The article presents the results of a study in the agrocenosis of soft winter wheat to determine the effects of pre-sowing and early spring application of various forms and combinations of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potash fertilizers when growing it in the leached chernozem of the Western Ciscaucasia. The soil is characteristic of a satisfactory state of the structure, density: 1.26–1.42 g/cm³; active acidity (pH): 6.29– 6.58 pH; exchangeable (pH): 5.11–5.25 units; hydrolytic: 1.94–3.05 meq/100 g; the amount of absorbed bases: 27.5–31.2 meq/100 g; cation exchange capacity: 30.6–33.1 meq. /100 g; the soil saturation degree with bases: 90.2%–94.3%; and humus content: 2.93%. Fertilizers improve the nutrient regime of the soil. The average supply level with mineral nitrogen, high and mobile phosphorus, and very high mobile potassium has been well-defined. It could lead to an increase in grain when applying N120P30K60 – 1.28 t/ha (or 24.1%), N120P90K20 – 1.47 t/ha (or 27.8%), and N120P90K60 – 1.53 t/ha (or 28.8%). The grain yield of soft winter wheat was 6.58, 6.77, and 6.83 t/ha, respectively. The protein content in the grain varied from 13.2% to 14.3%. The collection of protein per hectare was 870.5, 948.5, and 958.3 kg/ha for the treatments N120P30K60, N120P90K20, and N120P90K60, respectively. The protein in the control was equal to 554.9 kg/ha. Dispersion analysis of the study results showed the share of the contribution of the factor “combination of fertilizers” was 75.95%. Similarly, the data analysis of the conditions of the agricultural year and combinations of mineral fertilizers has a smaller share – 19.24%. With the introduction of N120P30K60 and N120P90K20, the payback of mineral fertilizers by increasing the yield of soft winter wheat grain is the largest – 6.10 and 6.39 kg/kg a.i. NPK, respectively.

Keywords: Soft winter wheat, leached chernozem, Western Ciscaucasia, mineral fertilizers, nitrogen, grain yield

Key findings: Mineral fertilizers improved the feeding system by soft winter wheat grown on chernozem soil in Western Ciscaucasia. The payback of mineral fertilizers by winter wheat with an application of N120P30K60 and N120P90K20 was the highest (6.10 and 6.39 kg/kg a.i. NPK), respectively.

Wheat yellow (stripe) rust (Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici) is a dominant type of winter wheat disease. Developing new, highly productive varieties with increased immunological indicators helps to minimize the threat of rust spread. The progressive study searched the sources of resistance to the Pst populations and determined the effectiveness of Yr genes in Southeast Kazakhstan. Immunological studies ensued during 2018–2022 at the Kazakh Research Institute of Agriculture and Plant growing, Almaty, Kazakhstan. Wheat’s 23 isogenic lines and 193 winter wheat genotypes attained evaluation for their reactions against an artificially infectious background of infection mixed with Pst pathotypes. Determining the intensity of virulence, the effectiveness of Yr genes, and the resistance of genotypes to the Pst population transpired in the said region. During the vegetation period, based on weather conditions, the accumulated flow of the source, and the period of infection, wheat genotypes responded differently to the rust disease manifestation. The wheat genotypes found resistant to P. striiformis and promising for selection with immunity reached nomination. Their practical use centered on increasing the immunological potential of the new winter wheat cultivars for creation and further reducing the large-scale use of fungicides and the negative environmental consequences.

Keywords: Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes, isogenic lines, P. striiformis, wheat yellow rust, wheat stripe rust, rust resistance, immunity, conventional breeding

Key findings: The winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes resistant to P. striiformis and promising for selection with immunity were notable. Their practical use centered on increasing the immunological potential of new wheat cultivars for development and reducing the large-scale use of fungicides and the negative environmental consequences.

Rock melon (Cucumis melo L. var. Cantalupensis) is a commercial-type melon with a wide distribution worldwide. Rock melons with larger fruit sizes are more in demand in restaurants, the food processing industry, and large families. In breeding for larger fruits, the increased genetic variability through introgression and recombination is the main factor; then, it can continue to purify before becoming a parental line. The presented study sought to recognize the variability of the open-pollinated population and their performance after selfing. The experiment ran from September 2021 to July 2022 at the Field Experimental Station, Politeknik Negeri Lampung, Indonesia. The experiment consisted of two sub-experiments carried out without experimental design. There was wide variability in both quantitative and qualitative variables in the open-pollinated populations, except fruit flesh color, weight, and sugar content. Population after selfing (S1 population) had more uniform qualitative traits. All the fruits sampled were medium elliptic with netted rinds followed by two-color variants (greenish yellow and green). Also, narrow variability occurred for the traits, fruit diameter, weight, and sugar content, followed by low heritability for the quantitative traits.

