Assessment of botanical and genetic collection of soybean cultivars transpired during 2021–2022, for morphological and yield-related traits and their impact on nodule bacteria and soil fertility, at the Dormon Scientific Experimental Station, Institute of Genetics, Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan, District Kibray, Tashkent region, Uzbekistan. The soybean cultivars, grown in a randomized complete block design, had a factorial arrangement with three replications. Results revealed that in the botanical collection, the highest seed yield per plant came from the soybean cultivar K-2600 (48.3 ± 1.30 g), 1000-grain weight from Bk-105 (215.9 ± 0.15 g), and the number of grains per plant from the genotype K-2600 (346.4 ± 6.48). Moreover, in the genetic collection, the high oil content resulted in the genotypes Gen-15 (20.11%), Gen-13 (19.46%), and Gen-11 (19.40%). The higher values of the total protein content emerged in the soybean cultivars, Ehtiyozh (34.09%) and Gen-9 (33.74%), Gen-19 (34.72%), and Gen-26 (33.08%). Among the two types of soybean collections studied, the most substantial number of root nodules appeared in the cultivar Sochilmas (96.65 ± 0.11) during the pod formation phase. The recorded highest amount of soil microelements, according to soil analysis, was at the sowing site of the soybean cultivar, Genetiс-1 and on average, the soil samples contained N-NO₃ (28 mg/kg), mobile P₂О (212.3 mg/kg), and volatile trace element K₂О₅ (36 mg/kg), found to remain in the soil after crop harvesting. The conclusion based on the results indicates that the local soybean cultivar Genetik-1 has a more positive effect on improving soil fertility versus the other genotypes in both collections.

Keywords: Soybean (Glycine max L.), soil composition, macro-elements, botanical and genetic collections, morphology, yield attributes, oil and protein content, productivity

Key findings: Based on the presented findings, in the botanical collection, the highest grain yield per plant came from soybean cultivar K-2600, 1000-grain weight from Bk-105, and the highest number of grains per plant from the genotype K-2600. In the genetic collection, the highest oil content occurred in the genotypes Gen-15, Gen-13, and Gen-11. The highest total protein content emerged in the soybean cultivars Gen-19 (34.72%), Ehtiyozh (34.09%), Gen-9 (33.74%), and Gen-26 (33.08%). The cultivar Sochilmas collected the most nodule bacteria in the soil.

Developing high-yielding wheat varieties tolerant to abiotic and biotic stresses is a challenge wheat breeder currently face. Wheat Research Institute (WRI), Ayub Agricultural Research Institute (AARI), Faisalabad, Pakistan, has released 65 wheat varieties, including MH-21, for several zones since its establishment in 1906. MH-21, with the varietal code V-12304, gave 11.2% and 10.28% more grain yield than the check variety (Faisalabad-08), respectively, in preliminary (2011–2012) and regular yield trials (2012–2013). Then, testing it in outstation yield trials proceeded over 21 locations in Punjab province (2013–2014) and 18 locations all over Pakistan (2014–2015, 2017–2018, and 2019–2020) for yield and disease constancy, simultaneous with agronomic field trials and quality lab testing during 2014–2018 and 2014–2016, respectively. It exhibited an amber seed color, semi-erect growth habit at booting, erect flag leaf attitude, hairiness auricle, awned yellowish ear, and elevated shoulder and beak shape of glumes traits. DNA fingerprinting of MH-21 ensued to compare its genetic background with previously registered 21 wheat varieties. Given the promising stable performance in multi-locations over the years for better grain yield, nutritional quality, and resistance against rusts, the Punjab Seed Council approved V12304 in 2021 with the name ‘MH-21’ for general cultivation in irrigated areas of Punjab, Pakistan.

Keywords: MH-21, high yielding, rusts resistant, bread wheat irrigated areas, Punjab

Key findings: The approval of MH-21 gives fresh courage to redesign food security for the growers of irrigated areas overall Punjab, particularly in-explicit zones, by wheat yield maximization and tolerating the unpredicted disease threat.

