The latest review discusses the chief metabolites of the genus Allium L., which characterize their nutritional qualities. The publications presented in the leading databases, such as Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, Science Direct, and NCBI bore analysis. The vital active phytochemicals of Allium species include ascorbic acid, fatty acids, and carbohydrates. Many believe these biologically active compounds can prevent cancer development, coronary heart disease, and atherosclerosis.

Keywords: Allium L., biochemical composition, nutritional values, calorie content, onions, chives, garlic, leeks

Key findings: The analysis of the experimental data on metabolites of onion crops based on their nutritional values in light of the functional nutrition concept is currently relevant. The genus Allium L. species are an integral part of the human diet and a valuable source of biologically active substances.

In the breeding program for high-yielding sorghum, grain quality improvement needs high consideration to meet consumer demands. Thirty sorghum genotypes underwent genetic variation evaluation, with 13 undergoing assessment for genotype by environment effects on the amylose content. The research proceeded in three Indonesian provinces from June–December 2022. The results showed genetic variations among the sorghum genotypes for amylose content and yield traits with a high and medium heritability for yield traits and amylose content, respectively. The genotype Demak 4 had the lowest amylose content (8.57%), and 10 genotypes with amylose content had a range of 10% to less than 20% (Keris M-3, 431, CK.2, Rumbia, Pulut 3, Keris, Gadam Human, 867.032, Lokal Bima 3, and Cantel Ketan), and 19 genotypes showed amylose content higher than 20%. No correlation between amylose content and yield exists. The analysis of combined variance showed that genotypes had a highly significant effect; however, location and the interaction of genotype and location had no significant influence on the amylose content of sorghum. Genotypes Pulut 3 and CK.2 consistently received a heterowaxy classification, with Demak 4 classified as waxy sorghum by growing in three different environments. This data would benefit the selection of promising genotypes for crossing and designing a breeding program to develop high-yield cultivars with low and medium amylose content.

Keywords: Amylopectin, GE interaction, rice, simultaneous selection, quality

Key findings: The information produced by this research would help breeders select parental candidates in a breeding program for developing high-yielding cultivars with low or medium amylose content. The recommended genotypes for sources of genes controlling amylose content are Demak 4, Pulut 3, 431, CK 2, Lokal Bima 3, and Cantel Ketan.

Plant breeding’s rewarding polyploidy analysis can happen by observing molecular characteristics. Previously obtained 21 sugarcane mutants had used colchicine induction on the GMP3 cultivar at the PT Gunung Madu Plantations, Lampung, Indonesia. However, little information emerged related to the informative molecular markers and analysis of molecular characteristics in sugarcane mutants. The presented research complements previous studies regarding the characterization of superior sugarcane mutants based on agronomic and anatomical attributes. The said research ran through PCR-RAPD amplification using five primers. The DNA band pattern diversity analysis ensued using MVSP program version 3.2. The cluster analysis through UPGMA also estimated the genetic distance. Polymorphic band assessment employing the polymorphism information content (PIC) also helps determine the informative level of the used primers. The PCR-RAPD markers’ screening results showed that four informative primers (OPN-07, OPB-19, OPA-04, and OPA-07) have PIC values ranging from 0.30 to 0.39. The molecular characterization showed that 21 GMP3 mutants had 35–60 DNA bands with 28 polymorphic bands and a similarity index of 0.47–1.00. The promising results would help increase sugar production and improve quality by inducing mutation in the sugarcane cultivar GMP3.

Keywords: Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.), sugarcane cultivar GMP3, cluster analysis, genetic distance, markers, molecular analysis, PCR-RAPD, polymorphism information content (PIC)

Key findings: In analyzing the molecular traits in colchicine-induced sugarcane mutants, the PCRRAPD markers OPN-07, OPB-19, OPA-04, and OPA-07 appeared relatively informative, with a PIC value of 0.30–0.39. The genetic variation analysis of 21 GMP3 mutants had 35–60 DNA bands with 28 polymorphic bands. The phylogenetic analysis showed that all sugarcane mutants have a similarity index value ranging from 0.47 to 1.00, with groupings based on mutagen concentration and soaking time.

