Molecular and pomological diversity among pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) cultivars in Eastern Mediterranean region of Turkey

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is an important fruit species for Turkey where many cultivars are being cultivated. In this study, we determined the fruit characteristics and RAPD band patterns of sixlocal cultivars from Hatay, Turkey. Our results demonstrated that there is a great level of morphological variation. The principle component analysis of 18 quantitative fruit characteristics revealed that fruitweight, aril number/fruit, peel color and soluble solids/acidity ratio are important traits for discriminating the cultivars tested. The UPGMA cluster of fruit characteristics indicated that ‘Katýrbaý’and ‘Kan narý’ were similar to each other and they were separated from rest of the cultivars. Twenty-two RAPD primers generated total of 106 reproducible bands 22% of which were polymorphic. The UPGMAdendrogram of RAPD data showed that ‘Tatlý nar’ and ‘erife’ were very closely related while ‘ncekabuk’ is distinct from the other cultivars. As a result, discrepancies were detected between morphological and molecular data. Therefore, we confirmed that diversity among the fruitcharacteristics were not good indication of genetic relatedness while molecular tools are valuable to study such similarities

Karyological features of wild and cultivated forms of myrtle (Myrtus communis, Myrtaceae)

ABSTRACT. Myrtle is an evergreen shrub or small tree widespread throughout the Mediterranean region. In Turkey, both cultivated and wild forms, differing in plant and fruit size and fruit composition, can be found. These differences may have resulted from the domestication of the cultivated form over a long period of time. We investigated whether wild and cultivated forms of myrtle differ in karyological features (i.e., number of somatic chromosomes and relative genome size). We sampled two wild forms and six cultivated types of myrtle. All the samples had the same chromosome number (2n = 2x = 22). The results were confirmed by 4’,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) flow cytometry. Only negligible variation (~3%) in relative fluorescence intensity was observed among the different myrtle accessions, with wild genotypes having the smallest values. We concluded that despite considerable morphological differentiation, cultivated and wild myrtle genotypes in Turkey have similar karyological features

Physical, chemical, and antioxidant properties of jujube fruits from Turkey

[No abstract available

First report of Phytophthora cinnamomi causing root and crown rot of Ficus carica in Turkey

[No abstract available

First Report of Canker and Dieback Caused by Botryosphaeria dothidea on Apple in Turkey.

WOS: 000375634200040Apple is one of the most commercially profitable fruit crops in Turkey, and is grown on 150,847 ha with 2,889,000 tons of fruit produced annually. In June 2015, we observed trees with sunken and reddish-brown limb cankers. Blighted shoots had circular spots or blisters around lenticels with lesions extending along the entire branch, often leading to bark cracking. More than 20% of the 8-year-old apple trees (Malus domestica Borkh) in a 15-ha orchard (37°59ʹ29ʺ N; 38°02ʹ11ʺ E) near Malatya planted with ‘Golden Delicious’ were affected. Samples from the inner cambium from cankered branches were collected from declining trees, surface sterilized in 70% ethanol, plated on potato dextrose agar (PDA), and incubated at 22°C..

Chitosan/Octadecylamine-Montmorillonite Nanocomposite Containing Nigella arvensis Extract as Improved Antimicrobial Biofilm Against Foodborne Pathogens

The objective of this study was to develop inexpensive and facile nanocomposites based on chitosan and organo-clay with the antimicrobial affectivity that provide the serious challenges caused by bacterial infections in various products such as food packaging materials. The chitosan with octadecylamine montmorillonite (ODA-MMT) nanocomposites by supplementing 1, 2.5, and 5 w% Nigella arvensis seed (black cumin) extract (CMBC-1, CMBC-2.5, and CMBC-5) were prepared chitosan from ionic liquid solutions in the presence of ODA-MMT and black cumin extract suspension. The effect of black cumin with different content on the structure and antimicrobial activity of the nanocomposite have been investigated. The interactions between the chitosan matrix, ODA-MMT, and black cumin extract at different conditions were characterized both physicochemically (FT-IR, SEM, and XRD) and biologically (antimicrobial). The results indicated that the formation of exfoliated nanostructure of nanocomposites was provided by loading of nanodispersed clay in matrix. Antimicrobial activity of CMBC nanocomposite film was evaluated using disc diffusion method against Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 and Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium SL 1344 and Gram-positives Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 and Streptococcus mutans ATCC 25175. The antimicrobial activity studies of the CMBCs illustrated that the nanocomposites could more strongly inhibit the growth of the tested Gram-negative bacteria than Gram-positive bacteria within increased content of black cumin from 1 to 5 w%. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the antimicrobial effect of CMBC nanocomposite film. Such biomaterials within nontoxic and inexpensive properties will thus have great potential applications in the development of new packing materials that can effectively prevent the antimicrobial formation. [Figure not available: see fulltext.] © 2018, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature

Corrigendum to "Chemical composition, antioxidant activities and total phenolic content of Arbutus andrachne L. (Fam. Ericaceae) (the Greek strawberry tree) fruits from Turkey" [J. Food Compos. Anal. 23 (6) (2010) 619-623]

[No abstract available

Perception of physical health by patients with severe mental illness and their family caregivers: A qualitative study

Purpose: The aim of this study is to determine the perceptions of both individuals with severe mental illness and their family caregivers regarding the physical health status of patients. Design and methods: A descriptive qualitative design was implemented, and 11 individuals with severe mental illness and 12 caregivers were analysed. Findings: Two main themes emerged as a result of the content analysis: a “physical health-related barriers” theme and a “need for better physical health” theme. Practice implications: Patients and their family caregivers experience a number of barriers and difficulties related to maintaining and improving physical health. Psychiatric nurses should recognize these barriers and assist in empowering both patients and their family caregivers to overcome them. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc

The opinions of Turkish mental health nurses on physical health care for individuals with mental illness: A qualitative study

Accessible summar

Chemical composition, antioxidant activities and total phenolic content of Arbutus andrachne L. (Fam. Ericaceae) (the Greek strawberry tree) fruits from Turkey

Arbutus andrachne L. and A. unedo L. are two members of the Ericaceae family. The species are distributed in coastal parts of Anatolia and have edible fruits. We determined several characteristics of eight A. andrachne accessions collected from different parts of the Mediterranean regions of Anatolia. A. unedo is also represented with a sample. Notable differences were found among A. andrachne accessions. On average, the fruit width and length were 12.3 and 10.8. mm, respectively. All of the element concentrations that were tested varied considerably. The average of the total organic acids was 0.47. g/100. g fruit. Among the organic acids measured, malic acid had the highest content (0.34. g/100 g fruit) followed by ascorbic (0.10. g/100. g fruit) and citric acids (0.03 g/100. g fruit). The average for total sugars of the A. andrachne accessions was 16.38. g/100. g fruit. Fructose was the main sugar (average of 9.75. g/100. g fruit) followed by glucose (5.33. g/100. g fruit) and sucrose (1.19. g/100. g fruit). Among the A. andrachne accessions tested, the total phenolics ranged from 2422 to 4102µg. gallic. acid/g fresh weight (fw) with an average of 3343µg gallic acid equiv. g/fw. Antioxidant activities, determined by TEAC (Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity) and FRAP (Ferric reducing ability of plasma), reached up to 36.1 and 29.5µmol Trolox equiv. (TE) g/fresh weight, respectively. It can thus be concluded that A. andrachne is a good source of phenols and antioxidants. © 2010 Elsevier Inc