Understanding the genetic diversity of Durio testudinarius Becc. (Malvaceae) is essential for effective germplasm conservation and genetic resource management; however, molecular information on this wild durian species remains limited. The pertinent study aimed to carry out a comprehensive assessment on genetic diversity of the species D. testudinarius across five populations distributed in five regencies (Sambas, Landak, Sanggau, Sekadau, and Ketapang) in West Kalimantan, Indonesia. In this study, simple sequence repeats also supported barcoding deoxyribonucleic acid of 12 taxa of Durio species. The highest observed and expected heterozygosity values resulted in the Sekadau population (Ho = 0.363 and He = 0.453, respectively), although the species exhibited an overall low level of genetic diversity. DNA barcoding analysis showed the Sambas and Ketapang taxa of D. testudinarius clustered together with strong bootstrap support (93%). Moreover, D. testudinarius formed a distinct lineage that showed a clear separation from D. dulcis, D. zibethinus, D. oxleyanus, D. kutejensis, D. graveolens, D. lanceolatus, and D. acutifolius. The low heterozygosity values revealed limited gene flow among the D. testudinarius populations. Furthermore, the DNA evidence suggested that the germplasm recognized by deoxyribonucleic acid disclosed D. testudinarius accessions were genetically distant from other Durio species in Kalimantan, Indonesia.

Keywords: D. testudinarius, species, DNA barcoding, morphology, SSR microsatellites

Key findings: The species D. testudinarius populations in Sambas and Ketapang exhibited distinct groups of Landak, Sekadau, and Sanggau. Based on DNA analysis, five accessions of the D. testudinarius accessions indicated obvious distinctions from seven other species, D. dulcis, D. zibethinus, D. oxleyanus, D. kutejensis, D. graveolens, D. lanceolatus, and D. acutifolius.

Proso millet (Panicum miliaceum L.) has a diverse germplasm, comprising 152 accessions that differ in productivity. These received evaluation during 2024 and 2025 for yield indicators and genetic diversity under field conditions in the North Kazakhstan Region, Kazakhstan. The accessions underwent grouping based on their productivity, with the efficiency of 16 SSR markers evaluated for genotyping the proso millet genotypes. According to analysis, 9% of the total genetic variability was evident among the yielding genotype groups, while 91% variability was within groups. The fixation index showed a moderate, however, significant genetic ranking between low-, medium-, and high-yielding genotypes (Fst = 0.091). AMOVA showed that 9% of the total genetic variation was in association with differences among the yield groups, while observing 91% within groups. Correlation analysis of the SSR markers and agronomic traits sought to identify the promising markers found capable of determining productive tillering in various proso millet genotypes. Three SSR markers (SSR 409, SSR 365, and SSR 331) had moderate to significant correlation with the studied traits; the marker SSR 409 also had the maximum PIC value (0.595). The PCoA has proven capable of separating low-, high-, and medium-yielding genotypes and possibly helped in reducing the duration of the selection process.

Keywords: Proso millet (P. miliaceum L.), germplasm, genetic diversity, agronomic traits, grain yield, SSR markers

Key findings: The SSR markers established significant associations with viable agronomic traits and served as useful tools for targeted breeding aimed at improving productivity and developing genetically enhanced proso millet (P. miliaceum L.) genotypes.

Drought reduces rice (Oryza sativa L.) productivity by impairing leaf water status, activating abscisic acid (ABA)-mediated stomatal closure, and disrupting carbon-water trade-offs. Rice adapts to drought through rapid stomatal signaling, developmental modifications, and whole-plant integration of hydraulic regulation, mesophyll conductance, and canopy architecture. Growing evidence indicates that moderate reductions in stomatal density (SD) can enhance water-use efficiency (WUE) and drought tolerance with minimal yield penalties when coordinated with non-stomatal traits. However, extreme reductions in SD may restrict carbon assimilation and impair thermoregulation. Recent studies have identified SD-related quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and candidate genes, alongside successful genome editing of EPF/EPFL family members, providing valuable targets for drought-resilient rice breeding. Rice deploys morphological, physiological, and molecular strategies to maximize WUE while sustaining photosynthesis under drought, including SD and aperture modulation, ABA and reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated signaling, and transcriptional regulation of drought-responsive genes and transcription factors. Despite these advances, key challenges remain in integrating stomatal traits with whole-plant hydraulics, root architecture, reproductive resilience, and genotype-by-environment interactions under field conditions. Future breeding strategies should combine physiological phenotyping with genomics, genome editing, and digital agriculture tools to develop climate-resilient rice cultivars capable of sustaining productivity under drought.

Keywords: Rice (O. sativa L.), stomata, drought stress, ABA-signaling, guard cells, drought tolerance

Key findings: Drought reduces rice (O. sativa L.) productivity by lowering leaf water status and inducing ABA-mediated stomatal closure, disrupting carbon-water balance. Moderate reductions in stomatal density enhance water-use efficiency and drought tolerance with minimal yield penalty, whereas excessive reduction limits carbon assimilation.

