The Chemical and Sensory Quality of Smoked Sturgeon (Huso huso): A Case Study

In this study, the tail flesh of sturgeon acquired from the fish market in Be?ikta?-Istanbul, Turkey was put through hot smoking. The chemical composition of raw and smoked sturgeon was determined. The protein, lipid, ash, and moisture of the muscle tissue in raw and smoked sturgeon were found to be 17.63 to 17.49, 6.07 to 9.59, 0.79 to 2.71, and 75.42 to 68.40%, respectively. Both the raw fish and the smoked fish meat were categorized to possess high quality characteristics with pH, total volatile base nitrogen (TVB-N), and trimethylamine nitrogen (TMA-N) values. After smoking, the skin color lightness (L*) of raw fish was determined to decrease, while the flesh color lightness of raw fish was determined to increase. The redness (a*) and the yellowness (b*) of both the skin and the flesh were determined to increase. Sensory parameters of color, smoke aroma, flavor, texture, chewiness, and overall acceptance for smoked sturgeon was described as excellent and its flesh tasty.     

Cesium Concentration Spatial Distribution Modeling by Point Cumulative Semivariogram

The theoretical basis of the proposed technique is the cumulative variation of ¹³⁷Cs measurements’ squared-differences between a reference and other sites. The change of the cumulative squared-differences with distance from the reference site is referred to as the point cumulative semivariogram (PCSV), which provides appropriate measure of cumulative similarity. Inspection of individual experimental PCSV provides local interpretation about the ¹³⁷Cs radioactivity concentration around each site, whereas collective inspections provide possibility for grouping similar sites and hence identifying homogeneous sub-areas within the study area. It is also possible to prepare ¹³⁷Cs radioactivity concentration maps based on pre-specified distances in each experimental PCSV, which lead to similarity levels. Such maps provide appreciation of ¹³⁷Cs radioactivity concentration regional dependence in Keban Dam Lake, Turkey. Apart from the individual PCSV interpretations, the whole lake is divided into four distinctive classes.     

SNP allele frequency estimation in pooled DNA of Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande, 1895) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) by next-generation sequencing

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - Next-generation sequencing combined with bioinformatic analysis has become an instrumental tool for quick and reliable SNP discovery in genomes. Here, we...     

Dietary supplementation with Mannanoligosaccharides (MOS) from Bio‐Mos enhances growth parameters and digestive capacity of gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata)

Dietary mannanoligosaccharide (MOS) from commercial product, Bio‐Mos supplementation, has been examined for its effects on weight gain and feed conversion of domestic mammals and birds, but very few studies have evaluated the responses of aquacultural species to MOS. A feeding and digestibility trial was performed to asses the potential beneficial effect of two levels of Bio‐Mos on growth, feed utilization, survival rate and nutrients’ digestion of gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) with an initial average weight of 170 g. Bio‐Mos was added at 2 or 4 g kg^?1 to a fish meal–based control diet, and each diet was fed to triplicate groups of 1‐year‐old gilthead sea bream. After 12 weeks, there were no differences in survival rate among fish fed experimental diets (P > 0.05). It was observed that a significant improvability existed for both growth and feed utilization in fish fed diets supplemented with Bio‐Mos (P < 0.05). Body proximate composition remained unaffected by Bio‐Mos supplementation in fish fed experimental diets (P > 0.05). Apparent digestibility values for protein, carbohydrate and energy were appreciably affected by the inclusion of two different levels of Bio‐Mos, only lipid digestibility was the exception. In conclusion, the results of this trial indicate that 2 g kg^?1 dietary supplementation with BIO‐MOS seem to be most positive for gilthead sea bream production.     

Replacement of fishmeal with rice protein concentrate in practical diets for European sea bass Dicentrarchus labrax reared at winter temperatures

As no information is available regarding the efficacy of using rice protein concentrate (RPC) to replace fishmeal (FM) in diets for European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax), a trial was conducted to determine the optimum inclusion for European sea bass juveniles. Diets were formulated to replace 25%, 50% and 75% of fishmeal with RPC. Additional high level inclusion diets (50% and 75%) were supplemented with lysine and methionine to determine if these were limiting factors. Fish (18.0 ± 0.06 g) were fed the experimental diets for 12 weeks. The final mean weight and specific growth rate (SGR) were significantly higher in fish fed the control diet (diet FM) and low level RPC (diet RPC25) than in fish fed the other diets. The supplementation of the amino acids had a positive effect on growth, elevating the final weight of the high level RPC (RPC75 + AA) group above that of the non‐supplemented group (RPC75). However, this was still not comparable to fish fed FM and RPC25 diets. No significant differences in body composition were observed. A digestibility study demonstrated an inverse relationship between elevating inclusion levels of RPC and apparent digestibility coefficients (ADCs) for dry matter and lipid, with significantly lower values than the control being observed with RPC inclusions above 25%. The mesenteric fat index followed this trend. Circulating leucocyte levels, leucocyte ratios and serum lysozyme activity remained unaffected by dietary treatment. However, compared with the control group, fish fed RPC75, RPC50 + AA RPC75 + AA displayed significantly lower haematocrit values. The present study demonstrates that the inclusion of RPC at 140 g kg^?1 (effectively replacing 25% of FM content) does not compromise European sea bass growth performance, body quality or basic haematological parameters. It is suggested that future studies including higher levels test the efficacy of additional amino acid supplementation (e.g. tryptophan).     

