Bu çalışmada, Aydın İlinde yer alan incir işleme tesislerinin teknik ve kalite etkinlik skorları ve bu skorlar üzerine etkili olan faktörler non-parametrik bir yöntem olan Veri Zarflama Analizi ve 1000 replikasyonlu truncated-regresyon modeli ile belirlenmeye çalışılmıştır. Anket yöntemi ile elde edilen veriler kullanılarak yapılan analizler sonucunda, işletmelerin neredeyse tamamının ölçeğe göre değişen getiri varsayımı altında çalıştıkları ve teknik etkinlik skorları ortalamalarının %98, kalite etkinliği skorları ortalamalarının ise %58 olduğu belirlenmiştir. Teknik etkinlik skorları üzerinde “Öğrenim Durumu”, “Sektör Tecrübesi” ve “Kendi Ürünü Olan İnciri İşleme”, kalite etkinliği skorları üzerine ise “Sektör Tecrübesi”, “Sözleşmeli Üretim” ve “Kalite Kontrol Uygulamaları” faktörlerinin pozitif yönde etkili olduğu sonucuna ulaşılmıştır. Bunun yanında, özellikle sağlıklı atıştırmalıklar pazarında niş bir ürün sayılabilecek kuru incirin üretim aşamasında sektörel eğitim ve dış riskler açısından önemli sorunlar görüldüğü ve bu sorunların çözümü için sektör bileşenlerine sorunları dile getirme ve çözüm talebi konusunda önemli görevler düştüğü, özellikle sektörel eğitim ile kalifiye eleman ihtiyacının giderilmesi gerektiği, jeotermal santraller ve barajlar konusunda bilimsel araştırmalar yapılmasının gerekliliği öneri olarak dile getirilmiştir.

Ethiopia has enormous potential for wheat production, yet it remains a net wheat importer. This paper aims to examine the efficiency of wheat production in Debra Libanos district, Ethiopia. Two stages sampling technique was used to randomly select 150 farmers for the study. A stochastic production frontier and two-limit Tobit estimator was utilized in the study. The study reveals that technical (78.5 %,), allocative (85.6%), and economic (66.7%) efficiencies. The yield gap was 5.13 quintal/ hectare showing a room to increase efficiencies. The study identified the determinants of wheat production efficiency in the area. Hence, to improve wheat production efficiencies strengthen extension services, improved technology utilization, and proper land ploughing. Besides, natural resource conservations that improve soil fertility should be the focus of the policymakers.

In this study, it was investigated the total amounts of phenolic and flavonoid substances and antioxidant activities in different solvent extracts of Lonicera iberica M. Bieb. wild fruit. Total phenolic contents of the extracts were determined as equivalent to gallic acid using Folin-Ciocalteu reagent, and total flavonoid contents as equivalent to quercetin by aluminium nitrate method. In addition, the antioxidant properties of the extracts were determined using free radical scavenging (DPPH) and reducing power (FRAP) methods. The amount of total phenolic substance of L. iberica fruits in hexane and methanol extracts was calculated as 30.96 ± 0.67 mg of GAE / g and 23.70 ± 1.56 mg of GAE / g, respectively. In addition, the amount of total flavonoid substance was calculated as 46.50 ± 8.54 mg of QE / g and 42.09 ± 2.58 mg of QE / g, respectively. It was determined that DPPH radical scavenging activity correlated with total phenolic and flavonoid amount of substance, and L. iberica had a strong antioxidant effect. It is predicted that our study will shed light on new researches, since it is the first study done with L. Iberica fruits in this field.