Keywords: Genetic variability, heritability, introgression and recombination, melon (Cucumis melo L.), open-pollinated population, quantitative and qualitative traits, selfed (S1 population)

Key findings: In F₂ segregating populations, a wide diversity of quantitative and qualitative traits proved that intercross ably maintained variability as per Handy-Weinberg equilibrium theory. Besides, the high heritability was evident for fruit shape and color traits after selfing, particularly for elongated and green color traits. They seemed like simple allelic traits.

Appropriate parental selection is the breeder’s main concern to exploit the highest genetic diversity and generate superior genotypes for subsequent breeding programs. Hence, the presented investigation proceeded to evaluate 353 breeding lines of rice at three breeding zones (Rajshahi, Cumilla, and Gazipur) in Bangladesh in replicated yield trials during the Boro season of 2018–2019 to identify the best genotypes and utilize them as parental materials. Data recorded on 12 yield-related traits helped to determine the best breeding lines with higher predicted breeding values. The first five principal components (PC1, PC2, PC3, PC4, and PC5) represented more than 70% (75.1%) contribution to the variability of the data. Three hundred fifty-three rice genotypes incurred distribution into five clusters over three environments. Clusters I, II, III, IV, and V comprised 66, 51, 83, 79, and 74 genotypes, respectively. Based on estimated breeding values (EBVs), IR107971-B-B RGA-B RGA-202 showed the highest value (0.395), followed by IR 108000-B-B-B-B-13 (0.329), IR 103309-B-B RGA-B RGA-194 (0.321), IR 107982-B-41-1-2-1 (0.291), IRRI 174 (0.264), and IR 107976-B-B RGA-B RGA-254 (0.234). The lowest EBV (0.022) appeared in IR103309-B-B RGA-B RGA-204 among the top 20 genotypes. Both IR 103309-B-B RGA-B RGA-194 (0.321) and IR 107982-B-41-1-2-1 (0.291) could benefit as parents for further breeding programs having higher EBVs and higher genetic diversity.

Keywords: Rice, cluster analysis, estimated breeding values, parental materials

Key findings: EBVs and cluster analysis can assist breeders in selecting the best parents for the next breeding program. The top 20 genotypes based on EBVs with the highest genetic diversity may serve as parents to produce desired plant progenies crucial for the ever-growing populations. More specifically, IR 103309-B-B RGA-B RGA-194 and IR 107982-B-41-1-2-1 will be more effective as parents due to their higher EBVs and more genetic diversity.

The molecular identification of maize dwarf mosaic virus (MDMV) and its effects on the morphophysiological traits of maize (Zea mays L.) was the focus of the presented research, intending to study the activity dynamics of two main types of enzymes, peroxidases, weakly binding to the membrane, and soluble peroxidases. The molecular identification of the virus engaged the use of the RT-PCR method. Results revealed that in the climatic conditions of Uzbekistan, red necrotic spotting, yellow mosaic with a large border on the edge of the leaf, curling of the leaves, yellow striped mosaic, and short stature all appeared in the maize plants. According to previous symptoms, the visual diagnostic methods used determine the maize yellow mosaic virus indications. In the existing study, the gene responsible for the protein coat synthesis (SR) nucleotide sequence served to diagnose the MDMV, and as a result, PCR tests showed yellow streaks on the leaves of maize plants. The mosaic and motility symptoms have been characteristic proofs of MDMV. The MDMV infects the maize plants in the initial growth phase (3–5 leaves), then the symptoms appear after a few days. Through morphological indicators, viral disease identification is possible at subsequent stages (6–7 leaves). Using spectrophotometry, the peroxidase enzyme activity in maize plants receives the virus infection to determine an early level of infectivity. The results confirmed that, in infected maize plants, peroxidase associated with the cell membrane was much more active than in control plants. It proves that contaminated Zea mays plants were in a stressful situation due to the virus. The RT-PCR method, widely used in diagnostics, sought to identify the virus species affiliation. PCR proceeded based on the virus соat protein (CP) gene.

