ATLaS: Assistant Software for Life Scientists to Use in Calculations of Buffer Solutions

Many solutions such as percentage, molar and buffer solutions are used in all experiments conducted in life science laboratories. Although the preparation of the solutions is not difficult, miscalculations that can be made during intensive laboratory work negatively affect the experimental results. In order for the experiments to work correctly, the solutions must be prepared completely correctly. In this project, a software, ATLaS (Assistant Toolkit for Laboratory Solutions), has been developed to eliminate solution errors arising from calculations. Python programming language was used in the development of ATLaS. Tkinter and Pandas libraries were used in the program. ATLaS contains five main modules (1) Percent Solutions, (2) Molar Solutions, (3) Acid-Base Solutions, (4) Buffer Solutions and (5) Unit Converter. Main modules have sub-functions within themselves. With PyInstaller, the software was converted into a stand-alone executable file. The source code of ATLaS is available at https://github.com/cugur1978/ATLaS

Effects of different irrigation regimes and nitrogen levels on yield and quality of melon (Cucumis melo L.)

In order to study the effects of different irrigation regimes and nitrogen (N) levels on yield and some yield components of melon, a research was conducted at the Agricultural Experimental Field of the Harran University (Sanliurfa, Turkey) during the growth periods of 2007 and 2008. The growing season of melon was divided into four phenological stages: (i) Stage I, from seed germination to beginning of flowering; (ii) stage II; from beginning of flowering to small fruit, (iii) stage III; from small fruit to fullexpanded fruit and (iv) stage IV; from full-expanded fruit to harvesting. Regulated deficit irrigation (RDI), deficit irrigation (DI), full (I-full) and excessive irrigation (I-excessive) strategies were examined. The irrigation treatments were 33% (I0.33), 67% (I0.67), 100% (I1.00), and 133% (I1.33) ratios of total irrigation water applied (IW)/cumulative pan evaporation (CPE) with four day irrigation interval. Totally, 28 treatments were designed and applied as combination of nitrogen and irrigation levels. Four nitrogen treatments were: Control (N1), basic fertilizer (100 kg ha-1 pure N); N2, basic fertilizer + 30; N3, basic fertilizer + 60 and N4, basic fertilizer + 90 kg ha-1 as urea. The field experiment was setup employing a randomized split-plot design with three replications. N levels were assigned to the main plot and irrigation to the sub plot. Irrigation water amount applied, fruit yield and some quality parameters, yield response factor, irrigation water use efficiency, water use efficiency, water saving at different N levels and irrigation regimes were determined. Results show that irrigation regimes and N levels had significant effects on fruit yield. The best combination of treatments was N3*DI-low (T19) with a yield of 59.77 t ha-1 which corresponds to 10% yield loss providing 55% water saving. It could be applied for sustainable production, saving a significant amount of water and increasing the nitrogen use efficiency, where water is scarce.Key words: Melon, regulated deficit irrigation (RDI), nitrogen, yield

Ácidos grasos, bioactivos y actividades antioxidante y antimicrobiana de Ankyropetalum spp., una nueva fuente de ácido nervónico

