The novel study aimed to determine the optimal population density of jerango (Acorus calamus L.) plants as the phytoremediators and examine the heavy metal absorption by rice plants under mercury-contaminated soil stress conditions. The experiment, carried out in a two-factorial randomized design, had the first factor being the number of Jerango plants per square meter with six phytoremediation treatments, viz., F₀ (control), F₁ (1 plant/m²), F₂ (2 plants/m²), F₃ (3 plants/m²), F₄ (4 plants/m²), and F₅ (5 plants/m²). The second factor was the levels of HgCl₂-treated soil medium with seven treatments, i.e., K₀ (0 ppm), K₁ (3 ppm), K₂ (6 ppm), K₃ (9 ppm), K₄ (12 ppm), K₅ (15 ppm), and K₆ (18 ppm). The experiment had two repetitions to recognize the variations in rice growth at the early vegetative stage under mercury-contaminated soil stress conditions. The results showed phytoremediation treatment with three jerango plants/m² reduced the soil mercury content below the threshold level, improved growth and production, and lessened mercury content in rice roots, stems, leaves, and grains below the quality standard threshold. No studies have yet reported jerango (A. calamus L.) as a phytoremediation plant.

Keywords: Jerango (A. calamus L.), amalgamation waste, growth traits, heavy metals, mercury-contaminated soil, tolerant rice cultivar

Key findings: Phytoremediation with three plants/m² of jerango (A. calamus L.) considerably reduced the soil mercury content below the threshold level, increased rice growth and production, and reduced the mercury content in the rice roots, stems, leaves, and grains.

Agrochemical analysis of irrigated gray-brown (chestnut) soils in the Ganja-Dashkasan Economic Region, Azerbaijan, during 2022–2024 revealed low levels of plant-available nutrients, including ammonium and nitrate nitrogen, available phosphorus, and exchangeable potassium. As per national classification, these soils had poor supplies of essential nutrients and need application of mineral fertilizers to maintain soil fertility and ensure optimal growth and productivity of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.). This study evaluated the effects of balanced nutrient supply on the growth and yield of sunflower under irrigated conditions. Field experiments conducted were in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizer applications were at recommended rates using split applications. The results showed mineral fertilization significantly increased leaf area. The largest leaf area was evident under the N120P120K120 treatment. Furthermore, balanced fertilization improved physiological activity, resulting in an enhanced plant growth and a higher yield performance.

Keywords: Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.), mineral fertilization, nutrient management, irrigated soils, crop growth, yield performance

Key findings: In sunflower (H. annuus L.) growth traits (leaf area and physiological processes) and yield, the highest improvement was successful by using the fertilization treatment of N₁₂₀P₁₂₀K₁₂₀.

The investigation of antibacterial, antifungal, and cytotoxic activities of ethanol extracts from vegetative and generative parts of three Taxus species (T. baccata L., T. cuspidata Siebold et Zucc., and T. canadensis Marsh.) native to Russia was this study’s aim. Cytotoxicity assessment was via the MTT assay (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) against A-172 (glioblastoma), HeLa (cervical adenocarcinoma), HepG2 (hepatocellular carcinoma), and normal human embryonic mesenchymal stem (FetMSC) cells after 72 h of the treatment. Antifungal activity received comparative determination against Fusarium oxysporum L. and Helminthosporium L. using disc diffusion. Vegetative extracts showed potent cytotoxicity, especially T. canadensis shoots against HeLa and A-172 (IC₅₀ 5.7 ± 0.4 and 6.21 ± 0.3 μg/mL, respectively). However, the aril extracts displayed the lowest toxicity. Antifungal and bacteriostatic results also varied by species and pathogens. These results confirmed Taxus vegetative parts can be effective as promising sources of cytotoxic, antifungal, and antibacterial metabolites. Data on biological activity correlate with the accumulation of polyphenols in the tissues of studied plants. Histochemical studies have shown an abundant content of polyphenols in conductive, reserve, and epidermal tissues.