Effect of plant growth-promoting bacteria and soil compaction on barley seedling growth, nutrient uptake, soil properties and rhizosphere microflora

Inoculants are of great importance in sustainable and/or organic agriculture. In the present study, plant growth of barley (Hordeum vulgare) has been studied in sterile soil inoculated with four plant growth-promoting bacteria and mineral fertilizers at three different soil bulk densities and in three harvests of plants. Three bacterial species were isolated from the rhizosphere of barley and wheat. These bacteria fixed N₂, dissolved P and significantly increased growth of barley seedlings. Available phosphate in soil was significantly increased by seed inoculation of Bacillus M-13 and Bacillus RC01. Total culturable bacteria, fungi and P-solubilizing bacteria count increased with time. Data suggest that seed inoculation of barley with Bacillus RC01, Bacillus RC02, Bacillus RC03 and Bacillus M-13 increased root weight by 16.7, 12.5, 8.9 and 12.5% as compared to the control (without bacteria inoculation and mineral fertilizers) and shoot weight by 34.7, 34.7, 28.6 and 32.7%, respectively. Bacterial inoculation gave increases of 20.3–25.7% over the control as compared with 18.9 and 35.1% total biomass weight increases by P and NP application. The concentration of N and P in soil was decreased by increasing soil compaction. In contrast to macronutrients, the concentration of Fe, Cu and Mn was lower in plants grown in the loosest soil. Soil compaction induced a limitation in root and shoot growth that was reflected by a decrease in the microbial population and activity. Our results show that bacterial population was stimulated by the decrease in soil bulk density. The results suggest that the N₂-fixing and P-solubilizing bacterial strains tested have a potential on plant growth activity of barley.     

Proximate,Mineral Composition,Color Properties of Organic and Conventional Grown Hazelnuts (Corylus avellana L.)

In this research, proximate composition, mineral composition and color characteristics of hazelnuts grown by conventional and organic methods in East, Central and West Black Sea Regions (Turkey) that are the center of world hazelnut production were investigated. Commercially important ‘Çak?ldak’, ‘Fo?a’, ‘Mincane’, ‘Palaz’, ‘Sivri’ and ‘Tombul’ varieties were selected as research material. As a result of the analysis, it was determined that organic hazelnuts contain lower moisture and higher ash, no difference was found in protein, fat and carbohydrate amounts. In terms of all micro elements (boron, copper, iron, manganese, zinc) organic hazelnuts were found to be richer and potassium from macro elements were found to be higher in conventionally grown hazelnuts. Color properties were generally not affected by the production method and no loss of color was observed in organic hazelnuts. The high ash and micro element content of organic hazelnuts compared to the conventional hazelnuts would be a good alternative for the elimination of micro element deficiency, which is frequently seen in human nutrition.

     

Comparison of the Salt Stress Tolerance of Promising Turkish Winter Squash (Cucurbita maxima Duch.) and Pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata Duch.) Lines and Interspecific Hybrids

The objective of this study was to evaluate several selected Cucurbita genotypes for their salt resistance in a rootstock breeding program for grafted watermelon seedling production. Specifically, changes in the relative water content (RWC), leaf area (LA), total chlorophyll content (TCC) and proline concentration (PC) of a commercial cultivar (G32 code), two promising winter squash (G12 and G13 of Cucurbita maxima Duch.) lines, six pumpkin (G3, G27, G28, G29, G30 and G31 of Cucurbita moschata Duch.) lines, and four C. maxima?×?C. mochata hybrids (G14, G15, G40 and G42), were investigated with a control treatment and four levels of salt stress (4, 8, 12 and 16?dS/m). In this study, Cucurbita cultivars which showed significant differences according to RWC, LA, TCC and PC at least significant difference (LSD) tests (P?<?0.05) and had salinity sensitivity index (SSI) value lower than 20%, were assessed as salt tolerant genotypes. The salt tolerant genotypes were grouped with principal component analysis (PCA) in each salt level. At the end of the study, all genotypes for all characteristics were generally tolerant at 4?dS/m salinity level. The G3, G12, G13, G14, G29 and G42 genotypes were resistant at 8?dS/m salinity, while the G15, G31, G32 and G40 were the most resistant genotypes at 12 and 16?dS/m. In conclusion, the selection of more salt resistant cultivars in rootstock breeding programs should be a priority to maintain growth performance in saline environments.

