Zur Sch?dlingsvertilgung einiger Singvogelarten in einem Schwarzkiefern/Eichen-Mischbestand im Beynamer Wald bei Ankara

Analysis of nestling food in four species of Parus and one species of Ficedula using the 'Halsringmethode' showed a high quota of adults and caterpillars of the important forest pests: Tortrix viridana, Euproctis chrysorrhoea, Diprion pini, and Lymantria dispar. These four major pest species amounted in the nestling food of Parus major to 50%, P. coeruleus to 52.6%, P. ater to 40.9%, and Ficedula hypoleuca to 30.2%.     

Identifying autism loci and genes by tracing recent shared ancestry

To find inherited causes of autism-spectrum disorders, we studied families in which parents share ancestors, enhancing the role of inherited factors. We mapped several loci, some containing large, inherited, homozygous deletions that are likely mutations. The largest deletions implicated genes, including PCDH10 (protocadherin 10) and DIA1 (deleted in autism1, or c3orf58), whose level of expression changes in response to neuronal activity, a marker of genes involved in synaptic changes that underlie learning. A subset of genes, including NHE9 (Na+/H+ exchanger 9), showed additional potential mutations in patients with unrelated parents. Our findings highlight the utility of "homozygosity mapping" in heterogeneous disorders like autism but also suggest that defective regulation of gene expression after neural activity may be a mechanism common to seemingly diverse autism mutations.     

Olfactory response of the ladybird beetle <Emphasis Type="Italic">Stethorus gilvifrons</Emphasis> to two preys and herbivore-induced plant volatiles

The spider mites Tetranychus urticae Koch and Panonychus ulmi (Koch) (Tetranychidae) cause severe economic losses to vegetable farms and deciduous fruit orchards in Turkey. One of their predators, the ladybird beetle Stethorus gilvifrons (Muls.) (Col., Coccinellidae), aggregates on mite-infested patches of plants. The present study assessed whether there is a role for herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs) and/or odors emitted directly from these two mite species in the aggregative response of ladybird beetles. The olfactory responses of the predator females to volatiles from T. urticae- and/or P. ulmi-infested sweet pepper (four cultivars, viz. ‘Demre’, ‘Yalova Carliston’, ‘Kandil Dolma’ and ‘Yag Biberi’), kidney bean (cv. ‘Barbunya’) and apple (M9 rootstock) were investigated using a two-choice olfactometer. Our results showed that HIPVs emitted from both T. urticae- and P. ulmi-infested plants significantly attracted S. gilvifrons adults for all plants except the sweet pepper cv. Yag Biberi. In addition, it was found that volatiles from apple plants infested by T. urticae and, especially, P. ulmi are more attractive for S. gilvifrons females than those emitted by other infested plants. The results also suggest that the odors of T. urticae adults and their products might influence the attraction of S. gilvifrons females.     

The colonization preference and population trends of larval fig psylla, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Homotoma ficus</Emphasis> L. (Hemiptera: Homotomidae)

The colonization preference and population trends of larval fig psylla Homotoma ficus L. were studied in Bursa, northwestern Turkey, from March 2000 to July 2001. Homotoma ficus overwintered at the egg stage on terminal buds and lenticels of shoots. Larval emergence occurred on 30th and 11th March in 2000 and 2001, respectively. Degree-day (DD) accumulations since 1st January indicate that the emergence of first larvae averaged 47 DD based on the larval developmental threshold of 10.9°C. Although the population trends of Homotoma ficus larvae were affected by temperature and rainfall, there was only significant relationship between larval abundance and temperature. The first instar larvae significantly preferred the bottom and the inside stipule of leaves. The second instar larvae distributed not only on expanding green tissues but also on both the upper and lower surface of leaves corresponding to the fig bud development period. Third to fifth instars colonized significantly greater on the bottom of leaves compared with the stipule and upper surface. In addition, significant linear relationship was found between fig phenology and cumulative larval counts. The importance of the colonization preference of larval instars and the use of fig phenology as well as DD for timing of insecticide treatments are discussed.     

In vitro inhibition of the carbonic anhydrase from saanen goat (Capra hircus) with pesticides

This study was conducted to determine the in vitro effects of four commonly used pesticides (Nuarimol™, Fenarimol™, Parathion-methyl™ and 2,4-D™) on erythrocyte carbonic anhydrase (CA) activity from Saanen goats (SG). The enzyme was 262.57-fold purified by affinity chromatography and the purity was confirmed by SDS-PAGE. Inhibitory effect of the pesticides on the purified enzyme was determined using the CO₂-hydratase activity method. IC₅₀ values of the pesticides that caused inhibition were determined by means of activity percentage diagrams. The concentrations of Nuarimol™, Fenarimol™, and 2,4-D™ that inhibited 50% of the enzymatic activity were 0.352, 0.924 and 2.04 mM, respectively. Conversely, the enzyme activity was increased by parathion-methyl.     

