Experimental transmission trials by Cacopsylla pyri, collected from Pear Decline infected orchards in Turkey

A study was carried out on the experimental transmission efficiency of the Pear Decline (PD) phytoplasma by Cacopsylla pyri (L.) C. pyri were collected from naturally infected orchards in Bursa province (Plots B1 and B2) and a non-infected orchard in the Hatay-Antakya province (Plot A) of Turkey. C. pyri adults captured from infected orchards were placed directly onto healthy periwinkle plants (Catharanthus roseus), whereas the C. pyri from plot A were allowed to feed first on infected pear for two weeks, then transferred to healthy periwinkle plants. Groups of five psyllids per plant were used for transmissison tests and the study was replicated three times. The presence of ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma pyri’ in psyllids and C. roseus plants was checked by nested PCR using P1/P7 and U3/U5 primer pairs. Although C. pyri have a limited host range they were able to survive up to 20 days on periwinkle plants. Insects collected from Bursa province survived 16-20 days whereas insects from Antakya survived 7-12 days on periwinkle plants. Symptoms consisted of yellowing or clearing of the veins in newly infected leaves, and shortening of the internodes of the main stem. The infected plants remained stunted and with small flowers. Results based on the RFLP analysis of infected plants exposed to psyllids from plot B1and B2 indicated that the experimental infection rate of periwinkle plants and psyllids was 33.3% and 16.6%, respectively. No infected periwinkle was found in plants exposed to psyllids from plot A, but the psyllids used for experimental transmission experiments were 33.3 % infected. Transmission trials under controlled conditions showed the capability of C. pyri to transmit PD from infected pears to healthy periwinkles and confirmed their potential as vectors of Ca. P. pyri in Turkey. Keywords: Candidatus Phytoplasma pyri, pear psyllid, transmission efficienc

Effect of Candidatus Phytoplasma pyri infection on fruit quality, total phenolic content and antioxidant capacity of ‘Deveci’ pear,

Pear decline is an important threat for Turkish pear production. In this study, we attempt to compare several pomological characteristics, total phenolic content and total antioxidant capacities in Candidatus Phytoplasma pyri infected and noninfected ‘Deveci’ pear from Bursa, Turkey. Based on pear decline symptoms, the fruit samples were taken in October 2008 on harvest maturity from four infected and non-infected trees. Presence of Candidatus P. pyri was later confirmed by nested PCR tests. The result indicated that infection significantly reduced fruit size, width, length; and increased pH, color values of a, b and hue. Abortive and healthy seed numbers and weights, soluble solids and acidity did not change significantly. Similarly, the infection did not affect the flesh color. To investigate a possible differential response on skin and flesh of fruits, total phenolic (TP) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) analyses were conducted on skin and flesh tissues separately. The results indicated that, infected skin tissue had higher total phenolic and total antioxidant capacity for both methods analyzed (TEAC and FRAP). TP content of skin increased from 806 to 923 μg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g fresh weight (fw) while TP content of flesh increased from 195 to 249 μg GAE/g fw. TAC also found to be enhanced on infected fruits. On average, non-infected trees had 32.4 and 28.3 μmol TE/g fw for TEAC and FRAP, respectively. Infection increased these averages to 35.4 and 32.3 μmol TE/g fw tabulating 18 and 12% increase in flesh tissue. Similarly, the TEAC and FRAP averages increased from 4.0 to 5.8 and 3.3 to 4.9 μmol TE/g fw, respectively.Keywords: Abiotic stress, FRAP, pear decline, phytoplasma, TEA

Experimental transmission trials by Cacopsylla pyri, collected from pear decline infected orchards in Turkey

