Today, the honeybee parasite Varroa destructor is thought to be the most dangerous creature in the beekeeping industry worldwide. In this study, the efficacy of using drone brood cells (known to have no residue concerns in bee products and harmless on bee health) as traps against V. destructor was investigated. A total of 16 honeybee (Apis mellıfera) colonies with V. destructor infestation percentage of less than 5% were used for the trial. The treatment group consisted of 8 colonies that were randomly assigned to molded drone comb (comb with 5.4 mm hexagonal cells). The other 8 were assigned to unmolded comb to form the control group. In the trial groups, after 20 days (from 10th May), all drone combs with complete pupation were removed and destroyed on 30th May, 20th June, 10th July, 30th July, and 20th August. During the trial, varroa mite infestation rate (mean abundance), colony development, and varroa mite preference for drone and work bee brood cells were determined. The results showed that the application of drone brood cells as a control method was statistically significant against V. destructor, and did not negatively affect colony development. On the other hand, V.destructor's preference for both drone and worker bee brood cells among the groups was not statistically significant. In conclusion, drone brood cells ensured an approximately 43% success rate as traps against V. destructor compared to the control group. The effective application of drone brood cells as traps in combination with other Varroa mite control methods should be investigated.

This study was conducted to determine the effect of production system, slaughter age, and gender on the nutrient composition, fatty acids profile, and index values of breast and thigh meat in Alectoris chukar partridges. Partridges were slaughtered at 14, 16, and 18 weeks of age and skinless breast and thigh meat of male and female were used in the study (a total of 96 samples in 2 replicates). The production system affected only the crude fat level of the thigh meat in terms of nutrient composition and it was found higher in the intensive system compared to the free-range system. Age and gender did not significantly affect the composition of breast and thigh meat. In terms of fatty acid profile, erucic acid (C22:1n9) level in breast meat was higher in intensive system, while it was higher in thigh meat in free-range. While the percentage of docosahexaenoic acid (C22:6n3) increased with age in breast meat, it decreased in thigh meat with age. While eicosenoic acid (C20:1) percentage was higher in breast meat of male birds compared to females, only stearic acid (C18:0) was found to be higher in thigh meat. Saturated fatty acids (SFA), linolenic acid (n3), thrombogenic index (TI) and atherogenic index (AI) values were higher in thigh meat produced in free-range system, while polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), total unsaturated fatty acids (UFA), linoleic acid (n6) and hypocholesterolaemic / hypercholesterolaemic ratio (h/H) were significantly higher in intensive system. While SFA and TI levels in thigh meat decreased with age, monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), UFA and oleic acid (n9) percentages increased. MUFA / SFA in thigh meat of females was higher than males, other indexes were found insignificant. The results shows that partridges had desirable fatty acid composition. Especially, the increase in MUFA and UFA values with age in thigh meat compared to breast indicates that thigh meat is enriched in terms of unsaturated fatty acids. However, the higher SFA and AI values obtained in the free-range system could be considered a negative outcome for alternative production systems that prioritize bird welfare and consumer demands.

Roots play an important role in improving crop yield by affecting the amount of water uptake and nutrient acquisition. The objective of this study was to characterize variability in root and above-ground characteristics among three diverse semi-dwarf spring wheat cultivars, ‘Vida’, ‘Oneal’ and ‘Duclair’ and a wild-type cultivar, ‘Scholar’ at early and late growth stages in a greenhouse. Plants were grown in 45-cm long tree pots in a greenhouse under optimal growth conditions. As soil-less media, a mixture of peat (70%) and perlite (30%) was used. Plants were harvested at tillering (GS25-26) with 5-6 tillers, booting (GS43-45), and maturity (GS92). Root and shoot traits indicated significant variability among wild-type and semi-dwarf spring wheat cultivars at those growth stages. The study results showed that root mass per plant at tillering, booting, and maturity ranged from 0.10 to 0.14 g, 0.47 to 0.9 g, and 0.55 to 0.85 g, respectively, while shoot mass per plant varied from 1.7 to 2.5 g, 6.5 to 10.7 g, and 21.2 to 24.5 g, respectively. From booting to maturity, root mass was relatively constant, however, shoot mass increased considerably. Moreover, the average root mass of semi-dwarf spring wheat cultivars was 37% lower at booting and 30% lower at maturity compared to the wild-type cultivar, even though there was no significant variation among the cultivars at the early growth stage. Based on the results of the variability identified in this research, wild-type cultivar, Scholar can be evaluated for the improvement of genotypes with superior root system in breeding programs.

