Soil determinants for distribution of Halocnemum strobilaceum Bieb. (Chenopodiaceae) around Lake Tuz, Turkey

In this study we aimed to reveal the ranges and effectiveness of soil parameters on the distribution of H. strobilaceum. Halocnemum strobilaceum Bieb. is a widespread species in saline habitats and the distribution pattern of this halophytic species around Lake Tuz in Central Anatolia was examined according to the soil characteristics. pH, electrical conductivity, soil humidity, salt percentage, soluble Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+, CO3(2-), HCO3(-), Cl(-) and SO4(2-) values, total cations, cation exchange capacity, sodium adsorption ratio, exchangeable Na+, K+, Ca2+ and Mg2+ values were the examined soil properties. The most effective soil parameters for flowering period were found as Na, SO4, total cations, SAR and EC and for seed bearing period as EC, Mg, total cations, Cl, Na, SO4 and salt (%) content of the soil.     

网状内皮增殖病病毒(REV)感染SPF雏鸡后局部免疫组织抗体生成细胞的变化

对 SPF雏鸡人工感染 REV后局部免疫组织盲肠扁桃体和哈德氏腺的 Ig A、Ig G和 Ig M抗体生成细胞数量动态变化进行了检测。结果发现 ,REV感染 SPF雏鸡后 7～ 4 9天消化道局部免疫组织盲肠扁桃体和呼吸道相关局部免疫组织哈德氏腺的 Ig A、Ig G和 Ig M抗体生成细胞数量明显低于未感染对照雏鸡。表明雏鸡感染 REV后消化道局部组织盲肠扁桃体和呼吸道相关免疫组织哈德氏腺体液免疫机能均显著下降。     

Effects of herbage intake on goat performance in the mediterranean type natural pastures

This study aimed at identifying changes in natural pastures during the grazing season and investigating the effects of these changes on pasture feeding potential for high yielding dairy goats. During the study, 12 dairy goats were grazed on a 1.5 ha natural pasture for three months from April to June in 2003, 2004 and 2005. The goats were fed 0.5 kg/day of concentrate as a supplement during the grazing season. Botanical composition, herbage production and intake, crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) contents of the pasture were determined. Live weight, milk yield, milk dry matter (DM) and fat content of the goats were monitored. The data were analyzed using a linear model, which evaluated the effects of grazing seasons in each year. Based on the three-year average, 87% of pasture was herbaceous plants and the remaining was shrubs in DM basis with Cistus creticus , Quercus ithaburensis , Pistacia atlantica and Asparagus acutifolius being the major shrub species. The herbage yield in June was significantly lower than in other months in all years ( P  = 0.001). In all experimental years, the CP content of the pasture decreased but the structural carbohydrates increased as the grazing season proceeded. While live weight was not affected by grazing periods except for 2004 ( P  = 0.001), milk yield significantly decreased with advancing grazing period ( P  = 0.001). The results of the present study indicate that natural pasture has a supportive effect in April and May on the milk yield of lactating goats which are in mid-lactation, and suggested that supplementary feeding is required in consecutive grazing periods.     

Effects of floral and foliar application of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) on yield, growth and nutrition of sweet cherry

During 2003 and 2005, plant growth promoting effects of Pseudomonas BA-8 and Bacillus OSU-142 were tested alone or combinations on sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) cv. 0900 Ziraat in terms of yield, growth, nutrient composition of leaves in the province of Konya, Turkey. The presence of Pseudomonas BA-8, Bacillus OSU-142 and BA-8 + OSU-142 stimulated plant growth and resulted in significant yield increase. Floral and foliar applications of BA-8, OSU-142 and BA-8 + OSU-142 in sweet cherry significantly increased yield per trunk cross-sectional area (16.3, 10.9 and 21.7%), fruit weight (4.15, 5.37 and 1.24%) and shoot length (11.3, 11.8 and 29.6%), respectively, compared with the control. In addition, N, P and K contents of sweet cherry leaves with BA-8, OSU-142 and BA-8 + OSU-142 treatments, Fe and Zn contents of leaves with BA-8 + OSU-142 treatment and Mn content of the leaves of sweet cherry with BA-8 and OSU-142 applications significantly increased. Nitrogen, P and K contents in leaves were determined to be increased from 2.00, 0.17 and 0.43% in the control to 2.19, 0.20 and 0.54% by BA-8 application, to 2.32, 0.24 and 0.54% by OSU-142 application and to 2.43, 0.22 and 0.51% by BA-8 + OSU-142 application, respectively. Co-inoculation of BA-8 + OSU-142 increased Fe and Zn contents of leaves up to 50.5 and 35.5% compared with the control, respectively. Manganese content of leaves significantly also increased by BA-8 (26.6%) and OSU-142 (27.0%) applications compared with the control. The results of the present study suggested that Pseudomonas BA-8 and Bacillus OSU-142 alone or in combination have a great potential to increase the yield, growth and nutrition of sweet cherry plant.     

