Plants are used by humans not only as food, but also for therapeutic purposes in medicine, as fuel and coloring matter. Plants, which are among the natural products consumed as traditional medicines, are used in the treatment of many diseases. Nowadays, many plants are widely used as nutritional supplements to strengthen the immune system or as an auxiliary nutritional supplement with other drugs in the treatment of chronic diseases. The plant Arum maculatum L. examined in this study is an angiosperm and monocotyledonous plant belonging to the family Araceae and a species in the order Arales. In this study it is aimed to study the bioavailability of Arum plant by using C. elegans nematode as a model organism. This study, the effects of the extract obtained by ethyl alcohol and water phase extraction of A. maculatum L., which is collected in spring and summer months and consumed by cooking fresh leaves and believed to be a source of healing, on the life span, egg production and growth-development parameters of Caenorhabditis elegans nematode were investigated. The data obtained were evaluated by SPSS program. Significant differences were found in C. elegans cultures of the extracts obtained from the leaves and flower parts of the plant in ethyl alcohol and water solvents compared to the control group. It was observed that the survival rates of C. elegans nematodes generally increased with the application of different doses of plant water extracts. This research will provide a reference for further research on the mechanism of Arum plants in the treatment of some diseases. Our research shows that this plant may have the potential therapeutic target about fertilization and growth and development process.

The quality of black seed oil depends greatly on the extraction method used. Traditional methods like cold pressing are valued for producing high-quality oil that retains its natural nutrients and flavor. However, these methods often come with a trade-off, as they tend to yield less oil and lower levels of bioactive compounds, making them less efficient for large-scale production. To overcome these limitations, seed pretreatment techniques were investigated. In this study, black seeds were subjected to freeze-thaw and microwave pre-treatment before cold pressing to increase the content of thymoquinone, which is a key bioactive compound in black seeds. For the freeze-thaw treatment, black seeds were frozen at -17 °C for 24 and 48 h, followed by thawing at 50 °C for 1 h. This process was repeated for 1, 2, and 3 cycles. Microwave treatment involved subjecting seed samples to microwave at a frequency of 2450 MHz and power levels of 400 W and 640 W for durations of 1, 2, and 3 min. Subsequent oil extraction was performed by using cold pressing. HPLC analysis showed a significant increase in thymoquinone content with freeze-thawed seeds (for 48 h and 3 cycles) showing a remarkable increase like 79.93% according to untreated black seeds. Microwave-pretreated seeds at 640 W for 3 min exhibited more than double thymoquinone content compared to untreated seeds. Other quality parameters, including moisture, specific gravity, acidity, peroxide value, and iodine value, shows comparable characteristics, while significant enhancing the sensory analysis of the pretreated oil (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that freeze-thaw and microwave pretreatments can serve as innovative methods for enhancing thymoquinone levels in Indian black seed oil, providing a promising avenue for improving the overall quality of this valuable natural product.

The study aimed to determine the effects of biochar obtained from rice husk and corn harvest residues on the growth, nutritional content and some biochemical properties of basil plants. Both biochars were applied by mixing them into potting soil at 2% and 5% rates. To determine the effect of applications on plant development, the height and weight of plants and leaf weights, and number of side branches were recorded. Additionally, chlorophyll content (SPAD), phenol content, antioxidant content and P, Mg, Ca, K, S, Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu and B concentrations in the leaves were determined. Compared to the control, significant increases were detected in the leaf weights, height and weights of the plants grown in all pots containing biochar. The highest plants were obtained from 5% rice biochar (RB5) treatment. The highest leaf weight and the highest number of side branches were also observed. in the RB5 treatment. Leaf K contents in RB5 and maize harvest residue biochar (CB) treatments were higher compared to the control. Leaf B, Fe and Mn contents were lower in certain biochar treatments than the control. Biochar applications did not cause a significant change in the antioxidant and chlorophyll content of basil plants. The total phenolic content significantly increased only in RB5 treatment. The effect of biochar application varied depending on the application rate and the properties of the biomass from which the biochar was obtained. Therefore, it is not possible to draw a general conclusion about the effects of biochar applications on plant growth. Contradictory results can be obtained depending on the type of plants and biochars and the characteristics of the growth medium.

The aim of this study was to investigate the growth of C. sporogenes in model white cheese stored under cold conditions (4°C) and in vacuum packaging and its effect on quality parameters. For this purpose, two different cheeses were produced, contaminated (CMBP) and not (MBP) with C. sporogenes 73 and C. sporogenes 97 strains, and physicochemical, microbiological and volatile component analyses were performed every 15 days during the 60-day storage period of the cheeses. No significant difference was detected in dry matter (%), fat in dry matter (%), and protein (%) contents of cheeses during storage. As an important finding, C. sporogenes did not affect the acidity values (pH and % acidity). The pH and % acidity values of the cheeses were found to be 4.79±0.03 – 4.98±0.05 and 2.04±0.06 – 2.16±0.06, respectively. When the microbiological results were examined, the total mesophilic aerobic bacteria (TMAB), lactococci and lactobacilli counts of the cheeses decreased during storage, while the yeast-mold counts did not change. There was no change in CMBP cheese with an initial C. sporogenes spore count of 4.62±0.11 during storage. When the color parameters of the cheeses were examined, a difference was detected in the L* value and was lower in CMBP. At the end of storage, there was no change in the a* values of the cheeses, while the b* values decreased. It was determined that there were differences in the aromatic compounds of the cheeses and while the contents of acetic acid, butyric acid and acetoin, which are LBD indicators, were found to be 32.34%, 17.17% and 17.82% in CMBP cheese, butyric acid was not detected in MBP cheese. The results showed that C. sporogenes survived for a long time in white cheeses stored at pH values below 5 and at low temperatures and could cause the LBD on its own.

