Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) belongs to the Poaceae family and serves as a staple in many portions worldwide, as well as, in Pakistan. Wheat yield in Gilgit-Baltistan is comparatively low versus other parts of the country because cultivars developed suited other regions globally. Moreover, the country performs less due to unique agroecological conditions. This study progressed on 20 wheat accessions at the PARC-Mountain Agricultural Research Station, Chilas, District Diamer, Gilgit-Baltistan, in 2018–2019. It used a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replicates to assess the genetic variability and trait association in wheat. High phenotypic and genotypic coefficient of variation (%) was evident for characteristics, i.e., spike length, flag leaf area, tillers plant^-1, spikelets spike^-1, yield plot^-1, yield hectare^-1, and straw yield hectare^-1. Estimates of heritability were high for all traits under consideration. Estimated high broad-sense heritability (H²) tied with high genetic advance percent over means for spikelets spike^-1, flag leaf area, tillers plant^-1, seeds spike^-1, spike length, thousand-grain weight, yield plot^-1, straw yield plot^-1, yield hectare^-1, and straw yield hectare^-1. It indicated a simple selection based on phenotype would be effective for improvement during early generations.

Estimating correlation coefficients for various traits revealed that plant height, days to maturity, harvest index, straw yield plot^-1, and thousand-grain weight exhibited positively significant correlations with yield hectare^-1. Meanwhile, plant height, thousand-grain weight, days to maturity, and yield plot^-1 showed relevant correlations with straw yield plot^-1.

Keywords: Accession, coefficients of variation, correlation, genetic variability, heritability, and genetic advance

Key findings: The genotypes AC-12, AC-13, AC-5, and AC-15 emerged as high-grain yielders, and AC-15, AC-23, and AC-12 proved as better straw-yielding genotypes. These wheat genotypes may benefit the development of new wheat varieties of the future for the agroecological condition of Gilgit-Baltistan.

Assessing the genetic potential of the early generation families of white yam (Dioscorea rotundata) for growth and yield traits became this study’s aim. The experiment began in 2021 at the Njala Agricultural Research Centre (NARC), Njala, Sierra Leone. The results revealed the yam families significantly (P < 0.05) varied for days to first emergence (DAYFE), days to 50% emergence (DAYSE), germination index (GI), seedling vigor index (SVI), and the number of tubers per plant. The Family TDr190016 germinated earliest (14.5 days); however, families TDr190053 and TDr190113 exhibited the longest germination period (> 20 days). Traits with high phenotypic (PCV) and genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) were germination index, seedling vigor index, percent seed emergence at 21 and 28 days after sowing, and pooled percent seed emergence (PSE). Broad sense heritability (HB) values ranged between 21.5% (pooled PSE) and 92.1% (SVI). Traits with the high broad sense heritability were days to 50% emergence (83.2%), germination index (74.6%), seedling vigor index (92.1%), percent seed emergence at 21 days (80.0%), and percent seed emergence at 28 days (62.8%). The yam families revealed the higher genetic advance for almost all traits except days to first emergence. In terms of various traits, the genetic effects of the early generation white yam families contributed more to the total phenotypic variability than the non-genetic effects, requiring more exploration for breeding.

Keywords: White yam (Dioscorea rotundata), progeny families, seed germination, growth and yield traits, genetic parameters

Key findings: Significant variation exists among the early generation families of white yam (Dioscorea rotundata) for growth and yield traits. Genetic effects of the early generation white yams contribute more than the non-genetic effects to the total phenotypic variability.