Infection prevalence,seasonality and host specificity of actinosporean types (Myxozoa) in an Atlantic salmon fish farm located in Northern Scotland

A total of 28,387 oligochaetes belonging to the families Tubificidae, Lumbriculidae, Naididae and Enchytraeidae were examined at regular intervals for actinosporean infections from October 1996 to August 1998 from a freshwater salmon farm in Northern Scotland. A total of 21 types of actinosporeans belonging to seven collective groups synactinomyxon (three types), aurantiactinomyxon (four types), echinactinomyxon (five types), raabeia (six types), triactinomyxon (one type), neoactinomyxum (one type) and siedleckiella (one type) were found. Synactinomyxon type 1, echinactinomyxon type 1 and raabeia type 4 were most abundant. The overall infection prevalence of oligochaetes was 2.9%. Aurantiactinomyxon, synactinomyxon and neoactinomyxum were most common in summer and autumn. Raabeia was most common in spring and summer and echinactinomyxon in winter and spring. Siedleckiella was found only in spring and triactinomyxon in all seasons except winter. A positive relationship between water temperature and the number of actinosporean types released was observed. Most actinosporean types were found in only one host species.     

Induction of oxidants in tomato leaves treated with <Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">DL</Emphasis>-β-Amino butyric acid (BABA) and infected with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Clavibacter michiganensis</Emphasis> ssp. <Emphasis Type="Italic">michiganensis</Emphasis>

Bacterial canker is an economically important disease of tomato. Resistance induced by DL-β-Amino butyric acid against bacterial canker caused by Clavibacter michiganensis ssp. michiganensis in tomato plants was investigated. Different doses of DL-β-Amino butyric acid (250–1000 μg ml⁻¹ doses) were tested on 3-week old plants inoculated with a 10⁸ CFU ml⁻¹ bacterial suspension, and disease development was evaluated after inoculation and treatment. Although in vitro growth of the bacteria was not affected by DL-β-Amino butyric acid treatment, foliage sprays of 500 μg ml⁻¹ DL-β-Amino butyric acid significantly suppressed disease development up to 54% by day 14 after inoculation at the four different doses tested. Bacterial populations were reduced by 84% in BABA-treated plants compared to water-treated plants by day 4 after inoculation. Inoculated BABA-treated plants showed significantly higher phenylalanine ammonia-lyase activity, peroxidase activity, and H₂O₂ concentration than inoculated water-treated plants during day 1 after treatment. These findings suggest that the DL-β-Amino butyric acid treatment resulted in an increase of these enzymes and in H₂O₂ concentration in planta, and was associated with induction of resistance to bacterial canker.     

Mortality and F1 progeny of the lesser grain borer, Rhyzopertha dominica (F), on wheat treated with diatomaceous earth: effects of rate, exposure period and relative humidity

A series of experiments at 25 (+/-1) degrees C were conducted in which different application rates of diatomaceous earth (DE) formulation Protect-It at two levels of relative humidity, 40 and 55%, and at three exposure periods were evaluated for control of Rhyzopertha dominica (F). Test insects were placed in vials containing 40 g of soft winter wheat mixed with 0.25, 0.50, 1.00, 1.50 and 2.00 g DE kg(-1). At all rates except 0.25 g kg(-1), mortality was significantly different from that in the control at the relevant exposure period. After each exposure interval, dead and live insects were counted and removed, and the vial containing wheat was then returned to the appropriate humidity chamber for 8 weeks until F(1) adults emerged. F(1) progeny production was significantly different from the control group at all rates. Mortalities for 1, 2 and 3 weeks exposure were found to be 47 (+/-5)%. Despite the fact that mortality increased with increasing rate, total mortality was not achieved even at the highest rate of DE. F(1) progeny production decreased with increasing rate for both RH conditions, and containment of population for both RH conditions was achieved at 1.00 g DE kg(-1). For each exposure period, F(1) progeny production of R dominica decreased with increasing rate of DE, and population suppression was achieved at 1.00 g DE kg(-1) for all exposure intervals. In summary, Protect-It resulted in reduced F(1) adult progeny and containment of population was achieved at 1.00 g DE kg(-1) at which rate mortality was 77%.