Murat Helvacı

Dr. Murat Helvacı

Horticulture, European University of Lefke, Mersin, Turkey (Türkiye)
orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

9Years (2018-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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22 July 2025 in Insects
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
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Muhammad Raheel TariqMuhammad Raheel Tariq
Muhammad Raheel Tariq
SLShaojuan Liu
Shaojuan Liu
FWFei Wang
Fei Wang
WHWang Hui
Wang Hui
QMQianyuan Mo
Qianyuan Mo
CLChengpeng Li
Chengpeng Li
The global escalation of organic waste generation, coupled with rising protein demand and environmental pressure, necessitates innovative, circular approaches to resource management. Hermetia illucens (Black Soldier Fly, BSF) has emerged as a leading candidate for integrated waste-to-resource systems. This review examines BSF biological and genomic adaptations underpinning waste conversion efficiency, comparative performance of BSF bioconversion versus traditional treatments, nutritional and functional attributes, techno-economic, regulatory, and safety barriers to industrial scale-up. Peer-reviewed studies were screened for methodological rigor, and data on life cycle traits, conversion metrics, and product compositions were synthesized. BSF larvae achieve high waste reductions, feed-conversion efficiencies and redirect substrate carbon into biomass, yielding net CO2 emissions as low as 12–17 kg CO2 eq ton−1, an order of magnitude below composting or vermicomposting. Larval biomass offers protein, lipids (notably lauric acid), micronutrients, chitin, and antimicrobial peptides, with frass serving as a nutrient-rich fertilizer. Pathogen and antibiotic resistance gene loads decrease during bioconversion. Key constraints include substrate heterogeneity, heavy metal accumulation, fragmented regulatory landscapes, and high energy and capital demands. BSF systems demonstrate superior environmental and nutritional performance compared to conventional waste treatments. Harmonized safety standards, feedstock pretreatment, automation, and green extraction methods are critical to overcoming scale-up barriers. Interdisciplinary innovation and policy alignment will enable BSF platforms to realize their full potential within circular bio-economies.

11 December 2018 in TURKISH JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY
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Journal Article
Open access
Murat HelvacıMurat Helvacı
Murat Helvacı
MAMehmet Aktaş
Mehmet Aktaş
ÖÖÖZGE ÖZDEN
ÖZGE ÖZDEN

2 November 2022
Verified
Book Chapter
Open access
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Murat HelvacıMurat Helvacı
Murat Helvacı
Several pests cause destructive damages in fruit production. All of the pests cause yield loss but some of these cause transmission of virus diseases. For example, Brown citrus aphid transmits Citrus Tristeza virus in citrus production. Historically, broad-spectrum pesticides were used to prevent the yield loss and transmission of bacteria and virus diseases in the world. These pesticides cause several problems including environmental, human health and also cause negative effects on soil health. At the same time, pesticides have other potential negative effects including food safety. For all these reasons, alternative management methods such as biological, biotechnical, sterile insect techniques are used in fruit growing all over the world.

8 September 2021
Verified
Book Chapter
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Murat HelvacıMurat Helvacı
Murat Helvacı
Diptera means two wings (Di: two, pteron: wing). They have complete metamorphosis and they are holometabolous insects which means there are 4 stages (egg, larvae, pupae and adult). The name of larval stage is “maggot”. Some of the dipteran insects cause damage in agricultural production. Some are harmful for humans. Dipteran insects have two wings. Hind wings are reduced and they are called “halteres”. Function of halteres is balancing when the insects fly. Except mosquitoes, dipteran insects have sponging-sucking mouthparts. Important examples for dipteran insects are Olive fruit fly and Medfly which cause damages in agricultural production. OFF is the most destructive pest in olive growing areas and Mediterranean fruit fly cause damages in fruit production.

24 June 2022 in Proceedings on Applied Botany, Genetics and Breeding
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Journal Article
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Murat HelvacıMurat Helvacı
Murat Helvacı
İbrahim Kahramanoğluİbrahim Kahramanoğlu
İbrahim Kahramanoğlu
МХМ. Хелваджи
М. Хелваджи
The objective of this study was to investigate damage rate and impact of Bactrocera oleae on olive oil quality on the ‘Cyprus Local’ and ‘Gemlik’ cultivars in Northern Cyprus. This study included 11 olive groves which were located in two different districts. A total of 11 olive groves from two separate cities (Güzelyurt and Girne) were selected during the maturity time where cvs, ‘Cyprus Local’ and ‘Gemlik’ are grown intensively. Two hundred and fifty fruits (25 fruits/10 trees) were randomly selected from each orchard and the damaged fruits were counted. These data were compared with the environmental conditions to determine relationships among the damage rates and environmental conditions.The results showed that the damage rate of olive fruit fly had a moderate correlation with the temperature, while the temperatures above 20°C were found to provoke the highest damage rate on both cultivars. Moreover, the results showed that cv. ‘Cyprus Local’ is more sensitive to olive fruit fly damage, especially at higher temperatures. An important result of the current work is that an increase in the damage rate raises the acidity ratio of the fruits and reduces the fruit quality.

6 February 2023 in Preprints.org
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Preprint
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Olga PanfilovaOlga Panfilova
Olga Panfilova
İbrahim Kahramanoğluİbrahim Kahramanoğlu
İbrahim Kahramanoğlu
Gabrijel OndrasekGabrijel Ondrasek
Gabrijel Ondrasek
NRNelly Ryago
Nelly Ryago
APAnna Pikunova
Anna Pikunova
Murat HelvacıMurat Helvacı
Murat Helvacı
The cultivation of berry crops by the type of "intensive plantings" is an economic and scientific approach in modern horticulture. The principles of forming a red currant assortment adapted to mechanized harvesting are considered. The bush should be compact for mechanized harvesting and have a straight-growing or slightly spreading shape. The morphological structure of the bush is a feature determined by the genotype. The ripening period of berries and the mechanical parameters of berries assess the effectiveness of the berry harvesting process. With the help of agrotechnical techniques, the mechanical parameters of berries cannot be improved and are de-termined by weather, soil, water, and climatic factors. The present study was conducted in the 2021-2022 season using 14 red currant genotypes of different geographical and genetic origins to assess cultivars' suitability for machine harvesting. In most of the studied cultivars, berry quality indicators, the parameters of separation force (Fs) and crushing force (Fc) decreased by the time of biological maturity of the genotype. Several cultivars have shown a non-simultaneous decrease in Fs and Fc. A minor limiting feature determines the duration of harvesting. The high correlation of Fs and Fc (R=0.75-0.85) allows us to predict the most significant period for the high-quality operation of a mechanized harvester. There was no dependence of the strength of the attachment of berries to the peduncle on the thickness of the skin of the berries. Jonkheer Van Tets, Red Lake, Rovada, Rolan, Vika, Asya, and Niva can be attributed to technological cultivars as sources of compact and erect bush habit, Jonkheer Van Tets, Rovada, Rolan, Vika, and Asya are recommended for mechanized harvesting.