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The genus and species of fungus-feeding thrips, Tylothrips osborni (Hinds), are newly recorded from Turkey based on two apterous females collected from wheat. Taxonomic characterization of the genus and species is provided and illustrated. This is the sixth record in Europe of this American species, and the significance of this disjunct distribution is discussed.

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The effects of rootstocks such as 'sour orange' (Citrus aurantium L. var. ‘Yerli’), 'Carrizo' and 'Troyer citranges' (Citrus sinensis Osb. x Poncirus trifoliata Raf), 'Smooth Flat Seville sour orange' (Citrus spp. hybrid of uncertain origin), 'Brazilian sour orange' (Citrus aurantiam L. var. ‘Brasilian’), 'Volkameriana' (Citrus volkameriana Tan. and Pasq.) and 'Calamondin' (possibly Citrus reticulate var. austere×Fortunella hybrid, Swingle) on plant growth, fruit yield, and quality of ‘Rio Red’ grapefruit were investigated from 2008 to 2012. Rootstocks were found to have significant effects on plant growth, fruit yield, and quality. ‘Rio Red’ grapefruit trees budded on 'Carrizo' and 'Troyer citranges' showed higher vegetative growth parameters (canopy height, diameter, and volume) than the trees on the other rootstocks. The trees on 'Volkameriana' and 'Carrizo citrange' produced higher percentage of cumulative yield of about 55.1 and 34.3%, respectively, than the trees on 'sour orange'. ‘Rio Red’ grapefruit budded on 'Carrizo citrange' had higher fruit quality such as thin rind, high juice content, and more color development than the other rootstocks. 'Carrizo citrange' was the most promising rootstock for ‘Rio Red’ grapefruit in Dörtyol, Eastern Mediterranean region of Turkey.

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This research was performed in order to study and diagnose Potato virus Y,Potyvirus (PVY), Potato virus X,Potexvirus (PVX), Potato virus S,Carlavirus (PVS), Potato virus A,Potyvirus(PVA) and Potato leafroll Luteovirus (PLRV) on tubers and leaves of different potato varieties, namely, Solea, Safran, Floris, Proventa, Milva, Universa, Lady olympia, Vangogh, and Marabel grown in Afyon region of Turkey. For this purpose, potato tubers from different varieties were obtained from Afyon region producers during 2009-2010 and they were planted in the trial plots in Isparta region of Turkey. One hundred sixty nine samples were taken from the leaves showing virus symptoms in the vegetation period and 109 samples were taken from the tubers of suspicious plants in the harvest period. Total of 278 samples were tested by using double antibody sandwich- enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (DAS-ELISA) method. The DAS-ELISA analysis revealed that both tubers and leaves were infected with PVY, PVX, PVS, PVA and PLRV. It was determined that 87.45% (244 samples) of the tested samples were infected with one or more viruses and 12.54% (34 samples) of them gave negative reaction with DAS-ELISA. Regarding the prevalence of viruses among the potato varieties in this study, it was found that all samples belonging to Safrane and Milva varieties were infected with one or more viruses. Besides, other potato varieties showed different rates of virus infection. In the mechanical inoculation tests,serious stunting, systemic chlorosis and leaf deformation symptoms were observed on N. glutinosa, whilesymptoms such as mottling, leaf distortion, chlorotic and necrotic local lesions were observed on the leaves of other test plants. 

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Olive oil is one of the foods that are preferred by consumers seeking healthy nutrition. Healthy, safety and high quality olive oil production can only be achieved in olive oil enterprises that follow these criteria. Therefore, food safety and quality management systems should be placed in these olive oil enterprises. The aim of this study was to determine behaviors and attitudes of firm owners towards the application of food safety and quality management systems in olive oil enterprises in the Milas district of Mugla province. The material used in this study was collected by face-to-face surveying of the 60 firm owners of the olive oil enterprises in Milas. Sample size was determined by using proportional sampling. In this study, five-point likert scale was usedin terms of attitudes and behaviors on food safety and quality management systems of firm owners in olive oil enterprises. In this research, the knowledge level of olive oil enterprise owners on food safety and quality management systems was determined to be inadequate. In addition, logistic regression analysis was made with the aim of determining the factors that are effective on the tendencies of firm owners to utilize food safety and quality management systems in their olive oil enterprises. At the end of the analysis, it was determined that knowledge status of production capacity, capacity usage ratios and food safety are effective in utilizing food safety and quality management systems in the facilities.

