Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) is a genetically diverse group of vegetables with various cultivars having distinct traits. This study optimized somatic embryogenesis in anther-derived calli of selected commercial cucumber cultivars (Local Khera, Champion, and CP 001). Therefore, the experiment investigated the impact of 2,4-D and benzyl 6-aminopurine (BAP) treatments on embryo formation. The anthers collected from different-sized floral buds sustained culturing in various concentrations of 2,4-D and BAP (0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, and 4 mg L^-1). It was evident that calli induction in cucumber cultivars received significant stimuli from 2,4-D and BAP concentrations and dark culture conditions during calli culture. The maximum calli induction (51%) was prominent in anthers of cv. CP 001 at a higher level of 2,4-D in small-sized floral buds. However, the anthers of cucumber cultivar Local Khera (59.72%) performed better for calli induction than Champion (57.14%) and CP 001 (51.43%). The highest embryogenesis appeared in anther-derived calli of cultivar Local Khera (12%) under light culture conditions in tiny flower buds. Meanwhile, maximum (8%) embryo formation observed at a higher level of 2,4-D (4 mg L^-1) resulted in cultivars Champion and CP 001 under dark conditions. In conclusion, from the tested treatments, applying the highest level of 2,4-D and BAP at 4 mg L^-1 was more effective than other treatments, including the control. However, more calli induction was noteworthy under dark culture conditions, and maximum embryo formation occurred under light culture conditions.

Keywords: Cucumber (C. sativus L.), cultivars, anthers, dark, light, calli, embryo

Key findings: Applying the highest level of 2,4-D and BAP at 4.0 mg L^-1 was the most effective for calli production and embryogenesis in cucumber (C. sativus L.). However, more calli induction was prominent under dark culture conditions, while maximum embryo formation occurred under light culture conditions.

In Azerbaijan, the Shamkir District is one of the oldest agricultural regions on the northeastern slope of the Lesser Caucasus Mountains. The presented investigations mainly assessed the current state, dynamics, and comparative parameters of erosion, emphasizing its repercussions on fertility indicators of agricultural soils. Simultaneously, the study employed state-of-the-art methodologies to scrutinize soil sections strategically positioned in key areas of the research domain. The advanced chemical analyses helped acquire results that underwent meticulous refinement through mathematical and statistical methodologies. The study also determined the nitrogen, activated phosphorus, and exchangeable potassium levels beneath the grape plants, aimed at strengthening measures for soil erosion protection in the target region. Expanding the research was imperative to highlight the correlation between soil erosion and its consequences on the local ecosystem. Beyond the immediate impact on soil fertility, erosion can lead to enhanced sedimentation in water bodies, affecting water quality and aquatic habitats.

Keywords: Mountain gray-cinnamon (chestnut), soil types and subtypes, erosion process, soil sections, arable soils, diagnostic index, fertility parameters

Key findings: Mountain gray-cinnamon (chestnut) (42759.79 ha) is one of the widespread soil types on the northeastern slope of the Lesser Caucasus mountains in Azerbaijan. The vital factors of that soil are fertility parameters like humus, nitrogen, CaCO₃, and the sum of absorbed bases (SUB, mg-ekv), which can sustain plant growth and optimize crop yields in that specified soil. The soil granulometric composition’s expression was as a percentage of the weight of purely dry soil.

Shallot (Allium cepa L.) is a root crop widely grown and used as a food ingredient and spice in food preparation. Shallot plants have green leaves that grow upright and bulbs that form and develop underground. Wilt disease (Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cepae) is an affecting disease that often attacks shallot crops. The presented research sought to determine the influence and interaction between cultivars and biological agents in controlling wilt disease and their correlation with the shallot‟s growth components. This research transpired from June to October 2023 at the experimental garden, Universitas Samudra, Aceh, Indonesia. The experiment comprised a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with two factors and four replications. The first factor included three shallot cultivars, i.e., Bima Brebes, Tajuk, and Batu Ijo. The second factor was the provision of Trichoderma, namely, T. viride and T. harzianum, and no Trichoderma (control). The shallot cultivar Batu Ijo, interacting with T. harzianum, showed the best growth characteristics in plant height against the wilt disease, and T. harzianum also slowed down the F. oxysporum infection rate in shallot plants.

