This review highlights that integrating physiological, molecular, imaging, and AI-based approaches enables early and reliable detection of graft incompatibility, improving rootstock–scion selection, orchard sustainability, fruit productivity, and long-term tree performance. One of the most serious problems in fruit growing is the breaking, weakening, or dying of the tree at the graft union, either within a short period of time or after 10–15 years. This condition is often triggered by environmental factors; however, it is certainly not solely caused by environmental conditions. This problem is defined as graft incompatibility. Graft incompatibility refers to the failure of successful anatomical and physiological integration between a rootstock and a scion, primarily due to biochemical, molecular, and genetic mismatches that impair vascular reconnection and long-term stability of the graft union. Graft incompatibility remains a significant constraint in fruit tree production, resulting in reduced longevity, yield, and quality of orchards. This review integrates recent advancements in physiological, molecular, and technological approaches for the early detection of graft incompatibility, with special emphasis on Prunus species such as sweet cherry. Physiological and biochemical markers, including phenolic accumulation, antioxidant enzyme activities, and isozyme patterns, serve as early indicators of incompatibility. At the molecular level, transcriptomic, metabolomic, and epigenetic analyses have revealed differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and post-translational modifications associated with stress signaling, vascular reconnection, and callus formation. Imaging-based non-destructive technologies such as micro-CT, MRI, terahertz, and hyperspectral imaging now allow real-time visualization of graft-union structures without damaging plant tissues. The integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning with multi-omics datasets and imaging tools offers unprecedented potential for predictive diagnosis and compatibility assessment. Collectively, these multidisciplinary advances are reshaping the detection and management of graft incompatibility, enabling faster, more reliable, and sustainable rootstock–scion selection in fruit tree breeding.

Apple is a temperate climate fruit species grown almost worldwide. Research and past experiences have shown that apples have different growth and fruiting behaviours. Knowing the growth and fruiting behaviours of apples, determining the training system, how to prune, will shed light on the cultural practices that need to be done in order to obtain quality and early high yield. In light of the above, the study aimed to determine the growth and fruiting behaviours of different apple. In the experiment, eight apple cultivars, 'Jeromine', 'Fuji Zehn Astec', 'Granny Smith Challenger', 'Buckeye Gala', 'Rosy Glow', 'Golden Reinder', 'Ginger Gold' and 'Amasya', grafted on M9 rootstock were used. The growth and fruiting behaviours of the cultivars were determined by phenological observations, canopy dimensions, tree dimensions, canopy volume, tree volume, number and size of annual shoots on the leader, number of spurs, internode distance, distribution of flowers on the tree and similar measurements and evaluations. In addition, yield and some quality characteristics of fruits were also recorded. It was determined that 'Rosy Glow' and 'GS Challenger' cultivars showed the best performance in terms of growth, and 'Fuji Zehn Astec', 'Rosy Glow', 'Buckeye Gala', 'GS Challenger' cultivars in terms of cumulative yield. Additionally, this study found that there was a positive relationship between yield and branch angles in the first two years. Considering all the years, it was determined that 'Fuji Zehn Astec' and 'Granny Smith Challenger' cultivars produced larger fruits than the others. In conclusion, it was revealed that the growth and fruiting behaviours of apple cultivars cannot be classified very clearly, and it would be more accurate to group them as spur, semi-spur, standard and tip bearer in general. It was claimed that the number of flowers in the cluster is not a characteristic of apples. Besides, 'Fuji Zehn Astec', 'Rosy Glow', 'GS Challenger' was suggested for high yield in the new training systems.

