Kazakhstan has become widely regarded as one of the primary centers of origin and genetic diversity of wild tulips (Tulipa). Among them, Tulipa greigii Regel is a prominent species distributed across Central Asia and protected in Kazakhstan due to its slow development and threats from illegal harvesting. This study investigated the plant density, morphological characteristics, and phylogenetic structure of T. greigii L. populations in the Shubaykyzyl area, Turkestan Region, Kazakhstan. Plant density assessment used the quadrat method, while the conduct of morphological analysis focused on diagnostic traits observed in natural populations. Phylogenetic relationships’ evaluation employed ITS, matK, rbcL, and psbA sequences. The density varied from nine to 36 plants (per square meter) across different sites. Morphological observations showed the species has the feature of a single erect stem, 35–50 cm tall, and large solitary red flowers 10–12 cm in diameter, with a black or yellow basal spot. Phylogenetic analysis of ITS sequences revealed that T. greigii L. shares the highest genetic similarity with T. patens, T. alberti, and T. kaufmanniana, forming a distinct clade. These results indicate close regional genetic relationships among Central Asian tulip species and suggest a relatively recent divergence of local wild populations.

Keywords: Tulipa greigii L., genetic diversity, morphology, population density, phylogenetic analysis, ITS, chloroplast DNA

Key findings: T. greigii L. populations exhibited variable densities while retaining key diagnostic traits. Phylogenetic analysis showed the highest genetic similarity and clustered the species T. greigii L. with three closely related species (T. patens, T. alberti L., and T. kaufmanniana), exhibiting recent regional divergence in Central Asia.

The concerned research aimed to investigate the influence of medicinal plants of different families on the number and composition of micromycetes and the phytotoxic activity of the soil. It also sought to evaluate the use of antimicrobial activity of total extracts obtained from raw materials of some medicinal plants in folk medicines. The results revealed essential oils and aqueous extracts obtained from the medicinal plants native to Nakhchivan, Azerbaijan, exhibited antimicrobial effects of varying degrees. Studies on the dynamics of the soil and root microbiota of medicinal and essential oil plants depending on the different seasons and locations in the Nakhchivan Region were insufficient. For the first time, composition and spatiotemporal patterns of microbial communities, as well as their seasonal (spring, summer, and fall) and microbiome domain specificity (bacteria and fungi), have gained studies. The β-diversity analysis revealed considerable differences in microbial communities.

Keywords: Vegetation, medicinal plants, phytocenoses, soil micromycetes, antimicrobial effects, oil content, fungal species

Key findings: The principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) based on distance to the rhizosphere bacterial communities of the studied Allium plant species showed the two principal components explaining 45.6% and 4.4% of the total variation for bacteria and 14.9% and 7.2% of the total variation for fungi, respectively.

Rice cultivation constraints on peat soils often result from low nutrient availability, highlighting the need for sustainable biofertilizer alternatives. Acrostichum aureum L., a naturally growing fern in coastal environments, could harbor beneficial endophytic bacteria with plant growth-promoting properties. This study aimed to isolate and characterize endophytic bacteria from A. aureum L. and evaluate their potential as biofertilizers for rice cultivation on peat soil. Seventeen endophytic bacterial isolates, screened for plant growth-promoting traits, emerged with three promising isolates selected for further evaluation. Growing of rice seedlings in peat soil used a completely randomized design for 14 days. Inoculated seedlings generally exhibited higher mean values for germination and growth parameters than the control. The isolate A.T 4 (Acinetobacter sp.) achieved the highest germination percentage (80%), plant height (25.78 cm), and root length (7.48 cm). The topmost mean leaf number (3.00) and dry weight (24.36 mg) recording appeared in seedlings treated with the isolate B.A 3 (Bacillus sp.). Overall, the selected isolates improved rice seedling performance and demonstrated potential as biofertilizer candidates for peat soil cultivation. Further greenhouse and field studies are essential to confirm their effectiveness.

