Callus formation and cucurbitacin B accumulation in Ecballium elaterium callus cultures

Ecballium elaterium fruit juice is used for the treatment of sinusitis in Turkish folk medicine. The aim of this study was to increase the yield of cucurbitacin B, an anti-inflammatory compound previously isolated in various organs of E. elaterium, through tissue culture techniques. Higher yields of cucurbitacin B (1.126%) were obtained from the first subculture calluses from stem nodes in the presence of benzyl adenine (BA; 1 mg/l) and naphtalene acetic acid (NAA; 0.1 mg/l) in comparison with the yields obtained from plant material (0.01%).     

Compositions and antimicrobial activities of the essential oils of two Hypericum species from Turkey

The chemical compositions of essential oils obtained from Hypericum hyssopifolium var. microcalycinum and Hypericum lysimachioides var. lysimachioides were analysed by using GC and GC-MS. Caryophyllene oxide was found to be the major component. The essential oils of both Hypericum species showed antimicrobial activity against nine microorganism at a concentration of 60 to 80 microg/ml.     

Screening and selection of faba beans (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Vicia faba</Emphasis> L.) for cold tolerance and comparison to wild relatives

Since autumn-sown faba beans possess several advantages including higher seed yield over the spring cultivars, the study was aimed to screen and select cold tolerant accessions of faba beans (Vicia faba L.) and compare these to wild species in the highland of the west Mediterranean region, Turkey. A total of 114 accessions of Vicia species including 109 accessions of faba bean, three accessions of narbon bean (V. narbonensis L.) and two accessions of V. montbretii Fisch. et C.A. Mey. were screened for cold tolerance at seedling stage in two successive years, 2005–2006 and 2006–2007 growth seasons. Accessions were evaluated for cold tolerance using a 1 (Highly cold tolerant)-5 (Highly cold susceptible) visual scale. Considerable variation was found for cold tolerance and some agronomical characteristics in faba beans. Wild relatives of faba bean were found to be more tolerant to cold than those of cultivated faba beans. Although some pigmented accessions were free from freezing damage at −9.6°C without snow cover, accessions with white flowers were damaged. The proposed screening technique could easily be used to evaluate many faba bean accessions for cold tolerance. To increase yield, it was concluded that the cold tolerant accessions with high yield could be grown as autumn-sown crop in the target environment.     

INHERITANCE OF RESISTANCE TO IRON DEFICIENCY CHLOROSIS IN CHICKPEA (CICER ARIETINUM L.)

Iron (Fe)-deficiency chlorosis causes considerable yield losses in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) when susceptible genotypes are grown in calcareous soils with high pH. The most feasible method for alleviating Fe deficiency is the selection of suitable cultivars resistant to Fe deficiency chlorosis. ICC 6119 (desi type), which is Fe-deficient chlorosis, was crossed with CA 2969 and Sierra (kabuli types), resistant to Fe deficiency chlorosis. Inheritance of resistance to Fe deficiency in chickpea revealed that the resistance was controlled by a single dominant gene in these genotypes crossed. A negative selection for resistance to Fe deficiency chlorosis will be effective after segregating generations.     

Evaluation of annual wild <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cicer</Emphasis> species for drought and heat resistance under field conditions

About 90% of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) in the world is grown under rainfed conditions where it is subjected to drought and heat stress. Unlike the cultivated chickpea, annual wild Cicer species possess sources of resistance to multiple stress; annual wild Cicer species were therefore evaluated for resistance to drought and heat stress. Eight annual wild Cicer species (Cicer bijugum, C. chorassanicum, C. cuneatum, C. echinospermum, C. judaicum, C. pinnatifidum, C. reticulatum, and C. yamashitae) were compared with special checks, the cvs ICC 4958 and FLIP 87-59C (drought resistant) and ICCV 96029 (very early double-podded). ILC 3279 and 8617 as drought susceptible checks were sown after every 10 test lines. Yield losses due to drought and heat stress in some accessions and susceptible checks (ILC 3279 and ILC 8617) reached 100%. Accessions were evaluated for drought and heat resistance on a 1 (free from drought and heat damage)−9 (100% plant killed from drought and heat) visual scale. Four accessions of C. reticulatum and one accession of C. pinnatifidum were found to be as resistant to drought and heat stress (up to 41.8°C) as the best checks. C. reticulatum should be taken account in short term breeding programs since it can be crossed with the cultivated chickpea.     

