Buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum and Fagopyrum tataricum) is recognized as a highly nutritious food source due to its high nutritional value and functional properties. Classified as a pseudocereal, buckwheat provides numerous health benefits owing to its high protein content, rich fiber composition, balanced essential amino acid profile, and abundance of polyphenolic compounds. As a gluten-free grain, it serves as a safe alternative for individuals with celiac disease and gluten intolerance, while its low glycemic index makes it beneficial for diabetes management. The bioactive compounds found in buckwheat, including flavonoids (rutin, quercetin), polyphenols, and fagopyritols, have been shown to exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cardioprotective effects. Regular consumption has been reported to reduce LDL cholesterol levels, increase HDL cholesterol levels, and lower the risk of hypertension. Additionally, buckwheat supports digestive health by regulating gut microbiota, thereby playing a protective role against inflammatory bowel diseases. With its extensive applications in the food industry, buckwheat is utilized in the production of bakery products, pasta, bread, biscuits, functional beverages, and fermented products, contributing to the development of antioxidant-rich beverages. However, due to its gluten-free nature, it can cause textural differences in baked goods, necessitating the use of stabilizers to improve product consistency and quality.

The bleeding process during slaughter significantly influences meat quality by affecting post-mortem biochemical and structural changes. In this study, the effects of three different bleeding durations (5, 10, and 15 min) during Halal cattle slaughter on the biochemical properties of expelled blood and selected physicochemical, structural, and textural characteristics of beef Longissimus dorsi thoracis muscle were evaluated. Blood loss increased significantly with prolonged bleeding times, with 15 min resulting in the highest bleeding efficiency (p<0.05). Biochemical analyses revealed that total protein and urea concentrations in blood decreased significantly with longer bleeding times, while glucose and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels increased at 10 min bleeding and declined at 15 min bleeding durations. In the beef samples, proximate composition, pH, water activity, and CIE lightness (L*), redness (a*), yellowness (b*), chroma and hue values showed no significant differences between the bleeding durations. However, meat hardness increased significantly (p<0.05) with longer bleeding times, which was supported by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations showing more compact and organized muscle fiber structures in samples subjected to 10 and 15 min bleeding in comparison to the 5-min group. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) further confirmed changes in proteins and nucleic acids associated with bleeding time. The results obtained from this study suggest that a 15-min bleeding duration improves bleeding efficiency and without compromising beef chemical and colour properties. This study highlights the importance of optimizing bleeding duration during Halal slaughter to enhance beef quality and shelf-life.

Plant feed additives containing bioactive compounds with potential positive effects on poultry health and productivity can be included in poultry diets. This study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with cherry laurel fruit (Laurocerasus officinalis Roem.) powder (CLF) on growth performance (body weight, BW; body weight gain, BWG; feed intake, FI; feed conversion rate, FCR), meat quality, and serum biochemistry of broiler chickens.  The study included 600 one-day-old mixed-sex Ross 308 broiler chickens, randomly allocated into four treatment groups, each with six replicates of 25 birds. The birds were subjected to treatments consisting of diets supplemented without CLF (control diet, CLF0) or with 2.5 (CLF2.5), 5 (CLF5), and 10 (CLF10) g CLF/kg until 42 days of age. The diets with CLF increased BWG and FI and improved FCR compared to the CLF0 (P<0.05). Carcass yield was higher in the CLF2.5 and CLF5 groups (P<0.05) than in the CLF0 group.  Compared to the others, the CLF5 and CLF10 treatments enhanced the water-holding capacity (WHC), and the CLF10 treatment increased the dry matter (DM) content of breast meat (P<0.05). In thigh meat, all CLF treatments increased WHC compared to the control, while CLF100 increased DM content compared to the CLF0 and CLF2.5 treatments (P<0.05). The LDL level was higher in the CLF0 than in the CLF50 group (P<0.05). Overall, dietary supplementation with CLF enhanced broiler chickens' performance and meat quality.

