Genus Trichoderma classifies as a broad-based, saprotrophic fungi and a prime component of the fungal community of various soil ecosystems. The diversity of this genus has non-extensive studies in Uzbekistan, and the prevalence of investigations relied on phenotypic traits. Here, the isolation of four Trichoderma strains (BZS-T1, BZS-T2, BZS-T3, and BZS-T4) from the anthropogenic pollution zone in Uzbekistan succeeded. Using a molecular genetic approach based on the tef1 gene region enabled us to report for the first time Trichoderma afroharzianum species in the polluted soils of Uzbekistan. Twelve reference strains obtained from the NCBI database underwent the phylogenetic analysis of the BZS-T1 strain. Based on the phylogenetic tree, the isolate BZS-T1 displayed clustering with T. afroharzianum strain T-22 (ATCC 20847) from the USA, isolate AG500 from Thailand and isolate Tri-1 procured from China. The promising results confirmed the value of the DNA-based identification process, which was worthwhile to promote and apply, especially for identifying Trichoderma species in Uzbekistan and Central Asia. The T. afroharzianum isolate BZS-T1 could have considerable potential regarding its antagonistic properties, inducing systemic resistance in plants and as a bioremediation agent for polluted soils and wastewater.

Keywords: Trichoderma afroharzianum, identification, Tef-1a, molecular genetic approach, phylogenetic analysis, microbial biodiversity, Central Asia

Key findings: Several morphologically based studies of Trichoderma in Uzbekistan enunciated that several T. harzianum isolates succeeded in segregation. However, the T. afroharzianum has no previous reports in Uzbekistan.

The best crop production technology depends on the approved scientific approaches and agricultural practices. Studying the elements of crop production technology is necessary to obtain stable and highquality yields. The result’s reliability reached validity from three years of field and laboratory studies conducted under typical conditions per modern methods and state standards. For the presented research, the spring wheat cultivated as the first crop of different fallow types began during 2020–2022 at the Kursabaev Farm, North Kazakhstan. The spring rapeseed cultivars and hybrids, planted on bare fallow soil, had various seeding rates in 2019–2021 at the Yessil Yessil State Grain Feed Variety Testing site in North Kazakhstan. The study showed that for 2020–2022, the highest spring wheat grain yield resulted in the variant with chemical fallow treatment. The highest grain yield in rapeseed surfaced from the bare fallow soil with cultivar ‘Maikudyk’ and the hybrid ‘Builder,’ with a seeding rate of 2.0 million seeds per hectare. The results revealed that fallow preceding a crop contributes to a better spring wheat harvest. Thus, this work allows for determining the most effective ways to increase crop yields under climate change and variations in other environmental factors.

Keywords: Spring wheat, spring rapeseed, seeding rate, chemical fallow, bare fallow, grain yield

Key findings: As part of the study, in the conditions of the Zhambyl District of the North Kazakhstan Region in 2020–2022, the highest spring wheat yield occurred using chemical fallow treatment preceding a crop, with tillage of 16–18 cm. Treatment with bare and sown fallow showed lower efficiency with a difference of 0.19–0.42 t/ha. The highest spring rapeseed yield in the Esil District of the North Kazakhstan Region in 2019–2021 appeared at the seeding rate of 2.0 million germinating seeds per hectare in cultivar Maikudyk, while the increased seeding rate showed a decline in crop yield in 2019–2021.

Nanotechnology is a new and vital scientific transformation used in various fields globally. It has proven its recognition in agricultural sciences with environment-friendly fertilizers produced and applied, which are more efficient than traditional fertilizers. Nano-biotechnological techniques can benefit diverse processes related to plant biology, including seed germination, plant growth enhancement, plant nutrition improvement, secondary metabolites isolation, and protection provision against biotic and abiotic stress factors. Nanotechnology presents significant opportunities for agriculture due to its typical physicochemical traits, such as substantial surface area, heightened reactivity, adjustable pore size, and particle shape. These fertilizers have contributed to addressing the increasing challenges in crop production and food security and can meet the growing food demand of the world’s population. Studies have shown that this technology can improve field establishment by increasing seed emergence, plant growth, and yield even under different stresses. Notably, nanotechnology exploration in Iraq, particularly in agriculture production, has focused only on research purposes. Therefore, the current review emphasizes the importance of nanoparticles in the context of plant systems.

