Dried products are widely used from the past because of their long shelf life, rich nutrient content and availability. Solar or shade drying methods have become the most widely used drying technique from past to date, due to no equipment requirement, cost and simplicity. However, this drying method has some disadvantages such as long drying time, contamination risk and requirement of large area and heavy labor. In this review, various drying methods applied in food are summarized. Then, solar energy assisted drying methods were examined in detail. Finally, solar energy-assisted drying methods involving energy storage are examined. Solar energy assisted drying is a very advantageous technique for economical production. The most important advantages of this technique are that the system can be designed in many different ways in order to provide the desired characteristics. In addition, the availability of various energy storage units contributes to the availability of the system.

In this study, the effects of the extracts obtained from flower, stem, leaf, branch and their mixture of Nerium oleander L. on the seed germination and seedling growth of four Pistacia species (Pistacia terebinthus L., P. vera L., P. khinjuk Stocks., P. atlantica Desf. and P. terebinthus L.) were investigated. Five hundred grams of N. oleander was taken from the plant parts and the extracts were mixed with distilled water (1.5 L). The extracts were applied to Pistacia species for 24 and 48 hours. The results showed that the extract had positive effects on their germination and growths of the species mentioned above. The highest germination rate for all the Pistacia species was obtained from the extracts of flower, while the lowest germination rate was recorded in the mixture of all parts of N. oleander mentioned above. Moreover, the treatment time was found to reduce the germination ratio. It was also found that the extracts from the stem of N. oleander were the most effective on the stem height of the Pistacia species studied. It was followed by the extracts from branches, leaves and flower, respectively. Furthermore, the findings indicated that the extracts from the stem of N. oleander had pronounced effect on the stem diameter of the Pistacia species studied. It was followed by the extracts from flower, leaves, and branches, respectively. In general, the effects of the extracts from several parts of N. oleander on the germination and other growing parameters were found to be almost comparable to those of synthetic promoter, Gibberellic Acid (GA3).

The aim of this study was to determine the macroscopic and microscopic spermatological parameters of the Karayaka rams grown in public hands. Out off-season sperm couldn’t be taken from the rams. During the season, semen was collected from all 2-4 age of Karayaka rams (n = 10). Weight (kg) and circumference of the scrotum (cm) were also recorded. When the collected spermatozoa were examined, it was found that the weight variable correlated only with the pH variable. The correlation coefficient calculated between weight and pH was -0,802 and it was found to be statistically significant. The correlation coefficient, which calculated as 0.680, between the circumference of the scrotum (cm) and mortality (% Dead-Live) shows that one feature increases while the other increases significantly. Viscosity (1-5) was correlated only with mass activity (Mass Activity 0-4), and the degree of this relationship was calculated as -0.655. Variables were not associated with sperm volume (ml), motility (%) and density (109).

In this research, biogenic amine types and quantity of Tulum and Kashar cheeses were determined. In addition, the relationship between biogenic amines and some microbiological-chemical properties of cheese samples were investigated. The contents of tryptamine, phenylethylamine, putrecine, cadaverine, histamine, tyramine of totally 40 samples (20 of each cheese) were examined. While only one sample of Tulum cheeses had no biogenic amines, different levels of biogenic amines were determined in other samples. No significant relation was confirmed between the biogenic amine quantity and total aerobic mesophilic bacteria, lactic acid bacteria, enterococci bacteria count, but there was a correlation between some biogenic amine contents and chemical properties which are tyrosine, lactic acid, pH, protein and ripening coefficient. Biogenic amine levels determined in the cheeses found below hazard limit values according to what legal limit.

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.), based on the origin of Southeast Asia and Turkey, with a large growth area such as the Mediterranean and the Arab countries, is the most important plant belonging to family Lythraceae. Pomegranate peel and seed contain numerous and various bioflavonoid, which is indicated to be both antimicrobial and inhibitors of enzymes such as cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase. The antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antifungal properties of the pomegranate are related to phytochemicals such as delphinidin, cyanidin, pelargonidin, ellagic acid, punicalin, punicalagin, pedunculagin, and different glucosides, which involve anthocyanins. In this study, it was investigated that ethanol, methanol and distilled water extracts, obtained from Punica granatum L. antimicrobial effect against Bacillus cereus, Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter aerogenes, Salmonella Typhimurium, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria known as food pathogen by using disk diffusion method. Also, minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values on seven different food borne pathogens were also determined. As a result of the research; pomegranate seed extracts obtained from methanol observed the highest antimicrobial effect against Pseudomonas aeruginosa with a 29.02 mm zone diameter, while pomegranate peel extracts obtained from ethanol observed the highest antimicrobial effect against Bacillus cereus with a 26.84 mm zone diameter. The MIC and MBC value against Pseudomonas aeruginosa are determined 7.81 µg/L, while The MIC and MBC value against Bacillus cereus are determined 31.25 and 15.63 µg/L, respectively.

