Türkiye has 27% of the World’s Papaver species in its flora, and 15 of them are endemic. Poppy (Papaver somniferum L.) is the most cultivated and economically significant species of the Papaver genus. There is a need to study and exploit other Papaver species as well. Poppy is an important strategic plant with a history dating back to 5000 BCE and records of its being valued in the lives of different civilizations, art archives, food (seed), and medicine (opium gum). Although opium gum and seed have been produced for centuries in today’s Türkiye, its cultivation was banned between 1971-74. Years of opium gum experience were destroyed, and after 1974, alkaloid production began to be obtained by processing the dry capsule (unscratched). Today, it is counted as one of the two traditional legal poppy-producing countries in the world. It has the largest legal poppy cultivation area, capsule processing, and alkaloid production factory in the world. The seeds and alkaloids are obtained from the same plant. Türkiye has one of the largest morphine stocks in the world and is capable of meeting 25% of global morphine demand. However, it is insufficient in the production of different alkaloids (noscapine, thebaine, codeine). Seed production is, on average, 20,000 tons, and the capacity has the potential to increase to 40,000 tons with appropriate agricultural techniques.

This study analysed fisherfolk’s poverty and food insecurity status in the coastal region of Nigeria. Data from 420 artisanal fisherfolk, selected through a multistage sampling procedure, were analysed using descriptive statistics, a multidimensional poverty index approach, a household food insecurity access scale, and Seemingly unrelated regression equation (SURE). Findings from the study showed that about 62% of the respondents lived in households with malnourished individuals, no clean water, no electricity, no education, a dirty floor, inadequate infrastructure, and poor healthcare services. Infrastructure such as markets and road networks had the highest contribution to the poverty intensity with education having the least contribution in the study area. The results revealed that artisanal fisherfolk who are non-poor are more food secure than those who are poor. Also, estimates from SURE show that household size, daily income, and owning a house significantly influenced household food insecurity level, while multidimensional poverty level was significantly influenced by age, education experience, daily income, owning a house, and credit constraint. It is, therefore, recommended that initiatives that address poverty and food insecurity issue among the artisanal fisherfolk in the coastal region of Nigeria should be given utmost priority because of the contribution of the sub-sector to the economy. Also, artisanal fisherfolk are encouraged to diversify their means of livelihood in order to reduce their level of poverty.

Phosphorus is essential for plant growth, but mishandling phosphorus-rich waste can harm the environment. This study assessed inorganic phosphorus from fruit and vegetable dumpsite soils and its relation to soil properties. Fifteen (15) soil samples were collected and homogenized into five (5) representative samples each from the dumpsites at depths of 0-15cm, 15-30cm, and 30-60cm and were analyzed for calcium-bound phosphorus (Ca-P), reductant soluble phosphorus (RS-P), Fe-bound Phosphorus (Fe-P), aluminium-bound phosphorus (Al-P), and Soluble/loosely bound P. The data obtained was analyzed using the student’s t-test to compare the different fractions in fruit and vegetable dumpsite soils. The results showed no significant differences between fruit and vegetable dumpsite soils in all the inorganic P fractions. However, vegetable dumpsite soils recorded higher soluble P, Al-P, Fe-P, RS-P, and Ca-P levels of 11.65, 36.29, 41.95, 40.75, and 41.35 mg/kg, respectively. These values were not significantly different from 9.75, 34.01, 39.28, 37.11 and 41.03 mg/kg recorded by fruit dumpsite soil for soluble P, Al-P, Fe-P, RS-P and Ca-P respectively. Results also revealed that reductant soluble P, Calcium bound P, and Na+ with an R2 value of 0.88 had a combined significant influence on the concentration of soluble P. However, the concentration of the inorganic P fractions for vegetable dumpsite soil is in the order; Fe-P> Ca-P>RS-P>Al-P>soluble P, while that of fruit dumpsite soil is in the order; Ca-P>Fe-P> RS-P>Al-P>soluble P. Soluble phosphorus significantly impacts eutrophication due to its rapid release into water. However, low levels of soluble P in fruit and vegetable dumpsite soils are not a major concern. In vegetable dumpsite soil, Fe-P would pose a greater threat during anoxic events while, in fruit dumpsite soil, Ca-P would contribute more to eutrophication due to its high concentration in this soil, especially in alkaline conditions.

