To identify high-yielding mustard varieties and assess their biochemical properties, a study was conducted during the Rabi season of 2021–2022 at a farmer’s field in Nagarghata, Satkhira district, Khulna division, using a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Eight varieties and genotypes—Binasarisha-4, Binasarisha-9, Binasarisha-11, BARI Sarisha-14, BARI Sarisha-17, BARI Sarisha-18, and two mutant lines (RM-05 and RM-20)—were evaluated. Significant variation was recorded among the tested materials for traits including the number of branches per plant, siliqua count per plant, siliqua length, 1000-seed weight, and seed yield. Yields ranged from 1.43 to 1.80 t/ha, with Binasarisha-9 and BARI Sarisha-18 achieving the highest yields (1.80 t/ha), followed by Binasarisha-4 (1.63 t/ha), Binasarisha-11 (1.60 t/ha), and BARI Sarisha-17 (1.56 t/ha). Biochemical analysis revealed that RM-05 and RM-20 had the highest seed moisture content, BARI Sarisha-14 had the highest protein content, and BARI Sarisha-17 and BARI Sarisha-18 contained greater amounts of ash and carbohydrates. Meanwhile, Binasarisha-4, 9, and 11 exhibited higher energy and oil contents. Fatty acid analysis indicated a positive correlation between linoleic and oleic acids, as well as between linolenic and arachidic acids. Although no significant difference was found in seed yield between Binasarisha-9 and BARI Sarisha-18, varieties such as BARI Sarisha-14, BARI Sarisha-17, and Binasarisha-11 showed earlier maturity. These early-maturing varieties could be effectively incorporated into intensive cropping systems, offering farmers better economic returns and enhancing land-use efficiency.

The black bean aphid, Black Bean Aphid, Aphis fabae Scopoli (Hemiptera: Aphididae) is a significant pest of common beans worldwide, causing damage both through direct feeding and by transmitting viruses. The selection of resistant varieties is the primary strategy in integrated pest management for controlling Aphis fabae Scopoli. The study of the development, reproduction, and population parameters of the black bean aphid was conducted on two different bean cultivars, Gina and Romano, under controlled conditions. Life table parameters were estimated using the age-stage, two-sex life table method. Population parameters were lower in the Romano variety. The results indicated that bean cultivars significantly impacted the biology of A. fabae, with Gina being the most favorable cultivar for its life cycle. These findings could be applied to the development of a pest management program targeting this aphid.

Bu çalışmada, karanfil (Syzygium aromaticum) bitkisinin tıbbi ve aromatik özellikleri ile gastronomi alanındaki kullanım biçimleri incelenmiş ve Türkiye’de tescillenmiş coğrafi işaretli ürünler bağlamında karanfilin mutfak kültüründeki yeri değerlendirilmeye çalışılmıştır. Araştırma, nitel yöntemlere dayalı olarak tasarlanmış ve veri toplama sürecinde doküman analizi tekniğinden yararlanılmıştır. Literatür taraması aracılığıyla karanfilin sağlık alanındaki etkileri ile gastronomideki işlevsel kullanım biçimleri detaylı şekilde ortaya konmuştur. Ayrıca, Türk Patent ve Marka Kurumu'na ait veriler incelenerek, karanfil içeren coğrafi işaretli ürünler; kullanım amacı, formu ve yemek türü bakımından sınıflandırılmıştır. Elde edilen bulgular doğrultusunda, karanfilin antimikrobiyal, antioksidan ve antiinflamatuvar özellikleri sayesinde geleneksel tıptan modern tıbba kadar geniş bir alanda kullanıldığı; gastronomik uygulamalarda ise çorba, ana yemek, tatlı, içecek ve komposto gibi çeşitli kategorilerde toz veya tane formunda yaygın şekilde tercih edildiği belirlenmiştir. Ayrıca karanfilin, coğrafi işaretli ürünlerde genellikle aroma verici ya da lezzet artırıcı bir unsur olarak kullanıldığı ve çoğunlukla yoğurma ya da pişirme aşamasında gıdaya eklendiği saptanmıştır. Elde edilen verilerden, karanfilin yalnızca sağlık açısından fayda sağlayan bir bitki olmadığı; aynı zamanda yerel mutfak kültürünü ve gastronomik mirası destekleyen işlevsel bir unsur niteliği taşıdığı sonucuna ulaşılmıştır. Bu çerçevede çalışma, karanfilin kültürel, işlevsel ve coğrafi boyutlarıyla bütüncül bir değerlendirmesini sunmakta ve gastronomi temelli gelecekteki araştırmalara katkı sağlayacak bir zemin oluşturmaktadır.