Genotype-by-environment interaction (GEI) is a critical factor influencing soybean (Glycine max L.) performance and stability across diverse growing conditions. For developing high-yielding and stable cultivars, it is essential to understand how soybean genotypes respond differently to environmental variations. This study aimed to assess the GEI for agro-morphological traits and evaluate the soybean advanced lines and check genotypes for grain yield under two contrasting environmental conditions using parametric and non-parametric stability measurements. This study comprehensively compared multiple parametric and non-parametric stability statistics to identify soybean genotypes with both high productivity and broad adaptability under contrasting agroecosystems. The field experiment conducted had two diverse environmental conditions: the paddy field (soil texture clay) and the dry land (soil texture dusty clay) agroecosystems using a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications at the Majalengka, West Java, Indonesia. The results showed significant genotype-by-environment interaction effects for grain yield. The soybean advanced lines UM12, UM20, and UM05 emerged with the highest grain yield and adaptability to environmental variations and have the potential to be developed as new superior cultivars. The results will contribute and provide information on soybean breeding activities in the future.

Keywords: Soybean (G. max L.), genotype-by-environment interactions, nonparametric, parametric, stability

Key findings: Significant genotype-by-environment interaction effects were evident among the soybean (G. max L.) advanced lines for pod width, 100-grain weight, and grain yield. Genotypes UM12, UM20, and UM5 showed the highest grain yield and environmental adaptability, revealing their potential to be superior cultivars in the future.

Guar (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba L.) is an important legume and industrial crop valued for its adaptation to arid and semi-arid environments and for its seeds rich in galactomannan (guar gum). These polysaccharides are materials widely used in the food, pharmaceutical, textile, and petroleum industries. With increased climate change pressure, including drought and high temperature, a concentrated interest in guar as a climate-resilient crop has risen. The following review summarized current knowledge on the adaptive potential of guar, with emphasis on drought tolerance mechanisms, physiological responses, and breeding strategies. Physiological adaptations and processes, such as stomatal regulation, osmotic adjustment, antioxidant activity, and maintenance of photosynthetic efficiency, contribute to drought tolerance. Guar genotypes with significant genetic variability provide opportunities for crop improvement through breeding. The genomic resources, molecular markers, and transcriptomic analysis offer promising tools for identifying genes associated with stress tolerance. Integration of physiological approaches with molecular breeding can further accelerate the development of improved guar cultivars. Such strategies could facilitate the expansion of guar cultivation in the new agroecological regions and support climate-resilient cropping systems.

Keywords: Guar (C. tetragonoloba), drought tolerance, genetic diversity, molecular markers, plant physiology, stress response, breeding strategies, genomics

Key findings: The review highlighted the adaptive potential, drought tolerance mechanisms, and breeding prospects of guar (C. tetragonoloba L.). Integrating physiological and genomic approaches can further support the development of drought-tolerant cultivars for arid regions.

Kazakhstan is a major wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) producer, with a planting area of 12–14 million hectares, and ranks third in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) market for grains and flour production. In the future, Kazakhstan could produce more than 10 million tons of wheat, equivalent to the combined wheat production of Central Asia, Afghanistan, and the European Union. The following research aimed to identify methodological aspects comprising the development of the ideotypes (non-irrigated, dry steppe, and intensive) and new spring soft and perspective lines of wheat cultivars with a complex of valuable traits. The research source material was the spring wheat cultivars and hybrids and advanced lines. The establishment of spring wheat nurseries, records and observations, hybridization, evaluation, and statistical compilation of the recorded data proceeded using methodologies developed through domestic and foreign sources. Overall, the study identified the methodological aspects and research work directions and developed ideotypes and 29 cultivars of spring wheat and two cultivars of facultative soft wheat, approved for use in production in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia. Promising lines of soft spring wheat have succeeded in their identification for further breeding work. New varieties and promising lines are also new sources of valuable traits and properties for breeders and geneticists.

Keywords: Wheat (T. aestivum L.), breeding, cultivars and advanced lines, valuable traits, growing seasons, disease resistance, grain yield and quality

Key findings: The identification of methodological aspects about the wheat (T. aestivum L.) breeding was successful, as well as the development of ideotypes, 29 spring wheat, and two facultative soft wheat cultivars, which also reached approval for use in production in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia. Moreover, they are sources of valuable traits and properties for work in wheat breeding and genetics.

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is an economically important legume crop cultivated in Uzbekistan, and viral infections negatively affect plant growth, development, and grain yield. This study aimed to monitor virus-associated symptoms in chickpea fields and molecularly characterize the Polerovirus species infecting this crop. Field surveys carried out in the Tashkent Region revealed typical virus symptoms, including leaf curling, chlorosis, reddening of leaf margins, thickened lamina, and delayed flowering. A total of 103 symptomatic plant samples incurred analysis using the tissue blot immunoassay (TBIA) and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Immunological analysis identified luteoviruses in 47.5% of the samples. Molecular assay confirmed the presence of beet western yellows virus (BWYV) and cucurbit aphid-borne yellows virus (CABYV) in chickpea plants. The coat protein (CP) gene of the BWYV-TS1 isolate underwent sequencing before being deposited in the GenBank (PQ671646). Phylogenetic analysis disclosed the highest similarity between the Uzbek isolate and Eurasian isolates, forming a regional cluster. The results provide the first molecular evidence of BWYV infecting chickpea in Uzbekistan and highlight the need for future virus management strategies and resistance breeding.

