An Evaluation of the Response of Yield Monitors and Combines to Varying Yields

Comparisons were made between yield measurements with an impact based yield sensor and an electronic scale in adjacent harvest strips and on the same grain stream within a combine. Yield measurements in adjacent strip comparisons were more prone to errors as the segment lengths decreased. Grain yield difference between the yield sensor and electronic scale ranged from 5 to 14%, 4 to 13%, 3 to 12%, and 2 to 11% for 15, 30, 60, and 300 m long segments. The yield differences between neighboring segments might have been caused by yield variability to a degree; however, a consistent decrease in yield differences with increasing segment lengths implied that better accuracies could be obtained in longer management areas. The combine responses to grain yield changes and the effect of varying ground speed on accuracy were also evaluated by creating artificial yield patterns in harvest strips. Grain diffusion within the combine was more obvious when abrupt yield changes were introduced at known locations. Grain mixing and redistribution inside the combine may dictate the selection of segment sizes in the site-specific decision making process. Constant ground speed provided more stable grain flow values than varying ground speed. The average error in yield estimate was 3.4% and 5.2% at constant ground speed and varying speed, respectively. Careful calibration and constant combine speed were important to achieve better accuracy with the grain yield monitor.     

Changes in Testicular Development, Ultrasonographic and Histological Appearance of the Testis in Buck Kids Immunized Against LHRH Using Recombinant LHRH Fusion Protein

This study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of recombinant Ovalbumin-LHRL (OL) immunization on changes in testicular size, histological appearance and testosterone production in buck kids. Thirty native buck kids at 18 weeks of age were divided into three groups, control (n = 10), immunization (n = 10) and castration (n = 10) groups. Immunized animals received OL protein generated by recombinant DNA technology. Ultrasonographic and histological examinations of the testes were performed. Animals were slaughtered at 44 weeks of age. Semen and epididymides were evaluated for the presence of sperm cells. Immunized animals generated anti-LHRH antibodies. Testosterone production, testicular and accessory glands development and sperm production were suppressed in the immunized animals (p < 0.01). Semineferous tubule diameters decreased (p < 0.01), basal membrane of the tubule was thickened and hyalinized in immunized kids. Immunization affected ultrasonographic appearance of the testes drastically. While testes of control animals gained their normal ultrasonographic appearance as the age increased, immunized animals had uniform hypoechogenic testicular structure as observed at 18 weeks of age until slaughter. Simultaneous histological and ultrasonographic evaluations indicated that the changes in testicular histology could partly be monitored via ultrasonographic imaging; nevertheless, it is difficult to claim that ultrasonographic image reflects the exact changes in such instances. In conclusion, these results indicate that recombinant OL fusion protein is effective in immunocastration in buck kids and has a potential to be used as an alternative to physical castration. Further researches should be conducted to help assessing reproductive status of testes from ultrasound images.     

Germination Ecology of Cenchrus biflorus Roxb.: Effects of Environmental Factors on Seed Germination

Better understanding related to germination and seedling emergence of plant species assists in predicting the potential distribution and provides insight for efficient management. Cenchrus biflorus Roxb. has been considered as potential forage species in arid environment due to its high nutritive values, prolific seed production, and tolerance to extreme temperature and prolonged drought conditions. A series of laboratory and greenhouse assays were conducted to determine the effect of different environmental factors, such as temperature, light, pH, salinity, osmotic potential, and seed burial depth on the germination and seedling emergence of C. biflorus. The maximum germination (95%) was recorded at 35°C/25°C, followed by 40°C/30°C; however, minimum germination was observed at 45°C/35°C (17.5%). Light significantly promoted the germination with maximum percentage (97.5%) when seeds were exposed to altering light and dark conditions (12/12 h). The osmotic potential for the 50% inhibition of C. biflorus germination was –0.4 MPa, although some seed germinated at –0.8 MPa (12.5%). Germination decreased from 97.5% to 12.5% as salinity stress increased from 0 mM to 200 mM sodium chloride (NaCl) with no germination > 200 mM. Seed germination was significantly affected by pH levels and was between 27.5% and 92.5% at 5–8 pH, respectively. No seedling emerged when seeds were placed on the soil surface; maximum seedling emergence (90%) at 2-cm burial depth and emergence decreased considerably as seeding depth increased above 2 cm. Its tolerance to drought and salinity make C. biflorus a potential candidate to be used as an alternative source during periods of forage scarcity under harsh climatic conditions, and it could possibly be used for rangeland rehabilitation purposes in arid environments.     

