Food safety has become an increasingly important issue as people become more concerned about access to healthy food. Particularly in affluent societies such as the European Union, the increasing consumption of unhealthy fruits and vegetables and carcinogenic residues are constantly on the agenda. Reducing aflatoxin levels in dried foods to below health risk levels, eliminating them from food and ensuring access to healthy food are essential for food safety and human health. In this study, the impact of food safety practices in fruit and vegetable trade between the European Union and Türkiye was examined using mandarins, one of Türkiye’s main fresh fruit and vegetable exports, and the European Union Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) notifications for food and feed for the period between 2019 and 2022. The reasons for these notifications and the requests made in this context were examined and a TOWS analysis matrix was created based on the findings obtained. In conclusion, residue and aflatoxin inspections should be included in traceability activities in Türkiye. Producers need to be informed to ensure the effectiveness of inspections. It is crucial to provide adequate support to producers to improve storage conditions for perishable and dry products and to encourage the use of the latest production techniques. It is of great importance to raise awareness of these techniques among producers. Thus, the European Union can be an alternative market to the Russian Federation, which is Türkiye’s largest trading partner.

This study was conducted as both petri dishes and pot experiments on four different salt-sensitive cotton genotypes (Laser, May 505, May 455 and Selin) in order to investigate the role of exogenous salicylic acid applications in reducing the effects of salt stress. Six saline treatments; 0, 30, 60, 90, 120 mM NaCl were used. Each group divided into three sub-groups (hydo-primed control, 0.5 mM and 1.0 mM SA) on the basis of seed priming treatments. They were applied in three replications according to the randomized block design. In all genotypes, 90 mM and 120 mM salt stress negatively affected germination and seedling development. In salt stress up to 60 mM, it was recommended to May 505 and Selin genotypes with 0.5 mM salicylic acid pre-application to the seeds.

This study was conducted in 2017 under greenhouse conditions using selected four different potato clones to determine the effects of different doses of GA3 and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus on mini tuber production. The research, carried out in a randomized complete block design with three replications, applied GA3 doses of 0, 5, 10, and 15 ppm, and mycorrhizal inoculat doses of 0, 500, 1250, and 2000 mg/100 tubers. Parameters including emergence time, plant height, main stem number, tuber number, average tuber weight, tuber size distribution (>45 mm, 28-45 mm, <28 mm), and maturity period were examined. The effect of GA3 application on all investigated parameters except the number of main stems was significant, statistically. The highest mini tuber number (9.1 tubers) and mini tuber yield (408.4 g/pot) were obtained from the application of 15 ppm GA3, while the highest average mini tuber weight (46.74 g) was obtained from the control group. In mycorrhizal applications, the highest tuber number was obtained at a dose of 500 mg/100 tubers, and the highest mini tuber weight and yield were obtained at a dose of 1250 mg/100 tubers. As a result of the study, it was determined that the application of 15 ppm GA3 is suitable due to its positive effect on mini tuber multiplication, and the mycorrhizal application at a dose of 500 mg/100 tubers is appropriate due to its positive effect on increase of tuber number.

Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) topping is one of the essential practice to obtain good quality and adequate yield. The suckericide (Flumetralin as a best herbicide and plant growth regulator). For the purpose to compare topping as manual and herbicide application the experiment was conducted on flue cured Virginia (FCV) tobacco at Tobacco Research Station, Khan Ghari, Mardan during 2021-2022. The experiment was conducted in RCB design with three replications and five treatments (Control, Manual de-suckering, 1000, 1200, 1500 ml of Flumetralin ha-1). Treatments were applied at three stages (button stage, early flowering stage and late flowering stage). The data revealed that topping timing and maximum dose (1500 ml ha-1) of (Flumetralin) resulted maximum (896 cm-2) leaf area, less number (14) of sucker plant-1, lower (132 g) green weight and dry weight (20.30 g) of sucker plot-1, more cured weight (5.08 kg) of leaves plot-1 and maximum yield (3038) kg ha-1, lower nicotine contents (2.26) and less sugar contents (16.24) at button stage. Moreover, Flumetralin application on at button stage resulted less sucker growth and enhanced leaf yield. I suggest that the tobacco K399 with the application of suckericide and growth regulator (Flumetralin) have the potential to incorporate in further breeding program for low content of nicotine, reduced sugar content and high yield.

