Fruits and vegetables are basic crops of mass consumption for human population to meet their food requirements. Recent advances in medicinal studies have revealed that different parts of fruits and vegetables are loaded with phytochemicals responsible for eliminating the risks of different diseases. Pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima Duchesne) is one of the abundantly grown and consumed vegetable all around the world. Seeds of this vegetables are named as nutritional power houses due to their excellent nutrient profiles. In present study total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), oxidative stress index (OSI) and DPPH free radical scavenging activity, of pumpkin seeds extracts were determined. Extraction of pumpkin seeds was carried out in a Soxhlet apparatus using ethanol as extraction solvent. TAS and TOS were determined through Rel Assay Kits and free radical scavenging activity was measured through DPPH assay. TAS was found 4.18±0.36 and TOS 14.68±0.42, whereas value of OSI was measured 0.35±0.10. DPPH free radical scavenging activity was observed increasing with increasing the concentration and maximum value 56.10±0.90% was observed at 2 mg/mL concentration. From these results it was concluded that pumpkin seeds could be utilized as natural antioxidant source with potential to reduce oxidative stress and minimizing the risks of certain diseases.

In this study, in order to evaluate the change of LST from rural to urban scale in 20 years, a zoonal statistical analysis was performed by separating the urban and rural districts located on the coastline. Algorithms were applied to the raw data of Landsat 8 and Landsat 7 satellite images, using the Arc Gis 10.2 and Q Gis 3.16 utilities. In this way, NDVI, NDBI and LST data were compared and evaluated in terms of rural and urban districts. The correlation coefficient between the parameters was calculated. In the study, the land change between the years 2000-2020 was also determined to reveal the land change. As a result of the analyzes made, the amount of green areas decreased by 14.1% between 2000 and 2020 in the study area, which includes the central districts of Samsun, İlkadım and Atakum, and in the rural areas, Bafra and Ondokuz Mayıs. It has been observed that this rate is shared as 7.1% in built up areas and 7.33% in bare soil areas. Considering the effect of the decrease in green areas on the LST value, in 2000, max. While LST is 41.75 C, in 2020 max. It is seen that LST has increased to 43.44 C. When the districts were analyzed separately, it was seen that LST established a strong correlation with NDBI (positive) and NDVI (negative) for all four districts. However, the correlation was stronger in rural districts. It was observed that the correlation strength weakened in urban districts due to heterogeneous land surface cover.

The present study, it was aimed to determine the effect of antioxidants added to culture media on blastocyst development rates in in vitro embryo production. The material of the study consisted of oocytes collected from the ovaries taken from the slaughterhouse. Cumulus oocyte complexes (COC) were collected and classified under a stereomicroscope. Oocytes included in the study were subjected to maturation and fertilization stages. Probable zygotes were transferred to the culture (IVC) containing antioxidants (L-ergothionine 100 μM (n: 163), Vitamin E 100 μM (n: 151) Cysteamine 50 μM (n: 154) and were cultured in a tri gas incubator (Hera Cell- 6% O2%, 6%CO2, 88%N). Blastocyst rates and embryo quality were determined on the 6th and 7th days in culture medium. Differences in IVMFC stages were evaluated by chi-square test. 966 oocytes were collected from 162 ovaries collected from the slaughterhouse. It was determined that the number of oocytes per ovary was 5,96, and the number of A and B quality oocytes was 4.26. It was determined that 655 (94.93%) of a total of 690 oocytes undergoing in vitro maturation were mature. The cleavage rates of the groups were 83.44%; 80.79%; 79.87%, and 83.96%, respectively. 140 (21.37%) blastocysts were obtained from 655 oocytes taken into the culture stage and the blastocyst rates in the groups were 33.13%; 8.61%; 7.79%, and 32.62%, respectively. As a result of the study, it was determined that the rates of blastocysts in the L-ergothioneine added the group was similar to the control group, but the blastocyst rates decreased significantly in the cysteamine and Vitamin E added groups. It was thought that this decrease might have been affected by the dose of antioxidants or the adequacy of oocyte development

