Hayıt otu olarak bilinen Vitex agnus-castus L., meyveleri 2500 yılı aşkın bir süredir eski Mısır, Yunanistan, İran ve Roma’da çeşitli jinekolojik problemler için kullanılan yaprak döken küçük bir ağaçtır. Yaprakları ve meyveleri de dahil olmak üzere Vitex, eski çağlardan beri kaynatılarak ve kurutulmuş meyve şeklinde bitkisel tedavi amacıyla kullanılmıştır. Vitex ekstraktının anti-enflamatuar, antibakteriyel, antifungal, antioksidan ve antikanser özelliklere sahip olduğu bilinmektedir. Yapılan bazı çalışmalarda, Vitex ekstraktının iridoid, diterpenoid, flavonoid ve fenolik bileşikler gibi çok çeşitli biyoaktif bileşikler içerdiği belirlenmiştir. Vitex ekstraktı içeren gıda takviyelerinin çoğu menstural koşulları iyileştirmek ve premenstural sendromu hafifletmek için kadınlara yönelik üretilmiştir. Bu derlemede, Vitex ekstraktının fonksiyonel özellikleri, klinik çalışma sonuçları, toksikolojik özellikleri, gıda takviyeleri, patentler ve gıda uygulamaları özetlenmiştir.

Sweet cherry, which affects consumers’ preferences with its aroma, taste and sensory properties, is a significant fruit species for human health with its bioactive compounds such as organic acids, vitamins and anthocyanins. However, its post-harvest shelf life is very short due to its sensitive fruit structure. Thus, the significant economic losses occur. In the study, effects of pre-harvest Aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG), Salicylic acid (SA) and plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) applications on fruit quality characteristics and biochemical content in sweet cherry were determined. SA and PGPR treatments increased fruit size, but AVG decreased (If the fruit weight is 4.51 in the control application, 4.49 in the SA application and 4.10 in the PGPR, how can it be said that SA and PGPR increase the fruit weight).  The fruits treated with SA, AVG and PGPR had higher fruit firmness values than the control’-fruits. Salisylic acid treatmens did not affect the rate of soluble solids content(SSC) in fruit, SSC rate was higher in PGPR treated-fruit, but AVG decreased the SSC. Titratable acidity (TA) was lower in PGPR treated-fruit, but was higher in the AVG and SA treated-fruit. Fruits treated with the SA and AVG had higher fruit color values than control fruits, while the lowest color values was obtained with PGPR treatment. In general; PGPR, SA and AVG were effective in the concentration of organic acids, but their effects varied depending on the organic acid compounds. As a result, AVG and SA delayed fruit ripening and fruit softening while PGPR, AVG and SA improved fruit quality (It is not clear how this idea was reached). These applications can be considered as a promising method for improving fruit quality at harvest and  maintaining post-harvest fruit quality of sweet cherry.

The use of cassava for fuel ethanol production in Nigeria is supported by the Nigerian Biofuel Policy and Incentives (NBPI) of 2007. Because of its food, feed and industrial value, the need to replace cassava with crops/plants that are food and feeds neutral has motivated this research. Starch was extracted from forest anchomanes (FA) (Anchomanes difformis (Bl.) ENGL.) tubers and some of its physicochemical and elemental properties were determined. At present, the plant is uncultivated in Nigeria and other parts of Africa where it is found. Results showed that the starch content in FA tubers varied from 72.12 to 75.83%. Starch granules from all parts of the FA tubers had similar proximate, antinutrients and elemental properties and appeared usable for fuel ethanol production. However, to suggest its potential to sustainably replace cassava, further investigations are needed beyond these initial results.

