The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the role of proline (Pro) in relieving UV-B radiation-induced oxidative stress in lettuce. Lettuce seedlings were exposed to 3.3 W m⁻² UV-B radiation for 12 h after pre-treatment sprayed with 20 mM Pro. The data for malondialdehyde (MDA), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), endogenous Pro level, the activities of antioxidant enzymes [superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and peroxidase (POD)], total phenolic concentration, antioxidant capacity, expression of phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), γ-tocopherol methyltransferase (γ-TMT) and proline dehydrogenase (ProDH) genes, phytohormone levels such as abscisic acid (ABA), gibberellic acid (GA), indole acetic acid (IAA) and salicylic acid (SA), soluble sugars and organic acids were recorded. It was found that Pro alleviated the oxidative damage in the seedlings of lettuce as demonstrated by lower lipid peroxidation and H₂O₂ content, increasing the endogenous Pro level, the activity of antioxidant enzymes, total phenolic concentration and the antioxidant capacity. Additionally, it was revealed that exogenous application of Pro enhanced the levels of GA, IAA, the concentrations of soluble sugars and organic acids and expressions of PAL, γ-TMT and ProDH genes as compared to the control. The results obtained in this study suggest that pre-treatment with exogenous Pro provides important contributions to the increase in the UV-B tolerance of lettuce by regulating the biochemical mechanisms of UV-B response.

Bu çalışma, Türkiye’nin Ağrı ilindeki bazı ilçelerde üretilen balların kalite parametrelerini belirlemek amacıyla yapılmıştır. Bu amaçla prolin, fruktoz+glukoz, fruktoz/glukoz ve sakkaroz miktarları üzerine bir araştırma gerçekleştirilmiştir. Araştırmada, 30 farklı üreticiye ait bal örnekleri analiz edilmiştir. Yapılan analizler sonucunda prolin, fruktoz+glukoz, fruktoz/glukoz ve sakkaroz miktarlarının yörelerdeki sıcaklık ve yağış miktarı değişimi, bitki çeşitliliği, toprak özellikleri, kullanılan arı türleri, arıcılık yöntemleri ve çevresel etkenler gibi çeşitli faktörlere bağlı olarak farklı olduğu gözlemlenmiştir. Ortalama değerlere göre, sakkaroz miktarının % 0.34 (0.0015-2.38), fruktoz+glukoz toplamı % 65.87 (59.66-81.90), fruktoz/glukoz oranının 1.32 (1.17-1.59) ve prolin miktarının 665.68 mg/kg (312-986) arasında değiştiği belirlenmiştir. Bu sonuçlar, incelenen bal örneklerinin şeker profilleri ve prolin miktarları açısından Türk Gıda Kodeksi Bal Tebliği (Tebliğ No: 2020/7)'nde belirtilen yasal limitlere uygun olduğunu göstermektedir.

Ağrı İbrahim Çeçen University built a central research and application laboratory (CRAL) in the east of Turkey. The CRAL possesses 7 research and analysis laboratories, 12 experts and researchers, 8 standard rooms for guest researchers, a restaurant, a conference hall, a meeting room, a prey room and a computer laboratory. The CRAL aims certain collaborations between researchers, experts, clinicians and educators in the areas of biotechnology, bioimagining, food safety & quality, omic sciences such as genomics, proteomics and metallomics. It also intends to develop sustainable solutions in agriculture and animal husbandry, promote public health quality, collect scientific knowledge and keep it for future generations, contribute scientific awareness of all stratums of society, provide consulting for small initiatives and industries. It has been collaborated several scientific foundations since 2011.

In this study, the responses of callus cultures of Cichorium endivia L. and Cichorium intybus L. to in vitro salt stress (0, 50, 100, and 150mM NaCl) on MS medium were comparatively investigated. Callus morphology (structure and color) and growth parameters (fresh and dry weight) were evaluated alongside key biochemical indicators, including hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents, antioxidant enzyme activities (Superoxide dismutase: SOD, Catalase: CAT, and Peroxidase: POD), and soluble protein levels. Principal component analysis (PCA) and heatmap visualization were applied to elucidate relationships among the measured variables and treatment effects. The results demonstrated that increasing salinity significantly influenced both morphological and biochemical responses, with clear interspecific differences. Cichorium intybus exhibited comparatively higher tolerance, as enhanced CAT and POD activities partially alleviated oxidative stress at moderate salinity levels (50-100mM NaCl). In contrast, C. endivia showed pronounced oxidative stress responses even at lower salt concentrations, and no callus formation was observed at 150mM NaCl. Overall, the findings indicate that C. intybus displays greater salinity tolerance under in vitro conditions, highlighting its potential for future stress physiology and breeding studies.