Leaf area and some physical leaf properties play an important role in the vital events of the plant, such as photosynthesis, respiration, growth, yield, and quality. Therefore, knowing the leaf area and models that estimate the leaf area is crucial in the development of a fruit tree. Determination of leaf area, especially by non-destructive methods, is very important in terms of examining leaf development in different periods. Therefore, a leaf area estimation model and some physical leaf properties were produced using ‘Jeromine’, ‘Fuji Zehn Astec’, ‘McIntosh’, ‘Granny Smith Challenger’, ‘Buckeye Gala’, ‘Honeycrisp’, ‘Rosy Glow’, ’Super Chief’, ‘Golden Reinders’, ‘Ginger Gold’ and ‘Amasya’ apple cultivars. This study was conducted in the Bafra Plain in Northern Anatolia in 2023. Leaf width, length and leaf area were measured to develop the model. The leaf area of the cultivars were measured by PLACOM Digital planimeter, and multiple regression analysis with Microsoft Office XP Excel 2016 program was performed for the cultivars separately. The developed leaf area estimation model in the present study was: LA = [0.887–0.224*(W + L) + 0.786*W*L] (r2 = 0.975). In addition to the model generation procedure, the model was validated using the residual values between predicted and measured leaf areas from new leaf samples collected from different apple trees. R2 values for the relationships between actual and predicted leaf areas of the tested apple cultivars were found to be 0.971. In this study, the brightest colored leaves were obtained from the ‘Golden Reinders’ cultivar. The highest chlorophyll content was obtained from ‘Honeycrisp’ and ‘Ginger Gold’ cultivars.

The sweet cherry tree grows strong and upright due to its natural structure. For this reason, it is not easy to carry out commercial production without interfering with the growth of the tree. With the discovery of dwarf rootstocks in sweet cherries, new training systems have emerged. In recent years, the use of high density training systems for cherries has been increasing worldwide. Tree management in high density training systems requires regular renewal of temporary fruit branches and shoots rather than permanent fruit branches. Thus, trees spend their nutritional resources on creating flowers and fruits rather than on building trunk and skeletal structure. The study was carried out in Ondokuz Mayıs University, Türkiye, in 2018–2020. Nursery trees of the ‘0900 Ziraat’ sweet cherry cultivar grafted onto Gisela 6 rootstock were planted in 2014. The study aimed to compare the Vogel Central Leader (VC), Super Slender Axe (SSA), Upright Fruiting Offshoot (UFO), Tall Spindle Axe (TSA), and Kym Green Bush (KGB) training systems in terms of growth, yield, harvest efficiency, and pruning times. Among the five systems according to years, the least tree volume was obtained from the UFO training system (respectively 1.7, 1.9 m3). During the 3‑year trial period, the highest yield per hectare was obtained from the KGB, TSA, and UFO systems. The average highest harvest efficiency was obtained from the KGB (36.5 kg h−1) and UFO (36.1 kg h−1) systems, and the least from the SSA (22.1 kg h−1) system. Among the training systems, the shortest pruning times (winter and summer) were obtained from the UFO system. As a result, these training systems, which are suitable for high density, make harvesting and pruning easier and reduce labor.

Plant growth in strawberry is very important for high yield and quality, and for maintaining yield and quality throughout the season. For this reason, the growth behaviors of the cultivars are crucial parameters taken into account in breeding and adaptation studies. Thus, short-day and day-neutral strawberry cultivars were evaluated for growth-related characteristics such as leaf stalk length, number of leaves per plant, leaf area, total leaf area per plant, number of crowns per plant, chlorophyll content, plant canopy area, plant length, root length, total plant fresh weight, and total plant dry weight. In addition, the growth habits of the examined strawberry cultivars were categorized as vigorous, medium, and weak according to root fresh weight, root dry weight, leaf fresh weight, leaf dry weight, and crown number by a modified weighted ranked method. In addition, the relationships among the growth parameters taken into consideration were also examined. For this purpose, the frigo plants of 31 strawberry cultivars were transplanted to 2 L pots having a soil mixture of garden soil, peat moss, and perlite (3:1:1). As a result of this study, 12 cultivars, namely ‘Kabarla’, ‘Alba’, ‘Amiga’, ‘Asia’, ‘Favette’, ‘Fortuna’, ‘Fronteras’, ‘Hood’, ‘Jive’, ‘Roxana’, ‘Sabrina’, and ‘Splendor’, were found in the vigorous, 16 cultivars in the medium, and three cultivars (‘Albion’, ‘Merced’, and ‘Tillamook’) in the weak growing group. In addition, the analysis of data revealed significant variation among cultivars for most of the growth-related attributes of strawberry. This information will be very important, especially for strawberry cultivar breeding.

