Drought is a major problem that threatens rice production worldwide. The development of drought-tolerant rice (Oryza sativa L.) genotypes is vital in overcoming such challenges. The study’s objective sought to investigate the diversity of drought responses of 33 elite rice cultivars of Indonesia. Two sets of experiments proceeded, covering germination and seedling stages. Imposing drought stress treatment in the germination stage used 25% polyethylene glycol (PEG) 6000, while in the seedling stage, treating rice germplasms with water stress took place in a soil-filled concrete tank. The selection of the best germplasm ensued using the multi-trait genotype-ideotype distance index (MGIDI). Based on the MGIDI selection, six drought-tolerant rice cultivars succeeded in their identification, including Inpari 13, Inpari 35, Inpari 28, Inpari 37, Inpari 23, and Inpari 43. The rice variety Inpari 13 showed close similarity to the ideotype in response to drought stress at the germination stage, whereas Inpari 35 and Inpari 43 exhibited close similarity to the ideotype in response to drought stress during the seedling stage. The selected drought-tolerant rice from an elite germplasm collection is a valuable genetic source for rice improvement and, in the short term, for direct deployment of the genotype in drought-prone environments.

Keywords: Rice (O. sativa L.), germplasm, drought tolerance, MGIDI, Inpari 13

Key findings: This study identified drought-tolerant rice (O. sativa L.) genotypes based on a multi-trait index selection, which will be a valuable genetic resource for rice improvement.

Hybridization between high-yielding assamica and high-quality sinensis tea types results in wide genetic variation that provides opportunities for early selection of elite tea genotypes. This study evaluated 24 F₁ hybrid progenies derived from eight cross combinations (sinensis × assamica) to assess shoot regeneration, branching, canopy development, and plant architecture under heavy and medium pruning during six months of observation. Several progenies derived from the Suka Ati-40 parental line showed more vigorous vegetative growth than the other hybrid combinations. According to the Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) descriptors, most hybrid progenies displayed upward or outward leaf orientation, together with shrub growth habit and spreading canopy architecture. Shoot number had a positive correlation with canopy diameter and the number of primary branches, whereas shoot length showed a positive correlation with canopy diameter. These results provide useful morphological criteria for identifying tea genotypes associated with a desirable canopy ideotype and support early clonal selection in tea breeding programs.

Keywords: Tea (C. sinensis L.), hybrid progenies, pruning, canopy ideotype, morphological traits, early clonal selection

Key findings: Tea (C. sinensis L.) hybrid progenies derived from crosses between sinensis and assamica showed wide variation in shoot regeneration and canopy development after pruning, providing useful morphological traits for early clonal selection.

During the dry season, declining soil moisture frequently limits water availability for potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.), exposing plants to drought stress that disrupts normal growth and ultimately reduces tuber yield. Therefore, drought stress-tolerant potato cultivars are essential to address this alarming issue. Stomatal conductance plays a central role in plant responses to drought because it regulates both water losses through transpiration and CO₂ uptake for photosynthesis. Hence, optimizing stomatal conductance represents an effective strategy to improve water-use efficiency while sustaining plant growth under water-limited conditions. The Pain-1 gene with reduced expression promotes the degradation of sucrose into glucose and fructose through genome editing using CRISPR/Cas9 (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats/CRISPR-associated protein 9). This study aimed to identify the potato explant type with the highest transformation efficiency to support efficient CRISPR/Cas9-mediated editing of the Pain-1 gene. As a preliminary study, transformation efficiency analysis ensued through leaf and internode explants of potato clone BR1 plantlets used for genome editing. The transformation took place using the Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain EHA101 containing the pGW903 vector plasmid, target sequence, and two sgRNA designs (VIST2 and VIST3). Transformant status received assessment by identifying the presence of the Cas9 and hpt genes. The results showed internode explants exhibited significantly higher transformation efficiency (33.46%) than leaf explants (7.95%).

Keywords: Potato (S. tuberosum L.), drought tolerance, genome editing, CRISPR/Cas9, explant, sgRNA, tuber yield

Key findings: In potatoes (S. tuberosum L.), the efficient genome editing was highly dependent on the explant type. This preliminary study revealed a significant difference between the transformation efficiency of potato leaves and internodes. Internode explants consistently showed higher transformation efficiency across two different sgRNA designs. The results suggested the use of internodes as explants for genome editing in potatoes.

