Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria improved growth, nutrient, and hormone content of cabbage (Brassica oleracea) seedlings

A greenhouse experiment was conducted to observe the effects of Bacillus megaterium strain TV-91C, Pantoea agglomerans strain RK-92, and B. subtilis strain TV-17C inoculation on the growth, nutrient, and hormone content of cabbage seedlings. The seeds of cabbage were incubated in flasks by shaking at 80 rpm for 2 h at 28 degrees C to coat the seeds with the rhizobacteria. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) treatments increased fresh and dry shoot and root weight, stem diameter, seedling height, chlorophyll reading values, and leaf area of cabbage seedlings compared with the control. Among the strains, B. megaterium TV-91C gave the greatest seedling nutrient content and growth parameters, although the maximum values for leaf area, gibberellic acid, salicylic acid, and indole acetic acid (IAA) contents of seedlings were obtained with the P. agglomerans RK-92 treatment. Seed inoculation with B. megaterium TV-91C increased fresh and dry shoot and root weight by 32.9%, 22.6%, 16.0%, and 35.69%, respectively. Inoculations also increased the stem diameter, seedling height, and SPAD chlorophyll values by 47.5%, 27.2%, and 5.8%, respectively. Furthermore, compared to the control, P. agglomerans RK-92 increased gibberellic acid, salicylic acid, IAA, and leaf area by 13.9%, 70.9%, 38.5%, and 27.3%, respectively. PGPR treatments may improve seedling growth and quality in cabbages

Parasitic Bacteria and Fungi on Common Mistletoe (Viscum album L.) and Their Potential Application in Biocontrol

This study was carried out to identify pathogenic bacteria and fungi on mistletoe (Viscum album L.) and investigate their potential use in biological control of this parasitic plant. For this purpose, a total of 48 fungal isolate and 193 bacterial strains were isolated from contaminated V.album during the summers 20052006. The isolated bacterial strains and fungal isolates were identified by using the Sherlock Microbial Identification System (MIS; Microbial ID, Newark) and microscopic methods, respectively. The bacterial strains that induced hypersensitive reaction (HR) on tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) and fungal isolates were tested for pathogenicity on young shoots of mistletoe by using injection methods. The pathogenic bacterial strains and fungal isolates were also tested for their activity against mistletoe using spray methods. Five bacterial strains (two Burkholderia cepacia, one each of Bacillus megaterium, Bacillus pumilus and Pandoraea pulminicola) were HR and pathogenicity positive when injected but none of them when sprayed on mistletoe. When fungi were injected, 32 isolates were pathogenic but only thirteen when sprayed on mistletoe. Alternaria alternata VAS-202, VAS-205, VAS-217 and Acremonium kiliense VA-11 fungal isolates were the most effective ones and caused strong disease symptoms on mistletoe. The present study is the first report on the efficiency of potential biocontrol agents against mistletoe in Turkey

Quality of life and related factors among chronic hepatitis B-infected patients: a multi-center study, Turkey

Background: The aim of this study was to assess health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients in Turkey and to study related factors

Quality of life and related factors among chronic hepatitis B-infected patients: a multi-center study, Turkey

balkan, ilker inanc/0000-0002-8977-5931; Altindis, Mustafa/0000-0003-0411-9669; Sahin, Ahmet Ziyaettin/0000-0003-1060-6746; atilla, aynur/0000-0001-8027-1991WOS: 000386954300001PubMed: 27809934Background: The aim of this study was to assess health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients in Turkey and to study related factors. Methods: This multicenter study was carried out between January 01 and April 15, 2015 in Turkey in 57 centers. Adults were enrolled and studied in three groups. Group 1: Inactive HBsAg carriers, Group 2: CHB patients receiving antiviral therapy, Group 3: CHB patients who were neither receiving antiviral therapy nor were inactive HBsAg carriers. Study data was collected by face-to-face interviews using a standardized questionnaire, Short Form-36 (SF-36) and Hepatitis B Quality of Life (HBQOL). Values equivalent to p < 0.05 in analyses were accepted as statistically significant. Results: Four thousand two hundred fifty-seven patients with CHB were included in the study. Two thousand five hundred fifty-nine (60.1 %) of the patients were males. Groups 1, 2 and 3, consisted of 1529 (35.9 %), 1721 (40.4 %) and 1007 (23.7 %) patients, respectively. The highest value of HRQOL was found in inactive HBsAg carriers. We found that total HBQOL score increased when antiviral treatment was used. However, HRQOL of CHB patients varied according to their socio-demographic properties. Regarding total HBQOL score, a higher significant level of HRQOL was determined in inactive HBV patients when matched controls with the associated factors were provided. Conclusions: The HRQOL score of CHB patients was higher than expected and it can be worsen when the disease becomes active. Use of an antiviral therapy can contribute to increasing HRQOL of patients