Keywords: Endophytic bacteria, A. aureum L., rice, biofertilizer, halotolerant, salinity stress, sustainable agriculture

Key findings: Endophytic bacteria procured from the sea fern (A. aureum L.) revealed the robust plant growth-promoting activities and tolerance to salinity and acidic soils, which highlighted its potential as promising biofertilizer for sustainable rice cultivation on marginal lands.

This study aimed to evaluate the carbohydrate dynamics at the tillering nodes of four winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars (Antonina, Yaksart, Moskvich, and Ilgor) under irrigated and rainfed conditions in the semi-arid Nurobod District, Uzbekistan. Soluble sugar quantification used the HPLC (high-performance liquid chromatography) during the wintering period (December-March). The two-way analysis of variance revealed the cultivars (Factor A) were the dominant driver of total variance in sugar variation (74.5%–76.8%) in January, while the growing conditions (Factor B) approximately contributed 10% (P ≤ 0.001). A significant negative correlation (r = -0.84) between the soil moisture and total sugar content disclosed the robust osmotic adaptation under rainfed stress conditions. Among the wheat genotypes, locally adapted cultivars Yaksart and Ilgor exhibited the highest sugar retention and stability. The results suggested that while environmental stress factors trigger the sugar synthesis, the magnitude of the cryoprotective response was primarily the genotype genetic trait, proving cultivars Yaksart and Ilgor as highly resilient for dryland farming.

Keywords: Winter wheat (T. aestivum L.), climate-resilient cultivars, crown tissue, genotype-environment interaction, HPLC, rainfed stress conditions, soluble carbohydrates

Key findings: The results revealed the genotype genetic potential was the primary driver of sugar accumulation in winter wheat (T. aestivum L.). The significant negative correlation between soil moisture and sugar content confirmed the robust osmotic adaptation mechanism under rainfed stress. Cultivars Yaksart and Ilgor were distinctly with the highest carbohydrate stability and retention, proving them the most climate-resilient cultivars.

This study integrated 13 transcriptomic datasets, representing seven major Southeast Asian crops (banana, rice, wheat, garlic, chickpea, tomato, and common bean) challenged by six Fusarium lineages to identify conserved resistance mechanisms. Harmonizing gene expression profiles into six functional defense modules was successful before evaluation using a diversity-weighted recurrence approach. A conserved defense core’s identification consisted of salicylic acid-jasmonic acid (SA-JA) signaling (score = 11.5), phenylpropanoid-lignin metabolism (10.0), and reactive oxygen species (ROS) detoxification (9.5), consistently enriched in resistant interactions. These modules coordinated key regulatory genes, including WRKY, ERF, MYB, and NPR1, together with downstream defense effectors involved in lignification, antioxidant activity, and pathogenesis-related responses. Additional contributions from RNA interference and cell wall-apoplast remodeling indicated adaptive, context-dependent defense layers operating across specific host-pathogen systems. Based on cross-system recurrence patterns, NPR1, WRKY33/70, ERF071, PAL, SOD, and PR genes emerged as promising candidate markers for resistance breeding. This study provides the first cross-crop meta-transcriptomic synthesis of Fusarium resistance in Southeast Asian cropping systems and establishes a conserved defense framework with potential applications in marker-assisted breeding and transcript-based diagnostics.

Keywords: Fusarium disease, crop improvement, plant resistance, defense modules, marker-assisted breeding, meta-transcriptomic

Key findings: Meta-transcriptomic integration across the seven main crops revealed a conserved Fusarium resistance framework in Southeast Asia. A core triad—SA-JA signaling, phenylpropanoid-lignin metabolism, and ROS detoxification—dominates the resistant responses. Central gene families (NPR1, WRKY, ERF, MYB, PAL, and PR) act as key regulatory nodes. A robust candidate marker panel could support marker-assisted breeding and transcript-based diagnostics.

