Biology Commons^™

Nutritive Value Of Edible Wild And Cultured Mushrooms, Sevda Kirbağ, Mehmet Akyüz

Turkish Journal of Biology

The nutritive value of Pleurotus ostreatus (Jacq. ex Fr.) Kumm., Pleurotus sajor-caju (Fr.) Singer, and Agaricus bisporus (Large) Sign. was determined. Dry matter, moisture, crude ash, protein, fat, cellulose, organic matter, and nitrogen-free extract were 89.7%-90.3%, 9.7%-10.3%, 6.0%-13.7%, 27.8%-41.6%, 0.5%-1.3%, 10.0%-16.2%, 76.0%-84.0%, and 26.7%-36.8% of dry weight, respectively. Mineral element contents were 14.1-45.6 g K kg^{-1}, 0.2-1.2 g Ca kg^{-1} , 0.4-1.9 g Mg kg^{-1}, and 0.2-0.9 g Na kg^{-1} as macronutrients, and 176.5-838.0 mg Fe kg^{-1}, 35.0-46.0 mg Zn kg^{-1}, 4.8-65.4 mg Mn kg^{-1}, 6.5-21.5 mg Cu kg^{-1}, 0.0-11.5 mg Cr kg^{-1}, and 0.0-1.65 mg Cd kg^{-1} as micronutrients …

Characterization Of Essential Oils Of Some Salvia Species And Their Antimycobacterial Activities, Tüli̇n Aşkun, K. Hüsnü Can Başer, Gülendam Tümen, Mi̇ne Kürkçüoğlu

Turkish Journal of Biology

The compositions of the essential oils of 5 Turkish Salvia species, namely Salvia aucheri Bentham var. aucheri (endemic for Turkey), Salvia aramiensis Rech. fil., Salvia fruticosa Mill., Salvia tomentosa Mill., and Salvia verticillata L. subsp. amasiaca (Freyn & Bornm.) Bornm., were studied. Water distilled essential oils from the aerial parts of Salvia species from Turkey were analysed by GC and GC/MS. Salvia aucheri var. aucheri, Salvia aramiensis, and Salvia fruticosa oils have the same main constituent: 1,8-cineole (39.2%, 55.6%, and 52.8% respectively). \alpha-Pinene (25.1%), camphor (14.9%), and borneol (13.2%) were identified as the major components of Salvia tomentosa. The main …

The Effects Of The Pho85 Signaling Pathway On The Invertase Biosynthesis And Glucose Uptake In Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, Sezai̇ Türkel, Eli̇f Arik

Turkish Journal of Biology

Glucose signaling controls a wide range of metabolic events in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Glucose sensing and signaling processes require a variety of membrane-bound and cytoplasmic sensor proteins. Pho85p is a cyclin-dependent protein kinase that controls different metabolic events upon binding to its cyclin partners in the cytoplasm of yeast cells. In this study, we investigated the roles of Pho85p in the glucose signaling pathways that control invertase biosynthesis and glucose uptake in yeast. The biosynthesis of invertase enzyme from the SUC2 gene is controlled by glucose repression and derepression mechanisms in S. cerevisiae. However, the results of this research …

Effects Of Chromium Vi Stress On Green Alga Ulva Lactuca (L.), Di̇lek Ünal, Nuray O. Işik, Atakan Sukatar

Turkish Journal of Biology

In order to contribute to the understanding of its response to metal stress, Ulva lactuca (L.) was treated with different concentration of chromium (VI) (0.2, 0.5, 1, and 5 mM K2CrO4), and alterations in Fv/Fm ratio (maximal photochemical efficiency of PSII) and cell viability were investigated. Significant alterations of the maximal photochemical efficiency of PSII (Fv/Fm) ratio were observed in response to the increase in chromium concentration. The Fv/Fm ratio decreased in Ulva lactuca following 2 h treatment with 1 and 5 mM Cr(VI) solution. The cell viability was decreased in cells exposed to higher Cr(VI) concentrations. Thallus cell morphology …

Determination Of The Relationship Between Some Centaurea Species Based On Sds-Page, Tuna Uysal, Emi̇ne Arslan, Osman Tugay, Kuddi̇si̇ Ertuğrul

Turkish Journal of Biology

The protein patterns of 47 Centaurea species from Turkey were obtained using SDS-PAGE methods. Relationships between Centaurea species and related genera were evaluated via use of a dendrogram. SDS-PAGE provided protein profiles for an important and applicable selection within Centaurea, particularly for the section Cheirolepis and its relatives. We determined that the technique could be used to resolve taxonomic and evolutionary problems in the genus Centaurea, as most of the Centaurea species studied exhibited special protein profiles and patterns.

