The main source of seed filling results from the photosynthesis of the green tissue closest to the seed sinks in the capitula. To evaluate the role of different leaf strata and capitula in seed yield and its components of Safflower genotypes, a field study was performed as a factorial experiment based on RCBD in 3 replicates in East Azarbaijan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center in 2008. The used factors in this experiment were: two Safflower genotypes including (Mahalli Esfahan and Goldasht) and defoliation in five levels: defoliation of plants in lower 1/3, middle 1/3, upper 1/3 of the stem, capitulum covered with aluminum paper and control (without defoliation). The results showed that defoliation did not affect plant height and number of pods. But, there was a highly significant difference between strata in terms of number of seeds per pod, number of seeds per plant, 1000 seeds weight, oil percentage and oil yield. The interaction of genotype×strata treatments in seeds yield and harvest index was significant. Among the defoliation treatment levels in both genotypes, the highest decrease in the seed yield compared to the control were observed in the upper 1/3 defoliation levels, whereas the lowest decrease was observed in the lower 1/3 defoliation level. The rate of seed yield reduction in Mahalli Esfahan was higher than Goldasht. The change in Goldasht seed yield was mostly due to changes in the number of seeds per plant and the number of seeds in the head. In addition, net photosynthesis, strata leaf area, and photosynthesis contribution of the upper strata compared to the lower ones were higher, and removal of the upper strata had the highest effect on seed yield through the reduction in the total photosynthesis of the whole plant. Also, covering the capitulum caused a significant decrease in the seed yield. So, head photosynthesis has a major contribution to Safflower seed yield.

African eggplants are highly valued constituents of the Nigerian food. However, their nutritional potentials have not been fully tapped due to inadequate information on their nutritional and anti-nutritional qualities. This present study investigated the proximate, minerals, anti-nutrient contents as well as the estimation of mineral ratios and Mineral Safety Index of four selected edible solanum species namely, Solanum anguivi, S. gilo, S. menalogena and S. aethiopicum. The proximate contents (%) ranged from 4.19-5.46 (moisture content), 1.71-2.49 (crude fat), 4.57-5.45 (crude ash), 3.76-4.93 (crude protein), 5.20-6.30 (crude fiber) and 77.14-78.58 (carbohydrate). The solanum species were good sources of energy with total metabolizable energy of 1.458MJ-1.484MJ. The four solanum species contained high K, Ca, Mg, low Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu, while amount of Cd, Ni and Pb were very low. The mineral ratios of K/Na, Ca/Mg, Ca/K, Zn/Cu and [K/(Ca+Mg)] were below the minimum good ratios levels of 1.0, 4.17, 4.0, 8.0 and 2.2 respectively which are good for man. The anti-nutrient contents revealed low phytate, oxalate and cyanide levels. The calculated Phytate/Zn, Phytate/Ca and Oxalate/Ca were lower than the threshold levels and would support absorption and bioavailability of Zn and Ca in the samples while that of Phytate/Fe was above the critical value and this indicates unavailability of iron in these eggplant fruits. The mineral differences observed showed that S. menalogena and S. aethiopicum had greater minerals while the Mineral Safety Index results revealed that the body could not be overloaded with any of the minerals investigated. The eggplants are rich in fiber, ash, carbohydrate and minerals with moderate protein. The low level of the anti-nutrient is good and poses no deleterious effect when consumed. The eggplants have nutritional health benefits; hence, their consumption should be encouraged to address food insecurity in Nigeria

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of 10 mM silicon (Si) application on salt stress (50, 100, and 200 mM NaCl) tolerance in Hungarian vetch seedlings (Ege Beyazi-79) based on growth parameters (shoot length and fresh weight, organic dry matter, and moisture), bioactive compounds as chlorophyll, carotenoid, proline, protein, nitrate, and nutrient status. Silicon was applied to the seedlings from the leaves and NaCl from the salt soil, both of which were dissolved in Hoagland solution. The results revealed that the highest shoot length Si+100 mM NaCl was recorded and the highest fresh and dry weight was recorded with length Si+50 mM NaCl. The highest dry matter was obtained from Si and 200 mM NaCl. The highest chlorophyll, carotenoid, proline, protein, and nitrate were obtained from 100 mM NaCl+Si, while the lowest chlorophyll, carotenoid, and nitrate were obtained from 200 mm NaCl and the lowest proline and protein from 100 mM NaCl, respectively. The amount of K, Mg, and S were low in NaCl doses but high in Si and Si + NaCl doses, and P was higher in all groups compared to the control. The content of Na, Co, and Se were high in all groups except Cl 50 NaCl, while Mn, Zn, and Ni were higher in Si and Si + NaCl doses. Silicon content of samples was high at higher NaCl + Si doses. The results provided by this investigating indicated that silicate concentrations positively affected the parameters examined in Hungarian seedlings, and increased the tolerance of seedlings to salt stress.

