Tea (Camellia sinensis) is one of the most popular nonalcoholic beverages in the world. During tea infusion, both essential mineral elements and toxic metals are extracted into the beverage. In oriental countries, almost a liter of tea is consumed daily by an average adult. Thus, high toxic elements in traditional teas can be of concern. Aim of the study was to determine the essential element contents and toxic heavy metal concentrations in tea products available on the market in Turkey and comparing the contents of infusion for Turkish and Ceylon black and green tea types. The associated health risk to tea drinkers were estimated with reference to Tolerable Daily Intake (TDI) Values from US EPA for adults and children. Among the essential elements in all of the black teas purchased from the market, K was present at the highest concentration followed by Mg, Ca and Al. Pb and Mn contents of several tea samples were found over the Tolerable Daily Intake levels.

Oregano, which grows widely in the temperate regions of Europe, Asia and North Africa, has been known as a medicinal plant since ancient times. Thyme used in the spice industry and in the pharmaceutical industry due to its anti-fungal and antiseptic properties because it has an aromatic smell, also contains some vitamins and minerals that humans and animals need. The use of oregano, which comes to the forefront in the feeding of small ruminants during the times when animal feeds are scarce in our country, is becoming more and more important in small head and poultry production and good agriculture and organic farming applications due to some secondary metabolites it contains.

An 8-week experiment was conducted to study the effect of added Natuphos® 5000 phytase in corn–soybean meal-based diets on laying hens fed different levels of crude protein (CP) (14 and 17%). Two levels of phytase enzyme were used: 0 and 600 Phytase Units (FTU)/kg feed. The experiment used 144 Hisex Brown laying hens in a 2 × 2 factorial design. Four treatments and three replicates per treatment with 12 hens per replicate were used. Egg production was recorded daily while egg weight was assessed on 13th and 14th day of each two-week period to calculate total egg mass. Total excreta were collected and approximately 10% of the amount was used for analysis after drying in a forced draft oven. The results showed no significant effect of added phytase on excreta Calcium (Ca) content, but significantly lower Magnesium (Mg) content was observed with phytase (3.54, 2.48, 3.13 and 2.75 % for hens fed 14% CP no phytase, 14% CP + phytase, 17% CP no phytase, and 17% CP + phytase, respectively). Added phytase also significantly decreased Mg excretion measured as grams/kg of egg mass (21.43, 12.47, 16.76 and 14.75 g/kg egg mass for hens of respective dietary treatments. Phytase had a strong effect on Zink (Zn) levels with 438.96, 369.17, 434.38 and 374.58 mg Zn/kg dry excreta of hens. Similar results were observed with Cu. Added phytase significantly reduced the excreta content and the excretion of Cu. The results of this experiment indicate that adding 600 FTU to laying hen diets containing 14% CP decreases the excretion of Mg, Zn and Cu without any adverse effects on the egg mass produced of laying hens.

This study was conducted to collect, preserve and identify local oat genotypes grown in the Central and Western Black Sea region. Within the scope of the research, 251 local oat genotypes were collected from the places where they were cultivated in Düzce, Bolu, Zonguldak, Karabük, Kastamonu, Ordu, Sinop, Samsun, Amasya and Tokat provinces. The collected genotypes together with 4 standard oat varieties were taken into field trial in Ondokuz Mayıs University Faculty of Agriculture Research and Application field according to Augmented trial design in 2008 and 2009 growing seasons. As a result of the study, it was found that there were significant variations in terms of the parameters examined. Among the genotypes, the growth pattern of the 229 genotypes was perpendicular, The cluster genotypes of 163 genotypes were scattered, 132 genotypes were yellow in color, 157 genotypes were strongly stringy and 154 genotypes had callus hairiness. When the Matrix table was examined, it was found that the local genotypes with semi-horizontal growth pattern were not found in Amasya, Karabük, Kastamonu, Samsun and Tokat locations. In particular, parameters such as growth type, cluster type, color of husk, awn condition and callus hairiness. it provides ease of identification, since it does not affect the environmental conditions. In the light of this information, it is thought that the genetic variation is high in terms of ecology in which local genotypes are collected and will be beneficial for the protection of our genetic resources and for the future of national agriculture.

Coffee is one of the most valuable cash crops in Rwanda. Coffee production in Rwanda stands high among three different export crops such as tea, pyrethrum, and was recently set as priority crop where more attention should be concentrated. This study estimates the impact of climate change and variation on coffee yield in Huye district, southern province of Rwanda. In this research both secondary and primary data were used and primary data were gathered from a random sample of 110 households in HUYE District. Coffee farmers were interviewed in August-September 2016 using structured questionnaires that were administered to household’s heads via person-interviews. Climate data (temperature and precipitation) were collected from the Rwanda Meteorological Station located in RUBONA Station. The results from climate change model has revealed that approximately 74% of change in the coffee production during the last 17 years was explained by climate factors jointly. The results indicate that coffee farms near Huye Mountain are highly vulnerable to precipitation variation like erosion during heavy rain in March through May and drought from June through August.

