The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of silicon (Si) applied to leaves and roots in controlling common bacterial blight disease caused by Xanthomonas phaseoli pv. phaseoli (Xpp), a significant bacterial pathogen of beans. Silicon dioxide (SiO₂) was applied at concentrations of 30 mM and 15 mM using two methods: (i) foliar spraying and (ii) root drenching. Phaseolus vulgaris cv. Gina was grown in a soilless substrate-based system. The application method of SiO₂ had a significant impact on disease severity. Foliar applications of SiO₂ did not influence disease development. However, root applications reduced disease severity by 44% and 62% at 15 mM and 30 mM doses, respectively, compared to the Xpp -inoculated control group. SiO₂ foliar applications had no significant effect on shoot fresh and dry weight or leaf number (LN) at either dose compared to the negative control (NC). However, root application of 30 mM SiO₂ significantly increased LN. Despite these findings, neither application method nor dose created a notable difference in plant growth parameters under disease pressure. In conclusion, SiO₂ must primarily be applied to the root system to exert its disease-suppressing effect. This positive impact appears to be independent of plant growth parameters. These findings suggest that SiO₂ root application holds significant potential for controlling common bean blight caused by Xpp in the context of sustainable agriculture.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of various biostimulants, both alone and in combination with organic fertilizers, on biomass accumulation and yield components of Cucumis melo L. Galia C8 and Kırkağaç 637 under the ecological conditions of Adıyaman, Turkey. Plants were grown in 8-liter pots and uprooted on the 30th and 60th days after planting to assess various morphological and physiological parameters in 2011. For yield parameter, experiments were carried out in open field conditions in the spring growing years of 2011 and 2013.Treatments consisted of different biostimulants Bacillus subtilis (OSU 142), Bacillus megaterium (M3), Azospirillum spp. (SP245), Bioplin, Phosfert, EM1, Bio-one, Endoroots, Sim-derma, and Spirulina sp. applied either alone or in combination with organic fertilizers (OF) (Çamlıbesi Bioactive Compost, Liquid Organic Fertilizer, and K-Humate), along with conventional fertilization (DAP + urea) and an untreated control as reference treatments. The results demonstrated significant improvements in morphological parameters, vegetative growth, and biomass production with combined applications of biostimulants and organic fertilizers. Among all treatments, Spirulina + OG and Sim-derma + OG led to the most pronounced improvements in stem diameter (up to 46%), stem length (25%), internode number (42%), root length (up to 44%), and total biomass (up to 188%) relative to the control. Biomass accumulation was assessed through two destructive harvests, revealing statistically significant differences among treatments in root, stem, leaf, and total fresh and dry weights. While no substantial difference was observed between the cultivars for some traits, interactions between cultivar and treatment were found to be statistically significant for several biomass-related traits. Total yield was calculated as 2359.16 kg/da for Galia C8 and 2283.97 kg/da for Kırkağaç 637. The average yield increased from 1441 kg/da in the first year to 3201 kg/da in the second year. Compared to the control treatments, the total yield showed an increase of 91.94% for Galia C8 and 26.75% for Kırkağaç 637. These findings suggest that integrating biostimulants with organic fertilizers can enhance melon growth, yield components, and biomass partitioning, providing a sustainable alternative to conventional fertilization practices, particularly under semi-arid conditions.

The nutritional composition of fermented grape seed, cherry kernel, and maize seed mixture (GCM) with Aspergillus niger strains was investigated in this study. The fermentation substrate was prepared by mixing 20 g of maize seed, 40 g of grape seed, and 40 g of cherry kernel. A mixture of the different A. niger strains (ATCC 200344, 200345, 201572, 52172) was used in this study. The nutrient salt was added to the substrate and mixed. The mixture was sterilized at 121 °C for 15 min using an autoclave. Each A. niger suspension containing 106 spores per ml was prepared and inoculated into the sterilized substrate. The substrates were incubated at 30 °C for seven days. Crude protein, crude ash, ether extract, and crude fiber were analyzed in the unfermented and fermented substrates. Nitrogen-free extract was estimated by subtracting the percentages of crude protein, ether extract, crude ash, and crude fiber from 100%. The crude protein content of GCM was increased (P<0.001) after solid-state fermentation with A. niger. Solid-state fermentation also increased (P<0.001) the ether extract content of GCM. In addition, fermented GCM had higher (P=0.001) crude ash content than unfermented GCM. However, crude fiber content of GCM was reduced (P<0.001) by solid-state fermentation. Similarly, A. niger decreased (P<0.001) the nitrogen-free extract in GCM. The results showed that solid-state fermentation with A. niger improved the nutritional quality of GCM.

