Showing papers in "Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry in 2019"
TL;DR: Honeysuckle berries are becoming an attractive organically grown fruit with many aspects as a new functional food as discussed by the authors. They have the benefit of containing health-promoting compounds, such as saponins, ascorbic acid, iridoids, flavonoids and anthocyanins.
Abstract: Honeysuckle berries are becoming an attractive organically grown fruit with many aspects as a new functional food. They have the benefit of containing health-promoting compounds, such as saponins, ascorbic acid, iridoids, flavonoids, and anthocyanins. Fruit berries can be processed into many products with various contents of selected bioactive compounds. The contents of individual compounds were identified with the aid of high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrophotometry. Their concentrations significantly differed among the various food products. Ascorbic acid had the highest values in blue honeysuckle spread (302.02 mg/100 g of dry weight), while infusion (119.17 mg/100 g) and juice (118.17 mg/100 g) had the lowest values. All the food products had low sugar contents. Of the health beneficial phenolic compounds honeysuckle spread had the highest content (1753.54 mg/100 g) and honeysuckle infusion (196.61 mg/100 g) had the lowest content. Honeysuckle liqueur and smoothie also had high total analyzed phenolic contents (1138.75 mg/100 g and 1108.25 mg/100 g, respectively).
37 citations
TL;DR: It is shown that MeJA and SA could effectively be used as potent elicitors to enhance the production of camphor and phenolic compounds, along with cell growth, in cell suspension cultures of the endemic Turkish yarrow species Achillea gypsicola.
Abstract: Elicitors have been widely used as biotic and abiotic stimulants in triggering the production of secondary metabolites in plant cell culture. The present study aimed to enhance the production of camphor and phenolic compounds and cell growth using methyl jasmonate (MeJA) and salicylic acid (SA) in the cell suspension culture of Turkish endemic species Achillea gypsicola. Various concentrations (0, 10, 50, and 100 μM) of MeJA and SA were applied to 8-day-old cell cultures. The camphor and phenolic compound contents were determined using a headspace gas chromatographic-mass spectrometer device and spectrophotometer. Increasing doses of MeJA and SA significantly enhanced the accumulation of the camphor and phenolic compounds in general. The highest amount of camphor accumulation occurred in cells treated with 100 μM MeJA (0.3449 μg/g) and 50 μM SA (0.3816 μg/g). Increasing concentrations of MeJA resulted in a significant decrease in the total anthocyanin when compared to the initial culture. The present study showed that MeJA and SA could effectively be used as potent elicitors to enhance the production of camphor and phenolic compounds, along with cell growth, in cell suspension cultures of the endemic Turkish yarrow species Achillea gypsicola.
24 citations
TL;DR: It is hoped that this research will help clarify the role of language in the training of interpreters and improve the quality of communication between teachers and students.
Abstract: Most members of the family Lamiaceae are of considerable importance in areas such as medicine, food, cosmetics, and perfumery, as they are rich in essential oils, aromatic oils, and secondary metabolites. Sage, a member of this family, is the generic name for species of the genus Salvia. The genus Salvia has approximately 900 species worldwide. There are 99 species of the genus Salvia L. in Turkey; 51 of these species are endemic. The local name of S. virgata is "yilancik" or "fatmanaotu" in Turkey, and it is used for the treatment of wounds and various skin diseases. In addition, a decoction prepared by using aerial parts of this species is used to prevent blood cancer. In this study, essential oil composition and heavy metal and nutrient element contents (aluminum, cadmium, cobalt, chrome, nickel, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, sulfur, iron, copper, zinc, manganese, boron, and sodium) of S. virgata grown in Yozgat, Turkey, under local ecological conditions were determined using standard analytical processes. The essential oil content in the aerial parts of S. virgata harvested during full flowering was 0.01% (w/w). The principal constituents of the essential oil were pentacosane (20.09%), caryophyllene oxide (6.90%), phytol (6.83%), spathulenol (6.09%), and nonacosane (5.15%). The highest macroand micromineral contents were Ca and K, and Fe and Na, respectively. The accumulated concentrations of the three metals found were lower than the maximum allowed for human consumption without health risks.
23 citations
TL;DR: Tree growth, productivity, fruit quality attributes, and antioxidant activity were tested in apple cultivar Idared under different fertilization treatments from the 22nd to the 23rd year after planting in a heavy acidic soil under western Serbian conditions and showed that Idared trees were more vigorous when fertilized with the two N fertilizers.
Abstract: Tree growth, productivity, fruit quality attributes, and antioxidant activity were tested in apple cultivar Idared under different fertilization treatments from the 22nd to the 23rd year after planting in a heavy acidic soil under western Serbian conditions. Treatments included the use of aged cattle manure, compound NPK (15:15:15) mineral fertilizer, a multinutrient fertilizer commercially named Italpolina (ITP) (NPK + organic carbon + humic acids), two types of N mineral fertilizers (calcium ammonium nitrate [CAN] and urea), and control (no fertilization). Results showed that Idared trees were more vigorous when fertilized with the two N fertilizers than when treated with another mineral, organic, or multinutrient fertilizer. Urea promoted the highest yield per tree and unit area, while yield efficiency was the highest in the control and those under treatment with urea, compound NPK, and manure. Fertilizer regimes had a significant effect on fruit weight and flesh firmness, but their effects on fruit size and dimension ratio were not significant. Compound NPK resulted in the greatest fruit weight, whereas firmness and soluble solids content were the highest in manure treatment. Titratable acidity (TA) was the highest in control trees and after CAN application, while urea induced the highest ripening index. Fertilizer treatments had no significant effect on the contents of invert sugars, sucrose, and total sugars (TS). The TS/TA ratio was highest under urea treatment and lowest in the control and under CAN application. ITP led to the highest values for total phenolics, total nonflavonoids, and total antioxidant capacity, while the highest total flavonoid content was obtained with compound NPK.
