Food and nutrition insecurity are inability to access adequate amount of nutritious foods to meet dietary needs for a productive and healthy life. However, food and nutrition insecurity, in some part of Ethiopia, is very high though food is not scarce. Therefore, a survey was conducted to investigate food consumption and dietary habits of the population in the district. A questionnaire and focus group discussions were used for data collection. Data were collected on available food sources and habits of consumption in purposively selected four kebeles in the district. Data were specifically collected on utilization and eating habit of cereal grains, legumes, fruit, vegetables, and animal food sources. A total of 150 representative sample households were interviewed based on the population size of the study area. The result obtained from the survey indicated that cereal grains (34.9%), legumes & pulses (28.5%), fruit & vegetables (16.8%), meat and poultry (19.8%) products are commonly produced in many parts of the study area. The study indicated that the population entirely consumes cereal grains that are mainly sources of carbohydrate, with minimal consumption of other food types. Though there are surplus food items in the study area, there is poor utilization and undiversified consumption habit. This indicates that the area is vulnerable for food and nutrition insecurity. Therefore, knowledge on proper utilization of local existing food sources for enhancing food and nutrition security is essential. Awareness creation on benefits and preparation of balanced diet at household level from local food sources is a vital to improve food and nutrition security in the study area.

The data in this study was provided from 400 households in the Kucukcekmece District of Istanbul Province in 2011. Unclustered Proportional Sampling Method was used to determine the sample size of the study. The primary objective of this study was to identify the most suitable type of milk for consumers. In determining the most appropriate type, four criteria were taken into account. These criteria are hygiene, shelf-life, nutritional content, and price. Based on the data, milk consumption was 30.2 L per annum per capita in Istanbul Province. The households consist of about 3.7 individuals, and they give importance to hygiene by 26.4 percent, shelf-life by 26.7 percent, nutritional content by 29.6 percent and price by 17.2 percent. 55.3 percent of the households prefer UHT (long of shelf-life Tetra Pac packaged milk which heat-treated range of 135-150°C in a short period of 2-4 seconds) milk, 28.5 percent prefer Pasteurized milk, and 16.2 percent prefer Raw milk. Also, while households gave more importance to price and nutrient content at the raw and pasteurized milk, shelf life and hygiene content at UHT milk. Considering these criteria, the most suitable type of milk for the consumers was UHT milk. As a result, the national companies marketing pasteurized milk in the research area need advertisement works that inform the consumers regarding pasteurized milk.

This study was carried out in order to determine the effects of Mychorrizal Preparation (MP) applications on final take and root quality in grafted and potted grapevine sapling production. In this research, cuttings of five different Vine rootstocks (140 Ru, 110 R, 41 B, 1103 P and 5 BB) and scions of Narince grape cultivar were used. In addition, 5 commercials symbiotic mychorriza preparations (MP); Roots Deep Gel (RD), Endo Roots Soluble (ER), Myco Apply (MA), Bio-one (BO) and Biovam were applied. Scions were grafted on rootstocks by omega table grafting machine and then grafted cuttings were stored for three weeks at stratification room. The grafted cuttings were planted into polyethylene bags (12 × 20 cm size) containing 1:1 sterile perlite-peat mixture. Grafted cuttings were kept in greenhouse during 2 months for growing. After grapevine final take rates were determined, grapevine saplings were transferred to acclimatization environment. Root fresh and dry weights of grapevine saplings were detected in the first week of September. Research was designed according to completely randomized plot as three replications and as 50 grafted cuttings each plot. At the end of study, it was determined that both MP applications and rootstocks have a significant effect on final take and sapling quality. The ratios of first grade sapling varied from 21.5% to 93.3% in first year and from 10.3% to 79.3% in second year. Effects of MP applications on the total final take ratios differed depending on the rootstocks in both years. MP applications showed significant effect on total final take ratios of 110 R and 41 B in the first year, and total final take ratios of 5 BB, 41 B and 140 Ru in the second year. While the best results were obtained from MA, EN, RD applications in the first year, the highest final take ratios were in EN, RD and BO applications in the second year. The highest value on final take was obtained from 5BB rootstock, while the lowest value was recorded in 140 Ru rootstock. Effect of MP applications on the fresh and dry weight of root changed according to rootstocks.

