Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) is a member of the family Compositae (Asteraceae). This plant, which is grown for its leaves, is grown in open field and greenhouse conditions almost everywhere in the world and in Turkey. With the present study virus diseases of lettuce and their prevalence in Konya province was revealed for the first time. For this purpose, leaf samples were taken from lettuce plants showing virus diseases symptoms with surveys carried out in Konya province lettuce planting areas from May to August in 2020. Then the collected lettuce leaf samples were tested in laboratory conditions by Double Antibody Sandwich Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (DAS-ELISA) method to reveal infections of Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), Miraflori lettuce big vein virus (MiLBVV), Lettuce mosaic virus (LMV), and Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV). According to the information obtained from the results of the study, it was determined that 40 out of 97 (41.23%) lettuce plant samples and all (6) weed samples were infected with at least one of the viruses. In lettuce leaf samples; TSWV (27.83%), LMV (12.37%), CMV (10.31%) and MiLBVV (5.15%) infections have been detected. In weed samples; infections of CMV (83.33%), LMV (66.66%), and TSWV (50%) have been revealed. The infections of TSWV, LMV, CMV, and MiLBVV on lettuce plants in Konya province were reported firstly with the study.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the physical, bioactive and textural properties of oleaster fruits grown in different locations of Turkey. The oleaster fruits were obtained from Aksaray, Niğde and İzmir cities and their crumb and crust parts were analyzed individually and freshly. In terms of color, the crust and crumb of oleaster fruits from İzmir had the darkest color with L* values of 46.81 ± 4.06 and 78.91 ± 4.97 among all tested fruits from different locations, respectively. Total of phenolic (TP), flavonoid (TF) and tannin (TT) content (C) and as well antioxidant activities (AA) of oleaster fruits were determined for the crust and crumb of oleaster fruits. The highest TPC (22.30±1.75 mg gallic acid equivalent/g DM), TFC (16.24±1.49 mg catechin equivalent/g DM) and AA (14.05±0.55 μmol trolox equivalent/g DM) by DPPH were found in the crust of Aksaray oleaster fruits. In addition, the crumb of Aksaray oleaster fruit had the highest TPC (16.44±1.67 mg gallic acid equivalent/g DM) among the crumbs of oleaster fruits from different locations. Furthermore, there was no significant difference among the texture of crust and crumb of oleaster fruits obtained from different locations. Results showed the growing location of oleaster fruits had a significant influence on the physical and bioactive properties of fruits. Also, this study indicated that oleaster fruits were rich in bioactive compounds; therefore, they could be incorporated into foods to design functional foods.

The tadpoles of four amphibian species, namely the Marsh Frog (Pelophylax ridibundus), the Iranian Long-Legged Frog (Rana macrocnemis), the Caucasian Parsley Frog (Pelodytes caucasicus) and the Variable Green Toad (Bufotes variabilis), were exposed to acute concentrations (0 to 500 mg/L) of ammonium nitrate to assess the lethal effects (larval growth, abnormalities, mortality, and LC50 values). Eggs of each species were obtained from clean and polluted habitats in the same region and the tadpoles for experiments were provided from those eggs in the laboratory conditions. Although there was some variability between different populations of the same species or between different species in the observed effects, acute levels of ammonium nitrate caused decreased growth rate and increased abnormalities and mortality in general. Among the 4 amphibian species, the Variable Green Toad was the most damaged one in terms of growth reduction (on average 77-83%), and abnormality rates, and the most damaged one in terms of mortality rates was the Marsh Frog (on average 61-72%). Additionally, the species with the lowest concentration of ammonium nitrate, which killed half of its population, was the Marsh Frog. LC50 values for two populations of Marsh Frog were 37 and 59 mg/L. As a result of our research, it was determined that the acute fertilizer levels caused by agricultural activities in the region had very important harmful effects for all the species we examined. In this context, it can be said that very important environmental and biodiversity problems may occur if certain precautions are not taken regarding the use of the fertilizers and if the awareness of the farmers using these fertilizers cannot be raised.

