Identification of irisin immunoreactivity in porcupine (Hystrix cristata) adrenal glands and kidneys

Irisin, a novel peptide, was initially been shown to be expressed explicitly in the muscle tissues. We studied the presence of irisin immunoreactivity in porcupine adrenal glands and kidneys. Immunocytochemistry showed that irisin was localised both in the adrenal cortex and adrenal medulla. In organs, irisin immunoreactivity was found in the tubular and collecting system of the nephron. The functional role of irisin in the adrenal gland and kidney has not been precisely yet. However, irisin might have a paracrine and autocrine function as do other locally produced peptides.     

Measurement of genetic and environmental variation in barley (Hordeum vulgare) grain hardness

In this study, we assessed a broad range of barley breeding lines and commercial varieties by three hardness methods (two particle size methods and one crush resistance method (SKCS—Single-Kernel Characterization System), grown at multiple sites to see if there was variation in barley hardness and if that variation was genetic or environmentally controlled. We also developed near-infrared reflectance (NIR) calibrations for these three hardness methods to ascertain if NIR technology was suitable for rapid screening of breeding lines or specific populations. In addition, we used this data to identify genetic regions that may be associated with hardness. There were significant (p<0.05) genetic effects for the three hardness methods. There were also environmental effects, possibly linked to the effect of protein on hardness, i.e. increasing protein resulted in harder grain. Heritability values were calculated at >85% for all methods. The NIR calibrations, with R² values of >90%, had Standard Error of Prediction values of 0.90, 72 and 4.0, respectively, for the three hardness methods. These equations were used to predict hardness values of a mapping population which resulted in genetic markers being identified on all chromosomes but chromosomes 2H, 3H, 5H, 6H and 7H had markers with significant LOD scores. The two regions on 5H were on the distal end of both the long and short arms. The region that showed significant LOD score was on the long arm. However, the region on the short arm associated with the hardness (hordoindoline) genes did not have significant LOD scores. The results indicate that barley hardness is influenced by both genotype and environment and that the trait is heritable, which would allow breeders to develop very hard or soft varieties if required. In addition, NIR was shown to be a reliable tool for screening for hardness. While the data set used in this study has a relatively low variation in hardness, the tools developed could be applied to breeding populations that have large variation in barley grain hardness.     

The effect of feeding system on fattening performance,slaughter, and carcass characteristics of Norduz male kids

The study was conducted to determine the effect of feeding systems on fattening performance, slaughter, and carcass characteristics of male Norduz kids. In the study, 20 male Norduz kids weaned at 2.5 months of age were divided into two groups after weaning. The first group was reared under semi-intensive conditions (SI) on a mixture of pasture and concentrate, and the second group was reared under extensive conditions (E) on pasture only. SI group had higher final weight (35.30 kg versus 32.81 kg), daily weight gain (153.10 g versus 132.14 g), and warm carcass yield (44.84% versus 46.55%) compared to the E group although there were no significant differences. Body organs, carcass parts, prime cuts, and chemical composition of the chop area did not also differ in two groups significantly. As a conclusion, this study showed that semi-intensive feeding systems improved kid fattening performance and carcass characteristics.     

Effect of the low and radio frequency oxygen plasma treatment of jute fiber on mechanical properties of jute fiber/polyester composite

We investigated the surface modification of jute fiber by oxygen plasma treatments. Jute fibers were treated in different plasma reactors (radio frequency “RF” and low frequency “LF” plasma reactors) using O₂ for different plasma powers to increase the interface adhesion between jute fiber and polyester matrix. The influence of various plasma reactors on mechanical properties of jute fiber-reinforced polyester composites was reported. Tensile, flexure, short beam shear tests were used to determine the mechanical properties of the composites. The interlaminar shear strength increased from 11.5 MPa for the untreated jute fiber/polyester composite to 19.8 and 26.3 MPa for LF and RF oxygen plasma treated jute fiber/polyester composites, respectively. O₂ plasma treatment also improved the tensile and flexural strengths of jute fiber/ polyester composites for both plasma systems. It is clear that O₂ plasma treatment of jute fibers by using RF plasma system instead of using LF plasma system brings about greater improvement on the mechanical properties of jute/polyester composites.     

Screening for bovine leukocyte adhesion deficiency,deficiency of uridine monophosphate synthase,complex vertebral malformation,bovine citrullinaemia,and factor XI deficiency in Holstein cows reared in Turkey

Background

Bovine leukocyte adhesion deficiency (BLAD), deficiency of uridine monophosphate synthase (DUMPS), complex vertebral malformation (CVM), bovine citrullinaemia (BC) and factor XI deficiency (FXID) are autosomal recessive hereditary disorders, which have had significant economic impact on dairy cattle breeding worldwide. In this study, 350 Holstein cows reared in Turkey were screened for BLAD, DUMPS, CVM, BC and FXID genotypes to obtain an indication on the importance of these defects in Turkish Holsteins.

Methods

Genomic DNA was obtained from blood and the amplicons of BLAD, DUMPS, CVM, BC and FXID were obtained by using PCR. PCR products were digested with TaqI, AvaI and AvaII restriction enzymes for BLAD, DUMPS, and BC, respectively. These digested products and PCR product of FXID were analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis stained with ethidium bromide. CVM genotypes were detected by DNA sequencing. Additionally, all genotypes were confirmed by DNA sequencing to determine whether there was a mutant allele or not.

