Changes in the digestive enzymes and hormones of gilthead seabream larvae (Sparus aurata, L. 1758) fed on Artemia nauplii enriched with free lysine

Variations in digestive enzymes and hormones during the larval development of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) fed on live prey (Artemia nauplii) enriched with free lysine were investigated for 16 days (from day 24 to day 40). Prior to initiation of the experiment, newly hatched larvae were transferred from incubators to fiber glass tanks (300 l) with black walls and fed the same diet until day 24. Each experiment was performed in triplicate. The amount of free lysine in the Artemia nauplii was increased by adding a 5.3 mM free amino acid solution to the culture water during a 16-h enrichment period. Larvae were sampled four times at four-day intervals, for 16 days. Larvae fed on the control group had lower growth than those fed on the lysine group at the end of the study but the difference was not significant (P > 0.05). The highest trypsin activity and lap/leu–ala peptidase ratios were observed in the control group (P < 0.05). Significant differences between bombesin activities of the treatment groups were not found in the fifth minute after the start of feeding (P > 0.05) but were significant in the fifteenth minute (P < 0.05). Significant differences between the CCK levels of the treatment groups were found (P < 0.05). In conclusion, three main ideas are presented in this study. First, Artemia nauplii can successfully be enriched with free lysine. Second, bombesin (GRP) and cholecystokinin (CCK) activity can be stimulated by free lysine. Third, the mechanisms controlling adaptation of the activity of the trypsin to the amount of dietary protein were not activated until day 40.     

ELEMENTAL COMPOSITION OF PEPPER PLANTS FERTILIZED WITH PELLETIZED POULTRY MANURE

Poultry manure (PM) has been traditionally applied to crops for decades as an organic fertilizer, because it is a good and balanced source of plant nutrients. Its effect on plant growth and yield has been widely investigated and is well known. However, there has been little effort to relate elemental compositions of the manure applied to their concentrations in the plants. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of PM on the growth, and essential and non-essential element composition of pepper (Capsicum annuum) leaves and also fruits. Pepper plants were grown in soil with 0, 10, 20, and 40 g kg^?1 PM under greenhouse conditions. Concentrations of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sulfur (S), silicon (Si), aluminum (Al), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), chloride (Cl), nickel (Ni), bromine (Br), rubidium (Rb), strontium (Sr), barium (Ba), lanthanum (La), and cerium (Ce) in leaves at the flowering stage and in fruits were determined by polarized energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (PEDXRF). Poultry manure fertilization significantly improved pepper shoot growth and also fruit yield, and increased leaf and fruit P concentrations but not N, K, Mg, Si, Al, Ni, and Fe. Leaf Ca was significantly reduced by increased rate of PM application. Applied PM increased the concentrations of leaf and fruit Zn and Cl. Poultry manure applications had a positive effect on the concentrations of leaf Cu, and fruit Mn. The concentrations of Rb and Ce in fruits and Br in fruit and leaves were increased by PM treatments. Applied PM levels had no clear effect on the concentrations of Ba and La in pepper leaves. The leaf Ba was the highest with 10 g kg^?1 PM, and leaf La was higher in 20 and 40 g kg^?1 PM treatments than in the control.     

Effects of exogenously applied salicylic acid on the induction of multiple stress tolerance and mineral nutrition in maize (Zea mays L.)

Abstract

It has been proposed that salicylic acid (SA) acts as an endogenous signal molecule responsible for inducing environmental stress tolerance in plants. In this study, the effects of seed soaked (1.0 mM for 24 h) and soil incorporated (0.1 mM and 0.5 mM) salicylic acid (SA) supply on growth and mineral concentrations of maize (Zea mays L., Hamidiye F₁) grown under either salt, boron toxicity or drought-stressed conditions were investigated. Exogenously applied SA either with seed soaked (SS) or soil incorporated (SI) increased plant growth significantly in all the stresses conditions. Salicylic acid inhibited Na and Cl accumulation in saline conditions, and 0.5 mM of soil incorporated SA decreased B significantly in boron toxicity treatment. Except in drought condition, SA treatments stimulated N accumulation in plants. And P, K, Mg and Mn concentrations of SA received plants were increased in the stress conditions. These results suggest that SA regulates the response of plants to the environmental stresses and could be used as a plant growth regulator to improve plant growth and stimulate mineral nutrient concentrations under stress conditions.     