Research carried out in 2021 at the Jeser Al-Musayyab Company, Baghdad, Iraq, determined the molecular variations among 10 inbred lines of maize (Zea mays L.), for use in the future production of promising F₁ hybrids. DNA sequencing random polymorphism technology using Inter Simple Sequence Repeats (ISSR) with five primers (UBC 834, UBC 835, UBC 856, UBC 866, and UBC 897) assessed the genetic variations among the 10 inbred lines of maize. All five primers produced 29 bands, averaging 5.8 strips each primer. The four primers, UBC 834, UBC 835, UBC 866, and UBC 897, had produced the same and highest number of proliferators with molecular weights ranging from 100 to 2000 bp. The primer UBC 856 showed the lowest number, with a molecular weight of 100–500 bp. The total number of polymorphs was 24, with a percentage of 82.4%, with the lowest (80%) polymorphs recorded in the primer UBC 856. The least discriminatory efficiency and ability values were 17.24% and 16.66%, respectively. Relying on binary data and genetic divergence using the UPGMA method to create a genetic kinship tree, the maize lines were separated into two groups, i.e., A, B, secondary, and sub-secondary groups. The highest genetic similarity (with the lowest genetic divergence) was estimated according to the Nei and Li coefficient of 0.23 between the two lines HS and S-10. The presented findings can provide further guidance and help analyze the genetic diversity among the maize populations.

Keywords: maize, ISSR, molecular, DNA, primer, cluster analysis

Key findings: The presented results authenticated the efficiency of ISSR markers in diagnosing genetic divergence among the inbred lines of maize (Zea mays L.).

The family Cactaceae comprises many genera, has taxonomic controversies at the species level, and yet has not been studied at the genetic level in Iraq. The presented study focused on species genotyping based on the RAPD-PCR method. The classification of six species, i.e., Hylocereus undatus, Aloe vera, Opuntia ficus-indica, Espostoa guentheri, Echinocactus grusonii, and Mammillaria elongata, ensued based on phenotypic characters to determine their precise taxonomic names and evaluate kinship by constructing the phylogeny tree RAPD-PCR. The short oligo primers showed the highest polymorphic bands (100%), with no monomorphic and basal bands correlated among these species. This highly polymorphic relationship indicated that each species has a superior identity and unique evolutionary trend. The oligo primers were considered productive by showing highly distinct and sharp bands, while others showed faint bands. This research confirmed the efficacy of RAPD primers in measuring polymorphism, comparing genotypes, and identifying Cacti species using specialized RAPD markers.

Keywords: Cactaceae, genotyping, RAPD-PCR, Opuntia, Mammillaria

Key findings: Using RAPD molecular markers, the study revealed a highly polymorphic relationship among the species of the family Cactaceae and has a superior identity and unique evolutionary trend.

Cyperaceae is the third-largest monocot family and has ecological and commercial significance worldwide. It is also a perfect model family for evolutionary research due to species diversity and the wide range of variations in lineage diversity. Using a nuclear region internal transcribed spacer (ITS), the current study attempted to identify the three species (Carex otrubae, Bolboschoenus fluviatilis, and Eleocharis palustris) and examine their relationships within the Cyperaceae family. In 2021, gathering of samples transpired from various locations along the Al-Hussainiya River in Iraq and the National Herbarium. According to the findings, the length of the fragments sequenced ranged between 750 and 1000 bp. Results also showed the sequence alignments between the two species (Carex otrubae and Bolboschoenus fluviatilis) have similarities and differences with those deposited in the Genome Bank. However, the Eleocharis palustris showed complete similarity in all regions of the nitrogenous base sequences with species deposited in the Genome Bank.

Keywords: Three species of Cyperaceae, ITS, phylogenetic analysis

Key findings: Carex otrubae studied species showed the difference, with C. otrubae – MN762702.1 and C. otrubae – AF284996.1 because of some mutation. The species B. fluviatilis showed a difference with B. fluviatilis – Q130340.1 diagnosed in South Korea because of the mutation. However, E. palustris showed similarities to all other species registered at the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI).

Developing a high-yielding and provitamin A-rich maize variety is one of the best approaches to reduce malnutrition and increase production, especially in regions where maize is a staple food, such as, the former Katanga Province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. However, it requires a good knowledge of combining ability and heterosis for grain yield and provitamin A. Thus, evaluating grain yield, provitamin A content and other agronomic traits of eight lines, four testers, and their 32 hybrids occurred during the 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 cropping seasons. The results showed that genetic parameters related to combining ability and heterosis among various F₁ hybrids influenced all the studied traits except plant height. The parental genotypes P6 and P10 were suitable for improving 100-kernel weight, grain yield, stature at ear insertion, and provitamin A content. The parental genotypes P7, P4, and P2 were promising for provitamin A content, while the parental genotype P3 was leading for grain yield. Five hybrids (P10 × P5, P10 × P6, P10 × P7, P10 × P8, and P11 × P5) showed distinction as the best specific combinations for improving productivity and provitamin A content. The F₁ hybrid P10 × P6 with desirable specific combining ability revealed that it is helpful as the best combination in producing double and triple hybrids with the highest yield and provitamin A potential. Crosses P10 × P5 and P11 × P5 can serve as the best cross combinations for grain yield, while hybrids P10 × P7 and P10 × P8 showed promising for provitamin A content. The presented results could benefit future breeding programs to develop maize genotypes with high yield and provitamin A elements, alleviating food insecurity and malnutrition.

