Our objective was to develop a rapid technique for the non-invasive profiling and quantification of major tomato carotenoids using handheld Raman spectroscopy combined with pattern recognition techniques. A total of 106 samples with varying carotenoid profiles were provided by the Ohio State University Tomato Breeding and Genetics program and Lipman Family Farms (Naples, FL, USA). Non-destructive measurement from the surface of tomatoes was performed by a handheld Raman spectrometer equipped with a 1064 nm excitation laser, and data analysis was performed using soft independent modelling of class analogy (SIMCA)), artificial neural network (ANN), and partial least squares regression (PLSR) for classification and quantification purposes. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and UV/visible spectrophotometry were used for profiling and quantification of major carotenoids. Seven groups were identified based on their carotenoid profile, and supervised classification by SIMCA and ANN clustered samples with 93% and 100% accuracy based on a validation test data, respectively. All-trans-lycopene and β-carotene levels were measured with a UV-visible spectrophotometer, and prediction models were developed using PLSR and ANN. Regression models developed with Raman spectra provided excellent prediction performance by ANN (r_pre = 0.9, SEP = 1.1 mg/100 g) and PLSR (r_pre = 0.87, SEP = 2.4 mg/100 g) for non-invasive determination of all-trans-lycopene in fruits. Although the number of samples were limited for β-carotene quantification, PLSR modeling showed promising results (r_cv = 0.99, SECV = 0.28 mg/100 g). Non-destructive evaluation of tomato carotenoids can be useful for tomato breeders as a simple and rapid tool for developing new varieties with novel profiles and for separating orange varieties with distinct carotenoids (high in β-carotene and high in cis-lycopene).

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of different ethanol ratios in extraction solvent as well as the antioxidant properties of five plants. Thyme, mint, uckun, grape seeds and green tea waste fiber was analyzed to determine total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activity by ABTS and DPPH radical scavenging activity assays. Individual phenolic components were analyzed with reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). TPC varied significantly from 2.00±0.27 to 172.68±0.19 mg GAE g-1 dw depending on the plant type and ethanol ratio of the solvent. The effect of ethanol ratio also varied among different plants. HPLC analysis was performed for the extracts showing highest antioxidant activity, and green tea waste fiber (699.89 mg 100 g-1 dw) had the highest concentration of phenolic compounds overall, while mint (173.67 mg 100 g-1 dw) had the lowest amount. Correlations between TPC and antioxidant activity was significant which is comparable to the previous report.

Genetik kaynaklar ıslahçıların yüksek verim ve mineral içeriğine sahip yeni çeşitler geliştirebilmesi için çok önemlidir. 2015-2016 yılları arasında Türkiye’nin Batı Anadolu bölgesinin farklı bölgelerinden seksen üç Phaseolus populasyonu toplanmıştır. Morfolojik karakterizasyon sonuçları ve tartılı derecelendirmeye göre yirmi fasulye hattı 2016 yılında seçilmiştir. Yirmi fasulye hattının ve iki ticari çeşidin fosfor, potasyum, bakır, çinko, mangan, demir, kalsiyum ve magnezyum içerikleri tarla koşullarında test edilmiştir. Deneme 2017 yılı yetiştirme periyodunda Bolu Abant İzzet Baysal Üniversitesi, Araştırma ve Uygulama Alanı’nda tesadüf blokları deneme desenine göre üç tekrarlamalı olarak yürütülmüştür. Sonuçlar, fasulye hat ve çeşitleri arasında P (%0.94−1.30), K (%2.38-3.59), Cu (7.80-14.80 mg kg-1), Zn (19.74-66.68 mg kg-1), Mn (7.46-27.25 mg kg-1), Fe (48.98-182.45 mg kg-1), Ca (0.18-0.48 mg kg-1) ve Mg (0.56-0.71 mg kg-1) yüksek oranda varyasyon göstermiştir. K ve Zn (r=0.447; P<0.05), P ve Fe (r=0.485; P<0.05), Ca ve Mg (r=0.693; P<0.01) arasında pozitif yönde korelasyon bulunmuştur. Ana bileşen analizine göre toplam çeşitliliğin %73’ünden ilk 4 temel komponentin sorumlu olduğu görülmüştür. Ylv-14, Ylv-32, Blck-7, Blksr-3 ve Brs-22 hatları sırasıyla Fe ve P, Cu ve Mn, Ca ve Mg, Zn, ve K bakımından daha yüksek mineral içeriğine sahip olduğu tespit edilmiştir. Bu sebeplerden dolayı, bu hatlar fasulye tohumlarının biyofortifikasyonu için ümitvar adayları temsil etmekte ve Türkiye’de çeşit olarak tescillenebilir. Ayrıca bu hatlar, yakın gelecekte etkili ıslah programları için biparental haritalama populasyonu geliştirilerek QTL bölgelerinin tanımlanması amacıyla da kullanılabilir.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on eating and food shopping habits among the Turkish adult population. Material and method: Demographics, eating and food shopping habits, and food label reading habits of the participants were collected via online surveys. Coronavirus anxiety was assessed using the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale. The survey was conducted from November 2021 to the end of January 2022. Student's t-test was used to determine the statistical difference between quantitative variables. Chi-Square and Marginal Homogeneity Tests, depending on the number of categories, were used to determine the difference between qualitative variables. Results and discussion: Unpackaged food consumption decreased during the pandemic. More than half of the participants started to pay more attention to food labels, spend less time for grocery shopping, and started using nutritional supplements. The changes in eating, grocery shopping, and food label reading habits among Turkish consumers during the pandemic have been demonstrated.

The globalization of the food market, the prevalence of economically motivated adulteration, and the scarcity of high-value food sources have posed significant challenges to ensuring food authenticity in the industry. The assessment of food authenticity has now become a matter of utmost importance, necessitating the adoption of rapid and robust methods. While well-established techniques are available for analysis, many are not always feasible because of the need for high-priced instrumentation and proficient operators, excessive time requirements, and the destructive nature of the methods. However, Raman spectroscopy has been positioned as an attractive technology offering high-speed and nondestructive fingerprinting capabilities to monitor sample characteristics of foods. Improvements in optical technology and portable instruments have allowed field-deployable devices and have made it practical to detect adulteration from production to the market. An extensive literature has demonstrated the convenience and efficacy of these instruments in fulfilling the needs of the food industry. This chapter highlights the recent advancements in research studies focusing on the utilization of Raman spectroscopy for the rapid determination of food adulteration and authentication. These developments showcase the potential of Raman spectroscopy as a valuable tool in addressing the challenges posed by food fraud. The ongoing progress in Raman spectroscopy and its applications in food authenticity assessment represents a significant step forward in combating adulteration and ensuring the integrity of our food supply. Further research and technological advancements in this field will enhance the capabilities of Raman spectroscopy, providing the industry with increasingly reliable, efficient, and practical methods to combat food adulteration and authenticate the foods we consume. <!----> <!----> <!----> <!---->