Toxoplasma gondii, an obligatory intracellular protozoan parasite, can infect a wide range of warm-blooded animals, including livestock species. T. gondii is a zoonotic protozoan parasite that affects both humans and other warm-blooded animals. The aim of this study was to detect T. gondii by using PCR in the brain tissues of 60 aborted sheep fetuses from the Iğdır Province in Türkiye. For this purpose, 60 brain tissue samples of sheep were collected within the lambing seasons of 2023 in Iğdır, Türkiye. The DNA extraction was performed using the PureLink™ Genomic DNA Mini Kit from brain samples. The PCR was performed with the appropriate primers from the obtained DNA samples. T. gondii was found in the brain (16.6%) samples of aborted sheep fetuses. According to the present study, T. gondii infection can be one of the causes of fetus abortion of sheep in Iğdır province, Türkiye. This result emphasizes the need for vigilance and preventive measures in managing this potential public and animal health concerns.

In this study, the insecticidal effect of the Detech® (Turkish Diatomaceous earth) DE formulation against Galleria mellonella L. was determined. The study was conducted in a laboratory environment with materials taken from beehives produced at Muş Alparslan University in 2022. Diatomaceous earth (DE) was applied in two different forms (dust and slurry DE) and as positive control GüveSavar®, which is currently used against some pests in beekeeping. DE concentrations of 0, 3, 5, and 7 g/m2 in different exposure times were tested for the control of G. mellonella larvae. As a result of all treatments, the highest mortality occurred at 7 g/m2 dust DE concentration. Larvae (3rd stage) exposed to 7 g/m2 concentration according to dust DE mortality rates reached 100% mortality after 40 hours. According to the results of the slurry DE, the larvae exposed to the slurry diatom at all concentrations achieved 100% mortality at the end of the 96 hours. When the dust and slurry DE results were examined, the direct use of dust formulations greatly accelerated the effectiveness against larvae. The study showed very promising results, suggesting that slurry DE and dust formulations could be a new alternative control method for Greater Wax Moth. In addition, for the first time, the insecticidal efficacy of DE against the honey bee pest, the greater wax moth, was determined.

Foliar supplementation may be useful for boron to a crop when its demands are higher compared to the supply from soil. Boron is an important micronutrient which had a substantial impact on oil content, seed yield, and the components of the sesame yield. A field investigation was implemented to determine the impact of foliar application of boron on seed yield, growth and oil content of sesame cv. BARI Til-4. The investigation included four concentrations of boron viz. 0, 25, 50, and 75 ppm and three frequencies of boron application viz. one time at 30 days after sowing (DAS), two times at 30 and 50 DAS,  and three times at 30, 50, and 70 DAS. The experiment was conducted following randomized complete block design, which was replicated thrice. At the vegetative stage, the highest plant height (107.3 cm), branches/plant (5.0) and shoot dry weight (45.20 g/plant) resulted in 75 ppm boron spray at 30, 50 and 70 DAS. However, the highest root dry weight (5.80 g/plant) was recorded in 75 ppm with one application of boron at 30 DAS. The plants with the highest plant height (112.1 cm), branches/plant (5.13), pods/plant (44.13), seeds/pod (54.33), seed yield (609.0 kg/ha), harvest index (30.65%), and oil content (42.33%) were also observed with the combination of 75 ppm boron spray with thrice application at 30, 50 and 70 DAS. The lowest seed yield (368.7 kg/ha) resulted in without boron application. Therefore, it can be inferred that the most efficient method for increasing the sesame seed yield and oil content is thrice (30, 50, and 70 DAS) foliar spraying of 75 ppm boron.

Drought and thirst are among the most important problems in today's world where water resources are depleted more rapidly due to global warming and climate change. The use of plant species with high water needs in landscaping causes an increase in the need for irrigation and more water consumption. For this reason, the need for xeriscape design in landscape areas has increased in recent years. The aim of this study is to examine and evaluate the xeriscape landscaping in Selcuk University Alaeddin Keykubat Campus in line with the xeriscape principles. As a result of the examinations, it was determined that the xeriscape design areas in the campus were generally created in accordance with xeriscape principles.

Phthalate esters (PAEs) are synthetic compounds, commonly used as plasticizers and softeners in plastic material production, and they are recognized as endocrine-disrupting chemicals. This study was focused on monitoring the extent of PAEs migration in vacuum-packaged Kashar cheeses and plastic materials used in their packaging. A total of fifteen cheese samples were tested for PAEs, including benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), diisononyl phthalate (DiNP), di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), and diisodecyl phthalate (DiDP). The quantification (LOQ) and detection (LOD) limits varied between 0.197 to 0.619 µg/mL and 0.059 to 0.185 µg/mL for all analytes, respectively. All phthalate ester concentrations in both of the cheese samples and their packaging materials were below the detectable level LOQ of the analytical method. FTIR spectra also confirmed that the packaging materials which consisted of polypropylene and polyethylene.