Encapsulation is a technology applied to cover an active material with various materials. In the food industry, encapsulation techniques are applied to protect sensitive components against environmental factors, increase bioavailability of nutrients, controlled release and mask flavor and odor. Nanocapsules are obtained when the size of the obtained encapsulated materials is less than 1 μm. There are many methods for the production of nanocapsules, which are classified as lipid formulation-based nanoencapsulation technologies, natural nanocarrier-based nanoencapsulation technologies, specialized equipment based nanoencapsulation technologies, biopolymer nanoparticle-based nanoparticle technologies and other nanoencapsulation technologies. In this review, information on these technologies used in the nanoencapsulation of food components in accordance with this classification is presented.

Ethiopia’s agricultural production has been challenged by waterlogging, salinity, acidity, parasitic weed, and irrigation scheduling problems which has resulted in lower yields than the potential. Waterlogging is the main drainage problem in the small scale irrigation schemes in the Vertisols dominated highland areas while salinity and salinization is a common phenomenon in the large and medium scale irrigation schemes located in the lowlands of the country’s major river basins with predominantly salt affected soils. Soil acidity and associated low nutrient availability is one of the constraints to crop production on acid soils. Lime requirement for crops grown on acid soils is determined by the quality of liming material, status of soil fertility, crop species and varieties, crop management practices, and economic considerations. A considerable loss in growth and yield of many food and fodder crops is caused by root-parasitic flowering plants. Globally, Striga and Orobanche have a greater impact on human welfare than any other parasitic angiosperms because their hosts are subsistence crops in areas marginal for agriculture. In irrigated agriculture, efficient water management is an important element. Such practices can help bust sustainable production and maintain farm profitability in which there is limited water resource.

Research was conducted to examining the effects of harvest periods on root yield, essential oil content, resinoid content and essential oil composition of Iris species. Iris germanica field in Kuyucak town of Isparta which plant 3 years were constituted in 2016 year as three replications plots according to randomized block experimental design. Harvest was made in the middle each month from April to September (6 periods). Number of rhizomes weight, fresh rhizome yield, dry rhizome yield, essential oil ratio, resinoid ratio and composition in the Iris germanica were determined. In the study, differences between rhizome yield and examining characteristics of Iris germanica according to harvesting periods were statistically significant. Number of rhizomes varied between 3.27-6.47 per plant, rhizome weight 85.55-186.52 g per plant, fresh rhizome yield 972.8-1651.2 kg da-1, dry rhizome yield 212.33-457.50 kg da-1, essential oil and resinoid ratio of rhizome obtained after harvest 0.057-0.076%, 8.00-10.57% essential oil and resinoid ratio in stored rhizomes 0.10-0.14%, 6.95-10.45%, respectively. Rate of α-iron and ɣ-iron components that determine to qualities in essential oil of Iris rhizomes in after harvest varied between 16.1-27.7% and 23.4-50.8% and 29.4-31.2% and 55.2-59% in the essential oil stored rhizomes of Iris germanica, respectively.

The improvements on the next generation sequencing or high-trough output technologies allowed the discovery of several unknown viruses in grapevines and also in other plants . The most important new emerging grapevine viruses were identified as Grapevine pinot gris virus (GPGV), Grapevine syrah virus 1 (GSyV-1), Grapevine red blotch-associated virus (GRBaV) and Grapevine roditis leaf discoloration virus (GRLDaV). The aim of the present study was to investigate the occurrence and characterization of these viruses in Tekirdag and Hatay viticulture production areas by PCR and DNA sequencing analyses. Totally 191 and 111 grapevine samples showing both virus-like symptoms and symptomless were collected from Tekirdağ and Hatay provinces, respectively. Among the tested samples GPGV and GSyV-1 were detected in both local and imported cultivars by the infection rate of 43.62 % and 1.04% in Tekirdağ , respectively. In Hatay provice, only GSyV-1 was detected by the infection rate of 0.9 % and all tested samples were negative for GPGV, GRBaV, GRLDaV. RT-PCR results showed that DNA fragments of 411 bp, 302 bp and 618 bp corresponding to the part of the coat protein (CP), movement protein (MP) and the replicase genes of GPGV were successfully amplified in Tekirdağ samples. All PCR products of GPGV were directly sequenced on both strands. All the nucleotide sequences of CP, MP and 5’ UTR and N-terminus of replicase genes shared the highest sequence identity with different GPGV isolates deposited in Genbank

