Effect of calcium based fertilization on dried fig (Ficus carica L. cv. Sarilop) yield and quality

WOS: 0002614044000065Fig tree mainly spread in regions where Mediterranean climate prevails can be grown over a wide range of soils without any significant deficiency or toxicity symptoms of plant nutrients. Surveys revealed that, however, quality is highly affected by nutrition especially N, K and Ca in fig production for commercial drying. This research work was initiated based on few studies performed on fertilization of fig. The experiment was performed between 2000 and 2002 in three fig orchards of cv. Sarilop (syn. Calimyrna) in Aydin-Turkey. Trees received seven types of fertilization as (i) untreated control; (ii) NPK (430 g N, 200 g P2O5 and 430 g K2O per tree): (iii) NPK + 70 g Ca; (iv) NPK + 140 g Ca; (v) NPK + 280 g Ca: (vi) NPK + 420 g Ca and (vii) N + 420 g Ca, Ca(NO3)(2) used as the Ca source. Tested fertilizer applications showed significant differences in respect to yield and quality of fig. Basic NPK fertilization with additional 280 g Ca treatment increased overall quality by reducing the number of fruit with ostiole-end crack and sunscald. Results showed that applied fertilizers exerted significantly in reduction of cull ratio and could alleviate the negative impact of yearly drought conditions. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Turkish Scientific and Technological Research Council (TUBiTAK) under Fig Research UnitTurkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Arastirma Kurumu (TUBITAK) [TARP 2574-7]The project is funded by the Turkish Scientific and Technological Research Council (TUBiTAK) as Project TARP 2574-7 under Fig Research Unit. The authors extend their thanks to Erbeyli Fig Research Institute and to Gungor Family Farm for their understanding and hospitality during the experiments, to Prof. Dr. Hayrettin Okut for his support in statistical evaluation and Prof. Dr. Ernest Kirkby for his valuable comments

Nigella sativa relieves the deleterious effects of ischemia reperfusion injury on liver

AIM: To determine whether Nigella sativa prevents hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury to the liver

The role of latent toxoplasmosis in the aetiopathogenesis of schizophrenia - the risk factor or an indication of a contact with cat?

We assessed IgG antibody to Toxoplasma gondii in 300 inpatients with schizophrenia (SG), 150 outpatients with anxiety and depressive disorders (PCG), and 150 healthy blood donors (HCG). Seropositivity rates were 60.7% for SG, 36.7% for PCG, and 45.3% for HCG (p<0.001). The seropositivity rate for anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies in SG was significantly higher that in PCG (X-2 = 23.11, OR = 2.66, p = 0.001) and HCG (X-2 = 9.52, OR = 1.86, p = 0.002). Among SG, 85% of those who reported close cat contact had IgG antibodies to T gondii. Close cat contacts were reported by 59% of SG, 6% of PCG, and 9% of HCG (p<0.001). There was a nonsignificant positive association between toxoplasmosis and schizophrenia for people with a contact with a cat (OR = 2.221, p = 0.127, CI95 = 0.796-6.192), and significant negative association between toxoplasmosis and schizophrenia for people without contact with a cat (OR = 0.532, p = 0.009, CI95 = 0.332-0.854). Close cat contact (OR = 2.679, p<0.001), 51-65-year age group (OR = 1.703, p<0.001) and education [illiterate+primary (OR = 6.146, p<0.001) and high school (OR = 1.974, p = 0.023)] were detected as independent risk factors in multivariate logistic regression. The effect of toxoplasmosis on risk of schizophrenia disappeared in the complex model analyzed with multivariate logistic regression. In conclusion, our data suggest that the toxoplasmosis has no direct effect on the risk of schizophrenia in Turkey but is just an indication of previous contacts with a cat