Cucurbitaceae family fruits, especially melons, offers significant quantities of minerals carotenoids and phenolic compounds, contributing to their antioxidant activity. However, seeds of these fruits are usually discarded as waste by products. In current study, seeds of watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) and muskmelon (Cucumis melo) were separated, dried, grounded and extracted, with 70% ethanol, to investigate total phenolic content (TPC), flavonoid content (TFC), carotenoid content (TC) content, and total antioxidant activity (TAA). Further, antimicrobial activities of these extracts were tested against selected bacterial and fungus strains. Results showed that extracts of both cucurbits presented significant amounts of phytochemicals, with higher quantities presented by watermelon seeds. In watermelon seeds, TPC were found 156.50 mg/GAE 100 g, TFC 56.78 mg CE/100 g, TC 36.65 mg/100 g, and TAA 71%, and these amounts were significantly higher than those found in muskmelon seeds. Antimicrobial study results showed that extracts of both seeds exhibited significant zone of inhibitions against three bacterial and three fungal species, and these values were very comparable to the reference antimicrobial drug used, Ciprofloxacin. Findings of current research work provided significant grounds for presence of phytochemical bioactives in two melon fruits seeds, providing the basis for extraction and utilization of these bioactives, through processing and fortification different pharma foods.

En el noroccidente de Popayán, Colombia, se evaluó la presencia de plagas causadas por patógenos en 42 clones de lulo (Solanum quitoense Lam.). Los clones fueron plantados en bolsas plásticas, donde se desarrollaron por 3 semanas antes de ser trasplantados al campo. Se utilizó un diseño de bloques completos al azar con cuatro repeticiones, la parcela útil estuvo conformada por 6 plantas, las cuales se sembraron a tresbolillo a 2.5 m entre surcos y 2 m entre plantas. Para determinar el efecto de las plagas en el cultivo, se calculó el porcentaje de incidencia y severidad del ataque. La incidencia se evaluó como porcentaje de plantas afectadas, y la severidad como porcentaje de tejido afectado por el patógeno. Las enfermedades más limitantes para los 42 clones fueron: gota (Phytophthora infestans) que provocó una mortalidad de plantas superior a 40%; fusarium (Fusarium oxysporum) que se presentó en 12 de los clones evaluados; antracnosis (Colletotrichum sp.) que afectó 21 clones, los cuales se clasificaron entre tolerantes y medianamente tolerantes; y mancha clorótica (Cladosporium sp.) que afectó 21 clones, clasificados como susceptibles. Los clones PL19, PL24, PL11, PL35 fueron medianamente tolerantes. Se seleccionaron por supervivencia los clones: JY E1 (52.2%), PH E 1 (45.8%), VM E2 (45.8%); por supervivencia y por tolerancia a Fusarium oxysporum los clones PL35, PL11, PL24, PL8, PL19, 120052, 120043, ORE1, AGE1. Los clones SER 7, SER 15, SER 9, SEC 31, SEC 27 presentaron alta mortalidad pero se seleccionaron por ser medianamente tolerantes a gota, tolerantes a antracnosis y medianamente resistentes a nematodos, con buen vigor y producción. | Presence of plant disease caused by pathogens on 42 clones of Solanum quitoense Lam. were evaluated in the north-western region of Popayán, Colombia. The seed of the clons were planted in plastic bags during three weeks and afterwards transplanted to the field. The statistical design consisted of a complete randomized block design with 4 repetitions, the working sampling plot consisted on 6 plants arranged in triangles at distances of 2 m within rows, the inter row distance was 2,5 m. The incidence and severity percentages of damage were evaluated to determine the disease effects. The first incidence was evaluated as the affected plants percentage and severity, as percentage of plant tissue affected by the pathogen. The most limiting diseases for the 42 clones were Phytophthora infestans, which produced mortality more than 40%; Fusarium oxysporum affected 12 of the evaluated clons; Colletotrichum sp. affecting 21 clones which were classified as tolerant and fairly tolerant; and Cladosporium sp., affecting 21 clones and were classified as susceptible, while the clons PL19, PL24, PL11, PL35 were considered fairly tolerant. The clones JY E1 (52.2%), PH E 1 (45.8%), VM E2 (45.8%) were selected by survival; by tolerance to Fusarium oxysporum the clones PL35, PL11, PL24, PL8, PL19, 120052, 120043, ORE1, AGE1; and the clones SER 7, SER 15, SER 9, SEC 31, and SEC 27, were selected due to their fair tolerance to Phytophthora infestans, and Colletotrichum sp and their fair resistance against nematodes, proving to be vigorous and productive.

