Life Sciences Commons^™

Assessing Tree Species Diversity In Forests Using Combined Remote Sensing Data, Tufan Demi̇rel

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Tree species diversity (TSD) is a critical biological variable for ecosystem functioning and sustainable forest management.This study aimed to model TSD in forest ecosystems using spectral and texture metrics extracted from Sentinel-2, WorldView-3,and PlanetScope satellite imagery, and structural metrics derived from LiDAR data. Tree species data collected through field surveyswere used to calculate Shannon, Simpson, and species richness biodiversity indices. These biodiversity indicators were then related toexplanatory variables derived from remote sensing (RS) metrics. The Boruta algorithm was applied for variable selection and randomforest regression analysis was used for modeling. The results show that combining LiDAR and satellite data is …

Examining The Effect Of Different Polycarbonate Greenhouse Cover Materials On Tomato Yield And Plant Development With Thermal Imaging, Candan Korkmaz, Nefi̇se Yasemi̇n Tezcan

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

In this study, the effects of different polycarbonate (PC) greenhouse covering materials on the environmental microclimateand plant growth were examined using three research greenhouses. Two types of PC covering materials were tested: the first greenhousewas covered with UV-additive PC (UV PC), the second greenhouse with UV+Infrared (IR) additive PC (UV+IR PC), and the third(control) greenhouse had UV-additive PC on the sidewalls and polyethylene (PE) covering material (UV PC+PE) on the roof. Themeasured fundamental parameters included total radiation transmittance, photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) transmittance,temperature, and relative humidity. Plant development was monitored and leaf temperatures were measured using a thermal camera atvarious …

Bioactive Profile And Mineral Composition Of Fruit Extracts From Four Wild Hawthorn (Crataegus Spp.) Species, Özlem Çakir, Kübra Çinar Topçu, Abdurrahman Sefali, İshak Bayyi̇ği̇t, Gülçe İlhan, Jyoti̇ Singh

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

This study compared the antioxidant capacity, total phenolic content (TPC), phenolic composition, lipid oxidation level, andmineral profiles of extracts obtained from four wild hawthorn species (Crataegus tanacetifolia, C. orientalis subsp. orientalis, C. orientalissubsp. szovitsii, and C. monogyna) collected from northeastern Türkiye. Significant interspecific variations were observed in DPPH,FRAP, and CUPRAC assays. While C. monogyna had the highest reducing capacity and TPC, C. orientalis subsp. szovitsii had the highestDPPH activity. Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry analysis showed that catechin,epicatechin, chlorogenic acid, and quinic acid were the major phenolics, and were particularly abundant in C. monogyna. Despitehaving a …

How Can We Protect Utah Vineyards From Insect Pests And Diseases?, Josh Westhora

Research on Capitol Hill

The Utah Plant Pest Diagnostics Lab (UPPDL) at USU conducts surveys of Utah vineyards for plant diseases and insect pests affecting production to notify growers of their presence. Last year’s survey was conducted without funding to provide immediate support to growers. Funding for this year’s has been requested through the USDA APHIS PPQ PPA 7721 program.

Functional Characteristics Of Ice Creams Enriched With Aronia Melanocarpa And Sambucus Nigra L. Extracts, Murat Emre Terzi̇oğlu, Emi̇ne Maci̇t

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

In this study, the effects of Aronia melanocarpa and Sambucus nigra L. extracts added at different concentrations (0.5%, 1%,and 1.5%) on the physicochemical, sensory, microbiological, antioxidant capacity (DPPH• and ABTS•+ radical scavenging activity, TPC,TFC, and TAC) antidiabetic (α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition), and anti-Alzheimer properties (AChE inhibitory activity) of icecream were investigated. According to the statistical analysis results, extract addition did not have an effect on the total dry matter, fatand ash ratios of the ice cream samples (p > 0.05), but it had an effect on the protein ratio, viscosity, and first drip time at the level ofp < 0.05. The addition of extract positively affected the DPPH• radical scavenging activity IC50 and ABTS•+ radical scavenging activityIC50 values of the ice cream samples, and also increased the TPC, TFC, and TAC values. Indeed, a decrease in the IC50 values of DPPH•and ABTS•+ radical scavenging activities indicates an increase in antioxidant activity. The highest TPC, TFC, and TAC values weredetected in the A-1.5 sample (sample containing 1.5% A. melanocarpa extract) as 749.33 mg GA/kg, 434.70 mg QE/kg, and 290.97 mg/kg, respectively. Similarly, the highest α-amylase inhibitory activity (23.08%), the highest α-glucosidase inhibitory activity (10.41%) andthe highest AChE inhibitory activity (14.70%) were observed in the A-1.5 sample. Extract addition had no effect on microbiologicalproperties and sensory properties except texture. The results of this study showed that A. melanocarpa, S. nigra L. extracts can be usedas a natural additive with antioxidant, antidiabetic and anti-Alzheimer activities in ice cream production.

