Kefir; is a fermented milk product which is produced by granules containing a wide variety of microorganisms such as lactic acid bacteria, acetic acid bacteria and yeasts. It is traditionally consumed in many countries. It has been shown in many studies that the polysaccharide structure surrounding the granules which is composed mainly of kefiran molecule has antimicrobial effect against various pathogens as well as many health promoting effects. In this study, 24 h fermented kefir was used with two types of kefir granules for production of kefiran extract. One of them is being sold commercially and the other was collected from private households in a different region of Turkey. Kefiran extraction was carried out from matured kefir granules using three different temperatures, 80°C, 90°C and 100°C. Also, the protein contents of the extracted solutions were determined by Bradford method. Protein content of the extract solutions obtained were measured as 0.001 g/ml. The antibacterial effect of 0.05, 0.1, 1 and 2 mg of this extract against several plant pathogenic bacterial strains belonging to genus Pseudomonas, Xanthomonas, Erwinia ve Clavibacter was investigated in vitro for the first time. For this purpose, two methods, disc diffusion method and spreading method were used. The AN and SD kefir supernatants used as the positive controls in the experiments showed an average of 13-17 mm and 10-14 mm inhibition zones on the isolates, respectively, but the antibacterial effect of kefiran extracts was not observed.

The aim of the present study is to assess the effects Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum, Fabaceae), sunflower (Helianthus annuus, Asteraceae), green cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum, Zingiberaceae) and seed extracts, which they belonged to three different plant families, on common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) spermatozoa motility parameters and oxidative stress conditions. For this reason, sperm samples treated with seed extracts at the ratios of 0.1%, %0.5, 1%, and 2%, were incubated at 4°C and sampled at 2nd and 48th hours. Among sperm motility parameters, curvilinear velocity (VCL), average path velocity (VAP), straight-line velocity (VSL), straightness STR), linearity (LIN), and wobble (WOB) were determined by computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA). According to the results, sunflower and green cardamom seed extracts have attenuated motility parameters at all tested concentrations. However, motility parameters measured in %0.5 of fenugreek seed extract were higher than all other groups including the control at 48th hour. Also, TBARS values as an oxidative stress indicator in this group were decreased. 2% of all seed extracts had negative effects on the sperm samples. Particularly, 2% sunflower seed extract caused the higher oxidative stress. These results indicate that fenugreek seed extract is more proper for the maintenance of common carp spermatozoa at 4°C, comparing to those of sunflower and green cardamom.

Apiculture is one of the agricultural activities carried out widely in our country and in the world. Our society attaches great importance to beekeeping and honey products, especially honey, so bee colony health is very important in the continuity of bee products. There are many factors that can be shown to cause colony loss in bees and one of them is poisoning caused by pesticides. Causes such as improper dosing of pesticides, day-to-day spraying, or potentiation or effect differentiation due to random mixing of drugs may cause collective bee deaths. In this study, 188 dead bee samples (each sample contains approximately 100 g dead bees) from different bee farms, which were collected from beekeepers and brought to Adana Veterinary Control Institute with the suspicion of pesticide poisoning due to intensive deaths, were examined. Qualitative examination was performed by gas chromatography (GC) device. In the examination of dead bee samples, tau-fluvalinate residue was found in 2 samples in 2015 and cypermethrin residue was found in 1 sample in 2016. In 2017 and 2018, no detectable substance was detected in terms of pyrethroid pesticides. In 188 samples which we examined in terms of pyrethroit group pesticides, 1 substance was found to be toxic for bees. This shows, at the samples examined, that pyrethroid pesticides are not involved in bee colony losses in Çukurova.

