Prices of agricultural products fluctuate depending upon several factors. In Turkey, potatoes are one of the main products for which price fluctuations are observed. This study was undertaken to determine the effect of the fluctuation in potato prices on producer incomes in Turkey. The Neyman Method was used to determine the sample size. The number of enterprises required to achieve a representative sample size was determined to be 56, with a 5% error margin and a 95% reliability limit. The way in which the potato cultivation area is affected by price was examined. The Koyck model was utilized for this purpose. By using Koyck analysis, average lag time was calculated to be approximately 1 year. This result indicates that the fluctuation in potato prices has quite a rapid effect on production. It was determined that producer income varies greatly depending on annual potato prices. The difference between estimated potato price and the actual price for the year 2012 resulted in an income loss of 11,198.6 $/ha. Some sustainable efforts such as production planning can be recommended to prevent these price fluctuations.

Pomegranate has been recently considered as a significant fruit for human health and demanded year-long apart from two-month standard harvest period. To extend market supply durations over longer periods, various methods and treatments should be applied to pomegranates to preserve quality parameters throughout different storage durations. The present study was conducted at cold storages of ÇOMÜ Agricultural Faculty to investigate the effects of 1-Methylcyclopropane (1-MCP) and MAP (LDPE, 20 mµ) treatments on quality attributes of ‘Hicaz’ pomegranate cultivar. Experimental materials were treated with two different doses (625 and 1250 ppb) of 1-MCP alone and combined with MAP (625 ppb + MAP and 1250 ppb + MAP) and stored at 3 different storage durations (40, 80 and 120 days). All fruits, including control group, were stored at 6.5-7.5°C temperature and 85-90% relative humidity. At the end of each storage period, fruits were subjected to weight loss (%), Total soluble solids (TSS) content (%), titratable total acidity (TTA) (%g), pH, grain color (a value), decay ratio (%) analyses and assessments were performed for these quality and biochemical characteristics. Both Doses of 1-MCP alone and combined with MAP treatments were found to be more efficient in decelerating the adverse effects on rotting, perishes and other quality parameters, however there were not significant differences between two doses of 1-MCP. Therefore, MAP or 625 ppb 1-MCP treatments alone or combined with MAP treatments can be recommended for better preservation of quality parameter throughout the storage of pomegranates.

Effects of two dietary levels of starch and crude protein on performance of dairy cow fed low roughage level (70:30 concentrate to roughage) were investigated. Twenty eight Holstein cows were randomly assigned to one of four dietary treatments in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement. Factors were two dietary level of starch (14% and 22%) and crude protein (15% and 18%). Wheat straw was used as sole roughage source. The study was continued 6 weeks. Dry matter intake was not affected (P>0.05) by the dietary treatments in the study. Milk and protein yield (kg/d) were higher (P

In this study, the threat categories of locally endangered orchid species were sampled over an area of covering 187 km2 in Mersin, Adana, Hatay and Kahramanmaraş provinces of Turkey. Periodic observations were carried out in 44 sampling plots specified within three bioclimatic belts, namely the Mediterranean-montane, the sub-Mediterranean and the Mediterranean. 34 orchid species were identified under the genera of Cephalanthera (L.), Comperia (Steven.), Dactylorhiza, Epipactis (L.), Himantaglossum (Boiss.), Limodorum (L.) Ophrys, Orchisand Serapias (Burm.fil). The results revealed that six orchid species were growing in the Mediterranean-montane zone, 20 species in the sub-Mediterranean zone and 23 species in the Mediterranean zone. According to the resources of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) the threat categories were reported for only 12 out of 13 species. Local threat categories of this study showed some differences when IUCN data were considered. 34 orchid species identified in this study and 12 species were evaluated under Critically Endangered (CR) threat category. It was found that 11, 7, 2 and 2 species were under EN, VU, NT and LC respectively. Therefore, Orchid species sampled from the Eastern Mediterranean Region of Turkey have been categorized on the basis of the threat categories identified by the IUCN.

Plant sterols are important agricultural products for human health and consequently, for nutrition industries. In the present study, free sterol contents of crude Turkish cottonseed oil samples have been determined in a single analytical run by using a solid phase extraction step prior to the detection with a gas chromatography coupled with a flame ionization detector. Free hydroxyl groups of Stigmasterol, β-Sitosterol, Campesterol and Brassicasterol were derivatized by using N-methyl-N-trimethylsilyl trifluoroacetamide to enhance their volatility and, sterol content of the samples were, then, separated from their matrix by using a octadecylsilane cartridge. The eluates were injected into the gas chromatographic system and satisfactory recovery ratios were obtained. After having validated the method, it was applied into the analysis for cottonseed oil samples for their free sterol levels.

Papaya (Carica papaya) is a common tropical fruit used for nutrition as well as medicinal purposes. Apart from fruit, seed, latex and other plant parts of papaya tree have been shown to have medicinal properties. Since, no systematic study has been performed on nutritional analysis of papaya (Carica papaya L. var solo 8) peels. In this study, the proximate composition, mineral element profile and phytochemical composition of papaya (Carica papaya L. var solo 8) peels were investigated. The peels were harvested fresh, dried in an oven at 45°C for 48 hours, ground and analyzed according to standard procedures. Proximate analysis showed high level of proteins (11.67 ± 0.04 %), crude fibre (32.51 ± 0.03 %), carbohydrate (47.33 ± 0.08 %), ash (5.98 ± 0.03 %) 0.03 %) and fat (2.51 ± 0.13 %). Mineral analysis indicated the papaya (Carica papaya L. var solo 8) peels were specifically rich in potassium and phosphorus. Potassium was found to be the most abundant mineral present in the peels (516.33 ± 0.82 mg/100g). Phytochemical composition showed high level of total phenolic (65.48 ± 0.39 mg (GAE)/100 g DW), flavonoids (5.58 ± 0.83 mg (QE)/100 g DW) and tannins (10.51 ± 0.93 mg (TAE)/100 g DW). The methanolic extracts of the papaya (Carica papaya L. var solo 8) peels exhibited the high DPPH radical scavenging activities (81.89 ± 0.14 %).These data indicated that this papaya (Carica papaya L. var solo 8) peels could constitute a potential good source of natural antioxidant for local population.

