The productivity of tomato in Nepal is very low due to lack of high yielding, disease and pests resistant varieties. An experiment was carried out to evaluate horticultural traits of 50 genotypes obtained from World Vegetable Centre (WorldVeg), Taiwan and SAARC region, and local collections during March to August 2020 in open field conditions at National Horticulture Research Centre, Khumaltar, Lalitpur. The objectives were to identify promising open-pollinated tomato cultivars for high yield, appropriate fruit size, and disease resistant. The experiment was carried out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Results showed significant differences in yield and yield attributing characters including virus infection. The highest yield (39.6 mt ha-1) was produced by HRA43 and it was followed by HRA33 (26.4 mt ha-1). Among the WorldVeg OP lines, AVTO1429 produced the highest yield (16.21 mt ha-1) and it was followed by AVTO1717 (12.95 mt ha-1), AVTO0922 (11.83 mt ha-1) and AVTO1219 (11.7 mt ha-1) respectively. Most of the WorldVeg lines performed better than the check variety ‘Pusa Ruby’. Genotype HRA43, Red Local and Sindhupalchock Local were not affected by virus while Yellow Local showed 3.3% infection. Among the WorldVeg lines, AVTO1712 (20%), AVTO1717 (20%) and AVTO1718 (13%) and AVTO1219 (15%) showed less than 20% virus infection in the open field conditions. Cluster analysis using the unweighted paired group method with arithmetic mean showed that cluster-1 was the largest cluster comprised of 40 genotypes followed by cluster-2 and cluster-4. Genotypes from cluster-4 showed the higher fruit yield (25.1 mt ha-1) and resistant to the virus and the highest number of fruits per plot (1978 in 4.5 m2 area). The yield was low in cluster-1 which could be due to the heavy rainfall during the vegetative and reproductive stages. Genotypes Red Local and Sindhupalchock Local could be used in future tomato breeding program due to their resistant to TYLCV, higher potential yield and highest plant vigour in open field conditions at the mid-hill of Nepal. Considering the overall performance, genotype HRA43, HRA33 and AVTO1429 were promising lines with performance for yield and other horticultural traits.

This study compared egg quality parameters in layers under free-range system with prefabricated pens and backyard while emphasizing hen age. A total of 300 eggs collected from prefabricated pens and backyard farming families in the Çamardı District of Niğde Province were used as study materials. The assessed external and internal egg quality characteristics included egg weight, shape index, shell thickness, shell breaking strength, albumen index, Haugh unit, yolk index, and yolk colour. The effect of production system on albumen index, Haugh unit, and yolk colour score was found statistically significant. There was a significant effect of age on shape index, shell thickness, shell breaking strength, albumen index, Haugh Unit, yolk index, and yolk colour score. The effect of interaction between age and production system was statistically significant for shape index, shell thickness, yolk index, Haugh Unit, and yolk colour score. It was determined that the egg`s meat and blood spots percentages from the free-range and backyard systems were 10.6% and 15.3%, respectively. It was concluded that while eggs produced from free-range system are superior in terms of egg weight, shape index, and Haugh unit those obtained from backyard hens are higher in eggshell thickness, eggshell breaking strength, and egg yolk colour.

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.

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is one of the most significant vegetable crops for humans along with corn, wheat, and rice. In this study, quantitative analysis of phenolic compounds was carried out for 21 promising potato clones and three commercial cultivars. LC–MS/MS was used for the chemical analyses. The TOGU 3/518 clone had the highest level of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid as 138.51 ± 7.35 µg/kg. TOGU 12/29 and TOGU 2/198 clones, on the other hand, had 126.24 ± 2.29 and 125.29 ± 2.74 µg/kg of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, respectively. Salicylic acid which is a pharmaceutically significant compound was found in TOGU 3/518 clone (125.66 ± 11.51 µg/kg) as a major product. This compound was also found in TOGU 2/198 (111.27 ±1.31 µg/kg) and TOGU 12/29 clones (111.07 ± 3.68 µg/kg) as the third and fourth most abundant. In terms of caffeic acid, TOGU 3/110 clone contained the highest level (42.50 ± 3.73 µg/kg). While TOGU 7/146 clone included the most protocatechuic acid (53.98 ± 1.47 µg/kg), TOGU 3/480 clone consisted of most gentisic acid (30.79 ± 0.51 µg/kg). Quercetin, an important flavonoid found many aromatic and medicinal plants, was highest in TOGU 12/29 clone (6.27 ± 0.15 µg/kg).

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.

