Effects of different ecological and silvicultural factors on beetle catches in the Turkish fir (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Abies bornmülleriana</Emphasis> Mattf.) ecosystems

To study the bark beetle attacks on Turkish fir stands and to determine the principle site and stand factors influencing beetle attacks, trap log method was used in the Western Black Sea Region of Turkey. The study was carried out in ten different locations prior to flying time in February 2003. On each experimental plot, three healthy fir trees with 30–50 cm diameter and 200 m apart were cut down with a chainsaw. From each sampling tree, needles were sub-sampled for determination of specific leaf-area and macro-nutrient concentrations. In addition, on each experimental plot, crown closure, basal-area, and stand density were measured. To determine the bulk density and nutrient concentrations of the soil, samples were taken around trees on each plot. The relationship between measured stand variables, the number of beetle species and beetle populations were evaluated using correlation and stepwise multiple regression procedure. Eight different species belonging to four different families from Coleoptera were identified in examining the trap logs. Six of these eight species (Pissodes piceae Illig., Pissodes notatus Fabr., Cryphalus piceae Ratz., Pityophthorus pityographus Ratz., Xyloterus lineatus Oliv., Pityokteines curvidens Germ.) were identified as harmful beetles (HB). The other two (Thanasimus formicarius L. and Rhizophagus dispar Payk.) were identified as predator species. The analysis showed that the total number of HB increased as the site’s slope and needle specific leaf area increased. However, as needle N concentrations increased, HB population decreased. Increased Ca concentration in fir needle reduced total insect attack.     

Effect of log seasonality on reproductive potential ofMonochamus galloprovincialis reared in scots pine logs under laboratory conditions

Insect reproduction may be affected by a number of factors including seasonal changes in larval or adult nutrition. The effect of season on the reproductive potential ofMonochamus galloprovincialis (Olivier) females reared inPinus sylvestris L. (Scots pine) logs was investigated by constructing fertility tables for each log that differed only in the season they were cut. Population parameters were compared among three seasonal cohorts. The intrinsic rate of increase and most of the associated population parameters of beetles that emerged from logs cut during spring were higher than for beetles emerged from summer and autumn logs. Slight differences were found between summer and autumn cohorts. We suggest that seasonal differences in the nutritional quality of logs caused differences inM. galloprovincialis survival and reproductive potential. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting March 16, 2008.     

Effect of Alley Cropping on Crops and Arthropod Diversity in Duzce, Turkey

The influence of alley cropping practices on trees, agricultural crops and arthropod diversity was studied in Duzce, Turkey. Six replications of three crops, maize (Zea mays L. var. rugosa), beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and zucchini (Cucurbita pepo L.), were planted in the alleyways between rows of hybrid poplar [Populus euramericana (Dode) Guinier] in a plantation setting. Control plots included a poplar plot without crops and the three crops planted in plots without trees near the plantation. Sweep netting, sticky traps, pitfall traps, and cloth shaking were used four times throughout a growing season to sample arthropods in the research area. Alley cropping practices had both negative and positive effects on crop yield and a significant negative effect on poplar growth. A total of 10 284 arthropod specimens (15 orders and 122 families) were collected, 118 families in the agroforestry plots, 57 families in the treeless plots and 44 families in the poplar control plot. Diversity indices did not differ among plots, except for the Shannon index, for all dates and sampling methods combined. Evenness indices and family richness measures did not differ significantly among plots, but significant differences were found among collection dates and sampling methods. The tree canopy had a greater arthropod diversity than the ground vegetation. Beneficial arthropods were found in significantly greater numbers in the agroforestry plots compared to the monocrop plots. This suggests that trees provided a more favourable habitat for beneficial arthropods than herbaceous plants. We conclude that agroforestry may contribute to increasing arthropod diversity compared with monocrops.     

The Macroanatomy of the Sacral Plexus and Its Nerves in Eurasian Eagle Owls (Bubo bubo)

This study was carried out to reveal the formation of the sacral plexus in the Eurasian Eagle Owls (Bubo bubo) and the nerves originating from this plexus. Five EEOs, three of them were male and two were female, were provided from Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Center of Kafkas University and used as materials. Following the euthanizing of the animals, abdominal cavity was opened. The nerves of plexus sacrales were dissected and photographed. It was detected that the sacral plexus was formed by the ventral ramus of five synsacral nerves. Moreover, it was determined that the roots of the sacral plexus formed three trunks: the truncus cranialis, the truncus medius and the truncus caudalis in fossa renalis. The availability of the n. ischiofemoralis and the availability of n. parafibularis were detected in the EEOs. Five branches were specified as having segregated from the sacral plexus: the n. cutaneus femoralis caudalis, the mutual root of n. fibularis with n. tibialis (n. ischiadicus), the rami musculares, the n. coxalis caudalis and the ramus muscularis. It was observed that the sacral plexus was linked to the lumbar plexus by the n. furcalis, to the pudendus plexus via the n. bigeminus. Consequently, the anatomic structure of the EEO's sacral plexus, the participating synsacral nerves to plexus and the innervation areas of these nerves were revealed.     