With industrialization, change has taken place in the world and development efforts have concentrated in urban areas. This has affected the rural area negatively and the increase in rural development studies has increased with the emergence of interregional economic imbalances. With the planned period, rural development studies in Turkey have increased and strategies, projects and programs have begun to be developed. One of these activities is the Rural Development Investment Support Program (RDISP), which entered into force in 2006. The aim of the program is to increase the level of rural area income, to ensure integration of agricultural production and agricultural industry, to strengthen food safety, to create alternative income sources in the rural area. In this study, it was aimed to determine the attitudes and behaviors of program beneficiaries in the Western Mediterranean Region within the framework of the RDISP applied in Turkey, and the factors affecting their utilization from the program. In the study, a total of 96 enterprises provided interviews based on face to face interviews. In this study, Factor Analysis was applied to determine the factors that affect the preferences of the enterprises and to determine the factors affecting the investments of the enterprises. In the study, 12 variables that were effective in factor analysis in the utilization of this support were combined into 3 factors. These factors have been found to be “support for local support and information about support”, “employment support for support” and “environmental sensitivity for support”.

Phaeodactylum tricornutum is the microalgae that is known to produce lipid. In this study, it was aimed to estimate the microalgae Phaeodactylum tricornutum dry matter cultured in the conditions of nitrogen deficiency as a stress factor, in outdoor, in photo bioreactors, by using multiple regression analysis method. In this study, diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum (Bohlin) was cultured medium of which N was reduced by 50% and with 20% inoculation ratio. The light intensity, temperature, optical density and chlorophyll a, were measured daily. The mathematical model was formed for control group and 50 % of the N applied to the group using optical density, temperature, light intensity, chlorophyll a and without chlorophyll a. The regression equation of control group was estimated. The R2 value of control group was found 95.1% and statistically significant. Then, the regression equation was estimated for control group without chlorophyll a. The R2 value of this equation was found 94.0% and statistically significant. And then, the regression equation was estimated in 50% nitrogen. The R2 value of control group was found 92.4% and statistically significant. Finally, the regression equation was estimated in 50% nitrogen deficiency without chlorophyll a. The R2 value of this equation was found 91.7% and statistically significant.

Open-canal irrigation networks have been transformed into closed-piped networks. Drip irrigation is the most common method used irrigations in Çanakkale province. The aim of study is to assess irrigation practices of farmers using different irrigation networks. There were not significant differences in irrigation practices of the farmers receiving water from both networks, but all were making mistakes and unconscious in their practices. An optimum schedule was also prepared to compare with farmer practices. While a farmer growing tomato in Kumkale village with piped-network was expected to apply 531 mm irrigation water as seasonal total, present farmer applied 1414 mm water; while a farmer growing tomato in Mahmudiye village with open-canal network was expected to apply a total of 457 mm, present farmer applied 492 mm irrigation water; while a farmer growing maize in Kumkale village with piped-network was expected to apply 512 mm, the present farmer applied 975 mm; finally a farmer growing maize in Mahmudiye village with open-canal network was expected to apply 379 mm water, the present farmer applied 228 mm irrigation water throughout the entire growing season. Irrigation water efficiency (IWUE) values indicating the effects of irrigation water quantities on yields were calculated as 2.5 kg/da/mm for tomato culture in Kumkale; 12.3 kg/da/mm for tomato culture in Mahmudiye; 0.7 kg/da/mm for maize culture in Kumkale and 8,7 kg/da/mm for maize culture in Mahmudiye village. Relative irrigation supply (RIS) values indicating how efficiently the precipitations were used were calculated as 2.98 for tomato culture in Kumkale; 1.41 for tomato culture in Mahmudiye; 2.40 for maize culture in Kumkale and 0.85 for maize culture in Mahmudiye village.

Bu çalışmada; farklı su sıcaklıkları uygulanmış pullu sazan (Cyprinus carpio)’da malaondialdehit (MDA) ve glutatyon (GSH) düzeyi ile glutatyon-S-transferaz (GST) enzim aktivitesine çörek otu yağının etkisi araştırılmıştır. 20, 24 ve 28°C’ de tutulan balıklara çörek otu yağı (10 mg/kg yem) uygulanmıştır. Kontrol grubu olarak 24°C’de tutulan balıklar seçilmiştir. Uygulama 10 gün devam etmiş ve bu sürenin sonunda balıklardan karaciğer ve böbrek örnekleri alınmıştır. Çalışma sonucuna göre 20°C ve 28°C’deki balıkların MDA düzeyinin önemli oranda arttığı, GSH düzeyi ile GST aktivitesinin düştüğü tespit edilmiştir. Bu gruplarda çörek otu yağı uygulamasıyla MDA düzeyinin istatistiksel olarak önemli düzeyde düştüğü, GSH düzeyi ile GST aktivitesinin önemli oranda yükseldiği belirlenmiştir. Elde edilen sonuçlara göre, balıklarda sıcaklık farklılıklarından kaynaklanan strese karşı çörek otu yağı antioksidan olarak kullanılabilir.