A study was carried out on the experimental transmission efficiency of the Pear Decline (PD) phytoplasma by Cacopsylla pyri (L.), collected from naturally infected orchards from Bursa and non-infected orchard from Hatay province of Turkey. C. pyri adults captured from infected orchards were directly transmitted to healthy periwinkle plants (Catharanthus roseus) whereas the second group firstly fed on infected pear for two weeks and then transferred to periwinkles. Groups of five psyllids per plant were used for transmissison tests and the study was replicated three times. The presence of ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma pyri’ in psyllids and C. roseus plants was analysed by nested PCR using P1/P7 and U3/U5 primer pairs.. Although C. pyri has limited host range, they were able to survive up to 20 days on periwinkles. Insects collected from Bursa province survived 16-20 days whereas second group from Hatay were survived 7-12 days on periwinkles. Symptoms consist of a yellowing or clearing of the veins in newly infected leaves and shortening of the internodes of the main stem. They also remain stunted and flowers were small. According to the RFLP analysis of Bursa samples, the experimental infection rate of periwinkle plants and psyllids was 33.3 % and 16.6 %, respectively. No infected periwinkle was found in second group but psyllids were 33.3 % infected. Transmission trials under controlled conditions showed the capability of C. pyri to transmit PD from infected pears to healthy periwinkles and confirmed as vector of Ca. P. pyri in Turkey.Keywords: Candidatus Phytoplasma pyri, pear psyllid, transmission efficienc

Investigation of prevalence of dental anomalies by using digital panoramic radiographs

Background: This study was performed to evaluate the prevalence of all types and subtypes of dental anomalies among 6- to 40-year-old patients by using panoramic radiographs. Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted by analysing digital panoramic radiographs of 1200 patients admitted to our clinic in 2014. Dental anomalies were examined under 5 types and 16 subtypes. Dental ano­malies were divided into 5 types: (a) number (including hypodontia, oligodontia and hyperdontia); (b) size (including microdontia and macrodontia); (c) structure (including amelogenesis imperfecta, dentinogenesis imperfecta and dentin dys­plasia); (d) position (including transposition, ectopia, displacement, impaction and inversion); (e) shape (including fusion-gemination, dilaceration and taurodontism). Results: The prevalence of dental anomalies diagnosed by panoramic radiographs was 39.2% (46% in men and 54% in women). Anomalies of position (60.8%) and shape (27.8%) were the most common types of abnormalities and anomalies of size (8.2%), structure (0.2%) and number (17%) were the least in both genders. Anomalies of impaction (45.5%), dilacerations (16.3%), hypodontia (13.8%) and taurodontism (11.2%) were the most common subtypes of dental anomalies. Taurodontism was more common in the age groups of 13–19 years. The age range of the most frequent of all other anomalies was 20–29. Conclusions: Anomalies of tooth position were the most common type of dental anomalies and structure anomalies were the least common in this Turkish po­pulation. The frequency and type of dental anomalies vary within and between populations, confirming the role of racial factors in the prevalence of dental ano­malies. Digital panoramic radiography is a very useful method for the detection of dental anomalies. (Folia Morphol 2018; 77, 2: 323–328

Validation of a microarrays protocol for detection and genotyping isolates of Plum pox virus

A genomic strategy for PPV identification has been recently developed (Pasquini et al., 2008). The method is based on using a 70-mer oligonucleotide DNA microarray chip capable of simultaneously detecting and genotyping PPV strains. Universal and specific probes have been identified and used with a sensitive protocol of hybridization using an indirect fluorescent labelling of cDNA product with cyanine able to enhance the sensitivity of the virus detection avoiding the use of the PCR amplification step. In order to evaluate the protocol fitness for diagnostic use, about 30 samples belonging to a PPV isolates collection, including M, D, EA and C strains, have been used for its validation, that was determined, estimating the performance criteria that include the following parameters: diagnostic sensitivity (D-SN), diagnostic specificity (D-SP) and diagnostic accuracy (D-AC). Keywords: oligonucleotides chip, PPV, sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, performance criteri

MAB21L1 loss of function causes a syndromic neurodevelopmental disorder with distinctive cerebellar, ocular, craniofacial and genital features (COFG syndrome).