The Effect of Total Anthocyanins Extracted From Sweet Cherry Cultivars on Carbonic Anhydrases and Antioxidant Activity

Total anthocyanins were extracted from eleven sweet cherry cultivars grown in Sakarya, Turkey. In vitro inhibition effects of extracted total anthocyanins on purified carbonic anhydrase I and II were investigated by using CO₂ as a substrate. The results showed that all extracted total anthocyanins inhibited the hCA I and hCA II enzyme activities. Among all cultivars, ‘Merton Premier’ was found to be the most active one against both hCA I (IC₅₀?=?0.83?µg/mL) and hCA II (IC₅₀?=?1.16?µg/mL). Additionally, the DPPH activities of the extracts were investigated as antioxidant properties. The results exhibited that ‘Churchill’ and ‘Merton Premier’ have high antioxidant activity with 74.102% and 73.503% DPPH activity, respectively.

     

Inheritance of resistance to Verticillium wilt (Verticillium dahliae) in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)

Verticillium wilt, caused by Verticillium dahliae Kleb., is a major constraint to cotton production in almost all countries where cotton is cultivated. Developing new cotton cultivars resistant to Verticillium wilt is the most effective and feasible way to combat the problem. Little is known about the inheritance of resistance to Verticillium wilt of cotton, especially that caused by the defoliating (D) and nondefoliating (ND) pathotypes of the soil‐borne fungus V. dahliae. The objective of this study was to determine the inheritance of resistance in cotton against both pathotypes of V. dahliae. Crosses were made between the susceptible parent ‘Cukurova 1518’ and each of four resistant parents PAUM 401, PAUM 403, PAUM 405 and PAUM 406 to produce F₂ generations in 2002 and F_2:3 families in 2003. Disease responses of parent and progeny populations to the D and ND pathotypes were scored based on a scale of 0‐4 (0, resistant; 4, susceptible). F₂ populations inoculated with the D pathotype showed a 3 : 1 (resistant : susceptible) plant segregation ratio. Tests of F_2:3 families confirmed that resistance was controlled by a single dominant gene. In contrast, analysis of data from F₂‐ and F₂‐derived F₃ families suggested that resistance to the ND pathotype is controlled by dominant alleles at two loci.     

Sampling and development of economic injury levels for Anthonomus rubi Herbst adults

Field studies were conducted in northwestern Turkey from 1998–2000 to examine population dynamics of adult strawberry blossom weevils (Anthonomus rubi Herbst), and to establish economic injury levels based on the relationship between densities of overwintered adults and yield losses. Adult weevils were sampled weekly in untreated and insecticide-treated plots using a sweep net. Sweep net catches showed that the abundance of A. rubi adults had two peaks; the first between late-April and early-May, and the second between late-June and mid-July. Linear regression revealed a strong relationship between overwintered and new-generation adult densities. The overwintered-generation adults had generally higher mean population densities than the new-generation. A significant linear decrease was observed in strawberry yields as densities of overwintered-generation adults increased. Percentage yield losses varied between 1.64% and 13.42% among sites. Estimated economic injury levels ranged from 1.00 to 4.00 adults per sweep depending on the management scenario, control cost, control efficacy, and crop value.     

Synthesis,Characterization, and Use of Carbon Microspheres for Removal of Different Dyes from Aqueous Environments

Water, Air, & Soil Pollution - Sustainable groundwater quality has become a major concern for the agro-based country like Bangladesh. Integrated approaches of various irrigation water quality...     

Zur Sch?dlingsvertilgung einiger Singvogelarten in einem Schwarzkiefern/Eichen-Mischbestand im Beynamer Wald bei Ankara

Analysis of nestling food in four species of Parus and one species of Ficedula using the 'Halsringmethode' showed a high quota of adults and caterpillars of the important forest pests: Tortrix viridana, Euproctis chrysorrhoea, Diprion pini, and Lymantria dispar. These four major pest species amounted in the nestling food of Parus major to 50%, P. coeruleus to 52.6%, P. ater to 40.9%, and Ficedula hypoleuca to 30.2%.