phorate and oxyfluorfen were found to be 0.41 μg L^?1 and 0.54 μg L^?1, respectively. The detection limits correlate to about 37 and 73 folds enhancement in detection powers when compared to direct GC-MS determination of phorate and oxyfluorfen, respectively. In order to find out the applicability of developed method to real samples, recovery tests were performed for 20 μg L^?1 of phorate and oxyfluorfen spiked in well water samples. Percent recovery values were found to be 94.5% for phorate and 101.9% for oxyfluorfen.     

Ceratocystis platani is killing plane trees in Istanbul (Turkey)

Ceratocystis platani was detected at several locations in the European side of Istanbul, causing severe dieback and mortality, mainly on Platanus × acerifolia imported from Italy approximately 160 years ago, but also on Platanus orientalis. In the work reported here, the causal agent of the dieback and mortality was identified based on morphological characteristics in culture and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequencing, confirming the presence of C. platani in Turkey. All analysed C. platani isolates from Istanbul shared the same ITS sequence with European C. platani strains available in the NCBI, but differed from other species previously ascribed to the Ceratocystis fimbriata species complex. Pathogenicity of C. platani was proven by inoculation onto 25‐cm‐long and 4–9 mm diam. P. orientalis twigs and the causal agent reisolated from symptomatic tissues. In a survey of 976 Platanus in streets and parks of Istanbul, 26.5% of trees showed symptoms of C. platani infections, whilst 5.6% were dead. The proportion of symptomatic trees was higher where management interventions, such as topping or pruning and felling infected trees had been carried out.     

Using GGE Biplot Analysis to Evaluate Interrelationships between Yield and Yield Components of Oat Genotypes in Different Growing Seasons

The aim of this study was to evaluate oat genotypes for grain yield and yield components in both 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 growing seasons using GGE biplot analysis. Experiments were laid out according to lattice design. Biomass at harvest, grain yield, number of grain per panicle, weight of grain per panicle, flag leaf width, flag leaf height, plant height, stem diameter, thousand kernel weight, time of panicle emergence, harvest index, panicle length, and spikelet per panicle were evaluated for 56 oat genotypes. GGE biplot graphics of the first and second years explained 54.4 and 55% of total variation, respectively. Grain yield, number of grains per panicle, and weight of grain per panicle were closely and positively associated in both growing seasons. Recently registered cultivar Sari and lines 26, 29, and 30 were found as promising genotypes for Çanakkale conditions. Traits of genotype at different growing seasons can be visually studied using different genotype-by-trait (GT) biplots.     

Spatial variability of soil penetration resistance in an alluvial delta plain under different land uses in middle Black Sea Region of Turkey

The aim of this study was to analyse the soil compaction and its spatial variability on an alluvial plain in K?z?l?rmak River Delta in Turkey, which is an important agricultural area where vegetable, rice, cereals and other crops have been grown under conventional tillage and irrigation over a long period. Penetration resistance (PR) was measured at 5 cm depth intervals between 0 and 40 cm soil depth, and gravimetric water content (GWC), field capacity (FC) and texture were determined for 0–20 cm and 20–40 cm. Penetration resistance values in some parts of the area were higher than the critical value for root growth limitation, the mean PR values at all depths were considerably lower than the critical value despite a relative increase in PR with soil depth. The areas with values greater than 3.0 MPa, except for 0–5 cm, were generally located in the fields with high sand content, especially near the K?z?l?rmak River. In contrast, for 0–5 cm, the areas with PR greater than 3.0 MPa, which is the value accepted for root growth limitation, were usually located in the west and northwest of the study area and had a high clay content.     

Environmentally benign alternatives: Plasma and enzymes to improve moisture management properties of knitted PET fabrics

Effects of enzymatic and atmospheric plasma treatments individually and their combinations on knitted PET fabrics were investigated in terms of hydrophilicity, surface modification and moisture management properties. Cutinase from Humicola Insolens, lipase from Candida SP and atmospheric plasma with air and argon gases were applied to PET fabrics. To evaluate results, moisture management tester (MMT) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were utilized. Wicking heights of samples were measured by wicking test method. Improved moisture management properties were observed with environmentally benign processes compared to the untreated ones. Especially combined treatments have given the same or slightly better results than those of conventional alkaline treatments. Fabrics treated with plasma and then followed by enzymatic incubations have significantly improved the wetting time, absorption rates and spreading speed results.     

Description of the rusts from Kemaliye (Erzincan,Turkey)

Twenty-two rust diseases caused by Melampsora euphorbiae, M. lini var. lini, Phragmidium mucronatum var. mucronatum, Ph. sanguisorbae, Gymnosporangium cornutum, G. confusum, G. tremelloides, Puccinia acarnae, P. annularis, P. eryngii, P. heterophyllae, P. hieracii, P. jasmini, P. menthae, P. nigrescens, P. pulverulenta, P. punctata, Uromyces dianthi, U. pisi-sativi, U. polygoni-avicularis, U. striatus and Pileolaria terebinthi were identified from Kemaliye (Erzincan) in Turkey. Puccinia heterophyllae is reported for the first time from Turkey.     

Gall production on hawthorns caused by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Gymnosporangium</Emphasis> spp. in Hatay province,Turkey

Three hawthorn and related rust diseases caused by Gymnosporangium confusum on Crataegus monogyna, Gymnosporangium clavariiforme on Crataegus orientalis and Gymnosporangium sabinae on Pyrus communis were detected in Hatay province, Turkey. G. confusum was also found causing telial galls on Juniperus communis. G. confusum and G. clavariiforme produced aecial horns on overwintered galls on hawthorn twigs from May to June. The production of galls caused by Gymnosporangium on the secondary host is unusual. Portions of the nuclear ITS and LSU rDNA were sequenced for all three species of Gymnosporangium for use as a species barcode; sequences were deposited in GenBank. Sequence data from G. clavariiforme and G. sabinae matched those in GenBank; however, this is the first study to deposit sequence data from G. confusum to GenBank. The life cycles of G. confusum and G. clavariiforme are discussed along with implications for disease control.