Bu çalışmanın amacı, Frankenia salsuginea yapraklarının mısır silajına ilavesinin fermantasyon kalitesi, kimyasal ve mikrobiyolojik özellikler üzerindeki etkilerini değerlendirmektir. Frankenia salsuginea yaprakları mısır silajına %3 ve %5 oranlarında eklenerek ve 60 gün süreyle fermentasyona bırakılmıştır. Frankenia salsuginea yapraklarının mısır silajı besin içeriğinde önemli değişikliklere yol açtığı belirlenmiştir. Özellikle, %3 katkı seviyesinde kuru madde içeriğinde önemli ölçüde artış belirlenirken, (%28,39; P<0,05) nötral çözücülerde çözünmeyen lif (NDF) içeriğinde anlamlı bir azalma (%44,43; P = 0.002) tespit edilmiştir. Laktik asit üretimi tüm gruplarda artış göstermiş, en yüksek değer %5 katkı seviyesinde (2,45 g/kg; P=0,018) belirlenmiş fakat aynı grupta laktik asit bakteri popülasyonunun 6,09 log10 kob/g seviyesine düştüğü tespit edilmiştir. Bunun yanı sıra, asetik asit ile kuru madde içeriği arasında zayıf bir negatif korelasyon (r=-0,38, P>0,05) gözlenirken, propiyonik asit ile nişasta içeriği arasında anlamlı bir ilişki bulunmamıştır. Mikrobiyolojik analizlerde, kontrol grubundaki laktik asit bakterisi popülasyonu en yüksek seviyede bulunmasına rağmen (6,53 log10 kob/g), laktik asit üretimi düşük seviyede kalmıştır (0,45 g/kg). Frankenia salsuginea yaprağının, erken dönemde hasat edilen ve kuru madde oranı düşük mısır silajına %3 oranında ilavesi, fermantasyon kalitesini artırarak besin kayıplarını azaltma potansiyeline sahip olduğu belirlenmiştir. Bununla birlikte, bu yaprağın hayvan performansı ve yem tüketimi üzerindeki etkilerinin belirlenebilmesi için in vivo denemelerle test edilmesi gerekmektedir.

Seasonal monitoring of Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) was conducted in soybean fields in the Eastern Mediterranean Region of Türkiye during the 2021 and 2022 growing seasons to assess adult population dynamics, larval infestation patterns, and environmental influences. In 2021, pheromone traps deployed in Osmaniye Province captured 2,399 adult moths between July 5 and October 4, exhibiting a bimodal pattern with peaks on July 19 and August 23 (F = 10.69; P = 0.0001). Larval densities peaked on August 16 (0.50 larvae per sampling unit), closely aligning with adult emergence. In 2022, 1,321 adults were caught in Adana Province from July 14 to October 6, showing a single major peak on September 15 (F = 25.22; P = 0.0001). Larval infestations were sporadic and low, reaching a maximum density of 0.33 larvae per unit. Environmental conditions included weekly average temperatures ranging from 22.2°C to 30.2°C and relative humidity between 31.8% and 78%. A significant positive correlation was record synchronisation of adult flight peaks, larval populations, and favourable environmental factors indicates overlapping generations of H. armigera during the soybean growing period. These highlighting the importance of pheromone traps for early pest detection and informed management decisions, ultimately leading to reduced crop damage and improved soybean production in the region.

Shelled pea is an important product due to the nutritional values it contains, and it is not possible to consume for a long time due to its high moisture content. For this reason, it can be consumed out of season after drying. In this study, the effect of potassium carbonate and microwave pretreatment was investigated by drying in a cyclone type convective dryer at air flow rates of 287.50, 575.00 and 862.50 m3/h to produce dry peas. The moisture content, drying rate, effective moisture diffusion, specific moisture absorption rate (SMER), specific energy consumption (SEC) and color properties of the drying processes were investigated. Air flows and pretreatments affected the drying kinetics, color and energy analysis of the drying processes. Drying rate values for drying processes varied between 0.01190-0.0237 g moisture/g dry matter per minute. It was determined that the effective moisture diffusion values varied between 7.60×10-8-1.24×10-7 m2/s. Drying processes did not preserve the color values compared to fresh (p<0.05). It has been determined that the SMER values of the drying processes vary between 4.10-8.10×10-4 kg/kWh and the SEC values vary between 1230.59-2451.15 kWh/kg. According to the findings obtained within the scope of the study, it is recommended to dry the shelled peas at 862.50 m3/h air flow rate and after dipping into potassium carbonate solution.

