The purpose of this study was to characterize the Irano-Caucasian apricot germplasm that was collected in Anatolia, Turkey. Fifteen (pomological, phenological, and yield) parameters were studied in this germplasm, consisting of 128 apricot cultivars and types. A wide variation was found in harvest season, fruit yield, total solids soluble (TSS), total acidity, fruit, pit, and kernel mass. Most of the cultivars and types had a relatively small fruit size; only seven had a fruit mass !50 g. In general, fruits had yellow skin ground color and flesh color as well as mostly sweet kernels and high TSS. While there was a high correlation between fruit, pit and kernel mass and also between TSS and total acidity, a low or no significant correlation was determined between other pomological or phenological characteristics. The Levent apricot type possessed a substantially late ripening with a total period of 190-200 days for fruit development, a characteristic that makes this apricot type highly suitable for breeding studies.

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The determination of the composition of some essential and toxic elements in commercial infant food formulas is important for providing safe food for infants. These formulas play an important role in infant nutrition, and understanding their contribution to the dietary intake of infants is crucial. In this study, the concentrations of essential and toxic elements (Pb, Ni, Cd, Al, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn, Co) in infant formulas were determined using high-resolution continuum-source flame atomic absorption spectrometry (HR CS FAAS) and have been evaluated for health risk. The measured values for concentrations from lowest to highest were (in mg/kg): 36.38-77.45 (Zn),