The aim of this write up is to explore technological developments in the area of post-harvest grain storage techniques. Post-harvest losses occur between harvest and the moment of human consumption. They include on-farm losses, such as when grain is threshed, winnowed, and dried, as well as losses along the chain during transportation, storage, and processing. Use of traditional grain storage facilities such as cribs, improved rhombus, and brick bins are ineffective against mold and insects already present in the grain before storage. While plastic bins reduce insect pests’ infestation, Purdue Improved crop storage bags and wooden silo were proved to be a viable management tool for preventing aflatoxin accumulation in storage and moisture migration. The metal silo still remains an effective grain storage technology for reducing post-harvest insect and pathogen losses if the challenges of moisture and temperature can be adequately managed. An effective grain storage technology would be the ones that can sustain quality of grain stored for a long period (≥5 years), durable, cost-effective, and be managed scientifically, possibly by computer-aided grain management system.

Bu çalışma entansif olarak besiye alınan Akkaraman ve İvesi kuzuların besi performans özellikleri üzerine kırkımın etkisi incelenmek amacıyla yapılmıştır. Araştırmada 10 baş Akkaraman ve 8 baş İvesi erkek kuzu kullanılmıştır. Besi süresince hayvanlara 150 g kuru yonca otu ve ad-libitum olarak kesif yem verilmiştir. Çalışmada, Akkaraman ve İvesi kuzular deneme hayvanları kırkım yapılan ve kırkım yapılmayan olmak üzere iki deneme grubuna ayrılımştır. Kuzuların kırkım öncesinde ve sonrasındaki toplam canlı ağırlık artışı, günlük canlı ağırlık artışı, yem tüketimi ve yem değerlendirme katsayısı sırasıyla 8,017 kg, 47,14 kg ve 5,945 ve 8,606 kg, 307 g, 42,21 kg ve 5,029 olarak bulunmuştur. Kırkım yapılmayan kuzuların ise toplam canlı ağırlık artışı 7,802 kg, günlük canlı ağırlık artışı 279 g, yem tüketimi 42,06 kg ve yem değerlendirme katsayısı 6,00 olarak bulunmuştur. Çalışma sonucunda besi performansı bakımından kırkım yapılan ve yapılmayan grupların ortalamaları arasındaki fark istatistik olarak önemsiz bulunmuştur.

Some meat quality and sensory characteristics were determined of Kıvırcık (n=10), Eşme Kıvırcık (n=10), Karya (n=8) and Çine Çaparı (n=9) lambs in this research. Carcass divided into two parts along the spine and the three different type of muscle samples were taken from the between 8th and 9th vertebrae, 12th and 13th vertebrae and leg part of the left side of the carcasses. Drip loss, cooking loss and shear force values of these muscles were identified. Additionally, pH0, pH24, color, fatty acid composition and sensory properties were determined in M. Longissimus dorsi samples. When muscle types are evaluated separately were a statistically significant factor in terms of dripping and cooking loss and shear force. While the highest dripping loss were reported in M. Longissimus dorsi (3.72%), the highest cooking loss were reported in M. Longissimus thoracis (22.67%) and the highest shear force were reported in M. semitendinosus (4.38 kg). Genotype and muscle interaction were found to be highly significant for only cooking loss. The analysis results for fatty acids indicated that there was an important difference between Kıvırcık, Eşme Kıvırcık, Karya and Çine Çaparı on C10:0, C12:0, C14:0, C15:0, C16:0, tC18:1, CLA, tC18:3, C20:1, C22:0 fatty acids in the study. Genotypes showed no effect to SFA (Saturated fatty acids), MUFA (Monounsaturated fatty acids), PUFA (Polyunsaturated fatty acids) and P/S ratio parameters. Karya lambs performed higher for odor and tenderness, and Kıvırcık lambs showed a higher score for juiciness, flavor and total acceptability in sensory evaluation.

Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. phaseoli (Xap) is known as one of the most important seed-borne destructive pathogens on beans worldwide. Nowadays, Xap is considered to acquire resistance to antibiotics and synthetic bactericides which concerns the scientific world for its future management. This has made the use of plant extracts, the best alternative in the control of plant disease pathogens by inhibiting the quorum sensing (QS) mediated virulence factors. This research was designed to investigate the antibacterial activities and the anti-QS effects of the 14 different aromatic and medicinal plants against QS-mediated virulence factors of Xap. The results revealed that Syzgium aromaticum showed the largest inhibition zone diameter and strongest antimicrobial (antibacterial) effect among the 14 plant extracts followed by Thymus vulgaris and Coriandrum sativum. Similarly, the lowest swarming, swimming, and twitching motility values were measured from the Syzgium aromaticum application followed by Coriandrum sativum, Thymus vulgaris, Brassica nigra, Lepidium sativum, and Ruta chalepenis. These results indicated that S. aromaticum, C. sativum, T. vulgaris, B. nigra, L. sativum, and R. chalepenis will be a potential candidates as anti-quorum sensing agents in preventing common bacterial disease of beans caused by Xap. Compounds derived from aromatic and medicinal plants have demonstrated successful control of diseases in crops and the use of these substances provides a valuable tool to the growers around the world for diseases management in organic production.

Plants have been used for centuries to treat various diseases. In this study, Marrubium globosum Montbret & Aucher ex Benth. plant was used as a material. The extract of the plant was extracted with the help of soxhlet device using ethanol, which is a good polar solvent, and Rel Assay kits were used to determine the oxidant and antioxidant levels in the plant extract. Antifungal and antibacterial activities of M. globossum were tested against standard bacteria and fungus strains by agar dilution method. As a result of the analysis, TAS value of plant extract was determined as 7.677±0.231, TOS value as 12.387±0.083 and OSI value as 0.162±0.004. In this context, it has been observed that the plant has an important antioxidant potential. In addition, the plant extract was found to be effective against test microorganisms at 50-200 μg/mL extract concentrations. As a result, it has been determined that M. globossum can be a natural antioxidant and antimicrobial source.

Vinegar is an aqueous food product made by a succession of yeast and acetic acid bacteria activities from fruits that contain high carbohydrates such as apples and grapes. Vinegar has been used as a dietary spice and natural remedy since ancient times due to its therapeutic properties including antimicrobial, antidiabetic, and anticancer activities. It has been shown that some bioactive compounds exhibiting antioxidant activity in vinegars lead to anticancer activity. The aim of the present study was to investigate antiproliferative effect of commercial and home-made apple vinegars in native and neutralized form on myeloma cells. In order to neutralize the vinegars, sodium hydroxide (NaOH) was used. A serial two-fold dilutions of the vinegars (50%, 25%, 12.5%, 6.25%, 3.12%, 1.56%, 0.78%, 0.39%) prepared with cell medium were treated to the cells. The MTT (3-(4.5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2.5-Diphenyltetrazolium Bromide) assay was used to determine the cellular viability in the cells treated with the vinegars. In this study, while commercial vinegar possessed a stronger antiproliferative activity than home-made vinegar, all native vinegars possessed stronger antiproliferative effect than neutralized vinegars. Interestingly, when home-made vinegar (both native and neutralized) concentrations were from 6.25 to 1.56%, the cell viability increased. Apple vinegar exhibited antiproliferative activity on myeloma cells; however, further studies are required to clarify the mechanisms underlying this activity.

Biyoteknolojik yöntemlerle canlıların gen dizilimlerinin değiştirilip, mevcut özelliklerinin geliştirilmesi ve/veya yeni özellikler kazandırılması ile elde edilen organizmalara genetiği değiştirilmiş organizma (GDO) denilmektedir. Bebeklerin yaşamlarının ilk ayları boyunca tükettikleri bebek sütleri ve bebek devam sütleri de türevlerine göre soya, mısır, pirinç gibi ürünleri içerebilmektedir. Dünya’da yoğun olarak genetiği değiştirilmiş organizma sınıfında üretilen bu bileşenleri içeren bebek formüllerinde de GDO taraması yapılması gerektiği düşünülmüştür. Bu çalışmada, 2011 yılında Türkiye’de piyasaya sürülen bebek sütlerinde ve bebek devam sütlerinde, kül, % rutubet, toplam yağ, karbonhidrat, protein analizleri ve real time PCR yöntemi ile GDO taraması yapılmıştır. GDO taraması sonucunda p35S, tNOS ve pFMV izgenlerini içeren ürüne rastlanmamıştır.