Identification of Resistance to Common Bacterial Blight Disease on Bean Genotypes Grown in Turkey

Common bacterial blight (CBB) in edible beans (Phaseolus vulgaris), incited Xanthomonas campestris pv. phaseoli, reduces bean yields and seed quality. The main objective of this study was to determine resistance to common bacterial blight in bean genotypes. Twenty-two bean genotypes grown in Turkey including common and snap bean cultivars/lines were collected from different parts of Turkey and tested for resistance against to Xanthomonas campestris pv. phaseoli strain MFD-11. All the common and snap bean lines/cultivars tested were moderately susceptible, susceptible or highly susceptible, except AG-7117 which was found resistant to Xanthomonas campestris pv. phaseoli. This is the first report of a resistance source in a common bean line (AG-7117) against Xanthomonas campestris pv. phaseoli.     

Determination of vc and mating types of Cryphonectria parasitica isolates by multiplex PCR and their genetic diversity in 13 chestnut-growing provinces of Turkey

Vegetative compatibility (vc) and mating types and genetic diversity of Cryphonectria parasitica isolates were determined using 183 isolates obtained from 215 infected chestnut trees growing in 13 provinces of Turkey. Based on the cultural aspects, 143 of these isolates were evaluated as virulent whereas the remaining 40 isolates were hypovirulent. When vc types of 183 isolates were classically differentiated, 135 of them matched to EU-1 (82.3%), 29 of them to EU-12 (17.6%) vc type, whereas 19 of them did not match to the two. When molecular vic markers were used, all the isolates were assigned to two EU vc types; 149 to EU-1 (81.4%) and 34 (18.5%) to EU-12. Of the majority of the isolates, 134 (73.2%) had mating-type MAT-1, while 44 (24%) isolates had MAT-2 and 5 (2.8%) isolates had both mating types. The population analysis based on two DNA marker systems, Inter-Primer Binding Site and Start Codon Targeted Polymorphism, showed no intraspecific genetic variation among the C. parasitica isolates. The prevalence of two dominant vc types revealed by this study shows that biological control with hypovirulent EU-1 and EU-12 isolates will be significant for the country. The results might be helpful to chestnut breeders carrying out resistance breeding studies to manage this disease based on hypovirulence attributed to Cryphonectria hypovirus 1.     

Effects of varying nitrogen doses on yield,yield components and artemisinin content of Artemisia annua L.

Artemisia annua L. is an aromatic-antibacterial herb that destroys malarial parasites, lowers fevers and checks bleeding, and of which the secondary compound of interest is artemisinin. The objective of the present study was to determine yield, yield components and artemisinin content of A. annua L. grown under four nitrogen applications (0, 40, 80 and 120 kg ha⁻¹) in the Çukurova region of Turkey in 2004 and 2005. Field trials were conducted at Çukurova University, Agricultural Faculty Field Crops Department. In the study, plant height, number of branches, fresh herbage yield, dry herbage yield, fresh leaf yield, dry leaf yield, essential oil content and artemisinin content (by high performance liquid chromatography, HPLC) were examined. By analysis of variance, nitrogen doses had no any statistical effect on the traits investigated except for artemisinin content. Artemisinin content of the dried leaves were significantly affected by nitrogen applications, which varied from 6.32 to 27.50 mg 100 g⁻¹. Contents were from 120 and 80 kg ha⁻¹ nitrogen for the years of 2004 and 2005, respectively.     

Chemical composition and antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of the essential oil and methanol extract of Hippomarathrum microcarpum (Bieb.) from Turkey

Hippomarathrum microcarpum grows wild in eastern Anatolia, Turkey, and is a plant utilized as food by people. In this study, the in vitro antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of the essential oil and methanol extract from H. microcarpum and its essential oil composition were investigated. The essential oil, which has bornyl acetate, caryophyllene oxide, and beta-caryophyllene as its main components, exhibited activity against eight bacteria, nine fungi, and a yeast, Candida albicans, with minimum inhibitory concentration values ranging from 62.50 to 125 muL/mL; the methanol extract showed weak activity. The antioxidant activity of these extracts was assessed by the beta-carotene bleaching test and the 1,1'-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging test. The inhibition of linoleic acid oxidation was very weak for both extracts tested. The inhibition percentages were found to be 22.9 and 33.5% for methanol and essential oil, respectively, at the concentration of 2 g/L. The oil scavenged DPPH at higher concentrations (IC50 = 10.69 +/- 0.05 mg/mL), but the methanol extract exhibited no activity. The total phenolic content of the methanol extract was found to be 4.7 +/- 0.1%.     