Germination Characteristics And Molecular Characterizations Of Some Wheat Varieties In Sulaimanyah By Ssr Marker, Nawroz Abdul-Razzak Tahir

Turkish Journal of Biology

The genetic diversity of 11 bread and durum wheat varieties was estimated using germination characteristic and molecular analysis. The phenotypic data showed highly significant differences between cultivars for germination speed, germination percentage, seedling length, fresh weight, and dry weight. Simple sequence repeats (SSRs) were used to examine the genomic diversity of wheat (Triticum aestivum L. and Triticum durum L.). Eleven wheat varieties of diverse origins were analyzed with 12 selected SSRs to provide uniform and maximum genome coverage. A total of 18 bread wheat and 20 durum wheat polymorphic allelic variants were detected, ranging from 1 to 4 per locus …

Studies On The Shelf Life Of Bread Using Acidulants And Their Salts, Omer Mukhtar Tarar, Salim Ur-Rahman, Ghulam Mueen Ud Din, Mian Anjum Murtaza

Turkish Journal of Biology

White bread loaves prepared from wheat flour and the addition of different levels of acidulants, i.e. acetic and lactic acid with calcium propionate, were evaluated for their microbial shelf life as well as sensory quality characteristics during 96 h of storage. Among the sensory characteristics for the different treatments, volume of bread, color of crust, symmetry of form, crust characteristics, grain, and crumb color differed significantly, and the scores were 6.5-7.4, 5.8-6.8, 2.9-3.4, 2.7-3.1, 10.6-11.8, and 6.8-7.4, respectively, whereas evenness of bake, aroma, taste, and texture were not significantly different. Storage for 96 h affected the aroma, taste, texture, and …

Antioxidant And Antibacterial Activities Of Ranunculus Marginatus Var. Trachycarpus And R. Sprunerianus, Gülen İrem Kaya, Nehi̇r Ünver Somer, Si̇bel Konyalioğlu, H. Tansel Yalçin, N. Ülkü Karabay Yavaşoğlu, Buket Sarikaya, Mustafa Ali̇ Onur

Turkish Journal of Biology

Hexane, ethyl acetate, methanol, and aqueous extracts of Ranunculus marginatus d'Urv. var. trachycarpus (Fisch. & Mey.) Azn. and R. sprunerianus Boiss. were tested in vitro for their antioxidant and antibacterial activities. Antioxidant activity of the extracts was determined by DPPH radical scavenging and Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity assays. Methanol extracts showed the highest antioxidant activity in both assays. The total phenolics in the extracts were determined colorimetrically by using the Folin-Ciocalteau reagent. The total flavonoid content of the extracts was evaluated by a spectrophotometric method. The results obtained in the antioxidant activity tests were in positive correlation with the total …

A Study On The Morphology Of Argulus Foliaceus Lin., 1758 (Crustacea; Branchiura) Procured From Çavuşcu Lake (Central Anatolia-Turkey) With Scanning Electron Microscopy, Ali̇ Alaş, Ahmet Öktener, Kemal Solak

Turkish Journal of Biology

In this study, 24 carps (Cyprinus carpio Lin.,1758) caught from Çavuşçu Lake (Konya; 36°41´N, 34°26´E) were examined for metazoan parasites. Infestation rate of Argulus foliaceus Lin.,1758 was found to be 45.8%. In addition, Argulus foliaceus was photographed using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and a light microscope.

