Pesticide residues on harvested fruits and vegetables pose significant public health concerns. While consumers commonly use home-type washing treatments to remove these residues, their effectiveness requires scientific validation. This study investigates the effects of pre-harvest pesticide applications and post-harvest washing methods on pesticide residue removal, physicochemical quality parameters, and storage behavior of sweet cherry fruits (Prunus avium L.) during 28 days of cold storage at 1 °C. Pre-harvest application of commonly used pesticides (malathion, boscalid + pyraclostrobin) followed by post-harvest washing treatments (distilled water, 5% vinegar, and 5% sodium bicarbonate) significantly influenced residue levels and quality of sweet cherries during storage. Distilled water was the most effective method for reducing pesticide residues, followed by sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃) and vinegar. However, NaHCO₃ treatments resulted in greater mass loss and negatively impacted fruit firmness. Pesticide treatments increased soluble solids content but generally reduced titratable acidity and antioxidant capacity by the end of storage. Pesticide and carbonate treatments contributed to undesirable changes in overall fruit quality. Washing treatments, especially with distilled water, effectively reduced pesticide residues from cherries, promoting safer consumption. Washing treatments involving distilled water and vinegar had a positive impact on the preservation of fruit quality. Nevertheless, some treatments had a negative impact on storage quality. These findings highlight the need for further research to identify optimal combinations of washing agents and storage strategies tailored to different pesticides and fruit types.

In this study, it was aimed to examine the rooting performance of hardwood cuttings taken from the promising black mulberry genotypes Kemalpaşa, Yelpe, Merkez 3, Merkez 6, Kocacık, Çamdere, and Merkez 7 determined in the province of Tokat under the same environmental conditions. All cuttings were immersed in 6000 ppm IBA solution for 5 seconds before planting and planted on heated bottom tables. The cuttings, which were kept in rooting units for about 3 months, were then removed and measurements were made on them. As a result of the study, statistically, differences were found in root length, root diameter, root number, callus formation rate and rooting rates in the parameters examined. There was no statistically significant difference between genotypes in decay rates. Decay rates of genotypes are between 12.96% - 41.67%, callus formation rates are between 70.83% - 95.39%, rooting rates are between 60.41% - 92.64%, root lengths are between 5.85 - 7.52 cm, root diameters are between 1.42 - 1.75 mm, and root numbers are between 7.87 - 12.67 root/cutting has taken values. In the light of the information obtained as a result of the study, it was determined that Yelpe, Çamdere, and Merkez 6 genotypes showed high rooting success. These results are important in terms of shedding light on the research to be done in order to determine the various studies and the performance of the saplings. It is also a determining factor for enterprises producing saplings.

Cutting reproduction is the cheapest and most practical method for plants capable of clonal regeneration. However, the difficulties in adventitious root formation in black mulberry cuttings create a disadvantage for mulberry growers. This study aimed to investigate the effect of IBA and Paclobutrazol applications on the rooting ability of black mulberry hardwood cuttings. The experiment was carried out in the polyethylene greenhouse of Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University Agricultural Research and Application Center in February 2022. As a material, hardwood cuttings prepared from one-year-old branches of breeding black mulberry trees within the body of the directorate were used. The study was set up in a randomized plot design with 3 replications and 15 cuttings in each replication. In the study, pure water as a control group, 6000 ppm IBA and doses of 1000 ppm, 2000 ppm and 3000 ppm Paclobutrazol respectively were applied to black mulberry wood cuttings separately and together. After the application, the cuttings were planted in perlite medium. The cuttings were kept in the rooting medium for 90 days and then removed; rooting rate, root number, root length and root diameter values were recorded. As a result of the study, the effect of the applications on the root number of the cuttings was not observed while the rooting rate, root length and root diameter parameters were observed. In terms of rooting rate, the best result was obtained from IBA+PBZ 1000 application (40.00%) compared to the control group (0.0%). The highest root length was determined in IBA 6000 application, and the thickest root diameter values were determined in PBZ 1000 application.

The aim of this study is to compare the 'Granny Smith' apple variety, which is well-known to withstand storage, and the 'Ayvaniye' apple, a local variety, in terms of some quality characteristics, and to determine their suitability for storage. The apples included in the experiment were stored at 1±0.5 °C and 90±5% relative humidity for 6 months. Measurements and analyses were done once a month from the beginning to the end of storage. The parameters examined in the trial are: Weight loss, fruit flesh firmness, pH, titratable acidity (TA), soluble solids content (SSC), total phenolic substance content (TPC), total antioxidant activity (TAA) and fruit outer colour (L*, a*, b*). As a result; weight loss, pH, TA, SSC, TAA, L* and a* parameters were found higher in 'Ayvaniye' variety. In terms of TPC and b* parameters, 'Granny Smith' variety was better. Additionally, the flesh firmness of 'Granny Smith' variety was higher at the beginning of storage. When all parameters were evaluated, 'Ayvaniye' variety is more suitable for cold storage for 6 months, but weight loss may be a problem for storage longer than 6 months.

This study investigated the effects of boron-, copper-, and chitosan-based nanoparticles (synthesized by the green synthesis method) on organic acid contents of strawberries and sweet cherries during storage. The fruits were dipped in nanoparticle solutions for 2 minutes and stored under cold conditions (0 ± 0.5 °C for sweet cherries, 1 ± 0.5 °C for strawberries) at 90 ± 5% relative humidity. Malic, citric, and oxalic acid levels were evaluated. In strawberries, the Boron1 treatment (500 ppm boron nanoparticle) was the most effective in preserving organic acids, particularly citric acid, which remained at 2431.5 mg kg⁻¹ fw by the end of storage compared to 1702.5 mg kg⁻¹ fw in the control group. In sweet cherries, Chitosan (1% nanochitosan solution) treatment preserved the highest level of malic acid (2256.7 mg kg⁻¹ fw), while Boron1 contributed to the retention of citric acid (20.75 mg kg⁻¹ fw), exceeding even the initial harvest value. Oxalic acid degradation was slowed in the treated groups compared to the control in both fruits. The results suggest that nanoparticle-assisted edible coatings may offer a promising strategy for extending shelf life and partially preserving phytochemical content. Moreover, it was observed that the dominant organic acid varied by fruit species, i.e., citric acid in strawberries and malic acid in sweet cherries. These findings support the view that nanoparticle applications should be tailored to fruit type and may contribute to the development of more sustainable postharvest preservation approaches.