A 3×3 factorial arrangement of treatments in a completely randomized design was used to find out the combined effect of milk source {cow (CM), buffalo (BM) and mixed (CM:BM 1:1 ratio)} and the method of acidification {starter culture (SC): Streptococcus thermophilus, acetic acid (AA) and citric acid (CA)} of cheese milk on properties of Mozzarella cheese. Cheese made using BM and acidified with SC served as the control. Main effects of milk source and method of acidification of cheese milk showed a significant effect on yield of cheese whereas interaction effect was not observed. A significant interaction effect between milk source and method of acidification of cheese milk was observed for fat and protein percentages, meltability, b* value and sensory properties of resultant cheese. Fat and protein content was significantly higher in cheese made from BM acidified using AA and in control, respectively. Meltability was superior in Mozzarella cheese manufactured from CM acidified using CA compared to the control. Sensorily, Mozzarella cheese manufactured from mixed milk (CM: BM 1:1 ratio) acidified using CA obtained the highest mean score for all the sensory attributes and was significantly superior compared to the control. Therefore, the milk source and the method of acidification of cheese milk are closely linked to the yield and the quality characteristics of Mozzarella cheese and hence, careful selection of raw materials and manipulation of processing conditions are required to get an optimum quality end product.

This study compared the forage quality of Cajanus cajan, Stylosanthes mucronata, Tephrosia purpurea, and Securinega virosa in the savanna ecological zone of Ghana. The shrubs were cultivated using Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) and their growth were monitored. Leaf samples were hand-harvested at 7, 10, and 13 weeks after establishment, air-dried, pulverised, and used for laboratory analysis. Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), Potassium (K), Calcium (Ca), and Magnesium (Mg) were determined. N, P, K, Ca and Mg contents among the shrubs ranged from 0.74 - 0.79%, 1.32 - 1.99%, 7.63 - 10.09%, 2.22 - 3.06 and 1.08 - 1.38%, respectively. Stylosanthes mucronata was significantly lowest in both P (1.318%) and K (7.63%), whilst Securinega virosa was significantly highest in K (10.09%). Among the three maturity levels, N, P, K, Ca and Mg contents ranged from 0.31 – 1.05%, 1.51 - 1.93%, 7.46 - 10.43%, 2.63 - 2.67% and 1.28 - 1.30%, respectively. Except for P, which was significantly lowest at 10 weeks after establishment (WAE), N and K were significantly highest at 7 WAE and lowest at 10 and 13 WAE, respectively. It was observed that the shrub species and maturity levels influence the nutrient content of forage shrubs.

‘Lafun” was enriched with soy protein supplements (curd or residue) during the mashing before drying at 10%. The amino acid result indicated that enrichment improved the amino acids contents as well as the protein quality of the products. While enrichment generally improved the mineral element composition, enrichment with the residue significantly improved the mineral composition when compared to enrichment curd. That the products were hygienically produced was confirmed by the non-detection of heavy metals which may suggest it safety for human consumption. Condensed tannins, phytate, oxalate, hydrogen cyanide and trypsin inhibitor were tested as possible anti-nutritional factors in the product and the values obtained were within safe level and correlated with those reported in previous or similar studies. It was concluded that enrichment with soy curd/residue is a safe and viable means to improve the nutritional benefits derivable from “Lafun” especially for those that ‘Lafun” is a major staple.

Natural products have gained great interest due to their broad spectrum of biological activities and bioactive compounds. In this study, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized using Astragalus logopodioides L. by green approach. The structure of AgNPs was elucidated by spectroscopic techniques. UV-Vis spectrum presented the maximum absorption of AgNPs as 419 nm. The crystal structure of AgNPs was assigned as face centered cubic by X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) established morphology of AgNPs with an average size of 36.4 nm. A. logopodioides included the bioactive compounds, So, AgNPs capped by these compounds could be valuable substances for food and pharmaceutical applications.

The Myrtle plant (Myrtus communis L.) is a plant species of the Myrtaceae family and a member of the maquis community, which naturally spreads in Mediterranean regions. Being resistant to arid conditions, the ecological distribution areas of the myrtle plant have been allowed to expand. The myrtle plant has been used of medicinal and aromatic plants, having interesting and beautiful flowers, and rich nutrient content of the fruit in terms of valuable phytochemicals, in particular, the nutritional content of its fruits and valuable metabolites have allowed the myrtle plant to be among the healthier foods. Antioxidant activity, which neutralizes reactive oxygen species (ROS), which causes many medical problems, is one of the most important features of the myrtle plant. Investigation of the biosynthesis of anthocyanin, which leads to antioxidant activity, and determination of the biosynthesis in different tissues and genotypes is important, especially in the development of production activities. Furthermore, this study aimed to investigate the anthocyanin biosynthesis in different genotypes with white and black fruits and various tissues of genotypes. For this purpose, the expression levels of CHS, CHI, F3H and PAL genes, which are involved in the anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway, were determined by qRT-PCR. In the study, it was determined that there was an increase in the level of genes related to the biosynthesis of anthocyanin in the leaf and fruit tissues of the genotype with white fruits. It was determined that the expression level of genes related to the biosynthesis of anthocyanin was observed to be higher in the leaf and fruit tissues of the genotype with black fruits, and the highest gene expression level was found in black fruits. It was observed that anthocyanin biosynthesis was synthesized in different tissues of the plant, and anthocyanin biosynthesis was higher in fruits compared to leaves.

