The foothill pastures of the Kashkadarya basin and the Zarafshan range constitute a substantial reservoir of medicinal flora with considerable pharmaceutical potential. This study evaluated the total antioxidant, flavonoid, and vitamin C contents of eight medicinal plant species, principally Melissa officinalis, Mentha longifolia, and Origanum vulgare, across three phenological stages (spring, summer, and autumn), using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and spectrophotometric analysis. The study sought to establish optimal harvesting periods for industrial raw-material collection. All quantitative data had them expressed in SI-compliant units (mg/100 g); seasonal differences entailed assessment using one-way analysis of variance(ANOVA) with Tukey’s post-hoc test (P < 0.05, n = 3). Melissa officinalis attained the highest antioxidant content at the vegetative stage in spring (1170.0 mg/100 g), whereas Mentha longifolia (1050.0 mg/100 g) and Origanum vulgare (1020.0 mg/100 g) peaked during summer flowering. Flavonoid content peaked in summer for most species, with Peganum harmala showing the highest accumulation (352.5 mg/100 g). Vitamin C concentration was highest in spring in Mentha longifolia (121.0 mg/100 g). These results identify Melissa officinalis, Mentha longifolia, and Origanum vulgare as a ‘high-potential triad. ‘It indicates that pharmaceutical enterprises and raw-material collectors should schedule harvesting of Melissa officinalis in spring and Mentha longifolia and Origanum vulgare in summer to maximize antioxidant yield.

Keywords: Medicinal plants, antioxidants, Kashkadarya basin, seasonal dynamics, Melissa officinalis, Mentha longifolia, Origanum vulgare, green pharmaceuticals, biologically active food supplements or BAFS

Key findings: Melissa officinalis showed the highest antioxidant activity in spring (1170.0 mg/100 g), while Mentha longifolia (1050.0 mg/100 g) and Origanum vulgare (1020.0 mg/100 g) were leading during summer flowering.

This valuable study aimed to investigate the larval period duration and its relationship with other biological traits in different breeds and advanced lines of mulberry silkworm (Bombyx mori L.). The study observed a considerable reduction in the duration of larval transition from one instar to another. Thus, in the breeds Parvoz-1 and Parvoz-2, the duration of the transition from the second to third instar decreased by 3.7 hours, whereas in lines 500 and 501, the said duration decreased by 3.4 hours. The larval period shortening was most prominent on day 4 of the fourth instar and on the 7–8 days of the fifth instar. The relationship between the larval period duration and breeding traits revealed an increase in the larval period duration has the complementation of a decrease in phenotypic correlation coefficients (r_p = -0.645 to -0.957) among the proportion of non-viable eggs, egg hatchability, and larval survival. However, an increase in phenotypic correlation coefficients (r_p = 0.859-0.970) was evident between the number of viable eggs, the weight of healthy eggs, the level of larval infection, and cocoon productivity.

Keywords: Mulberry silkworm (B. mori L.), larval period duration, egg productivity, egg hatchability, larval survival, cocoon weight, phenotypic correlation

Key findings: Developing highly productive silkworm (B. mori L.) hybrids with shorter larval periods will contribute to the localization of egg production at the specialized enterprises in Uzbekistan. These measures will increase productivity and improve quality traits of the produced cocoons.

This study comprised a comprehensive GC-MS (gas chromatography-mass spectrometry) fingerprinting of leaf cuticular waxes in four Chaenomeles Lindl. species—C. japonica, C. speciosa, C. × superba, and C. cathayensis. The growth of said species has prevailed growth under diverse agroclimatic conditions of Moscow (temperate) and Crimea (Yalta) (subtropical), Russia. The identified metabolites totaled 54, including terpenoids (13), fatty acids (FA) (9), glycerides (7), alcohols (6), alkanes (5), organic acids (4), phytosterols (4), polyphenols (4), vitamin E, and sucrose. The waxes displayed characteristics of the highest content of long-chain compounds (C28–C33), with C30 triterpenes being the dominant fraction overall. Southern ecotypes exhibited a prolonged profile of terpenoids, alkanes, and sugar alcohols, revealing an adaptive enhancement of the leaf hydrophobic barrier against heat and UV stress conditions. Remarkably, the phytosterol stigmast-5-ene reached its identification for the first time in Chaenomeles leaf waxes, exhibiting a considerable accretion in Yalta samples compared with trace amounts in Moscow samples. The results enunciated that non-targeted GC-MS profiling provides a dependable basis for phytochemical recognition and appraising the ecological plasticity. Among these four species, C. cathayensis showed the most partial metabolite set, confirming a general trend toward reduced chemical diversity in the Moscow temperate region.