Grafting is an effective strategy for enhancing disease resistance and improving eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) yield under pathogen stress. This study examined the effects of grafting onto different rootstocks in a soilless culture system contaminated with Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melongenae and Verticillium dahliae. A split-plot experimental design with three replicates was employed to assess disease severity, yield components, and marketable fruit production. Results indicated that grafting onto specific rootstocks significantly increased marketable yield and reduced disease severity. In Verticillium-infected plants, the KingKong F₁ exhibited the highest early yield (2.75 kg plant⁻¹) and marketable yield (5.01 kg plant⁻¹), whereas self-grafted plants had the lowest yield (3.51 kg plant⁻¹). In Fusarium-infected plants, the Hawk rootstock achieved the highest marketable yield (5.20 kg plant⁻¹), representing a 68.28% increase over non-grafted control plants. Disease severity was significantly lower in grafted plants, with Hawk and KingKong F₁ showed complete resistance to Verticillium wilt, while Hawk, KingKong F₁, Anafor F₁, and Hikyaku F₁ exhibited complete resistance to Fusarium wilt. These findings underscore the efficacy of grafting as a sustainable disease management strategy, enhancing eggplant productivity in pathogen-stressed cultivation systems.

The shape of lactation curve for Damascus was estimated by fitting a gamma function to daily milk yields from monthly recording of 434 records lactations. The purpose of this study was to examine the models of lactation curve of purebred dairy goats and make some suggestions concerning appropriate mathematical model. R2 values obtained from model ( 3 ) were all greater than those found from other models (Model 1;and 2). Hence model (3) was seen to be superior to other models.

This research focused on assessing economically impactful fruit fly species across different altitudes in sweet orange (Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck) orchards in Sindhuli, Nepal. The study aimed to determine species distribution, population dynamics, and the effectiveness of various lures to guide integrated pest management strategies. A two-factor factorial randomized complete block design was implemented, utilizing 24 Steiner traps baited with Methyl Eugenol (ME) and Cue Lure (CL) at altitudes of 1100-1200 m, 1201-1300 m, and 1301-1400 m from March to June 2023. Weekly data collection and bi-weekly lure replacement ensured precise monitoring. The study identified five fruit fly species: Bactrocera dorsalis, B. zonata, Zeugodacus tau, Z. scutellaris, and Z. cucurbitae. B. dorsalis and B. zonata were the most dominant, with their populations decreasing at higher elevations. ME traps primarily attracted B. dorsalis and B. zonata, while CL traps were more effective for Z. tau, Z. scutellaris, and Z. cucurbitae. The fruit fly population consistently grew from early April, peaking in mid-June, coinciding with fruit ripening and rising temperatures. The results underscore the significant effects of altitude and lure selection on fruit fly populations, highlighting the importance of targeted pest control measures. This research offers valuable insights for enhancing crop protection and meeting international export requirements.

Türkiye, dünya kayısı üretiminde lider ülke olup, üretiminin önemli kısmı Malatya'da yapılmaktadır. Üretilen kayısının büyük bir kısmı kurutulmakta ve kurutulmuş kayısının yaklaşık %90’ı ihraç edilmektedir. Kayısının farklı yönleri üzerine birçok çalışma yapılmıştır. Ancak, literatürde incelendiği kadarıyla kayısı fiyat tahmini üzerine bir çalışmaya rastlanmamaktadır. Oysa, geleceğe yönelik fiyat tahmini yapmak, yatırımcıların karar alma süreçlerini desteklemesi açısından önemli bir gereklilik olabilir. Bu çalışmanın amacı kuru kayısı fiyatlarının gelecekteki seyrini tahmin etmek ve piyasa dinamiklerine dair analiz yaparak, sektörün öngörülebilirliğini artırmaktır. Yöntem olarak bağımsız değişkenlerin ekonomik dalgalanmalara karşı duyarlılığını göz önünde bulunduran çoklu doğrusal regresyon seçilmiştir. Ayrıca değişkenlerin yapay sinir ağları ile öğrenme süreçleri gerçekleştirilerek, elde edilen sonuçlar regresyon analizi sonuçları ile karşılaştırılmıştır. Her iki yöntem de kayısı fiyat tahmininde başarılı sonuçlar sunmuştur. Bağımsız değişkenlerin kayısı fiyatları üzerindeki etkilerinin önemleri benzer belirlenmiştir. Tarımsal girdi fiyat endeksinin kayısı fiyatları üzerinde en büyük etkiye sahip olduğu görülmüştür. Daha sonra enflasyon ve ihracat miktarının etkili olduğu gözlemlenmiştir. Tarımsal girdi fiyat endeksinin kayısı fiyatları üzerindeki belirleyici rolü göz önüne alındığında, üretim maliyetlerini düşürmeye yönelik önlemler üreticilerin karlılığını artırabilir. Devlet destekli fiyat istikrar mekanizmaları ve taban fiyat politikaları, aşırı dalgalanmaları dengeleyerek üreticileri koruyabilir. Ayrıca, üretici birlikleri ve kooperatifler aracılığıyla pazarlık gücünün artırılması, fiyat dalgalanmalarına karşı bir denge unsuru oluşturabilir.