Exploring Molecular And Morphological Diversity Of Ostracoda: A Combined Approach Based On Coi Sequences And Morphological Characters, Serdar Di̇nç, Serap Mutun, Okan Külköylüoğlu

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Ostracods are diminutive aquatic invertebrates with a broad geographical distribution  across a diverse range of aquatic habitats, including lentic and lotic freshwater  environments as well as marine waters. Due to their sensitivity to environmental  changes, ostracods are valuable tools in biodiversity monitoring, providing a link to  past, present, and future ecological conditions. Despite the significance of classical  taxonomic studies in species identification, molecular approaches remain  underutilized in ostracod research, representing an area of potential growth for  advancing our understanding of this diverse group. Thus, molecular studies in  ostracods have the potential to greatly enhance our understanding of morphology,  ecological variation …

Spatial And Temporal Variability Of Mayfly Communities (Insecta: Ephemeroptera) In Mountainous And Semimountainous Rivers Of The Western Aegean Basin, Biljana Rimcheska, Yanka Vidinova

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Mayflies are among the most abundant benthic invertebrates inhabiting natural lotic  freshwater systems. Their assemblages vary with environmental, geographical, and  hydrological conditions along altitudinal gradients and under different types of  watershed disturbance. The main objective of this study was to analyze the  composition and β-diversity of mayflies across three river watersheds and to assess  how these assemblages differ among them. We collected biological and  environmental data from 38 sampling sites distributed across the three river  watersheds. We hypothesized that mayfly assemblages would vary with  environmental gradients on both spatial and temporal scales; specifically, we  expected pristine streams to exhibit higher …

Towards The Assessment Of E-Flows: A Fish-Based Approach For The Tiber River Basin (Central Italy), Antonella Carosi, Francesca Lorenzoni, Fatemeh Zarei, Rachele Brustenga, Lucio Di Matteo, Daniela Valigi, Corrado Cencetti, Carlo Cardellini, Stefano Casadei, David Cappelletti, Massimo Lorenzoni

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Estimating ecological flows (EFs) in rivers is crucial for meeting the Water Framework  Directive (WFD) 2000/60/EC goals. To develop an EF model, it is  essential to use biological indicators to reliably record the impacts of human-induced  alterations on aquatic ecosystems. The adaptability of fish to annual flow variability  makes them a significant biological quality element (BQE). Consequently, using fish  as bioindicators is a powerful tool for assessing the impact of changes in the  hydrological regime on the natural communities within a river system. The new index  of the ecological status of fish communities (NISECI) is a methodology developed in  Italy …

Chlorella Vulgaris Measurements Using Full-Spectrum Goniometer For Optically Complex Inland Water Monitoring, Pinar Gürbüzer, Uğur Murat Leloğlu

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Rising environmental stressors, including climate change, nutrient loading, pollution,  and anthropogenic impacts, have made the continuous monitoring of lake water  quality increasingly essential. While in situ methods offer high precision, satellite-based remote sensing is essential for capturing large-scale, long-term changes and  accessing remote or extreme environments. To complement these approaches, we  developed a cost-effective in situ optical measurement system specifically designed  for optically complex inland waters. T he instrument enables detailed optical  characterization across scattering angles from 0° to 160° and wavelengths between  423 and 728 nm, covering both visible and near-infrared regions. Initial validation was  performed using monocultures of …

Plants Have A Chemical Defense To Protect Themselves From Herbivory, Isis Cordova

Research on Capitol Hill

All plants produce compounds for survival. My work focuses on how plants remember past attacks and whether that memory leads to stronger/faster responses.