Different mechanization practices are included in the drying process, which is among the methods (ensiling, drying, storing at high moisture level, etc.) used in the preservation of roughage, which has an important place in the nutrition of ruminant animals. Haymaking processes are applied by natural (at the field) or artificial drying methods (in warehouses and special dryers). During drying, the hay may be loose or loosely baled. The machines that can be used in various stages of haymaking from harvesting forage to filling the warehouse can be listed as strimmers, crushers, windrow harvesters, hay rakes, loose forage harvesters, balers, bale collecting and transporting machines. These mechanization practices have positive and negative aspects relative to each other. In other words, these mechanization practices affect hay quality at different levels. In this study, different mechanization practices applied in hay drying and the effects of these mechanization practices on hay quality were emphasized.

Anaplasmosis, a vector-borne haemoparasitic disease, poses a significant threat to animal health. This study investigated the prevalence and associated risk factors of anaplasmosis in goats within the Chattogram district of Bangladesh. The research was conducted at the SA Quadery Teaching Veterinary Hospital (SAQTVH), Chattogram Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (CVASU), involving observations of 202 goats. Blood samples were collected from the ear veins of 44 goats. Thin blood smears were prepared, stained with Giemsa, and examined under a microscope. Statistical analysis was performed using Chi-square tests in SPSS Statistics version 26. The study found that goat rearing systems significantly influenced infection rates (P < 0.05). Anaplasmosis was more prevalent in goats displaying pale mucous membranes and symptoms such as fever or weakness (P < 0.05). To mitigate the disease, strategic control measures, including vector reduction and routine health monitoring, are recommended.

Consumers are shifting to a plant-based lifestyle worldwide as more sustainable and healthier alternatives. However, despite the increasing popularity of plant-based vegan products, scientific evidence on their nutritional quality and health effects is still lacking. This study assessed the nutritional and cytotoxic characteristics of the vegan and regular cheese varieties sold in the retail markets in Istanbul, Türkiye in terms of total protein content, amino acid profile, vitamin B, calcium, and in vitro cytotoxicity using Kjeldahl, LC-MS/MS, HLPC, ICP-MS, and in vitro MTS assay, respectively. Our findings showed that the protein content in the regular cheese varieties was 20.7%, while it was 13.3% in vegan tofu only. The ratio between essential and non-essential amino acids in the regular and vegan tofu cheeses was 36.0/64.0 and 38.0/62.0, respectively. Vitamins B6, B9, and B12 were detected in none of the varieties, and calcium levels were found to be 568.1 in the regular cheeses and 17.8 mg/100 g in the vegan cheeses. Besides, in vitro, MTS assay demonstrated that regular cheese Roquefort and vegan varieties significantly decreased the cell viability of the HTC-116 human colon cancer cell line. Overall, the current research highlights the need for a comprehensive evaluation of the vegan cheese types better to understand their nutritional, pre- and clinical toxicity, and bioavailability characteristics in a dose and time-dependent manner using advanced techniques and improving the nutritional quality of vegan products remains a challenge for the food industry.

The entomopathogenic bacterium, Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) has been one of the important sources of biopesticides and applied in biological control against agricultural pests for many decades. Isolation and characterization of Bt isolates from different habitats around the world allow the discovery of new Bt strains with high insecticidal activity and the ability to cope with the problem of resistance to pesticides. The goal of this study is to obtain a new Bt collection from hazelnut orchards in Türkiye and to investigate the insecticidal cry1 gene content of these isolates and to reveal their protein profiles and serovars. Bt was isolated from 28 soil and leaf samples collected from 14 different locations in Ordu province. Of the 302 Bt-like colonies examined, 63 were observed to carry crystals in the form of parasporal inclusions and the Bt index was found to be 0.21. The presence of cry1 gene in Bt isolates were analyzed using Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis. The results showed that 21 isolates (33%) were positive for cry1 gene. When the protein profiles of the Bt isolates were examined by SDS-PAGE analysis, bands of 130 kDa, 60 kDa, 43 kDa and larger than 200 kDa were obtained in most of the samples. In order to reveal the serovar types of Bt isolates, hag gene was amplified and the PCR products were further sequenced. The analysis identified the Bt tochigiensis and Bt xiaguangiensis serovars among the screened Bt isolates. This study reports the isolation and characterization of a novel collection of B. thuringiensis isolates from hazelnut orchards in Ordu province (Northern Türkiye), identifying the cry1 gene carrying strains with potential toxicity against some lepidopteran pests.

