Estimation of genetic diversity is vital in sunflower breeding. Principal component analysis (PCA) is one of the best statistical approaches to study diversity among genotypes by using eigenvalue and PC-1/PC-2 based-biplots. An experiment commenced at the College of Agriculture, University of Sargodha, Pakistan to find out the diversity in 28 sunflower hybrids and select stable hybrids for normal and terminal heat-stress conditions. Growing sunflower hybrids in randomized complete block design had three replications. Under normal condition, sunflower hybrid sowing ensued in February 2019, while to check the effect of terminal stress, growing these hybrids transpired at the end of March 2019. The collected data of seven morpho-phenological traits underwent the principal component analysis, found greater than one for the first three and four PCs under normal conditions. In terminal stress environments, these respectively exposed the presence of ample genetic variation among sunflower hybrids in both environments. Bi-plot analysis signified that SF-18100, SF-18045, and SF-19025 were stable hybrids for most studied traits under normal sowing environment. Meanwhile, the performance of SF-18035 and SF-19010 proved better under the heat-stress environment for studied traits. Hence, these hybrids showed better adaptability under the current scenario of climate change.

Keywords: Sunflower (H. annuus L.), diversity, PCA, eigenvalue, genetic variability, phonological traits, biplot

Key findings: Heat stress negatively affects sunflower (H. annuus L.) crop growth, leading to lower achene yield and oil content. However, the sunflower hybrids SF-18100, SF-18045, SF-19012, and SF-19025 performed better than the rest for achene yield and yield-contributing traits under normal and heat stress environments, making them suitable for sunflower breeding programs and general cultivation.

Currently, about 50 known phytopathogenic viruses infect maize worldwide; however, the maize dwarf mosaic virus (MDMV) is the most common. Studies on the effects of MDMV have progressed in the experimental fields of the Chirchik State Pedagogical University, Tashkent, Uzbekistan. In the latest research, seven different maize (Zea mays L.) cultivars received mechanical inoculation of viral sap. After infection, symptoms of a viral disease appeared 4–5 days later. A specific anti-serum, obtained by immunological method, served to diagnose the MDMV. The virus infection rate in 2020 was 47%, but in 2023, after using the developed control measures, it was 23%. Different maize genotypes, selected for the study, came from the genetic bank of the Scientific Research Institute of Plant Genetic Resources. According to the results, under the influence of MDMV, the number of cobs reduced by 50%, the length of cob decreased by 43.21%, the number of grains per cob decreased by 30.43%, and 1000-grain weight declined by 28.6%. In maize healthy genotypes, the average protein content was 3.5%, while in infected samples the said ratio was 2.5% and that decreased by 1.00%.

Keywords: Maize (Zea mays L.), cultivars, maize dwarf mosaic virus (MDMV), distribution, phytoviruses, yield-related traits, productivity, plant diseases

Key findings: The results revealed considerable effects of MDMV on yield-related traits and productivity of different maize (Z. mays L.) genotypes.

Characterization using molecular markers is not influenced by environmental factors; hence, it can provide an accurate picture of kinship relationships between species and distant relatives. The presented research aims to determine the genetic diversity and kinship relationship among 12 local Balinese maize (Zea mays L.) accessions, resulting from the exploration of one drought-resistant and high-yielding maize cultivar (Lamuru) with simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. The DNA amplification carried out by the study used a BIO-RAD T100 PCR instrument. The calculation of 10 SSR markers information utilized the iMEC online software, with the data analyzed using NTSYS 2.02 software to produce a dendrogram (phylogenetic analysis). The dendrogram development engaged the Jaccard similarity coefficient and the UPGMA clustering method. After studying their genetic profiles, the local Balinese maize accessions were genetically diverse. Assessing 12 local Balinese maize accessions and one superior cultivar revealed locations at a Jaccard similarity coefficient of 0.28 to 0.65. Maize accession Putih Bayung Gede (Karo) was the most distinct genotype, separating at a coefficient of 0.28. The separation of two other maize accessions, Berondong Lokal, and Kuning/Panes Daup, from the other 10 maize genotypes had a coefficient of 0.35. Accession Ketan Belok Sidan had the most similar DNA profile to the high-yielding maize cultivar, Lamuru, with a similarity coefficient of 0.65.

