The availability of high-yielding varieties adapted to diverse agro-ecologies and production systems, preferred by farmers and consumers, is the key factor limiting productivity. Farmers access seeds of different quality levels from various seed systems. Studies on seed systems and rates in relation to yield and yield traits of bread wheat varieties under irrigation are limited. Therefore, an experiment was conducted in 2021 in Northwestern Ethiopia to improve the productivity of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) varieties through suitable seed rates and systems under irrigation. The experiment was conducted using a randomized complete block design in a factorial arrangement of two varieties (Kakaba and Ogolcho), three seed systems (formal, intermediate and informal), and three seed rates (125, 150, and 175 kg ha-1) in three replications. SAS software was used for analysis. The results showed that the seed system and variety interaction had a significant effect (P < 0.05) on productive tiller numbers, days to 50% heading, kernel numbers per spike, and plant height. Additionally, the productive tiller numbers and days to 50% heading were significantly (P < 0.05) influenced by the interaction of variety with seed rate. However, the main effects of seed system, seed rate, and variety alone had a significant (P < 0.05) impact on physiological maturity, 1000-seed weight, kernel length, grain yield, biomass yield, and harvest index. The highest grain yields were obtained from the following main factors: seed system (intermediate (4.52 t ha-1); seed rate (150 kg ha-1 (4.71 t ha-1)); and variety (Kakaba (4.47 t ha-1)), which exceeded the average yield in irrigation (4.4 t ha-1). It is necessary to conduct experiments involving a greater number of seed rates and varieties over multiple cropping seasons and locations and sowing dates to strengthen the results.

Bu çalışmada Trabzon hurması (Diospyros kaki L.) püresinin akış davranışını en iyi tanımlayan reolojik modelin belirlenmesi amacıyla pürenin reolojik özellikleri çeşitli pH’larda (4,0, 5,5 ve 7,0), konsantrasyonlarda (%15, %17,5 ve %20), sıcaklıklarda (25, 50 ve 75°C) ve kayma hızında (8,4–28 s−1) araştırılmıştır. Deneysel veriler Power Law, Herschel-Bulkley, Casson ve Mizhari-Berk modellerine uygulanmıştır. Reolojik modellerin akış davranışını açıklamadaki uygunluğunu doğrulamak için belirleme katsayısı (R2), hata kareleri ortalamasının kare kökü (RMSE) ve indirgenmiş ki- kare (ꭓ2) olmak üzere üç istatistiksel ölçüt kullanılmıştır. Herschel-Bulkley ve Mizhari-Berk, hurma püresinin tüm işlem koşullarında deneysel verilere en iyi uyum sağlayan modeller olduğu görülmüştür. Ancak Mizhari-Berk modeli R2 ≥ 0.983, RMSE ≤ 0.0683 ve ꭓ2 ≤ 0.0160 istatistiksel parametre değerleriyle hurma püresinin akış davranışını en iyi tanımlayan model olmuştur. Trabzon hurması püresi psödoplastik (kayma incelmesi) ve Newtonyen olmayan bir davranış (n<1) sergilemiştir.

Over the years, more than 3336 rice genotypes were introduced into Ethiopia from different countries and evaluated for diseases reaction and agronomic traits. However, morphological characteristics and relationships were not well investigated among genotypes. Hence, the objective of this study was to characterize 100 rice genotypes morphologically for better identification and to classify genotypes relationships. The experiment was done using triple lattice design with 10×10 in 2021/22 main cropping season. Twenty-five qualitative morphological traits were used to characterize and 13 quantitative traits were used to categorize relationships of the studied rice genotypes. The Shannon Weaver diversity index of qualitative traits were varied from 0 to 1. Moreover, based on quantitative traits the studied rain fed rice genotypes were grouped into four distinct clusters and four principal components with Eigen value >1 were contributed 78.99% of the total variation. We recommend crossing cluster I with IV genotypes to get early-maturing besides moderate grain yield variety for short rainfall season areas. And cross cluster III with IV genotypes to get medium matured, high filled spikelet per panicle, augmented harvest index, biomass and grain yield variety for long rainfall season areas.

Tephritid fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) are the major damaging pest for the Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus (Thumb.) Matsum. & Nakai). The quality as well as quantity of watermelon is greatly affected by fruit fly. This study was conducted to test the efficacy of different traps and baits for fruit fly control. The experiment was designed in a randomized complete block design containing eight treatments and three replications. Each treatment, 0.2 ml of cue lure as an attractant and 0.1 ml of malathion was used as a toxicant except control. Treatments were installed when the flowering was started. Data collection and treatment replacement were done simultaneously in every 6-day interval. The findings revealed that the diverse fruit fly species (up to 7) were trapped in all treatments however, the Zeugodacus cucurbitae (Coquillett, 1889) followed by Zeugodacus tau (Walker, 1849) were dominating over the other species in all treatments. Yellow sticky trapped the highest number of fruit flies (15.01±0.38), followed by brewery wastage (13.65±0.37). The male-female ratio of the trapped fly was (>1) in all treatments. Furthermore, the lowest fruit fly damaged percentage (0.87±0.16) with the highest obtainable yield (32.57±1.31) and benefit-cost ratio (1.63±0.06) was observed in the yellow sticky trap. From this experiment, the yellow sticky trap captured more fruit flies caused the least amount of fruit fly damage, and yielded the highest possible yield than the other treatments.