Ülkemizde yeraltı suyu ile sulanan ve su kısıtı olan alanlarda etkin sulama programları büyük önem taşımaktadır. Afyon Sultandağı-Çamözü-Akbaba Sulama Kooperatifi’nin hizmet verdiği sulama sahasında, kiraz yetiştiriciliğinde suyun düzenli ve etkili kullanımı büyük önem taşımakta olup bu tez çalışmasının amacı, söz konusu alanda 2017 ve 2018 yıllarında uygulanan mevcut sulama uygulamalarını değerlendirerek, su ve enerji tasarrufu sağlayacak optimum sulama programını belirlemek ve kısıntılı sulama koşullarında oluşan verim kayıplarını ortaya koymaktır. Damla sulama sistemiyle sulanan bu alanda, 2017 ve 2018 yılları için hesaplama yapılarak değerlendirilmiştir. Bitki su tüketimi (evapotranspirasyon) değerleri, Penman–Monteith yöntemi ile belirlenmiş; sulama programı ise IRSIS yazılımı kullanılarak oluşturulmuştur. Çalışma alanı için yapılan referans evapotranspirasyon (ET₀) değerleri 2017 yılı için en düşük 0,8 mm (Nisan ve Ekim aylarında), en yüksek 6,2 mm (Mayıs ayında) olarak belirlenmiştir. 2018 yılı ise en düşük ET₀ değeri 0,6 mm (Ekim ayında), en yüksek ET₀ değeri 4,9 mm (Haziran ayında) olarak hesaplanmıştır. Yapılan hesaplamalara göre, optimum sulama programı çerçevesinde 2017 yılında 392,9 mm, 2018 yılında ise 303,3 mm su verilmesinin gerekli olduğu tespit edilmiştir. Her iki yılda da kısıntılı sulama yapılmış ve sırasıyla %16,5 ve %13,5 verim kaybı hesaplanmıştır. Buna karşın optimum sulama programı ile bitkinin su stresine girmeyeceği ve verim kaybı olmayacağı tespit edilmiştir.

Somatic cells are a combination of white blood cells and epithelial cells in milk and are usually expressed in numbers. High somatic cell count (SCC), which is used as an important criterion in the evaluation of udder health and diagnosis of subclinical mastitis, is considered as an important indicator of milk production loss. This study was carried out to estimate SCC-induced risky lobe ratio (RLSCC) and milk yield losses (MLSCC) in Holstein raw milk collected from some provinces in the Middle Black Sea Region of Türkiye. Bucket milk samples collected by stratified random sampling during January-February 2024 in Amasya (n=18), Çorum (n=26) and Samsun (n=34) provinces from member farms of the Cattle Breeders’ Association (CBA) were subjected to SCC analysis. SCC value of each sample was taken into consideration in recording RLSCC data (SCC˂200 thousand cells/ml, RLSCC: 6%; SCC: 200 thousand-500 thousand cells/ml, RLSCC: 16%; SCC: 500 thousand-1 million cells/ml, RLSCC: 32%; SCC˃1 million cells/ml, RLSCC: 48%). At the end of the study, the mean SCC and RLSCC were found as 7.02±0.346% and 16.94±0.913%, respectively. SCC data were converted to logarithm base 10 (logSCC) to ensure homogeneity and uniformity in the statistical study. Pearson correlation estimation method and simple linear regression method were used to calculate the relationships between traits. While there was a strong relationship between SCC and milk RLSCC (r=0.964 and R2=0.929), the regression model was estimated as Y=-68+13.716X. As a result, it is recommended that managerial practices to improve milking, shelter cleaning and milk storage conditions in the enterprises should be fully implemented.

The study investigates the effects of ethanol pretreatment on drying characteristics and energy consumption, thin layer and artificial neural network (ANN) modelling, colour and shrinkage properties and principal component analysis (PCA) of red peppers. Ethanol pretreatment had a positive contribution to drying time and rate of red peppers. High concentration and long pretreatment time were found to be highly effective on the increment of drying rate. Thus, drying time was shortened. Additionally, SMER value increased, and SEC value decreased upon the shortening in the drying time. The highest effective pretreatment was revealed as 100% ethanol concentration and 20 min. pretreatment time. On the other hand, Midilli and Kucuk model gave the better results among the thin layer models, while, ANN modelling showed the best prediction performance of the drying of red peppers. Ethanol pretreatments reduced the L* value in the inner part of red peppers, with the most pronounced decrease observed in samples treated with 50% ethanol for 10 minutes. In the outer part, samples 50ET20 had the highest L* value, while 100ET20 had the lowest. There was no significant change in the a* value of the inner part, but the a* value of the outer part decreased the most in samples 100ET20. The b* value increased in the inner part with 10-minute treatment in 50% ethanol, while no notable change was in the outer part. All samples showed shrinkage tendance in both width and thickness after drying. The highest shrinkage ratios were obtained from 50ET20 and 100ET20. PCA revealed that fresh samples were positioned significantly farther from the pretreated samples. 50ET20, 100ET20 and C showed a similar arrangement in the same plane. In conclusion, ethanol pretreatment can be considered a highly promising approach. In addition, employing ANN modelling is advisable for enhancing the accuracy of the drying process optimization.