Cheese is a widely consumed and nutritious staple meal created through several methods and components globally. The utilization of alternate botanical sources in cheese production has gained prominence in recent years. Plant seeds are noteworthy for cheese manufacturing due to their rich array of nutritional and functional components. The study aims to investigate plant seeds utilized in functional cheese production and to illuminate research on new product creation. Seeds can be utilized directly, as well as flour, extract, gum, mucilage, or oils derived from seeds in cheese production. The incorporation of plant seeds in cheeses enhances the levels of vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber, vital fatty acids, as well as phenolic and antioxidant compounds. The incorporation of plant seeds enhances the physicochemical properties of certain cheeses, augments antimicrobial efficacy, positively influences oxidative stability during storage, lowers production costs, inhibits surface mold formation as a coating agent, and improves cheese texture and sensory attributes. This study examined the incorporation of Chia, flaxseed, basil, sesame, black cumin, quinoa, Moringa oleifera seeds, and various other seeds into cheese. The impact of these seeds on cheese quality was examined.

This study examines whether Geographical Indication (GI) certification is associated with improved export performance measured by export value, volume, and unit price for five Turkish horticultural products (cherries, pomegranates, grapes, beans, and watermelons) during 2020–2024. The purpose of the study is to investigate whether GI certification contributes to measurable improvements in export competitiveness, particularly in terms of value, quantity, and unit price, and to determine the extent to which these effects vary across different product types and certification durations. Drawing on secondary data from official trade databases, the analysis employs descriptive statistics, trend-based regression, and comparative time-series visualization to assess post-GI dynamics. Results indicate that GI effects are product-specific and sensitive to the duration of certification: cherries, with long-standing GI protection (since 2004), consistently achieve the highest unit prices, suggesting durable premiums; grapes and pomegranates (recently certified) show early signs of price differentiation despite volume variability; beans and watermelons exhibit limited or no improvement in export metrics, implying that GI status alone is insufficient for competitiveness. Overall, GI labeling can enhance trade performance when paired with supportive market strategies (branding, quality assurance, international promotion) and sufficient time to mature. Given the short horizon, lack of firm-level data, and absence of formal counterfactuals, findings are exploratory rather than causal.

The decreasing food resources are the main factors that negatively affect the increasing population and production capacity around the world. In particular, due to global warming and climate change, the required nutrient resources are limited. This triggers the search for alternative resources in animal production. One of the main problems faced by animal production is the inadequacy of feed resources. In recent years, various alternative feed sources have been found to solve this problem. However, it has only been a solution for nutrition. In recent studies, biochar has been found to be both a feed source and capable of preventing global environmental problems. Biochar is generally a solid by-product with added value, formed because of the thermochemical conversion of waste biomass resulting from industrial, forest, plant and animal production. Biochar; while previously used as litter material in animal production, in recent years it has started to be used as an alternative feed source. It has begun to be used as a food source for many animals species, especially ruminants, monogastrics, poultry and aquaculture. The results of many studies indicate that biochar provides significant improvement in yield and performance characteristics such as meat, milk and eggs. It is most striking features include significantly reducing emissions generated during the breeding of different animals species and increasing environmental sustainability. The aim of this study was to provide information about the use of biochar as an alternative feed source in animal nutrition.

