A. Gül

Economic analysis of soilless and soil-based greenhouse cucumber production in Turkey

Since the onset of the commercial application of soilless culture, this production approach has evoluted at a fast pace, gaining popularity among growers throughout the world. As a result, a lot of information has been developed by growers, advisors, researchers, and suppliers of equipment and substrate. This study aimed to determine the cost and return of soilless greenhouse cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) production and to prepare a sample budget for growers. Soilless cultivation is an alternative production method for Turkish growers and it is being practised on a commercial basis on 180 ha. Cost and return budgets can be useful for growers because they allows growers to compare total production cost and revenue varying grower type, production time, geographical location, operation size, and cost structure. Growers can identify items in their budget that have a greater effect on profitability, and make adjustments. In this study, economic aspects of soilless and soil-based greenhouse cucumber production was analysed as comparative. Total costs were subtracted from total gross revenue to calculate the net return of soilless and soil-based greenhouse cucumber production. The cost items of soilless and soil-based greenhouse cucumber production were initial investment costs, variable costs, and fixed costs. Net return obtained from cucumbers grown in a mixture of perlite and zeolite was determined as € 1.84 m-2, whereas it was € 1.48 m-2 in conventional soil-based production. Production and market risks both affect profitability and economic viability of soilless grown vegetables.

Organic cucumber production in the greenhouse: A case study from Turkey

Organic farming seems to be a solution in environmentally sensitive zones such as the protection zone of Tahtali Dam, which supplies fresh water to Izmir, the third largest city in Turkey. Greenhouse vegetable production is the major agricultural activity in this area (Menderes Township). However, due to the pollution risk from agriculture, governmental authorities have issued a regulation discouraging the use of chemicals within the collection basin of the dam. An on-farm project was conducted in 2001 to introduce organic greenhouse vegetable production in the Tahtali Dam preservation area and to serve as a model for other areas in Turkey facing similar ecological problems. Two irrigation levels and four organic fertilizers were tested on the growth of cucumbers (Cucumis sativus cv. Sardes). The four fertilizers were two rates of farmyard and poultry manure (30 and 50 tons ha -1 ) with and without two organic fertilizers based on either bacteria or algae. During the growing period, pests and diseases were monitored weekly and preparations allowed in organic agriculture were used when necessary. Plant diseases did not create any significant problem, but the pest population, in particular spidermites, increased. No significant differences in cucumber yield were found between the fertilizer and irrigation treatments tested. However, it should be noted that yields from the addition of 30 tons ha -1 of farmyard or poultry manure and organic fertilizers were the same as those for 50 tons ha -1 of manure alone. The average total yield was 13 kg m -2 , within an acceptable range for short-term crop production in this region, but 55% lower than a conventional substrate culture trial nearby. However, due to reduced production costs and a price premium for organic products, the organic produce yielded a net return of US

Response to Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. radicis-lycopersici in tomato roots involves regulation of SA- and ET-responsive gene expressions

1.12-1.79 per m 2 whereas that for conventional bag culture produce was US

Relationships between fruit quality characteristics and leaf nutrient contents of cucumber plants

0.55 per m 2 . Our results indicate that, under present conditions, organic greenhouse cucumber production has less environmental impact and is more economic than conventional bag culture, due to reduced chemical input and reduced operating and initial investment costs.

Domates Anaçlarının Farklı Dikim Tarihlerinde Bitki Gelişimi, Sıcaklık Toplamı İsteği, Verim ve Kaliteye Etkileri

Fusarium crown and root rot of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) caused by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. radicis-lycopersici (FORL) is a damaging disease of greenhouse crops worldwide. Here, we characterize in vivo, a new strain of FORL (27.2) isolated from wilting, sensitive tomato cultivar Kardelen F1, widely grown in Turkey. Compared to a reference strain (usaFORL), 27.2 strain was less virulent in terms of disease severity, and plant growth parameters. To determine whether the effects of both strains involve expressions of defence-related genes, we performed reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis in tomato roots inoculated with strains 27.2/usaFORL. Our results showed that PR1, PR6, and CH9 expressions were upregulated by usaFORL. PR4 expression in plants infected with both strains was downregulated, indicating that systemic acquired resistance (SAR) was not associated with PR4 activation. No transcripts for CH3 were observed after inoculating with both strains, suggesting that CH3 expression may not be involved in defence against FORL. ET-regulated gene (ETR1, ACO1, ACO2, and ACO3) expressions were increased only by usaFORL, indicating their correlation with pathogen virulence, and in turn, reduced ethylene sensitivity and subsequent necrosis. However, both strains downregulated ACO4 transcripts. Finally, both strains induced Pal expression, indicating gene involvement in FORL-induced SAR in tomato seedlings.

Comparison of the use of zeolite and perlite as substrate for crisp-head lettuce

The relationships between leaf nutrient contents and quality characteristics were determined by using path analysis in cucumbers grown in perlite. There were significant correlations between leaf nutrient contents and fruit diameter, fruit length, TSS, titratable acidity, pH, dry matter, fruit firmness and colour as quality characteristics.

Effects of nutrition and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens on tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) growing in perlite

he aim of this research was to determine the effects of rootstocks on plant growth, yield, fruit quality and temperature sum requirements (TS) in different planting dates. This research was carried out in autumn and spring season as split plots experimental design with 3 replicates. Main plot was planting dates which were (1) 1 September, (2) 14 September and (3) 3 October 2005 in autumn and (1) 3 March, (2) 17 March ve (3) 31 March 2006 in spring season. Sub-plots were different rootstocks namely (1) Beaufort, (2) Heman, (3) Vigomax and (4) control (non grafted Durinta plants). In the research only the main effects of treatments on stem length was found significantly different in autumn and it was higher in the first planting date and in the plants grafted on Heman. Leaf area also increased with the rootstocks although the response changed accordingly. In both growing seasons among the rootstocks, TS was found lower in Beaufort. It was higher in the first planting date and decreased at the further planting dates. In terms of yield parameters, yield was higher in the first planting date in autumn and in the first two dates in spring. Also the positive effect of rootstocks on yield was determined.