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The aim of this study was to develop and validate qualitative and quantitative models to discriminate different types of maize and also estimate biochemical constituents. Spectral data were taken from the central leaf of randomly-chosen plants grown in field trials in 2011 and 2012. Leaf chlorophyll and protein content and stalk protein content were determined in the same plants. Four different Support Vector Machine (SVM) models were generated and validated in this study. In qualitative models, maize type was designated as dependent variable while Full Spectral (FS) data (400-1,000 nm) and Spectral Indices (SI) data (34 indices/bands) were independent variables. In the two quantitative models (SVMR-FS and SVMR-SI), independent variables were the same, whereas dependent variables were assigned as the quantitatively measured traits. Results showed the qualitative models to be a robust method of classification for distinguishing different maize types, such as High Oil Maize (HOM), High Protein Maize (HPM) and standard (NORMAL) maize genotypes. The SVMC-FS model was superior to SVMC-SI in terms of the genotypic classification of maize plants. Quantitative models with full spectral data gave more robust prediction than the others. The best prediction result (RMSEC= 222.4 µg g^-1, R² for Cal= 0.739, SEP= 213.3 µg g^-1; RPD= 2.04 and r= 0.877) was obtained from the SVMR-FS model developed for chlorophyll content. Indirect estimation models, based on relationships between leaf-based spectral measurements and leaf and stalk protein content, were less satisfactory.

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In this study, the effects of Culban seed (Vicia peregrine L.) on live body weight, feed intake, feed efficiency, egg production, egg quality characteristics, egg yolk fatty acid profiles and yolk cholesterol content in laying hens were investigated. The experiment consists of seven treatment groups with ten replications containing one laying hen in each and for 32 weeks old seventy laying hen were used in the study. The hens were fed the experimental diets containing 10 and 20% Culban seed meal in raw and autoclaved form. In addition, the autoclaved form was supplemented with enzyme (Bacozymex). There was also a control group which was fed a Culban meal free-diet. The lighting regime was 16.5 hours light and 7.5 hours darkness. The experiment lasted sixty three days. The supplementation with Culban seed had significant effects on feed intake, feed conversion ratio, egg production, albumen index, egg weight, eggshell weight, shell strength, haugh unit, yolk lipid, yolk cholesterol ratio and yolk total poly unsaturated fatty acids. The presence of culban seed in feed has negative effects on the overall performance of laying hens, mortality, internal and external quality of eggs. Therefore, in alternative protein sources Culban seed. Therefore Culban seed could be recommended as a protein source (up to 20%) for laying hen diets.

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This study assessed the optimum water need of pepper (Capsicum annuum L. cv. California Wonder) and the critical irrigation level to be applied in order to achieve a reasonable economic yield in water shortage conditions. In a controlled field experiment involving five different treatments, seasonal evapotranspiration for pepper fluctuated from 89 mm in the severe stress treatment (I_0.00) to 1,018 mm in the excess water application (I_1.25). The highest yield was obtained in the full treatment where water in the root zone was refilled up to field capacity. In cases of water shortage, applying water of 690 mm ensures an economical yield. Maximum leaf area index was recorded in the full treatment (I_1.00), which enabled the pepper to receive more benefit from total incoming solar radiation (average, 2,387 MJ m^-2). An average of 555.45 MJ m^-2 was held by the pepper canopy throughout the whole growing season. Radiation use efficiency values on a dry yield basis were 0.69 g MJ^{-1 in 2011 and reached 1.07 g MJ-1 in 2012, since the leaf area index increased from 1.46 to 2.44. Therefore, averaged over two years, the peppers in the full treatment converted irrigation water of 888 mm and intercepted photosynthetically active radiation into the highest yield of 75.5 t ha-1}, which was more efficient than the excess and deficit water application treatments.

