In crop plants, the leaves considerably serve as carbon sinks, as well as stems, roots, flowers, fruits, and seeds with photosynthetic activities. Concerning plant fruits, their photosynthetic activity mostly results from the anatomy of the fruit, its growth and development, and the surrounding microclimate. At the early stage, the fruits normally contain the highest score of chlorophyll and stomata and thin cuticles. However, some species keep stomata in their fruits even after ripening, but most species miss stomata disintegrating chloroplasts and miss functionality. The collection of different wild fruit species came from various areas of Iraq. The epidermis of fruits, as obtained by peeling the exocarp, had this study examine the epidermis, stomata, crystals, and trichomes. The study revealed the scattering of the stomata in the epidermis of the exocarp in the fruits of some species, while none in others. Moreover, the stomata vary among the plant species, with the study categorizing the wild fruit species into four groups. The collected different wild fruit species were Alcea rosea, Alhagi maurorum, Citrullus colocynthis, Convolvulus arvensis, Malvastrum coromandelianum, Ocimum campechianum, Physalis angulata, Portulaca oleracea, Prosopis glandulosa, Rubus ulmifolius, and Withania somnifera. The anticlinal wall of epidermal cells also differed among the different fruit species between straight and wavy. Likewise, the druse crystals appear in the species Portulaca oleracea, and various types of trichomes were evident in the different wild fruit species under study.

Keywords: Fruit species, fruit types, stomata, epidermis, crystals, trichomes

Key findings: The wild fruit species collection continued from the different areas of Iraq. The study showed diverse shapes and diffusion of the stomata in the epidermis of some species. However, in some wild fruit species, the epidermis missed the stomata.

The physiological and biochemical parameters’ evaluation of the broad bean (Vicia faba L.) exotic genotypes obtained from the ICARDA (International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas) became this study’s aim. Particularly, when analyzing the plant leaf spectrophotometrically, the total water content in the plant leaf ranged from 74.9% to 88.9%. In the combing phase of broad bean, the leaf chlorophyll a was highest in the genotypes G-15 and G-29 (2.07 mg/g), chlorophyll b in G-29 was 1.27 mg/g, and carotenoid content in the genotype Bakla UNV-851 was 0.95 mg/g, while G-35 was higher for total pigment content (3.14 mg/g). At the flowering phase, the superior value recorded for chlorophyll a was in the genotype Bakla UNV-851 (2.10 mg/g), chlorophyll b was in G-35 (1.20 mg/g), carotenoid content was in Bakla UNV-851 (0.96 mg/g), and total pigment was in the genotype G-26 (3.22 mg/g). For chlorophyll a content, the supreme value resulted in the genotype Bakla UNV-851 (2.12 mg/g); chlorophyll b emerged to be higher in the genotype G-1 (1.47 mg/g), the carotenoid content was greater in Bakla UNV-851 (0.90 mg/g), and the total pigments were highest in the genotype Bakla UNV-852 (3.43 mg/g).

Keywords: Broad bean (V. faba L.), growth phases, photosynthetic

Key findings: The water deficiency in different growth phases of plants leads to disruption of physiological processes. The highest total water content resulted in the genotype G-22, while it was slightly lower in the G-50. The highest transpiration rate was evident in the genotype Bakla UNV-851 and the lowest in the genotype G-26.

For the first time, the determination of biological activity parameters found in the upper horizon (0–20 cm) of the mountain gray forest soil succeeded at the agrocenosis and natural biogeocenosis of the Sheki-Zagatala Economic Region, Azerbaijan. The use of integrated indicators of the ecological and biological state of soils (IIEBSS) summarized the variations in biological activities (humus content and reserves, microbial biomass carbon content and reserves, activity of hydrolase, and oxidoreductase enzymes) of the arable soils. A 45% IIEBSS decrease was evident in the cultivated soils due to soil degradation processes leading to a disruption of their ecological functions and a decline in their fertility. The pioneering study made a comparative assessment of the variations caused by the biological activity in the upper horizon of mountain gray forest soils’ biogeocenosis in the southern macroslope of the Greater Caucasus. Studies on soil biological indicators are few, and this research is vital to develop and boost ecotourism.

