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.

The objective of this study was to develop a rapid infrared technique to determine 10 key quality parameters (sucrose, glucose, fructose, reducing sugar, 5-HMF, °Brix, moisture content, water activity, pH and free acidity) in honey by using new generation portable and handheld devices. The composition of honey samples (n=59) collected from different parts of Turkey was analyzed by using established reference methods, giving wide range of concentrations for each parameter. The levels of sucrose and 5-HMF in some samples were above the established regulatory limits (Codex Alimentarius and European Union standards), indicating possible adulteration or process and storage abuse. Spectra were collected by using portable Fourier-Transformed infrared (FTIR) and handheld NIR (Near Infrared) spectrometers. Partial least squares regression (PLSR) approach was used to correlate the spectral features with compositional reference values, giving strong linear correlation coefficients and standard errors of prediction. Although both systems performed similarly, portable FTIR system was superior in predictions of sucrose, 5-HMF and free acidity while portable NIR system performed noticeably better for °Brix and moisture content. The data indicates that all of the 10 parameters can be measured within the minutes using both systems, providing reliable screening capabilities, flexibility and the potential for in-field applications.

Escherichia coli is an emerging public health concern in most countries of the world. It is an important cause of food-borne human disease. The present study assessed the prevalence and determined the antibiotic resistance patterns of E. coli from raw milk marketed in Chittagong, Bangladesh. Of the raw milk marketed in Chittagong ~33(18%) of the 186 raw milk samples of it contains E. coli, indicator bacteria for any enteric pathogens. The mean viable count of total bacteria was 4.04×108 cfu/ml and the mean viable count of E. coli in the contaminated raw milk was 1.88×106 cfu/ml. E. coli from only six (18.2%) of the 33 positive samples yielded colourless colonies across the CT-SMAC, suggesting the probable presence of populations belonging to the serotype O157 and rest of the isolates 27 (81.82%) produced coloured colony on CT-SMAC considering the probable presence of populations belonging to the serotype non-O157. Growth of probable E. coli O157, as evidenced by the colourless colonies on CT-SMAC compared to coloured colonies from other bacteria. Confirmed isolates were further subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility test using the Agar disc diffusion technique. Antibiotics susceptibility profile showed that all the isolates in case of E. coli O157, penicillin (100%), tetracycline (100%), amoxicillin (83.33%) and erythromycin (83.33%) were the most resistant whereas ciprofloxacin (66.67%), gentamicin (50.0%), and streptomycin (50.0%) were the most sensitive antibiotics. In case of E.coli non-O157 susceptibility profile showed that chloramphenicol (40.74%), erythromycin (40.74%) and oxacillin (37.04%) were the most resistant whereas ciprofloxacin (70.37%), sulphamethoxazole/trimethoprim (S/T) (59.26%) and gentamycin (55.55%) were the most sensitive antibiotics. The antimicrobial resistance exhibited by E. coli O157and non-O157 strains in this study is an indication of possible antibiotic abuse.

This study focuses on empowering women both in peri-urban and rural areas through mushroom production. It was conducted in Kampala Metropolitan area-Uganda, during October 2016. It focused on estimating profits, conducting benefit-cost analysis/ratio (BCR) and return on investment (ROI), finding reasons as to why women involved in the mushroom production and identifying the constraints of mushroom farming from the perspective of women as well as the possible solutions to the constraints. 29 women were interviewed face to face through the use of the questionnaires. The study revealed an average net profit of 3,464.28 US dollars, BCR of 3.84 and ROI of 2.84 per farm in a period of three months. Our study revealed that mushroom production is a profitable enterprise for women. The major reason for women to involve in mushroom was to earn income. However, a range of other reasons was given such as fast maturity of mushrooms, availability of market, healthy benefits of mushrooms, etc. were the most important reasons. The problems faced by women farmers were ranked from the most pressing problem to the least pressing problem in this order; Low market prices per kilogram of mushroom, scarcity of cotton during some seasons, poor quality mushroom spawn supplied to farmers by breeders, inadequate extension, and advisory services were the most observed problems among others. The suggested solutions were organizing farmers into groups or cooperatives in order to negotiate for better markets locally and abroad together with the help of government, researchers to carry out more research on the suitability of other substrates like bagasse other than relying on only cotton, ensuring that mushroom spawn breeders conform to the set standards of quality spawn production and re-equipping local extension workers with knowledge regarding mushroom production among others.