23 citations
TL;DR: The results indicated that the highest berry dimensions (height and width) and soluble solid content were obtained from Genotype 2, harvested in June, indicating great variations in both the genotypes and, in particular, the sampling months.
Abstract: Goji berry is a lesser-known fruit species and its berries have been used in traditional medicine for centuries as remedies to treat eye, liver, and kidney ailments, as well as for the prevention of cancer symptoms due to its high phytochemical content. This study aimed to investigate changes in the pomological, biochemical, and phytochemical properties of the berries of 4 goji berry genotypes harvested during 4 months (June, July, August, and September) of the same year. The results indicated that the highest berry dimensions (height and width) and soluble solid content were obtained from Genotype 2, harvested in June. The vitamin C, total phenolic, and total anthocyanin contents and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl-hydrate values were between 69.06 and 169.96 mg/100 mL, 219.07 and 558.74 mg GAE/L, 2.73 and 107.94 mg/L, and 75.03 and 500.87 μL/mL, respectively, according to the genotypes and harvest months based on a 3-year (2015-2017) average, indicating great variations in both the genotypes and, in particular, the sampling months. Therefore, consumers must take into consideration the harvest times and berries of the genotypes in order to obtain better contents in the berries for human health.
23 citations
TL;DR: It is indicated that the SSR markers could be utilized as a reliable tool for the determination of genetic variations and relationships of quince accessions in the Yozgat Karanlikdere Valley.
Abstract: In Turkey, quince (Cydonia oblonga Mill.) is found as both a wild and a cultivated tree species. The Karanlikdere Valley is a pit area between Şefaatli and Yerkoy districts in Yozgat Province that originates from the River Delice. Members of the Yozgat Karanlikdere Valley quince population, containing 17 quince accessions and 15 commercial quince cultivars, were DNA fingerprinted using 30 simple sequence repeat (SSR) primers to identify the genetic relationships among them. A total of 111 alleles were detected for all 32 accessions, and the number of alleles revealed by SSR analysis ranged from 2 to 10 alleles per locus with a mean value of 3.70 alleles per locus. The Ms06g03 primer gave the highest number of alleles (Na = 10). Polymorphism information content (PIC) values ranged from 0.20 (CH05e04) to 0.78 (Ms06g03) with a mean PIC value of 0.45. Structure analysis and unweighted pair group method with arithmetic average (UPGMA) clustering of the accessions depicted three major clusters, where several pairs of accessions could not be separated. This study indicated that the SSR markers could be utilized as a reliable tool for the determination of genetic variations and relationships of quince accessions. Furthermore, the results of this study will be useful for starting a cross-breeding cultivar program for quince.
21 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the changes in chlorophyll and ion contents, lipid peroxidation level, and antioxidative enzyme activities of 4 eggplant genotypes (Mardin Kiziltepe (MK), Burdur Merkez (BM), Artvin Hopa (AH), and Kemer (K)) with different salt tolerance levels under drought stress.
Abstract: This study was carried out to determine the changes in chlorophyll and ion contents, lipid peroxidation level, and antioxidative enzyme activities of 4 eggplant genotypes (Mardin Kiziltepe (MK), Burdur Merkez (BM), Artvin Hopa (AH), and Kemer (K)) with different salt tolerance levels under drought stress. Experiments were conducted in a greenhouse with controlled climatic conditions. When the plants reached the 3-4 leaves stage, 3 different treatments were applied to create the drought levels. The first condition in the study was obtained through control application treatment (D0), which was depletion of 40% of the available water holding capacity. The second application (D1) was depletion of 90% of the available water holding capacity. The third application (D2) was no applied irrigation water. Plants were analyzed with regards to chlorophyll and ion contents, lipid peroxidation levels, and antioxidative enzyme activities. Significant differences were observed among interactions of genotypes and levels of drought stress in chlorophyll and ion (K+, Ca2+, Zn2+, Mn2+, and Fe2+) contents, lipid peroxidation levels, and activities of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase-SOD, catalase-CAT, glutathione reductase-GR, and ascorbate peroxidase-APX). The chlorophyll and ion contents of eggplant genotypes under drought stress decreased. However, different levels of lipid peroxidation and antioxidative enzyme activities were observed. The situation changed depending on genotypes. Lipid peroxidation levels increased under drought stress, especially in salt-sensitive genotypes (AH and K). On the other hand, the activities of antioxidative enzymes in the salt tolerant MK and BM genotypes significantly increased. With regard to the investigated traits, salt-tolerant genotypes were also found to be quite tolerant against drought stress.
21 citations
TL;DR: It was concluded that it would be more appropriate to use the Pixy and Tokaloglu rootstock in dry apricot cultivars and to use Myrobolan GF-31 and Tok analoglu rootstocks in fresh apricOT cultivars.