Kiraz ılıman iklim koşullarına sahip dünyanın hemen her bölgesinde kolaylıkla yetiştirilebilmektedir. Kirazda ıslah çalışmaları çok uzun yıllardır yapılmaktadır. Bu çalışmalarda özellikle kirazın problemlerine (küçük meyve, kararan iç rengi, meyve çatlaması, düşük verim, dik büyüme, kendine verimlilik gibi) çözüm bulmak ve üstün özellikte yeni çeşitler geliştirmek amaçlanmıştır. Günümüzde ıslah çalışmaları açısından ABD, İtalya ve Kanada gibi ülkeler ön plana çıkmıştır. Bu ülkelerdeki ıslah çalışmalarından çok sayıda yeni çeşit geliştirilmiştir. Bu derlemede dünyada yürütülmekte olan kiraz ıslah programlarının hedefi ve bu ıslah programlarından geliştirilen çeşitler kısaca anlatılarak Türkiye’nin kiraz ıslahı konusundaki durumu ele alınmıştır.

This study was carried out in Samsun, in the northern part of Türkiye. Short-day cultivars Amiga, Fortuna, Rubygem, Festival, and Camarosa and day-neutral cultivars Albion, Monterey, Sweet Ann, and San Andreas were evaluated for harvest period, fruit yield and quality, and vegetative growth under open field and high tunnel conditions. Fortuna, Festival, and Rubygem were the earliest cultivars and Sweet Ann the latest cultivar under both conditions. Harvest started about 1 month earlier under high tunnel conditions due to the higher air and soil temperatures than the open field. The harvest period lasted 16 to 21 weeks in the open field and 20 to 22 weeks in the high tunnel. In the open field, the harvest period lasted about 16 to 18 weeks for short-day cultivars and 16 to 21 weeks for day-neutral cultivars. Thus, the cool summers of northern Türkiye led to a long harvest season not only for day-neutral cultivars but also short-day cultivars. The high tunnel did not affect yield-related parameters. Monterey, Albion, and Fortuna showed the best performances in terms of total, marketable, and percent marketable yield. Despite the high total and marketable yield, the marketability levels of Sweet Ann and Rubygem were lower than those of the other cultivars. Production system × cultivar interactions showed that cultivar selection was important in both production areas. In the open field the Monterey, Sweet Ann, and Albion and in the high tunnel the Fortuna, Rubygem, Festival, Amiga, and Monterey cultivars performed best in terms of yield. Production system, cultivar, and production system × cultivar interactions affected fruit quality and growth. High tunnel conditions generally affected fruit quality positively. Numbers of crowns and runners and plant biomass in strawberry plants grown in the open field were significantly higher than those of plants grown in the high tunnel. Thus, open field conditions were more conducive for plant growth. Day-neutral cultivars are characterized by high productivity and long harvest seasons in the northern areas of Türkiye.

Kiraz dünyada ve ülkemizde üretimi ve ticareti yapılan önemli bir türdür. Dünya’da son 50-60 yılda geliştirilen bodur ve yarı bodur anaçlar ile yeni terbiye sistemleri kiraz bahçelerinde yaygın olarak kullanılmaktadır. Türkiye’de ise kiraz yetiştiriciliğinin büyük bir çoğunluğu yarı kuvvetli ve kuvvetli anaçlar ve geleneksel sistemler ile yapılmaktadır. Ülkemizde yeni terbiye sistemleri henüz deneme aşamasındadır. Bu çalışma 2021 ve 2022 yıllarında Samsun’un Bafra ilçesi’nde Ondokuz Mayıs Üniversitesi Ziraat Fakültesi Tarımsal Uygulama Merkezi’ne ait deneme bahçesinde yürütülmüştür. Denemede Super Slender Axe (SSA) terbiye sistemi ile Ma×Ma14 ve Gisela 6 (Gi6) anacı üzerine aşılı ‘0900 Ziraat’ çeşidi kullanılmıştır. Denemede, fenolojik gözlemler, meyve ağırlığı (g), meyve eni (mm), suda çözünür kuru madde içeriği (SÇKM, %), meyve eti sertliği (kg.cm-2), ağaç başına (kg. ağaç-1) ve dekara verim (kg. da-1), meyve rengi (L, C, Ho), ağaç boyu (m), hasat süresi (dk. kg-1) ve budama süreleri (dk) belirlenmiştir. Çalışma sonucunda Gi6 anacı üzerindeki ağaçların daha erken çiçeklenip meyve verdikleri, bu anaç üzerindeki meyvelerin daha iri ve verimlerinin de Ma×Ma14’e göre daha yüksek olduğu tespit edilmiştir. Çalışmada hasat ve budama sürelerinin Gi6 anacı üzerindeki ağaçlarda M×M14’e göre daha kısa olduğu belirlenmiştir. Çalışmadaki bu sonuçlar ile SSA sisteminin yarı bodur anaçlar üzerinde daha iyi performans gösterdiğini ortaya koymuştur.

