Effect of Harvest Timing on Yield and Mineral Nutritional Value of Kabuli Type Chickpea Seeds

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) seeds are a good source of protein and mineral nutrients. However, there is no information regarding harvest timing on yield and mineral composition of chickpea seeds. The effect of harvest timing on seed yield, some yield components and mineral nutritional value of seeds of field grown chickpea plants in two different sites were studied. The mineral composition of chickpea straw depending on harvest timing was also evaluated in order to explain the variations of seed mineral concentrations in sink-source relationship manner. Yield and mineral nutritional value of chickpea were significantly affected by harvest timing. When compared to the seed yield at optimal harvest time, seed yield was 18% and 9% lower in the early harvest and 27% and 31% in the late harvest in Site 1 and Site 2, respectively. Late harvest of chickpea crops resulted in significant pod dropping and shattering. Generally, protein, phosphorus (P), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and manganese (Mn) concentrations of the seeds in optimal harvest were found to be greater than in early and late harvested plants. Harvest timing also results in significant variations in straw mineral nutrient concentrations of the plants. As the results of this study, it was concluded that the harvest timing is critical for yield losses and mineral nutritional value of chickpea seeds.     

Critical nutrient concentrations and antagonistic and synergistic relationships among the nutrients of NFT‐grown young tomato plants

Critical concentrations of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), and manganese (Mn) with respect to dry matter yield end antagonistic and synergistic relationships among these nutrients were studied in which tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) was grown in recirculating nutrient solution (NFT). Increments of nutrient elements in the nutrient solution increased the proportional rate of the corresponding nutrient elements. Increasing levels of N negatively correlated with plant P and positively correlated with Ca, Fe, and Zn. Iron and Mn contents of the plants were increased and N, K, Ca, and Mg were decreased as a function of P applied. Increases in K in the nutrient solution caused increases in the concentrations of K, N, P, and Zn, and decreases in the concentration of Ca and Fe. Applied Ca increased the concentrations of Ca and N, and decreased the concentrations of P, Mg, Fe, Zn, and Mn. Potassium, Ca, and Fe contents of the plants were decreased and Zn increased, while N, P, and Mn were not affected by the increasing levels of external Mg. Iron suppressed the plant Mg, Zn, and Mn contents. Synergism between Zn and Fe was seen, while P, K, Ca, Mg, and Mn contents were not affected by Zn levels. Potassium, Ca, Mg, and Fe were not responsive to applied Mn, however, N and P contents of the plants were decreased at the highest levels of Mn.     

Effects of continuous supplementations of ascorbic acid, aspirin, vitamin E and selenium on some haematological parameters and serum superoxide dismutase level in broiler chickens

1. This study was conducted using male broiler chickens to determine the effects of ascorbic acid, aspirin, ascorbic acid+aspirin, vitamin E+selenium and ascorbic acid+aspirin+vitamin E+selenium supplementations on haematological parameters and serum superoxide dismutase concentration. 2. One hundred and twenty day-old male Hubbunt broiler chicks were randomly divided into 6 experimental groups of 20 chicks each and placed in different pens. Groups 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 were given a diet supplemented with ascorbic acid, aspirin (in water), ascorbic acid+aspirin, vitamin E+selenium and ascorbic acid+aspirin+vitamin E+selenium, respectively for 45 d while group 1 was given a commercial broiler diet. 3. There was no significant effect of ascorbic acid, aspirin, ascorbic acid+aspirin, vitamin E+selenium supplementations on any of the haematological parameters (red blood cell, haemoglobin, haematocrit, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration, mean corpuscular haemoglobin) in broilers but ascorbic acid+aspirin+vitamin E+selenium supplementation significantly decreased the white blood cell counts. 4. In addition to this, ascorbic acid, aspirin, ascorbic acid+aspirin and ascorbic acid+aspirin+vitamin E+selenium supplementations had no significant effect on the serum superoxide dismutase level, but vitamin E+selenium supplementation increased the serum superoxide dismutase level.     

Antioxidant and stomatal responses of grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) to boron toxicity

Although of considerable agronomic importance, our understanding of B toxicity mechanism in plants is still not completely understood, and remains an open question. Therefore, we investigated the effect of increasing levels of B (0, 10, 20 and 30 mg kg⁻¹) on the growth, boron (B) concentrations, stomatal resistance, lipid peroxidation (MDA), membrane permeability (MP), lypoxygenase activity (LOX), proline (PRO) and H₂O₂ accumulation, and the activities of major antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, SOD; catalase, CAT and ascorbate peroxidase, APX) of grapevine (Vitis vinifera L. cv. Kalecik Karasi) grafted on 5BB rootstock (V. berlandieri × V. riparia) was investigated. Applied toxic levels of B significantly reduced leaf and root growth and increased the B concentration of the leaf, and stem, bark and root of rootstock. In the all B levels leaf tissues of grapevine accumulated more B than that of the other plant parts. In order to restrict excessive uptake of B, stomatal resistance of the leaves increased especially at high B treatments (20 and 30 mg kg⁻¹). The concentrations of H₂O₂, MDA and membrane permeability were increased as the result of B toxicity while proline and the activity of lypoxygenase were decreased. Compared with control plants, the activities of SOD and CAT were increased by B treatments while the activity of APX was decreased. To our knowledge, this is the first report that B toxicity elevated the antioxidant enzymes to protect the membrane functions from reactive oxygen species (ROS) injury in grapevine and it was hoped that this study would provide a basis for developing strategies for reducing the risks associated with B toxicity.     

