The volatile compounds emitted by hot pepper (Capsicum frutescens L.) flowers play a crucial role in plant-insect interaction and natural insect resistance. This study aimed to analyze the volatile compound (VoC) profile of hot pepper flowers derived from four genotypes, comprising two parental lines and their two F1 hybrids. Volatiles’ sampling used the HS-SPME (Headspace-Solid Phase Micro Extraction), analyzed via GC–MS (gas chromatography-mass spectrometry), and identified using the NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) 14 spectral reference. VoCs entailed groupings based on the presence or absence of each compound. Data then underwent the principal component analysis (PCA). The study identified 133 volatile compounds in the flowers of the parental genotype and its F1 hybrid. F1 hybrid flowers obtained through cross-hybridization between the parental lines exhibited varied ratios of volatile compounds. PCA revealed the parental lines (A and B) and their reciprocal F1 hybrids exhibited distinct profiles of volatile compounds. Notably, the F1 hybrids produced additional repellents, such as D-Limonene, cis-jasmone, and farnesol, against insect pests. The analysis displayed 11 interesting pattern variations. Understanding the volatile composition of hot pepper genotypes is beneficial in breeding programs aimed at developing pest-resistant cultivars based on the antixenosis mechanism, thereby enhancing passive plant defense against pests and virus-carrying insects.

Keywords: Hot pepper (C. frutescens L.), flowers, nectars, volatile compounds, insect resistance, pests, plant defense, repellent, breeding program

Key findings: The study identified 133 volatile compounds with diverse ratios in four populations of hot pepper (C. frutescens L.). The F1 hybrids produced volatile compounds that act as pest repellents and attractants. These repellents could aid in pest management, especially against Bemisia tabaci and Myzus persicae.

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production has had increasing challenges with rising temperatures due to climate change. This study aimed to evaluate the genetic potential of bread wheat F₃ populations and their parents under terminal heat stress using physio-morphic traits via a randomized complete block design. Five F₃ populations, derived from diverse crosses, entailed assessment in climatic conditions of Sargodha, Pakistan. Significant variation among populations emerged for all traits. The cross Punjab 76 × E109 outperformed in grain yield per plant (17.20 g), the number of tillers per plant (8.59), the number of seeds per spike (75.83), and cell membrane thermostability (CMS, 95.65%). Akbar 2019 × E145 and E116 × C228 also exhibited high-yield potentials. High heritability (0.99), genetic advance (9.12), and strong positive correlations appeared for grain yield with spike length, tiller number, and CMS. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that PC1 and PC2 explained 84.61% of the total variation, confirming trait clustering. Among parental lines, C271 (98.19 cm) and E121 (11.90 g) showed a good performance for plant height and yield, respectively. These results suggest that crosses like Punjab 76 × E109 and Akbar 2019 × E145 can serve as potential genetic sources for improving heat resilience and productivity in wheat.

Keywords: wheat (T. aestivum L.), F₃ populations, PCA, climate resilient, CMS, biplot, yield-related traits, grain yield

Key findings: Heat stress affects a lot of grain yield production of wheat (T. aestivum L.). A reduction of 3%–10% of grain yield occurred in wheat caused by an increase of each one °C ambient temperature. Out of five populations, three F₃ populations, such as Punjab 76 × E109 (17.20 g), Akbar 2019 × E145 (12.07 g), and E116 × C228 (11.53 g), yielded better for grain yield per plant than the parents under terminal heat environment. Therefore, these populations are candidate-breeding lines for developing heat-resilient wheat cultivars.