Keywords: Chaenomeles, leaves, cuticular wax, GC-MS fingerprinting, agroclimatic adaptation, ecological plasticity

Key findings: Assimilation of 54 metabolites into group-specific profiles revealed a dual nature of Chaenomeles cuticular waxes with species specificity and environmental plasticity, enabling vigorous identification of phytochemicals.

The development of a high-biomass alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) hybrid was the aim of this research, along with evaluating its agronomic and morphological performance under Uzbekistan conditions. The hybrid line Tashkent-3651 reached its development through conventional hybridization between the parental genotypes k-6365 (Sudan) and k-3189 (Asia Minor). The newly developed alfalfa hybrid (Tashkent-3651) and its parental cultivars (k-6365 and k-3189) reached assessment in comparison with the check genotype Tashkent-1 under field conditions. The results revealed significant (p ≤ 0.05) differences among the genotypes for green biomass yield, hay yield, plant height, and leafiness. The hybrid Tashkent-3651 enunciated superior performance for higher green biomass and hay yield, as well as improved morphological traits compared with the standard cultivar Tashkent-1 and the parental genotypes. The increased productivity of the alfalfa hybrid showed an association with enhanced growth vigor, higher leafiness, and improved biomass accumulation. Overall, the results confirmed that hybridization between genetically diverse genotypes was an effective approach for improving biomass productivity and forage quality in alfalfa. The newly developed hybrid Tashkent-3651 showed the high potential for cultivation under agroecological conditions of Uzbekistan.

Keywords: Alfalfa (M. sativa L.), hybridization, biomass yield, hay yield, morphological traits, leafiness, Uzbekistan conditions

Key findings: The alfalfa (M. sativa L.) hybrid Tashkent-3651 (k-6365 × k-3189) significantly outperformed the standard cultivar and parental genotypes in biomass and hay yield. The hybrid higher plant height (95 ± 2.4 cm) and leafiness (49.2% ± 1.2%) considerably contributed to the improved forage productivity and quality.

Maize (Zea mays L.) production constraints increase from soil salinity, which interrupts plant growth through physiological and anatomical instability. Therefore, to develop stress-resilient cultivars, effective approaches are essential to generate adaptive variations in genetic material through mutation breeding using gamma irradiation. The concerned study aimed to evaluate the early anatomical and physiological responses of maize to gamma irradiation under non-stress conditions and identify the traits associated with salinity stress adaptation. Maize seeds received irradiation with Cobalt-60 (⁶⁰Co) gamma rays at doses of 0, 100, 200, and 300 Gy as they grew under field conditions with standard agronomic practices. The results showed gamma radiation induced dose-dependent anatomical and physiological responses in maize. A dose of 100 Gy tended to maintain the integrity of the anatomical structure and chlorophyll content. Meanwhile, a dose of 200–300 Gy caused considerable variations in the anatomical structure, particularly stomata size and tissue thickness, as well as a considerable decrease in chlorophyll b and total chlorophyll content in maize.

Keywords: Maize, induced mutation, dose response, salinity stress adaptation, leaf anatomy, chlorophyll pigments

Key findings: Gamma irradiation induced synchronized anatomical and physiological variations in maize, with an apparent dose-dependent response. The early responses highlighted the potential of anatomical and physiological traits as reliable indicators for selecting stress-adaptive genotypes through mutation breeding.

Early seed vigor and uniform establishment have become the recognized key determinants of yield stability in winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), particularly under diverse environmental conditions. Determining early physiological performance and adaptation potential can be via seed imbibition efficiency, root elongation, coleoptile growth, and germination capacity. Therefore, the following study aimed to evaluate the effects of biological seed treatments on these traits in winter wheat cv. Asr under laboratory conditions. Wheat seeds received treatments with different dilution ratios (1:1–1:9) of Bacillus megaterium, B. subtilis, and B. licheniformis, assessing the variables such as hydration dynamics, seedling growth, and germination. The results showed concentration-dependent physiological responses in wheat seedlings. Moderate dilutions (1:7–1:9) improved water uptake and considerably stimulated root and coleoptile elongation compared with the control. Root and coleoptile length exhibited the robust coordinated response, revealing enhanced early vigor. The germination percentage varied moderately, suggesting that treatments mainly influenced the post-imbibition growth rather than basic viability. Correlation analysis confirmed a significant association between the root and coleoptile growth. Thus, the optimized biological seed treatments remarkably enhanced the early structural growth and establishment potential of winter wheat seedlings.

Keywords: Winter wheat (T. aestivum L.), Bacillus spp., biological seed treatments, seedling vigor, imbibition, early seedling development, root elongation, coleoptile growth

Key findings: Biological seed treatment with Bacillus spp. significantly improved the early physiological performance of winter wheat (T. aestivum L.) cv. Asr seedlings. Moderate dilution ratios (1:7–1:9) enhanced water uptake, root length, and coleoptile elongation, while germination percentage showed moderate variations.

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.