This study aims to identify the factors influencing green product consumption preferences among consumers residing in the central district of Kırşehir Province, in terms of various demographic characteristics. Data were collected from 581 participants through questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics, frequency tables, and Chi-square tests. Findings revealed that 87.8% of the respondents reported consuming green products (female = 267; male = 314). Results from the Chi-square analysis indicated that marital status, level of education, presence of chronic illness, and awareness of environmentally friendly products were statistically significantly associated with green product consumption (p<0.05). Participants commonly defined green products as those with restricted use of chemicals and hormones and cited this attribute as a primary reason for their preference. The majority of respondents stated that green products differ from organic products and reported the internet as their main source of information. Most participants stated that they typically accessed green products at local bazaars, with fruits and vegetables, as well as grains and legumes, being the most frequently consumed product groups. The results indicate that, according to consumer opinions, the most significant barriers to purchasing green products are price, difficulties in access, and consumption habits. In response to a question regarding factors that could potentially increase green product consumption, the majority of participants selected “raising consumer awareness” and “reasonable pricing” as the most influential options. The results contribute to businesses and policy makers in developing strategies to raise consumer awareness and facilitate access to green products, with the aim of disseminating sustainable consumption behaviors and increasing environmental awareness.

Oxidative stress is considered a contributing factor to the rapid advancement of complications associated with metabolic syndrome. Additionally, thioredoxins are essential components required for the redox regulation of protein thiol groups. The objective of this study was to examine the roles of quercetin and thioredoxin-1 in the mechanisms that may mediate their therapeutic potential. Male Wistar rats were administered 32% sucrose in their drinking water over a 20-week period to induce metabolic syndrome. Following this induction, quercetin was given orally at a dose of 15 mg/kg/day. At the conclusion of the study, blood samples from each group were evaluated for lipid profiles and thioredoxin-1 protein levels. In addition, antioxidant enzyme activities, total oxidant and antioxidant status, nitric oxide metabolite concentrations, protein thiol levels, and thioredoxin-1 protein levels were assessed in aortic tissues. Rats exposed to high sucrose intake exhibited elevated serum lipid concentrations, malondialdehyde levels, total oxidant status, and thioredoxin-1 protein levels in the serum. These increases were significantly mitigated by quercetin treatment. Furthermore, sucrose consumption resulted in a notable reduction in antioxidant markers, including superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, catalase, total antioxidant status, and thioredoxin-1, within aortic tissue homogenates. Supplementation with quercetin effectively reversed these declines, restoring antioxidant parameters. Overall, the findings indicate that quercetin plays a protective role under oxidative stress by strengthening the body's antioxidant defense mechanisms, particularly through its regulatory effect on thioredoxin-1, a key antioxidant protein involved in maintaining cellular redox balance.

The diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella L.) is a devastating pest of cabbage that causes significant yield losses. This study has evaluated the resistance of eight cabbage cultivars (Green Top, Green Coronet, Golden Acre, Rishi, Copenhagen Market, Green Hero, Green Hot, and Nepa Star) to P. xylostella infestation under field conditions in Sundarbazar, Lamjung, Nepal (December 2023–April 2024). A randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications was used. Larval populations, damage scores (Dreyer scale), and yield were recorded weekly. Results revealed significant differences (p < 0.001) in pest incidence among cultivars. Copenhagen Market exhibited the lowest mean larval count (1.25/plant) and damage score (1.42), while Green Hot was the most susceptible (3.45 larvae/plant; damage score 2.53). Despite higher pest pressure, Green Coronet yielded comparably to Copenhagen Market (22.02 vs. 22.78 t/ha), whereas Nepa Star had the lowest marketable yield (15.12 t/ha). The study concludes that Copenhagen Market combines resistant to P. xylostella with high productivity, making it a viable candidate for integrated pest management (IPM) in the region. These findings show the potential of host-plant resistance as a sustainable strategy to reduce reliance on chemical pesticides.

The work aimed to ascertain the impact of adding turmeric powder (TP) and garlic powder (GP) to broiler chickens' diets as a natural alternative to antibiotics on their haematological and gut microbial health. A total of 150-day-old broiler chicks were used for 28-day trial. Broiler chicks were assigned to five dietary groups using a completely randomized design, each with three replicates (10 chicks/ replication). Out of the five treatment groups, T0 received simply a basal feed as the control group, while T1, T2, T3, and T4 received basal feed incorporated with antibiotics, 0.5% GP, 0.5% TP, and 0.25% GP+0.25% TP, in that order. On the 28th day of the experiment, blood was drawn from the brachial vein, and their haematological indices were assessed. After slaughtering, intestinal digesta were extracted from the broiler's caecum, and samples were cultivated to count Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. bacteria. No significant differences (p > 0.05) were found among treatments for feed consumption (FC), live weight (LW), or feed conversion ratio (FCR) across any growth phase. The RBC count and Hb concentration were markedly (p<0.05) increased in 0.5%TP and the combined group, rather than the control and antibiotic groups. The 0.5%GP-treated group had a significantly greater WBC count. A considerably higher percentage of lymphocytes and a lower percentage of neutrophils were discovered in the 0.5% TP-treated group. The various dietary treatment groups did not affect the PCV, MCV, MCH, and MCHC, monocytes and eosinophils. From cecal microbial analysis, the 0.5% TP-treated group significantly showed the greatest reduction in E. coli. A significant (p<0.05) reduction in Salmonella spp. counts across all dietary groups than the control group. Based on the aforementioned consideration, turmeric, especially at 0.5%, proved to be an effective natural alternative to antibiotics in promoting broiler health.