Gül Ayyildiz

The performance of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt)-based biopesticides depends not only on their insecticidal proteins but also on the manufacturing process, from fermentation through downstream formulation. However, these stages are often investigated independently, limiting understanding of how process design influences the properties and performance of the final product. This study develops and evaluates a spray-dried formulation of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki (Btk) strain Lip by characterizing the fermentation growth–sporulation trajectory using controlled physicochemical parameters and off-gas monitoring, relating these dynamics to spore and protein production, characterizing the resulting spray-dried formulation, and evaluating its laboratory bioefficacy, and stability .Btk Lip was produced by submerged fermentation on a wheat bran medium under controlled operating conditions and converted to a spray-dried formulation (Lip-F) designed to enhance application performance and resistance to sunlight degradation, and as a unformulated dried material (Lip-U) that will serve as a control and a baseline for following experiments. Across four fermentations (72 h/batch), off-gas and pO ₂ profiles were reproducible and coincided with rapid sporulation (9.0–10.0 log ₁₀ CFU/mL) and protein accumulation (1.4–1.5 mg/mL). Quality control showed preserved Cry profiles (130 and 60–65 kDa) and comparable Cry densitometry to Delfin ^® (5.0 ± 1.0 vs. 4.1 ± 0.5 mg/g), with higher total protein in Lip-F (104 ± 15 vs. 61 ± 13 mg/g). Bioassays across pests showed efficacy comparable to Delfin ^® , with higher potency against Ostrinia nubilalis (LC ₅₀ ratio 2.3; p = 0.03). Sunlight exposure improved stability, Lip-F retained 30 ± 6% CFU vs. 1.85 ± 1.18% (Lip-U), preserved Cry integrity, and maintained Spodoptera frugiperda mortality (Odds Ratio 0.217 vs. 0.0386).

Crepis purpurea subsp. gulderenae is described and illustrated as a new subspecies belonging to tribe Cichorieae of family Asteraceae. It is morphologically similar to the typical C. purpurea from Crimea (Ukraine) but differs in leaf and bract size, peduncle and involucral hair types, inner involucral bract size, bracteole shape and size as well as length of corolla, stamen, anther, filament, stigma, ovary size, and width of sterile achene. Crepis purpurea subsp. gulderenae is distributed in the marly and gypsiferous soils around the Aysantı pass in the Ayaş district in the northwest of Ankara province, Türkiye. This region is an important plant biodiversity hotspot, where many newly discovered endemic species reside. Previously Crepis purpurea subsp. gulderenae was known as C. purpurea in Türkiye, and its taxonomy was updated based on field surveys data and macro- and micromorphological studies. Two DNA regions were examined: nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacers (nrITS) which was identical for typical and new subspecies of C. purpurea and chloroplast region atpB-rbcL which was also very similar. A comprehensive description, distribution map, habitat and ecological preferences, IUCN category, and diagnostic key for Crepis purpurea subsp. gulderenae are presented.

Integrated pest management based on the use of biopesticides is largely applied. Experimental bioassays are critical to assess biopesticide biosafety at the ecotoxicological level. In this study, we investigated the effects of the new Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki (Btk)-formulated-based biopesticides BLB1 and Lip, efficiently tested in field assays (IPM-4-CITRUS EC project no. 734921) on two aquatic non-target organisms, precisely the water flea Daphnia magna and the bioluminescent bacteria Aliivibrio fischeri. Acute toxicity studies, carried out in a comparative manner with Delfin^® as the reference bioproduct and the lactose-based Blank formulation, show that no significant toxicity was observed up to 1 g/L. Our results indicated that BLB1- and Lip-formulated new bioproducts are far less toxic than the Delfin^® reference bioproduct.

Aethionema turcica and Astragalus beypazaricus are rare endemic plant species restricted to marly-gypsaceous soils from Ankara, Turkey. In a study in 2000, Ae.turcica and A.beypazaricus were classified under the “Least Concern” and “Critically Endangered” threat categories, respectively. This study aimed to reassess the global conservation status of these species according to the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria by using the recent findings based on their population sizes, distribution areas, and the main threats. Field research was conducted between 2016 and 2018. Additionally, physical-chemical soil tests were run, and the climatic data were utilized to draw bioclimatic conclusions. In Ankara, there are two populations of Ae.turcica, with 359 mature individuals covering 12 km2 AOO and 23.5 km2 EOO areas. A.beypazaricus has only one fragmented population with a total of 5700 mature individuals in Beypazarı, and both AOO and EOO were discovered to be 4 km2. Both species are on the verge of extinction due to habitat fragmentation and loss formed by intense anthropogenic activity. According to the findings, the IUCN threat categories for Ae.turcica and A.beypazaricus were suggested to be reclassified as CR based on the criteria B1ab(ii, iii) and B1ab(ii, iii)+2ab(ii, iii), respectively.

Salsola crassa is a halophytic plant species from the Amaranthaceae family. In this study we aimed to find out the effect of temperature, light, salinity, and age of seeds on germination ability of S. crassa. Seeds of the species were collected in 2013 and 2014, and seed wings which are known as perianth segments, were removed before the experiments. Both seeds from different years were germinated under the same conditions. Two temperature regimes at 5°C/16°C and 8°C/20°C were used under dark and daily photoperiodism at 12 h intervals for determination of the effects of temperature. Seeds were germinated under different NaCl concentrations. Seeds that did not germinate under saline conditions were taken into recovery and the viability of the seeds that did not germinate after recovery were tested with the Triphenyl Tetrazolium Chloride (TTC) test. As a result, photoperiodism positively influenced the germination rate (p<0.05) of seeds from both years. Even though an increase in salinity decreased the germination rate it can be said that S. crassa is an euhalophyte whose seeds can even germinate at 1800 mM NaCl. Although the age of seeds is an important parameter for seed germinability, there was not any statistically significant difference between the seed viability and final germination rates for the S. crassa seeds from 2013 and 2014.

In this study, we aimed to determine the population size and distribution areas and to re-evaluate IUCN threat categories of Kalidium wagenitzii (Aellen) Freitag & G. Kadereit, Muscari adilii M.B. Güner & H. Duman and Verbascum gypsicola Vural & Aydoğdu, which are endemics of the Central Anatolia region of Turkey. The three species have limited distribution areas and high risk of extinction as a result of human impact. The perennial halophytic species K. wagenitzii was found in 5 localities around Salt Lake (Tuz Gölü) and a total number of 6458 mature individuals were determined. The area of occupancy of the species is 36 km2 and the extent of occurrence is 213 km2. Uncontrolled use of water resources for agricultural purposes is a serious threat factor for the species. Kalidium wagenitzii is listed in EN category according to the IUCN Red List criteria. Muscari adilii prefers marly soils and its habitat type is formed by secondary succession after the destruction of Pinus nigra and oak forests. It is known from 3 localities around Nallıhan-Beypazarı with a population size of 6144 mature individuals. The area of occupancy and the extent of occurrence of the species is 12 km2 and 28 km2, respectively. The pressures on the species are road construction and increase of farmland, afforestation and factory establishment. According to the IUCN Red List criteria, the species is listed in CR category. Verbascum gypsicola is distributed on marly soils. It is known from 3 localities around Nallıhan–Beypazarı and one locality in Sivrihisar-Eskişehir with 2755 mature individuals in total. The area of occupancy of the species is 16 km2 and the extent of occurrence is 269 km2. Overgrazing and expansion of agricultural land, together with factory establishment are the major threats for this species, which is listed as EN in IUCN Red List.