Bu çalışma Tokat-Kazova şartlarında Başçiftlik Beyazı patates çeşidinde farklı azot dozları ve organik gübre uygulamasının verim ve kalite özelliklerine etkisini belirlemek amacıyla yapılmıştır. Araştırma 2016 ve 2017 yıllarında Tesadüf Blokları Deneme Desenine göre üç tekerrürlü olarak yürütülmüştür. Araştırmada azot dozları 0 (kontrol), 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 kg N/da ve tek doz organik gübre (300 kg/da) olacak şekilde uygulanmıştır. İncelenen özellikler; bitki boyu, ana sap sayısı, ocak başına yumru verimi, ortalama yumru ağırlığı, ocak başına yumru sayısı, dekara yumru verimi, kuru madde oranı, nişasta oranı ve pazarlanabilir yumru oranıdır. İncelenen özelliklerden ana sap sayısı ve ocak başına yumru sayısı hariç, diğer tüm özellikler organik gübre ve azot dozlarından önemli şekilde etkilenmiştir. Dekara yumru verimi en düşük kontrolde (0 kg N/da) 2772,1 kg/da iken, en yüksek 3961,8 kg/da ile 20 kg N/da uygulamasından elde edilmiştir. Organik gübre (300 kg/da) uygulamasında ise 3083,7 kg/da yumru verimi alınmıştır. Uygulanan N dozları yumru iriliğini belli bir doza kadar artırmış, ortalama yumru ağırlığı 25 kg N/da uygulamasında 95,2 g ile en yüksek olmuştur. Artan azot dozları denemenin ilk yılında 20 kg N/da, ikinci yılında ise 30 kg N/da dozunda en yüksek verim seviyesine ulaşmıştır. Her ne kadar organik gübre uygulamasından (3083,7 kg/da) kontrol uygulamasına (2772,1 kg/da) göre daha iyi sonuç alınmış ise de dekara yumru verimini artırmak için azotlu gübre uygulaması yapılmasının gerektiği ve iki yılın ortalamasına göre 20 kg/da azot uygulamasının (3961,8 kg/da) yapılması önerilmiştir.

Çalışmanın amacı Denizli kent merkezi ve yakın çevresinde bulunan yeşil alanların yeterliliğinin ve kentin hava kalitesini arttırmaya yönelik sağladığı hizmetlerinin ölçülmesidir. Bu bağlamda çalışma alanı olarak Denizli merkez ilçeleri (Pamukkale ve Merkezefendi) ve kent merkezinde yer alan yeşil alanlar değerlendirme kapsamında ele alınmıştır. Yeşil alanların yeterliliği; alanın erişilebilirliği ve mahallelerin nüfus oranı çerçevesinde irdelenmiştir. Öte yandan yeşil alanların, hava kalitesinin bazı kriterleri üzerinde sağladığı faydalar “i-Tree Canopy” yazılımı aracılığıyla tahmin edilmiştir. Analiz sonuçlarına aktif yeşil alanlardan sadece iki tanesine erişilememektedir. Çalışma alanı sınırları içerisinde bulunan 111 mahalle içerisinde sadece 11 mahallede kişi başına düşen yeşil alan miktarının yeterli sınırın üzerine çıktığı tespit edilmiştir. Bunun yanı sıra aktif yeşil alanların yıllık yaklaşık 4.717.371 ton karbon monoksit, 28.032.093 ton Azot Dioksit, 276.147.567 ton ozon, 21.727.132 ton Kükürt Dioksit, 12.564.544 ton PM 2,5, 55.519.883 ton PM10 uzaklaştırdığı, 181.805 ton karbondioksit tutulduğu ve 213.603 ton karbondioksit depolandığı tespit edilmiştir. Çalışma ile Denizli kent merkezindeki yeşil alanların sosyal açıdan yeterlilikleri değerlendirilirken, kente olan ekolojik ve ekonomik katkıları da ortaya konulmuştur. Yapılan değerlendirmeler mevcut durumu ortaya koyarken kent planlama çalışmalarına da katkı sağlayacaktır.

