Research Articles

The world’s population has exceeded eight billion, which will necessitate a tripling of food production in the next three decades to meet basic human needs. The world is now on the verge of a new “Green Revolution”. New agrobioorganic technology represents one of the ways to address famine and malnutrition by enabling sustainable food production. Additionally, it is a means of increasing both the quantity and quality of agricultural products while reducing the negative environmental impact of chemicalization, leading to significant economic, ecological, and social benefits. The elements evaluated in the study are also heavy metals and are harmful to human health. This study investigated the impact of the biostimulant “bioragi” (produced in Georgia) on sugar beet plants. The accumulation of trace metals in plant organs was studied dynamically. Observations were made on the growth, development, and sucrose content of sugar beet mass. The trace metals studied included Ti, V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Rb, Sr, Mo, Cd, Cs, Ba, Pt, Au, Pb, and Th. Results indicate that the biostimulant bioragi reduced the absorption of trace metals by at least 18% compared to the control plants. Additionally, the mass and sucrose contents of sugar beet plants treated with bioragi increased compared to the control plants.

Green husk is a byproduct of the walnut (Juglans regia L.) and could be a potential source of phytochemicals with important bioactivities. The extracts of J. regia L. green husk collected from the Tuyserkan region of Hamedan province were evaluated for their phytochemical profile and antioxidant activities. The chemical composition of crude extracts was analyzed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). LC-MS analysis of green husk aqueous methanolic extract detected several compounds including phenolic acids, flavonoids, and hydrolyzable tannins. GC-MS analysis of the methanolic extracts revealed the presence of 1,2-dimethylbenzene (3.4%), methyl 14-methylpentadecanoate (2.82%), and methyl stearate (2.7%) as major compounds. The major components identified in the GC-MS analysis of non-polar hexane extract were (23S)-ethylcholest-5-en-3-β-ol (32.2%), δ-tocopherol (16.8%), lupeol (11.8%), and octadecane (5.7%). The antioxidant activity of the crude extracts was evaluated by DPPH assay, which showed aqueous methanol extract to be a more effective antioxidant agent (22.7%) compared to the hexane extract (14%) at the concentration of 1000 ppm. The findings suggest that methanolic extracts of walnut green husks from the Tuyserkan region are rich in bioactive compounds and exhibit more potent antioxidant activity than hexane extracts, demonstrating their potential use in pharmaceutical and food industries.

Wood color is an important factor influencing the aesthetic and commercial value of timber products. This study aimed to clarify the natural color variation in Lebanon cedar (Cedrus libani A. Rich.) wood and its relation to anatomical structure and environmental conditions. Samples were collected from two regions in Türkiye (Kaş and Senirkent), differing in elevation and climate. Stem sections from four trees per region were analyzed by separating the pith, heartwood, and sapwood. Color properties were measured using a spectrophotometer in the CIE L*a*b* color space, resulting in 2670 data points. The results showed that sapwood exhibited the highest lightness values (L*), with averages of 65.3 in Kaş and 65.8 in Senirkent, while pith displayed the lowest lightness (59.4 in Kaş, 61.6 in Senirkent). Total color differences (ΔE) between anatomical parts frequently exceeded the perceptible threshold (ΔE > 3), reaching up to 16.7 in the pith and 14.9 in the heartwood of some samples. Moreover, Kaş samples generally exhibited greater color variability than Senirkent, with average ΔE values of 13.4 (pith), 12.6 (heartwood), and 7.0 (sapwood), compared to 9.43, 10.57, and 6.14 in Senirkent, respectively. These findings highlight the combined influence of anatomical and environmental factors on wood color and provide insights for selecting timber for aesthetic purposes and enhancing visual quality in forest management.

Lignocellulosic biomass such as pine wood offers a renewable alternative to fossil resources but remains challenging to convert due to its recalcitrant structure. Efficient pretreatment is essential to overcome this limitation and enable enzymatic hydrolysis. This study aimed to enhance enzymatic saccharification of pine wood chips through a two-step pretreatment combining steam explosion and urea treatment. Pine wood chips were first subjected to steam explosion to degrade hemicellulose and modify lignin structure, followed by ambient-temperature urea treatment (0.5 to 2%) to disrupt hydrogen bonding and increase porosity. Comprehensive chemical, structural, and morphological analyses were conducted, including BET surface area measurements and SEM imaging. The integrated pretreatment significantly improved enzymatic digestibility, with a maximum hydrolysis yield of 82% achieved at 1% urea concentration. Key factors contributing to this enhancement included increased surface area, reduced lignin–enzyme interactions, and improved cellulose accessibility. The combined treatment outperformed either method alone in terms of glucose release. These findings demonstrate the potential of a steam explosion–urea strategy as a cost-effective and scalable approach for pine wood bioconversion within an integrated biorefinery framework.

Effects of different concentrations of indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) were studied relative to the rooting success, morphological development, and biomass characteristics of hardwood cuttings of Pterocarya fraxinifolia (Poiret) Spach collected from Düzce, Türkiye. Using a factorial design involving two cutting thickness classes and six IBA concentrations, the rooting percentage, number of roots per rooted cutting, shoot length, shoot diameter, number of shoots, fresh and dry shoot weight, and fresh and dry root weights were analyzed. The interaction between IBA concentration and cutting thickness played an important role in the vegetative propagation of Pterocarya fraxinifolia cuttings, especially in terms of rooting success, morphological characteristics, and biomass development.  In particular, 1000 ppm and 2000 ppm IBA treatments yielded the most balanced and effective results in terms of rooting, shoot and root development, and biomass production. Although the 8000-ppm dose increased shoot biomass, it suppressed root development, indicating a potential phytotoxic effect at high concentrations. Principal component analysis also supported these findings and showed that 1000 ppm and 2000 ppm IBA doses provided homogeneous and healthy development. The results obtained emphasize that the optimal IBA dose should be carefully selected for the sustainable vegetative propagation; especially applications in the range of 1000 to 2000 ppm can provide important contributions to the propagation and conservation of the species.

