Pelargonium graveolens (rose-scented geranium) plants have been used since ancient times in food, cosmetics, perfumery, traditional medicine, and the pharmaceutical industries due to the pleasant fragrance of the essential oil obtained from its leaves. In this study, the essential oil content and components of rose-scented geranium cultivated in two different regions, Kırşehir in Central Anatolia and Adana in the Eastern Mediterranean, were investigated. The essential oil content of the plants from Kırşehir was determined to be 0.70%, while that of the plants from Adana was 0.34%. The main components of the essential oil of geranium cultivated in Kırşehir were citronellol (35.05%), geraniol (8.29%), and citronellyl formate (10.59%). In Adana, the essential oil components were citronellol (29.71%), geraniol (4.31%), and citronellyl formate (16.10%). The study shows that different locations significantly affect the essential oil content and chemical composition of rose-scented geranium.

In dairy cattle, the dry period cation-anion balance is a critical factor influencing the animal's health and productivity. The cation-anion balance of a ration is contingent upon the anionic and cationic ions present and may assume either a negative or positive value. During the dry period, the optimal cation-anion balance is negative. The administration of anionic salts or anionic ration during this period has been demonstrated to mitigate the risk of milk fever and prevent the development of numerous metabolic disorders. Furthermore, the administration of anionic substances during this period has been demonstrated to influence milk yield, fertility and milk fat. An excessive cation ratio in the ration can cause metabolic problems, including metabolic acidosis, milk fever, and metabolic alkalosis, which is characterised by a decrease in pH and the presence of urine. Therefore, according to the studies, it is recommended that the diet be prepared in a way that the cation-anion balance is negative in the dry period (between -100 to -200 mEq/kg DM).

Biostimulants have been used in recent years as innovative approaches to stabilize or increase the yield and quality of plants under abiotic stress conditions. Seaweeds, one of the biostimulants, have been used in many cultivated plants and favorable results have been obtained in terms of yield, quality and elemental composition of plant nutrients. Although it is known that safflower plant is sensitive to salt during emergence and germination period, salt and seaweed applications have not been investigated on this plant before. It was aimed to examine the tolerance mechanisms of seaweed applications in safflower plant under salinity stress in terms of some morphological parameters and elemental composition of plant nutrients. The five different doses of salt treatment (0 mM NaCl-distilled water as control, 50 mM, 100 mM, 150 mM, 200 mM) and four different doses of Ascophyllum nodosum seaweed extract (0 g L-1 - distilled water as control, 2 g L-1, 4 g L-1, 6 g L-1) were used as the treatment groups in this study conducted in the climate chamber under controlled conditions. When the figures obtained from safflower plants treated with seaweed in terms of growth parameters were evaluated; root and shoot length, fresh root and shoot weights, dry root and shoot weights generally increased with increasing doses, while relative water content decreased. As salinity stress increased, decreases were generally recorded in all growth parameters obtained. Improved elemental composition of plant nutrients both shoot and root were also observed with seaweed extract applications. In particular, K and Mg in shoot, Ca, Cu and Mg in root increased with increasing seaweed applications. The findings obtained from the study show that seaweed is a promising agricultural application on growth parameters and elemental composition of plant nutrients and reduces the negative effects of salinity stress on safflower plant.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of somatic cell count (SCC) variation on fertility [days open (DO),  number of inseminations per pregnancy (NIPP), calving interval (CI) and gestation length (GL)] and milk yield traits [daily milk yield (dMY), lactation length (LL), lactation milk yield (LMY) and 305-days milk yield (305-dMY)] during early (< 100 d), mid (100-200 d) and late lactation (> 200 d). This study was conducted with primiparous and multiparous Holstein cows at a commercial farm having an approximate herd size of 260 heads in Kırşehir, Türkiye. A total of 107 Holstein dairy cows on the farm were selected. Milk samples were collected once a month during morning milking between 30 and 240±15 d of lactation. The somatic cell counter (DCC, DeLaval, Tumba, Sweden) was used to assess SCC (cells/ml). SCC levels were categorized into three groups (< 100 × 10³ cells/mL, 100-200 × 10³ cells/mL and > 200 × 10³ cells/mL). Cows were divided into three groups according to parity: Cows with parity 1 (first group; n = 49), cows with parity 2 (second group; n = 30) and cows with parity 3 ≤ (third group; n = 28). Parity did not influence fertility traits (P>0.05). Parity significantly affected dMY and 305-dMY, but not LL or LMY. The study found that cows with SCC < 100 × 10³ cells/mL had lower DO and CI values compared to cows with SCC 100-200 × 10³ cells/mL and > 200 × 10³ cells/mL during mid-lactation, although no statistical differences were observed in the NIPP, GL, dMY, LL, LMY and 305-dMY values. A positive correlation was observed between SCC groups and DO during mid-lactation. These findings suggest that SCC can be used as an indicator in indirect selection programs to achieve shorter DO and CI in Holstein cows.