Aphrodisiac Activity And Curative Effects Of Pedalium Murex (L) Against Ethanol Induced Infertility In Male Rats, Gunasekaran Balamurugan, P. Muralidharan, Satyanarayana Polapala

Turkish Journal of Biology

It has been suggested that chronic ethanol exposure may result in testicular damage and infertility in males. Petroleum ether extract of Pedalium murex, family Pedaliaceae (PEPM), is evaluated in this study for its ability to increase aphrodisiac activity and to cure ethanol induced germ cell damage and infertility in male rat models. Doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg of PEPM showed a significant increase (P < 0.01, P < 0.001) in mating and mounting behaviour. The effect on fertility factors such as total body weight, percentage of pregnancy, litter size were also significantly increased (P < 0.01) in comparison with the ethanol-treated group. Significant increases in sperm motility and count were observed in PEPM-treated groups in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.01; P < 0.001) as compared with the ethanol-treated group. Similarly, reductions in the percentage of abnormal sperm were noted in animals treated with PEPM 400 mg/kg. The effects of PEPM on total protein, total cholesterol and testosterone were satisfactory, the levels being increased significantly for protein (P < 0.05), cholesterol (P < 0.01) and testosterone (P < 0.05) by 400 mg/kg PEPM. Microtome sections of the testes of animals treated with 400 mg/kg PEPM exhibited restoration and recovery of germinal cells and the luminal spermatozoa and were comparable with the control group animals. These effects of PEPM make this natural herb ideal as an aphrodisiac and a potent fertility enhancing drug.

Antioxidant And Antiradical Activities Of Phenolic Extracts From Iranian Almond (Prunus Amygdalus L.) Hulls And Shells, Ali Jahanban Isfahlan, Ahmad Mahmoodzadeh, Abdollah Hasanzadeh, Reza Heidari, Rashid Jamei

Turkish Journal of Biology

Wild almonds of Iran show genetic diversity and have very a large distribution. Different species of these almonds have more variation in genes resistant to dryness, saltiness, diseases, pests, and other factors. In order to compare the antioxidant and antiradical activity of wild almond hull and shell phenolic extracts, 4 wild almond species (Amygdalus lycioides Spach, A. kotschyi Boiss. & Hohen, A. pabotti Browicz, A. trichamygdalus (Hand.-Mzt) Woronow) were selected from Shahindezh and Qasemloo Valley, West Azerbaijan province, Iran, in 2007. The fruits of these almonds were collected, their hulls and shells were dried and then ground, and then methanolic …

Antioxidant And Antimicrobial Activities Of An Aquatic Plant: Duckweed (Lemna Minor L.), İlhami̇ Gülçi̇n, Ekrem Ki̇reçci̇, Ebru Akkemi̇k, Fevzi̇ Topal, Olcay Hi̇sar

Turkish Journal of Biology

Duckweed (Lemna minor L. Lemnaceae) is a widespread, free-floating aquatic macrophyte, a source of food for waterfowl and a shelter for small aquatic invertebrates. It grows quickly and reproduces faster than other vascular plants. The objective of this study was to determine the antioxidant, antiradical, antimicrobial, and anticandidal activities of duckweed using different in vitro methodologies. For evaluation of antioxidant and antiradical activities, 2,2´-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS.+) radical scavenging, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH.) free radical scavenging, total antioxidant activity by ferric thiocyanate, total reducing power by potassium ferricyanide reduction method, superoxide anion radical scavenging, hydrogen peroxide scavenging, and ferrous ions chelating activities were …

Evaluation Of Hypoglycemic And Hypolipidemic Activity Of Buteamonosperma Fruit In Diabetic Human Subjects, Fizza Naeem, Sohail Hassan Khan

Turkish Journal of Biology

Evaluation of the hypoglycemic activity of local Butea monosperma (Palas papra) fruit in normal and diabetic human volunteers was conducted. Sampling was accomplished in and around the city of Faisalabad, especially at the Khadija Mahmood Trust Hospital and at the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan. Volunteers were categorized into normal and diabetic subjects on the basis of their blood glucose levels. Male and female diabetic volunteers aged between 30 and 60 years participated in the study. All the diabetic volunteers suffered from diabetes type II, i.e. non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). The subjects were divided into 5 groups as follows: Group …

Phytoplankton Composition And Environmental Conditions Of The Mucilage Event In The Sea Of Marmara, Vi̇ldan Tüfekçi̇, Nesli̇han Balkis, Çolpan Polat Beken, Di̇lek Edi̇ger, Mustafa Mantikçi