Soybean (Glycine max L.) is an important edible-oil crop whose productivity faces threats of rising temperature under climate change, making the identification of heat-tolerant genotypes crucial. This study evaluated 18 soybean genotypes for heat tolerance across five temperatures (25 °C, 30 °C, 35 °C, 40 °C, and 45 °C), focusing on survival rate, shoot and root lengths, and total plant weight. Gepak Kuning, Argomulyo, and Demas 1 showed robust resilience and consistent superiority. The highest broad-sense heritability (H² up to 1.00) recorded was for these traits, underscoring their breeding potential. Correlation showed positive associations among root length, shoot length, and leaf area, suggesting these as tolerance indicators. Heat tolerance index (HTI) classified Gepak Kuning, Argomulyo, and Demas 1 as tolerant; Devon 1, Denasa 1, and Derap 1 as moderately tolerant; and Detap 1, Grobogan, and Dering 3 as susceptible. The study identified promising heat-tolerant genotypes and traits for climate-smart soybean breeding.

Keywords: Soybean (G. max L.), heat stress, early growth stage, heat tolerance index, thermo-tolerance screening

Key findings: Soybean (G. max L.) genotypes Gepak Kuning, Argomulyo, and Demas 1 revealed significant heat tolerance at 45 °C with the highest survival rate and heat tolerance index. Positive correlation between root-shoot traits enables integrated selection strategies to enhance plant vigor under tropical heat stress conditions.

The identification of stable and high-yielding wheat genotypes under variable environmental conditions is essential for sustainable grain production. In this study, evaluating 201 bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars succeeded during 2021–2023 under contrasting environmental conditions in the Tashkent and Khorezm regions of Uzbekistan. Based on morphophysiological characteristics, yield components, and stress tolerance indices, 20 promising genotypes attained selection for detailed evaluation. Several productivity and stability indices used included the stress tolerance index (STI), mean productivity (MP), geometric mean productivity (GMP), plant productivity index (PPI), and Mexican index (Mx), assessing the adaptability and yield performance of studied genotypes. The results revealed considerable variability among wheat genotypes in yield components and productivity indices across environments. The highest recorded 1000-kernel weight resulted in the cultivar Krasnovodopadskaya 210 under Tashkent conditions, whereas in the Khorezm Region, high values were evident in cultivars Krasnovodopadskaya 210, Ramin, and Frunzenskaya 60. Combined analysis of yield performance and stress tolerance indices identified cultivars Asr, Alex, and Genotype-2 as the most stable and high-yielding genotypes across contrasting environments. The identified promising genotypes represent valuable genetic resources aimed at improving yield stability and stress tolerance under diverse agroecological conditions in Uzbekistan.

Keywords: Bread wheat (T. aestivum L.), stress tolerance index, yield indicators, different conditions

Key findings: Promising bread wheat (T. aestivum L.) genotypes, Asr, Alex, Genotype 2, Karavan, and Krasnovodopadskaya 210, emerged with higher yield potential and stability through multi-environment evaluation across the contrasting environments of Uzbekistan.

This study aimed to evaluate the physiological performance of 13 promising advanced lines and the cultivar Namangan-77 of upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) under different water supply conditions. Genotypes enunciated significant differences for plastid pigments under optimal and water-stressed conditions. The results revealed that a marked decrease in pigment content expressed impaired photosynthesis, weakened leaf energetic status, and increased metabolic disruptions in drought-sensitive genotypes, whereas pigment retention reflected robust adaptive mechanisms in drought-tolerant cotton genotypes. These physiological mechanisms confirmed that pigments served as reliable biomarkers for assessing drought-tolerant cotton genotypes. The results exhibited water deficit conditions significantly affect key processes in cotton plant leaves, from water balance to the stability of the photosynthetic apparatus. Under optimal conditions, all physiological processes proceeded efficiently, while under modeled drought, it activated complex adaptive mechanisms to preserve more water and pigments, reduce transpiration, and stabilize the leaf structure.

Keywords: Upland cotton (G. hirsutum L.), water regimes, drought stress conditions, physiological traits, chlorophyll, carotenoids, morphological traits, agronomic variables

Key findings: The plastid pigments’ analysis showed drought-tolerant cotton (G. hirsutum L.) genotypes (T-217, T-4, and Xi Zhong 52) retained higher pigment levels under water stress, while drought-sensitive genotypes (Namangan-77, T-2, and Xi Zhong 78) exhibited a significant decrease in pigment content. The results highlighted the effectiveness of using a comprehensive assessment of physiological, morphological, and agronomic traits to select drought-tolerant cotton genotypes.

Traditional agroforestry on peatlands conserves biodiversity while supporting the livelihoods of rural communities. This study characterized species composition and community structure, compared plant diversity and dominance, and evaluated the livelihood functions of traditional peatland agroforestry in three villages in Tapung Subdistrict, Kampar, Riau, Indonesia. Vegetation data collection came from 12 20 m × 20 m plots, and the documentation of plant utilization continued through semi-structured interviews with agroforestry owners. These agroforestry systems contained 14–20 plant species, with different dominant species across the villages. Agricultural crops were dominant with oil palm, coconut, banana, and areca palm, while matoa, jackfruit, mango, rambutan, and water apple were the dominant tree species. All sites exhibited moderate species diversity (H’ = 2.18–2.69), high evenness (J = 0.83–0.91), and low dominance (C = 0.08–0.16). Fruit species represent the largest utilization category, with 57%–65% of harvested produce consumed by households and the remainder sold as supplementary income. These findings indicate that traditional agroforestry on peatlands effectively integrates productive crops with various tree species, supports rural livelihoods and ecological diversity, and provides a scientific basis for the sustainable selection of species in tropical peatland agroforestry.

