Development and fecundity ofSitobion avenae on some wheat cultivars under laboratory conditions

Nymphal development time and fecundity ofSitobion avenae (F.) (Homoptera: Aphididae) were determined on nine widespread wheat varieties cultivated in Tekirdağ Region in Turkey. Tests were carried out in controlled environment chambers (25±1°C, 65±5% r.h.; 16:8, L:D). Development time (±S.E.) ranged from 5.75±0.25 to 7.20±0.20 days. Fecundity per female ofS. avenae was found to be the highest (12.87±1.50) on wheat cv. ‘Sana’. In this investigation cvs. ‘MV-17’, ‘Miryana’, ‘Pehlivan’ and ‘Saraybosna’ were particularly resistant againstS. avenae. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting July 8, 2002.     

Effects of marine fish farming on nutrient composition and plankton communities in the Eastern Aegean Sea (Turkey)

The hypothesis that the presence of fish farming zones affects the water quality and plankton communities was investigated in an Aegean Sea fish farm during February, June, September and January 2000–2001. In the spatial coverage, a total of 12 stations were sampled; three of them were reference stations. A variance analysis was applied to the measurements made at the stations near the fish farms and at the control stations. While no significant differences in concentrations of nutrients, chlorophyll a, particulate organic carbon and particulate organic nitrogen were detected between the stations and the control sites within one season, significant differences were detected between the parameter values measured except for total dissolved phosphorus and dissolved organic phosphorus at different seasons. The seasonal differences were also significant with regard to the biodiversity. Together with these temporal differences in general, there was a higher diversity of species at the control site as compared with the other stations in September, which was the key season to detection of significant changes. The most important consideration is that it is not sufficient to take the instantaneous values for the physico‐chemical variables; rather, it is necessary to monitor the biological parameters in order to define the differences in the ecosystem.     

Clinical efficacy of diclofenac sodium and flunixin meglumine as adjuncts to antibacterial treatment of respiratory disease of calves

Objective To compare the efficacy of the non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs, diclofenac sodium and flunixin meglumine as adjuncts to the antibiotic treatment of bovine respiratory disease (BRD). Procedure We randomly allocated 80 Holstein calves with BRD to three groups. All the calves received a dose of 2.5 mg/kg tulathromycin by single subcutaneous injection and two of the groups received, in addition, either 2.5 mg/kg diclofenac sodium as a single intramuscular injection (diclofenac group, n = 30) or 2.2 mg/kg flunixin meglumine as an intravenous injection on the first three consecutive days after tulathromycin administration (flunixin group, n = 30). All calves were given a clinical score prior to initial treatment (day 0) and after treatment (days 1, 2, 3, 7 and 14) by observing appetite, demeanour, rectal temperature, the rate and type of respiration, presence or absence of coughing, and nasal discharge. Results During the first 48 h, improvement of adverse signs of respiratory disease, such as pyrexia and elevated respiratory rate, and of a high clinical index score was significant in the two adjunct groups compared with the calves receiving antibiotic alone. The reduction in pyrexia was greatest in the diclofenac group. There were no statically significant differences between treatment groups with regard to eventual perceived recovery from respiratory disease in 14 days. Conclusion In this trial, a single intramuscular dose of diclofenac sodium was equally effective as three intravenous injections of flunixin meglumine given on consecutive days as adjunctive therapy for BRD.     

A plant miRNA contributes to antibacterial resistance by repressing auxin signaling

Plants and animals activate defenses after perceiving pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) such as bacterial flagellin. In Arabidopsis, perception of flagellin increases resistance to the bacterium Pseudomonas syringae, although the molecular mechanisms involved remain elusive. Here, we show that a flagellin-derived peptide induces a plant microRNA (miRNA) that negatively regulates messenger RNAs for the F-box auxin receptors TIR1, AFB2, and AFB3. Repression of auxin signaling restricts P. syringae growth, implicating auxin in disease susceptibility and miRNA-mediated suppression of auxin signaling in resistance.     

Influence of manure and inorganic fertilizer on yield and quality of pistachio

Economically valuable pistachio nut trees are extensively grown in the Southeastern part of Turkey. A great percentage of the total annual pistachio nut yield in Turkey is obtained from this region. However, fertility aspects of these pistachio trees have not been studied in detail. Thus, there is a need to determine the optimum fertilizer rates to increase the yield and quality of pistachio nuts. Fertilizer trials were conducted on an established 37 year‐old‐pistachio orchard. Inorganic nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fertilizers were applied in three and two rates, respectively. Potassium (K) was added to all trees as a basal rate. In addition, selected trees received air‐dried sheep manure, and additional inorganic macro‐ and micro‐nutrients as a foliar application at three different times during the course of experiment. Fertilizer treatments influenced the fruit yield, productivity, fruit size, percentages of dehisced fruit shell, and nutmeat. Positive effects of these treatments on leaf element content, N, P, and K, were also obtained. Fruit protein and oil contents were not influenced by addition of organic and inorganic fertilizers.     

Influence of nitrogen rates and row spacing on corn yield,protein content,and other plant parameters

New maize hybrids has been intensively used as the first and second crop at the Cukurova region of Turkey in recent years. Therefore, nutritional problems of corn needs to be solved for the optimum yield, and protection from the potential insect and disease damages. Influence of nitrogen (N) and row spacing (RS) on corn yield, grain protein content, and selected plant parameters have been studied under field conditions in 1994 and 1995. Nitrogen was applied in the rates of 200, 250, 300, and 350 kg N ha^‐1 to main plots where row spacings were 10, 15, 20, and 25 cm in each subplots. Phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) were applied to each plot as basal rates. The experiment was arranged in a split‐plot design in three replications. During course of the experiment and after harvest, selected plant parameters, leaf nutrient contents, root length, grain yield, and crude protein content were measured, and the data were statistically analyzed for determination of treatment effects. The selected plant parameters either influenced by N, RS, or both in 1994 and 1995. The leaf N content was affected by N and RS in 1995, and a RS effect was only observed in 1994. Grain yield was influenced by RS and N and RS in the first and second years, respectively. Grain yield ranged between 7.3 to 12.8 Mg ha"¹ for both years. Treat ment effects on crude protein content was significant in 1994 but no response was obtained in 1995.     

Comparison of the arterial blood gas,arterial oxyhaemoglobin saturation and end-tidal carbon dioxide tension during sevoflurane or isoflurane anaesthesia in rabbits

The effects of sevoflurane or isoflurane on arterial blood gas, arterial oxyhaemoglobin saturation and end-tidal CO2 tension were monitored during induction and maintenance of anaesthesia in 10 premedicated New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits.For induction, the anaesthetic agents were delivered via a face-mask. After induction was completed, an endotracheal tube was introduced for maintenance of anaesthesia for a period of 90 minutes. Changes in heart rate, respiratory rate, arterial blood gas, arterial oxyhaemoglobin saturation, blood pH and end-tidal CO2 tension were recorded. Although sevoflurane and isoflurane produce similar cardiopulmonary effects in premedicated rabbits, sevoflurane provides a smoother and faster induction because of its lower blood/gas partition coefficient. Thus sevoflurane is probably a more suitable agent than isoflurane for mask induction and maintenance. Its lower blood solubility also makes sevoflurane more satisfactory than isoflurane for maintenance of anaesthesia because it allows the anaesthetist to change the depth of anaesthesia more rapidly.