Marketing information enhances farmer’s decision to increase production and productivity of agricultural commodities. This paper examines farmers’ perspectives on agricultural marketing information in developing countries, with a case study focusing on three districts in Tanzania. Data were obtained from a survey conducted on 291 maize farmers in the three districts namely Arusha (103 farmers), Njombe (100 farmers) and Kongwa (88 farmers), selected from three regions in Tanzania Mainland. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the percentage distributions of the farmers based on socio-economic characteristics and Likert scale ratings of the farmers’ levels of agreement with the debriefing questions constructed to evaluate their perceptions. The analysis of the socio-economic variables of the farmers suggests male dominance in maize farming, predominant youthful farming demographics, predominantly large household Size, and predominance of low-level educational backgrounds among maize farmers in the study areas. The results of the socio-economic characteristics underscore the importance of targeted policies to support maize farmers, focusing on education, youth engagement, and household resource management. The overall result of farmers’ perceptions of agricultural marketing information indicates a widespread agreement across districts highlighting the shared challenges and priorities among maize farmers in Tanzania, particularly indicating that farmers recognize the benefits of agricultural services and understand the importance of communication infrastructure for economic development. The study thus, recommends establishment of local marketing information centers to reduce costs and time associated with gathering market information, enhancement of digital literacy to train farmers, and collaboration with critical stakeholders; such as government, private sector, and non-profits organizations to fund and sustain marketing information infrastructure for farmers. Investments in communication and marketing infrastructure will bridge information gaps, enhance market access, and ultimately drive economic development among maize farmers. This structured approach will not only improve maize farmers’ productivity but also contribute to broader rural development goals.

Bu çalışmada ülkemiz ve dünya genelinde uzun yıllardır yaygın bir şekilde tüketilen erişteye belirli oranlarda ve farklı formlarda ilave edilen çörek otu, kekik ve zerdeçalın, eriştenin bazı kalite özelliklerine etkileri araştırılmıştır. Üretimde kullanılan tane çörek otu, toz çörek otu, yaprak kekik ve toz kekik formülasyona %1, %2, %3 ve %4 (ağırlıkça); zerdeçal ise %0,5, %1, %1,5 ve %2 (ağırlıkça) oranında ilave edilmiştir. Baharatların ilavesi ile üretilen eriştelerin nem içeriklerinin genel olarak azaldığı, % kül içeriklerinin tane ve toz kekik içeren eriştelerde, % protein içeriklerinin ise tane ve toz çörek otu içeren eriştelerde artış gösterdiği tespit edilmiştir. Eriştelerin renk değerleri (L*, a*, b*) baharat ilavesine bağlı olarak değişiklik göstermiştir. Erişte formülasyonuna ilave edilen baharatlar L* değerlerini düşürerek eriştelerin parlaklığını azaltmış ve özellikle zerdeçalın yüksek a* ve b* değerinden dolayı daha sarı renkli erişteler elde edilmiştir. Erişteye artan oranlarda baharat ilave edilmesi ile optimum pişme süresi (dk), su absorpsiyonu (%) ve hacim artışının (%) kontrol eriştesine göre azaldığı, pişme kaybının (%) ise arttığı belirlenmiştir. Genel kabul edilebilirlik açısından kontrol eriştesi duyusal analizlerde en yüksek puanı almıştır. Erişteye katılan baharatların ilave oranı arttıkça, duyusal ve pişme özellikleri olumsuz yönde etkilenmiştir. Bu sebeple eriştenin çalışmada değerlendirilen özellikleri bozulmadan, kabul edilebilir bir şekilde bu baharatlarla zenginleştirilebilmesi için en fazla %2 oranında çörek otu ve kekik; %0,5 oranına kadar zerdeçalın başarı ile kullanılabileceği sonucuna varılmıştır.