Going With The Flow: Bear Lake Water Currents Make It Hard To Control Plants, Tia Lawrence, Maloree Mcdonald

Research on Capitol Hill

Bear Lake is a popular tourist destination straddling the Utah-Idaho border. It generates millions of dollars in revenue annually through tourism is thus a major part of the economy of both Northern Utah and Southern Idaho. Unfortunately, Bear Lake has been impacted by the introduction of invasive plant species like Eurasian watermilfoil.

Ant Queens Divide Tasks Among Themselves To Maximize Efficiency In Multi-Queen Colonies, Ian Brush

Research on Capitol Hill

Before workers arrive, founding queens must sustain the colony on their own. In single-queen colonies, one queen performs all necessary tasks. In contrast, when several queens co-found a colony, their contributions often differ: some queens invest more in egg-laying, while others devote more effort to brood care or nest maintenance.

At Utah Lake, Large Changes In Water Level Impact The Restoration Of Native Plant Species, Mac Havens

Research on Capitol Hill

Native plant communities at Utah Lake matter for top-class recreation opportunities, migratory bird populations, June Sucker recovery efforts, and local economies.

Utah Wildflower Microbes Boost Plant Growth Without Using Chemical Fertilizers, Rebecca Thorley

Research on Capitol Hill

Modern agriculture relies on chemical fertilizers to boost crop yields, but these short-term gains come at a steep cost:

Soil degradation: Chemicals kill beneficial soil organisms and damage soil structure over time

Water pollution: Fertilizer runoff contaminates rivers and lakes, creating toxic algae blooms

Rising costs: Fertilizer expenses now account for 30-50% of crop production costs

Climate impact: Fertilizer production and use generate significant greenhouse gas emissions

The challenge: Feed growing populations while restoring soil health and protecting the environment.

We Can Use Coyotes As A Model To Understand How Social Loss Alters The Brain, Rebekah Rowe

Research on Capitol Hill

While we understand some factors that increase psychological distress for grieving individuals, little is known about this biological basis.

Ovarian Transplants Drastically Improved The Health Of Post-Menopausal Mice, Nathan Mccoy

Research on Capitol Hill

Women generally experience health advantages compared to men before menopause. Following menopause, this advantage diminishes, and women become more susceptible to metabolic and neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease.

Crops Grown Below Ground Can Be 20-40°F Warmer Than Above-Ground Outdoor Crops, Jessie Miller

Research on Capitol Hill

At USU, 33% of students are considered food insecure. The walipini, a pit-style greenhouse, shows food can be grown year-round for a low cost.

Could Gene Editing Increase Chicken Resistance To Avian Influenza?, Alta Crane

Research on Capitol Hill

Avian Influenza is a viral infection that causes outbreaks of "bird flu," greatly affecting avian health. Influenza A virus (IAV) relies on various host factors for efficient replication. Previous studies in human cells have identified four genes as critical host factors required for IAV infection. To investigate whether similar host– virus interactions exist in avian species, we utilized gene editing systems to generate knockout fibroblast cell lines targeting those four genes and then applied these techniques to germ cells.

Aspen Graffiti Are Close To Trails And On Large-Diameter Trees, James A. Lutz, Soren Struckman, Joseph D. Birch

Wildland Resources Faculty Publications

Key results

1. Close to the trail

75% of all graffiti was within 60 feet of the trail.

2. On the largest trees

Graffiti was concentrated on the largest diameter aspen (larger than 8 in diameter).

3. Higher growth in marked aspen

Aspen with graffiti had 24% higher radial growth, relative to unmarked aspen. This is likely because people carve the healthiest aspen.