Bifora radians M. Bieb. Dünya genelinde çok geniş yayılım alanı bulan Asya’ya özgü tek yıllık bir yabancı ottur. Geniş bir ekolojik toleransının ve yüksek rekabet yeteneğinin olması, B. radians’ı buğday yetiştiriciliği yapılan alanlarda sorun haline getirmiştir. Herbisitlere dayanıklılığın, popülasyon dinamiğinin bilinme gerekliliği ve demografik verilere duyulan ihtiyaçtan dolayı bitkilerdeki varyasyon çalışmaları önem arz etmektedir. Asetolaktat sentez inhibitörü herbisitlere dayanıklı 29 ve duyarlı 22 olmak üzere 51 lokasyondan toplanan B. radians popülasyonları morfolojik ve biyolojik farklılıklarına göre karşılaştırılmıştır. Sonuçlara göre parametre verileri dayanıklı ve hassas popülasyonlar arasında belirgin farklılığı göstermiş ve bu çeşitlilik benzer lokasyonlar için de geçerli olmuştur. B. radians genotipleri arasındaki morfolojik ve biyolojik çeşitlilik; coğrafi lokasyonlar, farklı aktif maddeli ve farklı etki tarzlarına sahip herbisit uygulamaları, yetiştirilen ürünler ve uygulanan farklı tarımsal uygulamalar nedeniyle meydana gelebilmektedir. Yabancı ot popülasyonları arasındaki farklılık biyolojik ve kimyasal mücadele çalışmalarını etkileyebilmektedir.

This study aimed to compare the dietary supplementation of oleuropein (O) and α-tocopherol acetate (TA) alone or with organic selenium (Se) on liver antioxidant status and some plasma biochemistry parameters in Japanese quails reared under heat stress (HS). A total of 800, two-weeks old quails were kept in wire cages in the temperature-controlled rooms at either 22°C or 34°C for 8 h/d and fed on a basal diet (NC) or the diets supplemented with TA (TA200) or O (O200) at 200 mg/kg alone or with OSe (TA200+OSe and O200+OSe) to the NC diet. HS decreased the total antioxidant status (TAS) and increased the total oxidative stress (TOS) and oxidative stress index (OSI) of liver compared to thermoneutral temperature (TN). The TA200, O200, TA200+OSe and O200+OSe diets increased TAS and decreased TOS of liver compared to those of quails fed NC. OSI was decreased by the TA200, O200 and TA200+OSe diets compared to NC and O200+OSe diets. HS reduced plasma albumin (A) and total protein (TP) concentrations, on the other hand, increased plasma glucose (G), total cholesterol (CHO) and triglyceride (TG) levels compared to TN. The TA200, O200, TA200+OSe and O200+OSe diets reduced plasma total CHO and TG levels and increased plasma A level. The TA200 and TA200+OSe diets reduced plasma G level and increased plasma TP levels compared to those of quails fed the other diets. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of vitamin E and oleuropein alone or with organic selenium is necessary to remove the negative effects of heat stress on liver antioxidant status and some plasma parameters of quails.

This study was conducted to determine applicability of the Inward Processing Regime (IPR) in enterprises which are vegetable oil producers and exporters. The data was obtained from 26 vegetable oil producer and exporter enterprises by using survey method. Frequency tables, indices, and percentage calculating were used to analyse Data. Also, SWOT analysis was used to determine the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats in the sector, and relationship among some variables were examined with correlation coefficient. According to research findings, 25 of the enterprises (96%) utilised the IPR. Since the enterprises started to use that system; availability of cheap raw material, rate of capacity utilisation, market share, and export value all have increased. In addition, raw material was found as an important expense item, and the most important problems were qualified as raw material inadequacy and high input prices.