The family Orchidaceae has an extremely diverse and complex evolutionary relationship. Despite global studies on orchid genetic diversity and evolution, the local wild orchids remain less characterized for genetic diversity in the Kurdistan Region, Iraq. Consequently, the genetic diversity of this local ecotype remains unknown. This study aimed to examine the morphometric patterns and molecular genotyping of six species (Anacamptis papilionacea, Himantoglossum caprinum, Ophrys reinholdii, Ophrys schulzei, Ophrys sphegodes subsp. taurica, and Orchis mascula) of wild orchids collected in the Kurdistan Region, Iraq. A morphological study revealed that the genus Ophrys taxa had remarkable phenotypic differences, particularly in the speculum colors and labellum patterns. Species H. caprinum was distinctive because of the long and ribbon-like central labellum lobe. The morphological characterization through Iraqi flora and molecular analysis confirmed the species O. mascula as an Orchis clade component. Molecular analysis involved amplification and sequencing of the ITS1-5.8S-ITS4 region, and the phylogenetic tree showed four major clades corresponding to the four genera Ophrys, Anacamptis, Himantoglossum, and Orchis. Consequently, integrating morphological traits with ITS-based phylogeny supported the current taxonomic placement of the studied taxa and highlighted the values of integrative approaches in plant taxonomy.

Keywords: Orchidaceae, genetic diversity, morphological traits, ITS markers, Ophrys, Anacamptis, Himantoglossum, Orchis

Key findings: The results revealed the ITS marker provides a reliable and efficient approach for species identification among six orchid taxa, hence enhancing integrative taxonomy and facilitating species differentiation within the family Orchidaceae.

Root rot caused by Fusarium species is the major constraint in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) production under arid and semi-arid conditions of Central Asia. This study aimed to investigate the occurrence, pathogenicity, and molecular identity of Fusarium culmorum associated with chickpea root rot in Uzbekistan. During the growing season of 2025, collecting symptomatic chickpea plants transpired from fields in the Gallaarol District, Jizzakh Region, Uzbekistan, which yielded 10 Fusarium isolates. The selection of isolate GPEB-65 proceeded for detailed characterization. Morphological analysis revealed a rapid colony growth, reddish pigmentation, abundant chlamydospores, and the absence of microconidia, consistent with F. culmorum. The TEF1-α (translation elongation factor 1-alpha) gene sequencing confirmed species identity, with 99.8% similarity to reference strains. Phylogenetic analysis placed the isolate GPEB-65 within a strongly supported Fusarium culmorum clade, confirming its taxonomic identity. Two unique single-nucleotide polymorphisms (A7G and C205T) distinguished the Uzbekistani isolate from strains reported in Iraq and the United States. Pathogenicity assays demonstrated the highest virulence, with severe root necrosis and a disease severity index (79%), fulfilling Koch’s postulates through re-isolation. The results confirmed the presence of a highly virulent and genetically distinct F. culmorum population affecting the chickpea crop in Uzbekistan and provided a robust foundation for improved molecular monitoring and resistance breeding strategies.

Keywords: Chickpea (C. arietinum L.), Fusarium culmorum, root rot, TEF1-α gene, molecular identification, phylogenetic analysis, single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)

Key findings: This study confirmed F. culmorum as the causal agent of chickpea (C. arietinum L.) root rot in Uzbekistan. TEF1-α sequencing (99.8% similarity) and phylogenetic analysis placed the GPEB-65 strain within a considerably supported F. culmorum clade. Pathogenicity assays demonstrated the highest virulence, with a disease severity index at 79%, emphasizing the significant threat of this pathogen to regional chickpea production.

Selection of stable and high-yielding tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) genotypes is a challenging issue due to genotype-by-environment interactions. This study aimed to evaluate the yield performance and heritability among 10 tomato putative M7-mutant lines derived from gamma-ray irradiation and five commercial cultivars for agronomic and yield-related traits under two lowland environments, Bogor and Kolaka, Indonesia. Fifteen genotypes incurred evaluation in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications in each environment. The results revealed that genotype-by-environment interactions significantly influenced the agronomic and yield-related traits of tomatoes. Higher fruit yield per plant and fruit number were prominent at Bogor (1069.63 g plant⁻¹ and 44.08 fruits plant⁻¹) than with Kolaka (434.29 g plant⁻¹ and 18.25 fruits plant⁻¹). It indicated that the Bogor environment was more favorable for tomato growth and yield production. The genotype G7 produced the most fruits per plant in both Bogor and Kolaka (95.58 and 30.81 fruits, respectively). Productivity showed a significant positive correlation with fruit weight and fruit diameter. Maximum broad-sense heritability was evident for plant height and fruit weight. The study revealed the potential of mutant tomato lines for developing high-yielding cultivars adapted to lowland environments.