Keywords: Nanotechnology, nano-fertilizers, crop production, seed germination, medicinal plants, sustainable agriculture

Key findings: The presented review showed the value of using nanotechnology in crop improvement. Nanotechnology has become one of the prime technologies promising to advance agricultural practices and offer sustainable development by improving management and conservation tactics with reduced agricultural input wastage.

Drought is one of the consequences of climate change, negatively affecting crop yields. Current weather abnormalities showed that increasing plant resistance to temperature stresses needs special attention in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. The article provides information on weather and climatic condition variations in winter-growing regions of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. In 2021–2023, during the growing season, the increased air temperature in Kazakhstan (1.73 °C–2.60 °C) and Uzbekistan (1.97 °C–2.57 °C) materialized with decreased precipitation compared with the past average annual data. Recently, similar rainfall in these regions has been uneven during the winter crop-growing season. The current winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars and their study methods had reports of chief indicators of drought tolerance. The influence of flag leaf parameters (length, width, and area), leaf rolling during drought, slowing down of “Stay-green” plant aging, plant pubescence, and waxy patina on drought tolerance of winter wheat came about based on past research. Winter wheat cultivar evaluations for productivity indicators occurred under natural drought conditions. Characteristics of modern drought-tolerant winter wheat cultivars planted in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan were informative.

Keywords: Winter wheat (T. aestivum L.), climate change, drought, drought-tolerant indicators, breeding for drought tolerance, productivity

Key findings: Climate change toward aridity requires a detailed study of drought-tolerant traits in winter wheat (T. aestivum L.) worldwide. In drought conditions of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, local varieties identified with high ear productivity and grain yield have been successful.

The differences in parental genotypes can lead to significant heterosis influenced by genetic control. Understanding genetic control enables the effective utilization of genetic resources to improve various traits in the local rice. The presented research sought to evaluate four rice F1 hybrids (KBP × PTT1, PTT1 × KBP, KBP × HKL1, and HKL1 × KBP) and their parental cultivars for the genetic variation on agronomic traits. The crossing of local rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivar Kum Bangpra (KBP) occurred with two improved rice cultivars, viz., Pathum tani1 (PTT1) and Hawm Khlong Luang 1 (HKL1). A completely randomized design with five replications ensued for conducting the rice experiment. Significant (P < 0.001) differences appeared among F1 hybrids and their parental cultivars for the flowering date, plant height, tillers per plant, and panicles per plant. The F1 hybrids of PTT1 as parent showed greater values for plant height, tillers per plant, and panicles per plant, and the F1 hybrids of HKL1 as parent showed more branches per panicle, spikelets per panicle, higher grain size, and grain weight. Significant heterosis was evident in F1 hybrids for most agronomic traits, except flowering date and seed set. Only the F1 hybrid Kum Bangpra × PTT1 revealed maternal effects. Using an improved rice cultivar as a parent for crossing with the local Kum Bangpra led to significant differences in F1 hybrids for gene control and inheritance, including maternal effects; therefore, the final selection should focus on that promising cross.

Keywords: Rice (Oryza sativa L.), parental genotypes, local rice cultivar Kum Bangpra, direct and reciprocal crosses, F1 hybrids, purple rice, agronomic traits

Key findings: Genotypic variations in F1 hybrids for agronomic traits were significant by utilizing improved rice cultivars PTT1 and HKL1 in crosses with the local rice cultivar KBP. The F1 hybrids of the parental cultivar PTT1 showed higher productivity at the vegetative stage, and the F1 hybrids of the parent cultivar HKL1 exhibited higher productivity at the reproductive stage.

