The aim of the present study is to investigate the impact of some environmental factors on the descriptive values of milk yield characteristics in Holstein cows. For this purpose, a total of 241 lactations belonging to 62 Holstein cows had been kept as breeders in a private establishment were evaluated for 7 years in terms of milk yield. When the recording system of the establishment was examined, the average values of lactation yield (LY), corrected 305 day milk yield (305-dMY), average daily milk yield (ADMY) and lactation length (LL) were 9356.2±126.1 kg, 8549.2±105.8 kg, 28.0±0.3 kg and 315.0±2.3 days, respectively. The least mean squares (LMS) of LY was calculated as 9324.9 kg. It was found that the effect of the calving season on the LY was statistically significant (P

In this study which was carried out during the 2015 summer season in Eskişehir, the flower, pod and seed characters attributed to yield components were investigated in 12 forage pea genotypes. They showed significant differences in terms of agronomic and morphological (flower, pod, and seed) traits. The highest fresh hay yield with 2171 kg/da and plant height with 106.6 cm were obtained from Populasyon-1. Crackerjack had lower values in some flower traits such as, whereas the higher values of pod and seed traits were obtained from cv. Rose. In addition, Population-1 included in the higher value group for standard petal width, keel petal length, calyx tube and teeth lengths, and flower length. Although cluster analysis did not reflect agronomic traits, the clustering resulted in four groups. The first group consisted of Özkaynak 1, 2, and 3 and Taşkent, Töre, and Population-2, which were the standard petal colour violet, light, and dark violet. Population-1 had both violet and white standard petal; however, it was included in the second group together with white-flowered Ulubatlı and Ürünlü according to cluster analysis. While Rose and Gölyazı were in the third group, Crackerjack was in the fourth group alone. There was a highly significant positive correlation between fresh hay yield and both standard petal width and length and flower length. Consequently, a hopeful result for summer growing in Eskişehir condition was obtained from Population-1. It was suggested that some flower characters can be used for pre-selection of yield-related traits in the evaluation of genetic diversity of pea germplasm through morphological trait.

In light of recent news reporting the use of banned colorants in Lebanese-made pickled turnips exported to the European Union (EU) by the Rapid Alert System of Food and Feed (RASFF), The Lebanese Consumer Protection Association tested samples of pickled turnips being sold to the public and confirmed the use of rhodamine B. Many products were pulled off the market and were replaced with new products that were supposed to be free of any banned colorants. We selected 5 different brands of pickled turnips and tested them for pH, salinity, nitrites, and colorants. We tested the salinity using two methods: evaporation and titration. The concentration of nitrites was tested by absorbency method. The presence of colorants was determined using TLC and absorbency method. We determined that the newly released pickled turnips comply with the rules and regulations adopted by the Lebanese Standards Institution (LIBNOR) and the international standards according to the Codex Alimentarius.

Biochar as agricultural soil amendment to improve soil physico-chemical properties, crop productivity and sustainable soil fertility management is a well-known practice. A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of biochar on growth and yield components of carrot and selected soil physic-chemical properties. The study was carried by employing a randomized complete block design with factorial arrangement of four level of biochar (0, 4, 8 and 12 tons ha-1) and four level of Nitrogen/Phosphorus (N/P) fertilizer rate (0/0, 60/10, 90/15 and 120/20 kg ha-1) with four replications. Biochar significantly influenced physico-chemical properties of soils, such as bulk density, total porosity, pH, EC, SOC, TN, Av. P and CEC respectively, as compared to control. The results revealed substantial responses to biochar and N/P fertilization on growth and yield components of carrot with increasing level of biochar and N/P fertilizer rate. None of the others yield parameters were significantly affected by the interaction of two factors. From the present study, it can be concluded that dung cake biochar should be applied to enhance and improve soil physical and chemical properties for favourable plant growth.

In this study, pectin was extracted by acid extraction method from pomegranate peel. The temperature, time and particle size which affected pectin yield were optimized using response surface method. As a result of optimization, optimum conditions for pectin extraction from pomegranate peel were determined as 468-568 µm for particle size, 82°C for temperature and 47,5 minutes for extraction time. After the extraction at optimum conditions pectin yield was found to be 25,96%. In addition, pectin that was produced had equivalent weight of 488,01 mg, methoxyl content of 5,74%, the degree of esterification of 47,43%and anhydrogalacturonic acid content of 68,64%. The results showed that the obtained pectin was low methoxyl pectin.

In this study, it is aimed to determine the heavy metal pollution caused by wastewaters of leather factory in Keban Dam Lake (Agın region). For this purpose, water samples were taken monthly during one year from the selected stations (wastewater of leather factory, wastewater discharged region and open water region). The concentrations of some heavy metals (Cu, Fe, Zn, Cr, Ni, Cd, As and Hg) were determined in water samples. The ranges of elements were found as Cu=11.71-19.14; Fe=82.03-169.92; Zn=39.06-70.31; Cr=58.59-82.03; Ni=2.5-10.25; Cd=45-72.5 mg/L; As=43.57-76.0 and Hg=0.42-0.76 µg/L in wastewater; Cu=6.25-9.74; Fe=42.96-87.89; Zn=16,21-42,96; Cr=39,06-58.59; Ni=1.22-7.25; Cd=23.75-45.0 mg/L; As=20.32-37.92 and Hg=0.19-0.38 µg/L in discharged water to dam lake, Cu=0.31-0.52; Fe=0.24-0.54; Zn=0.43-0.67; Cr=0.05-1.12; Ni=0.002-0.004 and Cd=0.009-0.02 mg/L in open water respectively. It has been determined that heavy metal pollution is very high in the wastewater of leather factory and discharged water to Dam Lake. Among these heavy metals, the most accumulated metal was chromium. In all three regions, the lowest concentrations were found in winter and the highest concentrations were found in summer. The results were compared with tolerable values for heavy metals provided from the WHO, EC and USEPA standards for freshwater. Cu, Fe, Zn, Cr and Ni concentrations in the wastewater and discharged water to the Dam Lake were found above the standard values given by WHO, EC and USEPA.

It is very important to develop a new way of treatment for foodstuffs to provide consumers more chances to choose their foods. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the effect of microwave drying conditions on the rehydration process of Algerian truffles. Previously dried truffles, at different microwave power output (350, 500 and 650 Watt) and weights (100 and 150 g) have been utilized to analyses and to model the rehydration kinetics. Among the six used empirical models, Weibull model has been the most fitted model to all the treated samples. Microwave power output and sample weight were found to have an effect on truffles during drying, and consequently on their rehydration capacity. The high samples amount has decreased the effects of microwave drying by decreasing the density of treatment, also, the high-power output has probably reduced the time of evaporation, and thus more preservation to the dried truffles. These results can be taken into consideration for more industrial applications of microwave drying and subsequent rehydration of truffles.

In this study, it was aimed to detect the antimicrobial activity of 312 Enterococcus species against Listeria monocytogenes. Antimicrobial activity was detected by agar spot and well diffusion assay. A total of 201 enterococcal strains inhibited the growth of L. monocytogenes strains based on the agar spot test. Only 44 strains showed antimicrobial activity against L. monocytogenes strains using agar well diffusion assay. Of the 44 enterococcal strains screened, 6 E. faecium (2.99%) strains had a high antimicrobial effect against indicator L. monocytogenes strains. The antilisterial activity of 6 E. faecium strains had lost after treatment of proteinase K, trypsin and pepsin. The antimicrobial compounds of these strains could be a protein or peptides nature. E. faecium strains were more active against L. monocytogenes than E. faecalis strains.