Şekerpare, Türkiye ve Orta Doğu mutfağının önemli tatlılarından biri olup, genellikle irmik kullanılarak hazırlanmaktadır. Ancak irmiğin gluten içermesi, çölyak hastalarının bu tatlıyı tüketmesini engellemektedir. Bu çalışmada, gluten içermeyen mısır unu, pirinç unu, patates unu, mısır nişastası ve tapyoka nişastası kombinasyonları kullanılarak glutensiz şekerpare formülasyonları geliştirilmiştir. Ayrıca, bu formülasyonlara eklenen soya proteini, bezelye proteini ve transglutaminaz (TG) enziminin şekerpare hamuru ve son ürün özellikleri üzerindeki etkileri incelenmiştir. Çalışma kapsamında, hamurların pH, sertlik, yapışkanlık, adhezyon işi ve hamur kuvveti gibi özellikleri değerlendirilirken son ürünlerde ise renk, sertlik, kırılganlık ve duyusal analizler gerçekleştirilmiştir. Elde edilen sonuçlar, kullanılan protein ve TG enziminin hamur özellikleri üzerindeki etkisinin kullanılan un kombinasyonuna bağlı olarak değiştiğini göstermiştir. Mısır ve patates unu ile hazırlanan hamurlar en yüksek sertlik değerine sahipken, tüm örneklerde kontrol grubu hamurları en düşük sertlikte olmuştur. Soya ve bezelye proteini, hamurun yapışkanlığını azaltırken, TG enziminin bezelye proteiniyle birlikte kullanımı yapışkanlık düzeyini önemli ölçüde artırmıştır. Duyusal analizde panelistler, %62,5 mısır unu ve %37,5 pirinç unundan oluşan MuPr reçetesiyle hazırlanan şekerpare örneklerini, hem yapı hem de lezzet açısından en beğenilen ürün olarak değerlendirmiştir. Bununla birlikte, kullanılan protein türü ve TG enzimi duyusal özellikler üzerinde genel anlamda önemli bir fark yaratmamıştır.

This research aimed to investigate the impacts of different cooking methods (B; Boiling, US; Ultrasound-assisted slow boiling, UF; Ultrasound-assisted fast boiling) and endpoint core temperatures (ECT; 68°C, 74°C, and 80°C) on the oxidative stability, physicochemical, and microbiological properties of beef during refrigerated storage. The results demonstrated that UF application resulted in the lowest cooking loss (CL) at 74°C ECT. The US application caused a lower water activity (aw) compared to B. The lowest oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) levels were determined in UF, whereas the US had the highest ORP levels. Ultrasound-assisted cooking did not affect pH, yeast-mold and total mesophilic aerobic bacteria (TMAB) counts. On the other hand, UF and US caused an increase in total coliform counts compared to B. According to the results of lipid hydroperoxide (LPO) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), UF application was more effective in preventing lipid oxidation compared to US and B. pH, CL, ORP, hue angle (hab) and b* values increased as the ECT increased, whereas aw, a*, chroma (C*ab) and browning index (BI; inner) values decreased. In addition, beef pieces cooked at 74°C or 80°C ECT had lower L* values, TMAB, and total coliform counts, and higher TBARS and LPO values than those cooked at 68°C ECT. 74°C was more effective in controlling microbiological changes, whereas 68°C was a better ECT for maintaining oxidative stability. In conclusion, UF has the potential to be an effective processing technology for improving oxidative stability and physicochemical properties of beef.