Holy basil, known as Tulasi in Nepali is a medicinal herb with significant potential in Nepal. Despite its significance in culture and tradition, its scientific and commercial potential is yet underexplored. This review article explores holy basil’s pharmacological characteristics emphasizing its adaptogenic, anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory qualities. The medicinal uses of basil are attributed to its bioactive compounds including ursolic acid, rosmarinic acid and eugenol.  This review article highlights the necessity of systematic cultivation, sustainable harvesting and advanced extraction technique in order to optimize the yield and quality of these bioactive substances. It also explores holy basil’s potential in the cosmetic, pharmaceutical and nutraceutical sectors and advocates for further research and development to utilize its full potential. Basil’s commercial and industrial potential in Nepal is also glorified in this review article along with challenges in commercialization also providing future recommendations.

This article explores an intelligent and equitable approach to collective and participatory irrigation for small farmers, with an emphasis on the democratization of water use. It examines how this equitable irrigation approach can contribute to the social economy by improving irrigation efficiency and reducing costs for farmers. This work highlights the socio-economic benefits of this approach and highlights its potential to promote democratic water management particularly for small-scale farmers. To do this, we propose a collective irrigation system using a Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm, to accurately estimate crop water needs, a method of equitable distribution of water according to needs. Additionally, we propose a novel weighted aggregation technique to establish irrigation priorities among crops, taking into account factors such as crop yield, water scarcity, and economic value.

This study evaluated and compared the antimicrobial, antioxidant, anticholinesterase, and antidiabetic activities of Matricaria chamomilla L. (chamomile), Lavandula angustifolia Mill. (lavender), Hypericum perforatum L. (St. John’s wort), Salvia officinalis L. (sage), and Foeniculum vulgare Mill. (fennel) plants and their extracts. Antioxidant activity was assessed using DPPH and ABTS assays, while α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibition assays determined antidiabetic potential. Acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase inhibitory activities were measured via the Ellman method, and antimicrobial activity was evaluated using the micro-well dilution test. Among the tested extracts, H. perforatum extract and H. perforatum drug exhibited the most potent biological activities. In the α-glucosidase inhibition assay, H. perforatum extract displayed the highest inhibition (95.40%, IC₅₀ = 8 µg/mL), followed by H. perforatum drug (94.71%, IC₅₀ = 27 µg/mL). The strongest α-amylase inhibition was observed with the Soothing Complex Product (60.90%), following acarbose (74.61%). The highest ABTS radical scavenging activity was noted in S. officinalis drug (99.39%) and H. perforatum drug (99.32%), while the DPPH assay showed significant activity for S. officinalis extract (46.99%) and α-tocopherol (46.99%). Antimicrobial testing revealed moderate antibacterial effects of F. vulgare drug against Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans (MIC = 1250 µg/mL). Overall, H. perforatum extracts demonstrated strong enzyme inhibition and antioxidant properties, highlighting their potential for medicinal and dermocosmetic applications. These findings provide valuable insights into the bioactivity of herbal extracts, supporting their potential use in over-the-counter formulations and new plant-based therapeutic products.

This study explores the significance and application potential of windbreaks as an agroforestry practice in residential areas. In the context of increasing environmental degradation, climate change, and the need for sustainable land use, windbreaks are highlighted for their multifaceted benefits to living environments. These benefits range from energy savings to ecosystem enhancements, soil conservation, and biodiversity improvement. The study examines the historical and current applications of windbreaks across different ecological regions of Turkey, emphasizing their potential contributions based on scientific data. Windbreaks established around residential areas improve microclimatic conditions, enhance quality of life, mitigate the adverse effects of strong winds and storms, and contribute to food security. Additionally, they support environmental sustainability by increasing carbon sequestration and helping to combat the impacts of climate change. For the successful implementation of windbreaks, proper species selection, precise establishment techniques, and continuous maintenance are essential. The study suggests enhancing collaboration between public and private sectors for the planning and management of windbreaks in a geographically diverse country like Turkey. Moreover, it underscores the need for awareness campaigns, educational programs, and the promotion of scientific research to scale these practices. Windbreaks demonstrate considerable potential as a sustainable land-use model and serve as a vital component for improving living standards and environmental resilience.