Keywords: Taxus species, cytotoxicity, antibacterial and antifungal activity, arillus, secondary metabolites

Key findings: Taxus canadensis shoot extracts exhibited the highest cytotoxicity against human cancer cell lines, whereas aril extracts were non-toxic. The yew extracts also revealed species- and organ-specific antibacterial and antifungal activity against the phytopathogenic fungi. Moreover, the research determined the content and localization of various classes of polyphenols of the studied plants.

This study aimed to investigate the correlation between economically valuable and anatomically defined traits of leaves and seed coats in cotton (Gossypium spp.). Comparative anatomical analyses took place on ovules at four developmental stages (1–4 weeks after flowering), mature seed coats (60 days after flowering), and leaf blades of the promising cultivar Genofond-2, its wild parental species G. thurberi and G. raimondii, and the reference cultivar Tashkent-1. Additionally, an examination of aphid-resistant accessions of G. arboreum subsp. obtusifolium and G. arboreum subspecies nanking ensued. Quantitative parameters of integument and mesophyll tissues (n = 10 replicates per genotype per stage) entailed assessment using one-way ANOVA, followed by Tukey’s HSD post-hoc test (P < 0.05). The cultivar Genofond-2 retained significantly thicker and harder seed coats (total mature thickness = 305.0 ± 31.2 μm) inherited from wild donors, resulting in reduced fiber contamination during ginning (P < 0.01). Leaf cuticle thickness exceeded the diagnostic threshold of 0.85 μm in all studied species, with resistant G. arboreum accessions displaying an additional columnar parenchyma layer. Pearson correlation analysis confirmed a significant positive relationship between seed coat hardness and lignification (r = 0.89, P < 0.001) and between leaf cuticle thickness and aphid resistance (r = 0.82, P < 0.01). These ontogenetic anatomical traits represent reliable morphological markers for selecting genotypes with superior fiber quality and enhanced resistance to piercing-sucking insects, facilitating the efficient use of wild genetic resources in cotton improvement. Statistical processing of quantitative data, as carried out, used the methods of S.G. Big-Anova (2024) and A.V. Vaganova (2023).

Keywords: Gossypium, cotton anatomy, seed coat structure, leaf mesophyll, ovule development, aphid resistance, fiber quality

Key findings: The cultivar Genofond-2 retains anatomical traits from wild donor species with reduced fiber contamination during ginning. Leaf cuticle thickness serves as a reliable diagnostic marker for aphid resistance in cotton breeding programs.

Kazakhstan has become widely regarded as one of the primary centers of origin and genetic diversity of wild tulips (Tulipa). Among them, Tulipa greigii Regel is a prominent species distributed across Central Asia and protected in Kazakhstan due to its slow development and threats from illegal harvesting. This study investigated the plant density, morphological characteristics, and phylogenetic structure of T. greigii L. populations in the Shubaykyzyl area, Turkestan Region, Kazakhstan. Plant density assessment used the quadrat method, while the conduct of morphological analysis focused on diagnostic traits observed in natural populations. Phylogenetic relationships’ evaluation employed ITS, matK, rbcL, and psbA sequences. The density varied from nine to 36 plants (per square meter) across different sites. Morphological observations showed the species has the feature of a single erect stem, 35–50 cm tall, and large solitary red flowers 10–12 cm in diameter, with a black or yellow basal spot. Phylogenetic analysis of ITS sequences revealed that T. greigii L. shares the highest genetic similarity with T. patens, T. alberti, and T. kaufmanniana, forming a distinct clade. These results indicate close regional genetic relationships among Central Asian tulip species and suggest a relatively recent divergence of local wild populations.

Keywords: Tulipa greigii L., genetic diversity, morphology, population density, phylogenetic analysis, ITS, chloroplast DNA

Key findings: T. greigii L. populations exhibited variable densities while retaining key diagnostic traits. Phylogenetic analysis showed the highest genetic similarity and clustered the species T. greigii L. with three closely related species (T. patens, T. alberti L., and T. kaufmanniana), exhibiting recent regional divergence in Central Asia.

