This research was carried out to determine local adaptations of 9 triticale genotypes (41-ITSN-8022, 41-ITSN- 8023, 41-ITSN-8024, 41-ITSN-8036, 41-ITSN-8053, 41-ITSN-8061, DZ9-01-01, DZ9-01-02 and DZ9-06) by examining some traits related to grain yield and quality components during 2014-2015 growing season in Diyarbakir and Mardin locations. Two bread wheat cultivars (Pehlivan and Cemre) were used as check cultivar. Study was conducted according to Randomized Complete Block Design with four replications. The traits of grain yield, thousand kernel weight, test weight, protein content, starch content, wet gluten content and zeleny sedimantation were investigated. According to the findings of research, differences between locations were found significant for all investigated traits except protein content. The values ranged in genotypes were between 537.5-678.5 kg da-1 in grain yield, 29.89-45.21 g in thousand kernel weight, 73.13-79.50 kg hL-1 test weight, 14.00-16.19% in protein content, 62.48-64.65% in starch content, 30.53-34.53 % in wet glutein content and 48.67-55.36 mL in zeleny sedimantation. DZ9-06 line was determined promising as a new cultivars candidate.

Increasing world population needs to enhance agricultural production because of food starvation. Genetically modified organism(GMO) is a way to solve this problem. During gene transfers, DNA is inserted into a plant’s genome in a random way. This produces spontaneous genetic changes with movement of transposable elements, and even increases variations. Houba was described as one of the active retrotransposons in rice. The aim of this study was to screen rice samples collected from Turkey, and analyse Houba retrotransposon movements with IRAP technique in transgenic ones and their controls. For this purpose, 71 different rice seeds obtained from different regions of Turkey were used for GMO analysis. All samples were screened by real time PCR to test cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35S promoter (P-35S) regions, T-NOS (nopaline synthase terminator) regions, figwort mosaic virus (FMV) regions, bar, pat and Cry1ab/ac, and hpt (hygromycin resistance) genes. Hpt gene was identified in 6 samples as a result of real time PCR analysis. These 6 transgenic samples with their controls were used for IRAP-PCR analysis and 0-56% polymorphism ratios were observed in analysed samples. This study is one of the first detailed experimental data of transgenic Oryza sativa L. samples in terms of retrotransposon-based variation.

In order to determine optimal duration and concentration of Stevia seed priming with boric acid for improving germination, an experimental factorial completely randomized design with three replications was conducted in the laboratory of Seed Science and Technology, Shahed University of Tehran in 2015. The first factor was different concentrations of boric acid (0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 percent) and the second factor was priming duration (0, 8, 16, 24 and 32 hours). Effects of concentration and priming duration with boric acid were significant on germination percentage, mean germination time, germination rate, germination energy, germination uniformity, mean daily germination, germination daily speed, germination value, seedling length and seed vigor index. The highest values for germination percentage, germination rate, germination energy, means of daily germination, germination value and seedling vigor index were observed after 24 hours of boric acid priming. The highest germination percentage, germination rate, germination potential, germination value and seed vigor index were obtained in 2.0% boric acid priming. 24 hours priming at 1.0% concentration of boric acid had the highest germination uniformity. The seedling length was highest in 24 hours priming at 1.5% concentration of boric acid. In general, Stevia seed priming with 1.5 to 2.0% of boric acid for 24 hours had positive effects on germination indexes and seedling growth. Keywords:

In this study which was conducted under greenhouse conditions, the impacts of calcium and potassium compounds on the % DM (dry matter) and % EC (electrical conductivity), % RWC (relative water content), and proline, antioxidative system in tomato plant (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) under salt stress were investigated. Three different concentrations of salt (50, 100 and 150 mM as NaCl) and potassium and calcium (20 mM as KNO3 and CaNO3) were applied. The compounds of Ca and K which were given in tomato plants in addition to salt, were regulated to antioxidative system, decreased lipid peroxidation increasing with salt and ameliorated RWC%, EC% and DM% by reducing the detrimental effects of salt. Based on these results, it was concluded that Ca and K compounds applied to tomato plant grown under salt stress, supported plant growth and mitigated stress effects.

