Adoption of improved technologies and agricultural practices are prerequisites for increased farm productivity. Assessing the appropriateness of potential new technologies or practices increases the likelihood of adoption or modification to suit farmers’ needs; however, low farm output still persists among smallholders, attributable to several factors including poor and low adoption of modern production practices. This study therefore analyzed the index of adoption of recommended onion production practices (ROPPs) and correlation of multivariate factors among smallholder farmers in Dambatta, Kano State, Nigeria. A multistage sampling procedure was used in selecting 100 respondents for this study. Primary data collected via well-structured questionnaires were analyzed using Descriptive statistics, Adoption index and Multivariate Correlation techniques.The results revealed that the prevalent ROPPs adopted by the farmers include improved onion varieties (78%), plant spacing (69%), planting method (55%), weed management (50%) and fertilizer application (44%). Moreover, most (72%) of the farmers have low adoption index (≤0.33). Further, significant correlations between multivariate factors (farm output, adoption cost and adoption index) exists and the estimated correlation coefficients for rxz, ryz and rxy were -0.53, 0.71 and -0.82 respectively. Subsidizing cost of adoption of ROPPs, improving access to modern production practices/technologies, agricultural credit/farm capital, extension services, adequate labour supply and tenure policy modification are recommended to ameliorate adoption constraints.

This study aimed to determine the effect of pink rock rose extract (PRR) with or without ascorbic acid and sodium ascorbate for improving the shelf life of sausages. Analyzed parameters were DPPH radical scavenging capacity of PRR extract; total aerobic count, thiobarbituric acid reactive substance, heme iron, pH, water activity, proximate composition, and color values of MAP packaged sausages for 12 weeks at 4 °C. Treatments: (1) Control (0.02% ascorbic acid and 0.05% sodium ascorbate – AA-SA), (2) electrostatic spray application of PRR extract (2%) – ES-PRR, (3) 0.02% AA and, 0.05% PRR extract, (4) 0.05% SA and 0.02% PRR, (5) 0.07% PRR extract. PRR extract had the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) value of 13.04 ± 0.133 µg/mL. Sausages formulated with 0.07% PRR had the lowest microbial growth rate, followed by AA-PRR formulation. The AA-PRR treatment had the lowest TBARS values for most of the storage. This study reveals that PRR extract can be added as a natural antioxidant in sausages, and it could be used as a replacement or for the reduction of ascorbic acid and sodium ascorbate in sausage formulations.

In this study, the effects of UV B (50 µW/cm2) radiation at 306 nm on oil-in-water emulsions (O/W) using canola oil, soybean oil and linoleic acid were investigated. The oxidation rates of emulsions incubated at pH 7.0 and 37°C in the presence and absence of Cu (II) ions were determined by using iron (III) thiocyanate and thiobarbituric acid methods for the determination of primary and secondary products, respectively. The UV B-induced oxidation rates followed the order LA / Cu (II) > LA > Canola Oil / Cu (II) > Canola Oil > Soybean Oil / Cu (II) > Soybean Oil for both crops. Simultaneously, structural studies were performed using gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS). It was found that 18-carbon polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) and monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) contents have an important role in canola and soybean oil oxidation. The unsaturated fatty acid contents of small carbon numbers increased for each emulsion sample, while the oxidation of fatty acid changes did not follow a regular order.

The aim of this study is to contribute to the valorization of the cocoa bean varieties “Mercedes” and “Forastero” grown in Côte d’Ivoire. A comparative characterisation of phenolic compounds and minerals in the beans of the “Mercedes” and “Forastero” varieties from two major cocoa production areas of Côte d’Ivoire were determined. The phenolic compounds of cocoa beans were determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and the minerals by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The study showed that a significant difference at the 5% level was observed in the averages of minerals, cinnamic acid, protocatechic acid, quercetin, coumaric acid, rutin, ellagic acid, veratric acid, epicatechin, ferulic acid and naringenin. On the other hand, no significant difference at the 5% level was observed in the averages of arbutin, catechin, vanillic acid and caffeic acid in the bean kernels analysed in the Divo and Abengourou regions. The proportion of cinnamic acid is (6.18±0.63 mg/100g “Mercedes” Divo), that of ellagic acid is (18.48±0.44 mg/100g “Mercedes” Divo) and that of naringenin is (5.95±0.35 mg/100g “Mercedes” Divo). The amount of potassium is (7569.97±1.51 mg/kg “Forastero” of Abengourou) and that of iron is (179.9 ± 0.70 mg/Kg “Forastero” of Divo). The phenolic compounds and minerals in the cocoa bean samples analysed are highly correlated and rich in antioxidants. They would be beneficial for many biological functions. They can be recommended in pharmacology and cosmetics to fight against oxidative stress and cardiovascular diseases.

This work aimed to develop a formulation of pumpkin seed paste and to evaluate its nutritional, sensory and textural properties. In the study, a delicious product was tried to be obtained with raw materials with high functional properties. Pumpkin Seed Cream was produced in four groups as roasted, roasted and cinnamon added, unroasted, unroasted and cinnamon added. The roasting process was carried out for 12 min. at 160°C. The effect of roasting pumpkin seeds and adding cinnamon to the formulation on cream samples produced within the scope of the study were investigated. Firmness, consistency, cohesiveness and spread ability properties were investigated of samples. It was determined that the roasting of pumpkin seeds used in the formulation created a statistically significant difference in the spreadability properties of the samples. As a result of the color analysis of the samples, the brightest and greener color intensity was detected in the unroasted group. The appearance, odor, texture and flavor profiles of samples were examined in sensory analysis. In terms of general taste, the unroasted and cinnamon-free group was most appreciated.

