Effect of Essential Oil Applications on Sugar Beet (Beta vulgaris L.) Root Quality During Storage

This study was carried out in order to determine the effects of dill, clove and hyssop essential oils and fungicides applied on sugar beet roots on beet storage quality during the storage period. The roots of Esperanza (KWS) variety, which was produced in the experimental areas in 2019, were used in the study. Roots were treated with 100, 500 and 1000 ppm doses of dill (Anethum graveolens L.), clove (Szygium aromaticum) and hyssop (Echinophora tenuifolia) essential oils, synthetic fungicide (80% Thiram) and Tween-80 right after harvest and the roots were placed in the storage. Weight loss of roots determined at 15-day intervals from the beginning of the storage period, dry matter ratio, brix, polar sugar, reducing sugar and alpha amino nitrogen contents, phytotoxicity and fungal infection development at the end of the 3-month storage period. The applications made in the research significantly affected the post-harvest weight and quality losses in beet. Depending on the applications, the weight losses at the end of the 3-month storage period varied between 9.43-19.90%, and the weight losses in essential oil applications were lower than the control. The highest dry matter content and brix values were obtained from clove essential oil and fungicide and Tween-80 applications. While Tween-80 and fungicide applications increased the polar sugar content compared to the control, 1000 ppm clove essential oil caused a significant decrease in the polar sugar content. In the study, reducing sugar and alpha amino nitrogen contents of roots applied 1000 ppm essential oil E. tenuifolia essential oil were lower. E. tenuifolia essential oil showed the highest antifungal activity against white mold and green mold infections. It was concluded that with the application of essential oil to the roots after the harvest, both weight and quality losses and the development of fungal diseases can be reduced, however, some active substances may cause phytotoxicity in the roots

Effect of Phytohormone Applications on Fruit Yield and Essential Oil Content in Anise (Pimpinella anisum L.)

This study was carried out in 2019 to determine the effects of methyl jasmonate (MJ), gibberellic acid (GA3) and naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) applications on fruit yield and essential oil content in anise (Pimpinella anisum L.). Different concentrations of MJ (0, 0.1, 0.5 and 1 mM), GA3 (0, 50, 100 and 150 ppm) and NAA (0, 25, 50 and 100 ppm) were pulverized to the plant during the beginning of the flowering. Phytohormone applications had a statistically significant effect on the parameters examined in the study, and the effects of the applications generally varied depending on the application doses. While GA3 and NAA applications significantly increased the fruit yield and essential oil content compared to the control, high-dose MJ applications generally had a negative effect on all parameters except that the thousand-grain weight. The highest fruit yield was obtained from 100 and 150 ppm GA3 and 25 and 50 ppm NAA applications, while 1 mM MJ applications significantly reduced fruit yield compared to the control. Depending on the applications, the fruit essential oil content varied between 1.94%-2.69% and the essential oil yield varied between 1.42-3.18 L/da. While the highest essential oil yields were obtained from 100 ppm GA3 and 50 ppm NAA applications, 1 mM MJ applications caused a significant decrease in essential oil yield compared to the control

Financial and corporate social performance in the UK listed firms: the relevance of non-linearity and lag effects

Using environmental, social and governance scores compiled by Reuters Datastream for each company’s corporate social performance (CSP), we examine the relationship between CSP and corporate financial performance (CFP) of 314 UK listed companies over the period 2002–2015. We further evaluate the relationship between prior and subsequent CFP and prior and subsequent CSP. Based on the system-GMM estimation method, we provide direct evidence that suggests that while CFP and CSP can be linked linearly; however, when we examine the impact of CSP on CFP, the association is more non-linear (cubic) than linear. Our results suggest that firms periodically adjust their level of commitment to society, in order to meet their target CSP. The primary contributions of this paper are testing (1) the non-monotonous relationship between CSP and CFP, (2) the lagged relationship between the two and the optimality of CSP levels, and (3) the presence of a virtuous circle. Our results further suggest that CSP contributes to CFP better during post-crisis years. Our findings are robust to year-on-year changes in CFP and CSP, financial versus non-financial firms, and the intensity of corporate social responsibility (CSR) engagement across industries