Salinity, which is one of the abiotic stress factors, severely restricts plant production as a result of the negative effects of plants in different growth and development periods. Therefore, it is extremely important to determine the tolerance limits of plants to salinity in order to eliminate the limiting effect in terms of plant growth. Flax is an industrial plant that is used for multiple purposes and has commercial importance in the world. This research was carried out in controlled laboratory conditions in 2021 to determine the effects of salinity on the germination of flax seeds. In the study, germination rate, root length, root fresh weight, shoot length and shoot fresh weight were evaluated. The result showed that significant differences between different NaCl solutions for all evaluated characters. Although the highest value was obtained in the control group in Mures variety, the highest value was obtained in 25 nM NaCl concentration in all other characters except for the germination rate in Dakota variety. The highest germination rate of 93.3% was obtained from the control application (0 mM NaCl) in both varieties. On the other hand, there was no germination in both varieties in 200 mM application.

In the background of improving Water Productivity, there is concern in deficit irrigation, which delivers a means of decreasing water depletion while reducing opposing effects on yield. A field experiment was conducted at Haramaya, Ethiopia during 2020 off-season. The objective was determining effects of irrigation levels and mulch types on yield and Water Productivity of Onion. The experimental design was a split plot in RCBD with three replications. The deficit irrigation levels 100%, 85%, 70% and 55% ETc used with the three mulch types no mulch, straw and white plastic mulch were used. The results revealed that the maximum yield of 38.43 ton ha-1 was recorded from 100% ETc with plastic mulch; whereas the minimum yield of 16.36 ton ha-1 was recorded from 55% ETc with no mulch. Higher Crop Water Productivity of about 9.04 kg ha-1mm-1 was obtained from 85% ETc with plastic mulch. With 85% ETc and plastic mulch the water saved, yield reduction and Crop Water Productivity were 113.13 mm, 9.57% and 9.04 kg ha-1 mm-1 respectively. In view of water saved and maximum yield, irrigation water application at 85% irrigation application levels and plastic mulch could be concerned. The current study recommends that, in water limited area, farming community can accept deficit irrigation level with 85% ETc under plastic mulch.

Broiler production supplements income of smallholder farm households. Profitability and productivity and analysis are important considerations in measuring efficiency or performance of a farm business; hence, improved output and income are not only a function of increase in the scale of production, but also how efficiently the resources are being utilized. This study therefore estimates the profitability and level of productivity among broiler farmers in Jos North, Plateau State, Nigeria. Multistage sampling technique was employed to select respondents for this study. Primary data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics, farm budgeting model and Total Factor Productivity (TFP) analysis. The study revealed that the net farm income of broiler production was ₦96,900/flock size; suggesting a relatively profitable venture with prospects for improved economic potentials. The estimated percentage profit margin was 45.6%; indicative of the percentage net margin accruable to the farmer from the estimated gross margin and benefit-cost ratio was 0.84. Furthermore, most (54.3%) of broiler farmers were sub-optimally productive as their TFP indices were below the optimal scale; attributable to sub-efficient input mix and cost of production inputs. In addition, constraints of broiler production in the study area included the following; high cost of feeds (92.9); high cost of chicks (85.7%); financial constraints (80%); high cost of poultry equipment (55.7%); high cost of medication (35.7); disease outbreak (28.6%) and inefficient market system (21.4%). Improving access to and subsidy of poultry feeds, chicks, production inputs and credit, extension, medical services and cooperative formation for market linkages are strongly recommended.

Climate change is one of the biggest global environmental problems faced by mankind in recent times. Therefore, determining the knowledge and awareness levels of individuals on this issue is very important in terms of contributing to the solutions to be developed in the fight against climate change at the local level. In this study, it is aimed to determine the approaches, consciousness and awareness levels of Kırşehir Ahi Evran University students and local people about climate change in Kırşehir. The main material of the research consisted of primary data obtained from 250 face-to-face surveys applied to students and the public. Related literatures are also secondary data. The survey questions include questions about the individual characteristics of the person (gender, age, education level, job), climate change awareness level, and the effects of climate change on agriculture and water resources. The obtained data were analyzed using SPSS 26.0 statistical package program. In the evaluation of the data, descriptive statistics, frequency tables and graphical representations were used. As a result of the analyzes performed using the Kruskall-Wallis test, it is seen that there are statistically significant differences between the education groups in the variables of climate change awareness level and climate change risk perception level (P0.05), and there was a statistically significant difference between the occupational group averages in the climate change risk perception level (P

