EFFECTS OF SINGLE,DUAL AND TRIPLE INOCULATIONS WITH BACILLUS SUBTILIS,BACILLUS MEGATERIUM AND RHIZOBIUM LEGUMINOSARUM BV. PHASEOLI ON NODULATION,NUTRIENT UPTAKE,YIELD AND YIELD PARAMETERS OF COMMON BEAN (PHASEOLUS VULGARIS L. CV. ‘ELKOCA-05’)

This study was conducted in order to investigate the effects of single, dual, and triple inoculations with Rhizobium, N₂-fixing Bacillus subtilis (OSU-142), and P-solubilizing Bacillus megaterium (M-3) on nodulation, plant growth, nutrient uptake and seed yield of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L. cv. ‘Elkoca-05’) in comparison to control and mineral fertilizer application under field conditions in 2006 and 2007 in the cold highland in Erzurum plateau (29° 55′ N and 41° 16′ E with an altitude of 1850 m), Turkey. Bacterial inoculations significantly increased all the parameters investigated compared with the control treatment, equal to or higher than nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and NP treatments. The lowest shoot dry weight and chlorophyll content values were recorded in the control treatment and the bacterial inoculations increased shoot dry weight by 19.7–54.3% and chlorophyll content by 34.1–59.3% over control. Nodule dry weight significantly increased in Rhizobium alone treatment. Additionally, nodulation by native soil Rhizobium population was increased in single inoculations of OSU-142 and M-3. Significant increases of the seed yield under different inoculation treatments ranged between by 6.6% (Rhizobium + OSU-142 + M-3) and 12.2% (OSU-142 alone) over the control whereas N, P and NP applications corresponded to increases of 5.6%, 4.0% and 7.4%, respectively. All bacterial inoculations, especially triple inoculation, significantly increased uptake of macronutrients and micronutrients by common bean. In conclusion, seed inoculation with Rhizobium, OSU-142 and M-3, especially OSU-142 alone, may substitute partially costly NP fertilizers in common bean production even in cold highland areas such as in Erzurum.     

EFFECTS OF PLANT GROWTH PROMOTING BACTERIA ON YIELD,GROWTH, LEAF WATER CONTENT,MEMBRANE PERMEABILITY,AND IONIC COMPOSITION OF STRAWBERRY UNDER SALINE CONDITIONS

Plant growth promoting effects of Bacillus subtilis EY2, Bacillus atrophaeus EY6, Bacillus spharicus GC subgroup B EY30, Staphylococcus kloosii EY37 and Kocuria erythromyxa EY43 were tested on strawberry cv. ‘Fern’ in terms of fruit yield, growth, chlorophyll reading value, leaf relative water content (LRWC), membrane permeability and ionic composition of leaves and roots under saline conditions. Compared with 0 mM sodium chloride (NaCl) treatment, the average decrease of yield and LRWC were 51.6% and 21.0%, respectively, when 35 mM NaCl was applied. However, EY30, EY37, and EY43 treatments under saline condition (35 mM NaCl) significantly increased fruit yield (54.4%, 51.7% and 94.9%) compared with 35 mM NaCl treatment without plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB). The LRWC increased from 72.0% in 35 mM NaCl treatment to 88.4%, 86.6%, 84.2%, 83.5%, and 86.2% by EY2, EY6, EY30, EY37, and EY43 applications, respectively. The lowest membrane permeability among the bacterial strains was obtained from EY37 treatment (37) while it was 33 and 58 in 0 mM NaCl and 35 mM NaCl treatments, respectively. The concentration of all plant tissue nutrients investigated [nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg)] with the exception of root phosphorus (P) and Mg concentration significantly decreased with 35 mM salt treatment. Nitrogen content of leaves varied between 3.04 and 3.14% in bacterial treatments under saline conditions while it was 2.71% in 35 mM NaCl treatment. In contrast sodium (Na) and chloride (Cl) of leaves and Cl content of roots were significantly decreased by root inoculation with all bacterial treatments in comparison to 35 mM NaCl treatment with no inoculation. Treatment with Bacillus EY30, Staphylococcus EY37 and Kocuria EY43 to strawberry plants can ameliorative the deleterious effect of salt stress on fruit yield, growth and nutrition. These results demonstrate that PGPB treatment could be offer an economic and simple means to increased plant resistance for salinity stress.     

