This study has been conducted to determine the fruit quality parameters such as sugar and carotenoid content as well as plant and fruit characteristics of 11 local watermelon genotypes from watermelon genetic resources collection of Cukurova University, Department of Horticulture. First and 50% male and female flowering period, main stem length, main stem diameter, number of nodes on main stem, total yield, fruit weight, fruit length, fruit diameter, fruit rind thickness, total soluble solids (TSS), sugar and carotenoid contents were examined. Although there is no significant difference for main stem diameter and number of nodes on the main stem, significant differences were obtained for total yield, sugar and carotenoid composition of the genotypes. Carotenoid and sugar analysis were performed with a high-performance liquid chromatographic method coupled with diode-array detector (HPLC-DAD) and HPLC coupled with refractive index detector (RID), respectively. In all studied genotypes, cis-13-lycopene and β-carotene were the most abundant compounds. As expected for watermelon genotypes, the main sugar found in all studied genotypes was fructose. According to PCA analyses, genotypes were characterized by physical and chemical composition. Overall evaluation of results revealed that Kar 147 had better potential with carotenoid, sugar contents and fruit characteristics.

This paper attempts to review the major sorghum production constraints, the progress and perspective on sorghum anthracnose (Colletotrichum sublineolum) resistance breeding. The importance of anthracnose in sorghum production and breeding for resistance status and progress were also primly discovered. Sorghum is an ancient environment resilient crop and believed to be a future crop due to its important merits like tolerant to stresses, wide adaptability and low input requirement. Insects and disease are major biotic impediments to realizing the yield potential of the crop. Anthracnose disease caused by Colletotrichum sublineolum is the most important disease that severely affecting the crop in all sorghum producing regions of the world. Research results revealed that anthracnose resulted in 30-50% or greater yield losses. Several management strategies such as, cultural, chemical and using resistance varieties have been developed. Employing host-plant resistance is the most economical and environmentally friendly approach which can successfully control the disease. Breeding assisted with molecular markers plays a great role in resistance breeding programme as it makes easy to screen large number of genotypes at once. Recent advancement of molecular breeding and bio-informatics tools are playing a significant role in efficiencies and precisions of resistance breeding. QTLs or genomic area for resistance were identified using traditional molecular markers and recent research results revealed discoveries of specific gene and locus using high throughput markers like SNPs using GWAS approach. The discovery of genes/QTL associated with the resistance trait, using the high through put molecular markers like SNPs, facilitates the easiest way for gene pyramiding from different individual genotypes to a single variety, introgression into adapted elite cultivar through marker assisted and editing genes for elite landraces to develop durable resistance varieties. Transgenic approach is now a day becoming a powerful tool to utilize novel alien genes for crop improvement including anthracnose resistance breeding in sorghum.

In this study, Hubbard Red JA57 genotype, which growing slowly in mixed sex, were examined in indoor (KYS) and free-range raising systems (SYS). The study was carried out at the Kahramanmaraş Sutcu Imam University (KSU), Animal Production Application and Research Center for 12 weeks. Each treatment was represented by 3 groups containing 28 male chick (total 168 chick). During the indoor treatment, the chicks were raised in floor pens in a conventional house (3.7 birds/m2). In the free-range treatment, the chickens were housed in a similar indoor house (3.7 birds/m2); in addition, they also had a free-range clover paddock (0.9 bird/m2). All birds were provided with the same diets as ad-libitum. In two different raising systems; live weight, feed consumption, feed conversion ratio, survival rate, carcass and parts rates, edible giblets weight and rates, testicular weights and rates, rectal temperature and tonic immobility were examined. Results showed that the weekly feed conversion ratio was found to be significant at the 11th week and the additive feed conversion ratio at the 12th week. The difference between the groups in terms of rectal temperature and tonic immobility values, testicular weights and rates were found to be significant. In terms of average interaction; While the average rates of hot carcass, cold carcass, back, breast meat and neck were the same, the averages of thigh, bony breast and wing ratios were different. The highest mean abdominal fat rate was found in KYS females, the highest average gizzard rate in SYS females, the highest mean liver in KYS females, and the highest heart weight in SYS males.