To increase yield and quality in agricultural production, it is necessary to perform management against diseases and pests. Alternaria, which causes several diseases in many economically important plants, is the most common species and widely distributed in nature. One of the important species reported in sweet cherry in recent years is Alternaria alternata. Many studies have emphasized the necessity of effective control with Alternaria species and examined the use of environmentally friendly methods against fungal diseases. In recent years, the use of plant extracts has increased due to their antimicrobial properties. Antifungal effects of Datura stramonium L., Vitex agnus-castus L., Xanthium strumarium L., Capsella bursa-pastoris L., Convolvulus arvensis L., Viscum album L., Echinophora tenuifolia L. subsp. sibthorpiana (Guss.) Tutin, Amaranthus retroflexus L., Chenopodium album L., Tribulus terrestris L., Solanum nigrum L., Nerium oleander L., Circium arvense (L.) Scop. and Brassica oleracea L. aqueous extracts were determined against Alternaria alternata. At the end of the 7-day incubation period, the mycelial growth of the fungi was measured and the antifungal effect of plant extracts was determined. As a result, the extracts were determined to inhibit mycelial growth compared to control. The plant water extracts used in the study were determined to inhibit the mycelial development of the pathogen by 20.20% to 77.12%. It is considered that different solvents and concentrations should be addressed to guide further studies. It was also concluded that potential plant species that may show anti-fungal properties should be evaluated.

A screen printed gold electrode (SPGE) served as the foundation for directly depositing Vanadium pentoxide (V2O5), crafting an enzyme-free glucose sensor. Through cyclic voltammetry in an alkaline setting, the sensor's ability to drive glucose oxidation was explored. Utilizing V2O5 as an electrocatalyst, this non-enzymatic sensor exhibited an expansive linear detection range (1 mM–10 mM) and an impressively low detection limit of 0.9 μM. These results underscored V2O5's robust electrocatalytic process in facilitating glucose oxidation within alkaline solutions, unaffected notably by substances like ascorbic acid, fructose and maltose. This investigation highlights a direct and efficient method for glucose detection without reliance on enzymes.

In this study, the effectiveness of commercial essential oil mixture application in preventing calf losses due to diarrhea and on the growth, development and health parameters of calves was investigated. For this purpose, 24 newborn Simmental calves were used. Following birth, 20 ml of essential oil mixture was given orally via syringe to the calves in the treatment group after drinking milk in the morning for 5 days. The average birth weight of calves was 39.0 ± 0.72 kg. Birth weight of male and female calves were 42.3 ± 1.01 and 38.6 ± 0.96 kg respectively, the difference between groups were found significant. First month weight was 45.7 ± 1.67, 42.4 ± 1.65 kg in the control and treatment groups, respectively. There was no difference between the control and treatment groups in terms of body measurements taken at birth, but a significant difference was observed in chest circumference in favor of the control group in terms of measurements obtained at the 1st month. There was no difference between the treatment and control groups in terms of hematological parameters detected in the blood taken on the 10th day and in the 1-month period. No differences were observed between groups in terms of immunoglobulin levels (IgM and IgG). There was no effect of the commercial essential oil mixture on the fecal score of the calves included in the trial. It was revealed that the essential oil mixture does not make any difference in the growth, development and health of Simmental calves in a one-month period. In future studies on the subject, it is recommended that higher doses of the essential oil mixture be investigated.