Keywords: Soil biological activities, soil degradation, soil fertility, mountain gray forest soils, Greater Caucasus, Sheki-Zagatala Economic Region, soil use for agriculture

Key findings: The progressive study predominantly depended on the effective use of forest soils with decisive importance. The study revealed soil stability was low in cultivated cenoses under long-term anthropogenic

The priority of agricultural development is to ensure a significant increase in crop yields while improving soil fertility through the use of fertilizers and reducing the ecological burden on the environment. The following study sought to assess the role of foliar fertilization with amino acid (Amino Turbo) and humic acid (Ruter AA and Geogumat) fertilizers on the grain yield of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and soybean (Glycine max L.). Field experiments conducted during 2023–2024 focused on the low-fertility soil, lightly irrigated sierozems, with phosphorus fertilizers as a baseline in the District Koksu, Zhetysu Region, Kazakhstan. Fertilizations occurred at key development phases, i.e., the first at BBCH (cereal development stage scale) 25–29 and the second at BBCH 30–31. Without foliar fertilizers, average yields were 3.26 t/ha in winter wheat and 3.07 t/ha in soybean. Ruter AA yielded the best result in winter wheat (4.64 t/ha), while Geogumat improved the soybean yield (4.13 t/ha). Amino Turbo was ineffective in winter wheat; however, it increased the soybean yield relative to the control. The combined application of humic and amino acid fertilizers with phosphorus supported 68%–84% yield potential in winter wheat and 92%–98% in soybean, maintaining optimal soil nutrient levels (20–40 mg/kg in wheat and 25–40 mg/kg in soybean). Overall, the humic acids (Ruter AA and Geogumat) significantly enhanced the yield potential, revealing the efficiency of this nutrient strategy for better plant growth and productivity.

Keywords: Winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), soybean (Glycine max L.), humic acids, amino acids, leaf fertilizers, mobile phosphorus, growth traits, grain yield

Key findings: The water deficit condition at the flowering stage caused a significant reduction in yield and its components in maize. The silicon treatment 6 mM L-1 concentration notably enhanced the grain and oil yields and carbohydrates.

Trichoderma sp. is a promising biocontrol agent against phytopathogens that cause significant yield losses in various crops. The following study aimed to identify the Trichoderma spp. isolates through morphological and molecular characterizations and to select the most potential Trichoderma isolates antagonistic to the fungi species Colletotrichum sp. and Rhizoctonia solani. Trichoderma spp. colonies exhibited a flat elevation with a central regular edge, central yellow to green with white edges, and the highest degree of branching and pyramid-shaped conidiophores. The 17 isolates belonged to Trichoderma asperellum (13 isolates), T. gamsii (one isolate), T. harzianum (two isolates), and T. koningiopsis (one isolate). By dual culture assays, T. koningiopsis TR3 and T. asperellum Pan23.1 had the higher growth inhibition than others against the phytopathogen Colletotrichum, accounting for 75.86% and 82.76%, respectively. T. asperellum Kun4, T. asperellum Pan23.2, and T. koningiopsis TR3 demonstrated their supreme growth inhibition against the phytopathogen Rhizoctonia (85.00%, 87.50%, and 92.50%, respectively). The preliminary screening of isolates T. asperellum (Pan23.1, Pan23.2, and Kun4) and T. koningiopsis TR3 confirmed their ability as potential biocontrol agents. Therefore, further studies are essential to explore these four isolates as effective biocontrol agents for controlling the phytopathogens Colletotrichum sp. and Rhizoctonia solani.

