Alkali grass grows in waterlogged, saline and alaline soils. The main problem in these soils is minerals at toxic level. The toxic ions are chloride, sodium and boron. A number of techniques have been investigated for removing toxic metals from the soil. Today, the cost-effective and environmentally technique is phytoremediation, using hyperaccumulator plants. Alkali grass (Puccinellia ciliata Bor) is suggested as a hyperaccumulator plant by the combination of more favourable characteristics with salt and waterlogging tolerance, high biomass value and convincing nutritive value for adverse environmental conditions. For this reason, we collected alkali grass and soil samples from five different locations in Aydın-Muğla highway, Turanlar and Sınırteke villages in Germencik-Aydın. In the soil analysis, we observed that K accumulation varies between root, shoot and panicle at least whereas Na and B shows more variation on whole plant portions among locations. Intense aerenchyma development on the root tips of Puccinellia plant was observed and it is determined as radial lysogenic aerenchyma formation. Average plant height and dry matter values were between 47.2-74.4 cm and 15.61-80.85 g/plant according to locations. The highest plant height value was obtained from the first location whereas the highest dry matter yield was detected in the fifth location. In conclusion, plants from fifth location can be regarded as fodder plants in these areas. Our results indicated that alkali grass can be effective for phytoextraction of sodium and boron from contaminated sites.

Date palm has a long history of cultivation and a valuable germplasm with little knowledge about its genetic makeup and variation among the most cultivated cultivars. Diversity is the variability of a species. Plants show variation in yield, vegetative traits and morphological properties of fruits and seeds in response to environmental changes. Molecular markers or DNA markers have been in use since past three decades. The DNA profiles give information about the genotype, screen the whole genome and show variation in both the coding and noncoding region and hence give information about polymorphism. Since plastid genes are transferred mostly from the mother line, the identification of maternal lines is possible by the sequencing of plastid genes. Simple sequence repeats (SSRs) can detect length variation with the help of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and may be used as highly informative genetic markers. Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNPs) are the third generation of molecular markers. SNPs are more stable and have high fidelity of inheritance as compared to other marker systems. Molecular markers have been developed but they are not enough for sufficient diversity assessment. Therefore there is a need to increase the number of DNA markers in date palm. Previously, there are several studies to type various commercially important germplasm based on morphological or yield parameters. Morphological and biochemical markers are limited in number and are affected by environmental factors and growth stage of the plant which reduce their reliability in the assessment of diversity and characterization of the germplasm. This necessitates the use of genetic characterization, utilizing DNA markers, gene sequencing or SNP genotyping which can work independent of the plant growth stage and are not affected by environmental factors. A combination of morphological, biochemical and molecular characterization of the date palm cultivars can better assess the level of diversity and relationship among the cultivars.

Field experiments were carried out during the dry seasons in (2012-2013 and 2013-2014) to study the impact of Integrated Nutrient Management on some soil properties and nutrients uptake by red onion (Allium cepa L.) in Moda, Michika, Adamawa state, Nigeria. Soil samples were randomly collected and analysed for pH, EC, organic carbon, organic matter, total nitrogen, available phosphorus before and at the completion of the experiment. Total nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium contents of the onion bulbs were determined. There was an improvement in the fertility status of the soil as a consequence of integrated nutrient management. Combined organic and inorganic fertilizer application influenced the uptake of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium by red onion. The highest nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium uptake by onions of 0.76, 43.82 and 2.42kgha-1 occurred when all treatments were combined. Uptake of N and K increased as treatment level increased. The P uptake was highest at lower treatment levels and could be linked to sufficiency of indigenous soil P for plant growth resulting in high P uptake with minimal addition of nutrient inputs. Integrated Nutrient Management could be adopted to improve soil fertility status and N, P and K uptake by red onions.