Ankyropetalum extracts were obtained by using two different extractors (Soxhlet and ultrasonic bath). The phenol, flavonoid, DPPH, FRAP, and antimicrobial activity properties of the extracts were investigated. In addition, the fatty acid composition was determined in GC-MS. High values were found in A. reuteri and A. gypsophiloides for total phenolic and flavonoid contents, respectively. DPPH and FRAP values were high in A. arsusianum and A. gypsophiloides, respectively. Better results were obtained by using methanol as the solvent and soxhlet as the extractor. The results showed that the extracts seem to be reasonably effective against test organisms including clinical isolates. The most promising results were obtained with all species USB extracts against Candida parapsilosis. It is notable that the levels of nervonic acid in A. arsusianum and A. reuteri reached 40%. Unlike other sources of nervonic acid in the world, the absence of erucic acid in plant oil increases the value of these plants.Los extractos de Ankyropetalum se obtuvieron usando dos medios de extracción diferentes (Soxhlet y baño ultrasónico). A estos extractos se les determinó el contenido fenólico, flavonoides, DPPH, FRAP, y la actividad antimicrobiana. Además, se determinó la composición de ácidos grasos mediante GC-MS. Se encontraron valores altos de contenido fenólico y flavonoide total en A. reuteri y A. gypsophiloides, respectivamente. Los valores de DPPH y FRAP fueron altos en A. arsusianum y A. gypsophiloides, respectivamente. Se obtuvieron mejores resultados utilizando metanol como disolvente y Soxhlet como extractor. Los resultados mostraron que los extractos parecen ser razonablemente efectivos contra los organismos ensayados, incluidos los aislados clínicos. Los resultados más prometedores se obtuvieron con todos los extractos USB de especies contra la Cándida parapsilosis. Es notable que los niveles de ácido nervónico en A. arsusianum y A. reuteri alcanzaron el 40%. A diferencia de otras fuentes de ácido nervónico en el mundo, la ausencia de ácido erúcico en el aceite vegetal aumenta el valor de estas plantas

Effects of deficit irrigation on yield and yield components of vegetable soybean [Glycine max L. (Merr.)] in semi-arid conditions

Vegetable soybeans [Glycine max L (Merr.)] are very sensitive crops to environmental conditions during their growth stages, especially in term of water scarcity. Water scarcity is one of the major environmental factors influencing sustainable agricultural production in arid and semi-arid regions. Careful management irrigation strategies need to save irrigation water with marginal yield reduction. The objective of this research was to investigate the effects of the water deficit on yield and yield components of soybean in semi-arid conditions. This research was carried out at the Agricultural Experimental Field of the Harran University (Sanliurfa, Turkey) on clay soil during the growth periods of 2006 and 2007. The irrigation treatments were 33% (I33), 67% (I67), 100% (I100) and 133% (I133) ratios of total irrigation water applied (IW)/cumulative pan evaporation (CPE) with four day irrigation interval. The average amount of irrigation water applied to treatments (I133, I100, I67 and I33) was 1058, 795, 533 and 263 mm and 1094, 823, 551 and 272 mm for Toyokomachi and Toyohomare cultivars, respectively. The maximum green pod yields were 20.6 and 29.1 t ha-1 with 997 and 922 mm water consumption for Toyohomare and Toyokomachi, respectively in I133 treatments. Yield response factor (ky) values of I100, I67 and I33 treatments were determined as 2.17, 0.92 and 0.59 for Toyohomare and 3.50, 0.61 and 0.61 for Toyokomachi, respectively. The results of the study implied that at least equal (I100) or excess of the evaporated water amount is required to produce high yield in soybean. Differences of yield between cultivars in response to irrigation levels make it necessary to select less sensitive cultivars to water stress especially in semi-arid and arid areas. Varietal characteristics must be considered for successful growing of soybean.Key words: Soybean, Glycine max, deficit irrigation, water deficit

A study on the bıoactıvıty of plant extracts obtaıned from Arum maculatum leaves by dıfferent extractıon technıques

Arum maculatum is a highly known plant worldwide for traditional use. The aim of this study is to evaluate the bioactivity of the plant extract obtained using different techniques and solutions. Total fenolic, flavonoid components and antioxidant, antimicrobial and enzyme inhibition activity of the plant extracts (Boiling in water, fermenting in water and USB in methanol) were investigated. Additionally, oil components of the extracts was analysed in GC-MS. As a result of the GC-MS analysis, 18 different fatty acid were determined. Major fatty acid components of extracts were palmitic acid (19.57%), oleic acid (15.25%), linoleic acid (21.84%) and alpha-linolenic acid (15.95%). The plant extracts were also found to be consisting of omega 3-6-9 fatty acid. The results showed that methanolic extracts in USB is produced better and more effective findings than the other extracts. According to the antimicrobial activity experiments, E. coli and S. aureus were the only strains inhibited by the all extracts obtained three different methods. The highest inhibition was recorded against Bacillus subtilis with USB methanol extracts. The only antifungal activity was observed against C. albicans with extracts obtained by boiling in water. Enzyme inhibition activity was very limited with all extracts. Amylase activity was slightly inhibited (14.1%) up to 30 min