Keywords: Trichoderma spp., biocontrol agent, antagonism, Colletotrichum sp., Rhizoctonia sp., growth inhibition, crop losses, ITS

Key findings: Based on morphological and molecular characteristics, the 17 tested isolates acquired from this study attained grouping in the same cluster identified as Trichoderma asperellum, T. gamsii, T. harzianum, and T. koningiopsis. Dual culture tests demonstrated that T. koningiopsis TR3 and T. asperellum Pan23.1 had the highest growth inhibition against Colletotrichum. The T. asperellum Kun4 and Pan23.2 and T. koningiopsis TR3 exhibited the greatest antagonism against the phytopathogen Rhizoctonia.

Merauke is a national rice storage extremely fundamental to ensuring food security in Indonesia. For improved rice (Oryza sativa L.) grain quality and harvest and postharvest activities, a physical grain characteristic assessment took place according to the national standardization of rice in Indonesia (SNI). Among five district sampling areas, the trait moisture content was below the SNI maximum standard, while both impurities-foreign matter and immature-chalky kernels met the SNI quality II. For the features of damage and yellow kernels, they passed the SNI quality III, and red-streaked kernels met the SNI quality II. Based on physical grain quality traits, categorizing 28 samples resulted in three groups through a principal component analysis (PCA), with a variability value of 30.87% (PC1) and a cumulative variance of 56.20%. A biplot of grain quality showed that samples Pan-M, Cem-J, Inp43-J, and Inp43-K were the outlier samples as influenced by certain characteristics, such as Pan-M having the highest immature-chalky kernels with a value of 7.54% and impurities-foreign matter with a value of 5.60%. Moreover, the sample Cem-J had the highest red-streaked kernels, with a value of 19.59%, and two other samples (Inp43-K and Inp43-J) had damage-yellow kernel values of 19.98% and 19.56%, respectively.

Keywords: Rice (O. sativa L.), cultivars, plant genetic resources, PCA, biplot analysis, physical grain quality

Key findings: Rice (O. sativa L.) genotypes grown in Merauke varied based on their physical grain characteristics. For grain quality, five characteristics met the SNI standard, while the moisture content was below the SNI maximum standard and still requires special attention. Proper harvest and post-harvest practices considerably improved the grain quality, positively impacting the market value.

Based on isolating Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus from the intercellular spaces of aseptically produced sugar beet root (Beta vulgaris L.) seedlings in sucrose-containing culture conditions, the following study determined the interaction of G. diazotrophicus, a non-nodulating endophytic nitrogen-fixing bacterium. The entire root system gained intracellular colonization by G. diazotrophicus after inoculating the plant with the bacterium. Sugar beet seedlings’ root tips and cotyledons inoculated with GUS-labeled genes bore scrutiny under a light microscope to examine the blue-stained G. diazotrophicus in the root cells’ cytoplasm. The favorable environment within the cell helped produce the nitrogenase nif gene. Novel inoculations with G. diazotrophicus underwent investigation for their ability to promote the non-nodular endosymbiotic nitrogen fixation. The inoculations’ viability as a plant model for investigating the endosymbiotic theory of organelle generation in eukaryotic organisms is another vital question requiring answers.

Keywords: Sugar beet (B. vulgaris L.), GUS gene, G. diazotrophicus, nif nitrogen fixation, interaction, eukaryotic organisms

Key findings: Successful intervention of sugar beet (B. vulgaris L.) seedlings with GUS-labeled G. diazotrophicus occurred for the first time, expressing the possibility of fixing atmospheric nitrogen (N₂) as an alternative to Rhizobium bacteria.

The following study assessed the effects of UV rays and electromagnetic fields on the germination of promising medicinal and essential oil plants, sage (Salvia officinalis L.) and lavender (Lavandula angustifolia L.). The exposure of seeds of S. officinalis L. to ultraviolet rays (UV) and electromagnetic fields (EMF) individually and in combination (UV + EMF) showed the most efficient was UV + EMF (81%) and UV (77%) exposed at the experimental field, District Muynak, Republic of Karakalpakstan. By treating the L. angustifolia L. seeds with ultraviolet rays (UV) and electromagnetic fields (EMF) individually and in combination (UV + EMF), results revealed varied germination rates. However, in lavender, the highest seed germination was notable with UV + EMF (80%) and UV alone (78%).