Keywords: Biodiversity, community livelihoods, traditional agroforestry, trees, tropical peatlands

Key findings: Traditional peatland agroforestry maintained moderate species diversity, high evenness, and low dominance despite differences in dominant agricultural crops and tree species among villages. Integrating productive crops with diverse multipurpose tree species supports household food security and supplementary income while maintaining ecological diversity, providing valuable guidance for species selection in sustainable peatland agroforestry.

The concerned study sought to determine the variations based on the DNA fingerprint in two important medicinal plants, sage (Salvia officinalis L.) and thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.), belonging to the family Labiatae, using three different types of DNA markers—random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD), inter-simple sequence repeats (ISSR), and start codon targeted (SCoT). The comparison of these three types of markers revealed the recording of the highest molecular size of amplified bands (988 bp) was with SCoT markers, while the lowest molecular size (156 bp) resulted in RAPD markers. By comparing the RAPD and SCoT markers, the latter produced the highest main, amplified, monomorphic, and discriminatory values. The SCoT markers also gave the most polymorphic bands. The ISSR markers outperformed the other markers in polymorphism, efficiency, and the number of unique fingerprints.

Keywords: Sage (S. officinalis L.), thyme (T. vulgaris L.), RAPD, ISSR, SCoT, DNA fingerprints

Key findings: The SCoT, RAPD, and ISSR markers considerably distinguished the two species of medicinal plants, sage (S. officinalis L.) and thyme (T. vulgaris L.), besides variations in their phytochemical content.

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) is a major global fiber crop. Early-maturing cotton offers the advantage of avoiding stresses by shortening the growth period. This study evaluated the heterotic potential and correlation of morphological and biochemical traits for earliness in upland cotton. The crossing of eight parental genotypes used a half-diallel mating design; the resultant F₁, along with parents, underwent evaluation for earliness. The cross VH-327 × CRIS-613 (-19.55% and -19.98%) displayed a maximum significant negative heterobeltiosis for days to flowering and squaring. SAS-2 × Coker Wild (53.11%) exhibited the higher heterotic response for superoxide dismutase activity, whereas Ghauri-2 × Coker Carolina Queen showed the maximum significant positive heterobeltiosis of 21.39% for peroxidase activity. For catalase, Cyto-124 × SAS-2 (6.58%), Cyto-124 × CRIS-613 (7.59%), and Ghauri-2 × Coker Wild (9.84%) demonstrated a significant positive heterobeltiosis. The correlation results revealed a significant positive association between days to squaring and flowering, while superoxide dismutase had a negative correlation with days to flowering at the phenotypic level. Overall, VH-327 × CRIS-613 and Ghauri-2 × Coker Wild had desirable results for earliness and yield-related traits and can be favorable for the breeding of early-maturing and high-yielding cotton genotypes.

Keywords: Upland cotton (G. hirsutum L.), heterobeltiosis, antioxidant enzymes, early maturity, diallel, correlation

Key findings: In upland cotton (G. hirsutum L.), the cross combination VH-327 × CRIS-613 exhibited desirable heterosis for earliness-related traits, while Ghauri-2 × Coker Carolina Queen and Ghauri-2 × Coker Wild provided valuable resources for targeted breeding programs, particularly for antioxidant enzymes and yield-related traits.

This research describes positive effects of the combined use of stimulant + insecticide + fungicide in improving phytosanitary conditions of the cotton field. The upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) crop acquired proper nourishment with robust stems, numerous leaves, and enhanced photosynthesis productivity and resulted in the highest seed cotton yield with better fiber quality. By analyzing the cotton leaf surface area, fine fiber cultivar Marvarid provided 4,375,200 cm²/ha, followed by medium fiber cultivar Bukhara-8 with 4,262,700 cm²/ha, using the combination of stimulant + insecticide + fungicide. By analyzing the seed cotton yield, the fine-fiber cultivar Marvarid resulted in 11.3 t/ha (35.0%) higher than the standard variant, followed by the medium-fiber cultivar Bukhara-8 with 10.6 t/ha (33.7%).

Keywords: Upland cotton (G. hirsutum L.), cultivars, diseases, pests, convolution neural network, fungicides, insecticides, seed cotton yield

Key findings: The use of stimulant + insecticide + fungicide in cotton (G. hirsutum L.) improved the phytosanitary conditions of the cotton field, with the crop properly nourished, having strong stems, numerous leaves, and photosynthesis productivity.