Bu çalışma, İstanbul ili Adalar İlçesinde (Büyükada, Heybeliada, Kınalıada, Burgazada) hobi bahçeleri ve peyzaj alanlarında yetiştirilen süs bitkilerinde Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV), Iris yellow spot virus (IYSV) ve Impatients necrotic spot virus (INSV) varlığının saptanması amacıyla, 2015 ile 2016 yılları arasında yürütülmüştür. Bölgede yapılan survey çalışmalarında simptomolojik olarak şüpheli süs bitkileri ile simptom göstermeyen süs bitkilerinden doku örnekleri alınmıştır. Toplanan 150 adet süs bitkisi örneği öncelikle Double Antibody Sandwich (DAS) ELISA yöntemi ile testlenmiş ve örneklerin hiçbirinde TSWV ve INSV infeksiyonu saptanmamıştır. ELISA testlerinde IYSV ile bulaşık olduğu saptanan örnekler RT-PCR çalışmalarında kullanılmıştır. IYSV-465c; IYSV-239f primer çifti ile yapılan RT-PCR çalışmalarında Pittosporum tobira ve Hydrangea macrophylla için 240 bp büyüklüğe sahip band gözlenmiştir. Böylece, IYSV’nin Adalar ilçesinde varlığı moleküler olarak da ortaya konulmuştur.

This study aimed to compare the dietary supplementation of oleuropein (O) and α-tocopherol acetate (TA) alone or with organic selenium (Se) on liver antioxidant status and some plasma biochemistry parameters in Japanese quails reared under heat stress (HS). A total of 800, two-weeks old quails were kept in wire cages in the temperature-controlled rooms at either 22°C or 34°C for 8 h/d and fed on a basal diet (NC) or the diets supplemented with TA (TA200) or O (O200) at 200 mg/kg alone or with OSe (TA200+OSe and O200+OSe) to the NC diet. HS decreased the total antioxidant status (TAS) and increased the total oxidative stress (TOS) and oxidative stress index (OSI) of liver compared to thermoneutral temperature (TN). The TA200, O200, TA200+OSe and O200+OSe diets increased TAS and decreased TOS of liver compared to those of quails fed NC. OSI was decreased by the TA200, O200 and TA200+OSe diets compared to NC and O200+OSe diets. HS reduced plasma albumin (A) and total protein (TP) concentrations, on the other hand, increased plasma glucose (G), total cholesterol (CHO) and triglyceride (TG) levels compared to TN. The TA200, O200, TA200+OSe and O200+OSe diets reduced plasma total CHO and TG levels and increased plasma A level. The TA200 and TA200+OSe diets reduced plasma G level and increased plasma TP levels compared to those of quails fed the other diets. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of vitamin E and oleuropein alone or with organic selenium is necessary to remove the negative effects of heat stress on liver antioxidant status and some plasma parameters of quails.

Pomegranate is one of the most important horticultural crops in Iran, and has been cultivated for thousands of years in this country. At this period due to selection of superior cultivars from nature or mutation emerged in these cultivars, and their vegetative propagation, substantial genetic variation has occurred within and among the cultivars. Thus, each cultivar may consist of different clones. According to this issue, diversity within four commercial cultivars of pomegranate was analyzed. Two molecular marker systems including ISSR and SSR were used to evaluate variability between 36 samples of four commercial cultivars. ISSR markers produced 114 amplification products, out of which 97 were polymorphic (83.23%). Mean resolving power was 2.96 for ISSR markers. 19 SSR molecular markers were used, 15 of which amplified polymorphic products, while the remaining ones monomorphic., The number of polymorphic alleles per locus ranged from two to four (average 3.6). The observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.04 to 0.92 and 0.14 to 0.62, respectively. In addition, mean polymorphic information content was 0.45 for SSR loci. Our results showed that commercial Iranian pomegranate have different clones. Therefore, ISSR and SSR markers can be a useful tools for detecting clones of each cultivar.

Fresh-cut fruits and vegetables have longer shelf lives when appropriate packaging materials having proper permeability properties are used. For this reason eight different packaging materials having different permeability properties were used and it was aimed to determine the appropriate packaging material and analytical and mathematical shelf lives of fresh cut red cabbage. Head space analysis, microbiological and sensorial analysis together with pH, weight loss (%) and colour analysis were performed. As a result of the study, it was determined that low density polyethylene (LDPE) film having 20 µm of thickness and 12276 cc/m2-day of oxygen permeability was determined as the most suitable packaging material for packaging of fresh-cut red cabbage. Mathematical microbiological shelf life was determined as 12.33 days and both analytical microbiological and sensorial shelf lives were determined as 12 days. It was shown that Gompertz equation can be used in determination of microbiological shelf life of fresh-cut red cabbage since the analytical and mathematical shelf life results fit to each other. Also, the equation that can be used in calculation of shelf life of fresh-cut red cabbage when packaged with AYPE film having 12276 cc/m2-day oxygen permeability was determined as log(Nt/N0) = 6,83 × exp{-exp{[(0,80*e)(6,83-t)/6,83]+1}}.