Potential use of rare earth oxides as tracers of organic matter in grassland

Tracing organic matter (OM) in soil is challenging, because runoff and leaching processes are interrelated and have multiple sources. Therefore, multiple tracers with low background concentrations such as rare earth element oxides (REOs) are necessary to delineate the origin of sources of the organic materials in groundwater, rivers or in catchments. The main objective of this study was to examine the potential use of REOs as a tracer in various forms of OM (1) whole slurry, (2) solid, and (3) liquid phase of cattle slurry after mechanical separation. A laboratory experiment was carried out using five REOs (La, Gd, Sm, Pr, and Nd oxides) mixed directly into soil or mixed with various fractions of cattle slurry and then applied to the soil surface. In the additional grassland experiment, Gd oxide was spiked with soil and cattle slurry and then applied to the soil surface. The mineral N in the liquid phase (urine) of the slurry in the grassland experiment was labelled with ¹⁵N urea (16 atom%). In the laboratory experiment, results showed that the five REOs concentration of soil in 0–1 cm soil section after the rainfall simulation was still up to 20 times more than the background values. In 1–2 cm soil section, the concentration of only Gd (two fold higher) and La oxides (50% higher) were significantly higher than the soil background values. Therefore, we hypothesized that Gd and La oxides were associated also with relatively finer organic particles in slurry, thus 1–2 cm soil section were enriched with these oxides. The five REOs concentration below 2 cm soil depth were similar to the background values in all treatments. In line with the laboratory experiment, Gd concentrations in the deeper soil layers (2–4 and 4–8 cm) in the grassland experiment were not significantly affected by any treatment. Both in grassland and laboratory experiment, solid phase of the slurry (dung) was collected from the soil surface after rainfall simulation. Here, about 56% of REOs were measured on the solid phase of the slurry which indicates the strong binding potential of REOs on slurry OM. The present novel study, where REO tagged slurry was uniquely tested to study geochemical cycle of organic fertilizers, clearly highlighted the potential for their use as multiple‐tracers of (animal derived‐) OM in agricultural soils.     

Genome-wide association studies of preweaning growth and in vivo carcass composition traits in Esme sheep

Sheep are considered as a major contributor of global food security. Moreover, sheep preweaning growth traits as well as in vivo carcass composition traits such as ultrasonic measurements of Longissimus dorsi muscle depth (UMD) and back-fat thickness (UFD) are crucially important indicators of meat yield and hot carcass composition. Despite their relative importance for productivity and profitability of a sheep production system, detected QTL for these traits are quite scarce. Therefore, we implemented GWAS for these traits using animal mixed model-based association approach provided by GenABEL in Esme sheep. Three genome-wide and 14 individual chromosome-wide associated SNPs were discovered. As a result, ESRP1, LOC105613082, ZNF641, DUSP5, TEAD1, SMOX, PTPRT, RALYL, POM121C, PHIP, LOC101106051, ZIM3, PEG3, TRPC7, FBXL4, LOC105610397, LOC105616489 and DNAAF2 were suggested as candidates. Some of the discovered genes and involved pathways were already annotated to contribute growth and development in various species including human, mice and cattle. All in all, the results of this study are expected to strongly contribute to shed a light on the underlying molecular mechanisms behind growth and carcass composition traits, with potential implications on studies aiming faster genetic improvement, targeted low-resolution SNP panel designs and genome-editing studies.     

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.     

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.     

Effects of dietary selenium of organic form against lead toxicity on the antioxidant system in Cyprinus carpio

In this study was evaluated potential protective effect of organic selenium (Se) on heavy metal stress induced by lead (Pb) in Cyprinus carpio. For this reason, C. carpio was exposed to sublethal concentration of Pb (1.5 mg/L Pb(NO₃)₂) for 14 days. The fish were fed a basal (control; measured 0.55 mg/kg Se) diet or a basal diet supplemented with 2.50 mg/kg (measured 2.92 mg/kg Se) organic Se (Sel-Plex^®) during the experiment period. The variations in glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione S-transferase (GST) activities, and levels of reduced glutathione (GSH) with malondialdehyde (MDA) in liver and brain tissues of C. carpio were investigated in experimental groups. GSH levels in liver and brain tissues were significantly decreased by exposure to Pb. GST activity was significantly increased (p < 0.05) in liver tissue, but decreased in brain of treated fish by exposure to Pb. Also, GSH-Px activity was significantly increased in liver tissue, but decreased in brain of Pb-treated fish. Levels of MDA were increased in liver and brain of Pb-treated fish. The organic Se treatment for Pb-intoxicated animals improved activities of GSH-Px, GST and levels of MDA within normal limits. Supplemented Se could be able to improve Pb-induced oxidative stress by decreasing lipid peroxidation and regulating antioxidant defense system in tissues.     

Response of Leek (Allium porrum L.) to Different Irrigation Water Levels Under Rain Shelter

A pot experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of different water levels on water-use efficiency, yield and growth parameters of leek (Allium porrum L.) and was carried out in the practical research field of Ondokuz May?s University in Turkey. Different irrigation water levels were based on the weight changes of each pot and included 5 irrigation treatments [25% (I₂₅), 50% (I₅₀), 75% (I₇₅), 100% (I₁₀₀) and 118% (I₁₁₈) times of consumed water]. Decreases in irrigation water resulted in decreases in plant height, stem diameter, leaf and stem fresh weights, leaf and stem dry weights and leaf area, but did not significantly affect leaf number or chlorophyll content. A yield-response factor of 1.26 was obtained, implying that the leek crop was sensitive to water stress caused by deficit irrigation. Comprehensive analysis of yield, water use efficiency, and evapotranspiration, the I₇₅ treatment can be suggested for leek production in water-scarce regions.     

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.