The study was carried out in a randomized plot design with three replications, with 4 pots in each replication and 3 plants in each pot. A total of 10 applications consisting of liquid compost (25%- 50%), vermicompost (25%-50%), and humic acid (600-1200 ppm) and combining these applications were applied to Zinnia seedlings. The first application was applied as 400 mL per pot when the plants reached 20 cm in size. Applications were made 3 times with an interval of 7 days. When the plants are harvested, flower diameter (mm), stem thickness (mm), number of flowers (piece), stem length (cm), number of branches (pieces), the weight of branches (g), number of leaves (pieces), root length ( cm), root fresh weight (g), root dry weight (g), vase life (days) parameters were examined. As a result of the study, the highest flower diameter (72.27 mm) and SPAD value (34.93) was 600 ppm humic acid application, the highest flower stem thickness (4.67) and flower stem length (45.56 cm) 25% liquid compost + 25% vermicompost application, the highest flower stem thickness (4.67). The number of flowers (6.17 pieces) and root wet weight (8.10 g) were found in 25% vermicompost application, the highest number of branches (7,25) in 1200 ppm humic acid application, the highest branch weight (30.76) in 50% vermicompost application. As a result, it was observed that in applications where 25% of vermicompost was used, it had positive effects on the number of leaves, flowering, and root parameters. In humic acid applications, it has been found to have a positive effect when used at low rates such as 600 ppm. It is stated in the results of the study that the doses used to give better results when applied at low rates.

Black cumin has been used in many countries for the treatment of diseases such as cancer and diabetes, and for thousands of years as a spice, flavoring in products such as bread, and as a food preservative in pickles. Too much delay in the sowing of black cumin has a negative effect on plant growth. In order to determine the most suitable sowing dates for different black cumin genotypes, an experiment was conducted in the open-field conditions of the Eastern Mediterranean region of Türkiye at Çukurova University, for two years, in 2020 and 2021, in three different sowing dates (October 15th, November 01st, and November 15th) with three different black cumin genotypes (Çameli cultivar (G1), Adana population (G2) and Iraq population (G3)). The findings of this research demonstrated significant differences in the agronomic characteristics and overall quality of black cumin. The main components were p-cymene (51.45%-66.33%), trans-4-Methoxythujane (8.40%-11.90%), thymoquinone (0.11%-19.26%), γ-Terpinene (1.28%-9.09%), and limonene (2.93%-4.50%). The main fatty acids were determined as linoleic acid (53.97%-57.56%), oleic acid (20.98-26.40), and palmitic acid (13.73%-15.02%). Consequently, the low number of flowers and the high temperatures observed in May, along with the early spring frosts, negatively affected the fertilization of the flowers. The seed yield was adversely affected because some of the seeds could not mature.

Drought is one of the most prevalent forms of abiotic environmental stress that reduce crop productivity. A pot experiment was performed in two Aman seasons under drought (40% field capacity, FC) and control (100% field capacity, FC) irrigations to study drought tolerance mechanism(s) based on morphological and physiological traits in six aromatic rice genotypes. Twelve treatments (6 genotypes × 2 irrigations) were arranged in Complete Randomized Design and experiment was carried out at Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh. In the experiment, drought was imposed at panicle initiation stage where morphological and physiological data were recorded. Important morphological (stem and root dry weight) and physiological (photosynthesis and chlorophyl content) attributes were significantly (P>0.05) decreased at 40% FC in both the years. Compared to control, relative reduction at 40% FC in above parameters, genotypes were classified into tolerant (Binadhan-13 and NERICA mutant) and sensitive (RM-100-16, Ukunimodhu, Kalizira, and BRRI dhan34) categories. Tolerant genotypes had smaller reduction in shoot and root dry mater (av. 7.73 and 5.56 %, respectively) than sensitive ones (av. 19.32 and 21.80%, respectively). Low reduction percentages of the traits under drought stress to that of the control discriminated Binadhan-13 and NERICA mutant genotypes consistently as drought tolerant.

