Biology

This study investigates ethnobotanical uses of wild plants found on Honaz Mountain and its vicinity in Denizli Province in the middle Aegean region of Turkey. Eighty-one persons from 13 villages and six townships were interviewed. Nine hundred and sixty-four species, belonging to 60 plant families, were identified for which 381 different uses were recorded. Informants reported ethnobotanical uses for 19% of the identified species (184 out of 964): food (65), fodder (111), medicinal (119), firewood (28), handicrafts (16) and various other purposes (26). Medicinal tar production was particularly noted.

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In recent years, multiple biomarker systems have been frequently used to measure the genotoxic effects of environmental pollutants on living organisms. In this research, fodder turnip (Brassica rapa L.) seedlings exposed to 0.5-5 mM concentrations of lead nitrate were used to evaluate the alterations in ␦-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) level, ␦-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) activity, photosynthetic pigments content (chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and carotenoid) and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) profiles. Analytical studies by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) demonstrated that lead (Pb) accumulation in the roots and above ground parts of the seedlings increases with an increase in Pb concentration. Lead-induced toxicity resulted in the build-up ALA and reduced activity of ALAD, and photosynthetic pigments content in the leaves. For the RAPD analyses, 11 RAPD primers of 60-70% GC content were found to produce unique polymorphic band profiles and subsequently were used to produce a total of 126 bands of 189-2928 bp. The changes occurring in RAPD profiles of the leaves following Pb treatment included variation became evident as disappearance and/or appearance of DNA bands compared with the normal seedlings. It was found that the effect of changes was dose-dependent. These results indicated that genomic template stability was significantly affected at all Pb concentrations tested. The general tendency of genomic template stability, ALAD activity and photosynthetic pigments content of the leaves was a gradual decrease with an increase in Pb concentration. We concluded that RAPD analysis in conjunction with chlorophyll biosynthesis would a powerful ecotoxicological tool in biomonitoring of heavy metal pollution.

Phylogenetic relationships among wild Triticum and Aegilops species, bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) cultivars, and durum wheat (T. turgidum) cultivars were investigated using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique. Fourteen RAPD primers generated 328 polymorphic bands in 22 wheat species/cultivars which have the same or different genomes. DNA fragment size ranged from 290 bp to 2570 bp. In the RAPD analysis, wild Triticum and Aegilops species clustered together and were separated from all other wheat cultivars based on their genome constitution. T. monococcum and T. boeticum were closer to Aegilops species than to other wheat cultivars. T. turgidum cultivars were genetically less diverse than T. aestivum cultivars. RAPD markers specific to the D and U genomes were detected. There was a weak correlation between RAPD data and pedigree records of the cultivars sharing common ancestor(s). The results suggest that RAPD analysis can be used to distinguish wild Triticum and Aegilops species, and wheat cultivars. In addition, RAPD technique can be used to develop genome-specific markers.

This study is focused on ethnobotanical usages of wild plants growing within the Afyonkarahisar province districts of Sinanpaşa, Hocalar and Dazkırı. Ninety local informants in 11 villages were interviewed. A total of 129 different usages of wild plants in the study area were recorded. Out of 650 plant species commonly present, 93 plant taxa (14.3%) belonging to 43 families were used for medicinal (52 citations), foodstuff (37 citations), fodder (14 citations), dye (six citations), firewood (five citations), construction materials (four citations) and miscellaneous purposes (11 citations). At least 15% of the information regarding ethnobotanical uses of wild plants was obtained by showing herbarium voucher samples to the informants. It was noted that Sideritis leptoclada and Verbascum stenostachyum are endemic to Turkey and their endangered status has markedly increased in recent years because of increased collecting for ethnobotanical purposes. Informants indicate that members of the younger generation have a much reduced interest in ethnobotanical knowledge and that this is a danger to the continued use of local plants.

This report deals with the successful clonal propagation of endangered T. turcica using rhizome cuttings and epicotyl explants. Rhizome cuttings were treated with α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) or indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) before planting for vegetative multiplication. Rhizome cuttings pretreated with NAA (10 mg/L) were both rooted and sprouted (66.6%) after 100 days. Application of NAA induced callus and adventitious root formation in epicotyl explants and 6-benzyladenine (BA) induced production of microshoots. Low levels of NAA (0.5-1 μM) together with BA promoted shoot initiation and development. The highest regeneration rate (86.6%), with a mean number of shoots (3.05) and a mean length of shoots (2.3 cm) per epicotyl, was achieved at 10 μM BA and 0.5 μM NAA. About 83% of in vitro regenerated shoots rooted on a ½ Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 0.3 μM NAA. In vitro plantlets were morphologically normal and a uniform chromosome complement of 2n = 18 was detected in root tips. The study demonstrated that both conventional and in vitro techniques could be useful for large scale multiplication and propagation of this endangered plant species.