Heyelanlar, tıpkı diğer afetler gibi dünyada ve Türkiye’de yüksek can ve mal kayıplarına neden olan ancak doğru arazi planlaması ve önlemlerle zararı en aza indirilmesi mümkün doğa olaylarıdır. Heyelan olayları Türkiye’de arazinin eğimli yapısı, yağışlı iklim koşulları, yanlış arazi örtüsü kullanımları gibi faktörlerin etkisi ile Karadeniz Bölgesi’nde sıklıkla yaşanmaktadır. Çalışma alanı olarak belirlenen Artvin Merkez İlçe ve yakın çevresi, içinde bulunduğu Karadeniz Bölgesi ile benzer şekilde sahip olduğu topografik yapı, iklim koşulları, yoğun yapılaşma, hidroelektrik santraller, maden sahaları, barajlar ve yol yapım çalışmalarının etkisi altında sıklıkla heyelanların yaşandığı bir bölgedir. Bu noktadan hareketle, çalışma kapsamında Analitik hiyerarşi süreci (AHP) ile Coğrafi Bilgi Sistemleri (CBS) kullanılarak alanı ile birlikte alandaki mikro havzaların heyelan duyarlılığının belirlenmesi ve heyelan duyarlılığı yüksek alanlar için heyelan riskini azaltmaya yönelik çözüm önerileri geliştirilmesi hedeflenmiştir. Yapılan analizler sonucunda çalışma alanının yüzölçümünün %48,55’inin orta düzeyde %46,21’inin ise yüksek düzeyde heyelan duyarlılığına sahip olduğu belirlenmiştir. Aritmetik ortalama ile oluşturulan mikro havzalar düzeyinde haritalara göre ise çalışma alanında yüksek heyelan duyarlılığına sahip 230 mikro havza yer almaktadır. Alanda belirlenen heyelan duyarlılıkları göz önünde bulundurulduğunda, heyelan riskinin azaltılması için alan kullanım planlama kararları alınırken heyelan duyarlılık analizleri ve haritaları dikkate alınmalıdır.

The use of modern breeding methods along with appropriate cultivation techniques facilitates the acquisition and multiplication of varieties that possess the desired characteristics. Therefore, efforts towards the in vitro propagation of woody plants are increasing day by day. Today, plants such as Malus, Prunus, Pyrus, Ribes, Rubus, etc., can be successfully propagated in vitro. Apricot stands out as a stubborn species among Prunus types for shoot regeneration and genetic transformation. In this context, this study aims to determine how different plant growth regulators affect shoot regeneration of some native apricot varieties, which hold significant importance in apricot cultivation in our country. In the conducted study, mature cotyledons of Kabaaşı, Hacıhaliloğlu, and Hasanbey apricot varieties were used along with the culture medium consisting of MS. Different doses and ratios of plant growth regulators, including BAP and TDZ, in combination with NAA and GA3, were added to the culture media. At the end of the in vitro study, the callus and primordium formation rate (%), bud and shoot formation rate (%) and number of shoots per explant were recorded. According to the results, the variety with the highest callus formation was Kabaaşı, followed by Hasanbey and Hacıhaliloğlu. In all three varieties, the rate of callus formation decreased in media containing GA3. Regarding the stage of shoot regeneration from callus, the highest shoot formation with an average of 4 shoots per explant was observed in the Kabaaşı variety in the TDZ (1.0 mgL-1) + NAA (0.25 mgL-1) and TDZ (1.0 mgL-1) + NAA (0.50 mgL-1) media. Looking at the other varieties, the highest number of shoots, 1.6 shoots per explant, was obtained from the TDZ (2.0 mgL-1) + NAA (0.25 mgL-1) medium in Hasanbey and Hacıhaliloğlu varieties. As a result of the findings, the Kabaaşı variety showed the best result in terms of the regeneration capacity of apricot varieties. In contrast the best regeneration medium was obtained from the combinations of TDZ and NAA.

The study about the economic returns of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) by the use of rhizobium seed inoculation and different phosphorus doses was conducted at Bharatpur, Chitwan, from February to May 2022. The experiment was conducted in a two-factor randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications and eight treatments. Treatments were set as factor A: seed inoculation i.e., un-inoculated and inoculated; and factor B: four different phosphorus doses (20, 40, 60, 80 kg ha­-1). The cowpea variety ‘Prakash’ was used. Results revealed that the application of seed inoculation provides the highest returns compared to an un-inoculated one; similarly, in case of phosphorus dose of 40 kg P2O5 ha-1 gives the maximum economic returns compared to other phosphorus doses. Furthermore, the interaction of rhizobium inoculation with 40 kg ha­-1 gives the highest gross income (NRs. 216005), net return (NRs. 110829.39) and B: C (2.05) compared to all other single inoculation or phosphorus or interaction treatments ( 1 $ = NRs. 132.53) . From the result, it is concluded that the use of rhizobium inoculation along with 40 kg P2O5 ha­-1 would be economically profitable for the farmers under the Terai conditions of Nepal.