Schinus molle L., also known as Peruvian pepper, is a South American plant recognized for its vital bioactive compounds and high-quality seed oil, which shows potential for agro-industries. This study investigated the physicochemical properties, fatty acid composition, and antioxidant activity of S. molle seed oil, particularly focusing on the genetic regulation underlying its oil quality. The oil’s extraction used cold pressing and Soxhlet methods, with its physical properties (density, refractive index, viscosity, and melting point) and chemical composition (acid, peroxide, and iodine values) also determined. Notably, the oil exhibited a high content of oleic acid (40.2%) and linoleic acid (38.1%), with significant antioxidant activity (tocopherol content: 34.5 mg/100 g and 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl or DPPH radical scavenging activity: 82.3% inhibition). The results indicated genetic factors, including the FAD2 gene for fatty acid desaturation, play a crucial role in shaping the oil’s fatty acid profile and antioxidant potential. These findings underscore the importance of genetic regulation in optimizing the oil’s composition for agro-industrial applications, particularly in functional foods and cosmetics.

Keywords: S. molle, seed oil, physical properties, fatty acid composition, antioxidant activity, agro-industrial applications, functional food

Key findings: The S. molle seed oil exhibited the highest unsaturation, oleic, and linoleic acids as predominant among fatty acids, with significant antioxidant activity, including high tocopherol content and radical scavenging ability. Genetic factors influence the oil’s quality, affecting fatty acid composition and antioxidant properties, identifying them as a promising candidate for agro-industrial applications like functional foods and cosmetics.

The Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia L.) is a commonly known resilient shrub indigenous to Central and Western Asia and Southern Europe. This important species possesses numerous ecological and economic significances. It also serves as a vital nutritional resource for bees within the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. The presented study aimed to examine the phenolic composition and antioxidant properties of pollen grains derived from E. angustifolia. The total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) reached quantification at 26.117 mg GAE g⁻¹ DW and 0.449 mg QUE g⁻¹ DW, respectively, in pollen grains, employing the Folin-Ciocalteu and DPPH (2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) assays. The antioxidant capacity, as assessed through the FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant power) method, showed the value of 485.491 μmol Fe (II) g⁻¹. Additionally, the DPPH assay resulted in the SC50 value (0.059 mg/ml). Utilizing reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC-PDA), six major phenolic compounds were identified, including ellagic and gallic acids. These findings underscore the potential applications of E. angustifolia pollens in food supplements and therapeutic contexts, thereby accentuating its rich biochemical profile along with ecological and medicinal importance.

Keywords: Russian olive (E. angustifolia L.), pollen grains, biochemical profile, phenolic compounds, antioxidant properties, ecological and medicinal importance, RP-HPLC

Key findings: The Russian olive (E. angustifolia L.) biochemical composition revealed six major phenolic compounds, including ellagic and gallic acids. These findings underscore the potential applications of E. angustifolia pollens in food supplements and therapeutic contexts.

Water shortage is the most yield-limiting factor in maize (Zea mays L.) crops, especially when the crop is at the seedling stage. In a maize breeding program, effective and reliable screening methods for water stress tolerance would be helpful. In this study, maize genotypes totaling 49 underwent evaluation against different water stress levels of 30%, 40%, and 100% field capacity at their early growth stages. The experiment transpired in the greenhouse of the University of Sargodha, Sargodha, Pakistan. The data assessment used completely randomized design (CRD), principal component analysis (PCA), biplot analysis, and correlation matrix to identify the water stress-tolerant genotypes. The significant (p < 0.05) differences were evident among the genotypes for all traits. Among principal factors, the first three had eigenvalues greater than one. The components, PC1, PC2, and PC3, accounted for 60%, 80%, and 95.8% of the cumulative variability, respectively. The analysis concluded that the mean emergence time (MET) and desiccation tolerance index (DTI) revealed negative correlations, suggesting their limiting role in early seedling performance. However, the genotypes 15067, Pearl, Sultan, 15023, 14996, 15005, Akbar, Sahiwal-2002, and 14985 proved superiors in performance and behaved as the best possible candidates for future water stress-tolerant breeding programs.