Discovering its genetic diversity and background is crucial for the date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) genetic resources management and conservation. In the latest study, the start codon targeted (SCoT) molecular marker utilization determined the genetic diversity and set the distinctive genotypes in 10 seeded date palm (P. dactylifera L.) genotypes. The genotyping attained through SCoT markers assessed the genetic variations in the date palm genotypes by the dendrogram. The highest genetic similarity of 89% was evident between the date palm genotypes G8 and G9, while the lowest similarity of 71% was between the genotypes G10 and G1 and G1 and G8. Overall, 160 bands amplified through 10 seeded date palm trees ranged from 150 bp to 1600 bp. Having the lowest value of PIC grouped the markers SCoT-02, SCoT-03, SCoT-04, and SCoT-09 into a cluster based on the heat map plot. However, the genotypes G4 and G5 are in a cluster along with genotype G6. The genetic association stemmed through genetic parameters using PCoA, heat map, and genetic distance. These findings can help identify the genetic diversity of anonymous date palm genotypes.

Keywords: Date palm (P. dactylifera L.), date palm genotypes, genetic distance, genetic diversity, heat mapping, PCoA, SCoT markers

Key findings: The results enunciated that the highest genetic similarity of 89% was between the date palm (P. dactylifera L.) genotypes G8 and G9, while the lowest value of 71% was between the genotypes G10 and G1, and G1 and G8. Overall, 160 bands amplified through 10 seeded date palm trees ranged from 150 bp to 1600 bp. The markers of SCoT-02, SCoT-03, SCoT-04, and SCoT-09 were in a cluster. The genotypes G4 and G5 were in a cluster along with G6.

Conventional breeding approaches often rely on bi-parental crosses, in which analysis occurs only on two alleles, and genetic recombination in such a population is insufficient, limiting genetic diversity. Multi-parent advanced generation inter-cross (MAGIC) populations display large sets of recombinant inbred lines (RILs) that exhibit a genetic mosaic of multiple founder parents. MAGIC populations result in a broader genetic base that has emerged as a powerful tool for genetic analysis and breeding for disease resistance in rice. This study developed the MAGIC population by intermating eight diverse founder parents. Conducting the molecular survey sought to analyze the genes resistant to bacterial blight (BB) and brown planthopper (BPH). The research used primers specific for Xa21, xa13, Xa4, and Bph1 in the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The survey identified combinations of three genes: (Xa4+xa13+Xa21) in BR52 and (Xa4+xa13+Bph1) in BR43, BR44, BR48, and BR58. Two-gene combination (xa13 and Xa4) materialized in BR53, BR54, BR60, BR73, BR85, and BR86, while identifying a combination of xa13 and Bph1 in BR11, BR41, and BR99. Xa4 was present in 14, xa13 in six, and Bph1 in three lines. Screening the population against Xanthomonas oryzae validated the presence of BB-resistant genes. The consistent finding is that the RILs with a combination of two or more genes express a high level of resistance compared with the RILs with a single gene. The RILs with Xa4 and xa13 expressed more resistance than the lines with xa13 and Bph1. Employing the MAGIC populations approach remains to be effective for gene pyramiding.

Keywords: rice (O. sativa L.), MAGIC population, bacterial blight, brown planthopper

Key findings: Developing MAGIC populations succeeded in pyramiding multiple resistance genes for bacterial blight and BPH in rice (O. sativa L.). A combination of two and three genes pyramided in RILs helped enhance resistance against diseases, leading to durable resistant lines.

Cotton is one of the world’s most important natural fiber and cash crops. The research carried out studies of plants F₁-F₄ considering the importance of cytogenetic analysis of interspecific hybrids for identifying structural differences between homologous chromosomes of crossed forms and substitution of individual chromosomes or chromosome segments because of introgression of interspecific hybrids in cotton breeding. The article comprised a cytogenetic analysis of introgressive lines obtained through the participation of intergenomic crosses and F₁-F₄ cotton hybrids. The results revealed that in crossed variants of F₁-F₄ hybrid plants, the presence of open bivalents and univalents in PMC (pollen mother cell) showed the absence of complete conjugation in the chromosomes. It could be due to the structural differences between the homologous chromosomes in the crossed forms caused by exchanging chromosomes with alien ones. According to the tetrad analysis, the average value ranged from 95.65% F₁L-158/16 × Sultan to 99.61% F₁L-4747-48/16 × Sultan in F₁ hybrids. Based on the tetrad analysis in 16 combinations, the meiotic index ranged from 96.76 ± 0.34 to 99.54 ± 0.19 in F₂ hybrids and 96.51 ± 0.56 to 99.34 ± 0.30 in F₃ hybrids, and in 17 combinations, the range was from 97.14 ± 0.29 to 98.92 ± 0.12 in F₄ hybrids. It also confirmed that meiosis is preceding naturally in the remaining hybrid variants, with a decrease observed in the meiotic index. The results also increased the number of other types of gametes (Monod, dyad, triad, pentad, hexad, and polyad), negatively affecting normal gametes formation.

