Antimicrobial activity of some mosses from Turkey

The antimicrobial activity of the methanol extracts of eight mosses species were evaluated at 30 mg/ml concentration against the tested microorganisms.     

Some biological interactions between the parasitoid <Emphasis Type="Italic">Anagyrus pseudococci</Emphasis> (Girault) (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) and its host <Emphasis Type="Italic">Planococcus ficus</Emphasis> (Signoret) (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Pseudococcidae)

The development, longevity, fecundity and life-table parameters of the endoparasitoid Anagyrus pseudococci (Girault) (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), 15 d.o. (3rd-instar nymphs) and 21 d.o. (young adult females) of the vine mealybug, Planococcus ficus (Signoret) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) at 28 ± 1°C, 65 ± 10%RH and 16:8h L:D under laboratory conditions. The developmental time of female parasitoids within the host was 17.7 ± 0.39 days in 15 d.o. and 16.65 ± 0.25 days in 21 d.o. hosts; for males, development time was 16.85 ± 0.29 and 15.25 ± 0.09 days, respectively. The average number of offspring per female was 22.35 ± 1.68 in 15 d.o. and 34.8 ± 2.56 in 21 d.o. vine mealybugs. The longevity of female parasitoids was 14.8 ± 0.98 days in 15 d.o. and 15.65 ± 0.92 days in 21 d.o. mealybugs, respectively; for males, longevity was determined as 7.3 ± 0.43 and 6.7 ± 0.54 days, respectively. The mean time of pupation was 7.85 ± 0.003 days in 15 d.o. mealybugs and 8.65 ± 0.003 days in 21 d.o. mealybugs. The aggregate encapsulation rate in the parasitized 15 d.o. mealybugs was 49.73 and 60.36% in 21 d.o. mealybugs. Furthermore, effective encapsulation was 24.82% in 15 d.o. mealybugs and 37.50% in 21 d.o. mealybugs. Population growth rate (r _m) for A. pseudococci was 0.0999 female/female/days in 15 d.o. mealybugs and 0.1269 female/female/days in 21 d.o. mealybugs. The mean population generation time was 23.49 days for parasitoids reared in 15-days-old and 22.39 days when reared in 21 d.o. mealybugs.     

Studies on the parasitoid complex of Choristoneura murinana (Hbn.) (Lep.: Tortricidae) in Turkey

The parasitoid complex of Choristoneura murinana (Hbn.), a pest of Abies cilicica Carr., was studied in Isparta, Turkey. Shoots and needles of A. cilicica with C. murinana larvae and pupae were collected and examined under laboratory conditions in 2002 and 2003. As a result of this study, 14 parasitoid species of C. murinana were determined: Apanteles obscurus Nees. (Hym.: Braconidae), Brachymeria intermedia Nees (Hym.: Chalcididae), Mesopolobus mediterraneus Mayr, Mesopolobus dubius Walker, Pteromalus chrysos Walker, Pteromalus sp. (Hym.: Pteromalidae), Monodontomerus aereus Walker (Hym.: Torymidae), Itoplectis maculator (Fabricius), Apophua bipunctoria Thunberg, Triclistus globulipes Desvignes, Dirophanes maculicornis Stephens, Hyposoter sp., Dusona sp. (Hym.: Ichneumonidae) and Aprostocetus sp. (Hym.: Eulophidae). In the studied parasitoid complex, A. obscurus, B. intermedia and I. maculator were the most important in reducing pest numbers. The level of total parasitism of the C. murinana was 19.4% in 2002 and 22.3% in 2003.     