Adaptation of endemic mediterranean Sternbergia candida Mathew Et T. Baytop in the continental climate of central anatolia

Sternbergia candida is an important endemic bulbous plant with beautiful white flowers. It grows on the rock slopes of Baba mountains under Lebanon Cedars in the Mugla province of Turkey with Mediterranean climate. The plant is vulnerable and endangered due to illegal collection for local and foreign flower industry. Fast developing tourism industry and rapid urbanization has also shown negative implications on its population. The study reports three years successful adaptation results of S. candida in the continental climate of Ankara in the Central Anatolia. Four groups of bulbs based on diameter (>2.45, 2.15–2.44, 1.85–2.14 and <1.84 cm) were collected from its natural habitat during March, April and May 1998 and were evaluated for frequency (%) of emergence, mean number of leaves per plant, mean plant height, frequency (%) of flowering, frequency (%) of fruit setting. mean number of bulbs per plant, and mean diameter (cm) of regenerated bulbs. All categories of bulbs could be multiplied and adapted successfully with variable frequency of fruit setting. However, the highest fruit set was recorded from 2.15–2.44 cm April collected bulbs. This indicated that the bulb diameter and collection time had clear implications on multiplication, propagation and adaptation of the plant.     

The Effect of Total Anthocyanins Extracted From Sweet Cherry Cultivars on Carbonic Anhydrases and Antioxidant Activity

Total anthocyanins were extracted from eleven sweet cherry cultivars grown in Sakarya, Turkey. In vitro inhibition effects of extracted total anthocyanins on purified carbonic anhydrase I and II were investigated by using CO₂ as a substrate. The results showed that all extracted total anthocyanins inhibited the hCA I and hCA II enzyme activities. Among all cultivars, ‘Merton Premier’ was found to be the most active one against both hCA I (IC₅₀?=?0.83?µg/mL) and hCA II (IC₅₀?=?1.16?µg/mL). Additionally, the DPPH activities of the extracts were investigated as antioxidant properties. The results exhibited that ‘Churchill’ and ‘Merton Premier’ have high antioxidant activity with 74.102% and 73.503% DPPH activity, respectively.

     

A comparison of the gelling of isubgol,agar and gelrite on in vitro shoot regeneration and rooting of variety Samsun of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.)

Agar is being used to solidify media for plant tissue culture since long. Both purity and type of agar or gelling agent influence the behaviour and growth of tissues in culture. The study using leaf disc explants of variety Samsun of tobacco compares adventitous shoot regeneration on 0.5 cm × 0.5 cm leaf discs cultured on MSD4X2 medium and rooting on MSO medium gelled with different blends of agar–isubgol, gelrite–isubgol, phytagel–isubgol or isubgol singly. It was found that irrespective of some problems associated with isubgol gel, the maximum number of shoot per explant were recorded on MSD4X2 medium gelled with 7 g/l isubgol. The longest shoots were recorded on MSD4X2 medium gelled with 9 g/l isubgol. Likewise, the highest number of roots were also recorded on MSO medium gelled with 7 g/l isubgol. For a given quantity of a medium, agar, gelrite/isubgol blends are very cheap compared to agar used singly. Moreover, blends of agar/isubgol, gelrite/isubgol gelled at low temperatures indicated safe use of these gels for heat labile substances in genetic transformation or tissue culture experiments. The results emphasized the potential of the isubgol used singly or in combination with agar and gelrite for economic commercial application, replacing the costliest, though not indispensable, gelling agent agar.     