Alkaline And Acid Extraction Of An L-Tryptophan–Sunflower Flour Red Colorant: Production, Characterization, And Utilization, Spencer Nguyen, Marissa Wong, Lilian Were Senger

Food Science Faculty Articles and Research

The objective was to produce and characterize a red colorant resulting from interaction of sunflower-derived chlorogenic acid with L-tryptophan/Trp and to evaluate its applications. Yield, intensity, solubility, stability, protein, and metal content of colorants from pH 9 and pH 11 lyophilized sunflower flour- Trp colorants were measured. Red color formation took < 3 h with alkalization and subsequent acidification. The sunflower flour: Trp mixture ratio that produced the greatest redness was 10:2. The highest red pigment was in supernatants and not the precipitates. The red colorant intensity and solubility were highest at neutral pH when compared to acidic pH solutions. The color stability of the new red colorant in icing and refrigerated whole milk matrices, when assessed weekly for a month, showed no color change in refrigerated milk. After 30 min of incubation at 63 °C, pinkness in milk remained unchanged or increased. The pink color, however, faded in icing over time due to exposure to light. The present study established a new natural red colorant developed from sunflower protein-Trp mixtures at alkaline pH, as well as its application in icings and whole milk for commercial strawberry milk products. This colorant could serve as a replacement for the synthetic petroleum-based Red 3.

Cover And Contents

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

No abstract provided.

Changes In Metabolomics And Tissue Architectural Alterations Jointly Ameliorate Salt Mediated Injuries In Nigella Sativa L., Noreen Akhter, Ayesha Ali, Muhammad Aqeel, Muhammad Muslim Shahnaz, Saima Iqbal, Ayesha Riaz, Mohammed O. Alshahrani, Ali Noman, Noreen Khalid, Khairah M. Alwutayd Alomran, Fahad Mohamed Al-Zuibar

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

This study evaluated plant resistance to salinity across varying salt concentrations: 0, 50, 100, 150, and 200 mM NaCl. Thestudy revealed how these salt levels affected the morphological, physiological, biochemical, and developmental characteristics of theplants. At the 50 mM NaCl treatment level, plant height dropped by 8% in comparison to the control. The shoot fresh and dry weightsof every plant subjected to different levels of salt stress decreased noticeably. At 200 mM NaCl, the plants fresh weight of root decreasedby the greatest percentage (42.8%). The total number of chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b in Nigella sativa L. was significantly lower …

Accumulation Of Polyphenolic Compounds In Amelanchier × Lamarckii Fruit In Conditions Of Southwestern Slovakia, Luba Durisova, Tunde Jurikova, Monika Ondrasova, Pavol Elias Jr., Deni̇z Hazar, Jiri Mlcek

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

In Slovakia, snowy mespilus (Amelanchier × lamarckii F. G. Schroed.) is recognized both as an ornamental plant and alesser-known fruit species, prized for its high levels of bioactive compounds, particularly polyphenols. The aim of this study was todetect the polyphenolic profile of snowy mespilus and to assess polyphenol accumulation in cells. The total polyphenol content wasdetermined by the Folin–Ciocalteu method, antioxidant activity by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assayand the 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) method, and individual polyphenolic compounds by the highperformanceliquid chromatography (HPLC) method. The results of analyses revealed that among the phenolic acids, chlorogenicacid was the most prevalent [44.24 …

Evaluation Of 18 Broccoli Cultivars For Summer Harvest In Southwest Michigan In 2025, Ben Phillips

Midwest Vegetable Trial Reports

A broccoli cultivar trial was planted at the Southwest Michigan Research and Extension Center (42.081985, -86.354087, Benton Harbor, Michigan). Bejo (BJ), Rijk Zwaan (RZ), Sakata (SK), and Tozer (TZ) seed companies donated 18 broccoli cultivars for plastic mulch-bedded hand harvest. Overall, the trial quality was good for collecting data on stressed plants from both heat and fertility.

Evaluation Of 9 Cauliflower Cultivars For Summer Harvest In Southwest Michigan In 2025, Ben Phillips

Midwest Vegetable Trial Reports

A cauliflower cultivar trial was planted at the Southwest Michigan Research and Extension Center (42.081985, -86.354087, Benton Harbor, Michigan). Bejo (BJ), Rijk Zwaan (RZ), Sakata (SK), and Tozer (TZ) seed companies donated nine cauliflower cultivars for plastic mulch-bedded hand harvest. Overall, the trial demonstrated poor growth in cauliflower before heading amidst high heat, resulting in small plants, small heads and poor head quality.

