Some Physicochemical Characteristics,Bioactive Content and Antioxidant Characteristics of Non-Sprayed Barberry (Berberis vulgaris L.) Fruits from Turkey

Increasing consumer demands for indigenous, non-sprayed with pesticides and less-known or “forgotten” fruits necessitate knowledge on their breeding, cultivation, biochemical content, harvesting and marketing. Anatolia is rich for wild edible fruit species and barberry is abundant throughout Anatolia. The aim of this study was to determine some important physicochemical characteristics, bioactive content and antioxidant capacity of fruits from nineteen promising barberry (Berberis vulgaris L.) genotypes grown in the Coruh valley, Northeastern Anatolia. The results indicated genotype-specific differences for most of the physicochemical characteristics, antioxidant capacity and the content of some bioactive compounds. Fruit mass ranged from 0.073 (‘Coruh-7’) to 0.267 g (‘Coruh-11’). Total phenolic content ranged from 2532 (‘Coruh-’) to 3719 mg GAE per liter fruit juice (‘Coruh-11’). The genotype ‘Coruh-12’ had the highest total monomeric anthocyanin content (1004 mg per liter fruit juice) as cyanidin-3-glucoside. The highest total antioxidant capacity was observed in fruits of ‘Coruh-8’ and ‘Coruh-9’ genotypes with all three antioxidant-determining methods. We conclude that the barberry fruits represent a good source of bioactive phytochemicals because of their high phenolic and anthocyanin contents.     

Identifying high yielding stable winter wheat genotypes for irrigated environments in Central and West Asia

Improved winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars are needed for the diverse environments in Central and West Asia to improve rural livelihoods. This study was conducted to determine the performance of elite winter wheat breeding lines developed by the International Winter Wheat Improvement Program (IWWIP), to analyze their stability across diverse environments, and to identify superior genotypes that could be valuable for winter wheat improvement or varietal release. One hundred and one advanced winter wheat breeding lines and four check cultivars were tested over a 5-year period (2004–2008). Grain yield and agronomic traits were analyzed. Stability and genotypic superiority for grain yield were determined using genotype and genotype × environment (GGE) biplot analysis. The experimental genotypes showed high levels of grain yield in each year, with mean values ranging from 3.9 to 6.7 t ha⁻¹. A set of 25 experimental genotypes was identified. These were either equal or superior to the best check based on their high mean yield and stability across environments as assessed by the GGE biplot analysis. The more stable high yielding genotypes were ID800994.W/Falke, Agri/Nac//Attila, ID800994W/Vee//F900K/3/Pony/Opata, AU//YT542/N10B/3/II8260/4/JI/Hys/5/Yunnat Esskiy/6/KS82W409/Spn and F130-L-1-12/MV12. The superior genotypes also had acceptable maturity, plant height and 1,000-kernel weight. Among the superior lines, Agri/Nac//Attila and Shark/F4105W2.1 have already been proposed for release in Kyrgyzstan and Georgia, respectively. The findings provide information on wide adaptation of the internationally important winter wheat genotypes, and demonstrate that the IWWIP program is enriching the germplasm base in the region with superior winter wheat genotypes to the benefit of national and international winter wheat improvement programs.     

Feasibility of using eggplant (Solanum melongena) stalks in the production of experimental particleboard

This study examined possible feasibility of eggplant (Solanum melongena) stalks in the production of particleboard. Three-layer experimental particleboards with density of 0.53, 0.63, 0.73 and 0.78 g/cm³ were manufactured from eggplant stalks using certain ratios of urea formaldehyde (UF) and melamine urea formaldehyde (MUF) adhesives. Modulus of elasticity (MOE), modulus of rupture (MOR), internal bond strength (IB), thickness swelling (TS) properties of the boards were evaluated and a statistical analysis was performed in order to examine possible feasibility of these stalks in commercial particleboard manufacturing. The experimental results have shown that production of general purpose and furniture grade particleboard used in dry conditions using eggplant stalks is technically viable. The results of the study demonstrate that eggplant stalks can be an alternative raw material source for particleboard industry.     

Evaluation of Water Quality from the Perspective of Eutrophication in Lake Eğirdir,Turkey

Water, Air, &; Soil Pollution - Lake E?irdir is one of the most important freshwater resources in Turkey. The lake is located at the border of Isparta province in South West Turkey, an area...     

International Winter Wheat Improvement Program: history,activities, impact and future

International Winter Wheat Improvement Program (IWWIP) was established in 1986 between the Government of Turkey and CIMMYT with three main objectives: (1) develop winter/facultative germplasm for Central and West Asia, (2) facilitate global winter wheat germplasm exchange, and (3) training wheat scientists. ICARDA joined the program in 1991 making it a three-way partnership that continues to work effectively. The germplasm developed by IWWIP as well as the winter wheat cultivars and lines received from global cooperators are assembled into international nurseries. These nurseries are offered annually to public and private entities (IWWIP website) and distributed to more than 100 cooperators in all continents. IWWIP impact has primarily been in new winter wheat cultivars combining broad adaptation, high yield potential, drought tolerance and disease resistance. A total of 93 IWWIP cultivars have been released in 11 countries occupying annually an estimated 2.5–3.0 Mha. IWWIP cooperation with researchers in Turkey, Central and West Asia and several US universities has resulted in a number of publications reviewed in this paper. Important IWWIP impacts include national inventories of wheat landraces in Turkey, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, their collection, characterization, evaluation and utilization.     