The aims of this study were to evaluate the total phenolic and pigment contents of five edible plants collected from Eastern Black Sea region and to test the storage stability of extra virgin olive oils aromatized with traditionally consumed plants. Aromatized extra virgin olive oils were prepared by addition of dry forms of local plants such as mendek (Aegopodium podagraria L.), çalıçilek (Vaccinium myrtillus L.), galdirik (Trachystemon orientalis L.), sakarca (Ornithogalum umbellatum L.) and hırnık (Diospyros lotus L.). Changes in the quality status of extra virgin olive oil were monitored with free fatty acid, peroxide value, total phenol content, pheophtyin a, lutein and beta carotene analyses during 5-month storage period at 24°C. Furthermore, hue and chrome values, total phenolic, chlorophyll and carotene contents were also analysed to determine the characteristic properties of plant samples. The addition of mendek and çalıçilek have remarkable effects on the transfer of phenolic compounds and pigments from plants to oil during all storage. It was determined that the addition of plant materials can improve the oil stability and cause to a lower free fatty acid and peroxide values in aromatized extra virgin olive oils. Obtained findings suggest that the aromatized olive oils with local plants is sensorial and nutritionally acceptable and can be used safely in aromatization and preparation of healthy and tasty foods at non-thermal process.

Mushrooms have been used as food and medicinal purposes for centuries. In this study, some edible Ascomycota were collected in 2018 and 2019 from Niğde, Turkey. Molecular identifications of the samples were performed afterward. PCR products were sent for sequence analysis after ITS fragments were amplified with suitable primers concerning DNA isolation of samples. The obtained data were compared with the Genbank database for samples’ determination. The mushroom samples were determined to be Terfezia claveryi Chatin and Morchella esculenta (L.) Pers. Samples were extracted by ethanol and methanol to determine antimicrobial activity using the disc diffusion method. Antimicrobial zones against microorganisms were measured. Then DPPH radical scavenging effects and total phenolic content of T. claveryi and M. esculenta mushroom samples were studied. The highest antimicrobial activity was observed in ethanol extracts of M. esculenta. When the DPPH radical scavenging activities are taken into account, the activity is increased depending on the concentration. The highest DPPH scavenging activity was found in the extract of M. esculenta with 40.86%. It was determined that the total phenolic substances in methanol extracts of mushroom samples varies between 533.28 ± 1,15-537.34 ±2.20 μg GAE / mg extract.

Probiotic yoghurt with fruit was produced to enrich the intestinal flora of infants and to prevent various ailments in infants when the flora is inadequate. Peach, apple and pear purees (10% and 20% each), cow milk, milk powder, starter culture (combination of Streptococcus thermophilus, Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus, Bifidobacterium infantis, Bifidobacterium bifidum, Bifidobacterium longum and Lactobacillus paracasei) were used in the production of probiotic yogurt for babies. Some properties of yoghurt samples were investigated during fermentation and on the 1st, 7th, 14th and 21st days of storage. After ten hours of fermentation, the lowest pH was observed in samples with apple puree. It has been determined that syneresis increases with increasing concentrations of fruit purees. The water holding capacity was less in yoghurts containing fruit puree compared to control yoghurt and in 20% fruit puree compared to yoghurts containing 10% fruit puree. The number of L. bulgaricus generally increased in all samples during storage. It was determined that the number of S. thermophilus in control sample was higher than other samples during storage. The number of L. paracasei and Bifidobacterium spp. decreased during storage. While the control sample remained probiotic until the 14th day of storage, other samples lost its probiotic properties before the 7th day of storage. Considering that the number of probiotic microorganisms in a probiotic product should be at least 106-107 CFU/g according to FAO, it has been decided that the most suitable fruits for probiotic yogurt with fruit puree are peach and apple, respectively. Considering the structural features, it is more appropriate to use 10% fruit puree, and considering the probiotic feature, it is more appropriate to use 20% fruit puree. Choosing the appropriate packaging and fixing suitable storage conditions will help probiotic microorganisms to preserve their vitality for a long time.

Fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) is one of the most important Diptera families, some species damage fruits, and cause millions of dollars in every years. In this study, adult fruit fly materials were collected from Gaziantep province between 2010 and 2021 from possible host plants using insect net. Obtained materials were examined, and were determined that 15 species. All species recorded for the first time from Gaziantep province. In addition, Goniurellia tridens (Hendel, 1910) recorded as a new record from Turkey. With these contributions, Gaziantep fruit fly fauna increased to 44 species. In the article, examined materials, current list of Gaziantep fruit fly fauna and adult and wing figures of Goniurellia tridens (Hendel, 1910) were given.

