Pepper is one of the most cultivated vegetables worldwide and also consumed substantially as a flavouring ingredient in different culinary traditions. Therefore, many researchers have focused on its breeding to develop new varieties. One of plant breeding aims is to attain disease and pest resistance. The use of tissue culture methods in plant breeding has many advantages. The response of two nematode resistant pepper genotypes to the anther culture and the effect of cold pre-treatment to the floral buds have been investigated in this study. Alata 2095 and Alata 2096 both specified as resistant to the nematode by Alata Horticultural Research Institute (Alata, Mersin, Turkey) were used as plant material. Two pre-treatments were used in this study: cold and no cold. In cold treatment, flower buds were kept in fridge at 4°C for 24 hours prior to the anther culture. Murashige and Skoog medium contained 0.25% activated charcoal, 6.5 g L-1 agar, 0.5 mg L-1 6-benzyl-amino-purine (BAP), 4 mg L-1 naphthalene-acetic-acid (NAA), 15 mg L-1 silver nitrate (AgNO3), and 30 g L-1 sucrose was used. After assessment, the highest mean of plant number was 39.08 per 100 anthers for Alata 2095 genotype. It was 46.61 and 31.56 in cold and no cold treatment, respectively. For Alata 2096 genotype, the mean was 1.96 per 100 anthers (1.68 and 2.25 in cold and no cold treatment, respectively). Statistical analyses confirmed that there was significant difference between treatments, genotypes and also significant interaction between those factors. At the end of the study, we can say that Alata 2095 genotype has a good androgenic response and it can be beneficial in further pepper breeding studies.

Vuralia turcica is endemic to Turkey and currently endangered. Little molecular information is available for this plant. Previous characterization and classification of V. turcica have been based on the DNA sequences of the ITS region. Molecular markers are essential for studying of genotyping and biogeography, but any of each marker is not enough to characterize a plant species in its use alone. In this study, the chloroplast rbcL and trnL regions were amplified in V. turcica using the primers that have been published in the previous studies. Successfully amplified DNA fragments were extracted and commercially sequenced. The partial rbcL and trnL sequences were submitted to the NCBI database (accession number KX164510, KX164511, respectively). Amplified both DNA of two regions of rbcL and trnL were used to construct a phylogenetic tree.

In this study, DPPH free radical activity, total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS) and oxidative stress index (OSI) of wild edible mushroom Cantharellus cibarius Fr. collected from Antalya (Turkey) province were determined. Ethanol (EtOH), methanol (MeOH) and dichloromethane (DCM) extracts of C. cibarius mushroom were obtained using soxhlet apparatus. TAS, TOS and OSI values were determined by using Rel Assay kits. Free radical scavenging activity was determined using DPPH method. As a result of the studies, TAS value of the mushroom was found as 5.268±0.059 mmol/L, TOS value was 6.380±0.256 μmol/L and OSI value was 0.121±0.005. DPPH free radical activity was determined as EtOH extract 70.52±0.50, MeOH extract 64.34±1.54 and DCM extract 61.72±0.59 in 1 mg/mL extract concentration of mushroom. As a result, edible C. cibarius mushroom could be a natural antioxidant source.

Research was conducted to examining the effects of harvest periods on root yield, essential oil content, resinoid content and essential oil composition of Iris species. Iris germanica field in Kuyucak town of Isparta which plant 3 years were constituted in 2016 year as three replications plots according to randomized block experimental design. Harvest was made in the middle each month from April to September (6 periods). Number of rhizomes weight, fresh rhizome yield, dry rhizome yield, essential oil ratio, resinoid ratio and composition in the Iris germanica were determined. In the study, differences between rhizome yield and examining characteristics of Iris germanica according to harvesting periods were statistically significant. Number of rhizomes varied between 3.27-6.47 per plant, rhizome weight 85.55-186.52 g per plant, fresh rhizome yield 972.8-1651.2 kg da-1, dry rhizome yield 212.33-457.50 kg da-1, essential oil and resinoid ratio of rhizome obtained after harvest 0.057-0.076%, 8.00-10.57% essential oil and resinoid ratio in stored rhizomes 0.10-0.14%, 6.95-10.45%, respectively. Rate of α-iron and ɣ-iron components that determine to qualities in essential oil of Iris rhizomes in after harvest varied between 16.1-27.7% and 23.4-50.8% and 29.4-31.2% and 55.2-59% in the essential oil stored rhizomes of Iris germanica, respectively.