The article explores the Kyzyl-Kum Desert and the Aral Sea plant and soil cover, the plant characteristics and regionalized cultural crops thriving in these regions, and the extraction of high-quality and environment-friendly products from that flora. This initiative aims to prevent the dispersal of 100 million tons of dust-salt mixture from the dried bed of the Aral Sea, carried by wind and storms and deposited onto agricultural fields. Therefore, in this area, the phytoremediation process through establishing saxaul plantations is crucial. Each saxaul tree bush can preserve more tons of sand with its roots, demonstrating robust growth in saline lands while utilizing mineralized groundwater. Additionally, saxaul trees contribute to maintaining the critical depth of groundwater within the normal range.

Consequently, this approach is the area’s natural barrier against secondary soil salinization and erosion processes. Similarly, it is noteworthy that today, the country’s population is growing fast, increasing its demand for food products. Based on this, obtaining high-quality and ecologically clean products from each cultivated agricultural crop is one of the most urgent issues today and the prime purpose of conducting research in these areas.

Keywords: Kyzyl-Kum Desert, arid bed of Aral Sea, phytoremediation, agricultural fields, saxaul plantations, groundwater, Amu Darya, soil cover, soil salinization, soil erosion

Key findings: Growing salt-resistant flora is viable under the natural conditions of the Kyzyl-Kum Desert and the arid bed of the Aral Sea, Uzbekistan, Karakalpakstan, Caspian Sea.

Knowing the estimated genetic parameters and the relationship between yield and associated traits is pivotal to successful shallot breeding. The study’s objectives were to observe the effect of colchicine on the growth and yield characteristics of shallot (Allium cepa), investigate the genetic variability of shallot in the first generation, and determine the selection criteria for the shallot improvement program. The shallot bulbs received colchicine treatments ranging from 0, 100, 200, 300, and 400 ppm. The variance analysis revealed that colchicine treatments highly affected the shallot growth and yield characteristics in varying significance. It demonstrated that colchicine treatments were potent in inducing mutation and creating variability among populations of shallot; hence, it can be beneficial for shallot improvement. The highest values of the genotypic coefficient of variance, heritability, and genetic advance were evident in the 200-ppm population. Therefore, this study only recommends pursuing the 200-ppm population for the next generations. Path analysis exhibited that the trait of bulb fresh weight per clump had a high positive direct effect with bulb dry weight per clump, indicating its usefulness as a selection criterion for developing shallot genotypes with high-yielding next generations.

Keywords: Shallot (Allium cepa), colchicine, heritability, path analysis

Key findings: The 200-ppm population had a higher genotypic coefficient of variation, broad sense heritability, and genetic advance than other mutated populations in the shallot (Allium cepa). The bulb fresh weight per clump trait can serve as selection criteria for developing shallot genotypes with high-yielding next generation having a high positive direct effect and heritability values.

Spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is an important food, fodder, and industrial crop. Barley cultivars’ evaluation regarding trait variability using a variation factor further divided them into two groups. The first group included cultivars with a high variation factor (cv > 10%) based on the agronomic traits, viz., sprout density, dry biomass yield, number of plants before harvesting, and grain yield potential. The second group contained all other genotypes with a variation factor (cv = 6%) regarding morpho-physiological variables. These are number of nodal roots (cv = 0.8%–1.6%), flag leaf area (cv = 0.8%–1.6%), total leaf area (cv = 3.4%–5.7%), photosynthetic potential (cv = 0.06%–0.27%), photosynthesis net productivity (cv = 2.7%–5.6%), yielding capacity structural elements (grains per ear [cv = 1.0%–2.0%] and 1000-grain weight [cv = 1.5%–5.6%]). Cultivars Pamyat Raisy (1.8 t ha^-1) and Arna (1.7 t ha^-1) showed a reliable and enhanced yielding capacity compared with the reference cultivar Astana 2000 (1.6 t ha^-1), while other cultivars had an average yield potential (1.6 ± 1.8 t ha^-1).