The study aims at determining the physicochemical, proximate composition and the total viable count of Staphylococcus aureus in ‘Nono’ and yoghurt samples in Kaduna, Nigeria.Three hundred and eighty-four (384) fermented milk samples (Nono and yoghurt) were obtained from different selling points and were evaluated for the occurrence of S. aureus. The physicochemical and proximate analyses (pH, total titratable acidity, moisture content, ash content, protein content, and fat content) were determined. The results of the analyses showed that Nono had pH range of 3.56-3.61, total titratable acidity: 0.71-1.72, moisture content: 82.23-83.87%, ash content: 0.30-0.31%, crude protein content: 1.50-1.61%, crude fat content: 0.35-0.38 %. For yoghurt, the pH ranged from 3.76 -3.82, total titratable acidity: 1.10 -1.15, moisture content: 77.76-80.06%, ash content: 0.68- 0.70%, crude protein content: 3.40-3.45% and crude fat content: 1.76-1.79% from all the study areas. One hundred and four of the total samples were contaminated with S. aureus. Out of the 104 isolates of S. aureus that were isolated and identified, 88 were coagulase positive S.aureus. The Microgen Staph ID kit (Oxoid) was used to further confirm the characteristics of the 60 isolates of the coagulase positive S. aureus. The kit confirmed 43 isolates as S. aureus, the results indicated the presence of S. aureus in the milk samples which is of public health importance, as this can contribute to food-borne intoxication which can lead to food poisoning. There is a need for proper pasteurisation of raw milk to help eradicate S. aureus infection before human consumption.

Bu çalışmada, Kelkit Çayı (Tokat) epilitik diyatomelerin aylık değişimi, yerleşim yeri altı ve tarım alanları altından seçilen iki istasyondan Mart-Aralık 2018 tarihleri arasında aylık periyotlarda alınan taş örneklerinde incelenmiştir. Çalışma süresince epilitik diyatomelere ait toplam 18 takson kaydedilmiştir. En fazla taksonla temsil edilen diyatome cinsleri Cymbella (3 takson) ve Nitzschia (3 takson) olurken, her iki istasyonda tüm aylarda kaydedilen diyatomeler arasındaki en yüksek nispi yoğunluklar ise Ulnaria ulna türüne ait olmuştur. İstasyonlardaki diyatomeler arasında Sorensen Benzerlik İndeksi ise %56,41 olarak bulunmuştur. Ayrıca istasyonlardan alınan su örneklerinde sıcaklık ve çözünmüş oksijen ölçümleri yapılmıştır. Ölçülen bu değişkenlerin epilitondaki diyatome gelişimini olumlu yönde etkilediği tespit edilmiştir. Epilitik florada tespit edilen diyatome türlerin nispi yoğunlukları belirlenmiştir. Elde edilen sonuçlara göre en düşük nispi yoğunluk 1. İstasyonda 4,76 olarak Mart ayında (Cymbella affinis ), 2. İstasyonda ise 2,83 olarak yine Mart ayında (Lindavia glomerata) kaydedilmiştir. En yüksek nispi yoğunluk değerleri dikkate alındığında ise 1. İstasyonda Navicula radiosa ve Ulnaria ulna türünde Aralık ayında (13,56), 2. İstasyonda ise Ulnaria ulna türünde Mart ayında (9,43) belirlenmiştir.

