EFFECT OF CITRUS ROOTSTOCKS ON LEAF MINERAL COMPOSITION OF ‘OKITSU’, ‘CLAUSELLINA’, AND ‘SILVERHILL’ MANDARIN CULTIVARS

Citrus performance is strongly related with rootstock. This study was conducted to investigate leaf nutrient contents of ‘Okitsu’, ‘Clausellina’ and ‘Silverhill’ mandarin cultivars budded onto sour orange, ‘Carrizo’ and ‘Troyer’ citrange rootstocks in Dörtyol, Turkey in 2004 and 2005. The maximum nitrogen (N), potassium (K), and copper (Cu) contents were determined for ‘Clausellina’; phosphorus (P) for ‘Okitsu’; and sodium (Na) for ‘Silverhill’. Calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), and zinc (Zn) uptake were similar for the mandarin cultivars. ‘Carrizo’ citrange at N, K, Mg, Mn, and Cu uptake; ‘Troyer’ citrange at N, P, K, and Fe uptake; and common sour orange at Ca, Zn, and Na uptake was superior on the other rootstocks. It was observed that ‘Carrizo’ and ‘Troyer’ citrange rootstocks had advantages over sour orange in nutrient uptake. Thus, growth performance, yield, and quality parameters considered, ‘Carrizo’ and/or ‘Troyer’ citranges could be suggested as rootstocks for the studied mandarin cultivars under similar ecological conditions.     

Effect of continuous 0.3 μL/L gaseous ozone exposure on fungicide residues on table grape berries

The persistence of residues of some fungicides, commonly applied in table grape vineyards to reduce bunch rot, was investigated during the cold storage of ‘Thompson Seedless’ table grape stemmed berries in atmospheres of air or 0.3 μL/L ozone enriched air. Grape berries were sprayed with a mixture of boscalid, iprodione, fenhexamid, cyprodinil, and pyrimethanil solutions, dried in air for 24 h, and packed in plastic clamshell containers in expanded polystyrene boxes. The boxes were stored either in ozone or in ambient air atmosphere (2 °C, 95% RH) for 36 d. Residue analyses were done initially and at 12-d intervals using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Residues of boscalid, iprodione, fenhexamid, and pyrimethanil declined during storage in air, but cyprodinil residues did not change significantly during 36-d storage. Storage in the ozone atmosphere markedly accelerated the rates of decline of fenhexamid, cyprodinil, and pyrimethanil, but not those of boscalid or iprodione. At the end of storage, degradation of fenhexamid, cyprodinil, or pyrimethanil was 1.6-, 2.8-, or 3.6-fold higher, respectively, in the ozone atmosphere compared that in air. Despite their structural similarity, pyrimethanil declined more rapidly in an ozone atmosphere than cyprodinil. Fenhexamid declined in both air and ozone more rapidly than the other fungicides; at the end of storage period, only 59.2% or 35.5% of the initial residue remained after air or ozone storage, respectively. Our results have shown that gaseous ozone treatment during storage has a great potential for degrading contemporary fungicides related to table grape production.     

A parasitological, molecular and serological survey of Hepatozoon canis infection in dogs around the Aegean coast of Turkey

Canine hepatozoonosis is caused by the tick-borne protozoon Hepatozoon spp. The prevalence of the infection in the Aegean coast of Turkey was investigated by examination of blood smear parasitology and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using blood samples from 349 dogs collected from Central Aydin, Kusadasi, Selcuk, Central Manisa, Bodrum and Marmaris within the Aegean coast of Turkey. The indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) for the detection of Hepatozoon canis antibodies was also used to detect the exposure rate to H. canis. PCR amplifying a 666bp fragment of 18S rRNA gene of Hepatozoon spp. was used in the epidemiological survey. The prevalence of Hepatozoon spp. infection was 10.6% by blood smear parasitology and 25.8% by PCR. IFAT revealed that 36.8% of serum samples were positive for antibodies reactive with Hepatozoon spp. The PCR products of 18S rRNA gene of Hepatozoon spp. isolated from six infected dogs, one isolate originating from each of the six different locations, were sequenced. The results of sequence analysis indicate that they are closely related to Indian and Japanese isolates of H. canis. This is the first epidemiological study on the prevalence of H. canis infection in the dog, in Turkey.     

An Application of Landsat-5TM Image Data for Water Quality Mapping in Lake Beysehir, Turkey

The main goal of this study was to investigate spatial patterns in water quality in Lake Beysehir, which is the largest freshwater reservoir in Turkey, by using Landsat-5TM (Thematic Mapper) data and ground surveys. Suspended sediment (SS), turbidity, Secchi disk depth (SDD), and chlorophyll-a (chl-a) data were collected from 40 sampling stations in August, 2006. Spatial patterns in these parameters were estimated using bivariate and multiple regression (MR) techniques based on Landsat-5TM multispectral data and water quality sampling data. Single TM bands, band ratios, and combinations of TM bands were estimated and correlated with the measured water quality parameters. The best regression models showed that the measured and estimated values of water quality parameters were in good agreement (0.60 < R ² < 0.71). TM3 provided a significant relationship (R ²?=?0.67, p?<?0.0001) with SS concentration. MR between chl-a and various combinations of TM bands showed that TM1, TM2, and TM4 are strongly correlated with measured chl-a concentrations (R ²?=?0.60, p?<?0.0001). MR of turbidity showed that TM1, TM2, and TM3 explain 60% (p?<?0.0001) of the variance in turbidity. MR of SDD showed a strong relationship with measured SDD, with R ²?=?0.71 (p?<?0.0001) for the ratio TM1/TM3 and TM1 band combinations. The spatial distribution maps present apparent spatial variations of selected parameters for the study area covering the largest freshwater lake and drinking water reservoir in Turkey. Interpretation of thematic water quality maps indicated similar spatial distributions for SS, turbidity, and SDD. A large area in the middle portion of the lake showed very low chl-a concentrations as it is far from point and nonpoint sources of incoming nutrients. The trophic state index values were calculated from chl-a and SDD measurements. Lake Beysehir was classified as a mesotrophic or eutrophic lake according to chl-a or SDD parameters, respectively.     