Tarım sahalarının çevresinde, sulama amaçlı yapılan göllerin rezervuar alanlarında biriken ağır metallerin kökeninin belirlenmesi ve toksik etkisinin anlaşılmasında, veri analizinin yapılması önemlidir. Çalışmanın amacı, Akkaya Gölü rezervuar sahasındaki toprakların kimyasal içeriklerinde çok değişkenli istatistik analizler kullanılarak Akkaya Gölü rezervuar sahasında tespit edilen ağır metallerin kendi arasındaki davranışlarını bunlar arasındaki ilişkilerinin belirlenmesi ve bu metallerin olası kökeninin açıklanması şeklindedir. Kimyasal analiz içeriklerinin bollukları Mg > Al > Fe > S > Ti > Zn > V > As > Cu > Ni > Pb > Co > Mo > Sn > Cd > Hg olarak sıralanmıştır. Fe ile Mg, Si, K, Co, V, Cu, As, Ni, Zn ve Pb arasında yüksek pozitif korelasyon bulunur. Faktör analizine göre toplam varyans 72.080 (% kümülatif) olup, 3 (üç) faktöre ayrılmıştır. Hiyerarşik kümeleme analizine göre 3 grup ve elementlerin kümeleme analizine göre 4 grup oluşmuştur. Bu grupların kendi aralarında benzer özellik sundukları anlaşılmıştır. Çok değişkenli istatistik analizleri bu çalışma için başarılı olmuştur.

Consumption of vegetables, having a significant place in nutrition of humankind, is increasing day by day as their health-improving effects have been better understood nowadays. For such vegetables, certain criteria such as organic production, season production, regional production etc. are taken into consideration. The objective of this study is to research about existence of Bacillus cereus and Salmonella spp. in the locally-grown vegetables offered in local bazaars. Parsley, lettuce, spinach, turnip, carrot, chard, Brussels sprouts and radish produced in the province of Giresun were used in the study. Bacillus cereus and Salmonella spp. analyses were carried out in line with International Organization for Standardization quality standards. Among 89 vegetable samples analyses, Salmonella spp. and B. cereus were not detected in all and 5 of the samples respectively (

In this study, beta-lactam and tetracycline antibiotic residues were investigated in cattle liver, kidney and muscle samples. For this purpose, a total of 75 bovine tissue samples (each of 25 from liver, kidney, muscle) taken from 25 cattle slaughtered in a local slaughterhouse in Sivas were used as materials. ELISA method was applied in the analysis and it was studied with commercial test kits. According to the results of the analysis; beta-lactam and tetracycline residues were detected in all bovine tissue samples. Beta-lactam level was determined between 0.75-1.07 ppb (mean 0.94 ± 0.01) in liver samples, 0.67-1.05 ppb (mean 0.81 ± 0.01) in kidney samples and 0.70-2.57 ppb (mean 0.97 ± 0.07) in muscle samples. Tetracycline level was detected in the range of 4.48-8.50 ppb (mean 6.14 ± 0.17) in liver samples, 1.73-6.39 ppb (mean 4.90 ± 0.24) in kidney samples and 3.31-7.45 ppb (mean 5.67 ± 0.25) in muscle samples. The residue levels determined in the examples complied with the legal limits reported in the European Commission and the Turkish Food Codex Communiqué.

Talinum triangulare is an herbaceous succulent plant eaten as a vegetable throughout the tropics including many countries in West and Central Africa and are an essential ingredient in traditional dishes. Experiments were made on the plant to examine the influence of foraging behavior of flowering insect on pollination and yields of this plant species in 2018 and 2019 at Bafut. Observations were made on 1615 to 4055 flowers per treatment. The treatments included unlimited floral access by visitors and bagged flowers to deny all visits. The study focused on the foraging behavior of flowering insects and their pollination activity (fruiting rate). The results show that 14 insect species visited waterleaf flowers and Camponotus flavomarginatus was the most frequent (33.20%). Insects foraged throughout the day light period. Their activity was highest between 10 am and 12 pm. Insect species foraged the flowers for pollen and nectar. The fructification rate of unrestricted floral access was significantly high than that of protected flowers to deny all visits. The maintenance of insect nest close to T. triangulare field is recommended to improve it fruits production.

Picralima nitida (Stapf) T.Durand & H.Durand and Holarrhena floribunda (G.Don) T.Durand & Schinz are West and Central African plant species belonging to the Apocynaceae family. These two plants are used in traditional Ivorian medicine to treat hypertension, urinary tract infections, diarrhea, gonorrhea, malaria and diabetes. Phytochemical screening and evaluation of antioxidant activity of P. nitida fruit and H. floribunda leaf extracts of each of these two species have already been performed. In the present study, a comparative evaluation of the antioxidant activity of fruit (P. nitida) and leaf (H. floribunda) decoctions was carried out. The decoctions of P. nitida fruits and H. floribunda leaves were rich in secondary metabolites, especially polyphenols which have good antioxidant activity. Quantification of total phenols and flavonoids gave respective values of QP = 15235.632 ± 622 µg GAE / g dry matter and FP = 2.387 ± 0.387% for P. nitida and QH = 68597.701 ± 3171 µg GAE / g dry matter and FH = 17.581 ± 0.379% for H. floribunda. P. nitida showed antioxidant activity against DPPH radical (IC50 = 104.30 ± 3.17 μg / mL) and ferric ion Fe3 + (261.4 ± 36. 87 μmoL Eq Trolox / g extract). H. floribunda showed antioxidant activity against DPPH radical (IC50 = 41.73 ± 0.29 μg / mL) and ferric ion Fe3 + (365 ± 20.36 μmol Eq Trolox / g ExS).