O estudo dos componentes do balanço de água no solo é essencial para se compreender sua dinâmica, fornecendo subsídios para o manejo agrícola e otimização do uso de água. O presente trabalho objetivou determinar os componentes do balanço de água em solo cultivado com mamona sob condições de sequeiro. Para tal foram instalados, numa área de 4 ha da Fazenda Experimental Chã do Jardim, do Centro de Ciências Agrárias da UFPB, Areia, PB (6o 58' S, 35o 41' W e 620 m) três sítios tensio-neutrônicos cada um contendo um tubo de acesso para a sonda de nêutrons até a profundidade de 1,60 m e oito tensiômetros nas profundidades de 0,10; 0,20; 0,30; 0,40; 0,60; 0,80; 1,20 e 1,60 m, além de um pluviógrafo para medir a precipitação. Com vista à determinação da condutividade hidráulica saturada do solo, foram realizados ensaios de infiltração na superfície e nas profundidades de 0,20; 0,40; 0,60 e 0,80 m. A evapotranspiração da mamona seguiu as variações da precipitação e teve valor médio de 2,43 mm d-1, perfazendo o total de 342,52 mm. As variações do armazenamento de água no solo seguiram as variações da precipitação pluvial e o fluxo de água na base do solo (ascensão capilar ou drenagem) tiveram valores muito pequenos.<br>The study of water balance components is essential to understand the dynamics of soil water, providing subsidies to agricultural management and optimization of water use. The objective of this study was to determine the water balance components in a soil cultivated with castor bean under rainfed conditions. An experiment was installed in a 4 ha area in the Centro de Ciências Agrárias, UFPB, in the municipality of Areia, Paraiba state (6o 58' S, 35o 41' W e 620 m), a rain gauge and three plots contained an access tube for neutron probe measurements, up to the depth of 1.60 m, and a set of eight tensiometers at depths of 0.10, 0.20, 0.30, 0.40, 0.60, 0.80, 1.20 and 1.60 m. Infiltration tests were performed on soil surface and 0.20, 0.40, 0.60 and 0.80 m depth for the determination of the saturated hydraulic conductivity of soil. It was verified that the evapotranspiration of castor bean followed the variations of rainfall with the mean and total values of 2.43 mm d-1 and 342.5 mm, respectively. The variation of soil moisture storage change followed the variations in rainfall and the flux of water crossing the last soil layer (capillarity rise or drainage) had very small values.

This research was carried out to determine the pollination abilities of Domat, Gemlik and Sarı Ulak olive cultivars. Pollen viability rate, germination rate and amount of pollen production were examined during the periods when 25%, 50% and 75% of the flowers were opened.  According to the results obtained from three years’ experimental study, the highest percentages of pollen viability were found in Gemlik (81.51%) and Domat (81.50%), whereas Sarı Ulak cultivar (77.41%) showed the lowest viability. In pollen germination percentages, the highest values on the basis of cultivars were determined 59.85% (Domat), 59.74% (Gemlik) and 52.12% (Sarı Ulak). The highest amount of pollen production in a flower was found in the Sarı Ulak cultivar (329,046) while it was followed by Domat (319,693) and Gemlik (306,385). Despite the high pollen production in Sarı Ulak cultivar, the pollen viability and germination rates were found to be low. In Gemlik and Domat cultivars, all values were obtained relatively near. In addition, it had been noted that the values related to pollen viability, germination and production amount were higher during 50% and 75% flowering periods than 25%.