In fruit cultivation, each flower is a fruit if it sets fruit. For this reason, the number of flowers in each floral bud is an important factor determining the yield. Many factors such as genetic characteristics of the variety, rootstock, and climate affect the number of flowers in the floral bud. The study aimed to determine the effect of rootstocks on the number of flowers in the floral buds of sweet cherries. The study was carried out in mid-northern Anatolia during 2021–2022. In the experiment, M × M 14, CAB 6P, Gisela 6 and PHL‑C cherry rootstocks, and ‘Kordia’, ‘0900 Ziraat’, ‘Regina’ and ‘Starks Gold’ sweet cherry cultivars were used. It was observed that the rootstock had an effect on the number of flowers in the floral buds of cultivars on different rootstocks used in the study. PHLC and Gisela 6 rootstocks, relatively more dwarf compared to M × M 14 and CAB 6P rootstocks, exhibited similar behaviour in terms of the number of flowers in the floral buds.

The current COVID-19 pandemic has largely impacted the academic performance of several college students. The present study is concerned with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on students pursuing a STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) degree. We collected weekly survey data (w=9) of students (n=53) taking calculus courses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using the self-reported survey data, we investigated the temporal variations in the levels of anxiety, motivation, and confidence of STEM students. Studies on temporal changes to math anxiety are scarce. The present work aims to fill this gap by analyzing longitudinal survey data associated with math anxiety. Furthermore, using descriptive and inferential statistical methods such as one-way ANOVA, we analyzed the data with respect to gender and academic level. Our results indicated that male and freshman/sophomore (F/Sp) STEM students had higher levels of increased anxiety due to COVID-19. Female and F/Sp STEM students had higher levels of motivation, whereas junior/senior (J/S) and male students exhibited higher levels of confidence. Time series analysis of the data indicated that the levels of motivation and confidence significantly dropped toward the end of the semester, whereas the level of anxiety increased in all groups. Also, the use of math resources (such as tutoring and supplemental instruction) has significantly reduced during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Turkey has significant global potential for cherry production and exportation. Many studies are carried out around the world in order to reduce production costs and increase yield and fruit quality in cherries. In order to improve quality and balance crops in cherries, it is necessary to carry out cultural practices such as pruning every year. The heading cuts commonly used in cherries, whereby the apical dominance of the shoots is eliminated, ensures the growth of the side buds. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of heading cuts made at four different times (T1: January 20, T2: February 15, T3: March 10, and T4: April 5) on blooming, growth, and quality in ‘0900 Ziraat’/CAB 6P and ‘Regina’/CAB 6P combinations throughout 2020–2021. Consequently, it was observed that flowering and fruit set in both cultivars in 2020–2021 were obtained from T1 (January 20) at the earliest and T4 (April 5) at the latest. Likewise, in both years of study, yield per tree and hectare in both cultivars was the highest in T3 (March 10) and lowest in T1 (January 20). In the experiment, the maximum total leaf area was obtained from T1 and the least from T4 in both cultivars. As a result of this study, while the leaf area increased, yield decreased in the heading cuttings made in the early period. Besides, it was determined that the leaf area decreased while the yield increased in the heading cuts made in the mid-season.