Abstract: The phytochemical influence of rootstocks on the Hacihaliloglu apricot cultivar was examined in this study. Myrobolan 29-C, Myrobolan GF-31, Marianna 2624, Pixy, and Tokaloglu rootstocks were used and organic acid, sugars, vitamin C, total antioxidant capacity, and phenolic compounds were identified. The highest phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacity were observed in Tokaloglu rootstock. While Myrobolan GF-31 stood out in terms of organic acids and vitamin C, Pixy stood out in terms of sugar. The highest sugar content (sucrose) was recorded as 24.178 mg 100 g-1 in 'Pixy'. It was determined that Tokaloglu rootstock had increased organic acid (1030.730 mg 100 g-1 malic acid), phenolic compounds (219.440 mg 100 g-1 chlorogenic acid), and antioxidant capacity (13.887 mg Trolox equivalent 100 g-1). Negative correlation was observed between malic acid and both glucose and sucrose. However, positive correlation was identified between catechin, chlorogenic, ferulic, and p-coumaric acid. Similarly, a linear correlation was identified between fumaric acid and antioxidant capacity. It was concluded that it would be more appropriate to use the Pixy and Tokaloglu rootstocks in dry apricot cultivars and to use Myrobolan GF-31 and Tokaloglu rootstocks in fresh apricot cultivars.
20 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the response to salinity stress (100 mM, 200 mM, and 300 mM NaCl concentration) exposure of the commercially valuable medicinal plant Stevia rebaudiana during micropropagation for 4 weeks was reported.
Abstract: This study reports the response to salinity stress (100 mM, 200 mM, and 300 mM NaCl concentration) exposure of the commercially valuable medicinal plant Stevia rebaudiana during micropropagation for 4 weeks. The significant enhancement of physiological parameters, steviol glycosides (SGs), i.e. rebaudioside A and stevioside, as examined by high-performance liquid chromatography, and nonenzymatic antioxidant activities, i.e. total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, total antioxidant capacity, total reducing power, and DPPH-free radical scavenging activity, was observed during the shoot formation process under up to 100 mM NaCl stress. Callus formation produced similar results regarding physiology and antioxidant assays, except that it produced merely a negligible amount of SGs. Contrarily, root formation showed marked susceptibility to 100 mM, 200 mM, and 300 mM NaCl concentrations and reduced growth parameters, sweetening compounds, and secondary metabolites. Hence, NaCl plays the role of abiotic stress elicitor, causing accumulation of reactive oxygen species and thus altering metabolic processes and physiology of Stevia under in vitro culture conditions.
17 citations
TL;DR: The research results showed that the shearing stress of sainfoin stem increased as the moisture content increased, but decreased towards the upper internode of the stem.
Abstract: The effects of moisture content, internode region, and oblique angle on several mechanical properties of sainfoin stem were determined. The selected mechanical properties used were the shearing stress, specific shearing energy, bending stress, and modulus of elasticity when bending. The experiments were carried out with wet basis (WB) moisture contents of 71.76%, 45.57%, and 25.57%, at the third and second internode regions from the bottom up to the top, and 2 oblique angles (0° and 28°). The research results showed that the shearing stress of sainfoin stem increased as the moisture content increased, but decreased towards the upper internode of the stem. With the same moisture content, the shearing stress values obtained at an oblique angle of 28° were lower than those at an oblique angle of 0°. The maximum shearing stress and specific shearing energy were 5.76 MPa and 16.65 mJ mm-2 with a WB moisture content of 71.76% and an oblique angle of 0° at the first internode, respectively. The bending stress increased with decreasing moisture content. The maximum bending stress was 36.45 MPa for the lower region with a WB moisture content of 25.57% and the modulus of elasticity when bending decreased with an increase in the moisture content, and it was towards the upper region. The average modulus of elasticity values varied between 1.60 and 0.64 GPa.
16 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the effects of fertilization practices and cultivar on garlic yield and allicin content in garlic bulbs were evaluated at harvest and during storage, showing that the effect was dependent on genotypic characteristics modified by ontogenesis and environmental conditions.
Abstract: Allicin, one of the most important flavor compounds in garlic bulbs, is affected by genotypic characteristics modified by ontogenesis, environmental conditions, fertilization practices, and storage duration. Therefore, the effects of fertilization practices and cultivar on garlic yield and allicin content in garlic bulbs were evaluated at harvest and during storage. One autochthonous (Ptujski spomladanski) and three commercial cultivars (Garcua, Gardacho, and Gardos) were used, and three fertilization treatments (N90S0 - 90 kg N ha-1, N90S60 - 90 kg N ha-1 +60 kg S ha-1, and N0S0 - control) were performed during two growing seasons. After the harvest, 32 bulbs per treatment were stored for 4 months at a constant temperature of 15-18 °C and relative humidity of 45% in a shaded and ventilated room. A representative subsample of 8 bulbs per treatment was taken immediately after harvesting, and then 45, 90, and 120 days after harvest (DAH). Clear effects of nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) supply were expressed, with measurements of the yield being higher on fertilized plots compared to the unfertilized ones, and the impact was cultivar-dependent. N and S fertilization significantly increased the allicin content of Gardos bulbs, while for other cultivars, the allicin content was dependent on weather conditions, revealed in decreased allicin in the year with lower temperature and excessive precipitation. When garlic was stored at 15?18 °C for 120 days, a sharp increase was observed in allicin content between 45 and 90 DAH, while the S status in garlic bulbs was unchanged, which indicated a conversion effect of γ-glutamyl peptides to sulfoxides, a precursor compound for allicin. Changes in the allicin content during storage showed an N fertilization-related pattern, being correlated with the modification of bulb dormancy.
TL;DR: The effects of flurprimidol, paclobutrazol, and ethephon treatment as soil drench on plant height and quantitative and other properties of native narcissus (Narcissus tazetta L.) plants grown in pots were investigated.