Keywords: Maize (Z. mays L.), maize germplasm, water stress conditions, seedling traits, principal component analysis, biplot analysis, correlation

Key findings: Drought stress at the seedling stage significantly impairs maize (Z. mays L.) growth and vigor. In this study, several genotypes demonstrated superior performance under induced water stress, indicating potential water stress tolerance. Notably, genotypes 15067, Pearl, Sultan, 15023, 14996, 15005, Akbar, Sahiwal-2002, and 14985 exhibited enhanced emergence traits, desiccation tolerance, and recovery ability. These genotypes are promising candidates for incorporation into maize drought-resilient breeding programs.

Soybean (Glycine max L.) is a globally recognized food crop for its high nutritional value, primarily due to its excellent protein and oil content. Its grains are also abundant in essential amino acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, B vitamins, fiber, calcium, folic acid, and selenium. Additionally, soybean grains provide vital minerals such as magnesium, manganese, iron, and zinc. The unique biochemical composition of soybeans comprises proteins (49%) and fats (30%). The following research examined the seed oil and protein content of the exotic and local soybean cultivars cultivated as a recurrent crop in Uzbekistan. The study material included three each of the exotic Sparta and Selekta-201 (Russian selection), Nena (Kazakh selection), and local cultivars Ustoz-MMan-60, Toʻmaris-MMan-60, and Oyjamol, planted as repeated crops in 2020–2022 in the Samarkand and Navoi regions. In the environmental conditions of Uzbekistan, the highest seed oil and fat content were evident by sowing soybean as the main crop. However, as a repeated crop, the seed protein content was higher than the main crop.

Keywords: Soybean (G. max L.), exotic and local cultivars, repeated crop, grain yield, seed oil, proteins, carbohydrates

Key findings: The highest seed oil content resulted in the soybean (G. max L.) exotic cultivar Nena and local cultivar Oyjamol, planted as a repeated crop under the environmental conditions of Uzbekistan.

Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.) is a major oilseed crop known for its adaptability to diverse agroclimatic conditions in South Asia. However, productivity, oil, and meal quality are often susceptible to white rust disease and the presence of high levels of antinutritional factors. With the aim of reducing both antinutritional factors (erucic acid) in oil and (glucosinolates) meal, along with resistance to white rust, this study used a marker-assisted pyramiding approach to introgress QTLs from Heera and RLC-3 into three elite Indian mustard cultivars: DRMR150-35, NRCHB101, and NRCDR-02. Using trait-specific markers helped foreground selection, while employing SSR markers assisted background selection in respective cross-combinations. In total, 34 pyramided lines (five BC₃F₅ in DRMR150-35/RLC-3, seventeen BC₃F₆ in NRCHB101/Heera, three BC₃F₅ in NRCHB101/RLC-3, and nine BC₃F₆ in NRCDR-02/RLC-3), with >90% recurrent parent genome recovery, attained development. The resulting pyramided lines underwent evaluation for agronomic performance, disease resistance, and oil quality. The study highlights the potential of MAS in breeding programs to accelerate the development of multi-trait superior cultivars, contributing to sustainable mustard production and enhanced oil quality.

Keywords: Indian mustard (B. juncea L.), marker-assisted pyramiding, white rust resistance, oil quality, molecular markers

Key findings: The 34 selected pyramided lines of the Indian mustard (B. juncea L.) exhibited significant resistance to white rust and superior oil quality without any yield penalty. These lines have potential for general cultivation in India.

In plant breeding, mutation is one of the plant improvement strategies through the induction of genetic diversity. This study sought to evaluate the use of colchicine to induce mutations based on morphological characters in pineapple (Ananas comosus L.). The study employed a completely randomized factorial design, with the first factor comprising four pineapple genotypes and the second factor consisting of three concentrations of colchicine (300, 400, and 500 ppm) and a control. The results showed a colchicine concentration of 500 ppm changed the flesh color to golden yellow in the Q02 genotype. Interaction in 11 characters between genotypes and colchicine concentrations occurred. These characters included plant height, the number of leaves and crown leaves, leaf length, crown height and weight, stem diameter, fruit stalk and fruit diameter, fruit weight with and without crown, and edible part (%). This study concluded that colchicine 500 ppm produced golden-yellow flesh color and significant variations in vegetative characters. Therefore, it highly recommends colchicine concentrations of more than 500 ppm can be beneficial for improving pineapple plants.