There are about 68 types of mulberry fruit with a wide ecological production area. Different mulberry species are grown in large fields in Turkey. Mulberries are largely dried-consumed, but sometimes they are used as fruit juice. In this study, black mulberry fruit was collected in two different ripening levels (semi-ripe and full-ripe) and oven-dried at 50, 60 and 70°C drying temperatures. Initial moisture contents of semi-ripe and full-ripe fruits were determined as 86.74% and 82.95%, respectively. Fruits were dried to have final moisture levels of 10-15%. Drying duration, drying models, effective diffusion, activation energy, specific energy consumption, color parameters and chemical properties of dried fruits were examined and the effect of ripening levels and drying temperatures were investigated. In terms of drying duration, while full-ripe fruits dried in a shorter time, effective diffusion, activation energy and specific energy consumption values were found to be higher than semi-ripe fruits. In terms of color parameters, semi-ripe fruits are recommended to be dried at 50 or 60°C drying temperatures and full-ripe fruits should be dried at 50°C drying temperature for better preservation of color parameters. On the other hand, a common proper drying temperature could not be identified for acidity (pH), water soluble dry matter and titratable acidity.

Oat is an important cereal used as human food, animal feed and medicinal plant. This study was conducted to determined yield and some physical quality characteristics of 22 oat genotypes in Turkey in rainfall and supplemented irrigation conditions during 2016-2017 growing season at Yozgat/Yerköy, Turkey. Experiments were carried out in randomized complete block design with three replications. In the trials, plant height, panicle length, grain yield, biological yield, thousand grain weight, hectoliter weight and groat percentage were investigated. İn non-irrigated conditions, plant height, panicle length, grain yield, biological yield, thousand grain weight, hectolitre weight and groat percentage were between 54.2-86.2 cm, 14.1-23.3 cm, 116.9-288.1 kg da-1, 593.1-938.9 kg da-1, 24.1- 38.5 g, 40.4-48.4 kg and 63.5-73.6% whereas in supplemented irrigation conditions, plant height, panicle length, grain yield, biological yield, thousand grain weight, hectolitre weight and groat percentage were 65.0-98.7 cm, 15.3-25.7 cm, 226.1-439.6 kg da-1, 979.2-1381.9 kg da-1, 24.2-39.3 g, 43.5-51.0 kg and 62.5-73.0%, respectively. Supplemented irrigation application increased both grain yield and biological yield approximately 1.5 times compared to application based on rainfall. Genotypes G9, G10, G12, G13, G14, G17, G18, G21 and G22 had the highest grain yield in experiments irrigated with both rainfall and supplemented irrigation.

Honey bee queen quality is a critical factor of colony performance. Indications of such qualities can manifest themselves through morphological traits such as wet weight and thorax width. Improving such characteristics is driven in part by nutritional provision in queen-cell-builder hives. We investigated the potential to improve queen quality by adding coenzyme Q10 (endogenous antioxidant) and caffeine (central nervous system stimulator) to feeder syrup in queen-cell-builder colonies for 15 and 20 days prior to grafting, two sets of queens were reared. We recorded subsequent wet weight, body length, head width and length, thorax and wing width and length, and spermathecae diameter. The queen-cell acceptance rate was not affected by either treatment or graft period. Coenzyme Q10 increased wet weight, body and wing length in the first graft, and thorax width, wing length and spermathecae diameter in the second graft. The caffeine treatment increased head and thorax length in first graft and thorax width in the second. A mix of the two substances (coenzyme Q10 and caffeine) increased head width in the first graft and spermathecae diameter in the second graft. This study suggests that the application of coenzyme Q10 to cell-builder colonies at least 15 days prior to grafting can increase reared wet weight (the most significant quality indicator) and thorax width of queen bees.