This review article discussed the effects of various production systems on the welfare of laying hens. The global egg production capacity has been increasing with the evolving production systems which are driven by the consumer preferences. In developed countries, the egg industry has shifted from focusing on quantity and quality of eggs to asking questions of how these eggs are produced. Animal welfare issues emphasized by consumers in these countries led to the banning of conventional cages as seen by European Union in 2012. Such legal measures have uplifted research in various alternative production systems which are thought to be animal friendly. Countries that have adjusted to alternative systems such as free range are registering an increase in the number of free range eggs which is a positive sign for an industry that is willing to adapt and move forward. However, in developing countries, conventional cages are still being used because they are fundamental to the quantity of egg production which is a success indicator of the egg industry. In addition, lack of awareness within the consumers and local producers that birds are sentient has not helped the poultry industry in such countries. However, the alternative production systems have also not fulfilled all the behavioural needs of the animals and, hen welfare issues such as keel and bone damage are common in enriched and perched systems. Also, the high prevalence of diseases and parasites are observed with significant levels in litter floor and outdoor systems an issue attributable to the direct contact between birds and soil or faces. Due to the continuing welfare issues in all laying hen production systems, it is suggested that in addition to genetic selection for traits like bone strength, reduced feather pecking, research should combine both the modification of equipment’s or materials used in each production system and environmental factors such as illumination and temperature as an alternative to improve hen welfare.

Peptides with antimicrobial properties as an alternative to antibiotics antibiotic growth promoters in poultry nutrition have been studied in recent years. These peptides, which can be supplemented to diet or water, are effective not only against bacteria but also against fungi, viruses and parasites. In this article, the definition, the structures, the types, the sources of production, the application areas, the microorganisms they act on and the mechanism of action of antimicrobial peptides and information about the studies related to their use in poultry nutrition will be given.

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) is a beneficial group of free-living soil bacteria that colonize the rhizosphere and are helpful in root growth and development. PGPR plays an important role in plant growth through the production of phytohormones, solubilization of inorganic phosphate, increased iron nutrition via iron-chelating siderophores and volatile compounds that affect the plant metabolism and signalling pathways. Additionally, PGPR shows synergistic and antagonistic interactions with rhizosphere microorganisms and soil which indirectly improve and enhance plant growth rate. Various environmental factors affect the PGPR growth and proliferation in the plants. There are several shortcomings and limitation in the PGPR research which can be addressed through the use of modern approaches and techniques by exploring multidisciplinary research which combines applications in microbiology, biotechnology, nanotechnology, agro-biotechnology, and chemical engineering. Furthermore, PGPR is also known to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs), carbon footprint, and also increase the nutrient-use efficiency. Here we describe the importance of PGPR in sustainable agriculture and their role in plant growth and development.

Much of the sustained agricultural growth necessary for poverty reduction and sustainable development comes from adequate and expanded improved agricultural inputs use like hybrid seeds, pesticides, insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, and inorganic fertilizer. However, smallholder farmers faced various and empirically unidentified constraints in the sustainable use of improved agricultural inputs. This study, therefore, is to examine the trends and challenges farmers faced to use improved inputs. The study has used secondary data from various databases such as FAOSTAT, World Bank, Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research and agricultural statistics. Simple graphical sketch, tabular and percentage analysis was employed for interpretation of the data. The study revealed that the trends in the use of various improved inputs are not based on the regular basis. The sustainable improved input intensification by smallholder farmers was influenced by various socio-economic, physical, and institutional factors. Understanding trends and challenges in input utilization provide baseline information for input intensification policies and strategies. Therefore, this review pointed out that it is possible to increase inputs intensification by smallholder farmers.

Rainbow trout, a salmonid species has an economic importance worldwide and contributes to the indigenous food security. The present study was conducted in complete randomized design (CRD) to evaluate the dietary inclusion of citric acid with phytase as supplement on growth responses of rainbow trout. There were four treatments of diets with 0.5% citric acid (T1), 1% citric acid (T2), 1.5% citric acid (T3) and 0% control (T4) of citric acid incorporated with 1200FYT phytase as supplement. The treatments were replicated three times. Total harvest weight of fish in T3 (5720.2±105.6g) was significantly higher and different than T2 (4595.9±434.9g), T1 (4589.8±240.2g) and T4 (4567.5±217.3g). The highest daily growth rate was seen in treatment T3 (1.1±0.0) which was significantly different than T2 (0.9±0.0), T1 (0.9±0.0) and T4 (0.8±0.0). The highest specific growth rate was seen in the treatment T3 (0.8±0.01) which was significantly different than T1 (0.7±0.0), T2 (0.7±0.1) and T4 (0.7±0.0). The lowest food conversion ratio was seen in T3 (2.2±0.1) which was significantly different with T2 (2.6±0.1), T1 (2.7±0.1) and T4 (2.8±0.1). Similarly, the highest protein efficiency ratio was seen in treatment T3 (1.0±0.1) which was not significantly different with T2 (0.8±0.0) and T1 (0.8±0.1) but was significantly different than T4 (0.7±0.0). No significant changes were observed in water temperature, dissolve oxygen and pH under different treatments. The present findings demonstrated that dietary inclusion of citric acid with phytase as supplement enhance growth by reducing the pH in the gut which increases the phytate hydrolysis, kills the pathogens, decreases the rate of gastric emptying, improves mineralization and nutrient absorption.

