Main goals of the present study were (1) to initially investigate the nutrient contents and bioactive compounds in the bulb and cloves of garlic, and (2) to study the growth parameter after planting. Garlic bulbs were firstly separated into three categories as pickled, big and small, while the big garlic cloves were also classified into three categories as big, small and central. Secondly, the garlic samples were analyzed before planting for their element profile, proline, soluble protein, free amino acid, β-carotene, lycopene, total phenolic, soluble sugars, SOD and α-amylase activities. Finally, the growth parameters were measured using the cultivated cloves and the pickled bulbs. According to the result, the highest soluble protein, N, phenolic, lycopene and α amylase activity (97.06 mg, 2.58%, 971 mg, 0.368 mg and 38.13 EU, respectively) were recorded in the biggest cloves. The highest proline, amino acid, glucose content (93.84 µmol, 23.54 mg, 230.89 mg, respectively) and K, P, S, Mg, Mn, Fe and Zn (21940 ppm, 7577 ppm, 12200 ppm, 504 ppm, 38.1ppm, 377,7ppm and 44.5 ppm, respectively) were found in the pickled bulb. The maximum level of β-carotene (0.282 mg), Ca, Cl and Sr (11260ppm, 818.7ppm and 47.9 ppm) were determined in the small bulbs. Based on the growth parameters of seedlings, the highest value of shoot and root length (39.12 cm and 24.11 cm respectively), the fresh weight of shoot and root (5.29 g and 4.54 g respectively) and dry weight of shoot and root (1.70 g and 1.24 g respectively) were noted with the big cloves. The results of the current study have indicated that the pickled cloves have higher macro and micro nutrients, proline, amino acid and glucose, while the big cloves of garlic have higher proline, phenolic, N%, lycopene and amylase activity. It can be said that the big cloves showed good value for the five bioactive compounds, but the pickled exhibited good value for the macro and micro element and glucose.

Powdery mildew is a serious disease of economically important hazelnut crop in Turkey. Hazelnut production has been extremely affected by the disease in terms of quality and quantity. The disease is caused by two different fungi, namely Erysiphe corylacearum and Phyllactinia guttata. E. corylacearum has been shown to be the responsible one predominantly for the recent economic damage. The fungi produce a mycelium network on hazelnut plants before they sporulate and visually detected. Early detection of these pathogens is important for management as well as understanding their spread and epidemics. In this study, a PCR assay was developed for the detection of both pathogens from hazelnut plant leaves by targeting their ribosomal DNA genes in their internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions. Two sets of specific primers were designed for the detection of E. corylacearum and P. guttata at an early stage of infection. As a result of PCR, a specific band of 578 bp was observed. The amplicon sequencing confirmed the presence of only E. corylacearum, but not P. guttata. Therefore, this PCR-based test can identify plants that are infected with powdery mildew before they show any visual signs. From there, the infected plants can be treated or removed before the fungus has a chance to produce spores that infect neighboring plants. These results would help tackle the eradication of powdery mildew.

This study was carried out to investigate the changes in semen characteristics, hormonal profile and testicular morphometry of West African Dwarf (WAD) goat bucks treated with danazol. For this purpose, eighteen matured WAD bucks average of about two years were randomly divided into groups A, B and C comprising of six bucks per group. Group A was the control while B and C bucks were given danazol at a dose rate of 20mg/kg body weight orally daily for four weeks. The group B bucks’ testes were harvested thereafter for gross and histo-morphometric studies while those of group C were left intact but danazol treatment was withdrawn for four more weeks. The bucks’ semen samples (collected by electro-ejaculation) and hormonal samples (taken via the jugular vein) were analyzed. The semen characteristics studied included color, volume, mass activity, motility, percentage normal live-dead ratio, morphology and concentration; while the hormones studied included testosterone, follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone. Results show that there were significant decreases in semen characteristics of group B and C bucks compared with those of group A in the first four weeks. The semen characteristics of the group C bucks were reversed to normal range (similar to those of group A bucks) two weeks after danazol treatment was withdrawn. Similar results were observed with the hormonal studies. In conclusion, danazol caused a reversed reduction in sperm cells characteristics suggesting its possible use as a contraceptive in WAD goat bucks.