BACKGROUND: Putative nucleotidyltransferase MAB21L1 is a member of an evolutionarily well-conserved family of the male abnormal 21 (MAB21)-like proteins. Little is known about the biochemical function of the protein; however, prior studies have shown essential roles for several aspects of embryonic development including the eye, midbrain, neural tube and reproductive organs. OBJECTIVE: A homozygous truncating variant in MAB21L1 has recently been described in a male affected by intellectual disability, scrotal agenesis, ophthalmological anomalies, cerebellar hypoplasia and facial dysmorphism. We employed a combination of exome sequencing and homozygosity mapping to identify the underlying genetic cause in subjects with similar phenotypic features descending from five unrelated consanguineous families. RESULTS: We identified four homozygous MAB21L1 loss of function variants (p.Glu281fs*20, p.Arg287Glufs*14 p.Tyr280* and p.Ser93Serfs*48) and one missense variant (p.Gln233Pro) in 10 affected individuals from 5 consanguineous families with a distinctive autosomal recessive neurodevelopmental syndrome. Cardinal features of this syndrome include a characteristic facial gestalt, corneal dystrophy, hairy nipples, underdeveloped labioscrotal folds and scrotum/scrotal agenesis as well as cerebellar hypoplasia with ataxia and variable microcephaly. CONCLUSION: This report defines an ultrarare but clinically recognisable Cerebello-Oculo-Facio-Genital syndrome associated with recessive MAB21L1 variants. Additionally, our findings further support the critical role of MAB21L1 in cerebellum, lens, genitalia and as craniofacial morphogenesis

Possible role of SCN4A skeletal muscle mutation in apnoea during seizure

SCN4A gene mutations cause a number of neuromuscular phenotypes including myotonia. A subset of infants with myotonia‐causing mutations experience severe life‐threatening episodic laryngospasm with apnea. We have recently identified similar SCN4A mutations in association with sudden infant death syndrome. Laryngospasm has also been proposed as a contributory mechanism to some cases of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP). We report an infant with EEG‐confirmed seizures and recurrent apneas. Whole‐exome sequencing identified a known pathogenic mutation in the SCN4A gene that has been reported in several unrelated families with myotonic disorder. We propose that the SCN4A mutation contributed to the apneas in our case, irrespective of the underlying cause of the epilepsy. We suggest this supports the notion that laryngospasm may contribute to some cases of SUDEP, and implicates a possible shared mechanism between a proportion of sudden infant deaths and sudden unexpected deaths in epilepsy

Redating the formation of Lake Bafa, western Turkey: Integrative geoarchaeological methods and new environmental and dating evidence

The ancient Gulf of Latmos is an iconic example of a dynamic landscape and humankind's historical relationship with it. Using extensive new primary data and original models for calibrating radiocarbon dates in transitional lagoon environments, we demonstrate that Lake Bafa (or Bafa Gölü, in Turkish) formed at a much earlier date than previously thought. In questioning the logical process by which previous dates were achieved, we re‐examine the relationship between sedimentological data, archaeology and written history. We reassert the need to establish independently dated environmental data sets as the foundation of regional studies as distinct from archaeological and historical interpretive processes. We conclude that Lake Bafa slowly transitioned to become an isolated lagoon sometime between the end of the second millennium B.C. and end of the first millennium B.C.; becoming a fully closed brackish lake during the second millennium A.D. This marks a major shift in our understanding of the nature of human occupation and activity here during the last four millennia but also in the way we date ancient lagoons and integrate historical and environmental data in general

Incidence, distribution and limited genetic variability among Turkish isolates of Grapevine Pinot gris virus from different grapevine cultivars

Grapevine Pinot gris virus (GPGV) was firstly identified in northern Italy by deep sequencing from grapevine cv. Pinot gris, exhibiting mottling and deformation of the leaves. The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence and genetic variability of GPGV isolates obtained from different local and imported grapevine cultivars in Turkey based on partial coat protein, movement protein and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) domain of the replicase (Rep) gene. Two hundred and one grapevine samples from different provinces were tested by RT-PCR assays, approximately 25% of which were found to be infected by GPGV. The PCR products were sequenced and based on the phylogenetic analysis, RdRp gene was found to be most conserved region. The phylograms of three genomic regions revealed correlation between geography and genetic structure. Furthermore, nucleotide diversity studies revealed a low divergence from the homologous sequences from GenBank and some variations within the groups were detected. The results presented in this study provide a better understanding of genetic variation and phylogenetic of GPGV isolates worldwide. © 2018, Deutsche Phytomedizinische Gesellschaft