This study evaluates the chemical properties of mistletoe leaves powder from moringa trees (MLPM) and mistletoe leaves powder from kola nut trees (MLPK). The MLPM and MLPK were subjected to phytochemical analysis, vitamin A determination, lipid peroxidation inhibition activity, 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate (DPPH) analysis, proximate and mineral composition analysis, alpha-amylase inhibitory activity and alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activity. Total phenol, steroids, and tannins concentrations were higher in MLPK than in MLPM; steroids was higher in MLPK than in MLPM; whereas total flavonoids and saponins concentrations, were equivalents. MLPK had greater vitamin A concentrations and DPPH than MLPM. The lipid peroxidation inhibition of MLPM and MLPK did not differ significantly. MLPM had higher moisture, crude fibre, and ash content than MLPK. Furthermore, MLPK had larger fat, crude protein, and nitrogen-free extract contents than MLPM. The MLPM and MLPK have similar Zn (0.9 vs. 1.3 mg/kg), Ca (20.1 vs. 13.1 mg/kg), Mg (66.1 vs. 70.2 mg/kg), and P (185.8 vs. 183.5 mg/kg) contents. The alpha-amylase inhibitory action of MLPM (40.40%) and MLPK (35.07%) were similar. MLPK (44.37%), on the other hand, has a stronger alpha-glucose inhibitory action than MLPM (32.47%). Finally, phenol, steroids, tannins, and steroids varied between MLPM and MLPK, with phenol, steroids, and tannins being greater in MLPK. The MLPM had higher vitamin A concentrations and antioxidant activity than MLPK. The MLPM and MLPK inhibited alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase activity.

The study attempted to examine the question whether rural farmers save their income. Rural farmers in Toro Local Government of Bauchi State, Nigeria were used as a case study. The factors that influence saving and investment were also determined. Out of the three districts in the LGA, two villages were purposively selected from each district and twenty farmers were randomly selected to bring the number of villages to six and total number of farmers to one hundred and twenty. This constituted the sample size; they were administered the questionnaires from where data for the study was generated. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis. The result indicated that contrary to traditional theory of saving where the poor are deemed incapable of saving, the rural farmers do indeed save from their little income. They need to be encouraged in this regard. The regression result showed that age, educational level, farm income, membership of cooperative societies, farming experience and access to credit were significant factors that influence saving. The result also revealed that inadequate income and too many children to carter for were major constraints to saving. To promote saving culture in the area, the capacity of the farmers to save should be enhanced by enabling them adopt birth control, providing them opportunities to work all year round and provision of simple preservation technologies.

This study examined the Effects of Economic Partnership Agreements between ECOWAS and the EU on Trade, Revenue and Welfare of Agricultural trade of ECOWAS bloc. The specific objectives of the study were to:(i) estimate the potential trade creation and diversion effects of EPA on agricultural trade of ECOWAS bloc, (ii) estimate the potential revenue effects of EPA on agricultural trade of ECOWAS bloc and (iii) estimate the potential welfare effects of EPA on agricultural trade of ECOWAS bloc. World Integrated Trade Solutions provided access to an online secondary data as classified by United Nations Harmonized system. The result on the potential trade creation and diversion effects of EPA on both trading blocs showed that ECOWAS will gain US$198.9million in trade creation and lose US$58.4 million in Trade Diversion. On the other hand, there will be no trade creation for EU with negligible trade diversion of – US$0.2million. The result showed total potential tariff revenue losses of US$366.4million for ECOWAS bloc post EPA. On the other hand, EU will lose (US$951.8million) its agricultural products post EPA. The result further showed potential welfare gain of US$27.6million for consumers of ECOWAS bloc. On the other hand, there will be welfare gain of the EU at US$243.5million for their consumers post EPA. Among all the recommendations, the study therefore points out that the on-going EPA negotiations between ECOWAS and the EU need not to be hurriedly signed by ECOWAS bloc. Also, ECOWAS needs to strengthen its agricultural production efficiency to be able to compete globally and encourage its individual countries to return to a single digit borrowing interest rate to encourage more investment by local agricultural producers if they want to enjoy the benefits of trade treaties at long run if EPA is eventually signed.

