Textural characteristics, color and fructooligosaccharides (FOS) content, in yacón root products (syrup and dried snack subjected to different pretreatments with NaCl, blanching and ascorbic acid) were evaluated. Yacón from Salta Capital, with 8 months of growth were used. Texture profiles and Color were evaluated instrumentally and FOS content by HPLC. There were significant differences between the samples treated with NaCl and the ones treated by blanching and ascorbic acid for fracture strength, fracture number and hardness according to pretreatment used, and for hardness and tackiness by the drying time. Regarding to color: longer drying time reduces sample brightness. In processed products the FOS content is lower than in fresh yacón, but higher in sucrose, glucose and fructose.

In this study, selenium levels of P.citrinopileatus added different rates of red pepper waste to compost as a source of selenium were determined. For this purpose, six different compost groups were prepared and inoculated with P.citrinopileatus mycelia. Selenium levels of harvested mushrooms were analysed. In conclusion, 0.338 µg/g selenium were determined in one gram dry mushroom that red pepper waste added to compost at 5%. Mycelia growth and selenium accumulation were negatively affected by higher rates of red pepper waste.

Leafy vegetables are highly perishable and often subjected to post-harvest wastes. Among the various methods of preservation, the effect of shadow drying on the nutritive value and antioxidant properties of five (5) leafy vegetables species widely consumed in Northern Côte d’Ivoire was investigated. These species were Amaranthus hybridus, Andasonia digitata, Ceiba patendra, Hibiscus sabdariffa and Vigna unguiculata. Experiment was conducted as follow: portions of washed and drained fresh leafy vegetables (500 g) were spread on clean filter paper and kept in a well-ventilated room of the laboratory at 25°C for 5, 10 and 15 days. The results of proximate composition after 15 days of shadow drying were: moisture (15.19 – 20.36%), ash (9.14 -19.54%), crude fiber (11.04 – 27.40%), proteins (11.14 - 17.94%), lipids (2.41 – 5.86%) and carbohydrates (16.59 – 45.14%). The concentration of minerals increased with respective values after 15 days of shadow drying: calcium (68.14-408.09 mg/100 g), magnesium (50.62-317.23 mg/100 g), iron (27.52-92.03 mg/100 g) and zinc (10.17-16.73 mg/100 g). During shadow drying, vitamin C and carotenoids were subjected to losses estimated to 35.52 – 70.50% and 22.82 – 45.63%, respectively. Contrary to these losses, antioxidant activity increased and ranged from 57.45 to 75.55 % after 15 days of shadow drying. All these results suggest that the considerable nutrient contents of shade dried leafy vegetables make them good source of food supplements in order to meet the nutritional requirements of Ivorian population.

The present research was conducted on macrofungi collected from Kop Mountain (Erzurum-Bayburt) between the years of 2010 and 2011. The colorful photographs of macrofungi in the natural habitat were taken and their morphological and ecological features were determined and the information on macrofungi given by local people was recorded. According to the field and laboratory studies; 44 edible macrofungi taxa belonging to 14 families and 5 ordos located in Pezizomycetes and Agaricomycetes classes were identified.

The aim of the study was to investigate the raw milk hygiene and quality among the small holder dairy farmers in Tawau area. A total of 216 samples were collected from the respective dairy farmers and milk collecting centre located at Mile 15, Tawau. Preliminary results indicated that the quality of the raw milks obtained at farm level contained were inferior with high bacteria load (> than 107 CFU/ml). The total coliform (2.9-3.8 CFU/mL) and Staphylococcus count (2.3-3.6 CFU/mL) were relatively high in certain samples. However, none of the food borne pathogens was found. Trace back study revealed that the causes of contamination were attributed by poor hygienic handling among the dairy farmers and insufficient for immediate chilling of raw milk. A significant reduction in bacteria load was observed if the raw milk chilled immediately at farm. The implementation of modified pre-milking sanitizing practices improved the microbiology quality of the raw milks obtained from respective dairy farms. Future study will focus more on the effect of prolong storage towards the microbiological quality of raw milk.