Effects of different combinations and concentrations of growth regulators and photoperiod on somatic embryogenesis of cucumis melo var. flexuosus

The present study describes the effects of medium, explant type and photoperiod on somatic embryogenesis of snake melon (Cucumis melo var. flexuosus). Two different types of explant (cotyledon and hypocotyls) obtained from 3 days old snake melon seedlings and culture conditionswere investigated for somatic embryogenesis. Explants were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (1962) (MS) medium supplemented with 23 different combinations of auxins (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, 2,4-D; -naphthalene acetic acid, NAA) and cytokinin (6- benzylaminopurine, BAP; N6-[2- isopentyl]adenine, 2iP) either alone or in combination with each other. Embryogenic calluses were obtained from cotyledon explant on MS media supplemented with NAA and 2,4-D alone and combinations with cytokinin. Our findings showed that NAA and 2,4-D did not act synergistically with BAP or 2iP. Callus formation was the same whether BAP or 2iP was added into the media or not. The highest embryo formation was achieved from cotyledon explant which was 20.00±7.94 somatic embryosper petri dish on medium supplemented with 4 mg/l 2,4-D and 0.5 mg/lBAP. The cotyledon and hypocotyls explants cultured on the media with 2 mg/l 2,4-D with 0.5 mg/l BAP showed embryogenic callus formation and number of somatic embryos were 17.33±5.51 and 16.33±3.06 per petri dish, respectively. Auxin was found critical for formation of somatic embryo and at the same time, the two tested cytokinins at any concentration acted synergistically with auxin

Peach Breeding Studies in Turkey and the Evaluation of Peach and Nectarine Hybrids

Peach (Prunus persica [L.] Batsch) is widely cultivated due to its easy adaptability to different ecological conditions, early fruit set and a long period of harvest. Peach cultivation extends along 30–45° North and South parallels of latitude. Around 21,638,953 tons of peaches are produced in an area of 1538,174 ha across the world. Turkey ranks sixth with a production of 637,573 tons/year in 29,092 ha area. Early fruiting habit and correlative characteristics of peaches encouraged fruit breeders to study on this fruit species. The main aims of the study are new cultivar or rootstock breeding, resistance to diseases, late ripening season, fruit quality improvement, fruit shape changes, new tree shapes, and low chilling cultivars. Breeding studies have been carried out at the Department of Horticulture at the University of Cukurova since 1990s. In these, peach and nectarine breeding programs with different aims such as late ripening, quality improvement, Sharka resistance, and low chilling cultivars were studied. In this chapter, some of the results on late ripening peach and nectarine breeding program have also been presented

Expression of an Endo-β-1,4-glucanase Gene from Orpinomyces PC-2 in Pichia pastoris

The endo-β-1,4-glucanase gene celE from the anaerobic fungus Orpinomyces PC-2 was placed under the control of an alcohol oxidase promoter (AOX1) in the plasmid pPIC9K, and integrated into the genome of a methylotrophic yeast P. pastoris GS115 by electroporation. The strain with highest endo-β-1,4-glucanase activity was selected and designed as P. pastoris egE, and cultivated in shaking flasks. The culture supernatant was assayed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and showed a single band at about 52 kDa. Furthermore, the recombinant P. pastoris egE was proved to possess the ability to utilize sodium carboxymethyl cellulose as a carbon source. The recombinant endoglucanase produced by P. pastoris showed maximum activity at pH 6.0 and temperature 45 °C, indicating it was a mesophilic neutral endo-β-1,4-glucanase, suitable for denim biofinishing/washing. Further research was carried out in suitable fermentation medium in shaking flasks. The most favorable methanol addition concentration was discussed and given as 1.0%. After methanol induction for 96 h, the endo-β-1,4-glucanase activity reached 72.5 IU mL−1. This is the first report on expression and characterization of endo-β-1,4-glucanase from Orpinomyces in P. pastoris. The endo-β-1,4-glucanase secreted by recombinant P. pastoris represents an attractive potential for both academic research and textile industry application