Mungbean is a pulse crop of economic importance in Myanmar. The susceptibility of current grown mungbean varieties to the Mungbean Yellow Mosaic Disease (MYMD), utilized in the high premium-sprout market segment, is a major concern. Field-testing of seven improved mungbean lines across six locations in Bago and Yangon regions ensued in the post monsoon season of 2021–2022 and across four locations in Magway, Naypyitaw, and Mandalay regions in the monsoon season of 2022. Two promising lines (AVMU 1688 and AVMU 1690), with known resistance to all known species of the viruses causing MYMD, were further tested during the pre-monsoon season of 2023 and confirmed for resistance to the MYMD. Both lines showed good performance for seed yield per plant (9.70–10.57 g/plant) and were early maturing (62–63 days) during the monsoon season. AVMU 1688 showed with sprouting quality similar to Yezin -1 and the commercial reference standard. The seed color and luster (green and shiny) also meet the market requirements of the grain market segment. Both AVMU 1688 and AVMU 1690 lines may proceed to testing for potential release as a variety or could serve as donor parents for resistance to MYMD in the National Breeding Program.

Keywords: Mungbean, mungbean yellow mosaic disease, GGE biplot, sprouting

Key findings: Among the seven improved mungbean lines with MYMD resistance, two lines, such as AVMU 1688 and AVMU 1690, exhibited good agronomic traits, including high seed yield per plant and early maturity, suitable for the monsoon season. Particularly, the AVMU 1688 is on par with Yezin 1 in meeting the market preference, with its good sprouting quality and shiny green seeds.

This research aimed for an ecological evaluation of African millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.) genotypes. It also sought to identify the high-yielding genotypes with a complex of agronomic traits resistant to harsh salinity stress conditions. For salt tolerance index (10%–20%) and in comparison to millet standard genotype (Hashaki-1), the cultivars WRai POP, IP13150, GB 8735, Sudan POP III, IP19586, JBV 3, HHVBC Tall, Sudan POP I, IP 22269, JBV 2, Rai 171, EMSHBC, and ICMS 7704 appeared as highly resistant to salinization and exceeded the standard genotype. These cultivars exhibited the highest germination percentage, survival, and conservation rate, and set apart by highest green mass yield, surpassing the standard cultivar (Hashaki-1) by 0.1–8.4 t/ha. Correlation analysis revealed with 2.0% chloride salinity conditions, the germination intensity, the 14-day-old seedling weight, and the seminal root length positively associated with the grain weight per panicle and green mass yield. The recommendation of these traits as selection criteria is suitable for use in practical selection to evaluate an extensive set of African millet breeding material.

Keywords: African millet (P. glaucum L.), source material, cultivars testing, selection, salt-tolerance, drought-resistance, germination intensity, green mass yield

Key findings: Water shortage, salinization, and soil degradation necessitate a reduction in other crops and their replacement with crops that consume less water in Kyzylorda region, Kazakhstan. Ecological cultivars’ testing of African millet (P. glaucum L.) made it possible to identify the most high-yielding and adaptive cultivars to saline soils, which are now in progressive introduction in the Kyzylorda Region, Kazakhstan.

Cotton plant is a valuable technical crop grown in various regions of the world. For assessing the five colored cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) genotypes, the yield contributing traits received 60Co γ-ray irradiation at 0 (control), 100, 150, and 200 Gy. By treating colored cotton cultivars with 100 and 200 Gy rays, variations were visible in early maturity properties. An enhancement in bolls per plant were evident when treating the cream-colored cotton genotypes; however, a decrease occurred in the green-colored cotton genotype. Notably, the colored fiber genotypes treated with 200 Gy ray showed an increased number of bolls per plant. Colored fiber genotypes treated with 200 Gy ray caused a slight fiber elongation than with lower doses of 100 and 150 Gy and the control. The result further revealed cotton genotypes treated with 100 and 200 Gy rays positively affected the yield-contributing traits. The above properties can be beneficial in the selection and improvement of colored fiber cotton genotypes.

Keywords: Upland cotton (G. hirsutum L.), colored cotton, genotypes, flowering, maturity, bolls per plant, seed cotton yield per plant, fiber length

Key findings: Colored fiber cotton (G. hirsutum L.) genotypes treated with 200 Gy had a positive effect on early maturity, bolls per plant, seed cotton yield, and fiber length compared with the 100 and 150 Gy and control.