The aim of this study was to evaluate the chemical composition and mineral bioavailability of T. tetraptera fruit pulp, an aromatic wild edible plant, using standard methods. The pulp were extracted from mature dried fruits obtained from plants at Awabo (5°30’14.2”N and 4°01’30.6”W) and Loviguié villages (5°48’24.5’’N and 4°20’15.8”W), all in south-eastern Côte d’Ivoire. The results of chemical analysis revealed that T. tetraptera fruit pulp contains carbohydrates (63.73±0.51%), crude protein (7.01±0.66%), crude fat (1.18±0.01%), ash (5.38±0.18%), fibre (11.78±0.02%), moisture (40.52±0.18%) and an energy value of 254.74±0.15 kcal/100g. Besides, the results showed a relative high amount of vitamin A (2.11±0.02%) and vitamin B9 (261.78±0.01 µg/100g) while vitamin E, B1 and B2 in trace concentration. Otherwise, the phytochemical analysis (mg/100g) based on dry weight revealed an appreciable amount of total phenol (2407.10±8.36), flavonoids (14.29±0.56), tannins (55.11±0.44), catechin (392.93±1.01) and also carotenoids (108.19±7.42 µg/100g). Organic acids profile (mg/100mL) showed citric acid (175.06±0.02) and salicylic acid (109.85±0.01) as major organic acids. Mineral composition (mg/100g) on dry weight basis revealed that potassium (1303.67±0.58) is the most abundant followed by phosphorus (303.33±5.77), calcium (187.33±0.58) and magnesium (141.33±0.57). Furthermore, the Phytates:Zn, Phytates:Ca, Oxalates:Ca and Phytates*Ca:Zn molar ratios recorded were all below than recommended threshold values, implying a bioavailability of zinc and calcium. These data indicate that the pulp of this fruit could be a good source of ingredient for both medicine and food industries in production.

Soil moisture has a vital role in the cultivation of crops. Its sufficiency and availability to crop- water supplies depends on the management practices of soil and amount of available water to the soil. This study examines the influence of rice husk biochar on the water holding capacity of soil in the savannah ecological zone of Ghana. Increasing rate of rice husk biochar increased water-holding capacity of soils. 4t/ha rice husk biochar showed higher significant differences among the treatments. It is recommended that 4t/ha rice husk biochar should be applied to increase the water-holding capacity of the soil.

Water kefir is a fermented probiotic beverage produced by fermentation of dried sugary fruits and sugar using water kefir grains. Sucrose is used as a sugar source in the traditional production of water kefir. The aim of this study is to determine the effects of grape molasses, honey and unrefined sugar on water kefir grains instead of sucrose. In the study, 4 groups were formed: grape molasses (10 g), honey (10 g), unrefined sugar (10 g) and refined sugar (10 g). 2 g of water kefir grain and 500 mL of drinking water were used for each group. And each group samples were fermented for 25°C 48 hours. The study continued for 5 weeks. The pH values and the titratable acidity values of water kefir samples and the weight of water kefir grains were determinated once every two day, while microbiological analyzes (Lactobacillus spp., Lactococcus spp. and yeast contents) and ethanol content of samples were determinate once every 15 days. In this study; it has been observed that the use of different sugars has no significant effect on the weights of the water kefir grains. In addition, it was determined that the Lactococcus spp. and yeast amounts in the water kefirs were higher in the samples produced by using honey and grape molasses. As a result, it was revealed that grape molasses, honey and unrefined sugar could be used as fermentation substrate in production of water kefir. At the same time, water kefir can be shown as an alternative fermented product for vegan consumers with allergies to dairy products.