General Directorate of Agricultural Research and Policies

Flower scents are pleasant and attractive odors naturally emitted by flowers. These scents are formed by the combination of different components in flowers, and the most common are volatile organic compounds, terpenes, esters, phenolic compounds, aldehydes and ketones, alcohols, and acids. Volatile odors in plants are chemical compounds produced either to protect the plants themselves or to support the pollination process. These odors can have various effects on insects. For example, some plant volatiles simulate unfavorable or harmful conditions for insects, while some plants use their odor to attract and trap insects. Other plants attract insects by emitting odors to encourage pollination. Insects use morphological and olfactory cues when foraging for food. Honey bees visit plants depending on whether they are attracted by the plant’s volatile scents. The unique scents of flowers attract honey bees during which the bees inadvertently transfer pollen, thereby facilitating plant reproduction through pollination. In addition, honey bees are capable of learning diverse floral volatiles and retaining this information in their memory. In this way, they can return to the flowers of the same plants. However, certain adverse conditions can disrupt the volatile emissions of plants. Pesticides, air pollution, chemical contaminants, climate change, humidity, CO₂ levels, plant diseases, soil salinity, mineral content, pH imbalances, harmful insects or other organisms, as well as interspecific interactions, can all contribute to this disruption. Moreover, genetic diversity influences the capacity of plants to adapt to environmental stresses, and limited diversity may negatively affect the production of volatile compounds. To sustain pollination and, consequently, biodiversity, it is essential to address these adverse factors. Equally important is the identification of floral traits influencing bee visitation and the improvement of these traits through breeding programs or the development of enhanced plant varieties to support crop diversification.

Phenolic compounds play a vital role in grape quality, antioxidant potential, and stress resilience; therefore, tracking their variation across developmental stages is essential for both viticultural practices and functional food production. The aim was to characterize variety-specific phenolic dynamics and antioxidant activity changes to guide optimized harvest timing and functional quality improvement. In this regard, present study evaluated the accumulation patterns of phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity across berry developmental stages from EL-27 (Eichhorn–Lorenz phenological scale) to EL-41 in two grape (Vitis vinifera L.) cultivars, ‘Kureyş’ and ‘Tahannebi’. A total of 17 phenolic compounds were quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC-DAD), and total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activity were determined by Folin–Ciocalteu, ABTS (2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid), and DPPH ((1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) assays. Significant differences (p < 0.001) were observed between varieties, phenological stages, and their interactions for all analyzed compounds. In general, phenolic concentrations peaked during the early stages (EL-27: K1, T1) and declined progressively through EL-31 (K2, T2), EL-33 (K3, T3), EL-35 (K4, T4), EL-36 (K5, T5), EL-38 (K6, T6), and EL-41 (K7, T7). ‘Kureyş’ consistently exhibited higher levels of gallic acid, catechin, chlorogenic acid, and caftaric acid, with chlorogenic acid decreasing by 98.8% from EL-27 to EL-41. In contrast, ‘Tahannebi’ showed lower initial concentrations but retained specific compounds like ellagic acid and p-coumaric acid longer. Multivariate analyses revealed distinct metabolic clustering. PCA explained 85% of total variance, with early-stage samples characterized by enriched antioxidant profiles. Correlation analysis indicated strong associations among TPC, antioxidant capacity (ABTS, and DPPH) assays, suggesting coordinated biosynthetic regulation. Hierarchical clustering clearly distinguished early high-phenolic samples (e.g., K1, T2) from late-stage samples (K7, T7) with reduced biochemical activity. Overall, this study highlights genotype-dependent differences in phenolic composition and antioxidant capacity during grape ripening, offering integrated insights into their physiological basis and implications for harvest optimization, nutraceutical enhancement, and breeding for functional quality.

Since livestock account for most of Türkiye’s agricultural greenhouse gas emissions, strategies for estimating livestock emissions must be developed. Methane emissions per animal category were estimated in this study using the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Tier 2 method for enteric and manure methane (CH4) emissions in two sheep breeds (Akkaraman and Anatolian Merino) and three goat breeds (Hairy, Angora, Saanen) raised in Ankara province, Türkiye. Average enteric CH4 emission factor (EF) was 9.61 kg CH4 head-1 yr-1, with the highest value of 10.86 kg CH4 head-1 yr-1 in Hairy goats, and lowest 8.55 kg CH4 head-1 yr-1 in Anatolian Merino. Estimated gross energy (GE) was highest in Hairy goats (30.10 MJ head-1 day-1), and lowest in Anatolian Merino (21.73 MJ head-1 day-1). Average dry matter intake (DMI) was 1.40 kg DM head-1 day-1. The total average volatile solids (VS) excretion was estimated at 0.95 kg DM head-1 yr-1, and the average methane emission factor (EF) for animal manure was 0.46 kg CH4 head-1 yr-1. Total mean VS estimate was twice as much as the IPCC default values, and the CH4 EF for animal manure was higher than the IPCC default values. The current study's estimates will be helpful in the creation of the national methane inventory. In case more detailed data are collected to improve population data, subcategories may be expanded, and subgroups may vary by region.