Keywords: Maize (Zea mays L.), maize dwarf mosaic virus (MDMV), distribution, peroxidase, ascorbate peroxidase (APX), guaiacol peroxidase (GPX), thylakoid

Key findings: Given the participation of the peroxidase enzyme in the protection mechanism of the maize plants from MDVM disease, its consideration for use succeeded on local maize cultivars with high peroxidase activity, such as, Sherzod, and acclimatized cultivars, i.e., Extra Early Dightau-209 and Hickax, for the selection of virus-resistant cultivars.

One of the major tasks faced by wheat breeders in Uzbekistan is to enhance wheat genotypes’ adaptability to soil and other environmental conditions and improve the grain quality, making the country self-sufficient in wheat grains and later becoming an exporter. Better results are achievable using the world wheat collection, including the CIMMYT germplasm. Determination of the positive correlation of physiological traits of new wheat cultivars, the importance of physiological indicators of water balance with productivity, and the vital role of these indicators in productivity level were the chief concerns. The timely study evaluated heat resilience, rust resistance, and grain yield in bread wheat genotypes. Bread wheat germplasm obtained from CIMMYT with a background of artificial infection of yellow rust incurred scrutiny for their rust resistance. A 15% incidence was detectable in seven genotypes; however, necrosis quickly formed around the symptoms of the disease in plant leaves, preventing its further development. Resistant wheat accessions, i.e., 1088, 1164 (R), 1006, and 1251 (MR), occurred as moderately resistant, showing high leaf area and grain yield. The average value of the genotypes was low, mainly due to the two rust-resistant samples, and the 1000-grain weight was 34.8 g and 34.6 g, respectively, and the grains per spike and grain yield were lower than the average. The chlorophyll a and b, total chlorophyll, carotenoid content, relative water content, flag leaf area, and production traits of the genotypes К-1088 and К-1164 gained assessment, revealed to be physiologically effective under the field conditions of Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Quantitative indicators of the productivity of these wheat genotypes indicated positive differentiation. Selection ensued for promising accessions to develop initial sources for producing the wheat genotypes with rust resistance and high grain yield under the environmental conditions of Uzbekistan.

Keywords: Bread wheat (T. aestivum L.), wheat yellow rust, rust resistance, heat tolerance, leaf area, chlorophyll a and b, carotenoid, water content, grain yield

Key findings: By comparing with the standard check, a lower average value of the wheat accessions
was mainly due to the two rust-resistant genotypes, K-1164 and K-1289, which also have 1000-grain weights of 36.1 g and 34.8 g, respectively. The grain yield of these genotypes was also much lower than the average yield. Desirable chlorophyll a and b, total chlorophyll and carotenoid content, relative water content, leaf area of flag leaves, and higher grain yield were substantial in the wheat landraces К-1088, К-1082, and К-1164 and proved to be physiologically effective under environmental conditions of Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Quantitative indicators of the productivity of these accessions provided positive differentiation, with these genotypes recording higher values than the rest of the entries.

Coelogyne is one of the orchid genera that grows in the Liwa Botanical Garden, Lampung, Indonesia. The subsequent study aimed to characterize the Coelogyne different species samples based on the morpho-anatomical characteristics of the stomata. Six leaf samples of the different species, as collected, had the paradermal sections examined microscopically to observe their stomata. The key stomatal traits studied included their aperture width, stomatal length, width, density, and index, and the number of stomata. The results indicated that overall, the epidermal cell width was 9.25 μm, stomata length was 19.65 μm, stomata width was 17.09 μm, stomata density was 17.67 mm², and stomatal index was 1.045%. The phenetic analysis based on the dendrogram divided the Coelogyne different species samples into two clusters (A and B), with similarity indices of 1.60 and 0.90, respectively. Meanwhile, the PCA values (2.4 and 0.093) emerged as greater than 0.02, which shows the contribution value of each group. The presented results provide a sound genetic base for the identification and conservation of different Coelogyne species at the Liwa Botanical Garden, Indonesia, and the potential applicative value of stomatal characteristics in ex situ conservation and taxonomic classification of Coelogyne.

Keywords: Coelogyne, leaf anatomy, orchid conservation, PCA, phenetic analysis, stomatal morphology

Key findings: The different Coelogyne species samples showed varied morpho-anatomical characteristics. The most influential characters were the stomata density, stomatal opening width, and stomatal index. The phenetic analysis divided the Coelogyne species samples into two clusters (A and B), with similarity indices of 1.60 and 0.90 and PCA values of 2.4 and 0.093, respectively, emerging greater than 0.02.