Kiraz bir orman ağacı hüviyetindedir. Büyük ağaç yapma ve apikal dominansiye eğilimi yüksektir. Bu nedenle ağacın uygun bir budama ile mutlaka şekillendirilmesi gerekir. Kiraz ağaçlarının budanmasında birçok kesim tipi vardır. Ancak tepe ve seyreltme kesimleri iki temel kesim tipi olarak bilinmektedir. Tepe kesimleri sürgünlerin uç kısımlarının, sürgünün yaklaşık 1/4-1/3’ü kadar, kısaltılmasıdır. Seyreltme kesimleri ise sürgünün tümden çıkarılmasıdır. Kiraz yetiştiriciliğinde Gisela 3, Gisela 5, Gisela 6, PHL-C, PiKU 1, PiKU 3, CAB 6P gibi farklı büyüklüklerde ağaçlar yapan çok sayıda anaç bulunmaktadır. Bu anaçlardan bodur Gisela serisi üzerindeki ağaçlarda tepe kesiminin önemi birçok çalışmayla ortaya konmuştur. Fakat PiKU 3 ve CAB 6P gibi yarı kuvvetli anaçlar üzerinde tepe kesiminin yapılıp yapılmayacağına dair herhangi bir bilgi bulunmamaktadır. Oysa ülkemizde bu anaçlarla da bahçeler kurulmaktadır. Samsun’da 2019-2021 yıllarında yürütülen bu çalışmada ‘Regina’/CAB 6P ve ‘Summit’/PİKU 3 kombinasyonlarında tepe kesiminin büyüme, verim ve meyve kalitesi üzerine etkisini belirlemek amaçlanmıştır. Denemede ağaç ve taç hacimleri (m3), meyve ağırlığı (g), meyve eni (mm), meyve sertliği (kg/cm2), suda çözünür kuru madde içeriği (%) ve verim (kg/ağaç) gibi özellikler incelenmiştir. Araştırma sonucunda tepe kesiminin bu kombinasyonlarda ilgili parametreler bakımından etkisinin olmadığı belirlenmiştir. Bununla birlikte tepe kesiminin yan dal sayısını artırdığı ve sürgün boylarını daha makul yaptığı gözlenmiştir.

The relationships between math anxiety and other variables such as students' motivation and confidence have been extensively studied. The main purpose of the present study was to employ a machine learning approach to provide a deeper understanding of variables associated with math anxiety. Specifically, we applied classification and regression tree models to weekly survey data of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) students enrolled in calculus. The tree models accurately identified that the level of confidence is the primary predictor of math anxiety. Students with low levels of confidence expressed high levels of math anxiety. The academic level of students and the number of weekly hours studied were the next two predictors of math anxiety. The junior and senior students had lower math anxiety. Also, those with a higher number of hours studied were generally less anxious. Weekly tree diagrams provided a detailed analysis of the interrelations between math anxiety and variables including academic level, number of hours studied, gender, motivation, and confidence. We noticed that the nature of such interrelations can change during the semester. For instance, in the first week of the semester, confidence was the primary factor, followed by academic level and then motivation. However, in the third week, the order of the interrelation changed to confidence, academic level, and course level, respectively. In summary, decision tree models can be used to predict math anxiety and to provide a more detailed analysis of data associated with math anxiety.

The 'brittle' type 1 diabetes mellitus is characterized by severely fluctuating blood glucose levels, recurrent and long hospital admissions, and disruption of quality of life. When the case is brittle, it is more difficult to manage diabetes mellitus in the rural Turkey than in urban areas. We present a case of 33-year-old male patient with brittle type 1 diabetes mellitus for over 15 years. His life was a vicious cycle of episodes of hyper and hypoglycemia needing hospitalization approximately every 5 or 6 months for the regulation of his blood glucose levels. A family physician attributed the problem to stressful life circumstances. The patient has been divorced for many years, lost contact with his children and had difficulties in managing his life alone. A family physician counseled him using non-pharmacologic approaches. She arranged diet based on the patient's eating patterns, preferences, and metabolic goals. Macronutrient proportions were individualized. He learned carbohydrate counting and administered insulin for each meal based on the carbohydrate content. He quitted smoking. His socialization developed through psychiatric interventions. Despite lacking regular exercise, lifestyle modification helped the patient achieve more stable plasma glucose levels, avoid being 'brittle' and improve his quality of life in this rural context.