Honey samples were obtained from wild and domesticated sources and analyzed for some physicochemical properties such as color, pH, moisture content, ash content, refractive index, specific gravity, total solid, viscosity, glucose and fructose content following Standard Association of Official Analytical Chemistry. The following range of values for pH (3.55-4.20), moisture content (18.50-25.60%), soluble solids (74.10-81.20%), ash content (0.08-0.14%), specific gravity (1.38-1.47), refractive index (81.3-83.4%), fructose content (40.5-63.04%) and glucose content (19.35-32.34%). The mineral composition analyzed revealed potassium to be the dominant mineral in the honey samples followed by Calcium. However, Cadmium and lead where not detected in the honey samples. The results indicated that parameters such as pH, moisture content, ash content, specific gravity, sugar (majorly fructose and glucose content), fructose/glucose ratio, glucose/water ratio conform within the limit of the international standard for honey. However, moisture contents of the wild honey samples (22.05% and 25.60%) were a little higher than the Codex Standards of ≤ 21%. In conclusion, the honey samples investigated have the needed quality criteria and are good for human consumption. The results also revealed excellent organoleptic acceptability of the honey samples, hence are suitable for human uses.

In this study, material that we call mulch textile was investigated as compared with conventional polyethylene mulch nylon and mechanical and chemical control that are widely used in farmer’s conditions to weed control in newly established citrus orchards. Two different thickness of polyethylene mulch, three different thickness of mulch textiles, mowing and herbicide (glyphosate) applications were made in newly established mandarin orchard in a three-year-period (2004-2005-2006). Effects of the applications on density and coverage of weeds and height, stem thickness and leaf area of cultural plants were investigated. According to general evaluation of results of the study, mowing 23.4%, chemical control 88.4%, polyethylene mulch 99.6%, mulch textiles 100% controlled weeds than weedy control. At the most increase of height, stem thickness and leaf area of mandarin was obtained from herbicide and mulch treatments. It was determined that soil temperature and moisture are preserved by mulch applications.

Bu araştırma, ülkemizde tarımı yaygınlık kazanan yağlık kolza (Brassica napus L.,) bitkisinin Samsun İli koşullarında, çiçeklenme fenolojisi, çiçek sayısı, nektar ve polen potansiyelinin belirlenmesi amacıyla 2011 ve 2012 yıllarında yürütülmüştür. Araştırmanın birinci yılında (2011), kolza bitkisinin 44 gün süre ile çiçekte kaldığı, bitkide 2.694 adet/da çiçek bulunduğu, günlük toplam 1,89 kg/da nektar salgıladığı ve 1330 kg/da polen ürettiği belirlenmiştir. Araştırmanın ikinci yılında (2012), kolza bitkisinin 39 gün süre ile çiçekte kaldığı, bitkide 701 adet/da çiçek bulunduğu, günlük toplam 0,38 kg/da nektar salgıladığı ve 331,57 kg/da polen ürettiği ortaya konmuştur. Kolza bitkisinin Samsun koşullarında yapılan iki yıllık sonuçlarına göre ortalama 41,5 gün çiçekte kaldığı, günlük nektar üretiminin 0,23 mg/çiçek/gün, nektar kuru madde düzeyinin %20,25 ve polen üretiminin 0,48 mg/çiçek/gün olduğu saptanmıştır. Samsun İlinde kolza bitkisinin, erken ilkbahar döneminde, çevrede bulunan birçok bitkinin çiçeklenmesinden önce çiçeklendiği ve başta bal arıları (Apis mellifera L.) olmak üzere pek çok tozlayıcı böceğe, nektar ve polen sağladığı belirlenmiştir. Kolza bitkisinin arıcılık açısından ekiminin yaygınlaştırılarak erken ilkbahar döneminde, bal arıları ve diğer tozlayıcı böcekler açısından elverişli bir besin kaynağı olabileceği ortaya konmuştur.