Abstract: The effects of flurprimidol, paclobutrazol, and ethephon treatment as soil drench on plant height and quantitative and other properties of native narcissus (Narcissus tazetta L.) plants grown in pots were investigated. When the plants were 7?10 cm tall, flurprimidol and paclobutrazol at 0, 1, and 2 mg/pot and ethephon at 0, 37.5, and 75 mg/pot were applied as soil drenches. The effects of plant growth retardant treatments on plant height, leaf length, time of flowering, number of flowers, and flower life were determined. In addition, quantitative measurements (leaf area ratio, specific leaf area, leaf thickness, leaf weight ratio, and stem weight ratio) were analyzed in native narcissus. When narcissus grown in pots in the greenhouse reached the sale stage, the plants were taken to the laboratory at 20 °C to evaluate the postproduction life and quality of pot plants. Flurprimidol, paclobutrazol, and ethephon shortened plant height. The shortest plant height was obtained from 2 mg/pot paclobutrazol; plant height was 5.42 cm, 65% shorter than the untreated controls. Chemical applications also shortened leaf length. The shortest leaf length (13.25 cm) was obtained from the 2 mg/pot paclobutrazol treatment. The chemical treatment decreased the leaf area ratio and specific leaf area, but increased the leaf thickness and leaf weight ratio compared to the control plants. The effects of treatments on plant height continued in laboratory (home-office) conditions after production. The shortest plant height (9.5 cm) was obtained from the 2 mg/pot paclobutrazol treatment, whereas the height of untreated control plants was 24.25 cm during the postproduction life of pot plants.
TL;DR: Apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.) genotypes originating from different plant collections were screened and characterized by SSR markers, and the Dice coefficient confirmed the effectiveness of SSRs for distinguishing between plants from ex situ collections and preserved plants.
Abstract: Apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.) genotypes originating from different plant collections (field collection, in vitro plant collections undergoing or not undergoing cryopreservation) were screened and characterized by SSR markers. Shoot tips excised from plants grown in vitro were successfully cryopreserved by encapsulation-dehydration. The highest regrowth frequency (69%, cultivar Goldrush) of cryopreserved apices was achieved after 24 h of osmoprotection in 0.5 M sucrose, 3 h of desiccation, and 24% water content of alginate beads. No differences in morphological characteristics including shoot length and number and length of roots were observed between controls and plants recovered after cryopreservation. SSR markers were used for calculation of genetic similarities between plants from the field collection, in vitro-micropropagated plants, or plants regenerated after liquid nitrogen storage. The set of microsatellite markers showed a low level of polymorphism among the studied genotypes, which could be distinguished by a specific combination of alleles generated by CH03g07, CH05c02, CH05d11, and CH05e03 primers. The CH03g07, CH05c02, CH05d11, CH05e03, GD96, GD147, and GD162 SSR markers exhibited low levels of polymorphism, while CH04AE07, CH04g10, GD100, and GD142 were nonpolymorphic. The Dice coefficient confirmed the effectiveness of SSRs for distinguishing between plants from ex situ collections and preserved plants. No major differences between ex situ plants, micropropagated plants, and plants recovered after cryopreservation were observed.
TL;DR: The grain, leaf, and soil Zn contents were higher with increasing levels of Zn, and the highest grain yield was 15 kg ha-1 Zn in both years, according to the regression analysis.
Abstract: This research aimed to determine the effects of different zinc (Zn) levels on the grain yield and some phenological characteristics of the Firat-87 red lentil variety (Lens culinaris Medic.). The study was conducted during the winter months of 2013-2014 and 2014- 2015 in Zn-deficit areas of Sanliurfa, Turkey. The experimental design was a randomized complete block design with 4 replicates. The Firat-87 lentil variety and Zn sulfate (ZnSO4.7H2O) were used as the plant material and Zn source, respectively. The Zn levels used were the control (0 kg ha-1 Zn), 5 kg ha-1 Zn, 10 kg ha-1 Zn, 15 kg ha-1 Zn, 20 kg ha-1 Zn, and 25 kg ha-1 Zn. The Zn levels were significant (P ≤ 0.01) for the harvest index, 1000-kernel weight, protein rate, and grain yield. All of the tested characteristics were positively affected by increasing applications of Zn. The grain, leaf, and soil Zn contents were higher with increasing levels of Zn. Although the highest grain yield was 15 kg ha-1 Zn in both years, according to the regression analysis, the optimum Zn level was 17 kg ha-1 Zn. However, the economic Zn level was determined as 15 kg ha-1 Zn.
TL;DR: It is found that whole-genome polymorphisms and genetic differences were high and exhibited broad prospects for genetic improvement, including genetic mutations in genes associated with embryo sac fertility in polyploid rice require further studies.
Abstract: Autotetraploid rice is a new germplasm resource obtained by doubling chromosomes through colchicine treatment. There have been many studies on the reproductive characteristics of autotetraploid rice, but little is known about global DNA variations and reasons for low embryo sac fertility in autotetraploid rice. Therefore, an autotetraploid rice line (T446) was used for resequencing and embryo sac fertility was observed. Whole-genome resequencing data revealed 87,229 SNPs and 11,022 InDels in the genome of T446 versus E246 (diploid rice), which had an average of 23.37 SNPs and 2.95 InDels per 100 kb. A total of 17,375 and 17,171 structural variations and 131 and 128 copy number variations were identified in the autotetraploid and its diploid counterpart, respectively. We detected 140 large-effects SNPs and InDel variants that might be related to the embryo sac fertility of autotetraploid rice, including 10 genes that may be closely associated with the development of the embryo sac. Of these, Os02g0292600 and Os06g0565200 were specifically expressed in the ovary. Mature embryo sac fertility was observed through whole-mount eosin B-staining confocal laser scanning microscopy. Many abnormalities were found in the embryo sac of T446, including embryo sac degeneration, embryo sac without female germ unit, abnormal polar nuclei, and poly-eggs, which, in turn, resulted in low seed set. However, whole-genome polymorphisms and genetic differences were high and exhibited broad prospects for genetic improvement. Genetic mutations in genes associated with embryo sac fertility in polyploid rice require further studies.
