From all the pigments found in Spirulina platensis, phycocyanin has been found to have a diverse application in various fields, and has a high market demand, calling for a need to increase production and easy isolation methods. In general, phycocyanin production in cells depends on the light conditions, among other factors during the cultivation period. The focus of this study was to look at the effect of different light intensities on phycocyanin production in Spirulina platensis. Other cellular biochemical parameters, including chlorophyll content and protein, were explored under the different treatments. An experimental design containing 4 different light intensities of 20, 150, 300 and 600 μmol photons m2/s was administered with 3 replicates. The results obtained from the study showed that high phycocyanin content was obtained from a low light intensity treatment. Chlorophyll results were a bit in contrary to the results obtained for phycocyanin, with high chlorophyll content obtained in high light intensity treatments. Protein and biomass accumulation also followed the same trend, where they were observed to be higher in high light intensities, with the maximum biomass achieved at 600 μmol photons m2/s and maximum protein content achieved at 300 μmol photons m2/s. Due to the commercial potential of phycocyanin to humans, its low cost downstream cultivation and processing of Spirulina platensis will be of economic advantage to the relevant stakeholders to fulfil the rampant demands and affordability of the blue phycocyanin pigment to both first and third World countries, hence the need of producing phycocyanin using the modified Zarouk’s media which has cheaper if not affordable ingredients.

XIX. yüzyıldan itibaren endüstrileşme ve teknolojide yaşanan ilerlemeler ile iş imkânlarının şehir merkezlerinde yoğunlaşması, köyden şehre göçü hızlandırmıştır. Göç alan illerin başında Ankara; başkent olması nedeni ile ilk sıralarda yer almaktadır. Şehirlerde artan nüfus rekreasyon alanlarına rağbeti artmıştır. Özellikle göl, gölet, baraj ve akarsu kıyılarında rekreasyon olta balıkçılığı yapanlar hızla artmaktadır. Maddi ve ticari kazanç beklemeden, sadece spor veya dinlence amacıyla yapılan, avlanılan ürünün satılmadığı olta balıkçılığı, en önemli rekreasyon etkinliklerindendir. Bu çalışmada Ankara ilindeki amatör balıkçıların sosyo-ekonomik durumları araştırılmıştır. Amatör balıkçıların avlanma mevsimleri, avlanma saatleri ve süreleri, avlarının kendilerine yeterliliği, avlandıkları stokların sürekliliği ve avlanmada göreceli av miktarının durumu tespit edilmiştir. Yakaladıkların balıkların sağlık açısında güvenilirliği, avlanma kuralları hakkında görüş ve düşünceleri, amatör olta balıkçılığı belgesine sahiplik durumu, yasa ve yönetmelikleri denetleyen bir kurumlardan haberdar olup olmadıkları araştırılmıştır. Araştırma sonuçlarının, rekreasyon olta balıkçılığına gönül vermiş balıkçılara ışık tutması amaçlanmıştır. Ayrıca bilinç düzeyinin yükseltilerek sürdürülebilir ve sürekli balıkçılığın sağlanmasına katkıda bulunacak bilinç düzeyi yüksek amatör balıkçıların sayısının artırılmasına katkı sağlanması da hedeflenmiştir.

The roles of protein in bodybuilding and the regulation of biological processes are important in sustaining life. A large amount of protein is required by both humans and animals and this cannot be supplied by only conventional sources. This is because of the rapid increase in world population. The present sources of protein will not meet global protein demand in years to come. Scientists explore the production of single-cell protein (SCP), as an alternative source of protein, through the utilization of wastes and low-value materials. SCP can supply high-quality protein containing both essential and non-essential amino acids that can be utilized by humans and animals. Protein from microbial biomass is cheaper than animal proteins because the substrates used in the production are generally cheaper and more readily available. Moreover, the production process does not require arable land and the entire process can be completed within a short time. This article reviewed the process of SCP production. Different raw materials used in the production and variations in growth media preparation methods were discussed. Various sources of fermentation microorganisms and their potential substrate were reviewed. Growth media enrichment using different carbon, nitrogen, and mineral sources was also discussed.

Drinking water is the most indispensable substance for humans. Bottled drinking waters are preferred over tap water with the belief that they are more nutritious, better quality, more delicious and safe in terms of health. Therefore, the Turkish bottled (spring and mineral) water market has experienced a continuous growth since 2003, as in the whole world. This study focuses on comparing the common mineral cation calcium (Ca2+), magnesium (Mg2+) and sodium (Na+) content of twenty one popular bottled spring and mineral water brands marketed in Turkey by using an inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). The average concentrations of Ca, Mg and Na analyzed in bottled spring and mineral water samples were found as 14.9, 24.1 and 8.2 mg/L and 147.9, 44.3 and 117.3 mg/L, respectively. This comparison confirms that bottled natural mineral water has better quality in terms of major nutrient minerals than bottled natural spring waters.

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of hemp seed oil replaced soybean oil as an energy supply on growth performance parameters, carcass yield, liver weight, breast meat pH, and meat color values in quails. A total of 100 one-day old quail chicks were reared in two treatment groups for 5 weeks. The experimental diets were formulated as to contain 4.4% crude soybean(control) and hemp seed oils. According to the results of the present study, crude hemp seed oil replaced soybean oil in the diet was effective on finishing body weight, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, weight gain and carcass yield. All of these parameters were lower than the soybean oil (control) group. Liver weight, and breast meat color values (L*, a*, and b*) have shown similarities between experimental groups. The breast meat pH value decreased significantly in the hemp seed oil treatment group compared to soybean oil group. Using hemp seed oil instead of soybean oil used in quail diets negatively affects performance parameters (except for feed conversion ratio).