The aim of the study was to design the drinking milk profiles according to the factors and their levels effecting on the consumers’ purchase decisions towards drinking milk with the region of origin at the retailer level, and then to determine the market shares (MS) and the consumers’ willingness to pay (WTP). Research data were obtained from 160 households consuming drinking milk in Iğdır province. Conjoint Analysis were used to design drinking milk profiles with the region of origin, and to determine their market shares (MS) and consumers’ willingness to pay (WTP). The result of the study highlighted that the marketing shares of the first three drinking milk profiles maximizing the consumers’ total utilities were calculated as %34, %12 and %10 (card number 7, 6 and 1), respectively. On the other hand, the consumers’ willingness to pay under the origins and price levels of drinking milk were analyzed as %26 for Aegean/Marmara Region, %16 for Northeast Anatolia Region and %12 for Eastern Black Sea Region at the lowest price levels. By having designed drinking milk profiles maximizing the consumers’ total utilities, the marketing share and penetration rates of the products could increase, and the product profiles responded to the consumers’ willingness to pay could also satisfy considerably on their purchase decisions.

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of different fertilizer doses and drying methods on total phenolic contents and antioxidant activity of organic white tea (Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze) obtained from Hemşin Valley, region of Rize/Turkey. The determination of phenolic constituents was done by the Folin-Ciocalteau method and the determination of antioxidant activity by the FRAP method. The results showed that the phenolic content of white tea was as follows: 443,7- 506,2 µg GAE/g DW in the drying oven, 421,4- 473,6 µg GAE/g DW in shadow and 434,4- 485,2 µg GAE/g DW in the liofilizator. According to the FRAP method the antioxidant activity was as follows: 1130,1-1176,9 mg FeSO4/gr DW in drying oven, 1141,2-1157,1 mg FeSO4/gr DW in shadow and 1005,3-1183,2 mg FeSO4/gr DW in lyophylizator. The results revealed that different fertilizer doses and drying methods had important effects on the total phenolic content and antioxidant activity of white tea.

Vermicompost production and applications are increasing in our country recently. There are also many commercial products on the market. Vermicompost may act both as soil conditions and organic fertilizer. In addition to the effect of this product on improving the physical properties of the soil; the effect of plant growth on different plants should be studied. In this study conducted for this purpose; commercially produced radish (Raphanus sativus L.) cv. “Cherry Belle” was planted in growing medium mixed with different doses of vermicompost (0 - 2.5 – 5 – 10 %). In order to determine NPK and NPK + Fe. Zn fertilizer needs of the plants, these elements contained fertilizers were applied. According to the pot experiment results, important increases in some element contents and fresh root weights of radish plant were determined with increasing vermicompost applications. The average fresh root weight changed between 47.89-77.70 g pot-1. The average N concentration of in leaves and in roots changed between 3.09-4.69 % and 1.19-2.67 %, respectively. The K of in leaves and in roots changed between 1.27-1.46 % and 1.39-2.13 %, respectively, and the P concentration of in leaves and in roots changed between 0.46-0.50 % and 0.36-0.45 %, respectively. Application of vermicompost had statistically significant effect on growth of radish.

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of biometric properties of Bafra sheep and lambs such as chest depth, chest width, chest circumference, rump height, height at withers, body length and body weight. Relationships were determined by Pearson correlation coefficient and Path analysis. As a result, it has been shown that biometric properties of Bafra sheep and lambs provide different results on live weight estimation. In addition, the relationships between biometric properties were not similar (r = -0.16).

Bu çalışma, Sinop ili Erfelek ilçesinde bulunan Gümüşsuyu Göleti’nin su kalitesi ve kirliliğini belirlemek amacıyla yapılmıştır. Bu amaçla, su kalitesini belirlemede kullanılan fiziksel ve kimyasal su parametreleri, Nisan 2018 – Mart 2019 tarihleri arasında aylık olarak alınan su örneklerinden ölçülmüştür. Bu ölçümler, Gümüşsuyu Göleti’nin bütününü temsil eden dört istasyon için yapılmıştır. İstasyonlar, Gümüşsuyu Göleti’nin doğusu, kuzeybatısı (en derin yeri), güneyi ve batısı olarak seçilmiştir. Çalışma süresince, belirlenen bu dört istasyondan ayda bir su numuneleri alınmış ve elde edilen on iki aylık ortalama değerler (genel ortalama, standart sapma, mevsimsel ortalama) incelenmiştir. Bu dört istasyondan alınan su örneklerinde su kalitesini belirlemek amacıyla çözünmüş oksijen (mg/L), pH, sıcaklık (oC), tuzluluk (ppt), demir (µg/L), kurşun (µg/L), bakır (µg/L), kadmiyum (µg/L), civa (µg/L), nikel (µg/L), ve çinko (µg/L) parametrelerinin analizleri yapılmıştır. Çalışmada, ölçülen su kalitesi parametrelerinin yıllık ortalama değerlerinin istatistiksel verileri mevsimsel olarak da karşılaştırılmıştır. Sonuç olarak Gümüşsuyu Göleti’nin, Yüzey Suları Su Kalitesi Yönetim Yönetmeliği’ne göre II. sınıf su kalitesine sahip olduğu tespit edilmiştir. Ayrıca, gölette herhangi bir kirlilik problemi olmadığı belirlenmiştir. Ancak, gölet suyu çok sert sular sınıfına girmekle birlikte, yetiştiricilik açısından bu durumun bir sakıncası bulunmamaktadır. Tüm sonuçlar değerlendirildiğinde göletin, alabalık gibi soğuk su türlerinin yetiştiriciliği için uygun olabileceği önerilmektedir.