Fruits play an important role in human health due to their content of vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber, and phytochemical compounds. Natural antioxidants such as phenolic compounds and organic acids help reduce oxidative stress, contributing to the prevention of chronic diseases. Prickly pear (Opuntia spp.) is a significant fruit species adapted to semi-arid climates with a rich phytochemical composition. This study comprehensively evaluated the phenolic components, organic acid profile, and antioxidant capacity of vinegar obtained from prickly pear fruit by traditional methods. Analyses identified acetic acid (273.00 ± 2.30 mg 100g⁻¹), tartaric acid (216.00 ± 4.04 mg 100g⁻¹) and oxalic acid (170.33 ± 0.88 mg 100g⁻¹) as the main organic acids, while gentisic acid (51.38 ± 0.67 mg 100g⁻¹) and ellagic acid (9.26 ± 0.08 mg 100g⁻¹) were prominent among the phenolic compounds. The total phenolic content was measured as 415.00 mg GAE L⁻¹, total flavonoid content as 202.00 µg QE mL⁻¹ and the DPPH value was determined to be 67.83%, demonstrating the vinegar’s effective antioxidant properties. The findings reveal that prickly pear vinegar can be used as a health-promoting food and represents a valuable resource for rural development and sustainable agriculture. Variations in chemical composition indicate the need for standardizing production processes and future research focusing on bioavailability, health benefits and optimization of production methods is recommended to enhance the product’s market value.

This study was conducted under controlled greenhouse conditions at the Atatürk University Plant Production Application and Research Center to determine the effects of different plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) strains on growth, yield, and forage quality of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.). The study compared the strains Serratia marcescens (PGB15), Pseudomonas chlororaphis (PGB43), Bacillus megaterium (PGB38), and Rhizobium sp. (FR28) with NPK fertilizer application. The experiment was arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications, and growth, yield, and forage quality parameters were measured. The results showed that PGPR applications provided statistically significant increases (p<0.001) in all growth and yield parameters compared to both the control group and NPK fertilizer application. The strains FR28 and PGB15 increased key vegetative growth parameters such as plant height, root length, and leaf area by more than 50%, while FR28 showed the highest biomass production with increases of 105% and 214% in stem fresh and dry weight, respectively. In terms of forage quality, FR28 and PGB15 applications enhanced crude protein content, reduced NDF and ADF values, and increased relative feed value (RFV) to 263.09 and 250.19, respectively. Correlation analyses revealed strong positive relationships between crude protein content and biomass parameters, and strong negative correlations between NDF and ADF with quality parameters. Principal component analysis indicated that the first two components explained 96.54% of the variance, identifying FR28 and PGB15 as the most effective strains in terms of biomass production and forage quality. Based on these findings, it is recommended that FR28 and PGB15 strains be considered as promising biofertilizer candidates for practical use in cowpea cultivation, offering a sustainable alternative to chemical fertilizers.

Sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) is a vital global crop, with Türkiye being the fifth-largest producer, contributing about 10% of the world’s supply. The Konya Basin accounts for 35% of Türkiye’s production. This region faces significant drought and salt challenges. In a study, six commonly grown sugar beet varieties in Konya (‘Lider’, ‘Libellule’, ‘Lizard’, ‘Mohican’, ‘Bison’, and ‘Rodeo’) were subjected to NaCl and PEG priming under salt and drought stress. ‘Lizard’ had the highest germination rate of 75.5% for NaCl-primed seeds, while ‘Bison’ reached 80.5% for PEG-primed seeds. The varieties varied in their germination rates, morphological traits, and photosynthetic parameters. NaCl-priming slightly increased leaf area under salt stress, PEG-priming improved stomatal conductance in ‘Bison’ under drought conditions. Overall, priming had limited effectiveness in alleviating stress impacts on sugar beet varieties, indicating a need for further research on the efficacy of priming methods and their integration with other mitigation strategies.