It is required to increase the amount of coagulant enzyme substitutes obtained from various sources that are equivalent to animal rennet in order to meet the rising demand for cheese. This study looked into the availability of plant-based enzymes as an alternative to rennet made from animals and microorganisms, which are frequently employed in the manufacturing of white cheese. Using animal (100% chymosin), microbial (obtained from Muchor miehei), and plant-based (Safflower seed, 80% chymosin-20 percent pepsin, purified from Cartamus tinctorius L.) enzymes, 6 varieties of raw and pasteurized milk cheese were made for this purpose. The values of SH, ripening index, water-soluble nitrogen (WSN), nitrogen dissolved in trichloroacetic acid (TCA), and yeast-mold increased after storage in cheeses made with various coagulant enzymes. During storage, the values for dry matter, pH, protein, Total Aerobic Mesophilic Bacteria (TAMB), lactobacilli, lactococci and coliforms all reduced. In terms of L*, a* and b* values, different rennet usage was discovered to be significant among cheese samples. The casein protein began to hydrolyze and the strength of the bands decreased in SDS-PAGE with the breakdown of the αs-casein and β-casein fractions on the 90th day of maturation in P1 and P4 numbered cheeses, which used plant-based enzyme made from raw and pasteurized milk. These changes in casein fractions resulted in a bitter taste in cheese made with plant-based enzymes. The use of plant-based enzymes in the manufacturing of white cheese was shown to produce results that were comparable to those of animal and microbial enzymes and did not have any negative effects on the cheese's physicochemical and microbiological quality parameters. When making fresh white cheese, the plant-based enzyme extracted from Carthamus tinctorius L. can be employed as a promising source of plant coagulants.

This study was carried out to determine the effects of different openings onto the polyethylene (PE) packages used in storage of ‘Sultani Çekirdeksiz’ grape variety on quality, SO2 damage, pathological and physiological disorders of grapes. Grapes were harvested at full maturity and placed in PE bags with ‰0 (control), ‰0.5, ‰1 and ‰2 openings. After pre-cooling grapes in the case of SO2 pets were placed after the mouth of the bags were closed. Grapes were stored at 0°C and 90-95% relative humidity for 4 months, and quality changes were determined in monthly samples. SO2 concentrations detected at the end of storage in PE packages with ‰0, ‰0.5, ‰1 and ‰2 openings were 11.16, 5.80, 2.05 and 0,00 mg/kg respectively. It has been found that grapes in packages without opening had significant SO2 content and SO2 damage, especially the end of storage. However, grapes in packages with ‰2 openings had high weight loss and browning scores in stems. The results showed that ‘Sultani Çekirdeksiz’ grapes could be stored more successfully in PE packages with ‰0.5 openings. ‘Sultani Seedless’ grape variety, it may be suggested to use PE bags without openings for 2 and 3 months storage.

The purpose of this study was to explore the possibilities of improving chilling stress tolerance of eggplant seedlings through exogenous melatonin (MEL) application. Eggplant (Hadrian F1) seedlings were treated with various concentrations (0, 1, 5 or 25 μM) of MEL via soil drench after which they were subjected to chilling stress at 5°C/10°C (night/day) for 3 days. Following stress imposition, the efficacy of MEL applications on enhancing chilling stress tolerance was determined by several physical and physiological measurements and biochemical analyses. The results demonstrated that exogenous application of MEL alleviated the adverse effects of chilling stress in eggplant seedlings. Among the MEL concentrations tested, 5 µM was determined as the most effective concentration since antioxidant enzyme (CAT, POX and APOX) and photosynthetic activities increased while visual and membrane damage decreased in 5 µM MEL-treated seedlings. Also, these results are the first experimental evidence that exogenous application of MEL could improve chilling stress tolerance in eggplant, but further detailed studies are necessary to better understand the mechanism in acquiring chilling tolerance.