TL;DR: It was determined that both embryo formation and haploid plant development varied depending on genotype and cultivation period, and the highest percentage of haploid embryos was obtained from the Inan3363 variety, known to be tolerant to high temperature.
Abstract: Pure lines of 3 pepper genotypes, including one tolerant (Alata 421) and one intolerant (Alata 195) to lower temperatures and one intolerant (Alata 277A) to higher temperatures, together with one variety (Inan3363) tolerant to higher temperatures, were selected from the pepper collection of Alata Horticultural Research Institute (Mersin, Turkey) Two different culture media (Medium 1 - Murashige and Skoog [MS] + 4 mg L-1 naphthalene acetic acid [NAA] + 01 mg L-1 6-benzylaminopurine [BAP] + 025% activated charcoal + 8 g L-1 agar + 30 g L-1 sucrose + 15 mg L-1 silver nitrate [AgNO3]; Medium 2 - MS + 4 mg L-1 NAA + 05 mg L-1 BAP + 025% activated charcoal + 8 g L-1 agar + 30 g L-1 sucrose + 15 mg L-1 AgNO3) were used in this study The anthers were cultured during different periods (12 months) in order to determine the highest embryo formation and haploid plant regeneration In addition, all anthers were taken before culturing and on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 8th, and 14th days of different months and were fixed with Carnoy's solution Development of microspores was observed cytologically using 4'-6-diamidino-2-phenylindole-2HCl (DAPI) and with acetocarmine stain At the end of the study, it was determined that both embryo formation and haploid plant development varied depending on genotype and cultivation period No significant differences in the number of embryos obtained were observed between the nutrient media The highest percentage of haploid embryos was obtained from the Inan3363 variety, known to be tolerant to high temperature In addition, the androgenic capacity of the Inan3363 variety increased to 65% during some anther culture cultivation periods The anthers cultured in September and July?August produced the highest yielding results compared with the other periods in terms of number of haploid embryos Obtaining healthy and developed plants from the embryos was more successful in April, August, September, March, and May than in the other months Studies on the microspores revealed that the high percentage of uninucleate phase at the beginning of the culture decreased rapidly in the following days
TL;DR: The objective of the study was to develop and test an automatic machine vision-based spraying robot for the detection, tracking, and spraying of artificial weeds by using LabVIEW programming language and the greenness method was used to distinguish green objects in the image.
Abstract: The objective of the study was to develop and test an automatic machine vision-based spraying robot for the detection, tracking, and spraying of artificial weeds by using LabVIEW programming language. The greenness method was used to distinguish green objects in the image. A time-controlled spray nozzle was run according to the presence of an artificial weed and its coordinates. A mobile test bench was built and the spraying system with a webcam was operated at speeds of 0.42, 0.54, 0.66, 0.78, and 0.90 km h-1, so as to be able to see the performance of the system. The amount of deposits on the ground in the spray pattern was evaluated on the test area and used in comparisons for site specific and broadcast spraying methods. A spraying solution containing brilliant sulpho-flavin (BSF) tracer (0.4 g L-1) and filter papers were used to compare the deposition of spray pattern achieved on the ground with both methods. According to the results, site-specific spraying application saved on average 89.48%, 79.98%, and 73.93% application volumes for 500 ms, 1000 ms, and 1500 ms spraying durations, respectively, at all spraying speeds is compared to broadcast spraying application. As one would expect, deposits on the filter papers decreased with increasing spraying speed. In addition, operating the system with 1000 ms nozzle controlled site specific spraying at different speeds did not cause a significant difference in the amount of deposits in the spray pattern and spraying accuracy as compared to the broadcast spraying method.
TL;DR: Used in the collaborative project for molecular identification of selected and improved clones, the identified SSR loci constitute a strong tool for a large panoply of applied and fundamental studies of this emerging fruit crop.
Abstract: Strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo L.), an evergreen shrub/small tree of the family Ericaceae, is a main constituent of the Mediterranean basin flora; although it is also found in southwestern France, Macaronesia, and Ireland. The small fruits are edible but mostly used for preparation of preserves and jams, and for liquors such as the Portuguese traditional "aguardente de medronho". Traditionally cultivated by small farmers, often in consociation with Quercus sp., strawberry tree is presently emerging as a new important fruit crop cultivated in large orchards by modern export-oriented enterprises. This change of paradigm requires a growing role of plant breeding, upstream of the production process. Genomic tools for this species are mostly limited to the chloroplast genome sequence and to genomic data described in this work. In order to identify strawberry tree microsatellite (SSR) loci we performed partial genome next-generation sequencing using the Ion Torrent technology. The sequenced ~24.6M nucleotides resulted in the identification of 1185 microsatellite markers mostly constituted by dinucleotide motifs. The relative amount of microsatellite dinucleotide motifs (AG/ CT - 71.7%, AC/GT - 20.5%, AT/AT - 2.9%, and CG/CG - 0.3%) is similar to the one observed in other Ericaceae species. Among a tested sample of 40 SSR primer pairs, 20 amplified well-defined PCR products, 12 (30%) were validated as polymorphic. Used in our collaborative project for molecular identification of selected and improved clones, the identified SSR loci constitute a strong tool for a large panoply of applied and fundamental studies of this emerging fruit crop.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors improved the micro-propagation protocol of Myrobalan 29C (Prunus cerasifera Ehrh.) rootstock using shoot-tip culture.