In this study, it was aimed to determine the approaches of primary school students’ parents participating in the school milk programme in the Isparta province. The data obtained by the questionnaire method were used from 359 students’ parents who were included in the school milk programme. The families were divided into four groups according to the household income. It was determined that the families consumed more pasteurized milk. The average age of the interviewed individuals was 37.14 years. About 36.21% of the parents were high school graduates. 53.48% of them spend money on milk less than 50 TL. Household size was 4.05 persons. 21.84% of them consume milk hot. The attitude of the parents to the school milk programme was generally positive (82.17%). The school milk programme was believed to be a habit of consuming milk. It was found that 33.33% of the surveyed parents were negative about the school milk programme because they did not trust the content of the milk distributed. In the study, 49.30% of the parents thought that the school milk programme increased the milk consumption habits of the children and 67.97% thought that there was not more supply of milk distributed. For the purpose of implementing the school milk programme, 48.75% of the families had a judge to love the milk and make milk drinking habit. The majority of the families (62.40%) were preferred daily milk in the products distributed and 44% believed that drinking milk was subjected to nutritional analysis. It is suggested that the Ministry of National Education and the Ministry of Health should inform families about the benefits of milk and school milk programme.

Wood ash generated from wood industries have enormous potential which can be utilized due to its properties which influences soil chemistry and fertility status of tropical acidic soils. Field experiments were conducted on an acidic sandy loam alfisol to investigate the effects of wood ash on the growth indices and chlorophyll content of maize and lima beans intercrop during the late and early seasons of 2014 and 2015 at Akure in the rainforest zone of southwestern Nigeria. The treatments were 100% sole maize with ash, 100% sole maize without ash, 75% maize + 25% lima beans with ash, 75% + 25% lima beans without ash, 50% maize + 50% lima beans with ash, 50% maize + 50% lima beans without ash, 25% maize + 75% lima beans with ash and 25% maize + 75% lima beans without ash. Wood ash was applied at 2.4kg/plot. Wood ash increased chlorophyll content in all amended treatments except in amended 25:75% maize-lima beans intercrop and 25:75% maize –lima beans intercrop without ash, however 75:25% maize-lima beans amended with wood ash significantly (P≥0.05) recorded the highest chlorophyll content. Growth parameters such as plant height, number of leaves, leaf area, leaf area index, leaf length, stem diameter, number of flowers, number of pods, weight of plant and total biomass of amended maize-lima beans intercrop were significantly (P≥0.05) increased by wood ash application. Based on experimental findings, 25:75% maize-lima beans intercrop and 75%:25% maize-lima beans intercrop amended with wood ash was concluded to be more recommendable in the study area.

Dioxins is one of the chemicals groups that cause liver toxicity, live weight reduction, immune suppression, reproductive impairments, eggshell thinning, birth defects, cancers and death in animals. The 2,3,7,8- tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) is the most poisonous environmental chemical and many studies were showed high dosage of TCDD affects all animal group. Also TCDD increase cancer risk in human so this chemical described as carcinogenic by International Agency for Research on Cancer. Dioxins are stored in animal foods such as meat, milk, eggs and fish, because they are soluble in oil and remain in these products for many years. Dioxins can dissolve in fat and high stability therefore it can be infected to meat, milk, egg, and fish and store there for long time as a result people could be contained with dioxin during daily life. Animal feed additives such as organic acids, pH modifiers, starch, sugar, vegetable oil, fat, fruit and by-products of plant, kaolinite, rendering products, pelleting aids cause dioxin contamination. The maximum dioxin content in plant-origin feedstuffs and their by-products is 0.75 ng toxic equivalent/kg body weight. In this rewiew, the effects of dioxins on livestock feeding was examined.