European Union (EU) uses The Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA) to prepare candidate and potential candidate countries for EU membership. One of the five components of IPA is rural development (IPARD). IPARD funds provide financing to develop production standards of agricultural establishments for competing with other establishments in EU member states. For this purpose, in Turkey IPARD I programme was applied between 2007 and 2013 and IPARD II programme was prepared to apply from 2014 to 2020. The purpose of this study is comparing structural differences of IPARD I and IPARD II programme which are important tools to increase competitiveness of agricultural establishments in Turkey. The main material of the study was IPARD I and IPARD II programs. In the study, firstly, the support given within the scope of IPARD programs were presented as tables and graphs. Structural differences between the two programmes were examined under three headings; targets of programmes, budgets of programmes and eligibility criteria. In the result of this study, changes and the actual statue of this important financial tool was revealed. Most important changes were public aid rates and new supporting sectors. Regarding to the public aid rates, while the highest rate was 65% in IPARD I, it is 70% in IPARD II. Also an additional 10% can be given for investments in effluent storage and waste management for benefit of the environment in IPARD II. In IPARD II; egg production, mushroom cultivation, machinery parks and renewable energy plants sectors are added to supporting sectors.

This study was established at the experimental field of Horticulture Department of Çukurova University in Adana, Turkey during 2013-2015 harvest period two consecutive years. Two plum cultivars (‘Black Diamond’, ‘Angeleno’) and Friar as pollinizer grafted on Myrobolan rootstock were used as plant material. Trees produced commercially good yield in 2014, at the fourth growing season. The aim of this study was to compare four different pruning systems (spindle, 4 leader- Quad-V, central leader and open vase) and six different planting distances (0.8-1-1.2-1.6-2- 4 m and standard inter rows 4 m) for yield (ton ha-1) on several fruit quality variables such as (fruit weight, firmness, fruit flesh/seed weight, TSS, TA). Morphological and phenological characters were observed and chilling accumulation of the study area was determined. Sufficient chilling accumulation was calculated in both years regarding fruit crop load. The best results for quality characteristics were obtained from Spindel (1.2x4 m) high density pruning system for both cultivars. Also, ‘‘Black Diamond’’ cultivar on Spindel (1.2 m) gave the highest fruit weight (110.4 g) and yield (62.27 ton ha-1).

Doğadan toplanan erkek ve dişi kurbağaların (Pelophylax ridibundus), boy uzunluğu (SVL) ve arka bacak uzunluğu ile karkas, arka bacak, deri, baş ve karaciğer ağırlığı alınarak karkas miktarı belirlenmeye çalışılmıştır. Dişi kurbağaların ortalama SVL değeri 91,6±0,53 mm, erkeklerin 81,1±0,69 mm olarak ölçülerek, aradaki farkın istatiksel açıdan önemli olduğu tespit edilmiştir. Gıda olarak tüketilen arka bacakların ortalama uzunluk değerleri, dişi kurbağalarda 72,0±0,65 mm, erkek kurbağalarda 68,0±0,53 mm tespit edilmiş ve aradaki farkın istatiksel açıdan önemli olduğu görülmemiştir. Arka bacakların ortalama ağırlıkları dişi kurbağalarda 21,45±5,06 g, erkek kurbağalarda 15,53±2.94 g olduğu ve her iki cinsiyette de bu miktarların toplam vücut ağırlığının yaklaşık %25’ine denk geldiği belirlenmiştir. Çalışma esnasında dişi kurbağaların sırasıyla vücut, karkas ve gıda olarak tüketilen arka bacaklarının ortalama ağırlıkları, erkek kurbağalara göre daha yüksek miktarda tespit edilmiş olup; dişi kurbağalar ile erkek kurbağalar arasındaki bu ağırlık farkları aynı zamanda istatistiksel açıdan önemli bulunmuştur. Karkas ağırlıkları, hem dişi hem de erkek bireylerde toplam ağırlığın yaklaşık olarak %50’sini oluşturmaktadır. Kesim işlemi sonucunda karkas dışında kalan; deri, baş ve karaciğerin ortalama ağırlıkları dişi kurbağalarda erkek kurbağalara oranla daha fazla miktarda bulunmuştur. Dişi ve erkek bireyler arasında baş ağırlığı hariç karkas dışında kalan diğer kısımlar arasındaki farkların önemli olduğu belirlenmiştir. Kurbağa derisi önemli bir sanayi ürünü olup, miktarı dişi kurbağalarda ortalama 8,07±2,04 g, erkek kurbağalarda ortalama 5,66±1,21 g bulunmuştur. Bu değerlerin oranı, toplam vücut ağırlığının %10’una denk geldiği tespit edilmiştir. Bu çalışmada, dişi kurbağaların erkek kurbağalardan karkas kazancı bakımından daha iyi olduğu ve karkas miktarı dışında kalan, baş, karaciğer ve derinin miktarı tespit edilerek değerlendirilmesi araştırılmıştır.