Abstract: Stone fruits are well known for their high nutritional value. Therefore, in horticulture, the micropropagation of suitable rootstocks is vital for their cultivation. The aim of the present study was to improve the micropropagation protocol of Myrobalan 29C (Prunus cerasifera Ehrh.) rootstock using shoot-tip culture. Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium containing 2 mg L-1 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) and 0.05 mg L-1 gibberellic acid (GA3) resulted in the highest number (14.3) of multiple shoots. However, a greater shoot length (2.0 cm) was attained when GA3 was excluded from the MS medium and the concentration of BAP was reduced to 1 mg L-1. Root induction was best in ½MS medium containing 0.5 mg L-1 indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), 0.5 mg L-1 α-naphthaleneacetic acid, and 10 mL L-1 (≈13 mg L-1 Fe) ethylenediamine di-2-hydroxyphenyl acetate ferric with 7.0 roots per explant. On the other hand, the longest root (12.5 cm) was obtained from increased concentration to 1 mg L-1 of IBA. The establishment of a well-defined micropropagation protocol will lead to further biotechnological improvement of this crop.
TL;DR: The MAP bags significantly reduced the loss of titratable acidity and ascorbic acid content and retarded husk discoloration of the fruit during cold storage and the shelf life period and the incidence of fungal decay was lower in fruit packaged with MAP bags than unpackaged fruit.
Abstract: This study compared the postharvest quality of Hicaznar pomegranate fruit unpackaged and packaged with 5-kg or 12-kg bags of two different modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) materials (X5, X12, L5, and L12) during 6 months of storage at 6 °C. The fruits were also evaluated during a simulated shelf life period at 20 °C for 7 days after each cold storage period. The MAP bags significantly reduced the loss of titratable acidity and ascorbic acid content and retarded husk discoloration of the fruit during cold storage and the shelf life period. The incidence of fungal decay was lower in fruit packaged with MAP bags than unpackaged fruit. X5 and X12 MAP bags were more effective in reducing weight loss and husk scald than L5 and L12 MAP bags. X5 and X12 MAP bags maintained initial red aril color intensity and antioxidant properties of Hicaznar pomegranates throughout cold storage and the shelf life period. Unpackaged control fruit remained marketable for only 4 months at 6 °C plus shelf life period, while packaged fruit maintained visual quality for up to 6 months at 6 °C plus shelf life period.
TL;DR: The results suggest that PAs might lead to physiological changes during the growth and development stages of pistachios, and a strong relationship was observed.
Abstract: Alternate bearing is a significant economic problem adversely affecting the producers, consumers, and economy of a country. In the present study, we a...
TL;DR: Findings from this study demonstrated that criollo avocado genetics are unique in Antioquia, since the species has been naturally crossed in the field and its closest accession is from Guatemala.
Abstract: In this study, the genetic diversity of 90 avocado (Persea americana Mill) cultivars from Antioquia (Colombia) was compared to 67 germplasm collection accessions using 14 microsatellites. An average of 4.32 ± 2.0 alleles per locus was found, as observed in previous studies. The expected and observed heterozygosity ranges were 0.384-0.724 and 0.393-0.686, respectively. The Antioquian avocados were genetically structured according to an analysis of molecular variance test (fixation index (FST) = 0.054, P < 0.00001). An unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA) dendrogram with FST paired data produced 2 clusters: one composed by Antioquian avocados and the other by the germplasm collection. Another UPGMA dendrogram with individual Nei-Li distances and additional STRUCTURE analysis separated the Antioquian avocados into 3 clusters (K = 3). Combining samples from the Colombian and germplasm collections produced K = 2. Genetic differentiations between the Antioquian and worldwide avocado germplasm collection could be due to crosses within the Antioquian avocados having been enhanced by insect pollinators, whereas avocados stored in the germplasm collection were constituted by cultivars with known genetic origins. Findings from this study demonstrated that criollo avocado genetics are unique in Antioquia, since the species has been naturally crossed in the field and its closest accession is from Guatemala. Nevertheless, it is important to continue genotyping this species in other locations in Colombia from Sylvester and cultivar populations of this crop to determine its origin.
TL;DR: In this paper, the use of ethephon and mepiquat chloride for reduction of damage to flowering and fruit set caused by late spring frosts in Black Diamond plum was investigated.
Abstract: This study was carried out in 2015 and 2016 to investigate the use of ethephon and mepiquat chloride for reduction of damage to flowering and fruit set caused by late spring frosts in Black Diamond plum. The single treatment of mepiquat chloride delayed full blooming by 5 days, while the ethephon treatment delayed blooming by 7 days. The interactive effect of the chemicals yielded more positive results in the delay of blooming, causing a delay of up to 11 days. An increase in fruit set was observed along with blooming. The fruit set percentage of the control was 4.18%, while it reached 21.28% with the combination of the chemicals. Combined or single applications of the chemicals resulted in a decrease in all phytochemical properties, except for vitamin C. In the control, total anthocyanin, total phenol, soluble solids content, and antioxidant capacity were 67.95 mg 100 mL-1, 1056.00 mg L-1, 19.68%, and 27.05 mmol L-1, respectively. In the treatment groups these values were reduced to 39.02 mg 100 mL-1, 854.90 mg L-1, 16.98%, and 21.32 mmol L-1, respectively. An ethephon treatment of 4000 ppm led to blighted branches and gummosis. The combined effect of higher mepiquat chloride (150 ppm) and lower ethephon (2000 ppm) doses are believed to contribute to reduction of damage caused by late spring frosts.
TL;DR: It was determined that PGPR treatments play a significant role in mineral nutrient uptake and the organic acid and amino acid composition of the raspberry plant.