Mushrooms contain a variety of secondary metabolites, including various phenolic compounds, which have been shown to act as excellent antioxidants. In this study, the contents of total phenolic, flavonoids and tannins of mushrooms methanolic extracts were evaluated by colorimetric assays to ranges of 277.36±0.66 to 420.86±0.90 mg (GAE)/100g DW; 31.99±0.90 to 90.90±0.07mg (QE)/100g DW and 150.61±0.16 to 220.47±1.01mg (TAE)/100g DW respectively. HPLC-profiles of methanolic extracts indicated that the individual phenolic compounds found to the samples of the species of mushrooms that are Lentinus squarrosulus and Auricularia politrich revealed us that gallic acid, catechin, acid ρ-hydroxybenzoїc, acid ellagique and naringerin were presented to the level of the two species. With respect to organic acids, the results showed that citric acid and fumaric acid was the major organic acid in all the samples of both mushrooms species. The methanolic extracts of the two mushrooms exhibited the high DPPH radical scavenging activities ranging from 34.10±1.12 to 58.95±0.52%. These data indicated that these mushrooms could constitute a potential good source of natural antioxidant for the local population.

This study established an efficient in vitro callus formation and plant regeneration protocol for a prevıously reported Cu accumulator, Brassica nigra, black mustard collected from Diyarbakir (Station site). Node explants from 10-day old mature plants were used for callus formation and shoot regeneration. The highest callus formation frequency (100%) was observed on Murasige Skoog (MS) medium containing 0.1 mg/L Benzylaminopurine (BAP) + 0.5 mg/L Naphthylacetic acid (NAA) (MS 2), 0.6 mg/L BAP + 0.2 mg/L NAA (MS 7), the highest shoot regeneration frequency (100%) was achieved on MS medium containing 0.6 mg/L BAP + 0.05 mg/L Indole butyric acid (IBA) (MS 8), 0.2 mg/L IBA + 0.2 mg/L NAA (MS 10) and the highest number of shoots per explant (3,25) was obtained on MS medium supplemented 0.6 mg/L BAP + 0.05 mg/L IBA (MS 8). After root, stem, and leaf formation from explants in MS medium, these plants were transferred to soil and grown in the plant growth room for one month. A dependable and effective shoot regeneration procedure was developed, laying the groundwork for genetic transformation in Brassica nigra.

The study examined the constraints of access to the use of agricultural insurance schemes (AIS) by small-scale farmers in Kogi State, Nigeria. Sustainable agricultural enterprise in most developing countries like Nigeria can be achieved through adequate financing especially in the area of agricultural insurance. Despite the existence of insurance services by the Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation and other private firms in Nigeria, there has been a low level of participation of farmers buying insurance premium; thus, there is a need to examine the hindrances in accessing the scheme. The specific objectives were to describe the socio-economics characteristic of small- scale farmers, examine the types of agricultural insurance and evaluate the constraints in accessing AIS in the study area. Primary data were collected from 150 farmers with the aid of a well-structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results showed that farmers in the study area were dominated by the married (68%), literates (81.33) and males (73.33%) with the mean age and farming experience of 47 and 19 years respectively. Crop insurance (56%) and farm implement insurance (46%) were the major types of agricultural insurance used by the farmers. Rigorous procedures in claim settlement (3.266), poor government attention (3.106) poor repayment (3.080) and non-coverage of all the crops (3.093) were among the major challenges in accessing AIS) in the study area. The study recommended that the government through the ministry of Agriculture or Bank of Agriculture should eliminate the bureaucratic processes and bottlenecks encountered by the farmers in accessing AIS.

In this study aimed to determine the effect of ultrasound and microwave assisted extraction on fatty acids yield. Fatty acid components of Tamarindus Indica (T. Indica) seed were determined using ultrasound assisted microwave extraction method. T. Indica is cultivated in the tropics and in Egypt and India. Its fruits are 12-15 cm long, brown and leguminous. In addition to its positive effects on the digestive system, it is an excellent source of vitamin C and a rich antioxidant. It has also been proven beneficial in keeping blood sugar balanced. Fatty acid components were determined by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy (GC-MS) method. In addition, the effects of the solvent on the fatty acid yield were investigated. When the results of the analysis were examined, the highest yield was obtained when ethyl alcohol and methyl alcohol were used as solvents. Another important solvent is acetone. The least product was achieved when hexane was used as solvent. Linoleic acid and arachidic acid were detected in each type of solvent used. Capric acid, ligroseric acid and nervotic acid, which are important fatty acids, are detected only in methyl alcohol extraction. The ultrasound assisted microwave extraction method was found to be much faster than the traditional Soxhlet extraction method.