This study analysed fisherfolk’s poverty and food insecurity status in the coastal region of Nigeria. Data from 420 artisanal fisherfolk, selected through a multistage sampling procedure, were analysed using descriptive statistics, a multidimensional poverty index approach, a household food insecurity access scale, and Seemingly unrelated regression equation (SURE). Findings from the study showed that about 62% of the respondents lived in households with malnourished individuals, no clean water, no electricity, no education, a dirty floor, inadequate infrastructure, and poor healthcare services. Infrastructure such as markets and road networks had the highest contribution to the poverty intensity with education having the least contribution in the study area. The results revealed that artisanal fisherfolk who are non-poor are more food secure than those who are poor. Also, estimates from SURE show that household size, daily income, and owning a house significantly influenced household food insecurity level, while multidimensional poverty level was significantly influenced by age, education experience, daily income, owning a house, and credit constraint. It is, therefore, recommended that initiatives that address poverty and food insecurity issue among the artisanal fisherfolk in the coastal region of Nigeria should be given utmost priority because of the contribution of the sub-sector to the economy. Also, artisanal fisherfolk are encouraged to diversify their means of livelihood in order to reduce their level of poverty.

Çevre dostu ürünler ve sürdürülebilirlik konuları, son yıllarda tüketicilerin giderek daha fazla ilgisini çekmekte ve çevresel etkileri azaltmaya yönelik tercihler giderek artmaktadır. Tüketiciler, çevre dostu ürünler tercih ederek doğaya olumlu etkilerde bulunmayı ve sürdürülebilir tüketim alışkanlıkları kazanmayı hedeflemektedirler. Yeşil ürünler, çevre üzerindeki olumsuz etkileri azaltmayı amaçlayan, sürdürülebilir üretim süreçleriyle üretilen ve çevreye duyarlı olan ürünlerdir. Yeşil ürünler, çevre dostu özelliklere sahip oldukları iddiasıyla pazara sunulurken, bazen bu iddialar yanıltıcı olabilmektedir. Buda yeşil yıkama algısını ortaya çıkarmaktadır. Bu çalışmanın amacı, yeşil yıkama (greenwashing) ve yeşil kafa karışıklığı (green confusion) kavramlarının, tüketicilerin yeşil ürün satın alma niyetleri üzerindeki etkilerini incelemektedir. Anketler 384 kişiye Google forms aracılığı ile yapılmıştır. Saha araştırmasında toplanan veriler, öncelikle analiz için uygunluklarını değerlendirmek amacıyla çeşitli kontrollerden (normallik testi ve Cronbach Alfa testi) geçirilmiş, sonrasında ise Açıklayıcı Faktör Analizi, korelasyon ve çoklu Regresyon Analizi ile test edilmiştir. Araştırma sonucunda, yeşil yıkama algısı ve yeşil kafa karışıklığının satın alma niyetini etkilediği tespit edilmiştir.

The COVID-19 pandemic has notably reshaped consumer perceptions of food safety, with lasting effects on food purchasing and consumption behaviors. This study examines Turkish consumers’ perceptions of food safety risks during and after the pandemic, aiming to contribute to both national and international literature on the topic. A cross-sectional survey was conducted between April and July 2023 in seven major Turkish cities (Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Trabzon, Adana, Van, and Gaziantep), with 1,016 respondents participating. The survey explored various socio-demographic factors influencing food safety risk perception using an ordered probit model. The results reveal that 86% of respondents consider food produced and sold in Türkiye risky, with 20.4% rating it as critically unsafe. Key factors influencing risk perception include concerns about open market sales, food additives, food labeling accuracy, and vendor hygiene practices. Additionally, socio-demographic characteristics such as marital status, age, education level, and household size significantly impact risk perception. Married individuals, older adults, and those with higher education levels tend to have heightened food safety concerns. These findings highlight the importance of targeted food safety education and policies that address diverse consumer profiles. The study provides insights for enhancing food safety strategies and fostering consumer confidence, especially during and after health crises.

Bu çalışmada, Denizli ili Tavas ilçesinde doğal olarak yetişen 38 badem genotipinin pomolojik ve kolorimetrik özellikleri incelenmiştir. İncelenen genotiplerde meyve ağırlığı 3,00-6,87 g, iç ağırlığı 0,26-1,98 g ve iç oranı %13,26-43,30 arasında değişim göstermiştir. Meyve boyutları açısından en yüksek varyasyon katsayısı uzunlukta (%18,70), en düşük ise kalınlıkta (%7,55) belirlenmiştir. Renk parametrelerinde L* değeri 36,51-55,90, a* değeri 10,11-15,23, b* değeri 26,16-39,93 arasında değişmiştir. Hiyerarşik kümeleme analizinde genotipler iki ana küme altında gruplandırılmış olup, genetik mesafe 1,21-10,05 arasında değişmiştir. Temel bileşenler analizinde (PCA) ilk beş bileşen toplam varyasyonun %68,84’ünü açıklamıştır. PC1 eksenine en yüksek katkıyı b* (0,433), meyve uzunluğu (0,389) ve iç uzunluğu (0,375) sağlarken, PC2 eksenine en yüksek katkıyı Chroma (0,429) ve iç genişliği (0,200) sağlamıştır. Çalışma sonucunda, incelenen popülasyonun önemli düzeyde genetik çeşitlilik gösterdiği ve özellikle 1, 5, 9 ve 17 numaralı genotiplerin ıslah çalışmaları için değerli genetik kaynaklar olabileceği belirlenmiştir.