Efficient in vitro multiplication in Ornithogalum ulophyllum Hand.-Mazz. from twin scale explants

Ornithogalum ulophyllum Hand.-Mazz. with beautiful white flowers is an important medicinal and ornamental plant of the Middle Eastern countries and need exploitation for commercial propagation. The study reports in vitro mass proliferation of bulblets achieved from twin scales and “in vitro regenerated bulblet” explants on MS medium supplemented with various concentrations of BAP–NAA. The best regeneration on twin scales and “in vitro regenerated bulblets” was obtained on MS medium containing 2 mg l⁻¹ BAP–0.5 mg l⁻¹ NAA and 2 mg l⁻¹BAP–1 mg l⁻¹ NAA, respectively. However, bulb scales seemed to be more potent for bulblet regeneration. A large number of the developing bulblets rooted on the regeneration medium. Remaining non-rooting bulblets were rooted on MS medium containing 1 mg l⁻¹ NAA. All plants were acclimatized in the environmental chamber for 4 weeks and were transferred to the greenhouse for flowering. Regenerated bulblets developed into morphologically normal plants.     

Effects of L-carnitine administration on growth performance, carcass traits, blood serum parameters and abdominal fatty acid composition of ducks.

Effects of L-carnitine administration via drinking water on growth performance, carcass traits, blood serum parameters and abdominal fatty acid composition of ducks was examined. One hundred day-old Turkish native duck chicks were divided into two groups, each with five replicates and given the same diets with 0 and 200 mg/l carnitine chlorhydrate via drinking water. The study lasted 8 weeks, with the first 4 weeks as a starter and the last 4 weeks as grower period. At the end of the study five ducks were randomly selected from each subgroup for slaughter. Growth performance parameters of ducks were not affected significantly by L-carnitine administration. Live weight, daily weight gain, cumulative feed consumption and average feed conversion efficiency were found to be 1490 and 1621 g, 26.0 and 28.1 g, 5386 and 5662 g, 3.75 and 3.54 kg/kg in the control and in the carnitine groups respectively. L-carnitine administration did not effect carcass traits and serum cholesterol, total lipid, triglyceride and glucose levels. Total saturated fatty acid content of abdominal fat significantly decreased, mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acid content were not affected by L-carnitine administration. In conclusion, L-carnitine administration by drinking water did not affect growth performance, carcass traits and blood parameters in ducks.     

Spatio-temporal variability of drought characteristics across Pakistan

Climate change in Pakistan has a great impact on the spatial and temporal variation of precipitation and ultimately alters the frequency and duration of droughts. In this study, spatial and temporal trend analyses of precipitation and droughts were observed at 58 meteorological stations across Pakistan from 1981 to 2018. The existing trend analysis methods were evaluated to address the issue of serial correlation in the climatic data. Results of precipitation analysis showed significant decreasing trends in winter (November, December) and significant increasing trends were observed in summer (June and September) at a confidence level of 95 percent. The magnitude of the precipitation trends showed the highest variation during summer season and the least variation in winter season. Rotated Principal Component (RPC) analysis showed the severe droughts (high positive loading) in southeastern side (Sindh province) of Pakistan due to lack of summer rains. Furthermore, variance correction approaches are identified as the most suitable in coping with the effect of serial correlation. The highest drought frequencies were observed in the southern areas of Pakistan and the drought events are expected to occur more frequently in the late winter, early spring, and early autumn, while droughts were expected to occur least frequently in summer.

     

Use of 1,6-diaminohexane-functionalized glycidyl methacrylate-g-poly(ethylene terephthalate) fiber for removal of acidic dye from aqueous solution

In this study, removal of Congo red (CR) from aqueous solution by 1,6-diaminohexane-functionalized glycidyl methacrylate-g-poly(ethylene terephthalate) (HMDA-GMA-g-PET) fiber was investigated. A new aminated fibrous adsorbent was prepared by a reaction between amine and epoxy group in GMA-g-PET fiber prepared by grafting GMA monomer onto poly (ethylene terephthalate) (PET) fiber. Effects of various parameters such as pH, treatment time, initial, dye concentration, and reaction temperature on the adsorption amount of dye onto reactive fiber were investigated. The adsorption rates of CR were much higher on the HMDA-GMA-g-PET fiber than on GMA-g-PET and ungrafted PET fiber. The effective pH was 2.0 for adsorption on grafted PET fiber. It was found that the sufficient time to attain equilibrium was 60 min. The maximum adsorption capacity of the reactive fiber for CR is 16.6 mg/g fiber. The rates of adsorption were found to conform to the pseudo-second order kinetics with good correlation. It was found that the adsorption isotherm of CR fitted Freundlich type isotherm.