Pleurotus tuber-regium has been used as fodder and traditionally used as medicinal supplement. The aim of this study was to screen in vitro proximate biochemical composition and nutritional potentiality of P. tuber-regium extract for further in vivo analysis of impact of the extract on serum lipid and testosterone profile of rats. Total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol were measured photometrically. Testosterone was measured by chemiluminescence immune assay. P. tuber-regium extract contains different biochemicals such as proteins, carbohydrates, tannins, flavonoids, phenols etc. and showed highly quantified calorific value (297.89±1.92 calori/100g). Acute toxicity test showed no mortality and toxic behavioural symptoms. Significant decrease in total cholesterol (75.52±0.39mg/dL), LDL cholesterol (34.58±1.69mg/dL) and triglyceride (81.31±1.25) were observed in rat group treated with 200mg/kg dose of extract. 400mg/kg dose of extract showed higher efficacy than 200mg/kg dose of extract and significantly decreased total cholesterol (72.25±1.11mg/dL), LDL cholesterol (26.37±1.21mg/dL) and triglyceride (69.42±0.72). The extract showed testosterone enhance efficacy. 400mg/kg dose of extract showed high level testosterone (178.96±0.68 ng/dL) enhance efficacy than 200mg/kg dose (174.64±0.64ng/dL). Due to hypocholesterolaemia and testosterone elevating properties of P. tuber-regium extract, it can be said that, mushroom P. tuber-regium can be consumed as healthy diet supplement to maintain cholesterol level and to maintain good male reproductive health.

Eggs were coated with propolis in order to determine its effect on egg quality and total bacterial count. Effect of storage time prior to propolis coating was also studied. Eggs were obtained from a local farm, coated with 0, 3, 6 or 9% of propolis and stored at 4 ºC with a humidity of 75% for 30 days. A total of 18 eggs were used for egg quality traits and 6 eggs were chosen for microbial activity for each group. Bacteria were recovered with sterile cotton swabs from egg surfaces. Colonies with different morphology and color were detected. 11 bacterial species were determined following the characterization of 14 isolates. Elevated levels of bacterial counts were detected for daily eggs, which were significantly higher than those stored for 30 days. The quality traits of the daily eggs have also been found higher compared with the other groups. It was observed that coating the eggs with varying concentrations of propolis lead to significant differences in the total bacterial counts of the eggshells. Moreover, the egg quality traits which decreased with the increase in storage time have not been further affected with propolis coating.

Small walnut aphid (Chromaphis juglandicola (Kalt.) (Hem.: Aphididae) and Dusky-veined walnut aphid (Panaphis juglandis) (Goeze) (Hemiptera: Callaphididae) are important pests in walnut orchards in Lake Van Basin, Turkey. Aphids, which are colonized separately in the upper and lower parts of the walnut leaf, cause loss of quality and quantity in the walnut when their population is dense. In this study, population growth rate parameters based on feeding with both aphids of Chrysoperla carnea (Stephen) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae), which is one of the important predators of the pest, were determined. The experiments were carried out in climatic rooms under 25±10°C, 65±5% humidity and 16: 8 (L: D) h (5,000 lux) lighting time conditions. Life table parameters were estimated according to age-stage, two-sex life table method. The values obtained for the intrinsic rate of increase (r), finite rate of increase (λ), net reproductive rate (R0) and mean generation time (T) were 0.082 d-1, 1.082 d-1, 59.47 offspring and 49.76 d, respectively of C. carnea fed on Chromaphis juglandicola and Panaphis juglandis. Results obtained might be used in pest management program that will be prepared for the aphids.