The identity of the epiphytic fern Pyrrosia stigmosa (Sw.) Ching succeeded in its confirmation through integrative morphological and molecular analyses in West Sumatra, Indonesia. This finding expands the known geographic distribution of the species and contributes novel data to the global systematics of the genus Pyrrosia. Specimens collected from Silokek Geopark and Mount Padang, Indonesia, underwent identification based on key diagnostic traits, including narrowly grooved costae, dentate rhizome scales, and scattered sori. Species identity verification used the chloroplast trnL-F intergenic spacer marker (IGS) sequencing, showing 99.55% similarity to P. stigmosa (GenBank accession JX103800.1). For phylogenetic reconstruction, a dataset of 50 accessions representing various Pyrrosia species as retrieved from the GenBank database attained alignment with the newly generated sequence. Maximum likelihood analysis placed the West Sumatran samples within a strongly supported clade together with P. costata, indicating a close sister-species relationship. The combined morphological and molecular evidence provides a robust basis for delimiting P. stigmosa from morphologically similar taxa. Ecologically, the discovery highlights the adaptability of P. stigmosa to both lithophytic and epiphytic habitats in limestone-rich forest systems. This study represents the first documented record of Pyrrosia stigmosa in West Sumatra, extending its known distribution range and offering valuable insights into the biogeography and systematics of Pyrrosia in Southeast Asia.

Keywords: Pyrrosia stigmosa, Pyrrosia, morphological and molecular studies, taxonomy, trnL-F IGS, similarity, adaptability

Key findings: The investigation on Pyrrosia stigmosa (Sw.) Ching obtained a successful recording in West Sumatra, Indonesia.

Maintaining the freshness of chili (Capsicum sp.) fruits is a major challenge under uncontrolled environmental conditions. This research aimed to investigate the response of various chili species to postharvest physiological and color variations. Chili fruits reached harvest at 80% maturity before storage in an ambient room temperature (25 °C–27 °C) with relative humidity (RH 60%–70%) for 0, 3, 6, 9, and 12 days. For assessing fruit quality, the evaluation of fruit weight loss (%), texture (Kgf), total soluble solids (%), and pericarp thickness (mm) ensued. The color variation determination comprised values of lightness, red-green coordinate, yellow-blue coordinate, hue angle, and chroma value. The genetic makeup of genotypes influenced the physiological quality and color of chili fruit during storage. Genotypes with high adaptation to the existing environment showed a smaller reduction in fruit quality traits. The stored ripe chili revealed a change in color brightness and sharpness. The chili genotype Katokon appeared with the highest level of adaptation to an uncontrollable environment, while the genotype Pesona was the least adapted. These two chili genotypes would be ideal for genetic studies related to long shelf life. The next challenge could relate to the interspecific crossing between the genotypes Katokon (C. chinense) and Pesona (C. annuum).

Keywords: Chili (Capsicum sp.), species, fruit freshness, fruit quality traits, weight loss, firmness, pericarp thickness, total soluble solids, color variations

Key findings: In chili (Capsicum sp.) genotypes, the use of physiological and color traits is rare to evaluate their diversity. Instead, using the phenotypic markers, such as plant height and fruit yield, is common. Determining the level of adaptation in chili fruits to the environment may be possible using physiological and color traits as an alternative method.

The study comprised investigations based on the physical and mechanical properties of maize cobs and kernels using the ameliorated or upgraded threshing machine. The study considers the maize seeds classification into two shape categories of round and flat, based on their positional characteristics and dimensions. The measurement criteria included the average seed thickness (hor), width (bor), and length (lor). Additionally, the seed dimensions and mass determination primarily depended on the 1000-kernel weight and the scrutiny of variations in the biometric traits, moisture content, and other internal properties of various cultivars. The size and mass traits of the cob and its core, the frictional and aerodynamic properties, the natural inclination angle of the kernel, and the static forces affecting its dispersion also entailed analysis. The promising results can serve as a baseline for optimizing the threshing machine and minimizing kernel losses during postharvest processing.

Keywords: Maize (Z. mays L.), cob size, maize kernels, kernel mass and size, moisture, correlation, frictional properties, postharvest processing

Key findings: Physical and mechanical properties of maize (Z. mays L.) cobs with different maturity stages helped in selecting proper parameters and operating modes in the threshing machine used in postharvest processing to minimize yield losses.