Evaluation of perennial wild <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cicer</Emphasis> species for drought resistance

About 90% of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) in the world is grown under rainfed conditions where drought is one of the major constraints limiting its productivity. Unlike the cultivated chickpea, wild Cicer species possesses sources of resistance to multiple stresses; we therefore evaluated perennial wild Cicer species for resistance to drought. C. anatolicum, C. microphyllum, C. montbretii, C. oxydon and C. songaricum were compared with special checks; C. echinospermum, C. pinnatifidum and C. reticulatum and five cultivated chickpeas. After the cultivated chickpeas were killed, accessions were evaluated using a 1–5 scale, where 1 = highly drought resistant (no visible drought effect and full recovery after three successive wiltings) and 5 = highly drought susceptible (leaves and branches dried out, no recovery at all). All accessions of perennial wild Cicer species were significantly superior to those annual wild species and the cultivated chickpeas including the best drought tolerant chickpea, ICC 4958 under drought conditions. Perennial wild Cicer species did not only recover after wilting and drying out above ground level, they also tolerated high temperatures up to 41.8°C. But, they do not cross with the cultivated chickpeas. C. anatolicum should be taken account in long term breeding programs because it has closer affinities to the first crossability group than the others.     

Transgressive segregations for yield criteria in reciprocal interspecific crosses between <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cicer arietinum</Emphasis> L. and <Emphasis Type="Italic">C. reticulatum</Emphasis> Ladiz.

Wild Cicer species are considered to be more resistant for biotic and abiotic stresses than that of the cultivated chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). Alien genes conferring resistance for biotic and abiotic stresses can be transferred from wild Cicer species to the cultivated chickpea but success in interspecific hybridizations has already been achieved with only two wild Cicer species. The current study was undertaken to compare fruitful heterosis in F₂ and F₃ for yield and yield criteria and to identify transgressive segregation in F₂ and F₃ in reciprocal interspecific crosses between C. arietinum and C. reticulatum Ladiz. We define fruitful heterosis as a useful parameter that can be used instead of residual heterosis. Considerable fruitful heterosis in F₂ and F₃ was found for number of seeds, pods per plant, biological yield, and seed yield. Maximum values of most of the characteristics in F₂ and F₃ were higher than that of the best parent indicating that superior progeny could be selected for yield from transgressive segregation. Progeny selection should be based on number of seeds, pods per plant, and biological yield since these characteristics had the highest direct effect on seed yield. The narrow sense heritability was found to be the highest for 100-seed weight. It was suggested that the cultivated chickpea could be used as female parent in interspecific hybridization to increase yield and yield criteria since progeny in F₂ and F₃ had better performance when it was used as female. In conclusion, interspecific hybridization of wild and cultivated chickpea can be used to improve yield and yield components and resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses as well.     

Gene effects of Cicer reticulatum on qualitative and quantitative traits in the cultivated chickpea