Keywords: Tomato (S. lycopersicum L.), genotype-by-environment interactions, genetic parameters, heritability, agronomic and yield traits

Key findings: Genotype-by-environment interactions significantly affect the tomato’s (S. lycopersicum L.) fruit yield and its components. Tomato genotypes produced a higher fruit number and yield at Bogor than at Kolaka.

Garlic breeding suffers from limited genetic variability and poor adaptability to tropical lowland environments due to high temperatures and humidity. This study aimed to compare the genetic variability and selection efficiency of the M2 garlic mutants in two contrasting areas (highland and lowland) in Central Java, Indonesia. The experiment has an augmented research design. The results showed the analysis of genetic parameters confirms that the highland environment optimizes the expression of the genetic potential of the M2 garlic mutants. Conversely, with the environmental stress, the garlic mutants still exhibited sufficient variability for selection based on bulb weight. Obtaining a total of 29 mutants came from the highlands, and 13 were from the lowlands. The PCA biplot successfully validated the G × E interaction by explaining 55.41% of the total variance. Mutants H28, H29, H15, and H23 express potential as putative highland-adapted mutants. Meanwhile, mutant L9 displays adaptability to lowland areas. As a plant propagated vegetatively, garlic allows for the genetic fixation of induced superior traits in subsequent generations. Although there is a single-season constraint, screening these early generations using biplot analysis provides an efficient framework for initial selection.

Keywords: Garlic (A. sativum L.), gamma irradiation, M2 mutants, genetic variability, heritability and genetic gain, lowland adaptation, augmented design, yield traits

Key findings: The M2-generation garlic (A. sativum L.) mutants exhibited reduced heritability for vegetative traits due to high temperature and humidity stress in lowland areas. Nevertheless, the 13 mutants maintained the high bulb weight despite environmental stress, demonstrating that direct selection in the target environment was highly effective for isolating mutants resistant to high temperature and humidity.

Maize (Zea mays L.) is the most important cereal crop worldwide and is highly susceptible to infection by Aspergillus flavus. This pathogenic fungus can cause ear rot and produce toxic aflatoxin contamination in maize kernels. This contamination poses serious economic and health risks globally. Limited knowledge of maize resistance mechanisms to this fungus presents a challenge for scientists and farmers trying to select resistant varieties. This field trial aimed to assess the maize responses to A. flavus exposure during the autumn and spring of 2023–2024. Maize cobs from both inoculated and non-inoculated plants were harvested and shade-dried before analysis for various parameters. Results showed non-inoculated maize genotypes performed better than those inoculated with A. flavus, despite minimal visible infection symptoms across all genotypes. Exposure to A. flavus negatively affects the contents of protein, fat, carbohydrates, fiber, and moisture of grains. The principal component analysis identified PBG-35, PBG-43, and PBG-16 as the top-performing genotypes, while PBG-80, PBG-81, and PBG-83 performed poorly under both conditions. The results revealed that inoculation with A. flavus reduces maize grain yield and quality even without visible infection signs. These resistant genotypes can be desirable in developing Aspergillus ear rot-resistant maize hybrids with a reduced risk of aflatoxin contamination through breeding programs.

Keywords: Maize (Z. mays L.), fungal infection, cob, inoculation, disease resistance, Aspergillus flavus, ear rot, seasonal variability, grain quality

Key findings: The changing climatic pattern worldwide causes significant biotic stress on maize (Z. mays L.), specifically Aspergillus flavus infection, ear rot, and aflatoxin contamination. Addressing these issues requires the identification and screening of resistant maize germplasm. Findings highlight the importance of disease-resistant germplasm for developing disease-resistant hybrids in maize breeding programs.