Variation in crushing strength and some related properties of a red pine

Summary Below-crown radial and height variations in maximum crushing strength parallel to grain, relative density and tracheid length of an immature, 55 year old, red pine were studied. All properties showed pronounced trends with radial age and increased from pith to bark. A radial age of 16 years was estimated as the age from which mature stem wood is formed. All properties studied varied with height above ground. Strong correlations were observed among properties. The study tree exhibited noticeably lower average crushing strength than is reported in the literature for wood from mature red pines.This work was undertaken with financial support from Karadeniz Technical University, Trabzon, Turkey, and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, Operating Grant 0GP0004417     

Variation in juvenile traits of natural black poplar (Populus nigra L.) clones in Turkey

Natural black poplar (Populus nigra L.) clones sampled from river courses were tested in the arid southeast region of Turkey, using a randomized complete block field design with four replications. Clones were laid out in row plots of eight ramets each. Height and apical dominance were assessed at age one year; diameter, survival, bole straightness and branchiness were measured at age two years. Clones differed significantly in survival, growth and quality traits. The results showed that promising clones exist in natural populations. Two commercial clones out of four did not grow as fast as the top new selection clones. For bole straightness, three commercial clones had significantly lower grading scores than the top best 14 clones. Principal components analysis indicated that growth, apical dominance and branching are the most important traits distinguishing black poplar clones. Diameter had a moderate correlation (0.34) with bole straightness. Relationships between geographic variables (elevation, latitude and longitude) with growth and stem quality traits were weak. Considerable genetic variation was observed among clones for all the traits. Genetic differences among the clones accounted for 27% (survival, bole straightness) to 39% (height) of the total variance. Broad-sense individual heritability ranged from 0.27 (survival) to 0.37 (apical dominance). Clonal mean heritabilities were higher than individual heritabilities and ranged from 0.60 (survival) to 0.82 (diameter), implying considerable gain could be realized via selective improvement methods.     

The effects of utilization of hazelnut oil,sunflower oil and their products on performance and fatty acid composition of yolk in layer hens

This research has been performed to determine the effects of hazelnut crude oil, sunflower crude oil and its refinery by-products over the laying hens performance and the fatty acid composition of the egg’s yolk. Four hundreds 36-week-old Nick Brown layer hens were allocated into five groups. Treatment groups were supplemented with 1.5% of sunflower crude oil, hazelnut crude oil, acidulated sunflower soapstock, acidulated hazelnut soapstock and acidulated hazelnut crude oil. The daily feed consumption for groups that were fed with crude oils were numerically improved as compared for those nourished with acidulated soapstocks. Although the percentages of cracked and broken eggs in acidulated hazelnut soapstock group was significantly higher than the other groups, daily feed consumption and egg production values were not different. The usage of acidulated hazelnut soapstock reduced the percentage of intact egg ratio. Egg’s specific gravity and yolk color index were the highest level throughout the experiment from start to end in hazelnut crude oil group (p < 0.05). In group that was nourished by hazelnut oil, Omega 3/Omega-6 fatty acid ratios in egg yolk were higher than the groups that were fed with sunflower oil. The oleic acid content of the egg yolk was increased in the groups which were supplemented with hazelnut crude oil and acidulated hazelnut crude oil. Consequently, hazelnut crude oil and acidulated hazelnut crude oil improved the egg shell quality, yolk color index and yolk oleic acid value which would increase egg’s shelf life. On the other hand acidulated hazelnut soapstock supplementation adversely affects the quality of egg shell.     

Effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae extract on haematological parameters, immune function and the antioxidant defence system in breeder hens fed aflatoxin contaminated diets

1. The study was conducted to investigate the efficacy of Saccharomyces cerevisiae extract (SC) on haematological parameters, immune function, and the antioxidant defence system in breeder hens fed a diet contaminated with low level aflatoxin (AF).

2. Forty-eight Ross 308 breeder hens were fed on diets containing AF (0 or 100?µg/kg) and SC (0 or 1?g/kg) in a 2?×?2 factorial arrangement. Red blood cell (RBC), white blood cell (WBC), and platelet counts, differential leucocyte counts, blood CD3⁺, CD4⁺, CD8⁺ and CD5⁺ T cell ratios, phagocytic activity and oxidative burst of heterophils, plasma and liver catalase activity, and malondialdehyde (MDA) and ascorbic acid concentrations were measured.

3. Plasma and liver MDA concentrations increased (P?P?P?=?0·082) in hens fed the contaminated diet. WBC count, monocyte percentage, phagocytic activity and oxidative burst of heterophils increased (P?P?=?0.088) in SC extract supplemented hens. There was a significant interaction between AF and SC on heterophil, lymphocyte, CD5⁺ cell percentages, and plasma catalase activity. Blood heterophil percentage decreased but lymphocyte percentage increased in hens fed on the AF contaminated diet without SC supplementation. SC supplementation counteracted the negative effect of AF on heterophils and lymphocytes. The CD5⁺ cell percentage decreased in unsupplemented hens fed the AF contaminated diet and this negative effect was minimised in SC supplemented hens. Plasma catalase activity increased in SC supplemented hens fed the uncontaminated diet whereas the effect of SC decreased in hens fed the AF contaminated diet.

4. The SC reduced some of the some adverse effects of AF, and improved functions of the non-specific immune system. Therefore, the SC extract which has been used for improving productive performance in birds and mammals may also be useful for modulating some of the effects of a low level, chronic dosage of AF.     

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.