The level of yield among sweet potato farmers is on a decline; low output and yield differences was observed, indicating the existence of inefficiency in production systems and variations in input utilization. Efficiency in resource use must be sustained in order to improve productivity and maximize farm output. This study therefore analyzed the technical efficiency of sweet potato production. Multi-stage sampling techniques were adopted in selecting 94 respondents for this study. Data collected was analyzed using descriptive statistics and stochastic frontier production function. The socioeconomic variables of the respondents affected their farm efficiency and level of farm output. The estimated ratio of the L/R test was 0.579; indicating a goodness of fit of the frontier model and thus a rejection of the null hypothesis. The coefficients of sweet potato seeds (vines) (0.362) and labour (0.439) were positive and statistically significant at 5% level of probability, while the coefficients of farm size (-1.333), fertilizer (-0.452) and herbicides (-0.766) were negative but statistically significant at 5% level of probability. The inefficiency model revealed that the coefficient of farm capital (-0.172), education (-2.281), access to credit (-0.472), farming experience (-0.639), extension contact (-0.733) and membership of cooperatives (-0.396) were negative and statistically significant at 5% level of probability. The mean technical efficiency was 0.62 (62%) implying that the sweet potato farmers in the study area were not producing at optimal capacity. The constraints identified significantly affected sweet potato production in the study area. Subsidizing input costs; sensitizing farmers on appropriate farming practices, cooperative formation and efficiency in resource utilization; improving access to agricultural inputs, technology, farm capital, credit and extension services, market linkages, farm labour supply and the development of indigenous technologies in sweet potato production are strongly recommended.

Bu araştırma ile Niş üretim yapısına sahip olan Azatlı Biberi ile ilgili olarak bu biberin üreticilerinin genel durumu ile yerel ekonomik kalkınma açısından değerinin belirlenmesi ve bu üretimin nasıl bir yerel kalkınma aracı olarak kullanılabileceğinin ortaya konulması amaçlanmıştır. Çalışmada Basit Tesadüfi Örnekleme Yöntemi ile 2020 Yılı Çiftçi Kayıt Sistemi verilerine göre toplam 113 üreticinin 52’si ile anket soru formları doldurularak çalışmanın amacına yönelik veriler elde edilmiştir. Çalışmada üreticiler 20 dekar ve daha az alanda ve 20 dekardan fazla alanda Azatlı Biberi üreten üreticiler olarak 2 gruba ayrılmış ve analizler bu 2 grup üzerinden yapılmıştır. Sonuç olarak son 10 yıl içinde Azatlı Biberi üretiminin bir artış trendinde olduğu ve üreticilerin toplam üretimin %72,81’ini toz biber olarak işlediği belirtilmiştir. 1 kg taze Azatlı Biberi maliyeti 2020 yılı için 1,02 TL, kuru Azatlı Biberi için ise 8,68 TL olarak hesaplanmıştır. Yapılan hesaplamalar üreticilerin gelirleri içerisinde Azatlı Biberi’nin önemli yer tuttuğu, bölgede önemli bir tanınmışlığa sahip olduğu ve Azatlı Biberi adının bir kalite unsuru olarak algılandığı ortaya konulmuştur. Bölgede önemli bir ekonomik değer oluşturan Azatlı Biberi üretiminin yerel ekonomik kalkınma için önemli bir potansiyel oluşturması için örgütlenme, tanıtım ve coğrafi işaret tescilinin (menşei işareti) alınmasının önemli olduğu belirlenmiştir.

Asparagus officinalis L. (Asparagus) is a species that belongs to Liliaceae family, 300 species grow naturally on earth and 12 species of it grow naturally in Turkey. Generally, above-soil and under-soil parts of some of its different species are used as a diuretic, tonic, heart sedative, demulsan, antidiarrheal, antidisenteric, galactagogue, aphrodisiac, antispasmodic in traditional treatment. In addition to that it is also consumed as a food. To date various pharmacological studies were conducted on many types of that species. However, no comprehensive study has been made on Asparagus species, including anatomical, morphological habitat and productive characteristics. In this study, morphological features of Asparagus as a medical aromatic plant in spreading areas, its raising environment features, economy, socio-economic status of producers, and contributions of its production on both household and local economy have been examined based on Kastamonu case. As a result, Kastamonu district has wide range with respect to climate, which helps Asparagus plant being cultivated in appropriate growing environments, having potential to provide opportunity to generate high earnings. But producers do not have adequate expertise to cultivate and grow it, lack of any relevant training/education, so efficiency is low and it does not have the value it deserves.

The study was conducted to assess consumers’ preference and willingness to pay for different pepper varieties in Osun State, Nigeria. The study used the major pepper types – Capsicum chinenses (Rodo), C. annum (Tatase), C. frutescens (Sombo) and C. pubescens (Bawa), being sold in the markets in Osun State, Nigeria. A multistage sampling technique was used to collect data from 100 respondents. The primary data collected were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The study showed that consumers mostly preferred and were willing to pay more for C. chinenses (Rodo) than any other types of pepper. Household size, primary occupation, total household income, availability and meal-making ability of pepper were the factors that influenced consumers’ preference for the different varieties of pepper while the willingness to pay for pepper varieties by consumers was influenced by affordability, availability, taste and thickness. The study recommends that since availability and affordability influenced preference and willingness to pay for pepper varieties, policies should be aimed at increasing farmers’ production as this will ensure that pepper is readily available and affordable for consumers.