Keywords: Sage (S. officinalis L.), lavender (L. angustifolia L.), essential oil, medicinal use, UV rays, electromagnetic field, seed germination

Key findings: The sage (S. officinalis L.) and lavender (L. angustifolia L.) seeds’ exposure to UV rays and UV + EMF resulted in a significant increase in their seed germination, and both essential oil plants showed the same response.

The succeeding study sought to determine the mean performance of parental cultivars and heterotic effects in F₁ hybrids of upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.). Six parental genotypes (Guliston, AN-Boyovut-2, Buxoro-102, Yuksalish, Shodlik-11, and Kelajak) underwent crossing to develop 30 complete diallel F₁ hybrids and evaluation in comparison with the standard cultivar (Guliston). The experiment layout in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) had three replications. Analysis of variance revealed significant differences among the parental genotypes and F₁ hybrids for most traits, except the staple length. The F₁ hybrids Guliston × AN-Boyovut-2 and AN-Boyovut-2 × Buxoro-102 produced the most bolls per plant, while the F₁ hybrids Guliston × Yuksalish, Guliston × AN-Boyovut-2, and Shodlik-11 × AN-Boyovut-2 showed the maximum boll weight. Parental genotype performance individually did not reliably predict the hybrid performance, indicating the complex genetic interactions in F₁ hybrids. The heterosis analysis showed the hybrids Guliston × AN-Boyovut-2 and AN-Boyovut-2 × Buxoro-102 exhibited relative heterosis exceeding 15%–20% and heterobeltiosis above 10%–15% for bolls per plant and boll weight, respectively. The considerable heterotic effects in the F₁ hybrids for bolls per plant and boll weight suggest that utilizing heterosis breeding could be effective.

Keywords: Upland cotton (G. hirsutum L.), hybrids, heterosis, heterobeltiosis, dominance, bolls per plant, boll weight, yield-related traits

Key findings: The upland cotton (G. hirsutum L.) hybrid Gulistan × AN-Boyovut-2 showed the best performance for boll weight and bolls per plant in the F₁ generation and proved to be the promising genotype for further improvement through breeding programs.

Maize (Zea mays L.) and soybean (Glycine max L.) cultivation face constraints, such as decreased soil fertility, biodiversity loss, increased pest and disease problems, and vulnerability to climate change. However, agroecology has gained recognition for its potential to address the environmental and social challenges in food production. This study aimed to investigate the agroecological aspects of cultivation through intercropping of maize and soybean in addition to organic and inorganic fertilizers to support the efforts toward better and sustainable food security. The research transpired in the District of Meureubo, West Aceh Regency, Indonesia. The study, carried out in a randomized complete block design, had two factors, i.e., cultivars (four groups of maize and soybean genotypes) and five fertilizer levels. The data recorded focused on the morphological characteristics of maize and soybean plants. The results showed the intercropping of maize cultivar Exotic + soybean cultivar Detap-1 with 25% of the recommended dose of inorganic fertilizer + 30 t/ha organic fertilizer gave the best performance. The lowest outcomes resulted in the intercropping of maize cultivar Bonanza + soybean cultivar Grobogan with 100% of the recommended dose of inorganic fertilizer.

Keywords: Maize (Z. mays L.), soybean (G. max L.), climate mitigation, food resilience, agroecological aspects, intercropping, organic fertilizer, morphological traits

Key findings: The intercropping of maize cultivar Exotic and soybean cultivar Detap-1 with 25% of the recommended dose of inorganic fertilizer + 30 t/ha organic fertilizer revealed the best performance of both crops.