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, atık reçel karışımı ilavesinin yonca silajlarının fermantasyonu ve in vitro sindirilebilirlik üzerine etkilerini belirlemek amacıyla planlanmıştır. Yonca, ekim ayında çiçeklenme başlangıcında hasat edilerek soldurulmuştur. Atık reçel karışımı önce bir süzgeç yardımıyla katı ve sıvı olarak iki kısıma ayrılmıştır. Kontrol grubuna, 20 ml saf su ilavesi yapılmıştır. Sıvı kısım; Reçel-I silajı (RI), 50 mg sıvı reçel+20 ml saf su /kg yonca; Reçel-II silajı (RII), 100 mg sıvı reçel+20 ml saf su /kg yonca olacak şekilde ilave edilmiştir. Katı kısım ise; Reçel Parçacık-I silajı (RPI), 30 mg reçel parçacıkları +30 ml saf su /kg yonca; Reçel Parçacık-II silajı (RPII), 60 mg reçel parçacıkları +60 ml saf su /kg yonca olacak şekilde hazırlanmıştır. Silajlar, kapalı bir depoda 60 gün süresince fermantasyona bırakılmıştır. Reçel ve reçel parçacıkları ilave edilmesi yonca silajının pH ve nötral deterjanda çözünmeyen lif (NDF) içeriklerini düşürmüştür. Araştırmada, en yüksek laktik asit (LA) içeriği RII grubunda kuru madde (KM) de 100,28 g/kg olarak belirlenirken en düşük ise kontrol grubunda 23.07 g/kg KM olarak belirlenmiştir. Yoncaya reçel ve reçel parçaçıkları ilavesi, kontrol grubuna göre enzimde çözünen organik madde (EÇOM) içeriğini önemli düzeyde arttırmıştır (P

The genus Helichrysum contains many species displaying therapeutical effects and use in folk medicine. Helichrysum pallasii (Spreng.) Ledeb. is one of these species, used in the region for traditional medicine and ornamental purposes. Plants have been used in the treatment in folk medicines since the earliest times of human history. Chemical composition, antimicrobial and other medicinal properties of plants are being investigated in laboratories throughout the world using the extracts and essential oils derived from medicinal plants. Essential oils are usually complex mixtures of natural compounds of both polar and apolar structure. Essential oils consist mainly of terpenoids and their oxygenated derivatives. Essential oils, which have antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, have therapeutic properties and are the raw materials of cosmetics, as well as acting as natural additives in foods and food products. In this study, the volatile components of the H. pallasii plants were investigated which collected from its natural habitat in the Armutlu district of Bayburt province (Turkey) at the time of flowering. The proportion of essential oils of the plant harvested during the full flowering period and the aromatic components in the essential oil of the plant were determined using the SPME (Solid Phase Microextraction) method in a Gas Chromatography (GC-MS) device. Almost 37 different components were found as a result of the analysis. The main components were found as α-Springene (34.89%), (-)-Isoledene (7.11%), δ-Selinene (5.79%) and Aristolene (5.09).

Bu çalışmanın amacı, Programlanabilir Lojik Kontrol (PLC), basınç transduseri ve motopomp kullanarak toprak hidrolik iletkenliğini ölçen sistemi atölye koşullarında modellemektir. Çalışmada, uzunluğu 2 m ve çapı 100’lük bir plastik boru, burgu deliğine benzetmek amacıyla hazırlanmıştır. Ayrıca PLC ve modülü kullanılarak bir set oluşturulmuştur. Hidrolik iletkenlik ölçüm sisteminde, burgu deliği yöntemi (burgu deliği tabanı geçirimsiz tabakanın üstünde kalan) kullanılmıştır. Burgu deliği eşitliği kullanılarak CODESYS-ST dilinde sistemin programı yazılmış ve PLC’ye yüklenmiştir. Elle (ESY) ve PLC (PLCSY) ile ölçülen boru (burgu deliği) içindeki su yükleri arasında regresyon analizi sonucu PLCSY = 0,99ESY + 1,69 (R² = 1) şeklinde bir eşitlik elde edilmiş ve bu iki veri setinin Ortalama Mutlak Yüzde Hata (MAPE)'sı %0,41 olarak hesaplanmıştır. Her bir hidrolik iletkenlik ölçüm süresi, vananın tam açık olduğunda yaklaşık 5 dak., yarım açık olduğunda 6 dak. ve üçte bir açık olduğunda ise 8 dakika olarak belirlenmiştir. Boru tabanından statik düzeyine uzaklık (d, cm) 1., 2. ve 3. vana açıklıklarında sırasıyla ortalama 122,83, 123,91 ve 123,7 cm olarak ölçülmüştür. İlk çeyrek bölümde su yükünün 20’den 25’e, 25’den 30’a, 30’dan 35’e ve 35’den 40’a yükselmesi için vana açıklıklarına göre geçen süre ortalaması sırasıyla 4,4, 6,0 ve 26,1 sn olarak tespit edilmiştir. Hidrolik iletkenlik değerleri vana açıklıklarında sırasıyla ortalama 18,6, 13,2 ve 3,1 cm/saat olarak hesaplanmıştır. Ölçülen veriler bir SD karta kaydedilmiştir. Bu işlemlerin tamamı otomatik olarak yapılmıştır. Bu sistemin, hidrolik iletkenliği arazi koşullarında doğru, ekonomik ve hızlı ölçeceği beklentisi yüksektir ve arazi koşullarında test edilmelidir.