Keywords: Upland cotton, G. barbadense L., G. hirsutum L., hybrids, introgressive lines, meiosis, tetrad, sporadic, bivalent, degree of fecundity

Key findings: The cytological analyses of introgressive cotton lines and hybrids confirmed their donor ability to enrich the cotton genome. Results established the stabilization of the meiotic division that raised the meiotic index and pollen fertility. The structural differences between homeologous chromosomes confirm the introgressed fragments of wild forms and valuable traits in the cultivated cotton genomes.

The study aimed to determine the role of workers’ comprehension level in agricultural extension centers through their knowledge of administrative processes when providing agricultural extension services in some central governorates of Iraq, as well as, some of the respondents’ characteristics and the relationship between the studied independent variables. The research area has 220 employees, with a sample of 50% selected in four governorates (Babylon, Anbar, Baghdad, and Salah al-Din) using simple random sampling. A number of agricultural extension workers selected from each of the studied governorates came from outside the research sample as a pretest to express the opinion of the sample members regarding the provision of agricultural extension services to these centers. Their number reached 25 agricultural extension workers. The reliability coefficient was 0.89 degrees, and the respondents provided data in October 2022. The arithmetic mean, standard deviation, percentage, simple and multiple correlation coefficients, and frequency distribution tables helped analyze and interpret the research results. The findings indicated that 44.55% of respondents had no knowledge about extension centers’ instructional, planning, and promotional roles in agricultural extension services. It also appears from the results that there is a weakness in the role of the respondents in the processes studied, namely, planning, coordination, communication, training, and education. The research suggests holding extension meetings to inform extension workers of their role in understanding the administrative processes of agricultural extension centers while providing extension services and the importance of that to them, as well as, training workers in their roles and using their knowledge to understand the administration.

Keywords: Role of workers, agricultural extension centers, administrative operations, extension service

Key findings: In light of the results, 44.79% of the workers surveyed had low knowledge of the role of extension centers. Outcomes revealed the sample members’ low educational role (50%), planning role (46.36%), and a direct and significant association between agricultural extension centers’ extension services and their staff’s unique traits. The results indicated that 49.09% of the sample members do not know the counseling extension center’s coordination role, while 44.80% do not know its training role.

Coniferous woods of uneven age have a natural distribution in Atrush, Iraq, and this study selected 10 random samples from diverse places and densities to understand their stand dynamics, using a 17.9 m radius circular sample. The tree and stand variables and global tree coordinates measurements occurred for each sample. Using different diameters to measure total height determined the phases of tree seedlings. When the diameter was over 10 cm, the trees were over 1.3 m tall. Through analysis, it revealed that the densities of these trees spread in the study site and reached 28181.89 trees that varied widely. The number of tree members at the lower diameter was the highest, fluctuating from sample to sample, indicating variances in natural renewal between study sites. The site is rich in natural regeneration. Samples 2, 8, and 10 showed balance for the quantity of seedlings, juveniles, and trees, indicating stability in tree movement. The obtained results relied on mechanisms of community aggregation using tree spatial distribution data.

Keywords: Turkish pine (Pinus brutia Ten.), stand dynamic, pattern analysis, stand characteristics, diameter and height

Key findings: The study samples also showed diverse clear distribution patterns, mostly declining regularly and randomly while appearing minimally clustered. It was evident that most trees, whether of varieties, diameters, or heights, are in the first or second class, except the eighth, second, and tenth samples, indicating the strength of natural regeneration in the study area.