Vapor pressure deficit and the high temperature emerged during the summer months in the countries with Mediterranean climate, results in decrease of the quantity and the quality of the products produced in greenhouses. During this period, to reduce the plant stress and in order to provide high quality products to the market, greenhouses are required to be cooled. In order to reduce the temperatures in greenhouse, natural ventilation is the first method considered. Although natural ventilation; is cheaper than the other forced methods in terms of the first investment and operating expenses, it is not enough to reduce the high temperatures in the greenhouse during the periods when the temperatures are starting to increase. The advantage of the forced ventilation method with fans is the higher amount of air exchange ratio and the ability to control ratio compared to natural ventilation. This method, too, is insufficient in the summer months to reduce the high temperatures inside the greenhouse. Another method is the shading method; which helps to lower high temperatures in the inside the greenhouse by reducing the radiation reaching the greenhouse. In this method, reduced temperature level inside the greenhouse is insufficient for plant growth, and also improper use of this method causes reduced use of sunlight by plants. One of the most effective solutions for cooling the greenhouse during these periods when natural ventilation, forced ventilation and shading methods are inadequate is evaporative cooling. In this study, ventilation (natural and forced), shading and evaporative cooling methods, used to reduce the effect of high temperature that occurs in greenhouses, and advantages and disadvantages of these methods have been evaluated.

The present study was conducted as a greenhouse study under Çukurova conditions during the years 2011-2012. Two different dent corn lines (5A2-B and 22K) were used as the plant material of the experiments. Crop water stress index (CWSI) values determined through leaf canopy temperature measurements performed ahead of irrigations were used to find out water use efficiencies. Experiments were conducted in randomized blocks-split plots experimental design with three replications. Drip irrigation was used for irrigations and two different irrigation programs were created as of I100 (supplying 100% of depleted water in every seven days) and I75 (applying 75% of depleted water. The amount of irrigation water applied for in the interaction of I100 irrigation and corn lines (5A2-B and 22K) in the first and second year were respectively varied between 253.0-274.0 and between 238.0-261.0 mm, seasonal plant water consumptions varied between 294.0-305.0 and between 284.6-302.6 mm, kernel yields varied between 2950.0-2990.0 and between 3130.0-3186.0 kg ha-1. With regard to (in the interaction irrigation treatments x corn lines), the lowest and the highest CWSI values were observed in the interaction full irrigation (I100) and of the line 22K as 0.22 and in deficit irrigation treatment (I75) of the line 5A2-B as 0.41 in the first year; in full irrigation treatment (I100) of the line 22K as 0.20 and in deficit irrigation treatment (I75) of the line 5A2-B as 0.36. The greatest and the lowest chlorophyll contents (in the interaction irrigation treatments x corn lines) were respectively observed in I100 treatment of the line 22K as 58.3 spad and in I75 treatment of the line 5A2-B as 50.9 spad in the first year; in I100 treatment of the line 22K as 59.1 SPAD and in I75 treatment of the line 5A2-B as 55.1 spad. While the effects of irrigation treatments on average dry matter contents of the lines were not found to be significant, significant differences were observed in water use efficiency and kernel yield of dent corn lines (p<0.01). Current findings revealed that 22K dent corn line was prominent with regard to CWSI and chlorophyll content and the relevant line was also able to use available water holding capacity with an optimum efficiency. Therefore, it was concluded that the dent corn line (22K) could be used in further researches to improve water efficiencies.

This study was conducted to investigate the phytoremediation potential of Inula helenium, Physalis angulata and Verbascum thapsus species which are grown on nickel (Ni), cadmium (Cd) and copper (Cu) polluted soils under controlled conditions for 6 weeks. The chlorophyll levels, biomass production, heavy metal uptake and concentrations and reduced glutathione concentrations were determined. According to the level of Ni, Cd, and Cu in the test plants did not reach to toxic levels. Results showed that Physalis angulata had the highest Ni content 253 µg plant-1 with the 400 mg Ni kg-1 application, the highest Cd was obtained from Physalis angulata (46.9 µg plant-1) and Verbascum thapsus (54.6 µg plant-1) with 10 mg Cd kg-1 application and Physalis angulata had the highest 304 µg Cu with the 200 mg Cu kg-1 application. It can be concluded that Physalis angulata and Verbascum thapsus have potential to clean-up Ni, Cu and Cd polluted soils.

In this study, postharvest treatments of MAP, UV-C and edible coating treatments were applied to cv. 0900 Ziraat sweet cherry and their effects on quality and storage period of sweet cherry were examined. After the treatments, fruits were stored under cold storage at 0oC and 85-95% relative humidity for four weeks. In the course of storage period, various physical and chemical analyses in fruit samples were performed at 7 day intervals. Weight loss, fruit firmness, total soluble solids, titratable acidity, total phenolic compounds, total anthocyanin content, total antioxidant, decay rate and external appearance in sweet cherry fruits were determined to detect fruit quality attributes. Increases in weight loss, total soluble solids and decreases in fruit firmness and titratable acidity, depending on varying proportions of treatments were determined. UVC treatments showed a significant protective effect on fruit decay and increased the amount of phenolic compounds. At the end of storage period marketable attributes were observed in MAP, UV-C+Chitosan, UV-C+Alginat and UV-C+MAP treated fruits.