Millets, including pearl millet, foxtail millet, and finger millet, among others, offer a complementary solution to traditional staple crops such as wheat, rice and maize, particularly in the context of climate change. Known for their resilience to heat, drought, and poor soil conditions, millets can be integrated into existing agricultural systems to enhance food security and nutritional diversity in regions increasingly affected by climate change. While millets may not replace staple crops, their cultivation alongside these staples provide several benefits, including improved nutritional outcomes and reduced environmental impact. Pearl millet, for instance, is rich in iron and zinc, addressing micronutrient deficiencies that are common in many developing regions. Finger millet’s high calcium content makes it a valuable addition to diets in areas with limited access to dairy. These grains thrive in marginal environments, contributing to more sustainable farming practices with a lower environmental footprint. Incorporating millets into agricultural systems can reduce dependency on water-intensive crops, lower the risk of crop failure, and provide a buffer against the impacts of climate change. By diversifying cropping systems, millets could help to stabilize food production and improve nutritional outcomes without displacing the critical role of traditional staples in global diets. To maximize the benefits of millets, efforts should focus on improving value chains, supporting smallholder farmers, and increasing consumer awareness. Moreover, targeted research and supportive policies are critical to unlocking their full potential and integrating them effectively into global food systems. As the world faces the dual challenges of climate change and malnutrition, millets offer a viable pathway to enhance resilience and sustainability in agriculture, complementing staple crops and enriching global food systems.

Bu çalışma; ıslah sonrasında tuzlu - sodyumlu topraklara çiftlik gübresi uygulanmasının toprakların bazı önemli özellikleri ile arpa verimine etkisini belirlemek amacıyla yürütülmüştür. Hasat sonrası yapılan analizlerde çiftlik gübresi uygulanmış ve arpa yetiştirilmiş toprakların pH, CaCO3, değişebilir Na ve Ca, KDK, ESP, kütle ve tane yoğunluğunda azalma olduğu görülmüştür. Organik madde, porozite; agregat stabilitesi, hidrolik iletkenlik, tarla kapasitesi, solma noktası ve yarayışlı nem değerleri artmıştır. Gübre uygulamalarının pH değerinde düşüşe, organik madde miktarında önemli bir artışa ve EC değeri ise çok az bir artışa neden olduğu tespit edilmiştir. Uygulanan gübre dozunun artışıyla topraklardaki ESP değerlerinin önemli oranda azaldığı belirlenmiştir. Her iki gübre türünde de yüksek dozda gübre uygulamasının toprakların katyon değişim kapasitesi değerlerinde azalmaya,  buna karşılık hidrolik iletkenlik, porozite, agregat stabilitesi ve toprağın su tutma kapasitesi değerlerinde artış görülmüştür. Islahtan sonrası gübre uygulanmış topraklarda yetiştirilen arpa bitkisinin 1000 dane ağırlığı, birim alan başına çıkış yapan bitki sayısı ve boyu, başaktaki dane sayısı ve ham protein miktarlarında özellikle yüksek gübre dozlarında iyileşme olmuştur.

Enhancing crop productivity is essential for increasing farmer incomes, and application of ethephon along with proper pruning practices could provide effective approaches for improving yield of cucurbit crops. A field experiment was conducted to study the effect of ethephon and pruning practices on sex expression and yield of cucumber cv long green at Rupandehi, Nepal from April to July 2022. The experiment used a two-factor factorial RCBD, with 2 doses of ethephon (300 ppm & control spray) as one factor and pruning practices (3G, 2G & no pruning) as the other, resulting six treatments which were replicated four times. Morphological and phenological parameters such as plant height, days to flowering, number of male and female flowers per plant, M: F ratio, fruit length, fruit weight, fruit number per plant, and yield were recorded. It was observed that ethephon @ 300 ppm produced the highest yield (65.59 t/ha) with increased fruits per plant (13.19) and individual fruit weight (497.31 g). Highest fruit yield (66.97 t/ha), fruit number (13.47 per plant), and individual fruit weight (497.20 g) was observed with 3G pruning. Ethephon @ 300 ppm delayed male flowers, but female flowers were observed significantly earlier (34.21 DAT), with a similar effect observed in 3G pruning. Both ethephon @ 300 ppm (39.89) and 3G pruning (41.99) significantly increased the total number of female flowers in comparison with other treatments. Control spray of ethephon resulted in highest fruit length and application of ethephon @ 300 ppm resulted to highest fruit width. Pruning did not significantly influence fruit length but increased fruit width. The study revealed that a spray of 300 ppm ethephon and 3G pruning can enhance femaleness and productivity of cucumber.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the pollination and fertilization biology of black mulberry (Morus nigra L.), with a specific focus on understanding the effects of different pollination treatments on fruit formation and seed formation. Two experiments were designed to evaluate both dioecious and monoecious genotypes. In the first experiment, genotype 25 (dioecious female) was subjected to various artificial pollination treatments using pollen from two male genotypes (genotype 5 and genotype 28), as well as isolation treatments to observe parthenocarpic fruit formation. High fruit formation rates were recorded across all treatments, and no significant differences in fruit size or drupelet number were observed, regardless of the pollen source. The second experiment involved three monoecious genotypes (genotype 1, genotype 30, and genotype 31), where significant variations in fruit formation and size were observed, depending on the pollen source. This study highlights the potential for both fertilized and parthenocarpic fruit formation in black mulberry and underscores the importance of pollen source in determining fruit quality and seed formation.