Keywords: Maize (Zea mays L.), heterosis, line-by-tester combining ability, GCA and SCA, grain yield, provitamin A

Key findings: The presented study indicates that both additive and non-additive effects contribute to the genetic control of grain yield and provitamin A content in maize (Zea mays L.). Some parental lines, testers and their hybrids have better mean performance for the assessed traits. The parental line P6 and tester P10 appeared as the best general combiners suitable for hybridization to improve the grain yield and provitamin A content. The F₁ hybrid P10 × P6, followed by P10 × P5, P10 × P7, P10 × P8 and P11 × P5, was the best cross combination for desirable heterotic and combining ability effects for higher grain yield and provitamin A content.

Premature seed shattering in canola causes massive losses in yield by up to 50% in adverse climatic conditions. In the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, which belongs to the same family as canola, the Brassicaceae, eight genes participate in a shattering cascade. Phylogenetic reconstruction, syntenic relationships, genomics loci, promoter sequences, and identification of transcription factor-binding sites (TFBSs) faced shattering cascade genes’ analysis. Among these, three genes, SHATTERPROOF1, SHATTERPROOF2, and FRUITFUL (SHP1, SHP2, FUL), belonged to a MADS-box family implicated in fruit dehiscence zone and valve margin constitute a core regulatory module. But, in Brassica, the exact number of genes involved in shattering remained obscure. Grouping BnSHP1-N, BnSHP2-N, and BnFUL-N into their respective clades was according to phylogenetic reconstruction of core regulatory modules (SHP1, SHP2, and FUL) and from other species homologs. The eight shattering cascade genes showed no conservation, indicating their involvement in crushing through separate pathways. The increased number of homologs/paralogs in Brassica was due to occurrences of genome duplication or a triplication event during evolution. Exonization and intronization could be responsible for a variable number and size of the exons and introns in gene structures. Comparative genome synteny analysis of SHP1, SHP2, and FUL revealed correlation and evolutionary insights into gene region relationships in all Brassicaceae. Study results provided basic information on cloning, phylogenetic reconstruction, genomics loci, and identifying transcription factor-binding sites (TFBSs) of core regulatory module genes that might be helpful for developing shattering-resistant genome-edited plants to prevent future yield losses in canola.

Keywords: Brassica napus L, genome analysis, shattering genes, core regulatory module, homologs, exonization, intronization

Key findings: The phylogenetic reconstruction of SHP1, SHP2, and FUL genes and homologs from other species conglomerated BnSHP1-N, BnSHP2-N, and BnFUL-N into their respective clades. The rise in homologs in Brassica resulted from genome duplications or triplications that occurred during evolution. When analyzing gene structure, exons and introns may vary in size and number due to exonization and intronization. Comparative genome synteny analysis of SHP1/2 and FUL genes revealed correlation and evolutionary insights throughout the Brassicaceae. The promoter analysis unveiled that the expression divergence may correlate with their divergent promoters, where regulatory motifs, particularly CArG-boxes, might have played varying roles in the siliques of these plants.

Wheat genotypes grown in Uzbekistan and other Central Asian countries cannot compete with commercial cultivars for productivity. These landraces are valuable genetic resources that could benefit in developing new cultivars enriched with nutritious microelements and other ingredients beneficial for human health. As a result of wheat research, for the first time, preserving the 31 landraces in their natural form in the remote territories of Uzbekistan ensued, including a catalog of compilation by determining their economic and morphologically valuable features. Based on cluster analysis and quantitative characteristics, local wheat genotypes attained five groupings with a compiled dendrogram. With the dendrogram, determining the morphological attributes of ancient local cultivars of wheat materialized, even though the grain color is the same, a sharp difference is noticeable, but still similar based on quantitative characteristics that ensure the grain yield. In ancient local wheat cultivars, plant height and 1000-seed weight have a weak correlation with other traits, and a strong positive association was distinct between the spike length and spikelets per spike and the number and grain weight per spike. The polymorphism of soft wheat landraces showed according to the electrophoretic spectra in the grain’s gliadin proteins. The electrophoretic parameters of gliadin proteins indicated that of the six samples of cultivar Kzyl-bugdoy listed in the catalog, only four have similar electrophoretic spectra. In cultivar Ak-bugdoy’s four specimens, three have identical spectra, while three from the cultivar Surkhak have different bands. Based on individual selection and according to electrophoretic spectra from wheat landraces, the release of the wheat cultivar Kairaktash was due to its high baking and nutritional value.