Differentially responding genotypes are comparatively used to understand mechanisms of metal tolerance in higher plants.
The feasibility of the random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique was evaluated to screen for metal tolerance within plants
as an alternative to physiological growth parameters. Eight hydroponically grown barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) genotypes were exposed
to different concentrations (75, 150, and 225 μM) of cadmium and copper for 7 days and subsequently harvested for determining
metal tolerance indices by comparing dry biomass to genomic template stabilities based on their RAPD profiles. Dose- and genotypedependent
reductions in dry weights of shoot and root tissues were detected for both metal treatments. The tolerance indices showed that
Aydanhanım/Bülbül-89 and Başgül/Tarm-92 were the most tolerant/sensitive barley genotypes to cadmium and copper, respectively. For
untreated barley genotypes, the amplified RAPD bands were genotype-dependent and estimated genetic similarity coefficients ranged
from 0.56 to 0.82. Metal exposure caused appearance and/or disappearance of RAPD bands in comparison to the control RAPD profiles.
The alterations in RAPD profiles were dose- and genotype-dependent for the cadmium and copper treatment groups. Consequently,
genomic template stability (GTS, %) of all barley genotypes was reduced with metal exposure. Based on GTS values, the most tolerant/
sensitive barley genotypes to cadmium and copper were Aydanhanım/Tarm-92 and Avcı-2002/Orza-96, respectively. The growth and
RAPD results clearly indicated that Aydanhanım, Avcı-2002, and Başgül were more tolerant, while Bülbül-89, Orza-96, and Tarm-92
were more sensitive barley genotypes to both metals. The RAPD technique could be used to screen metal-tolerant plant genotypes as
an alternative method.

The effects of Cr(VI) stress (0, 75, 150 and 225 μM) on Cr accumulation, growth, d-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) activity, photosynthetic pigments content, proline content, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, antioxidant enzymes activity and 2-D protein profile were investigated using Cr-tolerant (Zeynelağa) and Cr-sensitive (Orza-96) barley cultivars. Zeynelağa accumulated significantly higher Cr in shoots than Orza-96. Zeynelağa had a lower reduction in shoot dry weight, chlorophyll and carotenoid contents than Orza-96. Although Cr(VI) significantly reduced the ALAD activity, there was no consistent difference between ALAD activities of barley cultivars. Cr(VI) increased proline and MDA contents, but this effect was more pronounced in Orza-96. Cr(VI) stress caused an increase in the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), guaiacol peroxidase (POD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and catalase (CAT). There was, in general, a marked difference between two barley cultivars in the extent of increased antioxidant enzyme activity. The results of the present study indicated that Zeynelağa seems to have better defense mechanisms to Cr(VI) stress compared to Orza-96. On the other hand, protein profile analyzed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis showed differential expression of 26 proteins.

The seasonal variations of fatty acids compositions in the muscle, liver, and ovarian tissues of mirror carp (Cyprinus carpio) living in Örenler Dam Lake were determined by using gas chromatography. The results obtained were subjected to statistical analyses by employing SPSS software and p < 0.05 was accepted as significant value. In the statistical analyses, multiple comparisons tests were performed. The results showed that monounsaturated fatty acids levels were found to be higher than that of polyunsaturated fatty acids and saturated fatty acids in all seasons. Palmitic and stearic acid levels were the highest in ovaries (19.95% in winter and 7.79% in summer, respectively). Oleic and palmitoleic levels were at the highest levels in liver tissues (34.53% in summer and 18.37% in winter, respectively). Docosahexaenoic (C22:6ω3, DHA), eicosapentaenoic (C20:5ω3, EPA), eicosatrienoic acid, and arachidonic (C20:4ω6, AA) levels were at the highest level as 17.27, 2.54, and 8.41% in ovaries in the winter and 6.37% in muscle tissues in the spring, respectively. ω3/ω6 ratios were 0.62–0.98 in muscle, 1.54–2.82 in the liver, and 2.82–3.89 in the ovaries. From the point of total fatty acid variations, the highest variations were observed as follows: muscle in spring (26.73%), liver in winter (33.85%), and ovaries in winter 36.38%.