Keywords: Maize (Z. mays L.), dendrogram, exploration, genetic diversity, Jaccard similarity coefficient, kinship relationships

Key findings: Local Balinese maize (Z. mays L.) accessions occurred highly diverse regarding their genetic profile. Twelve local Balinese maize accessions, i.e., Lokal Landih, Barak Bayung Gede, Putih Bayung Gede (Karo), Lokal Bangli, Barak Keliki Kintamani, Pengootan, Berondong Lokal, Kuning/Panes Daup, Injin Daup, Bali Malet Gusti, Barak Belok Sidan, and Ketan Belok Sidan and one high-yielding and drought-resistant cultivar (Lamuru) underwent evaluation, and they laid between Jaccard similarity coefficients of 0.28 and 0.65.

The experiment proceeded in the Telafer site during the year 2022, with two seasons (spring and autumn) to study two maize (Zea mays L.) cultivars (Furat and Dijla) and eight levels of fertilizers (control treatment, 120 kg N₁₅P₁₅K₁₅ ha^-1 of traditional compound fertilizer, 1.5 and 3 g liter^-1 of N₂₀P₂₀K₂₀ nano fertilizer, 1 and 2 ml liter^-1 of Optimum Plus organic fertilizer, 1.5g liter^-1 of N₂₀P₂₀K₂₀ nano fertilizer + 1 ml liter^-1 of organic fertilizer, and 3 g liter^-1 of N₂₀P₂₀K₂₀ nano fertilizer + 2ml liter^-1 of organic fertilizer) on yield traits of the maize grain. The research employed a randomized complete block design (RCBD) using the s p li t-pl o t system, with the cultivars placed in the main plots, and the fertilizers in the secondary plots. Results indicated that the Furat cultivar excelled in all yield trai t s in the two seasons, except for the weight of the cob and the w e ig h t of 500 g r a i n s in the autumn season; cultivar Dijla was superior in the biological yield for the two seasons. As for the fertilizers, the treatment 2ml L^-1 of the organic fertilizer achieved the highest rate in all studied traits for both seasons, except for the traits cob weight and biological yield, where the treatment was superior in 3 g L^-1 of the N₂₀P₂₀K₂₀ nanofertilizer. The interaction showed significant differences in all studied traits of maize in both seasons.

Keywords: Maize (Zea mays L.), cultivars, organic fertilizer, NPK, nano fertilizer, foliar application, grain yield

Key findings: The possibility of replacing costly and field-strained ground fertilization with cheaper and more efficient foliar fertilization to grain yield and its components and its reflection on productivity and the maize (Zea mays L.) cultivars significantly impacted these traits.

A laboratory experiment studied the effects of the green tea (Camellia sinensis L.) aqueous extract at concentrations of 10, 20, and 30 ppm on the germination and growth traits of the mung bean (Vigna radiata L.), carried out in 2021 at the Department of Biology, College of Education for Pure Sciences, Ibn Al-Haitham, University of Baghdad, Iraq. The results showed that Camellia sinensis green tea extracts played a vital role by significantly boosting all the examined characteristics compared with the control treatment. The aqueous extract of Green tea at concentrations of 10 and 20 ppm gave the best performance in increasing germination rates, germination speed, plant promoter indicator, and seedling strength compared with the control treatment. Meanwhile, the concentration of 30 ppm indicated a significant increase in the shoot length, root system, carbohydrates, proteins, proline, superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT) compared with other concentrations used and control treatment.

Keywords: Mung bean (Vigna radiata L.), green tea (Camellia sinensis L.) extract, germination, growth traits, antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, catalase, carbohydrates, proteins, proline

Key findings: Using natural environmentally friendly materials ,They do not have aharmful effect on humans ,they contain antioxidants.