Alchemilla genus, which belongs to the Rosaceae family, is a medicinal plant used for various purposes among the people. Species of this genus are known in Turkish folk medicine as lion claw or hazelnut grass. Especially, they are used mainly women’s illnesses, in gastritis, anti-inflammatory, as carminative, and in the treatment of wound. Besides the antimutagenic effect of Alchemilla alpina L., its above-ground parts are used for antimycotic purposes in the form of tea or oral care water. In this study, it has been aimed to determine the antimicrobial effect of the above-ground parts of Alchemilla alpina extracts obtained from methanol, ethanol and chloroform and the antioxidant activity of different concentrations of the extract obtained from methanol. The antimicrobial activity of methanol, ethanol and chloroform extracts of the above-ground parts of A. alpina has been determined according to disk disc diffusion method. In the results obtained have been showed that these extracts inhibited the growth of some bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus ATCC25923, Escherichia coli ATCC25322, Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC700603, Bacillus megaterium DSM32) and yeasts (Candida albicans FMC17 and Candida glabrata ATCC66032) at different rates (8-23 mm). The antioxidant activity of different concentrations (1.25, 2.5, 5 and 10 mg/ml) of the above-ground parts of A. alpina extract obtained from methanol has been determined according to the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging capacity method. In the results obtained, it has been observed that the effect of removing DPPH radical of A. alpina increased depending on increasing concentrations.

Salmonella is known as one of the main factors of food-borne gastroenteritis, and with this feature, it poses a great risk in terms of public health and economic losses. It is estimated that of the approximately 94 million cases of salmonellosis occurring in the world each year (about 85 percent of these are food-borne), an average of 150,000 result in death. Current social trends highlight the important health benefits of fresh produce in our daily diet. As an irony; Uncooked consumption of fresh herbal products is increasingly identified as a source of transmission for pathogens of intestinal origin, and epidemics occurring in this way are spreading rapidly. Today, the frequency of anthropogenic pathogen outbreaks associated with fresh produce, spices, and nuts has surpassed those associated with foods of animal origin. Human pathogens in the production chain; It can be transferred to plant material by basic means such as the use of animal manure, contaminated irrigation water, biological vectors (insects and animals) and contaminated seeds. In the light of these data, many intestinal pathogens have been identified as phyllo sphere-associated bacteria. Despite all these findings, there are many unknowns on the persistence and infectivity of Salmonella in contaminated plant hosts. In this review article, the factors affecting the attachment, colonization and survival of Salmonella on plant surfaces, as well as the information on the infection processes that continue with the invasion of plant tissues are discussed in the light of contemporary literature data.

Since coliform bacteria are common both in the intestine and in nature (soil, plant, etc.), they are considered as a sanitation indicator in the food industry. It is known that the majority of bacteria defined as fecal coliform in the coliform group are Escherichia coli. The presence of E. coli or fecal coliform bacteria in any sample is an indication that the necessary hygienic measures are not taken during production, storage, and sale. That means the sample is directly or indirectly contaminated with faeces, and/or other intestinal pathogens may also exist. In this study, raw milk, freshly squeezed fruit juices, unpackaged ice cream, shaved ice, and ice-cold samples were purchased from the famous touristic destination Fethiye and analyzed for coliform bacteria. For this purpose, the samples were purchased from local marketplaces, buffets, cafes, patisseries, restaurants, and roadsides at Fethiye. In total 60 samples were analyzed using Violet Red Bile (VRB) Agar. The results of coliform bacteria ranged