In this study, the regeneration of the Colchicum soboliferum species, one of the medicinal aromatic plants growing naturally in Türkiye, was examined by the somatic embryogenesis method. Within the scope of experiments on somatic embryogenesis, corms of the Colchicum soboliferum species were used as explant source. 16 media containing 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) (0, 0.5, 1, 2 mg.L⁻¹), Benzyl adenine (BA) (0, 0.1, 0.5 mg.L⁻¹), and 2-Isopentenyladenine (2IP) (0, 0.1, 0.5 mg.L⁻¹) as plant growth regulators were used in this regeneration research. Different ratios and combinations of Murashige ve Skoog (MS) media were tested. In the applications, the highest embryogenic callus formation was observed with a rate of 60% in Murashige ve Skoog (MS) media containing 0.5 mg.L⁻¹ 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) + 0.1 mg.L⁻¹ 2-Isopentenyladenine (2IP). The highest embryo formation, with a rate of 48.33%, was obtained in MS media containing 2 mg.L⁻¹ 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) + 0.5 mg.L⁻¹ Benzyl adenine (BA) and 2 mg.L⁻¹ 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) + 0.1 mg.L⁻¹ 2-Isopentenyladenine (2IP). No growth was observed in the control application that did not contain plant growth regulators.

The Angoumois grain moth, Sitotroga cerealella Olivier is predominantly a devasting infested stored grain pest of cereals, whose development proceeds within a single grain of infested cereals. Investigating greener alternatives to widely used chemical control techniques is crucial because synthetic chemicals pose risks to public health and the environment.  This investigation was carried out for developing the ecofriendly control management of the Angoumois grain moth in stored cereals through utilizing four botanical powders and one insecticide, wood ash (1 gm), and a single synthetic insecticide (Carbaryl) (0.25mg), neem (1 gm), Korobi (1 gm), Bishkatali (1 gm) and Datura (1 gm) treatments against untreated control in Completely Randomized Design (CRD). It was revealed that Neem (Azadiracta indica) powder at 1 g/100 g seed performed excellently, resulting in minimization of adult mortality percent, adult emergence, grain weight loss, and number of holes per ten seeds. The maximum percent of germination was noted in bishkathali (Persicaria lapathifolia) powder at 1 g/100 g seed, and moreover, bishkathali powder functions more effectively for limiting infestation percent. Therefore, the botanical neem and bishkathali powder at 2 g/100 g seed rate is the better alternative of carbaryl at 0.5 g/100 g rate, and it could be suggested for Angoumois grain moth management at storage.

Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) cultivation in regions like Ramechhap, Bagmati Province, Nepal faces challenges in improving yield and economic returns due to suboptimal agronomic practices. To address this issue, a field experiment was conducted to assess the effects of pinching and micronutrient sprays (zinc and boron) on growth, yield, and economic returns of okra. The study aimed to evaluate the impact of pinching and zinc-boron foliar application on key growth parameters, including the number of leaves, fruit length, number of fruits per plant, and total yield. Pinching significantly increased the number of leaves and fruits per plant, as well as the total yield. The application of 0.25% Zn + 0.25% B resulted in the highest fruit length, fruit weight, and total yield. The combined treatment of pinching and Zn-B spray (P1M3) recorded the highest fruit length (11.13 cm), number of fruits per plant (21.91), and yield (17.68 t ha-1). Economic analysis revealed that this combination resulted in the highest net return (NRs. 774,869.35 ha-1) and the highest benefit-cost ratio (B:C = 1.95), indicating that it could significantly improve farm income for smallholder farmers in the region. These results demonstrate the potential of integrated agronomic practices, including pinching and micronutrient application, to enhance both productivity and profitability in okra cultivation.