Plants are used by humans not only as food, but also for therapeutic purposes in medicine, as fuel and coloring matter. Plants, which are among the natural products consumed as traditional medicines, are used in the treatment of many diseases. Nowadays, many plants are widely used as nutritional supplements to strengthen the immune system or as an auxiliary nutritional supplement with other drugs in the treatment of chronic diseases. The plant Arum maculatum L. examined in this study is an angiosperm and monocotyledonous plant belonging to the family Araceae and a species in the order Arales. In this study it is aimed to study the bioavailability of Arum plant by using C. elegans nematode as a model organism. This study, the effects of the extract obtained by ethyl alcohol and water phase extraction of A. maculatum L., which is collected in spring and summer months and consumed by cooking fresh leaves and believed to be a source of healing, on the life span, egg production and growth-development parameters of Caenorhabditis elegans nematode were investigated. The data obtained were evaluated by SPSS program. Significant differences were found in C. elegans cultures of the extracts obtained from the leaves and flower parts of the plant in ethyl alcohol and water solvents compared to the control group. It was observed that the survival rates of C. elegans nematodes generally increased with the application of different doses of plant water extracts. This research will provide a reference for further research on the mechanism of Arum plants in the treatment of some diseases. Our research shows that this plant may have the potential therapeutic target about fertilization and growth and development process.

The quality of black seed oil depends greatly on the extraction method used. Traditional methods like cold pressing are valued for producing high-quality oil that retains its natural nutrients and flavor. However, these methods often come with a trade-off, as they tend to yield less oil and lower levels of bioactive compounds, making them less efficient for large-scale production. To overcome these limitations, seed pretreatment techniques were investigated. In this study, black seeds were subjected to freeze-thaw and microwave pre-treatment before cold pressing to increase the content of thymoquinone, which is a key bioactive compound in black seeds. For the freeze-thaw treatment, black seeds were frozen at -17 °C for 24 and 48 h, followed by thawing at 50 °C for 1 h. This process was repeated for 1, 2, and 3 cycles. Microwave treatment involved subjecting seed samples to microwave at a frequency of 2450 MHz and power levels of 400 W and 640 W for durations of 1, 2, and 3 min. Subsequent oil extraction was performed by using cold pressing. HPLC analysis showed a significant increase in thymoquinone content with freeze-thawed seeds (for 48 h and 3 cycles) showing a remarkable increase like 79.93% according to untreated black seeds. Microwave-pretreated seeds at 640 W for 3 min exhibited more than double thymoquinone content compared to untreated seeds. Other quality parameters, including moisture, specific gravity, acidity, peroxide value, and iodine value, shows comparable characteristics, while significant enhancing the sensory analysis of the pretreated oil (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that freeze-thaw and microwave pretreatments can serve as innovative methods for enhancing thymoquinone levels in Indian black seed oil, providing a promising avenue for improving the overall quality of this valuable natural product.

Marketing information enhances farmer’s decision to increase production and productivity of agricultural commodities. This paper examines farmers’ perspectives on agricultural marketing information in developing countries, with a case study focusing on three districts in Tanzania. Data were obtained from a survey conducted on 291 maize farmers in the three districts namely Arusha (103 farmers), Njombe (100 farmers) and Kongwa (88 farmers), selected from three regions in Tanzania Mainland. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the percentage distributions of the farmers based on socio-economic characteristics and Likert scale ratings of the farmers’ levels of agreement with the debriefing questions constructed to evaluate their perceptions. The analysis of the socio-economic variables of the farmers suggests male dominance in maize farming, predominant youthful farming demographics, predominantly large household Size, and predominance of low-level educational backgrounds among maize farmers in the study areas. The results of the socio-economic characteristics underscore the importance of targeted policies to support maize farmers, focusing on education, youth engagement, and household resource management. The overall result of farmers’ perceptions of agricultural marketing information indicates a widespread agreement across districts highlighting the shared challenges and priorities among maize farmers in Tanzania, particularly indicating that farmers recognize the benefits of agricultural services and understand the importance of communication infrastructure for economic development. The study thus, recommends establishment of local marketing information centers to reduce costs and time associated with gathering market information, enhancement of digital literacy to train farmers, and collaboration with critical stakeholders; such as government, private sector, and non-profits organizations to fund and sustain marketing information infrastructure for farmers. Investments in communication and marketing infrastructure will bridge information gaps, enhance market access, and ultimately drive economic development among maize farmers. This structured approach will not only improve maize farmers’ productivity but also contribute to broader rural development goals.

The COVID-19 pandemic has notably reshaped consumer perceptions of food safety, with lasting effects on food purchasing and consumption behaviors. This study examines Turkish consumers’ perceptions of food safety risks during and after the pandemic, aiming to contribute to both national and international literature on the topic. A cross-sectional survey was conducted between April and July 2023 in seven major Turkish cities (Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Trabzon, Adana, Van, and Gaziantep), with 1,016 respondents participating. The survey explored various socio-demographic factors influencing food safety risk perception using an ordered probit model. The results reveal that 86% of respondents consider food produced and sold in Türkiye risky, with 20.4% rating it as critically unsafe. Key factors influencing risk perception include concerns about open market sales, food additives, food labeling accuracy, and vendor hygiene practices. Additionally, socio-demographic characteristics such as marital status, age, education level, and household size significantly impact risk perception. Married individuals, older adults, and those with higher education levels tend to have heightened food safety concerns. These findings highlight the importance of targeted food safety education and policies that address diverse consumer profiles. The study provides insights for enhancing food safety strategies and fostering consumer confidence, especially during and after health crises.