Technological developments have accelerated the use of information and communication technologies in the agricultural sector as in all other sectors. However, there is still a lack of information in the literature on measuring the level of digital technology usage by farmers. This study will help to eliminate the lack of information on the indicators and their weights that can be used to determine the level of digitalisation of farmers. The aim of the study is to determine the indicators to be used in measuring the level of digital technology use, the sub-dimensions of these indicators, and the weights of these indicators. The constant-sum scale and expert opinions were used to determine the indicators and their weights to be used in measuring the level of digitalisation. The level of agreement of the opinions expressed by different experts about different digitalisation level indicators and their weights was revealed with the help of Kendall’s Coefficient of Concordance. The study results showed that the indicators of internet access facilities, internet speed, smartphone ownership, mobile internet usage, and the ability to use office programs are important variables in measuring the level of digitalisation. The study determined eight main indicators to measure the level of digitalisation and 96 indicators under them, and their weights were put forward. By using the digitalisation indicators and their weights, it will be possible to measure the level of digitalisation in agricultural enterprises reliably.

Traditional milk desserts are one of the most essential dessert groups that Turkish society consumes. Due to foaming activity, it was aimed to investigate the feasibility of the ohmic heating system to produce a semolina dessert with milk. Hence, an ohmic heating treatment was used to heat the milk, semolina, and sugar mix from 20°C to 100°C using three different voltage gradients (15, 17.5, and 20 V/cm) and then boil for two minutes. It was found that the current value escalated from 20°C to approximately 86°C but decreased after 86°C due to foaming. Since the total consumed energy during the ohmic cooking treatment was inversely proportional to the treatment time, the total consumed energy values decreased based on the rising voltage gradient. As a result, the feasibility of the ohmic heating treatment for making a traditional semolina dessert with milk was determined in this study.

For commercial aquaculture, the obtainment of all-female salmonid populations is important in fish farms. After freezing process, variable spermatozoa maturity, higher sperm concentration, low sperm quality, and reduced fertilization success have been observed in sex-reversed female rainbow trout. For these reasons, the objective of this study was to assess effect of dilution rate and supplementation of a N-(2-Mercaptopropionyl)-Glycine (MPG)-based extender on sperm motility and fertilizing capacity of sex-reversed rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). The supplementation of MPG [0 (control, 0), 1 mM; 2 mM; 4 mM] to extenders and dilution ratio (1:9, 1:15 and 1:25) were tested in sex-reversed female rainbow trout spermatozoa during cryopreservation. For thawing, the straws (0.5 ml) were placed in a water bath at 37°C for 30 s. Our results showed that the best concentration of MPG was 2 mM for post-thaw motility duration (120.67±9.07%), fertilization (62.67±3.10%) and hatching rate (54.33±3.10%) at 1:15 dilution rate. Overall, MPG provided improvements during cryopreservation process and could be used as protective agent.

Quercetin (QU) is a flavonoid found in different fruits and vegetables. Studies report that QU may have positive effects on neurological diseases. However, the effect of QU on 4-aminopyridine (4-AP)-induced neurodegeneration in neuronal cells is still not fully elucidated. In this study, the effects of QU on 4-AP-induced hippocampal neuron damage in vitro and the possible role of oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum stress in this effect were investigated. The study was carried out using the HT-22 hippocampal neuronal cell line. The effect of pre-treatment with QU on cell viability after 4-AP-induced neuronal damage was determined by the XTT test. Cells were evaluated histopathologically for apoptotic nuclear change (ANC) using DAPI staining. The effects of QU on oxidative stress (total oxidant state (TOS) and total antioxidant status (TAS)) occurring after neuronal damage were evaluated with colorimetric commercial kits and endoplasmic reticulum stress markers (activating transcription factor 4 (ATF-4) and C/EBP homologous protein). (CHOP) was measured with the ELISA kits. While the cell viability rate decreased in the cells treated with 4-AP, it was determined that pre-treatment with QU reversed this situation. In terms of histopathology, treatment with 4-AP increased the number of ANC, while QU pre-treatment reduced it. In addition, in terms of biochemical evaluations, TOS, ATF-4, and CHOP increased in neuronal cells after 4-AP, and QU was determined to suppress this increase. In addition, QU normalized the decreased TAS levels following the 4-AP application. As a result, in the HT-22 cell line, it was found that QU treatment had a neuroprotective effect by suppressing oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum stress in 4-AP-induced neuronal damage.