The concerned research aimed to investigate the influence of medicinal plants of different families on the number and composition of micromycetes and the phytotoxic activity of the soil. It also sought to evaluate the use of antimicrobial activity of total extracts obtained from raw materials of some medicinal plants in folk medicines. The results revealed essential oils and aqueous extracts obtained from the medicinal plants native to Nakhchivan, Azerbaijan, exhibited antimicrobial effects of varying degrees. Studies on the dynamics of the soil and root microbiota of medicinal and essential oil plants depending on the different seasons and locations in the Nakhchivan Region were insufficient. For the first time, composition and spatiotemporal patterns of microbial communities, as well as their seasonal (spring, summer, and fall) and microbiome domain specificity (bacteria and fungi), have gained studies. The β-diversity analysis revealed considerable differences in microbial communities.

Keywords: Vegetation, medicinal plants, phytocenoses, soil micromycetes, antimicrobial effects, oil content, fungal species

Key findings: The principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) based on distance to the rhizosphere bacterial communities of the studied Allium plant species showed the two principal components explaining 45.6% and 4.4% of the total variation for bacteria and 14.9% and 7.2% of the total variation for fungi, respectively.

Rice cultivation constraints on peat soils often result from low nutrient availability, highlighting the need for sustainable biofertilizer alternatives. Acrostichum aureum L., a naturally growing fern in coastal environments, could harbor beneficial endophytic bacteria with plant growth-promoting properties. This study aimed to isolate and characterize endophytic bacteria from A. aureum L. and evaluate their potential as biofertilizers for rice cultivation on peat soil. Seventeen endophytic bacterial isolates, screened for plant growth-promoting traits, emerged with three promising isolates selected for further evaluation. Growing of rice seedlings in peat soil used a completely randomized design for 14 days. Inoculated seedlings generally exhibited higher mean values for germination and growth parameters than the control. The isolate A.T 4 (Acinetobacter sp.) achieved the highest germination percentage (80%), plant height (25.78 cm), and root length (7.48 cm). The topmost mean leaf number (3.00) and dry weight (24.36 mg) recording appeared in seedlings treated with the isolate B.A 3 (Bacillus sp.). Overall, the selected isolates improved rice seedling performance and demonstrated potential as biofertilizer candidates for peat soil cultivation. Further greenhouse and field studies are essential to confirm their effectiveness.

Keywords: Endophytic bacteria, A. aureum L., rice, biofertilizer, halotolerant, salinity stress, sustainable agriculture

Key findings: Endophytic bacteria procured from the sea fern (A. aureum L.) revealed the robust plant growth-promoting activities and tolerance to salinity and acidic soils, which highlighted its potential as promising biofertilizer for sustainable rice cultivation on marginal lands.

This study aimed to evaluate the carbohydrate dynamics at the tillering nodes of four winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars (Antonina, Yaksart, Moskvich, and Ilgor) under irrigated and rainfed conditions in the semi-arid Nurobod District, Uzbekistan. Soluble sugar quantification used the HPLC (high-performance liquid chromatography) during the wintering period (December-March). The two-way analysis of variance revealed the cultivars (Factor A) were the dominant driver of total variance in sugar variation (74.5%–76.8%) in January, while the growing conditions (Factor B) approximately contributed 10% (P ≤ 0.001). A significant negative correlation (r = -0.84) between the soil moisture and total sugar content disclosed the robust osmotic adaptation under rainfed stress conditions. Among the wheat genotypes, locally adapted cultivars Yaksart and Ilgor exhibited the highest sugar retention and stability. The results suggested that while environmental stress factors trigger the sugar synthesis, the magnitude of the cryoprotective response was primarily the genotype genetic trait, proving cultivars Yaksart and Ilgor as highly resilient for dryland farming.

