The extraction process of peanut oil has been a major concern for local processors due to the difficult task it constitutes during processing. The use of oil expellers has been found to reduce the difficulty in this task yet different processing factors tend to affect the efficiency of those oil expellers. In this study, the optimum peanut oil processing factors and their interaction were investigated using Response Surface Methodology (RSM) with fractional factorial design (33) model of Central Composite Design (CCD). Processing factors such as Moisture Content (10, 12, and 14% db), Peanut Temperature (50, 65, and 80°C), and Water Quantity added during extraction (12, 14, and 16 ml). This aimed at providing the optimum parameter needed to obtain the optimum oil yield using a peanut oil expeller. From this study, it was observed that all three factors considered affecting the oil yield of peanuts during extraction. Only water quantity added during extraction is statistically different. The optimum condition of the oil extraction processing parameter was observed at 50oC, 10 db, and 120 ml. The correlation coefficient (R-squared) of the model analysis was found to be 0.8901.

This study was carried out to determine the effects of different openings onto the polyethylene (PE) packages used in storage of ‘Sultani Çekirdeksiz’ grape variety on quality, SO2 damage, pathological and physiological disorders of grapes. Grapes were harvested at full maturity and placed in PE bags with ‰0 (control), ‰0.5, ‰1 and ‰2 openings. After pre-cooling grapes in the case of SO2 pets were placed after the mouth of the bags were closed. Grapes were stored at 0°C and 90-95% relative humidity for 4 months, and quality changes were determined in monthly samples. SO2 concentrations detected at the end of storage in PE packages with ‰0, ‰0.5, ‰1 and ‰2 openings were 11.16, 5.80, 2.05 and 0,00 mg/kg respectively. It has been found that grapes in packages without opening had significant SO2 content and SO2 damage, especially the end of storage. However, grapes in packages with ‰2 openings had high weight loss and browning scores in stems. The results showed that ‘Sultani Çekirdeksiz’ grapes could be stored more successfully in PE packages with ‰0.5 openings. ‘Sultani Seedless’ grape variety, it may be suggested to use PE bags without openings for 2 and 3 months storage.

Bread wheat landraces are considered among important gene sources for quality breeding programs. This study aims to compare thousand kernel weight crude protein ratio, dry gluten ratio, grain hardness and zeleny sedimentation results of 20 bread wheat lines selected from landraces to 5 registered cultivars in order to determine future candidates for quality breeding programs. Field experiments were conducted in the consequent 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 growing seasons in Çanakkale (Türkiye), according to randomized complete block design with three replications. ANOVA results indicated significant difference among genotypes, means were compared with Duncan’s test. Additionally, genotype × growing season interaction were significant for all parameters. Results of cluster and PCA Biplot analysis revealed a significant and positive relationship between crude protein ratio and dry gluten ratio while allowing for the selection of superior landrace pure lines. Our findings suggested that bread wheat varieties had higher TKW compared to landrace pure lines when pure lines had higher crude protein ratio, dry gluten ratio, sedimentation value with generally softer grains. Bread wheat landraces were concluded as being important variation sources.

Plants have been used for many purposes in different communities. Plants used in alternative medicine since ancient times have been the main material in the treatment of many diseases. In this context, it is very important to determine the biological potential of plants. In our study, total antioxidant status, total oxidant status, oxidative stress index and DPPH free radical scavenging activity of Euphorbia eriophora Boiss. were determined. The aerial parts of the plant were extracted with ethanol in a Soxhlet device. TAS, TOS and OSI values of the plant extract were determined using Rel Assay kits. In addition, the free radical scavenging activity of the plant extract was measured by the DPPH method. As a result of the studies, the TAS value of the plant extract was 5.390±0.227, the TOS value was 20.971±0.348, and the OSI value was 0.390±0.014. The DPPH activity of the plant extract was determined to have an inhibition value of 68.721±1.694% at 2 mg/mL concentration. As a result, in our study, it was determined that E. eriophora has antioxidant potential and can be used as a natural antioxidant agent in this context.

