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This study sought to contribute to the understanding of the detrimental effect of the mistletoe (Viscum albumL.), a hemiparasitic plant, on the mortality of the Scots pine (Pinus sylvestrisL.). Fieldwork was conducted in the town of Kelkit (Gumushane province, Turkey) from April to October in 2013. Pine needles of similar ages were removed from the branches of mistletoe-infested and noninfested Scots pine plants, then transported to the laboratory and used as research materials. The effects of the mistletoe on the Scots pine during infestation were evaluated by determining the levels of water, electrolyte leakage (EL), malondialdehyde (MDA, being a product of lipid peroxidation) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as superoxide anion (O2 (-•)), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and hydroxyl radical ((•)OH). In addition, the activities of antioxidative enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POX) were measured in the same samples. The highest level of drought stress was found in summer (especially in August) as a result of the lowest water content in the soil and the highest average temperature occurring in these months. The drought stress induced by mistletoe infestation caused a regular decrease in water content, while it increased the levels of EL, MDA and ROS (H2O2, O2 (-•)and(•)OH). The infestation also stimulated the activities of CAT and POX, with the exception of SOD. On the other hand, in August, when the drought conditions were the harshest, the levels of EL and MDA, which are two of the most important indicator parameters for oxidative stress, as well as the levels of H2O2and(•)OH, which are two of the ROS leading to oxidative stress, reached the highest values in both infested and noninfested needles, whereas the O2 (-•)level decreased. For the same period and needles, CAT activity increased, while SOD activity decreased. Peroxidase activity, however, did not exhibit a significant change. Our findings indicate that the increased mortality of the Scots pine may result from the mistletoe-induced very severe drought stress, and that the increase in the capacity of antioxidative enzyme system does not protect the plant against oxidative stress in dry summer seasons.

We investigated the antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory activities and chemical composition of the hydro-distilled essential oil (0.35% yield) from aerial parts of Thymus spathulifolius. Antioxidant capacity of the oil was assessed by different methods including free radical scavenging (DPPH and ABTS), reducing power (FRAP and CUPRAC) and phosphomolybdenum assay. Inhibitory activities were analyzed against acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), a-amylase, a-glucosidase, and tyrosinase. Twenty-one constituents were identified representing 97.2% of the total oil with thymol (50.5%), borneol (16.7%) and carvacrol (7.7%) as the major components. The essential oil exhibited good antioxidant activity with IC 50 values of 3.82 and 0.22 mg/mL determined by free radical scavenging DPPH and ABTS, respectively. EC 50 values of FRAP and CUPRAC were found to be 0.12 and 0.34 mg/mL, respectively. The results of the present study support the uses of T. spathulifolius essential oil as a source of natural antioxidants and bioactivities for functional foods and phytomedicines.

The genotypes of Ergan mountain, Erzican, Turkey were studied and documented. A total of 25 taxa belonging to 14 genera and 9 families have been collected in this study. Local name, used plant parts and the ethnobotanical uses of the geophyte -species were determined. Of the recorded taxa, 48% belonged to Irano-Twianian phytogeographic region, 12% to Europe-Siberian region and 4% to Mediterranean region. Five taxa namely, Allium armenum Boiss. & Kotschy, A. sintenisii Freyn, Muscentoiceleste Formin, Fritillaria pinardii Boiss. and Tulipa armena sbusp. Lyia (Baker) Marais recorded from the study area are endemic to Turkey.

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ABSTRACT:In this study, the effects of irrigation water on vegetables were analysed. Samples that we analysed were pepper (Capsicum annuum L.), tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.), and eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) were raised using running water and river water and collected from both normal land and riverside soils. After pretreating the collected samples in the laboratory, ICP-MS elemental analysis was conducted. Results are evaluated using SPSS 19 Statistical Package Software and expressed as mean we found that there is significant differences in the content metals of the samples (soil, roots and fruits) collected from three different area. We also evaluated the correlation between the soils and the roots vegetable in terms of heavy metals (or mineral). It was clear that there is a significant effect of irrigation water on the vegetables. Key words: Heavy metals, ICP-MS, irrigation, mineral elements, vegetablesÖZET: Bu çalışma ile sulama suyunun sebzeler üzerinde ki etkileri araştırılmaya çalışılmıştır. Normal arazi ve nehir kenar topraklarından olmak üzere üç farklı örnek alan hazırlanmıştır. Bu alanlarda normal şebeke suyu ile nehir suyu kullanılarak, biber (Capsicum annuum L.), domates (Solanum lycopersicum L.) ve patlıcan (Solanum melongena L.) yetiştirilmiştir. Toplanan örnekler, laboratuvarda ön işlemden geçirildikten sonra ICP-MS te element analizi yapılmıştır. Elde edilen sonuçlar doğrultusunda SPSS 19 İstatistik Paket Programı ile istatistiksel değerlendirmeler yapılarak, üç farklı alandan toplanan örneklerin metal içeriği bakımından toprak, kök ve meyveler arasında farklılıklar tespit edilmiştir. Ayrıca metal açısından toprak ile sebzelerin kökleri arasındaki korelasyon ile toprak-kök arasındaki ilişki de belirlenmiştir. Sulama suyunun, sebzelerde önemli etkisinin olduğu açıktır.Anahtar Kelimeler: Ağır metaller, ICP-MS, mineral element, sebze, sulama

In this study, Tanacetum erzincanense Korkmaz, Kandemir & İlhan is described as a new species for science from Erzincan Province. It was compared with close species by using morphological and random amplified polymorphic DNA data. It resembles T. germanicopolitanum (Bornm. & Heimerl) Grierson and T. pinnatum Boiss. It is closer to T. germanicopolitanum in terms of genetic and morphological aspects. Morphologically, it differs from T. germanicopolitanum by having oblong-oblanceolate basal leaves in outline with flabelliform and fewer leaf segments, less dense indumentum, smaller and globose capitula, and shorter apical appendage in inner phyllaries. T. pinnatum shows difference from T. erzincanense with linear-lanceolate and sparsely pinnatifid leaf segments, less dense indumentum, and clearly larger and fewer capitula. Pollen properties and results of the soil analysis are also given.

Abstract. Erzincan province is mostly located in Eastern Anatolia region of Turkey. Keşiş (Esence) Mountain. is one of the most important plant areas and endemic plant centers of Turkey. The mountain take parts between Üzümlü and Çayırlı districts. Bulbous, tuberous and rhizome plants are known as geophytes. In this study, Geophyte plant diversity of Çayırlı district located in the eastern foothills of Keşiş Mountain was determined. The plant samples were collected in the vegetation periods between 2011 and 2013 around the district and the surrounding mountainous areas. All of the collected plant samples and their habitats were photographed during field surveys. At the end of the studies, totally 50 geophyte plant taxa were identified among 22 genera and 13 families. It was determined that 26 taxa (52%) of the total taxa belonged to Irano-Turanian, six taxa (12%) to Euro-Siberian, and four taxa (8%) to Mediterranean phytogeographical region elements. Ethnobotanical aspects of these plants were determined during the field studies and given in the study. Twelve taxa (24%) of them were found as endemic to Turkey. Threat categories of these endemic taxa were also determined in the study. This is the first study in the province to determine geophyte plant diversity. Determining the geophyte flora is not only important for protecting the plant diversity, but also important for the economy and ecoturism. As seen in the study, most of the geophytes have economic importance for their use as food, for medicinal, and ornamental purposes.