In this study, determination of the morphometric parameters and egg fecundity freshwater crayfish (Astacus leptodactylus Eschscholtz, 1823), measurement and comparing of were aimed in Tatlı and Gıcı Lakes from Bafra Fish Lakes in Samsun, Turkey. The research was carried out between November 2018 and October 2019 by monthly catching of freshwater crayfish using fyke net at determined stations. While 105 of 242 freshwater crayfish from Tatlı Lake were female and 137 were male, 87 of 216 freshwater crayfish from Gıcı Lake were female and 129 were male and the difference between the sexes was not significant. The average total length and average weight of freshwater crayfish from Tatlı Lake were 10.27±0.09 cm and 33.76±0.88 g, respectively. In Gıcı Lake, the average total length and average weight of freshwater crayfish were 10.44±0.41 cm and 37.15±1.91 g, respectively. A strong positive linear relationship was found between length and weight of freshwater crayfish in Tatlı Lake and Gıcı Lake. However, the claw length and claw width of the male freshwater crayfish were greater. The average number of individual eggs, the average total egg weight, the average unit egg weight and the average egg diameter of the sampled egged crayfish in Tatlı Lake were 241.24±11.94, 3.22±0.17 g, 0.013±0.001 g and 2.61±0.02 mm, respectively. These were 245.38±15.87, 3.03±0.19 g, 0.013±0.001 g and 2.73±0.02 mm for sampled egged lobsters in Gıcı Lake, respectively. At the end of the study, it was determined that the environmental and morphometric parameters, egg fecundity of freshwater crayfish in Tatlı and Gıcı Lakes were similar between the lakes.

Floodplains known as 'Fadama' is encouraged in Nigeria by the world bank in order to boost agriculture and food security. This activity is being managed by the State ministries of agriculture through Agricultural Development Programmes (ADPs) nationwide. This is a case study of Jalingo area of Taraba State, Nigeria where farmers used any available water from rivers, streams and wells without any regulations. The water samples for quality analysis were collected in five (5) different floodplain locations from three (3) different sources. Fifteen (15) water samples were collected from river, borehole and well using plastic bottle container both in August (peak of raining season) and November (end of raining season) respectively. Data from water samples were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) to test for significant effect of source and location water quality for irrigation purposes. The suitability of the source and location water quality after comparing with the water standard for irrigation have most of their chemical properties within safe limit for irrigation purposes both in August and November respectively. (pH =6.26 to 6.81, Total Dissolved Solid, TDS = 113 to 345 mg/L, Total Suspended Solid, TSS = 1.72 to 1.95 mg/L, Bicarbonates, HCO3 = 5.76 to 10.88 mg/L, Carbonated, CO3 = 0.07 to 0.77 mg/L, Sodium, Na = 0.003 to 0.031 mg/L, Magnesium Mg = 4.84 to 5.93 mg/L, Calcium, Ca = 9.62 to 11.97 mg/L). From the results of the study, it could be observed that the quality of water across the locations irrespective of period of observation and source are good and hereby recommended for irrigation purposes.

Turkey is the largest hazelnut producer, and the Trabzon is one of the important provinces with an annual production of 47.000 tons. The citrus longhorned beetle [Anoplophora chinensis (Forster, 1771) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)] is not an indigenous pest to Turkey. It is a poliphagous woodboring beetle with a large host range including ornamental plants and fruit trees such as Citrus and Corylus. The insect was intercepted for the first time on maple and willow plants in a nursery in Istanbul in 2014. Domestic trade of those plants caused the spread of the insect from Istanbul to Trabzon in 2016. Since then, the insect has been spreading at speed in villages of Maçka district. However, the spread of the insect could have not been prevented. The insect was detected in 250 ha in 2020, but the area enlarged to 409 ha in 2021. Quarantine measures and eradication studies have been applied in the region that chemicals were sprayed and infested plants were destroyed. Currently, hazelnut orchards of 286 ha were dismantled and more than 172,000 ocaks were removed and destroyed in Akmescit, Alaçam, Armağan, Bahçekaya, Durali, Esiroğlu, Günay, Hızarlı, Işıklar, Öğütlü and Temelli villages. To compensate the losses, objective yield estimates were made by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry officials and 2.6 $ per kg was set to pay to the growers for the period of 4 years. By the end of 2021, 539 growers were paid of about 1.975,000 $ for compensation. Although the infestation and the spread of the insect is monitored it poses a real threat to hazelnut sector in the Black Sea region.

The aim of this work is the isolation, identification and evaluation of the antibacterial activity of endophytic fungi from the Algerian medicinal plant Marrubium vulgare L. The isolation of endophytic fungi is carried out by the method of sterilization of surface to eliminate epiphytes then incubation of the fragments treated according to a precise protocol. The identification of the grown isolates allowed us to obtain three fungal strains belonging to three genera: Fusarium, Alternaria and Chaetomium, which are generally of the Deuteromycete phylum. The antibacterial capacity of the fungi was tested against five human pathogenic bacteruim using the agar-fungi disk diffusion method. With an inhibition zone (IZ) spanning from 7.5 to 25 mm, all isolated fungal strains showed antibacterial activity against at least one of the bacteria tested.. However, Fusarium sp has the highest antibacterial activity with an IZ of 19 and 24 mm against S. aureus and B. subtilis, respectively. Finally, our results clearly confirm that the medicinal plant M. vulgare L. presents a reservoir of endophytic fungi, which can be used in various fields, especially pharmaceutical fields.