In this work, two methods based on microwave-assisted extraction techniques for the extraction of both anthocyanins and total phenolic compounds from açai have been developed. For that, a full factorial design (Box-Behnken design) has been used to optimize the following four variables: solvent composition (25–75% methanol in water), temperature (50–100 °C), pH (2–7), and sample/solvent ratio (0.5 g: 10 mL–0.5 g: 20 mL). The anthocyanins and total phenolic compounds content have been determined by ultra high-pressure liquid chromatography and Folin-Ciocalteu method, respectively. The optimum conditions for the extraction of anthocyanins were 38% MeOH in water, 99.63 °C, pH 3.00, at 0.5 g: 10 mL of ratio, while for the extraction of total phenolic compounds they were 74.16% MeOH in water, 99.14 °C, pH 5.46, at 0.5 g: 20 mL of ratio. Both methods have shown a high repeatability and intermediate precision with a relative standard deviation lower than 5%. Furthermore, an extraction kinetics study was carried out using extraction periods ranging from 2 min until 25 min. The optimized methods have been applied to açai-containing real samples. The results with such real samples have confirmed that both methods are suitable for a rapid and reliable extraction of anthocyanins and total phenolic compounds.

In this work, two methods based on microwave-assisted extraction techniques for the extraction of both anthocyanins and total phenolic compounds from acai have been developed. For that, a full factorial design (Box-Behnken design) has been used to optimize the following four variables: solvent composition (25-75% methanol in water), temperature (50-100 degrees C), pH (2-7), and sample/solvent ratio (0.5 g: 10 mL-0.5 g: 20 mL). The anthocyanins and total phenolic compounds content have been determined by ultra high-pressure liquid chromatography and Folin-Ciocalteu method, respectively. The optimum conditions for the extraction of anthocyanins were 38% MeOH in water, 99.63 degrees C, pH 3.00, at 0.5 g: 10 mL of ratio, while for the extraction of total phenolic compounds they were 74.16% MeOH in water, 99.14 degrees C, pH 5.46, at 0.5 g: 20 mL of ratio. Both methods have shown a high repeatability and intermediate precision with a relative standard deviation lower than 5%. Furthermore, an extraction kinetics study was carried out using extraction periods ranging from 2 min until 25 min. The optimized methods have been applied to acai-containing real samples. The results with such real samples have confirmed that both methods are suitable for a rapid and reliable extraction of anthocyanins and total phenolic compounds.

In this research; the current situation and problems of the cold storages in the province of Van have been studied. In this direction, 21 cold storages registered in Directorate of Van Provincial Agriculture and Forestry were visited and on-site investigations were made. The findings obtained as a result of the surveys made with their owners by considering the features of the cold storages such as the structural and mechanization status, the type of stored product have been effective in identifying problems and suggesting solutions. It is used for white meat and eggs 29% of cold storages, 29% for milk and dairy products, 29% for red meat and 13% for fruit and vegetable storage. In addition, there are 17 fruit and vegetable warehouses, 13 of which are unused, that are not registered in Directorate of Van Provincial Agriculture and Forestry, and these were excluded from the research because they were not registered. The most important problems in warehouses were experienced during the Covid- 19 pandemic process. Lack of the technical capacity, machinery and equipment, qualified personnel, the marketing problems, maintenance and repair, rent, electricity and water expenses are the main ones. Improvement of its structural properties, modern mechanization device, establishment of unions that will enable warehouse owners to act together, eliminating the lack of qualified personnel with Van Yuzuncu Yil University, one of the most important educational institutions in the region and measures to increase export potential will play an important role in solving the problems.