Genetic diversity and molecular epidemiology of the T strain of Plum pox virus

Very limited information is available on the origin, diversity and evolution of Plum pox virus (PPV) ‘Turkey’ (T) strain. Phylogenetic analyses based on partial sequences of 421 isolates and complete genome sequences of 57 isolates, representing the geographical distribution of PPV-T in Turkey, revealed the existence of several monophyletic and, in some cases, geographically limited groups within the PPV-T strain (Ankara-Konya1-Kayseri, Ankara-Balkan, Istanbul, Konya2 and Balkan). PPV-T diversity (0.018%) was found to be greater than that of PPV strains D and Rec but lower than that of the M strain when including the newly described and divergent M-Istanbul isolates, suggesting a long evolutionary history for PPV-T. The European part of Turkey in the Balkans, close to Bulgaria where PPV was identified for the first time, appears as a likely centre of origin for PPV-T isolates. The colonization of various parts of Turkey by diverse isolates from that region, followed by secondary local spread, is the most likely scenario for the diffusion of PPV-T in Turkey.     

Comparison of the reproductive potential of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Monochamus galloprovincialis</Emphasis> on two pine species under laboratory conditions

Monochamus galloprovincialis Olivier (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) is one of the vectors of the pinewood nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (Steiner and Buhrer) Nickle (Nematoda: Parasitaphelenchidae), the causal agent of pine wilt in susceptible pine trees. It is therefore important to study both the biological and ecological characteristics of the beetle. In this study reproductive potentials of female beetles reared on two pine species were investigated under laboratory conditions and compared using fertility tables constructed for beetles reared on each tree species. Beetle population parameters were compared between tree species. The intrinsic rate of increase and associated population parameters of beetles reared on Pinus sylvestris L. were consistently higher than those reared on P. nigra Arnold. This result suggests that P. sylvestris has a significantly greater positive effect on the reproductive potential of M. galloprovincialis populations than does P. nigra.     

Genetic diversity and a long evolutionary history of plum pox virus strain rec in Turkey

European Journal of Plant Pathology - Plum pox virus strain Recombinant (PPV-Rec) is hypothetically considered as homologous recombinant between strains PPV-M and PPV-D. The nucleotide position...     

Pathogenicity testing of four Bursaphelenchus species on conifer seedlings under greenhouse conditions

The pinewood nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (Steiner and Buhrer, J. Agric Res. 48, 1934, 949), Nickle (J. Nematol. 2, 1970, 375), is the causative agent of the pine wilt disease and causes serious damage to pine forests around the world. During a survey for the pinewood nematode, four other Bursaphelenchus species (Bursaphelenchus mucronatus, B. sexdentati, B. anamurius and B. vallesianus) were isolated from wilted pine trees in Turkey. To understand the effects of these Bursaphelenchus species on wilting of pine trees, a study was conducted under greenhouse conditions. Two‐year‐old seedlings of three pine species (Pinus nigra, P. brutia and P. pinea) and one cedar species (Cedrus libani) were used. Fifteen seedlings of each species were inoculated with nematodes and 10 seedlings of each species served as controls. The inoculum densities used for each seedling contained approximately 1000 (±100) nematodes of all life stages in 0.25 ml of distilled water. The first wilting symptoms were observed in the fifth week in all pine species but not in the cedar seedlings. All seeding mortality occurred between the 5th and 13th weeks of the study; no mortality was observed outside of this period. The most pathogenic nematode species was B. mucronatus, closely followed by the other species. The most susceptible seedling species was P. nigra, and C. libani was the most resistant species.     

Preliminary survey of the pinewood nematode in Turkey

A survey was conducted in the northern conifer forests of Turkey in 2003 and 2004 for the pinewood nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus . Wood samples were collected from declining pine trees, located in the following target areas: Düzce, Ankara, Bolu, and Artvin. Nematodes were extracted from over 310 samples and were observed and identified. B. xylophilus was not detected in any samples. Bursaphelenchus species were only found in 6% of the samples. From the B. xylophilus -group, only the species B. mucronatus was reported. Species identification was performed from morphological characters, particularly male spicules, and by molecular analysis with ITS-RFLP.