In horticultural crops, including chili, the wide use of synthetic fungicides has manifested to control anthracnose disease; however, these chemicals have some side effects to deal with. In reducing the dependency on synthetic fungicides, other alternatives and means need searching to prevent pathogenic fungi. Therefore, the presented study sought to examine plant extracts with the potential to inhibit the growth of pathogenic fungi Colletotrichum acutatum, the causal organism of anthracnose disease in chili. This study collected 20 potential plant species for the investigation. The leaf extraction used the maceration method in methanol and n-hexane. The contents of chemical compounds sustained the GC-MS analysis. All the leaf extracts tested for their bioactivity underwent the colony method and diffusion well. The results revealed that out of 20 types of plants, six plant species were capable of inhibiting the growth of C. acutatum fungi, including Piper nigrum, Piper ornatum, Piper retrofractum, Ficus septica, Samanea saman, and Tithonia diversifolia. The leaf extract of F. septica has the highest inhibition rate (81.11%) for the growth of C. acutatum compared with other plant leaf extracts. The GC-MS analysis of the F. septica leaf extract showed the presence of 15 types of metabolite constituents, with nine having antimicrobial activities.

Keywords: Colletotrichum acutatum, anthracnose, synthetic fungicides, side effects, botanical fungicide, leaf extract, antimicrobial properties, Ficus septica

Key findings: This latest study found plant extracts that have the potential to inhibit the growth of the pathogenic fungi Colletotrichum acutatum, which caused anthracnose disease in crop plants.

The Temporary Immersion System (TIS) Bioreactor’s performance in cultivation for several commercial potato cultivars became the prevailing study’s review focus. The experiment in a split-plot design had two factors. The first factor comprised the type of culture system (conventional and TIS Bioreactor) treatment used as main plots. The second factor was the four potato cultivars (Atlantic Malang, Dayang Sumbi, Granola L., and Maglia) used as subplots. The TIS Bioreactor culture has the highest average in all studied variables compared with conventional cultures at the multiplication stage. In the TIS Bioreactor, potato cultivar Dayang Sumbi excelled in the number of axillary branching and number of primary roots. At the same time, genotype Granola L. surpassed the height of the plantlets of other cultivars. Meanwhile, the cultivar Atlantic Malang shone in the number of nodes, with Maglia in the number of leaves. Using the TIS Bioreactor produces microshoots with more nodes and can be beneficial as a propagation organ. The Dayang Sumbi cultivar was superior to all other potato cultivars.

Keywords: Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), cultivars, conventional in vitro, TIS Bioreactor, microshoots, axillary shoots, number of nodes

Key findings: The Temporary Immersion System (TIS) Bioreactor can be advantageous as an alternative to the cultivation system to maximize the productivity of plantlets and microtubers of several potato cultivars, which is beneficial. The success of increasing the axillary branching and the number of internodes through the TIS system will encourage an increase in the production of microshoots as one of the primary seed sources.

The prevailing study aimed to determine the effects of organic fertilizer Libro with four concentrations (0, 1, 2, and 3 ml L^-1) and the growth retardant Cultar with three concentrations (0, 0.03, and 0.05 mg L^-1) on Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon L.) in a randomized complete block design (RCBD), carried out in 2022 at the University of Anbar, Iraq. The results revealed that the treatment of plants with organic fertilizer Libro at a concentration of 3 ml L^-1 led to a significant increase in most of the vegetative growth characteristics represented by the plant density rate, nitrogen, phosphorus, color degree, and the degree of trampling tolerance 2.500, respectively. The treatment with a growth retardant represented by Cultar reduced cutting times to 2.000.

Keywords: Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon L.), organic fertilizer, Cultar, Libro, biochemical traits

Key findings: The results showed that organic fertilizer Libro at a concentration of 3 ml L^-1 led to a significant increase in most vegetative growth characteristics, viz., plant density rate, nitrogen, phosphorus, color degree, and the trampling tolerance degree of Bermuda grass. The growth retardant Cultar reduced the number of cutting times.