This article explores an intelligent and equitable approach to collective and participatory irrigation for small farmers, with an emphasis on the democratization of water use. It examines how this equitable irrigation approach can contribute to the social economy by improving irrigation efficiency and reducing costs for farmers. This work highlights the socio-economic benefits of this approach and highlights its potential to promote democratic water management particularly for small-scale farmers. To do this, we propose a collective irrigation system using a Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm, to accurately estimate crop water needs, a method of equitable distribution of water according to needs. Additionally, we propose a novel weighted aggregation technique to establish irrigation priorities among crops, taking into account factors such as crop yield, water scarcity, and economic value.

Bu çalışma 2021 yılında Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa Üniversitesi (TOGÜ) bünyesinde bulunan tam otomasyonlu ısıtmalı sera koşullarında yürütülmüştür. Araştırma 2021 yılı ilkbahar döneminde kurulmuş ve “Maritima” marul çeşidi kullanılmıştır. Bu çalışmada domates, üzüm ve elma posalarından elde edilen kompost materyallerinin, farklı yetiştirme ortamlarında marul fidesi üretimi için kullanım potansiyelleri incelenmiştir. Denemede 13 farklı yetiştirme ortamı [(1) Kontrol 2:1 oranında torf: perlit; (2) Üzüm kompostu; (3) Elma kompostu; (4) Domates kompostu; (5) Üzüm+elma+domates kompostu; (6) 2:1 oranında üzüm kompostu: perlit; (7) 2:1 oranında elma kompostu: perlit; (8) 2:1 oranında domates kompostu: perlit; (9) 2:1 oranında (üzüm+elma+domates kompostu):perlit; (10) 1:1:1 oranında üzüm kompostu:torf:perlit; (11) 1:1:1 oranında elma kompostu:torf:perlit; (12) 1:1:1 oranında domates kompostu:torf:perlit ve (13) 1:1:1 oranında (üzüm+elma+domates kompostu):torf:perlit] marulda tohum çimlenme hızı ve çimlenme oranı ile fide boyu, gövde çapı, yaprak sayısı, kök boyu, fide kuru madde ve kök kuru madde incelenmiştir. Deneme tesadüf parselleri deneme desenine göre 3 tekerrürlü olarak yürütülmüştür. Her tekerrürde 50 fide yetiştirilmiş ve 10 fide üzerinde gözlemler yapılmıştır. Deneme sonucunda (2:1) torf:perlit karışımına (kontrol) alternatif olabilecek özellikle elma ve üzüm posalarından elde edilen kompostların tek başına veya birlikte kullanıldığı uygulamalar marul fidesi üretiminde kontrol uygulamaları ile kıyaslandığında benzer etkiler göstermiştir.

Phytogenic feed additives, such as black pepper meal (BPM), show promise for improving animal health and productivity. However, its application in ruminant nutrition remains underexplored. Thus, a 56-day study was conducted to assess the effect of BPM supplementation on nutrient intake, haematological, and serum biochemical indices in West African Dwarf (WAD) goats. A basal diet was formulated and divided into four equal portions. Each portion was supplemented with BPM at 0 (control), 250, 500, and 750 mg and designated as Diet A, B, C and D, respectively. Twenty WAD goats (average liveweight 5.00±0.23 kg) were assigned to the four dietary treatments. Blood samples were collected for haematological while serum harvested were used for serum biochemical analyses. Dietary DM, CP and NFE slightly decreased with increased BPM supplementation. DM intake significantly increased from 312.28±12.09 g/day (Diet A) to 316.88±14.74 g/day (Diet D) (p<0.05).  Crude protein and fiber intake increased slightly. It is noteworthy that supplementation of BPM did not significantly influence the observed haematological parameters (p>0.05). Serum biochemical indices did not follow a particular trend. However, goats fed Diet B had significantly higher total protein (72.00±4.83 g/L) and globulin (34.00±3.09 g/L) compared to other treatments (p<0.05). The study revealed that use of BPM supplementation in goats’ diets may not be essential, however, supplementation up to 750 mg/100 kg (Diet D) may support intake and thus, enhance immune functions, positioning BPM as additive to improve animal’ health without adverse effect.