Bu çalışmada ilk olarak dört farklı turp çeşidinin (siyah, beyaz, iri kırmızı, kırmızı fındık) farklı PEG6000 (%5, %10, %15, %20) konsantrasyonları uygulanarak oluşturulan kuraklık koşullarında çimlenme ve vejetatif gelişim parametreleri değerlendirilmiştir. Çimlenme parametresi olarak; çimlenme yüzdesi (%), çimlenme süresi ve vigor indeksi belirlenmiştir. Bitkilerde vejetatif gelişim parametresi olarak; yaprak sayısı (adet), sürgün boyu (cm), kök uzunluğu (cm), yaprak genişliği (cm), yaprak uzunluğu (cm), gövde çapı (mm), bitki yaş ve kuru ağırlıkları (g) ölçülmüştür. Beyaz, siyah ve kırmızı fındık turp çeşitlerinde %15, kırmızı iri turp çeşidinde ise %20 PEG uygulamalarında vegetatif gelişim parametreleri belirgin bir şekilde düşüş göstermiş olup, bu dozlar salisilik asit uygulamaları için eşik değer olarak belirlenmiştir. İkinci aşamada, çeşitlerin kuraklığa toleransını arttırmak amacıyla PEG6000 içeren ortamlara farklı dozlarda salisilik asit (0,25, 0,50, 0,75, 1,00 mM) uygulanmıştır. Salisilik asitin farklı dozlarının, kuraklık koşullarında turp tohumlarının çimlenmesi ve vejetatif gelişim parametreleri üzerine etkisi, çeşide bağlı olarak değişiklik göstermiş olup, çimlenmeyi teşvik edici etki yaptığı belirlenmiştir. İri kırmızı turp çeşidi hariç, bitki gelişimi üzerinde de genel anlamda olumlu etki yapmış, bu çeşitte uygulanan SA dozlarının inhibe edici etki yaptığı tespit edilmiştir. Siyah turp çeşidinde eşik değeri olarak belirlenen %15’lik PEG6000 konsantrasyonunda 0,50 mM salisilik asit uygulaması; beyaz ve kırmızı fındık turp çeşitlerinde ise eşik değeri olarak belirlenen %15’lik PEG6000 konsantrasyonunda 0,25 mM salisilik asit uygulaması vegetatif parametrelerinin iyileştirilmesi açısından oldukça iyi sonuç vermiştir.

Access to land in Bangladesh is governed by the state rule but informal tenure arrangement is existing all over the country. Land productivity differs with the contractual arrangement between landlord and tenant. Inefficiency may arise due to sharecropping which is known as Marshallian inefficiency. This study investigated the productivity the productivity, profitability and efficiency of different tenure arrangement of Boro rice cultivation selecting 120 farmers from Rangpur district of Bangladesh. The stochastic frontier production function was employed to determine the efficiency. Moreover, t-test was performed to see whether any significant difference exist among tenure categories in terms of productivity, profitability and efficiency. Four types of tenure arrangements were identified as cash tenant, fifty-fifty input-output sharing arrangement, only output sharing arrangement and owner farmers. Result revealed that productivity and profitability was higher for owner and cash tenant compared to others. Significant productivity and profitability difference were found between owner farmers and cash tenants versus sharecroppers. Result also found that inefficiency level was significantly high for fifty-fifty input-output share tenant and only output share tenant compared to cash tenant and owner operator implying that Marshallian inefficiency exist due to sharecropping system in the Boro rice production.