Zonal technology treatment of the soil system for rice cultivation comprised various operations carried out with tillage equipment types in the Kyzylorda Region, Kazakhstan. With the region’s agriculture sector having a low technical base, the performance of these operations is mostly meager, which does not justify itself in the modern conditions of the agro-industrial complex’s functioning. The presented studies sought to determine the influence of different tillage tools on the soil’s plowing quality, agrophysical properties, and rice productivity, carried out at the Kazakh Scientific Research Institute of Rice Growing, named after I. Zhakhaev, Kazakhstan. The study observed the use of a “Lemken Juwel-7 reversible plough” contributed to achieving a ridge ratio of 1.09 due to the uniform size and shape of the layers. The reversible plough provided the smallest area occupied by clods bigger than 5 cm (0.16 m²). Notably, fall-plowed soil disking, mineral fertilizers’ incorporation, followed by soil rolling under rice with the BDM-‘Agro’ disk harrow and the Horsch Terrano 4 FX cultivator positively affected the structural and aggregate composition of the soil before rice planting. Using the Lemken Juwel 7 reversible plough and the Horsch Terrano 4 FX cultivator in the meadow-boggy soil treatment system contributed an average increase of 0.71 t/ha in rice yield under the environmental conditions of Kyzylorda Region, Kazakhstan. Employing these tillage units makes obtaining the maximum amount of agrotechnical soil fractions possible, positively affecting the field germination of seeds and rice grain yield.

Keywords: Rice, soil system, tillage equipment, structural and aggregate composition of soil, structural coefficient, tillage tools, yield

Key findings: Results revealed the most effective field practice was autumn plowing with the reversible plow of the ‘Lemken Juwel 7 type,’ disk plowing and mineral fertilizers’ incorporation, and rolling of the field with BDM-‘Agro’ and Horsch Terrano FX cultivators in the Aral Sea region, Kazakhstan, for all the studied variants for cultivating rice on meadow-marsh soils. These tillage units provided the maximum amount of agronomically valuable fractions in the surface layer of the ground, positively affecting rice seed germination and yield. However, other tillage methods considerably reduced agronomically beneficial segments.

The suitable research aims to ascertain the optimum dose of mineral fertilizers and methods of soil processing and preparation for successful flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) cultivation in the semi-arid conditions of the Almaty Region, Kazakhstan, focusing on achieving high crop productivity with good seed quality. Agrochemical investigations also employed modern devices and widely accepted methods. Studying parameters, such as total humus, labile humus, nitrate nitrogen, mobile phosphorus, exchangeable potassium, soil composition density, structural-aggregate composition, and moisture supply, ensued using specific techniques. The study observed an enhancement in nitrate nitrogen content in the soil, from an initial level of 11–19 mg/kg to 36–91 mg/kg during flax harvest in all experimental variants. On the contrary, the mobile phosphorus exhibited a decline in the soil from the beginning of crop vegetation until harvest; however, determining the available phosphorus in different practices showed medium, high, higher, and very high. Moreover, a decline in exchangeable potassium content (from 344–446 mg/kg to 175–215 mg/kg) emerged during the flax crop across all the experimental variants. The application of mineral fertilizers NPK at the rate of 60:60:30, with the application of a growth regulator Ecorost at the rate of 2 liters per ton of seeds, and employing a flat-cut treatment (10–12 cm) on light chestnut soil in the semi-arid zone with super dry season of Almaty Region, resulted in the highest flax yield in cv. Karabalykskaya (410 kg/ha).

Keywords: Flax (Linum usitatissimum L.), mineral fertilizers, plowing, flat-cut tillage, zero tillage, nitrate nitrogen, mobile phosphorus, exchangeable potassium, productive moisture, productivity

Key findings: The presented research comprising flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) culture, used different doses of mineral fertilizers with varying tillage. The effect of tillage methods and application of mineral fertilizers on agrophysical and agrochemical indicators of soil and linseed yield were promising.