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Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) damages potato, tomato, and eggplant, and is one of the most serious agricultural pests all over the world. Due to its resistance against chemical insecticides and some biopesticides, new biocontrol agents compatible with different ecological conditions are needed urgently for the integrated pest management programs of this pest. For this purpose, we studied the insecticidal effects of thirteen indigenous microbial isolates including entomopathogenic bacteria, fungi, and nematodes from our culture collection against L. decemlineata with screening and dose-response tests under laboratory conditions. Bacillus thuringiensis strain Xd3 caused 83% and 73% mortality against larvae and adults of the pest at 10⁹ CFU mL^-1 concentration within 10 days, respectively. While fungal isolate Metarhizium anisopliae Gg-12 yielded 98% mortality with 10⁷ conidia mL^-1 concentration on larvae at 15 days, mortality provided by Gg-12 on adults reached 100% at the same concentration and period. Steinernema websteri AS1 was determined as the most effective entomopathogenic nematode with 92% mortality within seven days on larvae. Based on probit analysis, the LC₅₀ values of B. thuringiensis Xd3 against larvae and adults were calculated as, respectively, 1.73×10⁶ and 1.69×10⁷ CFU mL^-1, and that of M. anisopliae Gg12 were 1.18×10⁴ and 6.2×10³ conidia mL^-1, and that of S. websteri AS1 was 117 IJs mL^-1. Considering these results, the biopesticides developed from these isolates can be used safely and successfully in the pest management control programs of Colorado potato beetle.

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Fusarium Oxysporum f. sp. Ciceris (FOC) is the causal agent of Fusarium wilt, a destructive and widespread disease of chickpea. Rapid and accurate identification and detection of plant pathogens are essential for timely Disease Management (DM) strategies with appropriate measures. This study aimed to quantitatively determine FOC by using Quantitative Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR) technique with specific primer pairs [Histone (H3) and Ribosomal (J5)] in seed, root, and root collar, and to discriminate it from other pathogenic fungi [Fusarium Oxysporum formae speciales (FO f. sp.) and Ascocyhta rabiei]. Total RNAs were isolated, converted to cDNAs (limit of 5 ng/rxn.-0.05 pg/rxn.) and used as template for qPCR studies. The FOC was detected in plant samples starting from the first day after inoculation. The FOC was detected in root, root collar and seed samples and was differentiated by qPCR assay from other pathogenic fungi. Melting curves, in which no primer dimers and non-specific complementation were observed, presented a single peak. Quantification was successfully performed using specific H3 and J5 primer pairs (P< 0.05), and the FOC was distinguished from other pathogenic fungi with J5 primer (P< 0.05). The results of these studies may support the development of new biochemical and molecular methods that allow direct, faster and more accurate determination of pathogens. Thus, it will also enable us to reduce the losses caused by diseases and the costs of DM.

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This study aimed to investigate the effects of inputs such as pesticides, fertilizers, seeds, labor and machine use on wheat yield. The data used in the study were obtained from 177 wheat producers in Diyarbakir Province through a questionnaire, and Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) were used in the analysis of the data. According to the results, the average wheat yield is 5482.03 kg ha^-1, and 294.75 kg of seeds, 550.73 kg of fertilizer, 3.59 hours of machinery, 5.37 hours of labor and 2662.43 cc of pesticides were used per hectare for wheat production. According to the results of the ANN analysis, the relative importance of inputs affecting wheat yield was quantified, with the use of pesticides and fertilizer having the most significant impacts. Specifically, the sensitivity coefficients for pesticide use and fertilizer use were found to be 0.23 and 0.14, respectively. These coefficients represent the relative change in wheat yield per unit change in the input parameters.

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In this study, changes in the post-harvest fruit quality of 'Crimson Tide' watermelon variety grafted onto Nun9075 and ungrafted ‘Crimson Tide’ were investigated. Watermelons were grown at the Alata Horticultural Research Institute, Erdemli, Mersin, Turkey, and stored at 4°C and 90-95% relative humidity for 5 weeks. The total soluble solid and titratable acid contents, weight loss, fungal decay, physiological disorders, vitamin C, antioxidant activity, total phenolic substance and sugars were evaluated. Quality analyses were determined at weekly intervals throughout the storage period. The results demonstrated that weight loss of grafted and control fruits were found to be very low (1%) during the storage. Fungal and physiological disorders were not observed in grafted or control watermelon fruits during storage. Total soluble solid, vitamin C, antioxidant activity, and total phenolic substance contents of the ‘Crimson Tide’ variety grafted onto Nun9075 were higher than in the control fruits.