Influence of different irrigation methods and irrigation levels on water use efficiency, yield, and yield attributes of sweet potatoes

This study examines the effects of irrigation methods and irrigation levels on sweet potatoes under field conditions in the Eastern Mediterranean region of Turkey. The experimental treatments included two irrigation methods and four different irrigation levels: blocked-furrow (BF) and drip (DI) irrigation. The irrigation levels were full irrigation (IR100), 66% of full irrigation (IR66), 33% of full irrigation (IR33), and not irrigated (IRO) treatments. Total of 11 irrigation applications were made at weekly intervals throughout the season. The blocked-furrow and drip irrigation both received the same amount of irrigation water. The full irrigation treatment received (IR100) 798 mm of water, and was followed by the treatments of IR66 and IR33, receiving 631 and 471 mm of irrigation water, respectively. The range of evapotranspiration (ET) recorded under BF treatment was 360-691 mm; whereas it was 360-691 mm with DI treatments. Tuber yields showed a wide range of variation as 11.94-51.091 ha-1. The significant (P<.01) yield differences were recorded among the different irrigation methods and irrigation levels. It was noted that tuber yield under DI was 13% higher compared to BF. The irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) and water use efficiency (WUE) ranged from 36.8 to 65.7 kg ha-1 mm-1 and from 33.2 to 75.9 kg ha-1 mm-1, respectively. The yield reduction recorded when deficit irrigation was imposed under DI (i.e., D33, D66) was proportionally lower, therefore given higher water use efficiency, than with BF

Overview of the Turkish Potato Sector: Challenges, Achievements and Expectations

Having a history of nearly 150 years in Turkey, potato has become one of the most important agricultural crops of the country. Potato production, processing, marketing and consumption have become a major sector as well. However, regardless of these advancements, the Turkish potato sector has still not reached its full potential. Therefore, different approaches are needed in the Turkish potato sector to overcome chronic problems as soon as possible. This paper summarizes the past and the current situation of the Turkish potato industry and evaluates its weaknesses and strengths. © 2010 EAPR

The outcome of apical microsurgery using MTA as the root-end filling material: 2- to 6-year follow-up study

PubMed ID: 25819748Aim: To evaluate the influence of various predictors on the healing outcome 2-6 years after apical microsurgery (AMS) using MTA as the root-end filling material. Methodology: A total of 90 anterior teeth with asymptomatic persistent periradicular periodontitis of strictly endodontic origin that failed after either nonsurgical or surgical treatment were included. Surgery was completed under local anaesthesia using a standardized clinical protocol. Clinical and radiographic measures as well as the follow-up period were used to determine the healing outcome. For statistical analysis of the predictors, the outcome was dichotomized into healed cases and nonhealed cases. Odds ratios were calculated, and Pearson chi-square or Fisher's exact tests were used to analyse the data. Results: Clinical and radiographic assessment of AMS revealed that 80% were healed, 14.4% were nonhealed, whilst 5.6% were judged to be uncertain. None of the various predictors investigated had a significant influence on the outcome of AMS. Conclusions: The results of this clinical study demonstrated that 80% of cases that received apical microsurgery healed when using MTA as the root-end filling material. © 2016 International Endodontic Journal. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd

Development of transgenic tobacco lines with pyramided insect resistant genes

Insect pests are among the major constraints rendering drastic decreases in crop yield. The expression of stacked insecticidal genes in crops can lead to resistance durability and can delay the development of resistance in target insect pests. The present study was designed to introduce an insect resistance trait in locally cultivated Turkish tobacco cultivars (Basma and Nail) with pyramided insecticidal genes. Agrobacterium strain LBA4404 harboring plasmid pKGH4 with cry1Ac and cry2A genes under the control of 35S promoter was used to infect leaf discs of both cultivars; plasmid also contained uidA within the T-DNA region for earlier screening of putative transformants. The overall transformation efficiency was calculated as 30.7% and 18.8% in Basma and Nail, respectively. PCR results confirmed the integration of cry1Ac, cry2A, uidA, and nptII genes in 40 plants of Basma and 16 plants of Nail. ELISA results showed variation in expression of cry1Ac protein among transgenic plants varying from 0.017 to 0.607 µg/g of fresh tissue. Bioassay results with potato tuber moth (Phthorimea operculella Zeller) showed significant mortality of the targeted pest on primary transformants. Furthermore, T1 transgenic progeny exhibited the inheritance of T-DNA in Mendelian as well as non-Mendelian fashion. The results revealed that lines can serve as a source of germplasm in tobacco breeding programs. © TÜBİTAK.The present research project was supported by a grant from Niğde Omer Halisdemir University Research Project Unit (Project No. FEB 2014/10-BAGEP)