Seralar, üretim sezonunda birden fazla ürün elde edilmesi ve üretim sürecinin kontrol altında gerçekleştirilerek verim kayıplarının azaltılması açısından gıda arzına önemli katkı sağlayan tarım sistemleridir. Seralarda birim alandan daha yüksek verim almak için özellikleri ve yapıları itibariyle amaca uygun planlanmalıdır. Tarım işletmelerinde seraların planlanmasında en önemli ölçüt yatırım maliyetidir. Bu doğrultuda çalışma kapsamında tiplerine ve teknolojik özelliklerine göre seraların yatırım analizleri, üretilen ürünlerin verimlilikleri ve işletmelerin karlılıkları karşılaştırılmıştır. Çalışmada, Mersin ilinde sebze üretimi yapan 99 adet plastik, 86 adet cam ve 5 adet topraksız sera işletmelerinde anket yapılmıştır. Anket yoluyla elde edilen verilerde; net kar domates üretilen plastik sera işletmelerinde 9.814,15 TL/da, topraksız sera işletmelerinde 109.532,91 TL/da, biber üretilen plastik sera işletmelerinde 5.522,14 TL/da, hıyar üretilen cam sera işletmelerinde 10.460,53 TL/ da belirlenmiştir. Sera tiplerine göre 3,93 yıl ile topraksız sera işletmelerinde yatırımın geri ödeme süresinin daha kısa olduğu ve 6,68 yıl ile plastik serada domates yetiştiriciliğinin takip ettiği tespit edilmiştir. Dolayısıyla net bugünkü değer domates yetiştiriciliği yapılan plastik ve topraksız seralarda pozitif olup bu yatırımların kârlı olduğunu göstermektedir. Benzer şekilde fayda masraf oranı topraksız domates seralarında 2,05 ve plastik domates seralarında 1,13 hesaplanmıştır. Bu nedenle söz konusu iki sera tipinde ve ürünlerinde projenin geliri yatırımından daha fazla olduğu için karlılık yüksektir.

Population growth and the rise in the level of welfare across the world cause an increase in the demand for water, energy and food, while water supply in sufficient quantity and quality is gradually decreasing in parallel. In addition, events such as droughts and floods caused by climate change have negative impacts on ecosystems. In line with the increasing water demand, it is becoming increasingly important to develop sustainable development of water resources, to provide water in the required quantity and quality at the desired place and time, to develop solutions for the effective management of inter-sectoral allocation and to control losses and leakages. Worldwide, the distribution of groundwater and surface water resources by sectors varies between continents over the years and depending on the development of the sectors. When the water consumption rates of domestic (drinking and using), industrial and agricultural sectors, which are the largest users of water resources, are analysed, it is seen that agricultural use is 69%, industrial use is 19% and domestic use is 12% on a global scale. In Turkey, approximately 75% of total water resources are used for agricultural irrigation, while this rate is 33% in Europe. However, the rate of agricultural water use in Southern European countries can reach up to 75%. As is evident, the agricultural sector accounts for the most intensive use of water resources. Agriculture has the most important share in the sustainability of water resources due to its high utilization rate. For this reason, agricultural water use constitutes the main point of ensuring the sustainability of water resources and the most effective use of existing resources. In this study, the basic elements of sustainable urban water management are discussed and a framework for assessing the current water use of Izmir province with a water footprint approach is presented as an example. In addition, a flow chart has been prepared as a basis for the creation of a water footprint map. Such assessments will provide important contributions in terms of ensuring ecosystem sustainability, increasing water efficiency in cities and reducing risks associated with water resources, including food security, and supporting sustainable development.

The agriculture sector is actively looking for the most effective ways to manage water resources. Proper water management is crucial for increasing agricultural productivity and optimizing the region’s water usage efficiency. The purpose of this study was for estimating the irrigation water requirement, reference and crop evapotranspiration and irrigation schedule for cotton in Çukurova region over a 31-year period (1990-2020) using the CROPWAT model. To ensure appropriate water utilization and planning, information regarding the climate data was obtained from the Adana station of Turkish State Meteorology Service. The soil and crop data were sourced from Turkey’s directorate of agricultural research and policies. The dates, amounts, effective rainfall, net irrigation requirement (NIR), and yield decrease for rainfed and different irrigated conditions were all calculated using the CROPWAT 8.0 model. The findings indicated that the average reference evapotranspiration (ETo), crop evapotranspiration (ETc) for cotton and effective rainfall were 918.9 mm, 809.5 mm, and 149.4 mm respectively. It was also estimated that the dates of irrigation after planting (DAP) were 72 days, 101 days, 131 days and 170 days. The total quantity of water utilized for irrigation throughout the growing season at critical depletion and user defined were 700 mm and 545 mm respectively, thus 155 mm of water was saved (22%). Data of maximum crop yield obtained at critical depletion by CROPWAT was associated with data from Turkish Statistical Institute (TUIK) (2014-2020) and TUIK data is compared with CROPWAT data which was estimated under rainfed condition. According to the result 51% of yield reduction was simulated when irrigation was not applied.