Abstract: Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) have been found to be beneficial to plant growth, yield, crop quality, the environment, and sustainable agricultural production. Therefore, six bacterial strains were tested to determine their effects on raspberry's nutrient content and organic and amino acid composition. The experiment was performed from 2015 to 2017. Two-year-old raspberry plants were inoculated with bacterial suspensions by a dipping method and were planted in 30-L pots. The mineral content and organic acid and amino acid composition of the leaf and root were compared in the Alcaligenes 637Ca, Staphylococcus MFDCa1 and MFDCa2, Agrobacterium A18, Pantoea FF1, and Bacillus M3 bacterial strains. Nitrogen (N) content of the leaf was 2.55% in the A18 treatment, while N content of the root was 1.61% in MFDCa2. The leaf's iron (Fe) content was highest in the M3 treatment with 91.76 mg kg-1, while 637Ca gave the highest root's Fe content with 107.80 mg kg-1. The content of malonic acid (16.78 ng µL-1), malic acid (4.59 ng µL-1), citric acid (16.88 ng µL-1), and fumaric acid (4.94 ng µL-1) in leaves was higher in MFDCa2 than in the other treatments. In addition, 637Ca treatment had the highest root organic acid content in tartaric acid (5.94 ng µL-1), butyric acid (15.19 ng µL-1), and maleic acid (5.13 ng µL-1). FF1 treatment was more effective than the other treatments for increasing the leaf?s amino acid content, while the 637Ca, MFDCa1 FF1, and M3 treatments were more effective in increasing the root?s amino acid content. As a result, it was determined that PGPR treatments play a significant role in mineral nutrient uptake and the organic acid and amino acid composition of the raspberry plant.
TL;DR: This study, conducted in Antalya, Turkey, between 2014 and 2016, aimed to determine genotypes with a high amount of rebaudioside A (reb A) and high reb A/stevioside (stv) ratio in Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni and reveal superior candidate varieties via the clone selection method.
Abstract: This study, conducted in Antalya, Turkey, between 2014 and 2016, aimed to determine genotypes with a high amount of rebaudioside A (reb A) and high reb A/stevioside (stv) ratio in Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni, and reveal superior candidate varieties via the clone selection method. The study started with 200 genotypes in the first year, followed by the stem cuttings of 40 genotypes selected in the second year, in accordance with the obtained data, which were grown in rows (A clones), and the 10 genotypes (B clones) selected from the clones in the third year, which were grown in 3 replications according to a completely randomized block design. In accordance with the criteria for the evaluation of the results, 4 plants with superior characteristics were selected (C clones). Genotype 82 was regarded as a candidate with superior characteristics in terms of the amount of reb A content (7.95%, 7.77%, and 6.37%, respectively) and reb A/stv ratio (1.48, 1.20, and 1.48) over the 3 years. Genotype 109 was noteworthy for stv alone. Genotype 133 was considered as not only high in reb A (8.47%, 6.81%, and 6.40%, respectively), but also as an industrial material suitable for processing and production, as the agronomic properties were above average during the study. Genotype 196 was determined to be high in terms of the amount of reb A + stv (18.31%, 12.54%, and 13.58, respectively) and reb A (7.57%, 6.46%, and 6.2%, respectively). Therefore, these were selected as clonal variety candidates.
TL;DR: The novel SSR markers developed in this study could be used in future studies for constructing a genetic linkage map, analyzing population genetics, identifying parents, and conducting marker-assisted breeding, fingerprinting, and germplasm characterization in walnut.
Abstract: Walnut (Juglans regia L) is the most important species in the genus Juglans due to the high commercial value of its nuts and timber Simple sequence repeats (SSRs) are considered as the markers of choice owing to their codominant nature Since very few SSRs have been developed in walnut, this study aimed to develop numerous polymorphic SSRs from Class I repeats by using DNA sequences of the Chandler cultivar In all, 800 SSRs were designed and tested in 8 Turkish, 3 French, and 5 US walnut cultivars, of which 88 (11%) did not produce bands, 161 (201%) were monomorphic, and 551 (689%) were polymorphic In all, 2696 alleles were produced by the 551 polymorphic SSR loci in the 16 walnut cultivars, ranging from 2 to 14 alleles per locus with an average number of 49 Polymorphism information content ranged from 021 to 089 with an average of 062 Cluster analysis produced a very robust dendrogram The walnut cultivars were separated into two main groups: all Turkish cultivars were included in one group, whereas the US and French cultivars were included in the other group A set of 20 SSRs was selected for their high genetic diversity values to be used in further genetic studies in walnut The novel SSR markers developed in this study could be used in future studies for constructing a genetic linkage map, analyzing population genetics, identifying parents, and conducting marker-assisted breeding, fingerprinting, and germplasm characterization in walnut
TL;DR: In this paper, a sensory evaluation method and headspace solid phase microextraction combined with GC-MS were employed to determine the primary substances that contribute to the aromas and key differences in the aroma components of green tea produced from 20 tea cultivars.