The effects of freeze‐and‐thaw cycles on phosphorus availability in highland soils in Turkey

Ongoing global warming may result in colder soil and thawing cycles and will increase the frequency of soil freezing‐and‐thawing‐treated cycles (FTCs) during winter in the cool‐temperate and high‐latitude regions. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of repeated freeze–thaw cycles on the solubility and adsorption of P in lab and field experiments on Pellustert, Argiustoll, Haplustept, Fluvaquent, and Calciorthid soils, the major soil groups in E Turkey. The results demonstrated that, depending on the soil type, the freeze–thaw cycle could increase the adsorption and desorption of P within a certain temperature range. Repeated freezing and thawing decreased equilibrium P concentration (EPC) and increased P adsorption. EPC and P adsorption were strongly correlated with the number of FTCs. The highest P adsorption and the lowest P desorption was found in Pellustert followed by Argiustoll, Calciorthid, Haplustept, Fluvaquent when refrozen at –10°C for 15 d, then thawed at +2.5°C for 18 h, and 9 times FTC. However, in the field study, the adsorption value was lower than the value obtained from the laboratory condition. It appears that increasing the frequency of freeze–thaw processes depending on increase in temperature that leads to decreased plant‐available soil P pools, thus requires more P fertilizer in soil solution to supply adequate P during the plant‐growth period.     

Die Schädlingsvertilgung einiger Singvogelarten in einem Schwarzkiefern-Zedern-Wald in Beytepe bei Ankara, Türkei

In the year 2002, in Beytepe, near Ankara, the food spectrum of Great Tit (Parus major), House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) and Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) was determined, using the neck-ringing method. The food analysis of the bird species mentioned above proved their importance in biological control methods for destruction of organisms harmful for the forest. The proportion of injurious insects in the food spectrum of the bird species investigated is as follows: Starling 60,6 % (n = 20), House Sparrow 56,4 (n = 22) and Great Tit 78,8 % (n = 41).

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Die Schädlingsvertilgung einiger Singvogelarten in einem Schwarzkiefern-Zedern-Wald in Beytepe bei Ankara, Türkei

     

Friction force and pressure causing “skinning” of potatoes

American Journal of Potato Research - A technique for measurement of frictional force and pressure required to cause skinning of potatoes is described. The technique yields data which include...     

Effects of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) on yield,growth and nutrient contents in organically growing raspberry

During 2003 and 2005, plant growth promoting effects of two Bacillus strains OSU-142 (N₂-fixing) and M3 (N₂-fixing and phosphate solubilizing) were tested alone or in combinations on organically grown primocane fruiting raspberry (cv. Heritage) plants in terms of yield, growth, nutrient composition of leaves and variation of soil nutrient element composition in the province of Erzurum, Turkey. The results showed that Bacillus M3 treatment stimulated plant growth and resulted in significant yield increase. Inoculation of raspberry plant roots and rhizosphere with M3 and/or OSU-142 + M3, significantly increased yield (33.9% and 74.9%), cane length (13.6% and 15.0%), number of cluster per cane (25.4% and 28.7%) and number of berries per cane (25.1% and 36.0%) compared with the control, respectively. In addition, N, P and Ca contents of raspberry leaves with OSU-142 + M3 treatment, and Fe and Mn contents of the leaves of raspberry with M3 and OSU-142 + M3 applications significantly improved under organic growing conditions. Bacterial applications also significantly effected soil total N, available P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Zn contents and pH. Available P contents in soil was determined to be increased from 1.55 kg P₂O₅/da at the beginning of the study to 2.83 kg P₂O₅/da by OSU-142, to 5.36 kg P₂O₅/da by M3 and to 4.71 kg P₂O₅/da by OSU-142 + M3 treatments. The results of this study suggest that Bacillus M3 alone or in combination with Bacillus OSU-142 have the potential to increase the yield, growth and nutrition of raspberry plant under organic growing conditions.