Turkish Journal of Biology

The composition and abundance of phytoplankton and the corresponding environmental conditions were investigated during a mucilage event (October 2007-February 2008) in the Sea of Marmara. The mucilage producers Gonyaulax fragilis, Skeletonema costatum, and Cylindrotheca closterium were identified as abundant species. Thallassiosira rotula was also identified in large numbers. The maximum number of G. fragilis was observed at 83,600 cells L^{-1} in November 2007 during the first sampling occasion on the surface layer of İzmit Bay, and T. rotula was the most abundant diatom species, with 131,040 cells L^{-1} in the same period. G. fragilis was recorded at 96,250 cells L^{-1} …

Diurnal Variations Of Summer Phytoplankton And Interactions With Some Physicochemical Characteristics Under Eutrophication In The Dardanelles, Muhammet Türkoğlu, Yasemi̇n Erdoğan

Turkish Journal of Biology

This study was carried out to determine the diurnal distributions of phytoplankton density, bio-volume, and chlorophyll a in relation to nutrients and CTD measurements in surface waters of the coastal area in the Dardanelles during high density of phytoplankton, especially high diatom production (between 3 July and 4 August 2002). Ninety nine surface samples were collected for nutrient, chlorophyll a, and phytoplankton in 3 different time periods of the day (08:00, 13:00 and 18:00 hours) in the sampling period. Based on the sample analyses, average temperature, salinity, pH, DO, TDS, TSS, NO-2+NO-3, PO-34, SiO4, chlorophyll a, N:P, and Si:P were …

Xenopus Development From Late Gastrulation To Feeding Tadpole In Simulated Microgravity, Wendy M. Olson, Darrell Wiens, Theresa L. Gaul, Manuela Rodriguez, Cherie L. Hauptmeier

Faculty Work

Microgravity (microG) is known to influence cytoskeletal structure, but its effects on cell migration are not well understood. To examine the effects of altered gravity on neural crest cell (NCC) migration, we inserted Xenopus laevis embryos into two separate microG-simulating slow turning lateral vessels (STLVs) just before neurulation (stage 11-12), and exposed them until feeding stage (stage 45), when the jaws and branchial apparatus are fully functional. To evaluate apparatus-related artifacts, we used two different STLVs and a vibration control as well as a stationary control vessel. Larval growth, pattern of NCC-derived cartilage formation, and incidence of malformations were analyzed …

Investigation Of The Protein-Protein Interaction Between Pcbp1 And Y -Synuclein, Amanda Hunkele

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

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Attenuated Response Of Aged Mice To Respiratory Francisella Novicida Is Characterized By Reduced Cell Death And Absence Of Subsequent Hypercytokinemia, Chris A. Mares, J. Sharma, S. S. Ojeda, Q. Li, J. A. Campos, E. G. Morris, J. J. Coalson, J. M. Teale

Biology Faculty Publications (Archived)

Background: Pneumonia and pulmonary infections are major causes of mortality among the growing elderly population. Age associated attenuations of various immune parameters, involved with both innate and adaptive responses are collectively known as immune senescence. These changes are likely to be involved with differences in host susceptibility to disease between young and aged individuals. Methodology/Principal Findings: The objective of this study was to assess potential age related differences in the pulmonary host response in mice to the Gram-negative respiratory pathogen, Francisella novicida. We intranasally infected mice with F. novicida and compared various immune and pathological parameters of the pulmonary host …

Microarray Analysis Of A Salamander Hopeful Monster Reveals Transcriptional Signatures Of Paedomorphic Brain Development, Robert B. Page, M. A. Borley, J. J. Smith, S. Putta, S. R. Voss

Biology Faculty Publications (Archived)

Abstract. Background. The Mexican axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) is considered a hopeful monster because it exhibits an adaptive and derived mode of development - paedomorphosis - that has evolved rapidly and independently among tiger salamanders. Unlike related tiger salamanders that undergo metamorphosis, axolotls retain larval morphological traits into adulthood and thus present an adult body plan that differs dramatically from the ancestral (metamorphic) form. The basis of paedomorphic development was investigated by comparing temporal patterns of gene transcription between axolotl and tiger salamander larvae (Ambystoma tigrinum tigrinum) that typically undergo a metamorphosis. Results. Transcript abundances from whole brain and pituitary were …