Heavy metal environmental contamination consequent of anthropogenic factors has become a global concern with cadmium and lead constituting a major public health, livestock and ecological threat. This study, therefore, uses goats (as sentinel animals) raised in 2 different regions based on their mining history (previous and existing) to evaluate exposure to cadmium and lead and their consequent toxicities and pathological changes. A total of 130 goats (composed of 88 goats which constitute the suspected exposure (SE) group and 44 goats, the suspected unexposed (SU) group) were sampled. Blood and tissue samples (liver, kidney and muscles) were analysed for lead and cadmium levels using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer along with the complete blood count analysis. The mean blood lead levels (BLLs) and cadmium levels (BCLs) in the goats from the SE groups were 14.59 and 3.12 µg/dl respectively, which were significantly higher than the SU groups (9.23 and 0.46 µg/dl respectively) A significantly higher frequency of goats in the SE (93.18%) also had an elevated BLLs compared to the SU group (78.57%). The levels of tissue lead and cadmium in both the SE and SU groups were found significant and higher than the FAO/WHO maximum limits. The packed cell volume, red blood cell count, and haemoglobin concentration were found significantly lower, and the platelet count and some leucocyte parameters (total white blood cell, neutrophil, eosinophil, and monocyte count) were found significantly higher in the SE group. The elevated cadmium and lead level in both groups further highlight the ubiquitous spread of cadmium and lead environmental contamination in both study regions and the direct risk of exposure to human and animals in Nigeria. The relative differences in the observed pathological changes in the two study groups also suggest the influence of the environmental heavy metal pollution and exposure levels on health.

Proteins consumed by poultry turns into ammonia as a result of microbial activities depending on the pH, temperature, moisture content of the litter, litter type, manure condition, relative humidity and ventilation condition and spreads to the environment as ammonia gas. Ammonia gas, which is one of the problems caused by poultry breeding, is a harmful gas in terms of animal welfare, health of employees and its effects on the environment. In this article, ammonia gas emission in poultry and practices to reduce this emission have been discussed and recommendations have been made.

In this study, we examined how the new type of coronavirus (COVID-19), which originated in Vuhan, China, affected the whole world in a short time, affected individuals ‘ recreational activities and how much these activities changed after the normalization process. After the first case was announced in our country on March 10, 2020, many measures were taken, and within the scope of these measures, bans and partial bans occurred. The coronavirus, which has been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization and has become a deadly virus all over the world, has also directly affected the recreational activities of people. The study, the longing of individuals to green areas during this epidemic period was evaluated by comparing the conditions before and after the normalization process of recreational activities. In addition, the findings obtained in accordance with the survey conducted in the study indicate that the new coronavirus affects both the recreational activities and psychological conditions of people.

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) has been cultivated as an important cereal crop for more than 9,000 years and more than half of the world’s population depend on rice as it is their primary source of energy. Almost 30% of the current world cereal production is represented by the rice alone. It is estimated that the world’s population will reach 9.1 billion by 2050 i.e. 34 percent higher than today and for ensuring an ample amount of food and nutrition to such large population, global consumption of cereals will need to increase from 2.6 to 2.9 billion tonnes by 2027. On the other hand, the impacts of climate change in agriculture are expected to be negative, threatening the global food security. Besides, agriculture and global food security will be severely affected due to the COVID-19 pandemics as its after-effects are yet to be ascertained. The world needs an introduction of a new “Green revolution” in agriculture to increase crop production for food security and biofuel, because conventional breeding method have not brought much of gains not keeping its pace with the world population growth. Hence, the current study was done to review the various ongoing approaches and possible ways of designing a rice with enhanced productivity and photosynthetic capacity. One of the ways to increase yields, photosynthetic capacity accompanied by an increased Water Use Efficiency (WUE) and Nutrient Use Efficiency could be to introduce C4 traits into rice. Besides, genetic engineering using CRISPR-Cas9, molecular breeding, developing ideotype, heterosis breeding, developing apomictic rice, nitrogen fixing rice, use of nanotechnology as well as precision farming are the probable future approaches for designing a rice with high productivity. However, there are challenges and limitations in developing such rice and further research in this matter could help us get closer to developing the future rice.