Keywords: Winter wheat (T. aestivum L.), climate-resilient cultivars, crown tissue, genotype-environment interaction, HPLC, rainfed stress conditions, soluble carbohydrates

Key findings: The results revealed the genotype genetic potential was the primary driver of sugar accumulation in winter wheat (T. aestivum L.). The significant negative correlation between soil moisture and sugar content confirmed the robust osmotic adaptation mechanism under rainfed stress. Cultivars Yaksart and Ilgor were distinctly with the highest carbohydrate stability and retention, proving them the most climate-resilient cultivars.

This study integrated 13 transcriptomic datasets, representing seven major Southeast Asian crops (banana, rice, wheat, garlic, chickpea, tomato, and common bean) challenged by six Fusarium lineages to identify conserved resistance mechanisms. Harmonizing gene expression profiles into six functional defense modules was successful before evaluation using a diversity-weighted recurrence approach. A conserved defense core’s identification consisted of salicylic acid-jasmonic acid (SA-JA) signaling (score = 11.5), phenylpropanoid-lignin metabolism (10.0), and reactive oxygen species (ROS) detoxification (9.5), consistently enriched in resistant interactions. These modules coordinated key regulatory genes, including WRKY, ERF, MYB, and NPR1, together with downstream defense effectors involved in lignification, antioxidant activity, and pathogenesis-related responses. Additional contributions from RNA interference and cell wall-apoplast remodeling indicated adaptive, context-dependent defense layers operating across specific host-pathogen systems. Based on cross-system recurrence patterns, NPR1, WRKY33/70, ERF071, PAL, SOD, and PR genes emerged as promising candidate markers for resistance breeding. This study provides the first cross-crop meta-transcriptomic synthesis of Fusarium resistance in Southeast Asian cropping systems and establishes a conserved defense framework with potential applications in marker-assisted breeding and transcript-based diagnostics.

Keywords: Fusarium disease, crop improvement, plant resistance, defense modules, marker-assisted breeding, meta-transcriptomic

Key findings: Meta-transcriptomic integration across the seven main crops revealed a conserved Fusarium resistance framework in Southeast Asia. A core triad—SA-JA signaling, phenylpropanoid-lignin metabolism, and ROS detoxification—dominates the resistant responses. Central gene families (NPR1, WRKY, ERF, MYB, PAL, and PR) act as key regulatory nodes. A robust candidate marker panel could support marker-assisted breeding and transcript-based diagnostics.

The family Orchidaceae has an extremely diverse and complex evolutionary relationship. Despite global studies on orchid genetic diversity and evolution, the local wild orchids remain less characterized for genetic diversity in the Kurdistan Region, Iraq. Consequently, the genetic diversity of this local ecotype remains unknown. This study aimed to examine the morphometric patterns and molecular genotyping of six species (Anacamptis papilionacea, Himantoglossum caprinum, Ophrys reinholdii, Ophrys schulzei, Ophrys sphegodes subsp. taurica, and Orchis mascula) of wild orchids collected in the Kurdistan Region, Iraq. A morphological study revealed that the genus Ophrys taxa had remarkable phenotypic differences, particularly in the speculum colors and labellum patterns. Species H. caprinum was distinctive because of the long and ribbon-like central labellum lobe. The morphological characterization through Iraqi flora and molecular analysis confirmed the species O. mascula as an Orchis clade component. Molecular analysis involved amplification and sequencing of the ITS1-5.8S-ITS4 region, and the phylogenetic tree showed four major clades corresponding to the four genera Ophrys, Anacamptis, Himantoglossum, and Orchis. Consequently, integrating morphological traits with ITS-based phylogeny supported the current taxonomic placement of the studied taxa and highlighted the values of integrative approaches in plant taxonomy.

Keywords: Orchidaceae, genetic diversity, morphological traits, ITS markers, Ophrys, Anacamptis, Himantoglossum, Orchis

Key findings: The results revealed the ITS marker provides a reliable and efficient approach for species identification among six orchid taxa, hence enhancing integrative taxonomy and facilitating species differentiation within the family Orchidaceae.