Impacts Of The Spotted Spiny Lobster (Panulirus Guttatus) On The Long-Spined Sea Urchin (Diadema Antillarum) And Patch Reef Communities In The Florida Keys, Meredith D. Kintzing

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Caribbean coral reefs have undergone a phase shift from a system dominated by corals to one where algae are pervasive. This shift was precipitated by the loss of herbivores, including the mass mortality of the long spined sea urchin (Diadema antillarum), coupled with disease and the recruitment failure of hermatypic corals. Diadema populations have recovered in some areas of the Caribbean, but are still below historical levels in the Florida Keys, likely due to low larval supply coupled with predation on juveniles. Lobsters are sea urchin predators in other systems and the spotted spiny lobster (Panulirus guttatus …

The Effects Of Planting Methods And Granivory On Seedling Emergence In A Tallgrass Prairie Reconstruction, Justin Vernon Huisman

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

This study investigates effects of various seed incorporation methods (none, cultipack, rake, rake and culti-pack) and seed predation on prairie species emergence and establishment over two growing seasons. To assess seed incorporation, seed was coated with a fluorescent orange powder and sampled with a black light the night of seeding. Powder coated seed was broadcast seeded in early November 2007. Seed was incorporated into the soil by culti-packing, raking, or a combination of raking followed by culti-packing. Seed was not incorporated into the soil in control plots. Granivore exclosures in the research plots were used to determine the effect of …

New Species In The Genus Monoecocesuts (Cestoda: Anoplocephalidae) From Neotropical Rodents (Caviidae And Sigmodontidae), Terry R. Haverkost, Scott Lyell Gardner

Scott L. Gardner Publications

Anoplocephalid cestodes have a worldwide distribution, but relatively few species are known from South American rodents. By examining the collections of the Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology and the United States National Parasite Collection, 6 new species of Monoecocestus Beddard, 1914, are described, along with a redescription of Monoecocestus mackiewiczi Schmidt and Martin, 1978, based on the type specimens. The discussion includes commentary about uterine development, an important taxonomic character of the family, the vaginal dilation in immature segments (a character of potential taxonomic importance), and the implication of host usage to the evolutionary history and biogeography of species …

Plasticity Of Acquired Secondary Metabolites In Clathria Prolifera (Demospongia: Poecilosclerida): Putative Photoprotective Role Of Carotenoids In A Temperate Intertidal Sponge, Jonathan D. Dattelbaum, Drew Sieg, Malcolm Hill, Chris M. Manieri, Giles Thomson

Chemistry Faculty Publications

Several marine sponges sequester high concentrations of carotenoids in their tissues. The diversity of carotenoid compounds has been described in detail for a handful of species, but to date, little attention has been paid to natural variability in the concentration and constituency of carotenoid pools. Also lacking are experimental tests of some of the proposed adaptive benefits of carotenoids to the sponge. To address some of these deficits in our understanding of sponge ecology, we used a combination of analytic chemistry, field surveys, and manipulative experiments to determine what function these compounds might play. Attention was focused on the common, …

Chapter 26 – Multiple Color Single Molecule Tirf Imaging And Tracking Of Maps And Motors, Jennifer L. Ross, Ram Dixit

Biology Faculty Research

Microtubules are part of a complex mechano-chemical network inside cells. In order to understand how the components of these systems work together, careful in vitro experiments must be performed with added complexity. These experiments can ideally image all the interacting species. In order to image these molecules, multiple-color fluorescence imaging can be performed. In this chapter, we describe some methods for performing multiple-color single molecule fluorescence imaging using total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy. We give several specific examples of species of microtubule-associate proteins and motors that can be examined with detailed protocols for labeling, purification, and imaging.