Gum arabic (GA), a natural plant-derived polysaccharide renowned for its adhesive properties, is widely utilized across various industries, particularly in papermaking. This study systematically investigated the retention and drainage performance of pulp when treated with cationic guar gum (CGG) and GA individually and further explored the development of a biomass-based dual-polymer retention and drainage aid system. The CGG-GA system outperformed single-component additives by initially forming larger flocs with CGG, which were subsequently stabilized by GA, leading to enhanced retention and drainage efficiency. Additionally, the dual-polymer system reduces the cationic demand of white water, highlighting a synergistic interaction between CGG and GA. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis revealed a more uniform floc distribution in the dual-polymer system, while physical property tests confirm improved tensile strength in handsheets. This study presents a sustainable and effective alternative to conventional retention and drainage aids, offering both environmental benefits and enhanced paper quality.

The global trend promotes using natural and eco-friendly materials to improve fruit quality and storability. This study was carried out to examine the impact of pre-harvest spraying of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) at 1.0 and 2.0 mmol/L, and post-harvest zeolite dipping (3% and 6% levels), on the quality of apricot fruits stored at 0±1 °C and 90-95% relative humidity. The results indicated that different levels of GABA and zeolite treatments significantly reduced the respiration rate, decay percentage, and fruit weight loss of stored apricots. Moreover, all experimental treatments notably slowed down the changes in fruit firmness, total soluble solid content, total sugars, total acidity, total phenols, and ascorbic acid, compared to the control. Applying GABA and zeolite evidently decreased the activities of pectin methylesterase and polyphenol oxidase enzymes. On the other hand, they increased the peroxidase activity compared to the control treatment for both seasons. Moreover, the application of zeolite and GABA at a concentration of 6% and 2 mmol/L, respectively, are recommended to enhance the storability and extend the shelf life of ‘Canino’ apricot fruits and preserve their quality. This study contributes to the Sustainable Development aims by reducing postharvest losses, food waste, and increasing marketability, as well as supporting food security by conserving resources and increasing marketing income.

Agro-residues, such as apple peel, banana peel, orange peel, tapioca peel, and sweet potato peel powders, were screened for the biosynthesis of bioactive extracellular polysaccharide (EPS) in solid-state fermentation. Lactobacillus plantarum utilized sweet potato peel and improved EPS production compared with other wastes, so it was used for optimization studies. Compared with the unoptimized medium, the response surface methodology improved EPS production twofold during solid-state fermentation. In the central composite design, the experimental model was significant (p<0.01), and the selected variables (moisture, sucrose and yeast extract) significantly influenced EPS production. The maximum yield was 59.1 mg/g with 64.5% moisture content, 5.74% sucrose, and 1.39% yeast extract. In addition, the extracted EPS exhibited strong antioxidant activity, and it scavenged ABTS, DPPH, and hydroxyl radicals in a concentration-dependent manner. The antibacterial activity of EPS was greatest against Staphylococcus aureus, and the corresponding zone of inhibition was18±1 mm, followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa(14±1 mm).The results showed that sweet potato peels can be used as a cheap substrate for EPS production in solid-state fermentation.

The adsorption of malachite green (MG) was studied using chemically activated wood mill residues via a batch process. Maximum adsorption of 44.6 mg/g and 55.7 mg/g was obtained at optimum reaction time of 150 min and 180 min for the raw sample and the chemically treated sample, respectively. The kinetics analysis revealed that the adsorption process of MG by the raw sample is best described by a pseudo-first-order, whereas the pseudo-second-order model provided a better fit for the base-treated sample. The thermodynamic parameter of free energy confirmed the spontaneity and feasibility of the process, while positive enthalpy change (ΔH) values for both raw (17.2 kJ/mol) and treated samples (21.4 kJ/mol) affirmed that the adsorption process was endothermic. Desorption experiments demonstrated the potential for adsorbent regeneration and reusability, enhancing sustainability. Fourier transform infrared analysis confirmed that the base-modified wood residues effectively adsorbed MG dye, as evidenced by changes in key functional groups like O–H, N–H, C=C, and C-O. These findings contribute to the development of efficient adsorbents for environmental remediation, emphasizing the need for cost-effective and eco-friendly solutions.

Traditional furniture design methods often fall short in revealing users’ deeper psychological and emotional needs. This study innovatively introduced the Zaltman Metaphor Elicitation Technique (ZMET) as an exploratory tool in the field of furniture design to bridge the cognitive gap between latent user needs and practical design. Through image collection, laddering interviews, and Kelly Repertory Grid Technique (RGT), cognitive modeling was conducted with six high-involvement users. A total of 119 concepts were identified, covering ten design attributes (e.g., “ergonomic fit,” “warm color tones”), seven emotional needs (e.g., “stress relief,” “immersive experience”), and five value hierarchies (e.g., “sense of belonging,” “self-actualization”). The resulting Hierarchical Value Map (HVM) illustrated a three-level structure of “attribute–consequence–value,” clearly mapping the psychological pathway from product features to core user values. The findings revealed that users expect more than basic functionality from wooden lounge chairs, seeking emotional resonance, lifestyle alignment, and identity expression. ZMET was shown to be effective in uncovering non-verbalized user needs and offers a theoretical and methodological framework for value-driven, user-centered furniture design.