Research results in recent years, revealed that cereal grains are low in mineral element (zinc and iron) concentrations. Therefore, improving the quality of nutrition is required. Significant effects of nitrogen and sulphur nutrition on grain yield and protein concentration of wheat were reported. Nitrogen nutrition of plants appears to be a critical component for an effective bio-fortification of food crops with Zn and Fe due to several physiological and molecular mechanisms. The sulphur requirement of wheat is lower than nitrogen. However, in case of sulphur deficiency, nitrogenous compounds (asparagines, glutamine) are accumulated, S-containing amino acid (sistein, methionine) synthesis and accumulation decreased in grain. Efforts to increase the Zn concentration (and Fe) in wheat grain are root uptake, root-to- shoot transport, phloem loading, remobilization of Zn from source tissues into developing seeds and seed deposition of Zn. Researches provide increasing evidences about possible effects of nitrogenous fertilization on plant nitrogen mechanisms of the above mentioned factors. Recently, it has been reported that grain concentration of Zn and Fe can be enhanced by increasing the nitrogen (N) supply and N and Zn applications have a synergistic effect on grain Zn concentration of durum wheat. Zinc needs to form ligand with S-containing amino acids in order to be carried by phloem. In this study, the importance of nitrogen and sulfur nutrition on zinc and iron accumulation in the grain of wheat has emphasized.

This study was carried out to determine the effects of zinc applications on the development, yield and yield components of widespread durum wheat cultivars in Çukurova Region. Amanos-97 and Fuatbey-2000 durum wheat cultivars were used in the research. Field experiments were performed by two different zinc application methods; via soil and via soil+foliage. In both trials, 0, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, and 4 kg Zn da-1 pure zinc doses were applied to the soil. 0.4% ZnSO4.7H2O solution was used for foliar zinc applications. As a result of the research, it has been determined that application of zinc via soil and via soil+foliage is not statistically effective on plant height, biological yield, stem yield, harvest index and grain yield of durum wheat. The application of zinc via soil were found statistically significantly effective at 1% level on thousand grains weight, number of spikes per square meter and zinc concentration of the grains. As a result of the research, it has been determined that when basal soil Zn content was 0.23-0.24 ppm, application of 1-2 kg da-1 of zinc via soil has positive effects on grain zinc concentration, yield and yield components. It has also been determined that soil+foliar application of zinc is more effective on zinc concentration of grains.

The aim of the study was the detection and identification of grape varieties grown in Siirt province. In this study, morphological properties, pH, total soluble solids (TSS) value, chlorophyll and carotenoid amount of the twenty different grape varieties grown in Siirt province and Eruh, Pervari, Kurtalan and Tillo (Aydinlar) districts were investigated. Additionally, to identify seed morphological differences the images of grape seeds were processed by the image processing software. According to the results, grapes obtained from Sirvan and Pervari regions had higher pH and TSS contents than the other regions. And grape samples taken from the Siirt center and Eruh districts have a higher level of acidity. TSS values ranged between 12 and 24% (Kitilnefs-Mevazer). It was determined that the chlorophyll and carotenoid values of Gadüv, Karrot and Heseni varieties are significantly higher compared to others. The highest success rate for the identification of grape seeds by image processing system, was obtained with LMT (Logistic Model Tree) method at 91.66%.

Since it is important to transfer the minerals desired by plants for a long time in a controlled manner, simple and economical new micro and macro scale agricultural production systems are needed. In this study, the nutrients in the plant nutrient solution were kept at the required level according to the needs of the plant, using computer controlled potentiometric micro-sized chemical sensor systems. Polyvinylchloride (PVC) -based ion-selective sensors have been used to sensitively and selectively measure the concentration of macro nutrient NO3-, K+, and Ca2+ ions in the hydroponic solution. It has been found that the nitrate, potassium and calcium ion levels required for the green pepper and eggplants grown in the greenhouse are different. The results showed that in the first two months of growth, the pepper consumed nitrate in a lesser amount than the eggplant. In addition, it was determined that the amount of potassium consumed by plants was higher than that of other nutrients.