Digestive enzyme activity of the red porgy (Pagrus pagrus, L.) during larval development under culture conditions

The ontogenic development of the main digestive enzymes (proteases, amylase and lipase) in the red porgy, Pagrus pagrus, larvae was assayed during the larval development. The green water technique was carried out for larval rearing and whole‐body homogenates were used for enzymatic assays in triplicate. Significant alterations in specific activities of all digestive enzymes measured during the period of this study were mostly related to metamorphosis and weaning. Trypsin‐ and chymotrypsin‐specific activities were first detected on day 3, together with opening of the mouth, and slightly increased until 25 days after hatching (DAH). After this period, the specific activities of these enzymes slightly decreased. Pepsin was first detected on day 28, concurrent with stomach formation, and a sharp increase was observed until 30 DAH. A slight decrease was measured from this date until the end of the experiment. Both amylase and lipase were measured for the first time on days 2 and 4 respectively, and the specific activities of these enzymes showed similar patterns during the first week of the study. Then, slight variations were observed until 30 DAH and while lipase‐specific activity declined, an increase in the specific activity of amylase was found until the end of the experiment. It is concluded that the variations observed in the specific activity of digestive enzymes were related to either metamorphosis, such as the formation of the stomach (28 DAH), or to changes in food composition. The profile of the developmental pattern of the main digestive enzymes detected in P. pagrus is similar to that described for other Sparid species.     

Effects of illumination on early life development and digestive enzyme activities in common pandora Pagellus erythrinus L. larvae

The activities of main digestive enzyme (proteases, amylase and lipase) and animal husbandry (mainly growth and survival) were studied in common pandora Pagellus erythrinus larvae until 30 days after hatching (DAH). Three different illumination levels (10, 30 and 100 lx) were compared in triplicate and green water technique was carried out. At the end of the experiment, illumination did not affect neither survival nor growth except 10 lx treatment. Similarly, specific growth rate (SGR) was different in 10 lx treatment (p < 0.05), although no differences were found in group 30 and 100 lx treatments (p > 0.05). In all groups, trypsin and chymotrypsin specific activities were firstly detected on day 3 related with mouth opening and slightly increased until 20 and 25 DAH respectively, and after this date specific activities of those decreased. Although, there was a significant difference between 10 lx treatment and other experimental groups (p < 0.05), no differences were found in other treatments (p > 0.05). Pepsin was firstly detected on day 25 related with stomach formation and sharp increase was observed until 30 DAH and then slight decrease was measured from this date and no differences were found between all groups. Amylase was firstly determined on day 2 and increased to day 5. After this date, slight decreases were measured in all groups and continued until end of experiments. The highest specific activity of amylase was determined in 30 lx treatment and no significant differences were found between groups (p > 0.05). Lipase was firstly detected on day 4 and increased to day 10. Then, activity of lipase decreased until day 15 and increased again until 25 DAH. Slight decreases were found in all groups until day 30 and continued to end of experiments. No significant differences were detected among groups (p > 0.05).

Finally, the significant improvement in survival, larval development and specific enzyme activities of larvae were determined in 30 lx treated group. It is thought that this phenomenon is related to optimal keeping conditions provided by the medium illumination level for Pagellus erythrinus larvae.     

Confirmed Exposure to Tick‐Borne Encephalitis Virus and Probable Human Cases of Tick‐Borne Encephalitis in Central/Northern Anatolia,Turkey

Tick‐borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is the aetiological agent of tick‐borne encephalitis (TBE), a potentially fatal central nervous system infection of humans. TBE is endemic in many areas of Europe and Asia; however, very scarce data on TBEV activity are available from Turkey. We aimed to identify TBEV exposure in healthy blood donors and the impact of TBEV in central nervous system infections in Central/Northern Anatolia. Two‐thousand four hundred and fifty four sera, collected from blood donors at Ankara, Konya, Eski?ehir and Zonguldak branches of the Turkish Red Crescent Middle Anatolia Regional Blood Center, were analysed for TBEV serosurveillance. Paired serum and cerebrospinal fluid samples from 108 patients with the diagnosis of aseptic meningitis/encephalitis of unknown aetiology were also evaluated to identify TBE and neuroborreliosis cases. Commercial enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays and indirect immunofluorescence tests were employed for antibody detection. Forty‐seven donor samples (1.9%) were reactive for TBEV IgG. In 25 persons with IgG reactivity (53.1%), risk factors for tick‐borne infections were revealed. One sample from Zonguldak province (1/198; 0.5%) in the Black Sea region of Turkey was confirmed to possess neutralizing antibodies via plaque reduction neutralization test. TBEV IgM was detected in 9.2% (8/108) of the patients. IgM was accompanied by IgG reactivity in two persons where, in one, recent history of a tick bite was also identified. Intrathecal antibody production for TBEV could not be demonstrated. No evidence for Borrelia infections could be found. Confirmed exposure to TBEV and/or an antigenically similar tick‐borne flavivirus is documented for the first time in blood donors in Zonguldak in Northern Anatolia. Probable cases of TBE have also been identified from Central Anatolia. The epidemiology of TBEV activity in Turkey needs to be assessed and benefits of vaccination for general population, risk groups or travellers must be considered.