Antifungal Potency of Amaranth Leaf Extract: An In Vitro Study.

Plant diseases are a serious problem for agricultural crops, the food industry and human health. Significant efforts have been made in recent years to find natural products that could reduce the growth of plant pathogens and improve food quality. At present, there is an increased interest in plants as a source of biological active compounds that can protect crops from diseases. Important sources of these phytochemicals are lesser-known pseudocereals such as amaranth. The objective of this study was to determine the antifungal activity of leaf extracts of four amaranth species (A. cruentus, A. hypochondriacus × hybridus, A. retroflexus and A. hybridus). The antifungal potency of amaranth extracts was analyzed against selected strains of fungi. The results suggested that the antimicrobial properties of the tested extracts varied depending on the amaranth species and the fungal strain. The studied extracts inhibited the growth of Fusarium equiseti, Rhizoctonia solani, Trichoderma harzianum and Alternaria alternata. A lower inhibitory effect of the extracts was recorded against F. solani, while no inhibitory effect was observed against F. oxysporum and Colletotrichum coccodes.

Monitoring of pesticide residues in peppers from Çanakkale (Turkey) public market using QuEChERS method and LC-MS/MS and GC-MS/MS detection.

Residue analyses were conducted for 283 pesticide active ingredients on pepper samples collected from the local markets (between April and November) of Çanakkale province of Turkey by using QuEChERS method and LC-MS/MS and GC-MS/MS devices. In present pepper samples, 35 different pesticide residues were detected. About 25.0% (27 samples) of present samples had single residue and 43.5% (47 samples) had multiple residues. Of the detected pesticides, acetamiprid, triadimenol, imidacloprid, boscalid, pirimiphos-methyl, tebuconazole, and metalaxyl were the most common ones, while carbendazim/benomyl, fenpropathrin, and thiram were the banned ones. Moreover, 24 of the pesticide residues detected were above the MRL values, 19 pesticides were in the "moderately hazardous (II)," and two pesticides were in the "extremely hazardous (Ib)" class (WHO). Present findings revealed that consumer health may be in danger despite all legal measures by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Turkey, thus greater emphasis should be put on monitoring of pesticide use and residues.

Monitoring the local distribution of striped hyenas (Hyaena hyaena L.) in the Eastern Mediterranean Region of Turkey (Hatay) by using GIS and remote sensing technologies.

Striped hyenas (Hyaena hyaena L.) are one of the large carnivores whose numbers have rapidly decreased in Turkey. To monitor and assess the distribution of striped hyenas in Mediterranean region of Turkey, geographical information systems (GIS) and remote sensing technologies were implemented. For this purpose, the GIS database was generated and digital maps were produced in ArcGIS 9.2 program, considering some of the main factors including signs of striped hyenas, elevation, slope, land use types, feeding sources, and road network. The land use types in the distribution area of striped hyenas were classified by using ERDAS Imagine program. The results from the land use classification indicated that the signs of striped hyenas mostly distributed over the agricultural areas especially with olive groves, and followed by maquis. It was found that there was a spatial relationship between the signs of striped hyenas and feeding sources such as organic waste centers and a chicken farm in the region.

Population status of jungle cat (Felis chaus) in Egirdir Lake, Turkey.

This study has been conducted between years 2002-2008 in nearby Egirdir lake, which is acknowledged to be amongst the biggest fresh water lakes in Turkey. Within the scope of this study observations have been made on one of the cat species common in Turkey, Jungle Cat Felis chaus, its biology distribution, population size, behavior and food in their habitat as well as problems conceming its conservation. The findings have been compared to previous data set worldwide. Besides, the status of this species in Turkey has been briefly referred.

Inhibition of conidia germination and mycelial growth of Botrytis cinerea by some alternative chemicals.

Fungal activities of food additives, potassium sorbate, methylparaben, sodium benzoate, propylparaben, sorbic acid and plant activators harpin-protein and potassium dioxide were comparatively examined with ipradion in vitro conditions on two isolates of Botrytis cinerea obtained from strawberry fruits. Food additives and plant activators showed inhibitory effect at different levels on the mycelial growth of fungus isolates. According to the Minimum Inhibition Concentration (MIC), sorbic acid (300 microg mL(-1) for each isolate) and comparison fungicide ipradion (10 microg mL(-1) for each isolate) displayed the highest inhibition effect on the radial mycelial growth of fungal isolates. Similar efficacy was obtained at the highest dose (1000 microg mL(-1)) from other additives propylparaben (for both isolates), potassium sorbet and methylparaben (for isolate 1) and from plant activator potassium oxide. It was detected that all alternative substances has high inhibition activity according to ED50 values. Methylparaben, harpin-protein and potassium oxide revealed efficacies similar to ipradion. While harpin-protein did not have any effect on B. Cinerea germination, other alternative substances excluding potassium sorbate inhibited germination completely at differing doses. Potassium oxide and food additives except potassium sorbate inhibited the spore germination of isolates by 50% at doses between 25-345 microg mL(-1). MIC value of ipradion on spore germination of isolate-1 and isolate-2 was determined as 10 and 30 microg mL(-1), while ED50 values were determined as 2.9 and 12.5 microg mL(-1), respectively. Data obtained from the research verified that food additives may be used in traditional and organic agriculture individually, or in appropriate combination with each other or with fungicides. Moreover, the study put forth that harpin-protein and potassium oxide not only activate plants against pathogens, but they may also have toxic effect on different growth periods of fungus. Although ipradion works only with two isolates, its MIC and ED50 values were considered noteworthy in terms of the resistance risk of B. cinerea.