Alchemilla genus, which belongs to the Rosaceae family, is a medicinal plant used for various purposes among the people. Species of this genus are known in Turkish folk medicine as lion claw or hazelnut grass. Especially, they are used mainly women’s illnesses, in gastritis, anti-inflammatory, as carminative, and in the treatment of wound. Besides the antimutagenic effect of Alchemilla alpina L., its above-ground parts are used for antimycotic purposes in the form of tea or oral care water. In this study, it has been aimed to determine the antimicrobial effect of the above-ground parts of Alchemilla alpina extracts obtained from methanol, ethanol and chloroform and the antioxidant activity of different concentrations of the extract obtained from methanol. The antimicrobial activity of methanol, ethanol and chloroform extracts of the above-ground parts of A. alpina has been determined according to disk disc diffusion method. In the results obtained have been showed that these extracts inhibited the growth of some bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus ATCC25923, Escherichia coli ATCC25322, Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC700603, Bacillus megaterium DSM32) and yeasts (Candida albicans FMC17 and Candida glabrata ATCC66032) at different rates (8-23 mm). The antioxidant activity of different concentrations (1.25, 2.5, 5 and 10 mg/ml) of the above-ground parts of A. alpina extract obtained from methanol has been determined according to the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging capacity method. In the results obtained, it has been observed that the effect of removing DPPH radical of A. alpina increased depending on increasing concentrations.

This study was conducted with the aim of determining the influence of tillage techniques on depth, furrow slice and water retention in Maugo Smallholder Rice Scheme in Kenya. Treatments were arranged in randomized complete block design with four replicates. Four tillage treatments were used. The first one was conventional ox plough practiced by farmers where they first flood the field with water before ploughing. The other three treatments were ox plough, hand hoe and tractor ploughing all with no flooding before ploughing. Data collected included depth of ploughing and harrowing during land preparation. Furrow slices during ploughing and harrowing as well as water retention were recorded. Tractor ploughing had the highest mean depth of ploughing of 42.00 ± 0.81 cm followed by conventional ox ploughing with 17.75 ± 0.75 cm, ox ploughing15.75 ± 0.62 cm and hand hoe ploughing had the lowest mean depth 15.50 ± 0.28 cm. Tractor ploughing had the largest mean furrow size of 62.00 ± 0.91cm followed by conventional ox ploughing 32.25 ± 0.85 cm, ox ploughing 30.25 ± 0.85 cm while hand hoe ploughing had the smallest mean furrow slice of 16.5 ± 0.50 cm. Highest mean of retained water was recorded in week 4 in paddy rice fields prepared using conventional ox ploughing (10.5 cm), ox ploughing (10 cm), hand hoe ploughing (11.5 cm) and tractor ploughing (11.5 cm) while the lowest was recorded in week 15 for conventional plots. There were significant differences in mean depths during both ploughing and harrowing. Tractor ploughing mean depths were significantly different from the other treatments. The weekly mean water depths retained in the plots were more than 6 cm for the entire growing period of rice.

Poverty is a major menace in Nigeria. Therefore, the research centered on the analysis of poverty status of farming households in Ebonyi State. Multi stage and simple random sampling techniques were used to select 450 respondents for the study. Primary data were collected using electronic data capturing instrument containing the questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics, Foster, Greer and Thorbeecke (FGT), and Logit regression model. The result from the study shows that 54% of the farming households in Ebonyi state were poor while 46% of them were not poor. The result further reveals that household size, dependency ratio, sex, monthly household expenditure, and farm size were the significant factors that influenced poverty status of Ebonyi state farming households. Therefore, government at the federal, state and local levels should consider socioeconomic characteristics of the farming households in the design and implementation of any poverty driven projects in order to improve their standard of living. Also, government at the various level, should consider embarking on programs to address the youth unemployment and aged members of the Nigerian society for these will reduce the dependency burden which have continued to increase the poverty level in farming households in Ebonyi state.