Abstract. Flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) has been demonstrated to be a useful, non-invasive tool for the detection of endothelial dysfunction in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of mortality in end-stage kidney disease. The Fas/Fas ligand system of apoptosis resulting from activation of the caspase cascade- contributes to the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis. This ‘apoptotic’ system plays a central role in immune homeostasis. Vascular endothelial cells and inflammatory cells are the main resources of the Fas ligand. In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of soluble Fas ligand (sFasL) as a marker of FMD in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. Methods. A total of 43 patients undergoing maintenance PD and 40 healthy donors were enrolled in this cross-sectional observational study. Demographics, anthropometric measurements and clinical examinations were obtained. Endothelial function was evaluated by FMD of the brachial artery with high-resolution ultrasonography. Serum sFasL concentrations were measured with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. Results. The enrolled partisipants were devited on 2 groups: PD patients who had been treated at least 12 weeks (group 1; mean age 41±14 years, M/F: 22/21) and gender matched 40 healthy controls (group 2; mean age 50±12 years, M/F: 19/20). The forearm FMD and serum sFasL levels were significantly lower in PD patients (3.95±2.01 vs 8.83 ± 6.17; p<0.001 and 54 ± 24 vs 73 ± 30; p=0.001). Forearm FMD was correlated with sFasL (r=0.289; p=0.008), age, BMI and uric acid (r= 0,32; p=0.003, respectively), hemoglobin (r= 0,293; p=0.007), calcium (r= 0,26; p=0.016), phosphate (r=- 0,250; p=0.023), magnesium (r= 0,255; p=0.020), 24 h SBP (r=- 0,257; p=0.019), creatinine and iPTH (r=- 0.50 and r=- 0,45; p<0.001, respectively). After adjustment for age, the stepwise multivariate analysis showed sFasL was independently associated to FMD (β: 0.180; p=0.03, CI: 0.078-0.314). vs 73 ± 30; p=0.001). Conclusions. sFasL may be used as a simple screening marker for endothelial dysfunction in PD patients.

The study was carried out to compare tall spindle axes and vogel central leader systems on sweet cherry combinations of 0900 Ziraat/Gisela 5 and 0900 Ziraat/MM 60 in Samsun in Turkey during 2015-2017 growing periods. Nursery plants of sweet cherry cultivars planted by tall spindle axes (TSA) and vogel central leader systems in February 2010. In the study, the morphological characteristics of the trees such as tree length, diameter, length of crown, tree volume and some pomological characteristics such as; fruit weight, total soluble solid content and yield were determined. The best results were obtained from TSA applied trees for the yield (0900 Ziraat/Gisela 5) and fruit weight (0900 Ziraat/MM60). Tree length and volume were higher in 0900 Ziraat/MxM60 combination in TSA planting system.

Rosai-Dorfman disease (RDD) is a rare and benign pathology of sinus histiocytosis of unknown etiology. Lymphadenopathy is the predominant clinical manifestation, but diverse organs can also be affected. Histological features involve S-100+ histiocytes with characteristic nuclear features within the enlarged sinusoids of the lymph nodes. The clinical course is unpredictable, but is often benign with spontaneous resolution of disease in most patients. We report a patient with bilateral massive enlargement of cervical, axillary, and inguinal lymph nodes, moderately enlarged spleen, and a weight loss of 15 kg. Excisional biopsy from the cervical lymph node showed that the dilated sinusoids were infiltrated by lymphocytes, plasma cells, and large histiocytes with CD 68 and S-100 protein positive. Due to the slow progression of the disease, oral prednisolone with a body weight of 1 mg/kg was started in March 2016. The steroid dosage has been adjusted many times during the clinical follow-up. After 33 months, steroid treatment resulted in partial shrinkage of lymph nodes, the spleen returned to its normal size, and the patient gained weight. After 38 months of follow-up, no systemic symptoms, sign, or extranodal involvement were detected, and the patient continued with low-dose steroid treatment.