Keywords: Barley (H. vulgare L.), variability, agronomic traits, morpho-physiological variables, grain yield potential, correlation, factor analysis

Key findings: Barley (H. vulgare L.) cultivars Pamyat Raisy (1.8 t ha^-1) and Arna (1.7 t ha^-1) were superior by the highest grain yield. A correlation was evident between grain yield in the study years with the grains per ear, productive stems, photosynthetic parameters, dry biomass yield, and the number of nodular roots during the “tillering – exit into the tube” period.

Genetic diversity and genetic gain are valuable parameters in plant breeding for assembling new cultivars. The presented study sought to identify the genetic diversity of the black soybean (Glycine soja L. Merrill) populations from crossbreeding and identify the broad sense heritability and genetic gain in yield-related traits. The set experiments proceeded in a randomized complete block design with three replications at two different environments/locations—Indramayu and Majalengka, Indonesia. The genetic material comprises 19 black soybean genotypes. The results showed that the genetic diversity in black soybean genotypes for grain yield and its attributes were broad, based on the principal component analysis, with a cumulative value of 80.55%. The environment greatly influenced heritability and genetic gains. High heritability and genetic gain were notable for seed length in the Majalengka location. In the Indramayu location, the demonstration of high heritability and genetic gains appeared for the number of fertile nodes and seed length. This information can serve as a basis for plant breeders to develop black soybean high-yielding cultivars in the future.

Keywords: Black soybean (Glycine soja L. Merrill), heritability, genetic gain, principal component analysis, yield related traits

Key findings: Information on genetic diversity, heritability, and genetic gain in yield-related traits is necessary to develop cultivars in crop plants. In black soybean populations, the genetic diversity for planting at two locations based on the principal component analysis was 80.55%. Heritability and genetic gain values among the populations for traits in two locations showed moderate to high values. This information can be beneficial in further selection to develop black soybean high-yielding cultivars.

The research investigates the diversity, bioprospecting, and conservation status of Pteridophyta in diverse habitats, focusing on the Bukit Tigapuluh National Park, Riau, Indonesia. The current research probes the diversity of pteridophytes and the conservation efforts of the Talang Mamak community in Riau, Indonesia, particularly in bioprospecting. It integrates ethnobotany and field exploration, utilizing ethnobotanical data as the primary database. Ethnobotanical data analysis used Microsoft Excel spreadsheets, incorporating respondent consensus factors and preference ratings. Conservation assessments adhere to the rigorous standards of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List Categories and Criteria. It uncovers 39 distinct Pteridophyta species belonging to 19 families. Engaging with the Talang Mamak community reveals nine plant species holding substantial bioprospecting potential, including Selaginella sp., Angiopteris evecta (G.Forst.) Hoffm., and Lygodium microphyllum (Cav.) R.Br. A comprehensive literature review underscores the scientific importance of these findings, highlighting bioactive compounds in 50% of identified species. Conservation assessments, rooted in the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria, designate five Pteridophyta species as endangered. Pteridophytes play a vital role in the daily lives of the community, from traditional medicine to spiritual and cultural practices. This research underscores the imperative of holistic conservation strategies integrating scientific knowledge with community engagement.

Keywords: Polypodiaceae, species, biodiversity, bioprospecting, conservation, IUCN, medicinal plants

Key findings: The study achieved to compile the species diversity of ferns in Bukit Tigapuluh National Park (TNBT), Riau, Indonesia, comprising 39 species belonging to 19 families. In the Pteridophyta potential, nine identified species comprised Angiopteris evecta, one of the most prominent species. The latest findings provide a profound understanding of the potential of Pteridophyta and a solid foundation for further biosystematics and bioactive compounds exploration.