Seasonal population trends of<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Liriomyza huidobrensis</Emphasis> (Blanchard, 1926) (Diptera: Agromyzidae) on cucumber (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cucumis sativus</Emphasis> L.) in Western Turkey

Liriomyza huidobrensis (Blanchard) (Diptera: Agromyzidae) is an important pest in cucumber greenhouses in Izmir, Western Turkey. This study was carried out during the spring and autumn seasons of 1999 and 2000 in two adjacent cucumber greenhouses, each 1,000 m² in size. Population densities of adult L. huidobrensis in insecticide-treated and non-treated greenhouses were compared by using yellow sticky traps. Ten traps were placed in the non-treated greenhouse and ten traps in the insecticide-treated greenhouse. Yellow sticky traps were changed weekly and the number of flies counted in order to compare the two greenhouses. In addition to monitoring the leaf miner population, in each greenhouse 100 plants were checked and the ratio of infested plants, the ratio of infested leaves per plant and the number of mines per leaf were recorded weekly. The population density of the leaf miner was almost the same in both insecticide-treated and non-treated greenhouses. Thus, it was concluded that using yellow sticky traps will be healthier and more cost effective than using pesticides. Furthermore using pesticides is risky for the environment and the use of yellow sticky traps can easily reduce the number of pesticide applications. If yellow sticky traps are used in the greenhouse in a completely isolated environment and the appropriate insecticide is used when it is necessary, this will provide successful and integrated management against L. huidobrensis.     

Growth responses of six seed sources of Pinus brutia Ten. (Turkish red pine) to herbaceous weed competition

Herbaceous weeds present amajor obstacle to foresters in the earlyestablishment and growth of Turkish red pine (Pinus brutia Ten.), an important coniferof the semi-arid Mediterranean region. Greatgenetic variability of this pine species indrought resistance has already beenwell-studied. The existence of such variationwithin this species in relation to herbaceousweed competition is unknown. This studyinvestigated the effect of herbaceous weedcompetition on the growth of the seedlings ofTurkish red pine seed sources with differentmoisture regimes in their native sites, usingthe rapid screening technique. Two-month-oldTurkish red pine seedlings were grown inindividual pots in a glasshouse either with orwithout joint goose goat grass (Aegilopscylindrica L.). After two simulatedgrowing seasons, grass competitionsignificantly and progressively reduced pinegrowth. Although mean total pine biomass wasreduced by 71% due to weed competition,seedlings of different pine seed sourcesdisplayed significant differences in growthresponses to the weed treatments: dry site seedsource seedlings generally exhibitedsignificantly greater growth than moist siteseed source seedlings under weed competition. These results suggest that competition fromherbaceous weeds is an important factor inreducing the early growth of Turkish red pineseedlings, and that selection ofcompetition-tolerant seed sources can result insubstantial enhancement of the competitivestatus of this pine species against itsherbaceous competitors in early years.     

美洲黑杨S307-26和PE-19-66引种造林试验

杨树是山东省平原绿化和营造速生丰产林的主要树种,为了丰富杨树品种资源,于1986和1987年分别从土耳其、意大利和中国林业科学研究院共引进欧美杨和美洲黑杨新无性系16个,利用生产上已经推广应用的I 69/55(Populusdeltoidescv'Lux')和中林28(P.×euramericanacv'Zhonglin28')为对照,先后分别在山东省济南、高唐和莒县等地进行苗期生长和造林对比试验。经过12a试验,选出从土耳其引进的S307 26(Populusdeltoides'S307 26')和PE 19 66(Populusdeltoides'PE 19 66')美洲黑杨新无性系2个。试验结果表明:S307 26和PE 19 66生长表现突出,在鲁中南河滩地上5年生平均单株材积分别为0 1769m3和0 1546m3,超过对照I 69/55杨44 4%和26 2%,方差分析和多重比较表明,这2个无性系与对照差异均达极显著或显著水平。同时这2个无性系均具有易繁殖、抗病虫、抗逆性(干旱、寒冷和风折)强、生长周期长等优良特性,木材纤维较对照I 69/55长,可用于营造纸浆林,木材的力学性质也较I 69/55好,并且生长表现稳定,可在山东各杨树栽培区推广应用。     

Analysis of information systems and communication networks for organic and conventional hazelnut producers in the Samsun province of Turkey