Keywords: Shallot (A. cepa L.), cultivars, growth characteristics, Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cepae, Trichoderma species, wilt disease

Key findings: Shallot (A. cepa L.) cultivars, in integration with Trichoderma species, showed the best response for growth and development characteristics by revealing tolerance to the wilt disease (Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cepae).

Banana (Musa paradisiaca) is a delicious and popular fruit, rich with nutritional values that benefit human health. The presented study sought to evaluate the effect of plant growth regulator (PGR) benzylaminopurine (BAP) in enhancing shoot proliferation and its somaclonal variation effect on fruit morphological variation in bananas. The research proceeded with simultaneous steps, including in vitro culture of horn bananas, BAP treatment, and acclimatization. The shoots treatment with three different concentrations of BAP comprised 0 mg L^-1 (control), 3 and 4 mg L^-1. Observations occurred on the number of shoots, the survival rate during acclimatization, and banana fruit productivity. The results revealed that BAP (4 mg L^-1) considerably enhanced the number of shoots in bananas. Explants treated with BAP (4 mg L^-1) were adaptive to the acclimatization stage, reaching a 100% survival rate. Bananas cultivated using BAP also exhibited morphological variations, with threefold enhanced fruit weight compared with the wild type, reaching 644.90 g. Physiological changes during in vitro culture stages revealed shoot initiation to acclimatization, resulting in morphological variations caused by somaclonal effects. These findings lead to understanding BAP as beneficial for crop improvement.

Keywords: Banana (M. paradisiaca L.), acclimatization, BAP, morphological variations, somaclonal effects, shoots, productivity

Key findings: Somaclonal effects induced by benzylaminopurine enhanced the morphological variations and fruit size in banana (M. paradisiacal L.).

Assessing the ability of 26 bacteria isolated from heavy metal-contaminated soils to produce 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase validates their vital role in reducing heavy metal stress conditions. Eight of the 26 bacterial isolates showed positive results for ACC deaminase production. Isolate #11 had the highest enzyme activity by producing α-ketobutyrate (102 μM/mg protein/h). Additionally, ACC deaminase-producing, root-colonizing, non-pathogenic bacteria with a variety of advantageous properties were choices, including Bacillus licheniformis 10 (#10), Pseudomonas aeruginosa 18 (#18), Enterobacter ludwigii 11Uz (#11), and Enterobacter cloacae Uz_5 (#5). Treating wheat cultivar ‘Chillaki’ seeds with suspension #11 revealed a remarkable improvement in seed germination and growth strength (22%) under metal stress conditions. Plants grown under severe metal stress bore suspension #11 treatment, and the results showed a considerable improvement in plant growth metrics and total chlorophyll content compared with the control treatment. Additionally, in wheat seeds, the proline, catalase, and SOD activity rose by treating them with Enterobacter ludwigii 11Uz suspension. The results supported using ACC deaminase-producing Enterobacter ludwigii 11Uz (#11) for stress reduction by demonstrating that it can protect wheat plants from heavy metal stress via its antioxidant system.

Keywords: Local bacteria, wheat seeds, metal stress conditions, ACC deaminase, Enterobacter ludwigii, resistance, proline, SOD, CAT, germination ratio, growth strength

Key findings: ACC deaminase synthesizing bacteria with plant-growth stimulating properties showed the highest resistance to Ni and Cd cations. Select bacteria successfully investigated the morphometric characteristics and chlorophyll content of wheat plants grown under Ni and Cd stress conditions. Bacteria were notable for mitigating Ni and Cd stress conditions.

