Seed treatments to overcome salt and drought stress during germination in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)

The treated seeds (control, KNO₃ and hydropriming) of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) cultivar Sanbro were evaluated at germination and seedling growth for tolerance to salt (NaCl) and drought conditions induced by PEG-6000 at the same water potentials of 0.0, −0.3, −0.6, −0.9 and −1.2 MPa. Electrical conductivity (EC) values of the NaCl solutions were 0.0, 6.5, 12.7, 18.4 and 23.5 dS m⁻¹, respectively. The objective of the study was to determine factors responsible for germination and early seedling growth due to salt toxicity or osmotic effect and to optimize the best priming treatment for these stress conditions.

Results revealed that germination delayed in both solutions, having variable germination with different priming treatments. Germination, root and shoot length were higher but mean germination time and abnormal germination percentage were lower in NaCl than PEG at the same water potential. Seeds were able to germinate at all concentrations of NaCl but no seed germination was observed at −1.2 MPa of PEG treatments. NaCl had less inhibitor effect on seedling growth than the germination. It was concluded that inhibition of germination at the same water potential of NaCl and PEG resulted from osmotic effect rather than salt toxicity. Hydropriming increased germination and seedling growth under salt and drought stresses.     

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.

     

Improvement of okra seed germination by drying within the fruit during development and after-ripening treatment

Abstract

The inverse linear competition model and three non-linear hyperbolic models were tested on two years' results from field experiments with barley and oilseed rape. Densities ranged from 1/9 to 3 times the normal seed rate (i.e. 350 barley plants m^?2 and 100 oilseed rape plants m^?2). A log transformation of both sides was necessary to ensure homogeneity of variance. The best precision of parameter estimates was found using the non-linear hyperbolic model:

where w is the individual plant weight and N is the plant density. A _{N 0} is the dry matter production per plant at a density N ₀, and B is the potential biomass production per unit area under the actual growth conditions. The estimated values of parameters AA _{N 0} and B agreed well with the values actually measured. The computational, as well as the biological, implications of introducing a threshold density, N ₀ are discussed.     

Effects of dietary lipid levels on growth, nutrient utilization, and nitrogen and carbon balances in shi drum (Umbrina cirrosa L.)

Shi drum (Umbrina cirrosa L.) is regarded as a promising new candidate for Mediterranean mariculture but specifically formulated feeds are not yet available due to knowledge gaps in its basic nutritional requirements. Therefore, this study was carried out to determine the effects of dietary lipid levels on growth and feed utilization in shi drum (72.6 g average weight). Four isonitrogenic diets differing in dietary lipid levels between 10 and 19% (named 10L, 13L, 16L, and 19L, respectively) were fed to triplicate groups of fish for 8 weeks. Growth was not affected by treatment whereas feed efficiency was significantly deteriorated in fish fed diets containing lipid higher than 13%. Whole body dry matter and lipid contents were significantly higher in fish fed 19L compared with fish fed the 10L, while whole body protein, ash, and total carbon (C) were statistically unaffected by the dietary treatment. A significant increase in feed, lipid, energy, nitrogen (N), and carbon (C) intake was recorded in fish fed 16L and 19L when compared with 10L. Carbon/nitrogen (C/N) ratio was significantly higher in fish fed 19L than 10L. Moreover, the N and C losses significantly increased in fish fed 19L compared with 10L and 13L. It was concluded that high dietary lipid did neither had any protein-sparing effect nor other positive result, and diets for shi drum are not recommended to contain more than 13% lipid.     

Investigation on the storage possibilities of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhyzobius lophantae</Emphasis> Blaisdell (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) at different temperatures and periods

Storage of natural enemies at low temperatures has an important role in biological control programs. It is an very critical factor that the stored individuals is used without losing their characters such as longevity, survival, fecundity, etc. In this study, the storage possibilities of Rhyzobius lophantae Blaisdell (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) adults under low temperatures (4 °C and 12 °C) for four different periods (10, 20, 30 and 40 days) were investigated. The survival rates and life span of adults (male and female), daily and total egg numbers laid by females stored at 4 °C and 12 °C for 10, 20, 30 and 40 days were determined. The survival rates of adults stored at 4 °C for 10 and 20 days were found to be 94.54% and 58.02% respectively. However, no adults stored at 4 °C for 30 and 40 days were observed to survive. The highest survival rate was 88% for the adults stored at 12 °C for 10 days. The average daily laid egg numbers were 12.51 and 9.37, and total egg numbers were 850.30 and 738.30 of adults stored at 4 °C for 10 and 20 days, respectively. The decrease in daily and total egg numbers of females stored at 12 °C was observed with increasing storage period. There was no significant difference in longevities of male and female stored at 4 °C and 12 °C. These results show that short-term storage at low temperatures does not affect certain properties of the predator when compared to 12 °C and storage periods.     