In this study, variation of some chemical components such as anthocyanin, β-carotene, lycopene, phenolic, nitrate, soluble protein, proline, glucose, sucrose and total carbohydrate level ad PAL activity in some wild and cultivated edible mushrooms was examined. For this, four different mushroom species (Agaricus campestris L., Cantharellus cibarius Fr., Hericium erinaceus (Bull.) Pers., Lactarius piperatus L. Pers) were supplied from local market, named Kuzeykent Semt Bazaar, in Kastamonu province of Turkey. Mushroom samples were collected from Araç, Daday, Devrekani and Tosya locations of Kastamonu. According to findings, the highest anthocyanin value and PAL activity were obtained from A. campestris collected from Arac location with 0.107 mg g-1 and 6.99 EU, respectively. The amount of β-carotene (2.297 mg g-1) and lycopene (0.644 mg g-1) was the highest in C. cibarius collected from Tosya location, however; proline, soluble protein, nitrate and glucose level were the maximum in A. campestris collected from Devrekani location with 149.61 µmol g-1, 55.49 mg, 159.963 mg g-1 and 29.36 µg g-1, respectively. While total carbohydrate was the highest in H. erinaceus collected from Araç location with 80.97 µg g-1, sucrose concentration was the maximum with 39.22 mg g-1 in H. erinaceus collected from Daday location. As a result, A. campestris collected from Devrekani location exhibited the highest nutrient in terms of chemicals analysed except anthocyanin and it was followed by H. erinaceus collected from Daday location. However, C. cibarius and H. erinaceus collected from Araç location had lower chemical components. It can be said that these mushroom species are valuable and important as major food sources and non-wood products for Kastamonu province.

Consumption of fermented products rich in antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetes, anti-obesity and anti-carcinogenic compounds is growing into a key strategy to fortify antioxidant defense system. Cabbage products produced by lactic-acid fermentation are chosen via their special microbiota. Considering these special medical properties of fermented-cabbage products as pickled cabbage, sauerkraut and kimchi were produced and evaluated. The data demonstrated that pickled cabbage (109.89±4.74 mg ascorbic acid/100 g d.w.) and its brine (208.14±17.29 mg ascorbic acid/100 g d.w.) exhibited the highest vitamin C content, followed by kimchi (77.42±2.87 mg ascorbic acid/100 g d.w.). The highest total phenolic content was detected in kimchi and sauerkraut with 869.64±70.16 and 438.257±25.05 mg gallic acid equivalents/100 g fresh weight (f.w.), respectively. 50% of the scavenging effect (EC50) values of free radical scavenging activity (DPPH) in kimchi 14.6 mg/ml, followed by sauerkraut (15.52 mg/ml) and pickled cabbage (18.88 mg/ml). Results demonstrated that fermented cabbage products have a great potential with content of bioactive compounds, high antioxidant features promising high beneficial impacts.

In this study, seasonal changes in the lipid and fatty acid profiles of S. lessepsianus caught from the Mersin Bay were investigated. The total lipid levels of S. lessepsianus were found to be 2.94%, 7.19%, 2.45%, 0.83%, in spring, summer, autumn and winter season, respectively. Major fatty acids in S. lessepsianus were palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, palmitoleic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in all seasons. The highest values of palmitic, palmitoleic and EPA were determined as 22.97%, 3.80% and 4.22% in spring, respectively. The highest values of stearic and oleic acid were determined as 15.93% and 7.84% in autumn, respectively. The highest value of DHA were also determined as 31.91% in winter season. The EPA level from polyunsaturated fatty acids was found in the range of 2.54-4.22% (23.09-195.62 mg/100g). The highest level of DHA were observed in the winter season and its levels changed in the range of 19.83-31.81% and was calculated as 201.29-1301.73 mg/100g. In addition, the highest level of the Σn3, Σn6, and Σn9 were calculated in the summer season as 1516.39, 114.88, 399.77 mg/100g, respectively. This report showed that fat and fatty acid profiles of S. lessepsianus are quite influenced by seasonal factors.