At the Miravalle farm, located at Florida, Cauca Valley, at southwest of Colombia (3° 20' N, 76° 14'0 and 1150 m of altitude), it was done this experiment an area representative of INCEPTISOL soils acids (pH 5.8-6.3). Mean temperature 25°C and mean anual rainfall 1339 mm. Were used 4 fields of 4 ha each one; two of them had B. decumbens alone and the other two B. decumbens plus C. acutifolium CIAT 5568. Each pasture was grazed in alternating way using 21 days of occupation and 21 days of rest. There was a fixed animal charge of 1.5 animal units per ha. The sampling method was the BOTANAL-2. The green dry matter coming from the grass (GDMG), and from legume (GDML); and the total dry matter (TMD), were always higher for the associate pasture in relation to the alone pasture all over the experiment, with means of 4.627 vs. 2.296; 689 vs. 45  and 6.476 vs. 3.698 kg/ha, for GDMG, GDML and TDM respectively. In contrast, green dry matter coming from the weeds (GDMW) and the inert plant material (GDMI) were superior for the alone pasture with means of 345 vs. 265 and 798 vs. 631 kg/ha for GDMW and GDMI, respectively. The botanical composition had more stable proportions on the associate pasture than on the alone pasture; having higher percentages in grass, 72 vs. 65% and legume, 11 vs. 1% and lower percentages in weeds, 4 vs. 9% and inert planta material, 9 vs. 22%, respectively. The frequency of presence of species showed similar values between the two pastures, for the grass frequency, 96 vs. 98%, and for the other species, 11 vs. 9%; but higher for the associated pasture at the legume frequency, 81 vs. 12%, in relation to the alone pasture. Also for the associate pasture were obtained lower values for weeds frequency, 47 vs. 52%, and inert plant material, 84 vs. 97%, respectively. Uncover soils, for the associate pasture was lower, 5% than the alone pasture, 16%. The percentage of protein was higher in the legume C. acutifolium 15.3%. For B. decumbens in associate pasture was more higher 6.4% than alone pasture 5.2 %. The IN VITRO digestibility for the dry matter (IVDM) was lower for th C. acutifolium , related to the B. decumbens in associate pasture and m alone pasture, with means of 37.9, 55,2 and 55,2% respectively. | La investigación se realizó en Florida, Valle del Cauca, al suroccidente de Colombia (3° 20' N; 76° 14' 0; 1150 m de altitud, temperatura media 25°C; precipitación media anual de 1.339 m) en un área de suelos INCEPTISOLES ligeramente ácidos (pH 5.8-6.3). Se utilizaron 4 praderas de 4 ha, cada una, dos de ellas establecidas con B. decumbens solo y las otras dos con B. decumbens asociado, las cuales se pastorearon en forma alterna cada 21 días asignándose una carga de 1.5 animales/ha. Las evaluaciones se realizaron utilizando el método de muestreo de BOTANAL-2. Hubo mayor disponibilidad de Materia Seca Verde de gramínea (MSVG) y de leguminosa (MSVL), así como de Materia Seca Total (MST) en la pastura asociada que en la pastura sola, a través de todos los períodos de medición, con medias de 4.627 vs. 2.296; 689 vs 45; kg/ha y 6.476 vs. 3.698 kg/ha respectivamente. En contraste hubo menor disponibilidad de Materia Seca Verde de malezas (MSVM) y la del material inerte (MSMI) en la pastura asociada en relación a la pastura sola, con medias de 265 vs 345 y 631 vs 798 kg/ha, respectivamente. La composición botánica presentó proporciones más estables y mayores de gramínea 72% y de leguminosa 11%en la pastura asociada, que en la pastura sola con 65 y 1%, respectivamente. La frecuencia de presencia de B. decumbens fue similar en las pasturas asociada, 96% y sola 98%. La frecuencia de C. acutifolium fue mayor en la pastura asociada 81%, que en la pastura sola 12%. Así mismo, en la pastura asociada se obtuvieron los menores valores en la frecuencia de malezas 47% y material inerte 84% que en la pastura sola con 52 y 97% respectivamente. El porcentaje de suelo descubierto fue menor en la pastura asociada, 5%, que en la pastura sola 16%. El contenido de proteína en la C. acutifolium fue de 15.3%. En B. decumbens fue mayor en la pastura asociada 6.4%, que en la pastura sola con 5.2%. La Digestibilidad IN VITRO de la Materia Seca (DIVMS) de C. acutifolium fue de 37.9%. En B. decumbens, fue similar en las dos pasturas con 55.2%.Trabajo de investigación realizado dentro del programa colaborativo entre el Fondo Ganadero del Valle del Cauca y el Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical CIAT. La investigación, se hizo acreedora al Premio Nacional a la "Mejor Investigación en Bovinos", otorgado por el Bando Ganadero en el 18° CongresoNacional de Medicina Veterinaria y de Zootecnia, realizado en agosto de 1992.