The present study aims to determine seasonal changes of nutritional value of common carp in Karamık Lake by determining the fatty acid composition. The levels of saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fatty acids in 100 g total fatty acid were found to be 28.73, 25.31, and 38.19 g in winter; 29.39, 24.06, and 35.75 g in spring; 31.05, 35.02, and 24.86 g in summer; 29.85, 32.39, and 30.92 g in autumn, respectively. Total ω3 and ω6 polyunsaturated fatty acid levels in 100 g fatty acid in muscle of the common carp ranged from 12.90 g to 25.97 g and from 10.73 g to 14.59 g, respectively. The ratio of total ω3 polyunsaturated fatty acids was higher than that of total ω6 polyunsaturated fatty acids in all seasons. The ratios of ω6/ω3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and arachidonic/eicosapentaenoic acids were the lowest in winter (0.41, 0.64) and highest (0.98, 2.72) in autumn. The amount of eicosapentaenoic + docosahexaenoic acids was also highest in winter and was composed of 22.50 g of 100 g total fatty acid in muscle of pike.

The outdoor air microfungal flora of Afyonkarahisar district was determined by using Air Ideal sampler. 2400 fungal colonies were isolated from 216 samples taken monthly from six different areas of Afyonkarahisar in 2005. 32 different microfungal taxa were identified. Frequencies of the main genera were; Penicillium (35.8%), Cladosporium (24.5%), Alternaria (13.1%), sterile coloni (12.0%), Aspergillus (8.9%), Ulaclodium (6.6%), Drechslera (0.6%), Rhizopus (0.5%), Polyscytalum (0.1%), respectively.

The purpose of this paper was to determine the effects of usage of sequential teaching method on the academic achievement and retention level of students. Three student groups, each of which included 20 biology students in Ataturk University-Erzurum, were offered a topic on general characteristics of enzymes with different sequences of 3 teaching methods. The teaching methods were Laboratory method (student experiment), slide demonstration and lecture method. The first group started to course with experiments in the laboratory, then the relevant theory of enzyme was given lecture method, and then the slides was shown (Group I). The sequence of these three teaching methods used in the first group was changed in both second and third group as follow: The lecture methods, slide show and experiment in Group II, and slide show, experiment and lecture method in Group III, respectively. Lab method used in the study was focused on the topic of enzymic activity. a student experiment was designed for this reason, and including to examine its catalytic features, effective factors, and relation between substrate and enzymes. This experiment was carried out by students. Slide demonstration method included slides about enzyme structure and function. The slides were shown by teachers. Lecture method was performed by teachers as usual. Effectiveness of different sequential teaching methods was measured quantitatively by an achievement test. Achievement test contained 25 questions, testing the knowledge of facts as well as the ability to transfer the knowledge and problem solving ability. This test was used as pre-test before methods' application, post-test after the methods' application and retention test after 40 days from methods' applied. Tests' results were evaluated by using one way ANOVA test. According to tests' results, academic achievements of student in Group I and Group III were higher than academic achievements of student in Group II. Student's retention (remembrance) level in Group I was higher than that of Group II and Group III.

Entomopatojen bir fungus türü olan Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) baz› parazitik akarlar›n biyolojik kontrolünde kullan›lmaktad›r. Bu çal›şmada, Eustigmaeus segnis (Koch, 1836) ve Galumna sp. akarlar›ndan B. bassiana izole edilmiş ve aralar›ndaki ilişki literatüre dayanarak tart›ş›lm›şt›r.

We report a new survey for Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) in Turkey. We swabbed 228 individuals of 7 amphibian species (from 5 families) living in 2 locations (26-August National Park and the Turkish Lakes District) in the southwestern Anatolian region. The infection intensity of all the samples was determined using quantitative PCR. All 4 amphibian breeding sites and 4 amphibian species in 26-August National Park were infected by Bd, with the prevalence at each site ranging from 8 to 29%. Only 1 species was sampled from Beysehir Lake near the conservation area Beysehir Natural Park, but these samples were notable for their high detection rates (prevalence of 32.11%). This study reports the first records of Bd infecting wild Pelophylax ridibundus, Hyla orientalis, Pseudepidalea variabilis, and endemic Beysehir frogs Pelophylax caralitanus.

Genotoxic and mutagenic effects of aqueous extract from aerial parts of Achillea teretifolia (At-ext) were investigated using both Allium cepa root meristematic cells and a short-term mutation assay in Salmonella typhimurium with TA98 and TA100 strains in the presence or absence of S9 mix, respectively. In the Allium tests, EC50 value was determined as 50 g/L, and 0.5 × EC50, EC50, and 2 × EC50 concentrations of At-ext were applied to onion tuber roots. Methyl methane sulfonate (MMS, 10 ppm) and distilled water were used as positive and negative controls, respectively. The mitotic index (MI) increased in all concentrations in comparison to control at each exposure time except 25 and 50 g/L at 12 h. While stickiness, chromosome laggards, bridges, and disturbed anaphase-telophase were observed in anaphase-telophase cells, pro-metaphase, c-metaphase, polyploidy, and binuclear cells were observed in other cells. It was determined that At-ext have no mutagenic effect on S. typhimurium TA...