Arka Plan: Tütün ve diğer bağımlılık yapıcı maddeler, küresel ölçekte en önemli önlenebilir mortalite nedenleri arasında yer almaktadır. Türkiye’de 2017 yılında ilk kez uygulanan Türkiye Hanehalkı Sağlık Araştırması Bulaşıcı Olmayan Hastalıkların Risk Faktörleri Prevalansı (The WHO STEPwise approach to NCD risk factor surveillance (STEPS)) araştırması, bulaşıcı olmayan hastalıklarla ilişkili risk faktörlerini standart yöntemlerle izleme olanağı sunmaktadır. 2023 yılında çalışmanın tekrarlanması, toplumda tütün, alkol ve uyuşturucu kullanımı ile pasif etkilenim ve mevzuata ilişkin tutumların zamansal değişimini değerlendirme fırsatı sağlamıştır. Yöntem: Bu çalışmada, DSÖ tarafından geliştirilen STEPS yaklaşımının 2017 ve 2023 Türkiye verileri karşılaştırılmıştır. Veriler Türkiye İstatistik Kurumu (TÜİK) verileriyle desteklenmiştir. Tanımlayıcı istatistiksel analizler yapılmış, Microsoft Excel ve OpenEpi kullanılarak p

Abstract This study was conducted at the Al-Elm Research Station – Tikrit during the 2025 growing season to evaluate the effects of cooling systems, soil mulching, and foliar application of salicylic acid and tryptophan on the growth and productivity of cucumber cultivated under summer greenhouse conditions. The experiment was implemented using a split–split plot design within a randomized complete block design.The results indicated that evaporative cooling significantly outperformed natural ventilation in most vegetative and fruit traits, achieving the highest values for plant height, leaf area, vegetative biomass, fruit number, total yield, and fruit firmness. Polypropylene mulch improved vegetative traits, yield, and fruit protein content compared to wheat straw mulch. Foliar application of salicylic acid recorded the best performance in vegetative biomass, fruit weight, total yield, and fruit quality traits.Regarding two-factor interactions, the combination of evaporative cooling with polypropylene mulch, evaporative cooling with salicylic acid, and polypropylene mulch with salicylic acid showed superior performance in enhancing growth and productivity. The three-factor combination of evaporative cooling, polypropylene mulch, and salicylic acid application was the most effective, exhibiting the highest values across all studied traits, including vegetative growth, total yield, and fruit quality.These findings demonstrate that adopting a management strategy combining evaporative cooling, polypropylene soil mulch, and foliar salicylic acid application is highly effective for summer greenhouse cucumber production, as it alleviates heat stress and improves both productivity and fruit quality.

The genus Iris represents one of the most diverse and horticulturally valuable ornamental groups worldwide, with considerable ecological, morphological, and genetic importance. However, despite its significance, many species remain poorly characterized, and the extent of intraspecific variability is largely underexplored, limiting their effective utilization in breeding and conservation. Iris meda Stapf, a narrowly distributed yet morphologically diverse species native to the Irano-Turanian region, was investigated in this study to address this knowledge gap and to assess its phenotypic variation. A total of 108 wild accessions from the Tafresh region of Iran were evaluated based on 41 morphological traits. Comprehensive multivariate analysis revealed substantial phenotypic diversity, with particularly high coefficients of variation in leaf shape (62.56%), crest color (59.79%), and standard color (46.35%). Elite genotypes such as 'I. meda-3', 'I. meda-7', and 'I. meda-36' were identified for their superior floral traits, while morphologically divergent outliers-including 'I. meda-10', 'I. meda-23', and 'I. meda-59'-exhibited notable divergence in PCA biplots. Strong correlations were observed between flower diameter and surface area (r = 0.80; β = 0.87) and between fall length and beard length (β = 0.63). Principal component analysis indicated that floral architecture, vegetative growth, and pigmentation were the primary contributors to variation. These findings highlight the considerable genetic resources available in I. meda for ornamental breeding and conservation programs.

In Mediterranean drylands, where year-to-year climatic variability and soil constraints (e.g., compaction or shallow profiles) often limit the feasibility of strict no-tillage (NT), strategic tillage (ST) has emerged as a pragmatic support tool within conservation agriculture. To evaluate its short-term effects, multi-country field trials were established in Morocco, Tunisia, Türkiye, and Spain across a rainfall gradient (250–580 mm). We assessed soil water content (SWC), crop biomass, and yield under ST compared with NT systems. Results were context-dependent. SWC responses varied: largely unchanged in Morocco and Tunisia, slightly increased in Morocco in 2023, and significantly reduced in Spain in 2022. Biomass generally showed no significant change, with modest decreases in Morocco and modest increases in Tunisia. Yield effects were more pronounced: pooled data from Morocco indicated a significant reduction under ST, and Tunisia showed a significant yield loss in 2021. Türkiye exhibited non-significant declines in both SWC and yield, while Spain experienced yield-neutral but SWC-reducing outcomes. Overall, ST did not have negative effects across sites. Instead, its impacts were strongly conditioned by local soils, rainfall distribution, and crop context. These findings highlight that ST can be considered as a pragmatic tool to overcome some of the agronomic difficulties in the Mediterranean region with little or no negative effects on productivity of soil moisture.