Measurements of the body structure in sheep are worthy of judging the quantitative features of meat and useful in developing appropriate selection requirements. The current study was aimed to predict live weight and hot carcass weight from linear body measurements of yearling male local sheep. 84 days feeding period fortnightly taken data on 24 local sheep for body weight, body length, heart girth, wither height, sub-sternal height, tail length, tail width, scrotal circumference, and scrotal length were analyzed to study the relationship between linear body measurements and body weight. At the end of the trial all sheep were slaughtered to measure the relationship between body measurements, and hot carcass weight. Microsoft Excel 2010 was used for data analysis. The relationships between the various body measurements were calculated using pearson's correlation coefficient. The backward stepwise multiple regression procedure was used for the determination of the most suitable model for the prediction of the live weight and hot carcass weight. Hot carcass weight was highly correlated (P<0.01) with body weight and scrotal circumference. Besides, it was significantly (P<0.05) correlated with tail width. Body weight was significantly (P<0.05) correlated with all body measurements except tail length and scrotal length. It is concluded that the body weight of the local sheep can be predicted with heart girth, sub-sternal height and tail width; the equation is LW= -97.2 + 0.36HG + 2.1SBSH + 0.57TW with a better coefficient of determination; R2 = 0.55 and the hot carcass weight can be predicted with sub-sternal height and tail width; the equation is HCW= -75.66 + 1.75SBSH + 0.85TW with a coefficient of determination; R2 = 0.33. But, hot carcass can be predicted with body weight, the equation is HCW= -9.39+0.85BWT when weighing scales are affordable with a better coefficient of determination; R2= 0.557.

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivation necessitates an adequate supply of nitrogen to achieve optimal growth and yield. This study, conducted in Nawalparasi West from February to June 2023, aimed to assess the effects of nitrogen management through a foliar spray of nano urea, compared to need-based nitrogen management using the Leaf Color Chart (LCC) and the Recommended Dose of urea Fertilizer (RDF) application. The experiment followed a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications, incorporating four nitrogen management levels (Control, RDF through urea fertilizer (120 kg/ha), 25% of RDF through basal urea (30 kg/ha) + nano urea, and 25% of RDF through basal urea (30 kg/ha) + (LCC) and two rice varieties (Chaite-5 and Hardinath-1). The results indicated that the LCC-based treatment produced the highest grain yield at 5.18 mt/ha, statistically similar to the yield of the nano urea-based treatment (5.04 mt/ha). The enhanced yields were attributed to more effective tillers per m² (260.17 tillers/m² and 253.17 tillers/m², respectively), longer panicle length (28.12 cm and 25.99 cm), more filled grains per panicle (210.03 and 215.73), and lower sterility percentage (24.93% and 26.95%). Despite comparable yields, nano urea application proved to be more cost-effective [97,926.10 Nepalese Rupees (NRs)] with a higher benefit-cost ratio (1.78) and greater ease of application for farmers compared to the LCC. Varietal responses varied, with Hardinath-1 exhibiting the highest yield with LCC-based nitrogen application (5.37 mt/ha), and Chaite-5 demonstrating the highest yield (4.778 mt/ha); with nano urea-based nitrogen application (5.31 mt/ha). Chaite-5 displayed a greater effective number of tillers per m² (241.42 tillers/m²) and filled grains per panicle (224.56). Consequently, it is suggested that nano urea-based nitrogen application, particularly in conjunction with a variety of Chaite-5, holds the potential for improved productivity.

The aim of this study was to investigating the effects of partially replacing the commercial soybean meal (SBM) by locally produced raw, full-fat soybean (RFFSB) in diets of layers. After cleaning, the tested ingredient (RFFSB) was hammered to pass through a 0.2-mm sieve. Then, four experimental diets were formulated by replacing the SBM by RFFSB at 0, 15, 30 or 45% (equivalents to 0, 30, 60 or 90 g/kg of diet, respectively). Before the commencement of this feeding trial, birds were uniformly managed and fed as per their requirements (i.e., starter, grower and pullet diets). This feeding trial was started when birds’ age was 24 weeks. Every treatment was replicated 4 times and 17 laying birds per replicate. The results revealed that replacing the commercial SBM by raw soybean (up to 45%) in the layer diets had no negative effects on the final live BWT and also on the vital organ developments, such as pancreas, duodenum, intestines and gizzard. Hen-day egg production, hen-housed egg production and egg quality measuring parameters were not significant affected by that of partially replacing the commercially SBM by the raw soybean. It is concluded that without compromising the productivity and health, a hammered RFFSB can replace (up to 45%) the commercial SBM in diets of the laying hens.