TEMPO-treated CNF Composites: Pulp and Matrix Effect

This study examined the effects of matrix (PVA and Si) on the properties of TEMPO-treated nanocomposites preparing from different pulp sources (Kraft and NaBH₄ treated Kraft). Chemical characterization and crystallization were determined via FT-IR, thermal stability via TGA and morphological alterations via SEM. UTM and DTMA were used to measure the Young’s and storage moduli. The real and imaginary parts of permittivity and electric modulus were evaluated using an impedance analyzer. After interaction, prominent vibrations and alteration of crystallinity were seen. Storage and Young’s moduli decreased after Si and PVA interaction. The Si-TOCN films showed higher permittivity properties and all of the films followed a similar trend of significantly dropping ε' and ε'' values at high frequency. The PVA-TOCN films had mechanical advantages at room temperature compared to the Si-TOCN films. However, the Si-TOCN films had better thermomechanical properties at high temperatures. NaBH₄ revealed favorable effects on mechanical properties of the films.     

Using UAVs for detection of trees from digital surface models

A difficult problem in forestry is tree inventory.In this study, a GoProHero attached to a small unmanned aerial vehicle was used to capture images of a small area covered by pinus pinea trees. Then, a digital surface model was generated with image matching. The elevation model representing the terrain surface, a ‘digital terrain model’,was extracted from the digital surface model using morphological filtering. Individual trees were extracted by analyzing elevation flow on the digital elevation model because the elevation reached the highest value on the tree peaks compared to the neighborhood elevation pixels. The quality of the results was assessed by comparison with reference data for correctness of the estimated number of trees. The tree heights were calculated and evaluated with ground truth dataset. The results showed 80% correctness and 90% completeness.     

Analyzing dynamic curve widening on forest roads

Forest roads require important design specifications to ensure all-season access for various vehicles. Long and heavy log trucks can face serious maneuvering problems on forest roads due to insufficient amount of area to the left for road widening on horizontal curves. In order to provide safe and continuous shipment and transportation,appropriate curve widening areas should be provided for long vehicles along horizontal curves. In this study, a statistical model was developed to provide curve-widening solutions for long trucks(e.g., those with 18 wheels) considering various curve radius and deflection angles. The dynamic curve widening feature of Plateia 2013 program was employed to calculate curve widening for the specified vehicle. During the solution process, nine different horizontal curve diameters from 10 to 50 m(by 5 m intervals)and 17 different deflection angles from 90° to 170°(by 5°intervals) were evaluated to run horizontal curve-widening analysis. Using a multiple regression model, we made suitable predictions about curve widening. The curvewidening areas decrease as the horizontal curve radius increases, while increasing the deflection angle on horizontal curves increases curve widening areas. Clearly, the computer-based dynamic curve widening model developed in this study can be effectively used in determining optimum widening for horizontal curves by evaluating the number of alternatives that fit geometrical specifications and vehicle types.     

Mineral Nutrient Acquisition by Cotton Cultivars Grown under Salt Stress

Physiological responses were investigated in two cotton cultivars grown at various concentrations of sodium chloride (NaCl) in order to determine the degree of the tolerance of the cultivars to salt stress and understand the physiological responses with respect to utilization of mineral nutrients. After germination of the seeds of cotton cultivars, they were transferred into standard pots with 210 g sterilized compost and watered with 30 ml Hoagland’s solution containing different concentrations (0, 50, 100, 200, and 400 mM) of NaCl at two-day intervals for 3 months. Growth parameters were measured and the mineral nutrient analyses were done using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltman, MA). It was observed that plant growth and mineral nutritional status of both cultivars were altered extensively in those grown with NaCl. Excess NaCl reduces the concentrations of certain mineral nutrients and increases that of others, the patterns depending on the mineral nutrient and the plant part and varieties being compared to the control.     

A new application method of chitosan for improved antimicrobial activity on wool fabrics pretreated by different ways

Antimicrobial treatments have become more important for the textile materials especially used in sportswear, activewear, and casual wear since they can easily be contaminated by perspiration leading to bacterial growth and body odor. In this work, antimicrobial activity of chitosan in a silica matrix on pretreated wool fabrics was studied. The pretreatment processes were applied by two different ways (enzymatic and enzymatic+hydrogen peroxide). Afterwards chitosan solutions were applied to the untreated samples and to the samples that were pretreated by two different ways to give antimicrobial effects. The antimicrobial activity of wool fabrics treated in various methods was assessed before and after repeated washings (up to 10 cycles) by the application of standard test method AATCC 147-1998. The morphology of the treated fabrics was investigated by SEM and their characterizations were made by the FT-IR spectral analysis. Results revealed that pretreatment ways and chitosan application methods were quite important for adsorption and diffusion of chitosan on wool fabrics and washing stability. From the SEM images, it was clearly observed that pretreatment processes caused some degradation on the surface of the fiber; but combined processes were found to be less degradative and more effective.