     

Nonlinear Varying-Coefficient Models with Applications to a Photosynthesis Study

Motivated by a study on factors affecting the level of photosynthetic activity in a natural ecosystem, we propose nonlinear varying-coefficient models, in which the relationship between the predictors and the response variable is allowed to be nonlinear. One-step local linear estimators are developed for the nonlinear varying-coefficient models and their asymptotic normality is established leading to point-wise asymptotic confidence bands for the coefficient functions. Two-step local linear estimators are also proposed for cases where the varying-coefficient functions admit different degrees of smoothness; bootstrap confidence intervals are utilized for inference based on the two-step estimators. We further propose a generalized F-test to study whether the coefficient functions vary over a covariate. We illustrate the proposed methodology via an application to an ecology data set and study the finite sample performance by Monte Carlo simulation studies.     

Wirksamkeit des ParasitoidenEretmocerus debachi Rose und Rosen (Hym., Aphelinidae) gegenüber der Weißen FliegeParabemisia myricae (Kuwana) (Hom., Aleyrodidae)

Zusammenfassung Die Weiße Fliege,Parabemisia myricae (Kuwana) (Hom.: Aleyrodidae), stellt seit ihrer Verschleppung in die Zitrusanbaugebiete an der Südost-Mittelmeerküste der Türkei im Jahre 1982 eines der größten Probleme im dortigen Zitrusanbau dar. Zu ihrer biologischen Bekämpfung wurde im Jahre 1986 der spezifische Parasitoid,Eretmocerus debachi Rose und Rosen (Hym.: Aphelinidae) aus Kalifornien in die Türkei eingeführt. Der Parasitoid konnte sich nach Massenfreilassungen im gesamten Gebiet sehr gut einbürgern. In der vorliegenden Untersuchung wurde die Wirksamkeit vonE. debachi gegenüberP. myricae in zweijährigen Versuchen in natürlich befallenen Zitrusanlagen und auf künstlich infizierten und exponierten Zitrusjungpflanzen erfaßt.Innerhalb von zwei Wochen konnten auf den exponierten Zitrusjungpflanzen die ersten Parasitoiden festgestellt werden, wobei bis zu 10% derP. myricae-Nymphen und Puparien durchE. debachi parasitiert waren. In beiden Versuchsjahren und an allen 4 Standorten baute sich im weiteren Verlauf der Vegetation keine weitere Weiße-Fliegen-Population auf den Zitrusjungpflanzen auf. Die Populationsdichte vonP. myricae war auf den natürlichen befallenen Zitrusbäumen sehr viel geringer als auf den exponierten und künstlich infizierten Pflanzen. Dennoch traten mit den erstenP. myricae auch sofort durchE. debachi parasitierte Individuen auf. Die Parasitierungsrate erreichte teilweise 100%, so daß die Schädlingspopulation sehr schnell im weiteren Vegetationsverlauf abnahm und es zu keiner erneuten Gradation kam. Selbst auf sehr geringe Dichteerhöhungen derP. myricae-Population reagierte der Parasitoid mit einer erhöhten Parasitierung. Die Untersuchungen zeigten deutlich, daßE. debachi in der Lage ist, sowohl sehr hohe als auch sehr niedrige Populationen der Weißen Fliege in hohem Maße zu parasitieren und dadurch den Schädling erfolgreich zu bekämpfen.

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Efficiency ofEretmocerus debachi Rose and Rosen (Hym., Aphelinidae) in controlling the whiteflyParabemisia myricae (Kuwana) (Hom., Aleyrodidae)

The whitefly,Parabemisia myricae (Kuwana) (Hym.: Aleyrodidae) is a most serious problem in citrus since it was accidentally introduced into the Southeast Mediterranean region of Turkey in 1982. To control this pest biologically, the specific parasitoid,Eretmocerus debachi Rose and Rosen (Hym.: Aphelinidae), was imported from California to Turkey in 1986. The parasitoid settled very well after being mass released in the entire citrus growing area. In the present study the efficiencyE. debachi in controllingP. myricae was determined in naturally infested citrus orchards and on potted, artificially infested and exposed citrus seedlings over two years.Within two weeks, the first parasitods were determined on the exposed citrus seedlings at which 10% of theP. myricae-nymphal and-puparial stages were parasitized. In both years and at all four experimental sites no further population increase of the whitefly was observed on the citrus seedling over the entire vegetation period. TheP. myricae-densities were much lower on the naturally infested trees than they were on the exposed and artificially infested citrus seedlings. Nevertheless, the firstE. debachi were observed with the occurrence of the firstP. myricae. The parasitization rate reached sometimes up to 100%, so that the pest population decreased significantly in the following month to almost zero level. Even to smallest population increases ofP. myricae, the parasitoid reacted with increasing parasitization. The experiments proved, thatE. debachi was capable to parasitize high and low population densities of the whitefly completely and in consequence successfully controlled the pest.

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