The genus Aegilops L. native species, especially Aegilops tauschii, are important sources of numerous beneficial traits that are applicable as donors in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) improvement. In this regard, the genetic diversity study of 23 local populations of Ae. Tauschii, collected from the southeastern region (Samarkand, Urgut, and Kitab districts) of Uzbekistan, became the presented research’s aim, using nine SSR markers and morphometric traits. The SSR analysis amplified 32 alleles, with an average of 3.55 alleles per locus. The average polymorphism information content (PIC) was 0.447, ranging from 0.163 to 0.599, and the expected heterozygosity (He) varied, from 0.007 to 1.557, with an average of 0.850. Genetic distance (GD) indices based on five of nine SSR markers ranged from 0 to 0.789, with a mean of 0.669. The greatest genetic similarity was notable between populations from the Samarkand and Urgut districts (0.789), while the least was evident between the populations of the Samarkand and Kitab districts (0.560). Based on molecular analysis of nine SSR markers, the most informative ones (PIC > 0.5) showed distinction, beneficial to develop genetic passports and determine the genetic homogeneity of local species in Ae. tauschii.

Keywords: local ecotypes Ae. tauschii, PCR analysis, genetic diversity, DNA microsatellite loci, clustering, heterozygosity, genetic similarity

Key findings: A collection of 23 local accessions of Ae. tauschii showed characteristics of a higher level of genetic diversity. Based on molecular analysis, the SSR markers (WSP130, WSP192, and WSP513) occurred highly informative to benefit in developing genetic passports to determine the homogeneity of local species in genus Aegilops L.

Although CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing has become a common technology in gene manipulation, its application to commercial crop species still needs the development of methodology for generating transgene-free genome-edited plants. The transient expression of morphogenesis inducer, ipt, typically stimulates shoot formation and, thus, serves as a positive selection marker in different plant species. Employing a conditional negative selection maker, DAO1, combined with ipt, sought to streamline the screening of transgene-free genome-edited plants. We first generated transgenic tobacco lines expressing DAO1 encoding D-amino acid oxidase, which reportedly conditions the resistance to a few toxic D-amino acids and the sensitivity to some non-toxic D-amino acids, and chose appropriate selection agents. The negative selection condition optimization with different DAO1 tobacco lines became applicable to test the efficiency of genome editing mediated by the transient expression of CRISPR/Cas9. The negative selection with 10 mM D-valine reduced the number of vigorously growing shoots, resulting in enriching transgene-free shoots. This method allowed for the isolation of transgene-free, genome-edited plants with 1.5 times greater efficiency. Our strategy, which combines ipt-mediated shoot formation with the conditional negative selection marker DAO1, can be functional in other crop species to enhance the precision and applicability of genome editing in various plant species.

Keywords: CRISPR/Cas9, transgene-free, genome editing, morphogenesis inducer, negative selection marker

Key findings: We optimized a methodology for generating transgene-free genome-edited plants using CRISPR/Cas9 by combining the transient expression of the morphogenesis inducer ipt with the conditional negative selection marker DAO1. The introduction of DAO1 in tobacco lines allowed us to identify and apply the appropriate selection agents, with 10 mM D-valine effectively reducing the number of vigorously growing shoots. This approach successfully enriched the population of transgene-free shoots, demonstrating the efficiency of the developed selection system.