This research presents an analysis of the agricultural information systems and communication networks for organic and conventional hazelnut producers in the Samsun province of Turkey. Structured interviews were used to collect data from 64 randomly selected conventional and all 39 organic hazelnut producers living in the study area. Information systems for organic and conventional producers were found to be different. Organic producers benefited from more information sources than conventional producers. In addition, the contract farming approach to organic agriculture had initially isolated organic producers from conventional producers. Furthermore, dissatisfaction from the organic marketing company and its organic production project resulted in further separation among organic producers and led some of them to establish their own union. The lack of access to information and support from the organic project-related sources, professional institutions and mass media sources was evident. This resulted in the development of social sources to exchange information among the producers within their villages. However, this information is mainly based on traditional practices rather than scientific applications. Thus, more functional cooperation and professional communication between personal and institutional information sources are needed to enhance the diffusion of information and technology among farmers.     

Medicinal plants popularly used in the villages of Yunt Mountain(Manisa-Turkey)

A survey carried out during the years 2001-2002 revealed that people who lived in the villages of Yunt Mountain use large number of plants for medicinal purposes. Fifty-four medicinal plants belonging to 32 family were recorded. Among them 41 species were wild and 13 species were cultivated plants.     

Agricultural and environmental changes after irrigation management transfer in the Develi Basin,Turkey

Develi Basin is a semi-arid basin in central Turkey where water sustains both irrigated agriculture and an internationally important wetland, the Sultan Marshes. Agricultural and environmental changes in the Develi Basin have occurred since irrigation management was transferred in 1994 from a state authority (DSI) to irrigation associations (Kovalı and Ağcaaşar IAs). In this paper we evaluate the practices of the IAs using extensive data from interviews with farmers and IA officials, as well as data from reports prepared by DSI and the IAs, using comparisons with case studies reported in the scientific literature. Irrigated areas and surface water use in the Develi Basin showed significant fluctuations from 1995 to 2003. The area allocated to high water-consuming plants increased. Maintenance activities became dependent on fee collection rates. Quality of the irrigation water did not changed significantly. Ground-water levels, flow rates from springs, and water levels in the Sultan Marshes all dropped. Overall analyses indicate that the water requirements of the Sultan Marshes have not been met, while water use for irrigation has been effective but not efficient. To reconcile agricultural and wetland water requirements, a basin-wide approach in water planning is recommended. Amounts of water to be allocated to the IAs and wetlands need to be clearly defined. DSI has to monitor canal maintenance by the IAs more closely, and IAs need to be given more responsibilities for future rehabilitation of the canals. Realistic water pricing, increased reliability of irrigation scheduling, higher on-farm irrigation efficiency, and in the long-term, modernization of the irrigation system need to be considered.     

Evaluating land use/land cover changes and fragmentation in the Camili forest planning unit of northeastern Turkey from 1972 to 2005

Changes in land use/land cover have important consequences on the management of natural resources including soil and water quality, global climatic systems and biodiversity. This study analysed the spatial and temporal pattern of land use/land cover change in the Camili forest planning unit that includes the Camili Biosphere Reserve Area within the Caucasian hotspot, in the northeast corner of Turkey. To assess the patterns during a 33‐year period, the necessary data were obtained from forest stand maps and evaluated with Geographic Information Systems and FRAGSTATS. Results showed that the total forested areas increased from 19 946·5 ha (78·6% of the study area) in 1972 to 20 797·3 ha (81·9 per cent) in 2005 with a slight net increase of 851 ha. Softwood cover types (411·8 ha) completely transitioned to other cover types over 33‐year period. In terms of spatial configuration, the total number of forest fragments increased from 172 to 608, and mean size of forest patch (MPS) decreased from 147·7 ha to 41·8 ha during the period. Nearly 84 per cent of the patches in 1972 and 93 per cent of them in 2005 generally seem to concentrate into 0–100 ha patch size class, indicating more fragmented landscape over time that might create a risk for the maintenance of biodiversity of the area. There were apparent trends in the temporal structure of forest landscape, some of which may issue from mismanagement of the area, social conflict, and illegal utilization of forest resources due to ineffective forest protection measurements. The study revealed that it is important to understand both spatial and temporal changes of land use/land cover and their effects on landscape pattern to disclose the implications for land use planning and management. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.