Abstract: China is a major producer and consumer of green tea and possesses numerous high-quality tea cultivars, which can be used to make green tea. However, the green teas produced from these tea cultivars vary markedly in aroma. In this study, a sensory evaluation method and headspace solid-phase microextraction combined with GC-MS were employed to determine the primary substances that contribute to the aromas and key differences in the aroma components of green tea produced from 20 tea cultivars. The results revealed 57 major volatile components, among which aldehydes, alcohols, and esters were the most prevalent. For the volatile components, the linalool, nonanal, and geraniol contents were the highest, followed by dimethyl sulfide, methyl salicylate, heptanal, and caproicacidhexneylester. The volatile components varied considerably among the green tea samples, and some contained substances with a high content that gave off unique aromas. The correlation analysis revealed significant correlations between the sensory evaluation scores and contents of linalool, geraniol, methyl salicylate, cis-linalool oxide, 3-carene, phenethyl alcohol, limonene, (Z)-3-cis-3-hexenyl isovalerate, citral, (E)-s-ocimene, alcohols, esters, and alkenes, as well as between the sensory evaluation scores and total volatile component contents. Aromatic substances with the highest odor activity values were, in descending order, linalool, capraldehyde, dimethyl sulfide, s-ionone, geraniol, nonanal, heptanal, (E)-2-nonenal, and caproicacidhexneylester. These substances were the major contributors to aroma formation in the green tea samples. The principal component analysis and orthogonal projections to the latent structure-discriminant analysis suggested that the 20 tea cultivars could be grouped into 6 categories and that the high content of linalool, nonanal, and geraniol substantially contributed to the categorization of the tea cultivars. A key variable analysis revealed that 23 volatile components played a critical role in the categorization of the tea cultivars.
TL;DR: The effect of cultivar on shoot regeneration frequency, mean number of regenerated shoots, and gene transformation efficiency was significant, which contributes to in vitro regeneration of alfalfa crop and its genetic transformation which could be utilized in future gene transformation studies.
Abstract: Alfalfa is a fodder crop that accounts for one of the best sources of protein and is widely cultivated around the world. In vitro regeneration of alfalfa has been studied earlier; however, most of the studies were almost intervened with callus formation. In this study, 3 explant sources (cotyledonary node, hypocotyl, and root crown) of two Turkish cultivars (Nimet and Savas) were excised from young seedlings. Explants were subjected to different concentrations of BAP, BAP-IBA, and TDZ to evaluate the direct in vitro regeneration potential of selected plant parts. Moreover, we transformed the alfalfa plant with pBin19 harboring 35s.GUS-INT_35s.nptII construct to investigate the transformation efficiency and regeneration frequency after bacterial inoculation. The transformation was carried out by Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain GV2260. The highest mean number of regenerated shoots per explant was recorded as 8.5, 6.66, and 6.33 shoots per explant after cotyledonary node explants were treated with BAP (0.40 mg/L), BAP-IBA (1.25-0.06 mg/L), and TDZ (0.55 mg/L), respectively. The highest gene transformation frequency was 9.52% and 6.19% based on PCR and GUS assays. The regeneration frequency was decreased by up to 48.1% under kanamycin selection pressure. The effect of cultivar on shoot regeneration frequency, mean number of regenerated shoots, and gene transformation efficiency was significant. This study contributes to in vitro regeneration of alfalfa crop and its genetic transformation which could be utilized in future gene transformation studies.
TL;DR: P. neglectus population dynamics were evaluated by sowing a susceptible winter wheat variety in a naturally infested field near the Caydurt district of Bolu during the 2014/15 and 2015/16 cropping seasons and there was a positive correlation between nematode abundance in roots and surrounding soil temperature.
Abstract: The root lesion nematode Pratylenchus spp. is one of the most important plant-parasitic nematodes causing global cereal yield losses. Effective management of plant-parasitic nematodes depends on reliable management strategies and comprehensive datasets estimating the distribution, abundance, and population change of nematode species. This study reports the occurrence of Pratylenchus neglectus in wheat-growing districts during the 2014/15 and 2015/16 cropping seasons in Bolu, Turkey. Pratylenchus neglectus was identified by both morphological and molecular methods. The nematode was detected in 11.6% of samples collected from five districts. On average, P. neglectus numbered 1556 nematodes/kg soil, while 12% of samples had more than 2500 nematodes/kg soil. P. neglectus population dynamics were evaluated by sowing a susceptible winter wheat variety (Bezostaya) in a naturally infested field near the Caydurt district of Bolu during the 2014/15 and 2015/16 cropping seasons. There was a positive correlation (P < 0.01) between nematode abundance in roots and surrounding soil temperature. The highest abundance of nematodes in roots occurred during May (average temperature: 22 °C), while the lowest abundance was during December-March (average temperature: 5 °C). The initial population was measured as an average of 60 nematodes/100 g soil. The reproduction rate of P. neglectus ranged from 0.7 to 4.8 individuals.
TL;DR: Expression analysis of fatty acid, carotenoid, and glucosinolate biosynthesis genes showed that fertilizer treatments affected the accumulation of bioactive components by changing gene expression levels.
Abstract: The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of 3 environmentally friendly fertilizers and their effect on the growth of Chinese cabbage and its contents of bioactive compounds. The following fertilizers were applied: purslane extract, 5% sulfur, and 15% phosphoric acid with 5% calcium. A total of 9, 9, and 11 components were detected for fatty acids, carotenoids, and glucosinolates, respectively. The contents of cis-7 hexadecenoic acid, linoleic acid (C18:2n6c+t), and linolenic acid (C183n3) were generally increased, and also carotenoid amounts of violaxanthin, antheraxanthin, lutein, 13-cis-s-carotene, α-carotene, s-carotene, and 9-cis-s-carotene were significantly increased by fertilizer treatments. All fertilization treatments decreased the amounts of progoitrin, a strong goitrogenic, by 20.9% (H fertilization) to 53.8% (HJ fertilization). Expression analysis of fatty acid, carotenoid, and glucosinolate biosynthesis genes showed that fertilizer treatments affected the accumulation of bioactive components by changing gene expression levels. These environmentally friendly fertilizers can add value to Chinese cabbage by increasing its yield and nutritional value.