Encapsulation is a technology applied to cover an active material with various materials. In the food industry, encapsulation techniques are applied to protect sensitive components against environmental factors, increase bioavailability of nutrients, controlled release and mask flavor and odor. Nanocapsules are obtained when the size of the obtained encapsulated materials is less than 1 μm. There are many methods for the production of nanocapsules, which are classified as lipid formulation-based nanoencapsulation technologies, natural nanocarrier-based nanoencapsulation technologies, specialized equipment based nanoencapsulation technologies, biopolymer nanoparticle-based nanoparticle technologies and other nanoencapsulation technologies. In this review, information on these technologies used in the nanoencapsulation of food components in accordance with this classification is presented.

In this study, the effects of two different irrigation regimes (IR100 and IR50) and three different mulch materials (grey, black, transparent and control) on the soil moisture and some pomological characteristics on strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa cv. Fortuna) were examined under Spanish type high tunnels which Turkey is the fourth producer in the world. As a result of the study, soil moisture content under the grey mulch (34.3%) in IR100 (397 mm) applications was highest during the vegetation period and it was followed by black (33.4%), transparent (27.3%) and control (23.9%) applications respectively. The control application is very close to the wilting point in IR50 (288 mm) irrigation regime and the water content increases with mulching via the highest moisture content is in grey (26.3%), black (24.9%) and transparent (23.8%). In addition to the increase in the yield of strawberries with increasing amount of irrigation water, the average fruit weight increased significantly. As well as positive effects such as weed control, soil moisture preservation, of mulching also the fruit size were significantly increased. It was determined that the best fruit sizes were obtained from plants using gray mulch, followed by black mulch which was widely used commercially. The lowest value was obtained from control parcels. The amount of water-soluble dry matter (WSDM) increased significantly with decreasing irrigation water. The mulch types used had no significant effect on WSMD, and the value varied between 7.9 and 8.2%. Even if the effect of irrigation levels on the fruit hardness is insignificant, it is determined that the increasing irrigation water has a positive effect on the hardness of the fruit. Consequently, the most effective agricultural application in different mulch and irrigation water applications is Gary IR100. However, it is important to evaluate this judgment economically in order to be offered to the producer.

Laetiporus sulphureus (Bull.: Fr.) Murr. is popularly known as “sulphur polypore” or “chicken of the woods” due to its characteristic sulphur yellow coloured polypore’s and chicken-like taste and texture. This edible wild mushroom has been traditionally consumed as a source of nutrition and folk medicine in Asia and Europe for a long time. The numerous studies have shown that L. sulphureus nutritionally provides various key components such as carbohydrate, essential amino acids and fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, and fibre. Besides, the extracts prepared from fruiting bodies or mycelia of this mushroom have exhibited a number of medicinal properties such as immunomodulation, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antihyperglysemic activities because of their biologically active components such as phenolics, triterpenes, and polysaccharides. L. sulphureus is also a suitable candidate to be used as a natural food preserving source.

In this study, we investigated the effect of SNP haplotypes on insulin-like growth factor gene (IGF-1) related with weights of body, back, chest, leg and wing in the fifteen generation selected Japanese quail (C. coturnix japonica) lines according to the 5th week live weight. 8 SNP haplotypes were identified in the 167-bp DNA sequence of the IGF-1 gene coding region identified in a total of 108 individuals from three quail lines (control, high body weight: HBW and low body weight: LBW). ANOM (Analysis of Means of Analysis) was performed to determine the relationships between carcass components with SNP haplotypes and to compare quail genotypes. There were significant differences between the quail lines in terms of SNP haplotypes. As a result, it was determined that fifteen-generation selection in Japanese quails resulted in differences in insulin-like growth factor-1 gene and these differences were reflected in carcass components.

Poor soil fertility is important constraints that limited crop production in Ethiopia. The Masha district was highly prone to phosphorus fixation with ions like Aluminum ion since soil of the area is prone to acidity. This experiment was therefore conducted to investigate the effect of of phosphorus fertilizer with agricultural lime, coffee husk ash and coffee husk charcoal on yield of faba bean and agronomic efficiency of the fertilizer on acidic soils of Masha district. Field experiment involving two rates of phosphorus (23 and 46 kg P2O5/ha) and the three soil amendments was in randomized complete block design with three replication. The result indicated that significantly high grain yield was obtained from integrated application of 46 kg P2O5/ha with the agricultural lime, coffee husk ash and coffee husk charcoal with the observed values of 2265, 1953 and 1943 kg/ha, respectively. Agronomic efficiency significantly great values were obtained from treated with the agricultural lime+23 kg P2O5/ha, agricultural lime+46 kg P2O5/ha, coffee husk ash+23 kg P2O5/ha and coffee husk charcoal+23 kg P2O5/ha with the observed values of 14.86, 14.60 and 10.07, respectively. It can be concluded that 46 kg P2O5 with 2.5 ton agricultural lime, 7.5 ton coffee husk ash or 7.5 ton coffee husk charcoal per hectare on acid soils for high yield and yield components on faba bean at Masha district. When 23 kg P2O5/ha was integrated with the soil amendments, relatively high agronomic efficiency was observed.