Results

Fourteen BLAD, twelve CVM and four FXID carriers were found among the 350 Holstein cows examined, while carriers of DUMPS and BC were not detected. The mutant allele frequencies were calculated as 0.02, 0.017, and 0.006 for BLAD, CVM and FXID, respectively with corresponding carrier prevalence of 4.0% (BLAD), 3.4% (CVM) and 1.2% (FXID).

Conclusion

This study demonstrates that carriers of BLAD, CVM and FXID are present in the Turkish Holstein population, although at a low frequency. The actual number of clinical cases is unknown, but sporadic cases may appear. As artificial insemination is widely used in dairy cattle breeding, carriers of BLAD, CVM and FXID are likely present within the population of breeding sires. It is recommended to screen breeding sires for these defective genes in order to avoid an unwanted spread within the population.     

Influence of slope position, stand type and rhododendron (Rhododendron ponticum) on litter decomposition rates of Oriental beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky.) and spruce [Picea orientalis (L.) Link]

Oriental beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky.) and Oriental spruce [Picea orientalis (L.) Link] are the two most common tree species in northeast Turkey. Their distribution, stand type and understorey species are known to be influenced by topographical landforms. However, little information is available as to how these changes affect litter decomposition rates of these two species. Here, we investigated the effects of slope positions (top 1,800 m, middle 1,500 m and bottom 1,200 m), stand type (pure and mixed stands) and purple-flowered rhododendron (Rhododendron ponticum) on litter decomposition rates of Oriental beech and spruce for 4 years using the litterbag technique in the field. Among these three factors, stand type had the strongest influence on litter decomposition (P < 0.001, F = 58.8), followed by rhododendron (P < 0.001, F = 46.8) and slope position (P < 0.05, F = 11.6). Litter decomposition was highest under mixed beech/spruce forest, followed by pure beech and spruce forest. Beech and spruce litter decomposed much faster in mixed bags (beech–spruce) than they did separately under each stand type. Purple-flowered rhododendron significantly reduced litter decomposition of Oriental beech and spruce. Beech and spruce litter decomposed much slower at top slope position than at either bottom or middle position. Differential litter decomposition of Oriental beech and spruce was mainly due to adverse conditions in spruce forest and the presence of rhododendron on the ground which was associated with lower soil pH. Higher elevations (top slope position) slowed down litter decomposition by changing environmental conditions, most probably by decreasing temperature as also other factors are different (pH, precipitation) and no detailed investigations were made to differentiate these factors. The adverse conditions for litter decomposition in spruce forest can be effectively counteracted by admixture of beech to spruce monoculture and by using the clear-cutting method for controlling rhododendron.     

Phenology and damage of Anarsia lineatella Zell. (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) in peach,apricot and nectarine orchards under semi-arid conditions

This study was conducted under semi-arid conditions in ?anl?urfa province (Turkey) in 2010–2011. One orchard each of peach, apricot and nectarine was selected for the study. There was less than one mile distance separating the orchards, and therefore climate, soil and topography were similar. Adult emergence, population peaks, number of generations per year and damage of the peach twig borer [PTB] [Anarsia lineatella Zell. (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae)] on twigs and fruits were determined. Sex pheromone traps were used to determine moth population dynamics. Fruits and twigs were checked to determine damage rate and host preference of the PTB among peach, apricot and nectarine. This study showed that the first adults of the PTB were detected in early May and pest populations peaked four times during both years. The highest numbers of adults captured by the pheromone traps in peach, apricot and nectarine orchards were 115, 86 and 70 adults/trap, respectively. The PTB damage rates on twigs were 38, 18 and 16% (2010) (P < 0.05) and 30, 22 and 14% (2011) (P < 0.05), while damage rates on fruits were 29, 6 and 6% (2010) (P < 0.05) and 14, 8 and 5% (2011) (P < 0.05) in peach, nectarine and apricot, respectively. The results showed that A. lineatella caused greater damage on peaches than on apricots and nectarines.     

Demography and population projection of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Myzus persicae</Emphasis> (Sulz.) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) on five pepper (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Capsicum annuum</Emphasis> L.) cultivars

The green peach aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer) (Hemiptera: Aphididae), is a major pest of pepper. In this study, we collected data on the development, survival, fecundity, and proportion of apterous and alate forms of green peach aphid reared on five commercial pepper cultivars (Amiral, Erciyes, Mert, Mertcan, and Naz) at 25?±?1°C, 60?±?5% RH, and a photoperiod of 16:8 (L:D) h. We analyzed the life history raw data by using the age-stage, two-sex life table. The shortest development time (6.66 days) and highest fecundity (62.68 individuals) occurred on the Erciyes cultivar. The highest intrinsic rate of increase (r?=?0.332 d^?1), finite rate of increase (λ?=?1.394 d^?1), net reproductive rate (R₀?=?62.7 offspring) and shortest mean generation time (T?=?12.45 d) also occurred on the Erciyes cultivar; while the lower fitness occurred on the Amiral, Mertcan and Naz cultivars. Our results compared differences in the population growth rate of M. persicae on different pepper cultivars. This information will be useful to individuals working in pest management programs particularly those involving M. persicae.