One of the major factor contributing to the decreased yield of cauliflower in Nepal is incorrect fungicide selection and dosages. Alternaria leaf spot (ALS) caused by Alternaria brassicicola, is a devastating disease that significantly reduces the quantity and quality of cauliflower. In vitro evaluation of seven different fungicides was done in a completely randomized design with five replications at different doses i.e., 50 ppm, 100 ppm, 150 ppm, and 200 ppm. All the tested fungicides significantly reduced (P≤0.001) mycelial growth of the pathogen in the poisoned food technique. The greatest reduction in mycelium growth was observed with hexaconazole and azoxystrobin + tebuconazole at the lowest tested concentration (50 ppm). Maximum inhibition of A. brassicicola growth was demonstrated by azoxystrobin + propiconazole at 200 ppm, followed by azoxystrobin + difenoconazole and copper oxychloride. The fungicides that were found effective in inhibiting mycelial growth should be tested under field conditions with multi-location and multi-strains pathogens to ensure that they meet specific requirements related to host and environment interaction. This will help to confirm their efficacy and determine the best application doses.

Bread is among the most commonly consumed foods in daily diets around the world. It is known that breads produced with sourdough or different cereal flours have positive effects on health. Consumer demand for these types of bread is steadily growing. One key factor influencing bread consumption is their sensory qualities. The aim of our study was to assess the sensory properties of sourdough breads made with various cereal flours and a buckwheat (pseudocereal) substitute. For this purpose, six types of sourdough breads were produced with durum (yellow) wheat, wheat, rye, einkorn, wheat germ flours and buckwheat flour as a grain substitute, and these bread varieties were scored between 1-5 by 9 trained panelists according to loaf and crust appearance, crust thickness, crust color, crust odor, crumb appearance, crumb porosity, crumb color, crumb elasticity, chewability, odor, taste, and general appreciation features. As a result of the evaluation, in terms of general appreciation, the average scores of the bread varieties, from the most to the least appreciated, were determined as buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) bread (4.017), durum wheat (Triticum durum) bread (3.811), wheat (Triticum aestivum) bread (3.685), einkorn (Triticum monococcum) bread (3.102), wheat germ bread (3.076) and rye (Secale cereale) bread (3.008). Additionally, when the average total scores were reviewed at the end of the evaluation, it was found that the breads were rated at least 2.5 points (medium), which is above average. Therefore, it was concluded that breads produced with sourdough by substituting buckwheat, durum wheat, einkorn, wheat germ and rye flours could serve as a good alternative to sourdough wheat bread for healthy nutrition by gaining consumer approval.

Microalgae have been utilized to produce various products such as pharmaceuticals, food additives, biofuels, and in processes like wastewater treatment and carbon dioxide fixation. However, scaling up production systems to provide necessary capacities of industrial scale remains a challenge. Photobioreactors, of this scale, have traditionally been limited to large open ponds or raceway systems, which require extensive land and produce low-density cultures. To achieve high-density cultures, closed systems must be developed by optimizing light, photosynthetic microorganisms, and nutrients. This study explores the optimization of light sources in photobioreactors to improve the efficiency of photosynthetic microorganisms used in various biotechnological applications. Various light sources, including LEDs, fluorescent, and incandescent lamps, were analyzed for their photon output and energy consumption at specific wavelengths crucial for photosynthesis. LEDs (with peak wavelength of 643nm) were found to be most efficient light source in the PAR range, particularly influencing the photosynthetic rates of microorganisms by converting electrical energy into useful photons, as determined by the antenna pigments of photosynthetic microorganisms. The research underscores the importance of selecting optimal lighting to enhance yields in microalgae-based production systems at lowest cost, suggesting a potential shift towards more efficient, controlled environmental conditions for higher productivity.