Keywords: Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), luteoviruses, Polerovirus RT-PCR, phylogenetic analysis, BWYV, growth, grain yield

Key findings: Beet western yellows virus (BWYV) identification succeeded in naturally infected chickpea (C. arietinum L.) plants for the first time in Uzbekistan. According to a phylogenetic relationship, the mutations within the coat protein (CP) polypeptide revealed regional evolutionary patterns affecting chickpea health.

The assessment of yield-related and grain quality traits in 27 durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) cultivars and advanced lines enabled this study to be conducted in 2024 at the Scientific Research Institute of Rainfed Agriculture, Jizzakh Region, Uzbekistan. The results revealed the advanced lines RNS-2023/18 and DNS-2023/16 exhibited superior performance for 1000-kernel weight, hectoliter weight, and relatively stable yield performance compared with the check cultivar Leukurum-3. The cultivar Tilladon and advanced line RNS-2023/18 appeared leading in grain quality due to the highest values in 1000-kernel weight (44.0 g) and hectoliter weight (> 800 g/L). These promising genotypes emerged as recommendable for further breeding programs. A considerable positive association (r = 0.83) was evident between 1000-kernel weight, hectoliter weight, and grain yield, indicating the necessity of prioritizing large and plump grains to ensure the highest productivity in selected genotypes under rainfed conditions.

Keywords: Durum wheat (T. durum Desf.), rainfed condition, cultivars and advanced lines, grain yield, 1000-kernel weight, hectoliter weight, correlation analysis

Key findings: The durum wheat (T. durum Desf.) advanced lines RNS-2023/18 and DNS-2023/16 significantly outperformed the check cultivar in 1000-kernel weight, grain yield, and hectoliter weight, revealing their adaptability under rainfed conditions. Grain yield emerged as considerably associated with 1000-kernel weight and hectoliter weight, which accounted for the majority of yield variations.

The evaluation of lodging resistance in 10 durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) genotypes under rainfed conditions in Uzbekistan was this study’s aim using morphological traits and SSR marker analysis. Field studies revealed considerable variations among genotypes for plant height and spike length, with these traits found in association with lodging susceptibility. The SSR markers’ analysis identified three polymorphic markers (Xgwm181, Xgwm312, and Xgwm63) associated with lodging resistance. Favorable alleles of these markers succeeded in their detection in several durum wheat genotypes, particularly in the genotypes D-21 and D-7, indicating their potential for tolerance to lodging. Phylogenetic analysis based on marker polymorphicm revealed a genetic relationship among the studied genotypes. Overall, the results revealed these SSR markers can be reliable tools for confirming lodging resistance in durum wheat genotypes and can be favorably effective in marker-assisted selection for breeding programs.

Keywords: Durum wheat (T. durum Desf.), lodging resistance, morphological traits, SSR markers, phylogenetic analysis, rainfed conditions

Key findings: The study identified lodging-resistance-associated alleles in durum wheat (T. durum Desf.) genotypes using the SSR markers Xgwm181, Xgwm312, and Xgwm63. The favorable allele Xgwm181 (225 bp) entailed detection in genotypes D-7 and D-21, while Xgwm312 (205 bp) occurred in several other genotypes.

Seeking to achieve effective selection against yellow rust resistance in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) was the aim of this study. Five populations (P₁, P₂, F₁, F₂, and F₃), upon development from seven cross combinations of wheat, underwent evaluation using a randomized complete block design at two locations, i.e., Agricultural Research Institute, D.I. Khan, and Cereal Crops Research Institute, Pirsabak, Nowshera, Pakistan. Phenotypic study of the generations revealed significant variations were evident among all cross combinations, except RK-23 × Seher and RK-23 × Zincol. The majority of the crosses manifested notable generation × location interaction for all yellow rust traits, except RK-23 × Zincol. The highest means for response value (0.93), rust severity (56.8%), and coefficient of infection (46.5) of yellow rust resulted in Inqilab and its derived generations (F₁–F₃) in the cross RK-23 × Inqilab. Meanwhile, the lowest values (0) were noticeable in Shahkar and in its derived population, RK-23 × Shahkar. Molecular study indicated the presence of Yr15, Yr17, and Yr18 genes in selected F₃ lines of RK-23 × Zincol, RK-23 × Shahkar, and RK-23 × Borlaug. Based on the phenotypic and molecular performance of the populations of RK-23 × Zincol, RK-23 × Shahkar, and RK-23 × Borlaug, they emerged as resistant to yellow rust.

Keywords: Wheat (T. aestivum L.), segregating populations, yellow rust, genotype-by-environment interactions, generation means, Yr markers, MAS

Key findings: Wheat (T. aestivum L.) cultivars Shahkar, Zincol, and Borlaug in cross combination with RK-23 produced the rust-resistant genotypes in F₂ and F₃ generations, and the same also have successful confirmation through molecular study. Therefore, these cross combinations could further entail exploration in future wheat breeding for rust resistance.