Evaluation of dietary protein and lipid requirements of two-banded seabream (Diplodus vulgaris) cultured in a recirculating aquaculture system

The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of dietary protein and lipid levels on the growth performance and bioeconomic benefits of two-banded seabream (Diplodus vulgaris) juveniles, a candidate species for aquaculture sector. Eight experimental diets were formulated with four protein (50, 45, 40 and 35 %) levels for each of the two lipid levels (15 and 10 %). Triplicate groups of juvenile fish with an average initial body weight of ~3.64 g were reared in a recirculating aquaculture system and hand fed twice a day until satiation for a period of 60 days. In the experiment, no difference in survival rate was found between the different groups. Relative growth rate (RGR), specific growth rate (SGR), feed conversion ratio (FCR) and daily feed intake were not significantly affected by increasing protein and/or lipid treatments in this present study. However, the RGR, SGR and FCR values showed slightly better efficiency in the experimental group (35/15) fed with lower protein content (35 %) and higher lipid level (15 %) compared with those fed other diets. According to bioeconomic analyses results, the diet with the 35 % protein and 15 % lipid generated the best profit. The results suggest that two-banded seabream can be accepted as a promising alternative species for the aquaculture industry and optimum growth of two-banded seabream fingerlings can be obtained when they are fed a diet containing 35 % crude protein and 15 % crude lipid.     

High cardiac troponin I plasma concentration in a calf with myocarditis

A 15-day-old Brown Swiss calf, whose dam had suffered from foot-and-mouth disease, was presented with a history of depression and failure to suckle. The calf had an irregular cardiac rhythm and increased plasma cardiac troponin I (cTnI) detected with a commercial human immunoassay. The calf died the following day and myocarditis was detected. The cTnI assay may be useful in diagnosis of myocarditis in cattle.     

Enhanced tomato resistance to bacterial canker by application of turtle oil

Pretreatment with oil of sea turtle Caretta caretta protected tomato plants against bacterial canker caused by Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis (Cmm). The turtle oil was ineffective in inhibiting Cmm in an agar diffusion test, suggesting a mechanism of induced resistance. Under controlled conditions in the greenhouse, turtle oil lowered the disease index and had reduced the growth of bacteria up to 50.4% by 7 days after inoculation. Applying turtle oil to the foliage of tomato plants increased per-oxidase and lipoxygenase activities. Gas chromatography analyses of turtle oil indicated the presence of polyunsaturated fatty acids such as eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid. These fatty acids may lead to the higher activity of the enzymes and probably induced plant resistance against the pathogen.     

Effects of subclinical bovine leukemia virus infection on some production parameters in a dairy farm in southern Turkey

Some production parameters of seropositive cows (age, first calving age, 305 day mature equivalent last milk yield production, lifetime mature equivalent milk yield production, lifetime total milk production, lifetime total milking period, lifetime monthly milk production, lifetime daily milk production, lifetime total days of milking, number of inseminations per pregnancy (for last pregnancy), number of calves and calving interval (for last pregnancy)) were analysed in the current study. The study population was clinically healthy Holstein cows from a commercial dairy herd in southern Turkey. Of 109 animals, 65 cows were seropositive by ELISA and the prevalence of bovine leukemia virus (BLV) infection was 59.6%. The prevalence of seropositive cows in 2nd (62.8%), 3rd (64.7%), 4th (61.5%), and 5th (66.6 %) lactations was slightly higher than that of cows in 1st (52.6%) lactations. No statistical differences were observed between BLV seronegative and seropositive cows for production and reproduction parameters analysed in this study (P > 0.05).     

Immunolocalization of some HOX proteins in immature and mature feline testes

Homeobox (HOX) proteins are known for their critical role in body shape formation and tissue differentiation of developing vertebrate embryos. Recent research has shown that HOX proteins have many physiological roles such as cell proliferation, cell cycle, apoptosis and cell differentiation in adults, as well as the development of the vertebrate nerve and reproductive system. This study was conducted to determine the possible physiological functions and expression intensities of HOXA10, HOXA11, HOXB6 and HOXC6 proteins in the male reproductive system (testes, epididymis and deferens ducts), which are important for the continuity of some specific cat breeds in different age ranges. In the study, a total of 18 testicular tissues were used, divided into two groups: less than 6 months (immature) and more than 1 year (mature). Tissue samples were then subjected to immunohistochemical staining with protein-specific antibodies examined in the study. In the findings obtained in the research; it was observed that HOXA10, HOXA11, HOXB6 and HOXC6 produced different intensities of immunolocalization in the epididymis and ductus deferens layers in the immature and mature testicular cells. In addition, it was found that HOXA10 immunoreaction was also seen in some vascular endothelial cells. As a result, it was concluded that the HOX proteins could contribute to the physiological functions of testes, epididymis and ductus deferens and affect male fertility.