Keywords: wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), mountainous Uzbekistan, landraces, morphological analysis, quantitative characteristics, gluten content, electrophoretic analysis, gliadins

Key findings: The presented study sought to identify the potential soft wheat landraces based on quantitative traits and electrophoretic spectra of gliadin proteins in Uzbekistan. Adapted to the rainfed conditions of the Republic, the developed cultivar Kairaktash ensued through individual plant selection from ancient local wheat populations.

Heat stress has emerged as a chief problem impeding wheat crop productivity. In several crops, specific HSP90A genes have intensively managed induced fluctuations in temperature. A wheat plant with TaHSP90A transcripts had the potential to cope with temperature stress. It enables plants to survive in transient extremes of temperature and under heat stress. The presented study design enhanced temperature tolerance plasticity with high yield in wheat through a line × tester mating design containing lines (12) and testers (4) having a differential expression of TaHSP90A transcripts (TraesCS2A02G033700.1, TraesCS5B02G258900.3, and TraesCS5D02G268000.2), then hybridized to get the F1 (48) wheat hybrids. For heat treatment, temperature raising was only in the daytime, through the tunnel at anthesis (for two weeks). Data recording for several morphological and physiological parameters went along with the relative expression of TaHSP90A transcripts for hybrid evaluation. After one hour of heat treatment, the relative expression of TaHSP90A transcripts’ determination in the flag leaf followed. The manifestation of TaHSP90A transcripts’ upregulation was two folds in several hybrids after heat treatment. Best lines, testers, and selected crosses having TaHSP90A transcripts with high yield and heat tolerance compared with parents can further benefit breeding programs aiming toward tolerance against heat stress in changing climate scenarios.

Keywords: Triticum aestivum L., climate change, expression, TaHSP90A, food security

Key findings: This study mainly focuses on the upregulation of TaHSP90A transcripts showing a contribution to heat tolerance in wheat. Heat-tolerant wheat genotypes with TaHSP90A transcripts can produce significant yields under changing climate scenarios. The importance of this work lies in the potential for these genes by breeders to improve the plant’s natural defenses against heat stress.

In intraspecific F₁ diallel hybrids of Gossypium barbadense L., the inheritance study of traits plant height, boll weight, plant productivity, and 1000-seed weight, with combining ability analysis took place in 2020–2022 at the Institute of Genetics and Plant Experimental Biology, Academy of Sciences, Uzbekistan. These polygenic traits’ inheritance showed different ways in the fine-fiber cotton F₁ hybrids. The plant height trait’s inheritance with overdominance and intermediate level of the high/low-performance cultivars. The boll weight trait was mainly in negative overdominance with incomplete dominance of the low-performance cultivar. The inheritance of seed cotton yield had the positive overdominance main control, while the 1000-seed weight had negative and positive overdominance. According to combining ability analysis, the highest positive general combining ability effects resulted in fine-fiber cotton cultivars Surkhan-14 (ĝi = 8.71) and Bo’ston (ĝi =1.86) for plant height, Guzor (ĝi = 0.12) for boll weight, in genotypes Marvarid (ĝi = 2.44) and Surkhan-14 (ĝi = 2.95) for plant productivity, and in cultivars Marvarid (ĝi = 2.3) and Guzor (ĝi = 2.8) for 1000-seed weight. The F₁ hybrids Guzor × Surkhan-14, Marvarid × Bo’ston, and Bo’ston × Surkhan-14 showed the highest positive and desirable specific combining ability effects for 1000-seed weight and seed cotton yield. Results concluded that fine-fiber cotton cultivars Marvarid, Surkhan-14, and Guzor can benefit as initial breeding material in selecting high-yielding cotton cultivars.

Keywords: G. barbadense L., cotton cultivars, F₁ diallel hybrids, inheritance, heterosis, combining ability, yield traits, cotton productivity

Key findings: Results authenticated that it is feasible to use fine-fiber cotton cultivars Marvarid, Surkhan-14, and Guzor as initial genetic material in selecting high-yielding cotton cultivars.