Grapes (Vitis vinifera L.) are a seasonal fruit, and remaining fresh on the market is only up to 3–4 months. The most common way to extend the period of grape consumption is to organize its long-term storage. By storing grapes, in addition to the natural loss in weight, waste also occurs, mainly caused by fungal infections. The presented research aspired to study the composition of epiphytic microflora on the grape cultivar berries immediately after harvest and long-term storage in the refrigerator and determine the effectiveness of using sulfur dioxide to prevent grape spoilage. The Azerbaijan local table grape cultivars Gara Shaani and Ag Shaani served as the objects of microbiological studies. Determining the fungal contaminations of the berries led the experiment to inoculate the growth medium. Fumigation application with sulfur dioxide helped suppress the harmful microorganisms’ activity. In fresh grape berries, the contamination microbiology differed sharply by grape cultivar. The fungi of the genus Aspergillus were visible in the cultivar Gara Shaani, while Penicillium in Ag Shaani. The results also have shown the effectiveness of using sulfur dioxide, which leads to a significant decline in fungi quantity by 87%.

Keywords: Grapes (V. vinifera L.), Absheron peninsula, microflora, cultivars, fungi, storage technology, fumigation

Key findings: In the stored grape (V. vinifera L.) berries, specific and varied microflora patterns were evident based on the biological characteristics of the studied cultivars.

Clove is an economically valuable spice plant with numerous health and food-related benefits. The abundance of clove with higher diversity was prevalent in the Haya Village, Seram Island, renowned as the largest clove-producing center in Maluku, Indonesia. The presented research sought to quantitatively and qualitatively analyze the morphological diversity and genetic makeup of five clove accessions using seven RAPD primers. The results of coefficient variation showed that the leaf area holds the highest value (62.7%) compared with the petiole length (18.67%). Hierarchical cluster analysis based on 11 morphological traits, including crown shape, trunk type, bark type, branching direction, leaf shape, leaf apex shape, leaf base shape, leaf margin, leaf character, leaf venation, and leaves aroma exhibited a distant relationship between the clove accessions obtained from tuni and hutan. These accessions showed a high dissimilarity between the red and the white Zanzibar. The RAPD profile showed 92 bands ranging from 800 to 2700 bp, with a polymorphism of 66.3%. Based on genetic distance analysis, red Zanzibar and hutan have the highest value (0.58%), while red Zanzibar and white Zanzibar have the lowest (0.16%). These results were consistent with phylogenetic tree reconstruction and PCoA analysis that groups hutan at a long distance from red Zanzibar and tuni. According to morphological and molecular analysis, clove accessions tuni, red Zanzibar, and hutan were most suitable as promising parental genotypes for further improvement through plant breeding and conservation programs.

Keywords: Clove, genetic makeup, morphological trait, polymorphism, genetic distance, RAPD markers

Key findings: Clove (S. aromaticum L.) showed variations in vegetative characters and a moderate polymorphism based on seven RAPD primers. The markers classified tuni and red Zanzibar clove accessions into the same group, while the hutan clove accession remained distinct. The results suggested that these three accessions have the potential to serve as parental genotypes in crossbreeding for further improvement in clove plant quality.

Maize (Zea mays L.), a vital cereal crop, faces challenges from rising global temperatures. As a C4 plant, maize is highly heat sensitive, which disrupts photosynthesis and reduces growth and productivity. High temperatures during the reproductive phase delay silk emergence and dry pollen, decreasing seed production and yield. Developing heat-tolerant maize varieties is essential. Tolerance can be viable by utilizing genetic diversity in breeding programs. This study evaluated 156 inbred lines for high-temperature stress tolerance, selecting 56 promising lines. Their screening continued under field and screen house conditions. High-temperature stress significantly affected maize growth and reproductive stages, increasing the anthesis-silking interval and reducing flowering synchronization. Principal component analysis identified inbred lines PBG1(X), PBG2(X), PBG3(X), PBG4(X), PBG5(X), PBG7(X), 6200(X), 6201(X), 6205(X), and 6202(X) as the best performers under stress, while 6159(X), 6179(X), 6180(X), 6193(X), and 6199(X) performed poorly. Traits, such as cob diameter, days to silking, grains per cob, 100-grain weight, and leaf area, showed positive correlations with the anthesis-silking interval. Inversely, pollen production potential had a negative correlation, while the days to tasseling positively correlated with grain yield. These findings are crucial for developing heatresilient maize varieties.