In Kazakhstan, barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) grains are mainly for feed, food, and materials for brewing industries. Given the development of livestock farming and the processing industry, the Republics of Central Asia and Transcaucasia, Kazakhstan, are prime producers of grain crops used as feed. Similarly, a greater demand for barley grains is prevalent in countries like Iran, Turkey, and UAE. The presented study sought to assess the genetic potential of newly developed and promising winter barley cultivars, adaptive to specific zones and widely adaptable cultivars for cultivation in spacious areas. Climate change caused instability and a decline in yields; hence, stabilizing grain production over crop seasons and locations is one of the chief issues. The role of selection in local cultivars enhanced significantly; however, a conventional introduction cannot combat the negative influence of limiting environmental factors specific to particular zones. Therefore, developing highly productive and competitive barley cultivars adapted to local ecological conditions is highly relevant. The result of scientific research for 2020–2023 recognized 10 new barley cultivars for competitive varietal testing based on economically valuable traits.

Keywords: Winter barley (H. vulgare L.), high-yielding cultivars, climate change, temperature, precipitation, phenology, growing seasons, grain yield and quality, protein, starch

Key findings: The results revealed a weak relationship between the grain yield and quality indicators like starch and protein in winter barley (H. vulgare L.). The winter barley yield bears considerable influences from weather conditions, especially during the heading-ripening phase in Southeast Kazakhstan.

Estimation of genetic diversity is vital in sunflower breeding. Principal component analysis (PCA) is one of the best statistical approaches to study diversity among genotypes by using eigenvalue and PC-1/PC-2 based-biplots. An experiment commenced at the College of Agriculture, University of Sargodha, Pakistan to find out the diversity in 28 sunflower hybrids and select stable hybrids for normal and terminal heat-stress conditions. Growing sunflower hybrids in randomized complete block design had three replications. Under normal condition, sunflower hybrid sowing ensued in February 2019, while to check the effect of terminal stress, growing these hybrids transpired at the end of March 2019. The collected data of seven morpho-phenological traits underwent the principal component analysis, found greater than one for the first three and four PCs under normal conditions. In terminal stress environments, these respectively exposed the presence of ample genetic variation among sunflower hybrids in both environments. Bi-plot analysis signified that SF-18100, SF-18045, and SF-19025 were stable hybrids for most studied traits under normal sowing environment. Meanwhile, the performance of SF-18035 and SF-19010 proved better under the heat-stress environment for studied traits. Hence, these hybrids showed better adaptability under the current scenario of climate change.

Keywords: Sunflower (H. annuus L.), diversity, PCA, eigenvalue, genetic variability, phonological traits, biplot

Key findings: Heat stress negatively affects sunflower (H. annuus L.) crop growth, leading to lower achene yield and oil content. However, the sunflower hybrids SF-18100, SF-18045, SF-19012, and SF-19025 performed better than the rest for achene yield and yield-contributing traits under normal and heat stress environments, making them suitable for sunflower breeding programs and general cultivation.

Currently, about 50 known phytopathogenic viruses infect maize worldwide; however, the maize dwarf mosaic virus (MDMV) is the most common. Studies on the effects of MDMV have progressed in the experimental fields of the Chirchik State Pedagogical University, Tashkent, Uzbekistan. In the latest research, seven different maize (Zea mays L.) cultivars received mechanical inoculation of viral sap. After infection, symptoms of a viral disease appeared 4–5 days later. A specific anti-serum, obtained by immunological method, served to diagnose the MDMV. The virus infection rate in 2020 was 47%, but in 2023, after using the developed control measures, it was 23%. Different maize genotypes, selected for the study, came from the genetic bank of the Scientific Research Institute of Plant Genetic Resources. According to the results, under the influence of MDMV, the number of cobs reduced by 50%, the length of cob decreased by 43.21%, the number of grains per cob decreased by 30.43%, and 1000-grain weight declined by 28.6%. In maize healthy genotypes, the average protein content was 3.5%, while in infected samples the said ratio was 2.5% and that decreased by 1.00%.

Keywords: Maize (Zea mays L.), cultivars, maize dwarf mosaic virus (MDMV), distribution, phytoviruses, yield-related traits, productivity, plant diseases

Key findings: The results revealed considerable effects of MDMV on yield-related traits and productivity of different maize (Z. mays L.) genotypes.