The methods applied for yield increases per unit animal are also progressing rapidly, along with the rapid progress of agricultural and animal production in parallel with the rapidly developing population and the food demand. The increase in animal products increases the environmental impacts per unit of animal product. With the increase in animal wastes in recent years, greenhouse gas emissions have increased even more, thus negatively affecting the environment and animal health. In order to prevent this negative effect, sustainable methods and strategic measures related to animal feeding and care are important in order to reduce the emission of harmful greenhouse gases. Methane, which is the second most important greenhouse gas, is found in large amounts in the atmosphere as a molecule, the accumulation of this gas in the atmosphere more than CO₂ increases the interest in this subject. Different practices related to the nutrition of ruminant animals (use of feed additives, feeding strategies) in order to optimize rumen conditions and increase productivity per unit animal is a developing area. Sharing this information with animal breeders will also benefit the environment, and therefore human and animal health, in terms of reducing both methane and nitrogen emissions. In ruminant animals, it can cause a loss of 2-12% of the gross energy taken with the feed so that the methane gas can be removed from the body. There are many studies on feeding to reduce nitrogen losses in faeces and urine, which cause methane emissions for ruminants, and many of these studies still do not reach a permanent conclusion. The reduction in enteric CH₄ emissions to be made must be tailored to the specific needs of farmers and livestock, and to be cost-effective. In our study, it is aimed to compile animal feeding strategies and reduction of methane emissions under different conditions.

In this study, the dynamism of forest areas was tried to be determined by determining the ecological differences between the areas where Fagus orientalis Lipsky. (Eastern beech, Fagaceae), a very important species for forestry in Turkey, and the soils of agricultural fields. lime %, total salt %, pH, texture, field capacity %, C%, N%, C/N ratios, 30-day carbon mineralization of the lands of Eastern beech forests and agricultural fields, which are naturally formed in Sivas province Koyulhisar district, under controlled conditions (28°C, 80 humidity %) was determined by the respiration method, and two areas in two different ecosystems were compared. When the carbon mineralizations of eastern beech soils were examined seasonally, it was determined as 19.54>18.23>17.87>17.18 mg C(CO2)/100g DS/30 day in spring>autumn>summer>winter seasons, while it was determined as 14.46>13.87>13.68>13.65 mg C(CO2)/100g DS/30 day in autumn>summer>spring>winter seasons in agricultural soils, respectively. Significant relationships were found between the C%, N%, 30-day carbon mineralization cumulative values and % carbon mineralization rates between both areas.

In this study, it was investigated the total amounts of phenolic and flavonoid substances and antioxidant activities in different solvent extracts of Lonicera iberica M. Bieb. wild fruit. Total phenolic contents of the extracts were determined as equivalent to gallic acid using Folin-Ciocalteu reagent, and total flavonoid contents as equivalent to quercetin by aluminium nitrate method. In addition, the antioxidant properties of the extracts were determined using free radical scavenging (DPPH) and reducing power (FRAP) methods. The amount of total phenolic substance of L. iberica fruits in hexane and methanol extracts was calculated as 30.96 ± 0.67 mg of GAE / g and 23.70 ± 1.56 mg of GAE / g, respectively. In addition, the amount of total flavonoid substance was calculated as 46.50 ± 8.54 mg of QE / g and 42.09 ± 2.58 mg of QE / g, respectively. It was determined that DPPH radical scavenging activity correlated with total phenolic and flavonoid amount of substance, and L. iberica had a strong antioxidant effect. It is predicted that our study will shed light on new researches, since it is the first study done with L. Iberica fruits in this field.

Global climate is estimated to change drastically over the next century and the ecosystems will be affected in this changing environment. Plant-associated beneficial microorganisms can stimulate plant growth and increase resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Nowadays, the effects of climate change factors such as increased carbon dioxide (CO2), drought and warming on plant-beneficial microorganism interactions are increasingly being investigated in the scope of plant growth and health. Recent studies have shown that high CO2 level has a positive effect on the abundance of mycorrhizal fungi, whereas the effects on plant growth promoting bacteria and endophytic fungi are more variable. Elevated CO2 conditions lead to increased colonization of beneficial fungi. Additionally, the results of increasing CO2 levels, warming and drought, depend upon the plant and the microbial genotype. Also, plant growth promoting microorganisms, especially bacteria, positively affect plants exposed to drought stress. Altered communities of beneficial microorganisms depending on climate changes, might have to compete with different microbial communities and, therefore microbial activities may also get affected. This work presents that climate change is an important factor affecting microorganism and plant interactions, needs to take into consideration the adaptation processes in plants and microorganisms and might require the selection of adapted plant cultivars.