Investigation of the fertilization biology of some sweet cherry cultivars grown in the Central Northern Anatolian Region of Turkey

The experiments were carried out between 2003 and 2005 in the Province of Amasya. The first objective of the study was to determine the best pollinizer for the cultivar ‘0900 Ziraat’ which is the most popular sweet cherry cultivar (Prunus avium L.) in Turkey. The ‘0900 Ziraat’ was used as a female parent and ‘Türko?lu’, ‘Köro?lu’, ‘Kargayüre?i’, ‘Hac? Ali’, ‘Starks Gold’ and ‘Geçkiraz’ were used as pollinizer cultivars. In 2003, for the hand cross pollination combinations, fruit set was between 31.25% and 42.80%. In 2004, fruit set was reduced by spring frost and was between 9.69% and 15.24%. Additionally, the blooming periods of the experimental cultivars, fruit set of open pollination and hand self pollination were examined. The fruit set ratios of all tested cultivars under open pollination conditions varied between 26.73% and 53.49% in 2003 and 4.38% and 38.35% in 2004. ‘Geçkiraz’ had the highest fruit set owing to its late flowering date. For open pollination, fruit set values of ‘0900 Ziraat’ were lower than hand cross pollination with other cultivars in 2003 when the results of both treatments are compared. On the contrary, fruit set was higher than hand cross pollination in 2004. In the present study, pollen germination values varied greatly among year, cultivar and sucrose concentration. Viability percentages were generally high, not less than 66%. According to phenological observations, partial or complete overlapping of the flowering period of ‘0900 Ziraat’ and its possible pollinizer cultivars were observed in 2003 and 2005. But in 2004, the flowering period overlapped for only ‘0900 Ziraat’ and ‘Geçkiraz’ cultivars. When blooming times are taken into consideration, ‘Geçkiraz’ was found to be the best pollinizer cultivar.     

Molecular characterization and prevalence of cystic echinococcosis in slaughtered water buffaloes in Turkey

The present study was carried out between March 2006 and June 2010. During the study nine abattoirs were visited and 166 water buffalo internal organs were examined in Black Sea Region of Turkey. It was found that 10.24% buffaloes were infected with cystic echinococcosis (CE). The rate of CE found as 3.77% in males and 21.66% in females, 37.93% in older and 4.38% in young animals. The degree of prevalence according to age and sex was statistically significant (p<0.05). CE was observed 29.41% only in liver, 47.06% only in lungs and 23.53% in both liver and lungs. Therefore, the lungs were the predominant sites of the CE in buffaloes. Molecular identification on nine isolates, based on mitochondrial cox1 sequencing analyses, revealed that six cysts belonged to G1 genotype (domestic sheep strain) while 3 samples showed variant genotypes of Echinococcus granulosus complex G1-G2-G3. Two of them showed a thymine in position 52, like G2 strain, but the rest of sequences were completely identical to strain G1; also one specimen showed a single nucleotide change compared to strain G1 (C122T).     

Global incidence of wheat rusts and powdery mildew during 1969–2010 and durability of resistance of winter wheat variety Bezostaya 1

Disease incidence and severity was studied for winter wheat variety Bezostaya 1 and susceptible checks based on data from international nurseries from 1969 to 2010 and from 51 countries across major winter wheat production regions totalling 1,047 reports. The frequency of leaf rust and stripe rust occurrence was stable over time with marked increases in severity in 2001–2010 especially in Europe and Central and West Asia. Substantial global reductions in stem rust occurrence were recorded and attributed primarily to use of resistance genes although the recent emergence of race Ug99 makes wheat more vulnerable. The occurrence of powdery mildew remained globally stable over time. It was the most important foliar disease in Western and Southern Europe, where the frequency was very high for all time periods coupled with slight increases in severity during 2001–2010. The durable resistance of variety Bezostaya 1 to all four diseases was demonstrated in the study using comparisons of disease severities of Bezostaya 1 and the most susceptible entries. The Lr34/Yr18/Pm38 pleiotrophic set possessed by Bezostaya 1 is currently an important target for selection because it is now amenable to molecular selection. Increased use of genes like Lr34 combined with strategies to minimize cultivation of extremely susceptible varieties will contribute to long term maintenance of low and non-damaging disease levels. The durable disease resistance of Bezostaya 1, combined with its adaptability and good end-use quality, was a significant reason for its huge impact in agriculture over the last 50?years.