Seed hardiness threatens the growth and yield of okra by causing low and non-uniform germination. Seed priming is an effective, ecologically sound, and practical technique to promote germination. A study was conducted from March to July 2024 in Chitwan, Nepal, to evaluate the effectiveness of different seed priming treatments in enhancing the germination, growth, and yield of okra. The study used a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replications, under five different treatments: Control: no soaking, Hydro priming, NaCl @ 0.5%, KNO3 @ 0.5%, GA3 @ 100 ppm. Each plot consisted of twenty plants. Data on germination percentage, growth, and yield were recorded using standard methods. The collected data were examined employing MS Excel and R-studio version 4.3.2. Seeds primed with GA3 @ 100 ppm showed a significant rise in germination percentage (90 %), plant height at 30 DAS (17.50 cm) and 45 DAS (39.81 cm), leaf canopy diameter at 45 DAS (69.68 cm), fruit number per plant (9.15), fruit weight per plot (423.75 g), and maximum yield (1.41 t/ha), followed by other treatments. The leaf number per plant and fruit length were not significant. However, priming positively affected germination, growth, and yield parameters compared with the control (no soaking). The study found that priming okra with GA3 @ 100 ppm enhanced growth and yield. Seed priming with GA3 is recommended for okra production in Rampur, Chitwan.

Bu araştırma, yurtta kalan kız öğrencilerin beslenme alışkanlıkları, beden imaj algıları ve akademik başarılarının değerlendirilmesi amacıyla planlanmıştır. Araştırma Ocak 2024-Haziran 2024 tarihleri arasında Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa Üniversitesinde öğrenim gören ve yurtta kalan 18-24 yaş arası kız öğrenciler ile yapılmıştır. Araştırmaya dahil edilme kriterleri, yurtta kalıyor olmak ve araştırmaya katılmaya gönüllü olmak olarak belirlenmiştir.  Bu araştırmanın örneklemini belirlemek amacıyla yapılan power analizi sonucuna göre, %95 güven aralığında en az 185 kız öğrenciye ulaşılması hedeflenmiştir. Uygulanan anket formunda bireylerin sosyo-demografik özelliklerini içeren sorular sorulmuş ve beden imaj ölçeği uygulanmıştır. Aynı zamanda 3 günlük besin tüketim kaydı (2 gün hafta içi 1 gün hafta sonu), mezura ile bel ve kalça çevresi ölçümü, taşınabilir stadiometre ile boy uzunluğu, tanita ile bireylerin vücut ağırlığı ölçülmüştür. Akademik başarı ortalamaları ile kahvaltı saati, öğlen ve akşam yemeği tüketme durumu, yurtta akşam yemeği tüketimi, ara öğün yapma durumu arasında istatistiksel açıdan anlamlı bir fark bulunmuştur. Beden imaj ölçeğine göre vücutlarını yeterli ölçüde beğendikleri belirtilmiştir. Enerji (kkal), protein (gr), karbonhidrat (gr), yağ (gr), kolesterol (mg), vitamin C (mg), tiamin (mg), riboflavin (mg), Folat (µg), vitamin B12 (mg), kalsiyum (mg), bakır (µg), flor (mg), iyot (µg), demir (mg), magnezyum (mg), fosfor (mg), çinko (mg), potasyum (mg), sodyum (mg), posa (g), doymuş yağ asidi (g), tekli doymamış yağ asidi (g), çoklu doymamış yağ asidi (g) değerleri ile beden imaj ölçeği arasında istatistiksel açıdan anlamlı bir fark bulunmuştur. Alınan besin tüketim kayıtlarının ortalamaları ile bireylerin yeterince makro ve mikro besin ögesi alamadıkları, sağlıksız beslenme davranışlarının akademik başarı ortalamalarını etkilediği görülmüştür.

The green peach aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer, 1776) (Hemiptera: Aphididae), has a broad host range including pepper plants and causes significant economic losses worldwide. The effectiveness of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in inducing plant immunity against pests has recently been tested on various plant insect pests. This study aims to investigate the impact of AMF colonization on the demographic characteristics of M. persicae feeding on the Demre type pepper cultivar. AMF (Glomus spp.) was ensured to colonize the pepper plant roots and the experiments were carried out in the climate room with plant growth LEDs under 25 ± 2 °C, 65 ± 5 RH and 16:8 light:dark conditions. As a result of daily counts, raw data on the aphid biology were analyzed in the Two-sex MSChart program. The findings indicated that AMF application did not result in any statistically significant differences in the biological and life table parameters of M. persicae. Furthermore, similar results were obtained when the results were compared with the control in the 45-day population simulation. Determining the AMF-plant-insect interactions with different plant species and insect species will make a significant contribution to increasing the success of biological control and preserving the natural balance.