Inhibitors Of Pyruvate Carboxylase, Tonya N. Zeczycki, Martin St. Maurice, Paul V. Attwood

Biological Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

This review aims to discuss the varied types of inhibitors of biotin-dependent carboxylases, with an emphasis on the inhibitors of pyruvate carboxylase. Some of these inhibitors are physiologically relevant, in that they provide ways of regulating the cellular activities of the enzymes e.g. aspartate and prohibitin inhibition of pyruvate carboxylase. Most of the inhibitors that will be discussed have been used to probe various aspects of the structure and function of these enzymes. They target particular parts of the structure e.g. avidin – biotin, FTP – ATP binding site, oxamate – pyruvate binding site, phosphonoacetate – binding site of the …

A Review Of Sex Determining Mechanisms In Geckos (Gekkota: Squamata), Tony Gamble

Biological Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

Geckos are a species-rich clade of reptiles possessing diverse sex determining mechanisms. Some species possess genetic sex determination, with both male and female heterogamety, while other species have temperature-dependent sex determination. I compiled information from the literature on the taxonomic distribution of these sex determining mechanisms in geckos. Using phylogenetic data from the literature, I reconstructed the minimum number of transitions among these sex determining mechanisms with parsimony-based ancestral state reconstruction. While only a small number of gecko species have been characterized, numerous changes among sex determining mechanisms were inferred. This diversity, coupled with the high frequency of transitions, makes …

The Spread Of The Parthenogenetic Marbled Crayfish, Marmorkrebs (Procambarus Sp.), In The North American Pet Trade, Zen Faulkes

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Biology)

The parthenogenetic marbled crayfish Marmorkrebs was discovered in the pet trade in Europe in the 1990s. Since then, its distribution through the pet trade has spread from Europe to other continents, including North America. North American pet owners were surveyed online with the aims of trying to track when Marmorkrebs entered the North American pet trade, the ways in which it spread through the pet trade, and how widely distributed Marmorkrebs are throughout the continent. Marmorkrebs have been in the North American pet trade since at least 2004, with the number of people increasing every year. While many Marmorkrebs are …

Common Algogenic Chemicals Do Not Cause Nociceptive Responses In Louisiana Red Swamp Crayfish (Procambarus Clarkii), Sakshi Puri, Zen Faulkes

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Biology)

Do crustaceans feel pain? This is hard to answer, because pain is complicated. A more tractable question is whether crustaceans have nociceptors: neurons specialized to detect tissue damage.

Algogenic chemicals bind to nociceptors and cause them to fire, often causing pain without tissue damage. For example, capsaicin is the algogenic chemical that makes peppers spicy; isothiocyanate is the chemical that makes wasabi pungent. Both can cause nociceptive responses in some invertebrates (capsaicin: Pastor et al. 1996, Wittenburg & Baumeister 1999, isothiocyanate: Al-Anzi et al. 2006).

Factors Affecting The Spatial Distribution Of Black Mangrove On The Dredged-Material Or “Spoil” Islands In The Lower Laguna Madre Of Texas, Violet Yeager, Kenneth R. Summy, Frank W. Judd, Robert I. Lonard, Ruben A. Mazariegos, James H. Everitt, Michael R. Heep, Thomas Whelan

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Biology)

Research was conducted to evaluate the spatial distribution of black mangrove (Avicennia germinans) on the dredged-material or “spoil” islands of the Lower Laguna Madre of Texas. Aerial color-infrared (CIR) photographs revealed the presence of black mangrove stands on many of the islands located south of the Arroyo Colorado (a distributary of the Rio Grande which empties into the Laguna Madre), but failed to detect significant mangrove stands on islands located north of the Arroyo. Analysis of CIR photographs and supervised image classifications for individual islands suggested a concentration of black mangrove along western shorelines and relatively low interior areas of …

Detection Of Incipient Pest Infestations On Glasshouse Crops Using Multispectral Imagery And A Common Vegetation Index, Kenneth R. Summy, Christopher R. Little, James H. Everitt, Ruben A. Mazariegos, J. V. French, Mamoudou Setamou, Jesus Mata

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Biology)

Research was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of multispectral (conventional color and color infrared) imagery and a common vegetation index (simple ratio) for detecting incipient infestations of spider mites (Tetranychus spp.; Acari: Tetranychidae) and false spider mites (Brevipalpus spp.; Acari: Tenupalpidae) on selected crops under glasshouse conditions. Although damaging infestations of both mite species were associated with intense feeding injury which was readily detectable by visual inspection, subtle levels of foliar damage caused by the two mite species were difficult to detect by visual inspection and were not readily distinguishable from undamaged (healthy) foliage in conventional color (CC) or color …