Identification of Durum Wheat Cultivars and Their Tetraploid Relatives with Low Cadmium Content.

In this study, 71 durum wheat cultivars (Triticum durum Desf.), 22 emmer wheat (Triticum dicoccum L.) and 11 wild emmer (Triticum dicoccoides L.) genotypes were genetically characterized to determine the alleles associated with high cadmium (Cd) content. After genotypic characterization, 14 cultivars selected among all genotypes with low and high Cd content were phenotyped by a pot experiment to verify the genotypic data. Identification of 32 durum wheat, one emmer wheat and four wild emmer genotypes showed that they have alleles associated with high Cd content, while 68 genotypes of which 39 durum wheat, 21 emmer wheat and 7 wild emmer cultivars had alleles associated with low Cd content, respectively. Moreover, phenotypic data obtained from pot experiment were similar to the molecular data. To sum up, the marker successfully classified durum wheat cultivars into either high or low accumulators and these results can be safely used in breeding programs to improve new durum wheat cultivars with alleles associated with low Cd content. Due to routine use of phosphorus fertilizers in agricultural areas and other anthropogenic factors related to Cd toxicity, new durum wheat cultivars with low Cd content should be urgently developed for safe production of macaroni or other types of wheat products for human and animal consumption.

Influence of organic and conventional growing conditions on the nutrient contents of white head cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata) during two successive seasons.

Organically and conventionally grown white head cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata) plants were cultivated during two successive seasons (spring and autumn) to evaluate the effects of the applications on the nutrient content of the edible part of cabbage plants. Seventeen different organic applications containing farmyard manure (FM), chicken manure (CM), and blood meal (BM) and 1 chemical fertilizer and 1 control, collectively 19 treatments, were examined under the open-field conditions. Recommendations of the best results obtained should be divided into groups in the following order regarding the mineral contents and also the seasons: 0.6 BM + 7.5 FM in the spring season, and 3.5 CM in the autumn season for N, P, and K content of cabbage. For Ca and Mg, the group division should be 1.7 CM + 0.6 BM in the spring season and 10.0 FM + 1.2 CM in the autumn season. The optimum recommendations for the micronutrients could be 5.0 FM + 1.0 BM in the spring season and 0.9 BM + 0.85 CM in the autumn season for Fe and Cu and 15.0 FM in the spring season, and 10.0 FM + 0.4 BM in the autumn season for Mn and Zn. FM and CM could be used in high rates in producing organic cabbage and could be substituted for chemical fertilizer especially in the spring season.

Mineral contents of organically and conventionally grown spinach (Spinacea oleracea L.) during two successive seasons.

Spinach (Spinacea oleracea L.) plants were grown organically and conventionally during two successive seasons (late autumn and early winter) in order to examine the nutrient content of the plants. In a series of 17 organic applications including chicken manure (CM), farmyard manure (FM), blood meal (BM), and one mineral fertilizer treatment and one control, collectively 19 treatments, were used at each season. The optimum doses to be recommended should be divided into groups depending on the mineral nutrients and also the seasons as follows: 1.7 CM+7.5 FM in the late autumn season and 2.5 CM + 4.0 FM in the early winter season for N, P, K content; 5.0 FM + 1.2 CM + 0.4 BM in the late autumn; and 2.5 CM + 4.0 FM in the early winter season for Ca and Mg. Regarding the micro nutrients, the group divisions should be as follows: 10.0 FM + 0.4 BM in the late autumn season and 5.0 FM + 2.5 CM in the early winter season for Fe and Cu, and 3.5 CM in the late autumn season and 10.0 FM + 1.2 CM in the early winter season for Mn and Zn content. High rates of farmyard manure (FM) and chicken manure (CM) can be successfully used in organic production, and high rates of these manures may substitute for mineral fertilizer, especially in the late autumn season.