In this study, oat bran and blackberry were used separately and together in the production of probiotic yogurt (Lactobacillus acidophilus). It was aimed to determine the effect of oat bran and/or blackberry on probiotic viability, total phenolic content and antioxidant activity levels (DPPH, ABTS, CUPRAC methods) of yoghurts during both cold storage times and in vitro gastrointestinal digestion stages. At the end of the 21 day of storage period, it was determined that the highest and lowest L. acidophilus viability was found in yoghurt containing blackberry (B) (107 cfu/g) and oat bran (Y) (105 cfu/g), respectively. Oat bran and blackberry containing yogurt YB and control yogurt had the highest and lowest total phenolic content at the beginning and end of the storage period, respectively. According to the antioxidant activity results determined by the DPPH method, B yogurt had the highest antioxidant activity, while according to the ABTS and CUPRAC methods, YB yogurt had the highest antioxidant activity. As a result, it has been revealed that the functional properties of probiotic yogurt can be further improved with the addition of oat bran and blackberry, and blackberry can have a prebiotic effect on L. acidophilus.

Chrysophyllum albidum fruits are underutilized because they are seasonal and perishable in nature due to physiological, biochemical and microbial alteration. This study investigated the potency of calcium chloride (CaCl2) in suppressing postharvest deterioration of Chrysophyllum albidum fruits. Ripe wholesome fruits of Chrysophyllum albidum were harvested and treated with different concentrations of CaCl2 (1, 2, and 3%) at three different dip times (5, 10, and 15 min). The goal was to use established analytical methods to investigate the influence of CaCl2 on the firmness, weight loss, pH, titratable acidity, total sugar (TS), pectin, color, microbial (fungi and bacteria) loads of Chrysophyllum albidum fruits. All the treated fruits were stored at ambient temperature 28 ± 2°C and 90± 5% relative humidity for 15 days. The obtained results indicated that treating Chrysophyllum albidum fruits with 3% CaCl2 for 15 min was found the most effective in controlling weight loss, microbial load, color, firmness, and other compositional changes such as pH, titratable acidity, pectin and total sugar. It was observed that CaCl2 treated samples showed reduced fungal loads from 6.00 × 103 SFU/g at harvest to 0.02 × 103 SFU/g after 15 d of storage as compared to untreated samples. No record of bacterial load was detected on Chrysophyllum albidum fruits treated with 3% CaCl2 for 15 min. The shelf life of Chrysophyllum albidum fruits could be extended for 15 d without excessive deterioration in quality by treating the fruits with 3% CaCl2 for 15 min with a minimum quality loss, as compared to the control sample which had greater compositional changes with maximum quality loss during storage at ambient temperature.

A total of 432, ISA Brown growing pullets were used to evaluate the effects of feeding diets containing Turmeric, Clove and Turmeric + Clove on growth performance and intestinal morphology. The birds were divided into 36 groups of 12 each weighed and allotted into experimental units. A total of nine experimental diets were formulated such that they contained 0, 1 and 2% turmeric, 0, 1 and 2% clove, and 0, 1 and 2% turmeric + clove combination on a 1:1 basis, respectively, in a 3 × 3 factorial arrangement (turmeric × clove × turmeric + clove: 0 × 1 × 2), replicated four times. The birds were weighed weekly to determine their body weight, weight gain, and feed conversion ratio. At the end of the experiment, 27 birds were sacrificed, and the duodenum, jejunum and ileum segments of the gastro intestinal tract were removed for gut histo-morphometry. Results showed that level of inclusion of feed additives significantly influenced feed intake (FI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR). Birds fed 1 and 2% inclusion of feed additive had reduced feed intake and lower FCR value when compared to higher FI and FCR values recorded in birds fed 0% inclusion of additives. Duodenal, jejunal and ilea morphology were significantly influenced by turmeric, clove, turmeric + clove, inclusion levels and treatment interaction. Birds fed diet containing turmeric + clove have significantly longer duodenal and jejunal villi as well as best duodenal and jejunal villus height: crypt depth ratio. It was concluded that up to 2% turmeric and turmeric + clove can be included in growing pullet’s diet for improved performance. Inclusion of turmeric, clove and turmeric + clove improved morphological changes in the duodenum, jejunum and ileum of birds which might influence nutrient absorption and thus, improved FCR.