Önemli bir kültür bitkisi olan mercimek, iklim değişikliği kaynaklı abiyotik ve biyotik streslere karşı dayanıklı, verimli ve sürdürülebilir çeşitlere ihtiyaç duymaktadır. Bu bağlamda, yabani mercimek gen kaynaklarından elde edilen genetik materyaller, genetik iyileştirme ve stres toleransı kazandırma çalışmalarında önemli bir rol oynamaktadır. Genetik çeşitlilik çalışmaları, genetik haritalama ve ileri düzey yüksek verimli dizileme teknolojileri sayesinde, streslere uyum sağlayan adaptif genler, QTL'ler ve diğer faydalı bitki özellikleri tanımlanmaktadır. Genomik teknolojilerin bitki ıslahıyla entegrasyonu, yoğun genetik bağlantı haritaları, genotipleme çalışmaları ve QTL analizleri sayesinde mercimek genomik araştırmaları büyük ilerleme kaydetmektedir. Bu derlemede, mercimekte genetik çeşitlilik, genetik haritaların oluşturulması, QTL analizleri ve genomik çalışmalar konusundaki son gelişmeler literatüre dayalı olarak tartışılmıştır.

The modern intensive agriculture system relies on the heavy use of chemical fertilizers for food production, neglecting the health of the soil. To explore the alternative nutrient source provided by Azotobacter, a free-living nitrogen-fixing bio-fertilizer, a field experiment was conducted at the Gaindakot – 8, Nawalpur in the inner Terai of Nepal during March-June 2023 to study the effect of Azotobacter inoculation on three different maize varieties. The effect was examined on the soil fertility parameters such as Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus(P), Potassium(K), pH, and organic matter (O.M). Five levels of nutrient sources; Control, Farmyard Manure/FYM (10-ton ha-1), Azotobacter only, Azotobacter + FYM and Azotobacter + NPK (120:60:40 kg ha-1 RDF) varieties; Local Pahelo, Rampur Composite and Rampur Hybrid-14 were tested in Two Factorial Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. Results showed a non-significant difference in the mean values of N, P, O.M., and pH whereas K content was significantly influenced under the different varieties. Rampur Hybrid-14 (256.64 kg/ha) showed the highest soil K level whereas Rampur Composite (173.12 kg/ha) showed the lowest. The highest N content was recorded in Azotobacter only (0.140%) followed by Azotobacter + FYM (0.137%) and lowest in control (0.132%). Similarly, the maximum percent of organic carbon was recorded in the nutrient source Azotobacter only (2.80) which is on par with the nutrient source Azotobacter + FYM (2.75). There was a significant influence of the FYM on the maximum residue of the Azotobacter population (180.2×10-3 cfu/gm). The status of O.M., N, P, K, and pH improved positively with the Azotobacter application.

Agricultural land cover has changed over time, and monitoring these changes has become an effective tool in development processes by linking them to ecological and socio-economic issues. In this context, the main hypothesis of the study is that “determining land use changes spatially and temporally using CORINE Land Cover data is crucial in development-oriented planning processes.” The study analyzes changes in agricultural land use based on CORINE land cover classes between 1990 and 2018 in the districts of Saray, Şarköy, and Hayrabolu in Tekirdağ Province, which have low levels of socio-economic development. The research aims to answer the following questions: during which periods did significant changes occur in agricultural areas in Saray, Şarköy, and Hayrabolu? What are the total rates of increase or decrease in these areas? Into what types of land have agricultural are+as significantly transformed? The methodology was developed using Geographic Information Systems (GIS)-based maps, graphs, and tables. The findings reveal the spatial and temporal dimensions of changes in agricultural land use and land cover between 1990 and 2018. The data obtained are anticipated to provide a concrete foundation for developing rural development policies and ensuring the sustainable use of natural resources.