Keywords: Maize (Z. mays L.), inbred lines, screening, high temperature, PCA, correlation

Key findings: The rising global temperature poses significant physiological stresses on maize (Z. mays L.). Addressing this challenge requires identifying and utilizing heat-tolerant maize germplasm essential for breeding climate-resilient varieties. These findings provide valuable insights for improving high-temperature stress tolerance and developing resilient maize germplasm.

This presented study sought to determine the qualitative parameters and relationship among the local (Khindogni, Bayanshira, Madrasa, and Shirvanshahi) and internationally introduced (Roussanne, Chardonnay, and Carignane) grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) cultivars grown in the Mountainous Shirvan Region, Azerbaijan. Few grapevine gardens planted with ancient cultivars remain, which places the wine industry in a difficult position. The local cultivars, Madrasa, Shirvanshahi, and Bayanshira, grown in the Shamakhi Region, Azerbaijan, could provide an incentive for upgrading the wine industry. Consumers abroad prefer wines made from ancient technical grape cultivars. Despite interest in the cultivars Madrasa, Bayanshira, Khindogni, and Shirvanshahi, the technical cultivars Chardonnay, Roussanne, and Carignane ranked first in grapevine cultivation. The various bunch and berry traits were the most studied parameters in these grapevine genotypes. The juice obtained from these berries bore analysis for Brix, pH, acidity, and ripening index. The latest research indicates the wine industry faces the primary challenge of failing to consider the ecological and geographic zonal characteristics of grapevine cultivars. These grapevine genotypes result in the production of low-quality table wines derived from cultivars that are unsuitable for the local soil and climatic conditions. Consequently, about cultivation, cultivars Madrasa, Carignane, Shirvanshahi, and Bayanshira were notably promising cultivars.

Keywords: Technical grape (V. vinifera L.), varieties, local and introduced cultivars, morphometric parameters, quality, wine industry, correlation

Key findings: Based on the bunch and berry parameters and the quality of juice, technical grape (V. vinifera L.) varieties Madrasa, Carignane, Shirvanshahi, and Bayanshira are suitable for growing in the Mountainous Shirvan Region of Azerbaijan. The berry size exhibited a positive correlation with seed weight and a negative with the Brix value of the juice.

Pre-sowing treatment with plant growth regulators is one of the most efficient ways to improve seed germination and seedling tolerance to diverse environmental conditions. The presented study sought to evaluate the effects of polyprenols (emulsion concentrate) of the Paulownia tomentosa tree on the growth, physiological, and yield-related traits in winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Biologically active substances (polyprenols) of the Paulownia tomentosa tree have stimulating and auxin-like activity, contributing to an increase in seed germination, plant height, spike length, grains per spike, grain weight per spike, 1000-grain weight, which increased the grain yield by 5.5–10.5 t/ha in winter wheat. According to the results, the Grom cultivars had the highest degree of drought resistance (94%). Local wheat cultivars Khisorak and Bunyodkor belonged to group IV (above average) and displayed 77.7% to 80.0% drought resistance. Polyprenols also positively affected the leaf chlorophyll a, b, and the total chlorophyll formation during the vegetation phase in winter wheat. Chlorophyll b increased by 0.23 mg/g for the cultivar Bunyodkor, 0.29 mg/g in Khisorak, and 0.07 mg/g in the Grom cultivar under the Republic’s Southern Region conditions.

Keywords: Winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), cultivars, polyprenols, auxin-like activity, stimulating effect, drought resistance, growth and yield traits

Key findings: Biologically active compound polyprenols increased seed germination, plant height, spike length, grains per spike, grain weight per spike, 1000-grain weight, and grain yield in winter wheat (T. aestivum L.).