Poor seed germination obstructs the early and uniform seedling emergence at the sub-optimal conditions which can be a major setback to early spring cucumber growers. Different seed priming methods ought to be efficient solutions for the problem. To standardize the best priming method, an experiment was laid out in a Completely randomized design at the Horticulture lab of IAAS, Lamjung Campus. The treatment consisted of demineralized distilled water (hydropriming), hormonal priming (GA3 100ppm and GA3 200 ppm), halopriming (NaCl 0.5% and KNO3 0.5%), and non-primed seeds as control. The seeds were soaked in the respective treatment for 24 hours and then dried to initial moisture content under shade conditions. Observation recorded significantly highest germination percentage in GA3 100ppm (19.25%) and hydro priming (19.25%). The lowest mean germination time was found in GA3 100ppm (4.19days) which was significantly at par with GA3 200ppm (4.33days) and hydro priming (4.48days). The germination energy was found highest in GA3 100ppm (39.58) followed by GA3 200ppm (33.65) and dry weight was recorded highest in hydropriming (0.0252g) followed by GA3 100ppm (0.0250g) whereas the highest root length was observed in KNO3 priming (12.955cm) which is statistically at par with hydropriming (11.42cm), GA3 200 ppm (10.872cm) and NaCl priming (10.42cm). The plumule length was observed highest in KNO3 (13.00cm) followed by NaCl (11.25cm). All primed seeds showed increased seedling vigor compared to the unprimed seeds. The study showed that applied treatment notably increased the germination characteristics and seedling stand.

The aim of this study was to identify the endophytic fungi associated with medicinal plant Thymus algeriensis and to evaluate their potential for antimicrobial activities. A total of 16 fungi belonging to 6 genera were successfully isolated and identified. The colonization rates ranged from 14.29% to 42.86% and were significantly higher in the roots followed by stems and leaves. Regarding the isolation rates, they were 0.23, 0.14, and 0.1 for the roots, stems, and leaves respectively. Based on the comparison of the morphological characteristics, six genera were identified: Rhizopus, Fusarium, Aspergillus, Alternaria, Phoma, and Penicillium. Fusarium, Phoma, and Alternaria were the most dominant with relative frequencies of 35.5, 28.6, and 14.3% respectively. The fungal endophytes were assessed for their antimicrobial activities using agar plug diffusion method, the best zones of inhibition obtained with the most active endophytic isolates were 20.33 and 20 mm for Fusarium sp. 3, 22.33 and 18.67 mm for Fusarium sp. 5, 23.33 and 25.33 mm for Fusarium sp. 2, and 29.33 and 23 mm for Phoma sp. 4 obtained against Bacillus cereus ATCC 10876 and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 respectively. The comparison of the averages of inhibition zones obtained against all the pathogenic bacteria showed that the isolates Fusarium sp.3 and Fusarium sp.5 were the most active with mean zones of inhibition of 19.61 and 19.56 mm respectively, followed by Fusarium sp.2 (19 mm) and Phoma sp. 4 (18.61mm). Regarding the antifungal activity, the results showed that the highest inhibition percentages were 60 and 58% obtained by Rhizopus sp. and 51 and 53% obtained by Aspergillus sp. against Fusarium oxysporum f.p. ciccri and Phytophthora infestans respectively. The study concludes the presence of endophytic fungi such as Fusarium, Phoma, Penicillium and Aspergillus associated with Thymus algeriensis that exhibited antibacterial activity. These isolates could serve as potential sources for the isolation of novel antimicrobial agents that may contribute to antibiotic control of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Agricultural production have remained rudimentary despite many years’ of technology development and transfer; to reverse this declining trend, several agricultural policies and programmes aimed at ensuring sustainable production, improved income and farm expansion with added value output have become very germane. This study therefore analyzed tomato farmers’ participation in ASTC activities in Jos-south local Government Area of Plateau state, Nigeria. This study adopted multi stage sampling techniques. Primary was data collected from 80 respondents, during the 2017/2018 farming season and were analyzed using descriptive statistics, participation index, weighted average index analysis and Binary Logit regression. The result of the study revealed that 73.8% were male; 88.75% had access to extension contact. The estimated mean for educational training, household size, farm income and farming experience were 6 years; 8 people; ₦108,500/ha and 12 years respectively. Also, most (68.7%) of the farmers have low participation index of ≤0.45; this trend is responsible for the existing low farm productivity of this crop in the area. Furthermore, the benefits derived from participating in ASTC activities among the respondents were significant as indicated by their weighted average index. In addition, the estimated coefficient of multiple determination (R2) was 0.7602. Also, the coefficients of household size (0.421), education (0.559), experience (0.808), income (0.485) and extension contact (0.376) were statistically significant; implying that these factors in the regression model affected the likelihood of farmer’s decision to participate in ASTC activities. Adequate labour supply; establishment of pilot farms; capacity training; access to agricultural credit, extension services, agro service centres, agricultural information, input supply and cooperative formation are strongly recommended.