Pest Management For Utah Cut Flower Production: Insects And Their Relatives, Nick Volesky, Marion Murray, Melanie Stock

All Current Publications

Pest management is important in cut flower production, marketability, and farm profitability. This fact sheet focuses on animal pests (insects, arthropods, mollusks, and vertebrates), not diseases or weeds, and has two parts. Part 1 applies Integrated Pest Management (IPM): using preventive techniques, pest thresholds, and best management practices with pests in cut flower crop production. Part 2 highlights the top 10 common pests of cut flowers in Utah and their management.

Rapid Single-Cell Measurement Of Transient Transmembrane Water Flow Under Osmotic Gradient, Hong Jiang, Jinnawat Jongkhumkrong, Y. J. Chao, Qian Wang, Guiren Wang

Faculty Publications

Aquaporins (AQPs) are critical for transmembrane water transport in response to osmotic gradients, but their gating and regulatory mechanisms remain poorly understood. A central challenge is the lack of methods to measure water flow across AQPs from individual cells with the spatiotemporal resolution and sensitivity equivalent to patch-clamp recordings of ion fluxes—a limitation stemming from the electrically silent nature of water flow. Here, we present a novel optical technique—Flow-Induced Fluorescence Increase Velocimetry (FIFIV) based on Laser-Induced Fluorescence Photobleaching Anemometry (LIFPA)—that enables direct, real-time monitoring of cytoplasmic flow induced by transmembrane water transport under osmotic pressure gradients. Using small molecular fluorescent …

Chrysin Alleviates Salt Stress By Enhancing Antioxidant Enzymes, Nutrient Balance, And Phytohormone Contents In Forage Pea, Sedat Severoğlu

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

This study aimed to evaluate the potential protective effects of chrysin (Chr), a flavonoid compound, on growth, biochemical,hormonal, and nutrient levels in forage pea (Pisum sativum ssp. arvense L.) seedlings under NaCl-induced salt stress. The experimentwas conducted under controlled greenhouse conditions in a completely randomized design with three different concentrations of Chr(Chr0: 0 mM, Chr1: 0.1 mM, and Chr2: 0.5 mM Chr) and three levels of salt stress (S0: 0 mM, S1: 100 mM, and S2: 200 mM NaCl),resulting in nine treatment combinations (T0: Chr0S0, T1: Chr0S1, T2: Chr0S2, T3: Chr1S0, T4: Chr1S1, T5: Chr1S2, T6: Chr2S0, T7: Chr2S1, andT8: …

Effects Of Gamma Irradiation On Antioxidant Enzyme Activities In Black Carrot Callus Under Drought Stress, Damla Turan Büyükdi̇nç, Di̇lruba Tabay Sümbül, Sheikh Mansoor

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Daucus carota L. (carrot) is a commercially significant root vegetable widely cultivated in temperate regions for its edible taproot and valued for its high nutritional content. This study aimed to investigate the effects of drought stress on callus tissues of the Hatay black carrot (Daucus carota L. ssp. sativus var. atrorubens Alef.) genotype and to determine the impact of different gamma radiation doses on antioxidant enzyme activities. Black carrot callus tissues were exposed to gamma irradiation at doses of 0, 7, 8, and 9 Gy to evaluate their responses to drought stress. Antioxidant enzyme activities, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), …

Production Of The Antitumor Compound Deoxyharringtonine By Suspension-Culturedcells Of Cephalotaxus Hainanensis, Liang Wang, Muhammad Mubashar Zafar, Chongyu Wu, Zhiqiang Xiong, Jingyi Sun, Huapeng Sun, Hanqing Cong, Xuefei Jiang, Mahmoud F. Seleiman, Fei Qiao, Peter Nick

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Plant cell fermentation can be a sustainable biotechnological alternative to the wild collection of medicinal plants. As aparadigm, we explored the potential of using the highly endangered endemic tree Cephalotaxus hainanensis, which accumulatescephalotaxine esters—potent anticancer compounds. We successfully established a suspension cell line able to convert cephalotaxineinto its esters, including deoxyharringtonine, harringtonine, isoharringtonine and homoharringtonine at a remarkable maximalconversion rate of up to 86%, when supplemented with L-homoleucine, a precursor for the side chains of these esters. Furthermore, byadding elicitors, we were able to enhance the yield significantly beyond the values expected from the complete conversion of the addedcephalotaxine. In …