Artan su kıtlığıyla mücadele etmede özellikle suyun en yoğun tüketildiği tarımsal sulamalarda alternatif önlemlerin geliştirilmesi gerekmektedir. İnorganik bir materyal pomza ve organik bir materyal biyoçardan sıkça bahsedilmektedir. Bu materyallerin tek başlarına kullanımıyla sulama suyu etkinliğinin sağlandığı ve bitki ile toprak veriminin iyileştirildiği birçok çalışma bulunmaktadır. Ancak pomza ve biyoçarın beraber kullanımının yoğun su tüketimine sahip peyzaj alanlarında çim bitkisinde (Lolium) sulama suyu miktarına ve verimliliğine, toprak ile bitki verim ve kalitesine etkilerinin irdelendiği çalışmaların sınırlı olduğu görülmüştür. Böylece bu çalışma pomza ve biyoçarın beraber kullanımının sulama suyu verimliliğini ve toprak ile bitki verimliliğini iyileştireceği hipotezi üzerine 3 tekerrürlü olarak hacim ve ağırlık esasına göre pomza (%0, %10, %20 ve %30) ve biyoçarın (%0, %1, %2 ve %3) toprağa 4 farklı oranda karıştırılmasıyla toplam 48 saksıda yürütülmüştür. Sonuçta %30 pomza+%3 biyoçar sulama suyu miktarını %19 azaltmış ve yaş ağırlığı 2,5 kat artırmış böylece sulama suyu verimliliğinde 3 katlık bir artış gerçekleşmiştir. Biyoçar ve artan oranları toprak organik madde ve toplam azot içeriğinde artışa ancak pH’da azalışa neden olmuşken, pomzanın etkisi önemsiz olmuştur. Ancak iki uygulamada da toprağın elektriksel iletkenliği artmıştır. Kök uzunluğu, kalite, yaş ve kuru ağırlıklar pomza ve biyoçar ve artan oranlarından olumlu etkilenirken, bu etkininin düzeyi %30 pomza+%3 biyoçar’da daha fazla olmuştur. Sonuçta %30 pomza+%3 biyoçar hem bitki ile toprak verimliliği için hem de artan su kıtlığıyla mücadelede temiz su kaynaklarının yönetimi için önerilebilir bulunmuş ancak bu konuda farklı oranları da dikkate alan daha kapsamlı saha çalışmalarının da sürdürülmesi önerilmektedir.

This study was conducted in the natural rangelands of Kaledibi village, located in the Tortum district of Erzurum Province, with the aim of determining the variations in botanical composition, forage yield, and quality characteristics of rangeland areas situated at different altitudes. The research was carried out in three distinct rangeland sites (I, II and III.) located at altitudes of 1483 m, 1605 m, and 1740 m. In each site, the proportions of grass, legume, and other plant families, similarity index, soil coverage rate (SCR), rangeland condition score (RCS), rangeland health class, available forage amount, and forage quality parameters such as crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and acid detergent fiber (ADF) were evaluated. The findings revealed that rangeland plant composition, yield, and quality characteristics varied significantly depending on altitude. In high-altitude areas, due to reduced human settlement pressure, the proportions of legumes and grasses were higher, and SCR and RCS values were more favorable. In contrast, in low-altitude areas, increased grazing pressure led to a rise in low-nutritive species and fiber ratio (NDF and ADF). Moreover, crude protein ratio significantly increased at higher altitudes, while fiber ratios decreased. These results indicate that rangeland quality and forage value are higher at elevated altitudes. In conclusion, for sustainable rangeland management, it is recommended that factors such as altitude, grazing intensity, and rangeland condition be jointly considered.

The wheat root system is crucial for nutrient uptake, drought tolerance, and crop yield. This study explores the impact of soil texture on wheat root development, focusing on sandy, loamy, and clayey soils in two wheat varieties, Saraybosna and Alparslan. Using PVC tubes filled with different soils, root traits such as length, depth, diameter, volume, and dry weight were analyzed with image analysis software. Results showed that soil texture significantly affects root growth, with sandy and loamy soils promoting better development than clayey soil. Saraybosna exhibited superior root growth across all soil types, especially in sandy soil, achieving the highest root length and dry weight. In contrast, Alparslan showed reduced growth in clayey soil. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) identified root dry weight, depth, and length as key factors influencing development. These findings emphasize the importance of soil texture in root growth and optimizing wheat variety selection for better yields. The results also highlight the importance of root system plasticity, which is a still not well-known trait.

This study aimed to perform a comparative evaluation of the antioxidant and antibacterial properties of ethanol-based extracts obtained using different extraction methods (microwave, ultrasonic, and maceration) of Helichrysum plicatum DC. In this context, total phenol content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and antioxidant activity of the extracts were determined. Furthermore, the antibacterial activity of the extracts was investigated using human pathogenic strains of Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The types of phenolic compounds in the most effective microwave extract were identified using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging assay was used to assess the extracts' antioxidant performance. Among the tested samples, the microwave-assisted extract exhibited the strongest activity, with an IC50 value of 86.40 µg/mL. In addition, TPC and TFC analyses revealed that the microwave extract contained the highest levels of bioactive compounds, with 484.99 mg GAE/g extract and 292.50 mg QE/g extract, respectively. As a result of antibacterial activity tests, it was determined that the microwave extract showed the highest effect against the S. aureus strain by forming an inhibition zone of 20.60 mm. On the other hand, maceration extract exhibited an inhibition zone of 18.60 mm in diameter in the same bacterial strain. LC-MS/MS analysis revealed that quercetin (54.84 µg/g), trans-ferulic acid (23.38 µg/g), and salicylic acid (5.24 µg/g) were the major phenolic compounds in the microwave extract. These findings reveal the potential of H. plicatum extracts as natural antioxidants and antibacterial agents, and demonstrate the superiority of microwave extraction in terms of phenolic and flavonoid compound yield as well as biological activity.