Keywords: Pineapple (A. comosus L.), genotypes, colchicine concentrations, mutation, morphological traits, flesh color

Key findings: Colchicine of 500 ppm produced a golden yellow flesh color in the Q02 genotype and significant changes in vegetative characters of pineapple (A. comosus L.). It is superior to use colchicine concentrations of more than 500 ppm for future pineapple improvement.

The study based on the seed treatment with protective and stimulating compositions is novel research with no previous work done in Kazakhstan and other regions worldwide. The phytopathological analysis revealed the fungal and bacterial infections in the samples of wheat and barley seeds cultured with nutrient media. The examined wheat and barley samples displayed contaminations with saprophytic and pathogenic microflora, and fungal infections were predominant. The wheat and barley seed treated with the protective-stimulating compositions Scarlet m.e. (micro emulsion), Tabu w.s.c. (water-suspension concentrate), and potassium humate significantly suppressed the infections caused by fungal and bacterial pathogens. They also enhanced plant resistance to damage caused by soil-dwelling pests and positively influenced seed quality by promoting the growth and development of seedlings and their root systems. By using this formulation, the highest germination energy and seed viability rates resulted in wheat and barley seeds (99.3% and 98.0%, respectively). On the seventh day, seed infection declined by 96.7% (wheat) and 76.7% (barley) compared with the control, which had infection rates of 100% and 91.3%, respectively. Furthermore, the protective-stimulating compositions were cost-effective, reducing pesticide environmental loads due to their low application rates, demonstrating their potential for sustainable agricultural practices.

Keywords: Wheat, barley, seed treatment, protective-stimulating compositions, soil-borne diseases and pests, germination, growth and development

Key findings: The wheat and barley seed treatment with protective-stimulating compositions effectively suppressed the infections caused by fungal and bacterial pathogens and considerably enhanced their viability and germination energy.

Developing superior clones is crucial in boosting the market competitiveness of Indonesian green tea (Camellia sinensis L.). However, tea yield and quality mostly sustain influences from temperature, rainfall, and nutrient availability. In the following study, 35 clones of C. sinensis tea underwent assessment for genetic diversity, yield stability, and taste quality under different fertilization conditions at the Research Institute for Tea and Cinchona and the Research Center for Appropriate Technology, Bandung, Indonesia. The field experiment used a randomized block design with three replications. Genetic diversity analysis used the principal component analysis (PCA), with the leaf yield stability analyzed utilizing parametric and non-parametric measurements and flavor quality probed using a t-test. The tea clones revealed the highest genetic diversity for agro-morphological traits. In general, all clones have the same quality according to sensory evaluation. Clones I.1.93, II.4.149, and S3 have an NUE greater than 50%. After fertilization, the nitrogen and potassium levels in the tea plant leaves increased by 0.12% and 0.07%, respectively, while phosphorus decreased by 0.01%. Among the clones, 22 increased in nitrogen, 24 decreased in phosphorus, and 28 clones increased in potassium. Notably, nine clones maintained stable pekoe leaf yields across both fertilized and unfertilized conditions.

Keywords: Tea (C. sinensis L.), selection, leaf yield, dry appearance, liquor color, taste quality, leaf nutrient levels

Key findings: The tea (C. sinensis L.) clones showed significant genetic diversity based on agro-morphological traits. Leaf nitrogen and potassium levels increased by 0.12% and 0.07%, respectively, while phosphorus decreased by 0.01%. Nine promising tea clones consistently performed better both under fertilized and unfertilized conditions.