The gene effects of Cicer reticulatum on both double‐podding as qualitative traits and yield criteria as quantitative traits in interspecific hybridization with cultivated chickpea (Cicer arietinum) have not yet been elucidated, despite the easy acquisition of hybrid progeny between two species. This study sought to answer three questions concerning qualitative and quantitative traits in reciprocal crosses between C. arietinum and C. reticulatum. (i) Is there a similarity in the gene effects of flower colour, pigmentation and double‐podded traits in reciprocal interspecific crosses? (ii) What are the expressivity and penetrance of the double‐podded trait in interspecific crosses? (iii) Which heterosis predicts the occurrence and the extent of transgressive variation? The materials for this study were F₁, F₂ and F₃ progeny derived from a reciprocal cross between C. arietinum and C. reticulatum. As qualitative traits, purple flower colour, pigmentation and single‐podded traits in C. reticulatum were governed by a dominant single gene. Purple flower colour and pigmentation were detected to be linked traits as all progeny had the same phenotypes. As quantitative traits, yield criteria in progeny which were double‐podded had higher values than the single‐podded counterparts. Expressivity and penetrance of the double‐podding trait were superior in progeny derived from C. reticulatum × C. arietinum. The results showed that fruitful heterosis was more useful than residual heterosis in F₃ as residual heterosis was mostly negative and fruitful heterosis was suggested in self‐pollinated species such as chickpea that lacks inbreeding depression. Interspecific transgression was significant with respect to chickpea improvement because it represented a potential source of novel genetic variation.     

Eco-geographic distribution of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cicer isauricum</Emphasis> P.H. Davis and threats to the species

Wild Cicer species are considered as useful genetic resources for resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses due to limited resistance in cultivated chickpeas. As a wild perennial species in the genus Cicer L., Cicer isauricum P.H. Davis is an endemic species to Turkey and endangered status according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature criteria. Here we report on its eco-geographic distribution and environmental stresses that affect the species, and advocate for its in situ and ex situ conservation. A new population of the species was discovered in Geyikbay?r?, Güllük Mountains in Antalya, Turkey. Cicer isauricum not only suffers from significant biotic stresses such as ascochyta blight [Ascochyta rabiei (Pass.) Labr.], pod borer (Helicoverpa armigera Hübner) and broomrape (Orobanche sp.), but is also subjected to drought and heat stress in its habitat. Infection with ascochyta blight in natural habitats was diagnosed by molecular techniques, and pod borer and broomrape were observed only phenotypically. PCR amplification of the internal transcribed spacer region of genomic DNA from cultured fungal isolates, yielded sequences with 100% nucleotide identity with the corresponding sequence in GeneBank for Didymella rabiei Kovachevski (anamorph: A. rabiei). The pathogen may have co-evolved with C. isauricum in the newly discovered site. Because C. isauricum is exposed to drought and accompanying heat stress in its natural habitat, it appears able to tolerate heat stress up to 45 °C during podding stage and terminal drought in late summer from its woody, deep rooting. C. isauricum bears multiple flowers per axil, a potentially useful trait in cultivated chickpea. In conclusion, C. isauricum is a potential genetic source for resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses, in need of greater protection due to its endangered status.     

Revealing of resistant sources in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cicer</Emphasis> species to chickpea leaf miner, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Liriomyza cicerina</Emphasis> (Rondani)

The chickpea leaf miner, Liriomyza cicerina (Rondani) (Diptera: Agromyzidae), is an important pest of cultivated chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). A 2-year field study was carried out to screen a total of 126 Cicer germplasm for resistance to the leaf miner during the 2012 and 2013 growing seasons. Resistance was evaluated using a visual scale of 1–9, where 1?=?highly resistant and 9?=?very highly susceptible under natural infestation conditions. The results showed that two C. arietinum accessions, ILC 3397 and Sierra, had a score of 9 on the scale, being very highly susceptible. Three germplasm, one mutant (3304) and two breeding lines (LMR 140 and LMR 160) of C. arietinum, were found to be highly resistant with the scores ranging from 1.5 to 2 for resistance to the leaf miner. The mutant, 3304, was detected for the first time in this study as a highly leaf miner-resistant mutant of the cultivated chickpeas while the other two breeding lines had been previously reported as highly resistant against the leaf miner. In addition, two mutants and 14 breeding lines of C. arietinum and two mutants and one germplasm of C. reticulatum were identified as resistant having the scores from 2.1 to 3 on the 1–9 scale. The results suggest that these resistant germplasm may add a new dimension to chickpea breeding programs because they possess valuable traits for resistance against the pest. The resistant chickpeas that can be grown without using pesticides are important as environmental protection and reliable food source for human health.