This study aimed to investigate the body weight and some body measurements in Central Anatolian Merino sheep regarding ages and to carry out a comparative analysis between them. The study included a total of 60 animals aged 2, 3 and 4 years. The sheep were fed daily with hay, vetch, alfalfa and limited amount of concentrated feed (400 g head-1) until the pasture period, and pasture grass and mixed grass-clover hay during the pasture period. The live weights of the sheep of different ages in the farms were measured with a digital scale, and some body size were measured using a measuring tape and a measuring stick. When the live weight and chest circumference values of the 4-year-old sheep were compared with the data obtained in the other age groups (2 and 3 years old), and it was statistically significant, chest width and rump height values were found to be similar to those in the 3-age group. There were significant correlations between live weight and chest circumference, between withers height and rump height and significant correlations between live weight and chest width, body length with rump height, chest width with chest depth. In addition, significant correlations were found between live weight and chest depth, and between withers height, body length, and chest depth. Present findings revealed that the Central Anatolian Merino sheep can be beneficial in the development of meat-type sheep breeding.

Vitamin A is an essential micronutrient and has important functions such as vision, growth, reproduction embryogenesis, cellular differentiation, and proliferation, immune function and epithelial protector in the organism. Biotechnological production of vitamins is increasing due to their advantages and significant advances. The vitreoscilla hemoglobin (VHb) gene is extremely effective in binding oxygen and conducting it under hypoxic conditions. In this study, the production of vitamin A in E. herbicola (wild type) and its recombinant strains was investigated in LB medium and M9 medium (containing high concentrations (1%) of different carbon sources). The maximum production of vitamin A of the recombinant strain with the hemoglobin gene (vgb+) was observed in including glucose and sucrose M9 medium and their total product levels in vgb+ recombinant strain were 0.14 µg/ml and 0.1 µg/ml, respectively. The vitamin A production in the M9 medium with glucose and sucrose were 2-fold and 1.4- fold higher than that of the wild strain, respectively. The extracellular product level (0.07 µg/ml) in LB was 7-fold higher than wild strain at 48 h. These results reveal that the expression of VHb in E. herbicola in the both LB and M9 medium (containing 1% glucose and 1% sucrose, specially) increase the vitamin A production.

Roasting is the most important coffee processing stage that affects coffee flavour. Coffee brew is prepared by various methods and Turkish coffee brewing technique is one of the oldest methods among other coffee preparation techniques. In this study, volatile compounds of light, medium, dark roasted ground coffee and Turkish coffee brews prepared from light, medium, dark roasted coffees were evaluated and the effect of roasting process was determined. The volatile compounds from acid (2), alcohol (1), aldehyde (2), furan (8), furanone (3), ketone (1), lactone (1), phenol (3), pyrazine (19), pyridine (1), pyrrole (6), and thiophene (1) chemical group was detected in all roasted ground coffee samples. However, volatiles compounds from acid, alcohol and furanone group were not detected in any Turkish coffee brew. Pyrazines were main volatile compounds of light roasted ground coffee and Turkish coffee brew of light roasted coffee. On the other hand, furans were main volatile compounds of medium, dark roasted ground coffee and Turkish coffee brew prepared from medium, dark roasted coffees followed by pyrazines.

Yürütülen çalışmada sürdürülebilir kaynaklardan çevre dostu biyopolimerlerin elde edilmesi ve biyomalzeme olarak kullanılabilirliği araştırılmıştır. Bu amaçla, sığır aşil tendonundan kollajen, ipek böceği kozasından fibroin, kahverengi deniz alglerinden sodyum alginat ve aloe vera jelinden biyoaktif bileşenler izole edilerek saflaştırılmıştır. Ürün verimi kollajen, fibroin, sodium alginat ve aloe vera için sırasıyla %79.8 (w/w), %69.49 (w/w kozadan), %35.1 (w/w) ve %1 (w/v jeldeki kuru miktar) oranında hesaplanmıştır. Bu biyomoleküllerden dondurarak kurutma yöntemi ile doku iskeleleri hazırlanmıştır. Ancak, aloe vera jeli katı formada yapı bütünlüğünü koruyamayarak 3-boyutlu iskele yapı oluşturamamıştır. Fibroin, kollajen ve sodyum alginat iskelelerin FTIR analizleri ürünlerin saf olarak elde edildiğini, liyoflizasyon sırasında kimyasal yapının korunduğunu göstermiştir. SEM ile yüzey analizleri ise iskelelerin doku mühendisliği uygulamaları için uygun olduğunu desteklemiştir. Sonuç olarak, petrol kaynaklı polimer yerine sürdürülebilir kaynaklardan, genel olarak oda şartlarında bioaktif polimerler yüksek verimle elde edilmiş ve biyomalzeme olarak kullanılabilecekleri belirlenmiştir. Biyomoleküllerin bu şekilde sürdürülebilir kaynaklardan elde edilmesi hem hammadde sorununun hem de polimer kaynaklı çevresel kirliliğin çözümünde önemli potansiyele sahiptir.