Considering the importance of water in the world, the amount of usable water is not sufficient throughout the world, the existing available fresh water resources are not enough, therefore, water shortages may be encountered in the following years. Keeping the quality of water as it is demanded gains more importance than before. Particularly, heavy metals begin to interfere with groundwater resources, and the quantity of pollution growing due to industrialization, and urbanization. In the present study, the quantitative analysis of heavy metals in harvested rainwater from the rooftop of public buildings in Bornova, Izmir is investigated. The results show that a minimum of 5 μg of copper, 4 μg of zinc, 2.69 μg of lead, 0.095 μg of cadmium, 0.55 μg of chromium, 89,7 μg of iron, 0.96 μg of arsenic, 0.0119 μg of mercury and 3.88 μg of nickel should be tossed away for obtaining a liter of potable water. In conclusion, first flush diverters are recommended to convert these non-point pollutants to point source. Thus, municipalities can take necessary measures to protect the environment such as using phytoremediation and hyperaccumulator plants in sewages.

Frost events are of particular importance for plants. Its occurrence determines growing season. Early or late frost events may cause injuries and damage in plants which have not yet entered dormancy in fall/winter, and for plants in flowering period in winter/spring. Global average temperature increase has been accompanied by changes in extreme temperature events. Observations have shown that there has been a decreasing pattern in frequencies and intensities of frost events. In this sense, it is aimed in this study to analyse probabilities of frost occurrences within the latest 30-year climatic normal period, from the cold period of 1991-1992 to that of 2020-2021, at five locations (Aydın, Kuşadası, Nazilli, Söke ve Sultanhisar) in the province Aydın, western Türkiye. Six frost indices were selected, and three temperature thresholds to define frost were considered when daily minimum temperature (TMIN) being equal to or less than 0.0, -1.2 or -2.3°C.The selected frost indices are first fall frost (FFF), last spring frost (LSF), frost period (FP), number of frost days (NFD), dates of frost occurrences (DFO) and consecutive frost days (CFD). The results revealed that Nazilli and Sultanhisar are characterized by the highest probabilities of frost in terms of frequency, intensity and duration, along with the earliest occurrence of first fall frost and latest occurrences of last spring frost, and with longest duration of frost period. On the other hand, Kuşadası and Söke have opposite characteristics in comparison to Nazilli an Sultanhisar. Aydın lies in between them. The results are expected to provide information to schedule the agricultural activities, and to avoid detrimental impacts of frost events.

Climate unpredictability and weather extremes are being projected as capable of presenting additional challenges for farmers currently engaged in the low-technology based food production systems in sub-Saharan countries like Nigeria. This study assessed rice farming households’ vulnerability to climate change in Kwara State, Nigeria. Primary data, collected from 150 respondents using simple random sampling procedure were analysed employing descriptive statistic was use to describe the coping strategies adopted and Human Development Index (HDI) was created to assess vulnerability of rice farmers to climate change. Statistical analyses indicated a vulnerability assessment index of 0.3001, pointing to a fact that the zone is prone to the adverse effects of climatic variability. For this reason, the study empirically underscores the need for farmers to adopt and adapt the planting of drought tolerant and/or early maturing varieties of rice. Importantly, the capacities of the local communities needs to be strengthened vis-à-vis the relationship between climate change and crop production. Capacity building at the farm level is crucial for improving crop, soil and water management, enhancing the demand for and use of better and more efficient production inputs. Tied to farm-level capacity building is the need to refocus public agricultural-based institutions towards exposing the rice farmers to effective mitigation strategies in the wake of climate change, provision of agricultural inputs, expansion of irrigation, efficient and effective extension service delivery, market development and other forms of necessary support.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa, belonging to the Pseudomonadaceae family, is Gram-negative, rod-shaped, motile, aerobic, endospore negative, oxidase and catalase positive. It is widely found in nature and isolated from soil, plants, water and animals. It can grow rapidly on the surface of the food and form oxidized products and mucous substances. P. aeruginosa, one of the leading foodborne pathogens, causes important concerns in food safety due to being a source of contamination, causing food poisoning and antimicrobial resistance in animals, forming biofilms and difficulties in preventing biofilms. In this review, information on history, microbiological, cultural and biochemical characteristics, virulence factors and pathogenicity of P. aeruginosa are given. In addition, infections caused by P. aeruginosa and its presence in food are described.

Phloxine is used as a food dye. In this study, genotoxicity of phloxine at the root tip of Allium cepa L. was investigated. A. cepa L. meristematic root tip cells were treated with ten different doses of phloxine. In this way, the EC50 value was determined. Then, phloxine was applied to root tips at EC50/2, EC50 and EC50×2 doses. Treatment time was determined as 24, 48 and 72 hours. As a result, it was revealed that phloxine caused chromosomal aberrations in cells in mitotic cycle at the root tip of A. cepa. There are equatorial plate shifting in metaphase, laggard chromosome, disturbed spindle, chromosome stickiness, C-mitosis, polar shifting among the observed chromosomal aberrations. It was stated that the % chromosomal aberration index (CAI) increased depending on concentration increase. It has been demonstrated that the highest % chromosomal aberration index occurred at the EC50×2 dose for 72 hours. According to the research, it was revealed that phloxine has a genotoxic effect on the root cells of A. cepa. For this reason, it can be emphasized that care should be taken in its use in foods.