The aim of this study was to investigated the effects of the egg shape index on egg quality characteristics in Guinea fowl. For this, the eggs were classified in terms of egg shape index, as ≤ 75, < 76 -77 > and ≥ 78. A total of 100 Guinea fowl eggs were evaluated to determine the egg quality traits ( egg weight, eggshell thickness, eggshell surface area, eggshell weight per unit surface area, eggshell ratio, albumen index, albumen ratio, yolk index, yolk ratio, yolk/albumen ratio, haugh unit and egg volume). In this study, eggshell thickness, eggshell weight per unit surface area, eggshell ratio, albumen index, albumen ratio, yolk index, yolk ratio, yolk/albumen ratio and haugh unit were not significantly affected by egg shape index groups. Whereas egg weight, eggshell surface area and egg volume were significantly affected by egg shape index groups. At the same time, there were found significant relationship between the egg shape index and egg quality traits. Egg shape index was found to be an important factor affecting the egg quality characteristics.

In this study the heritability of body weights of Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix Japanica) were estimated by using MINQUE (Minimum Quadratic Unbiased Estimation) methods. Firstly the variance components were estimated by using MINQUE method which were later estimated the heritability for weekly body weights. The estimation of heritability of body weights are following: for third week : 0.302±0.018; for fourth week: 0.70±0.15; for fifth week : 0.30±0.067

The efficiency of chelated forms of trace minerals in poultry nutrition and the trace minerals requirements of poultry were discussed in this review. Trace minerals are essential for all farm animals, and these minerals, individually or together with other mineral, take part in many events such as metabolic activities, development and repair of different tissues, growth, immune and reproductive systems. In the last years, lots of studies related to different organic forms of trace minerals on the effects of broiler and laying hens were carried out. The results of these studies have showed that organic trace minerals added to poultry diets at lower levels than inorganic trace minerals are more efficient than inorganic trace minerals and they provide some advantages in poultry nutrition. One of the most important advantages is the reduction of mineral amount excreted in faces. In addition, the results of researches conducted especially in the last few years have shown that the chelated forms of trace minerals strengthen the poultry immune system, and increase the use of other nutrients. However, there are inconsistent between the effects of different forms of trace minerals used in poultry diets on the performance.

Forty seed sample of wheat (Triticum aestivum) were collected from four locations viz. Chitwan, Kaski, Banke and Lalitpur and tested by blotter method at laboratory during 2013 for determining fungal pathogens associated with wheat seeds in Nepal. Eighteen species representing thirteen genera of fungi were recovered from the seed. Alternaria alternata and Bipolaris sorokiniana were predominant in all the varieties/genotypes from all the locations, where B. sorokiniana was strongly pathogenic in wheat crop. Percentage frequency and type of fungi detected varied with variety and locations. Bipolaris sorokiniana was highest (64.40%) in Banke than remaining three locations. Seeds of Chitwan had lowest percentage (5.50%) of seed infection as compared to other locations. Relative abundance of Alternaria alternata (55.10%) was highest as it was the most prevalent component of seed borne mycoflora, followed by Bipolaris sorokiniana (34.69%) and Cladosporium herbarum (7.19%). Differences in quantity of precipitation and relative humidity might be the possible reason for variation in frequency and type of fungi detected in wheat seeds of four locations.

The aim of this study is to reveal allelopathic effects and antioxidant activities of methanolic extract of Ganoderma lucidum in Zorkun plateau (Osmaniye). It was determined that methanolic extract of G. lucidum has significantly phytotoxic effect by increasing the doses (1, 2, 4, 8 mg/mL) on Hordeum vulgare and Triticum aestivum. Total phenol and flavonoid amounts of G. lucidum were 114.55 mg/kg and 8.95 mg/kg, respectively. 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), scavenging activity (60%, 91% and 92%), reducing power (0.83, 1.43 and 2.23 Abs), and nitric oxide (NO) scavenging activity (48%, 55% and 70%) of this mushroom at the different concentrations (1.25, 2.5 and 5 mg/mL) were determined, respectively. However, H2O2 scavenging activity of the different concentrations (0.0156-0.125 mg/mL) was found as 18%, 56%, 60% and 86%, respectively. Based on these findings, it can suggest that G. lucidum methanolic extract has significantly phytotoxic effect and antioxidant activity. The present study is the first report on the phytotoxic effects and antioxidant activities of G. lucidum which consumed and collected from Amanos Mountains.