The comparative analysis of the productivity indicators of several less-cultivated technical grape (Vitis vinifera L.) cultivars in comparison with the standard cultivar Ag Aldara was the focus of this study conducted in the Nakhchivan Region of Azerbaijan. The results revealed that in the studied grape cultivars, the main productivity indicators were relatively high, ranging from 73.7% to 84.8%. However, except for the cultivar AgKalampur (51.0%), the proportion of two-clustered shoots was quite low in other grape cultivars. In certain cultivars, the total number of fruitful shoots ranged from 10.6% (Khatmi) to 23.5%, having an association with the biological traits of Eastern grape cultivars. The average number of clusters per fruitful shoot ranged between 1.15 and 1.60, and the highest fertility coefficients varied from 0.84 to 1.35 clusters per shoot based on genotypes. Although the fertility coefficient of the buds on the canes with load was considerably low, the large size of the clusters ranged from 237 to 285 g. This ensured that, on average, the vineyards established with the studied grape cultivars yielded between 24.3 and 31.2 tons per hectare.

Keywords: Grape (V. vinifera L.), cultivars, ecological farming, productivity indicators, fertility coefficients, vine, shoots, buds, clusters

Key findings: The results based on the comparative analysis of less cultivated technical grape (V. vinifera L.) cultivars in the Nakhchivan Region of Azerbaijan revealed that the productivity indicators were quite high.

Phytochemical traits in crop plants reflect both genetic characteristics and environmental conditions and could serve as useful markers for germplasm evaluation. This study compared the phytochemical profiles of purple and white Dioscorea alata L. tubers cultivated in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Proximate analysis, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) were methods used to characterize biochemical composition in raw and steamed tubers. The results revealed clear phytochemical differences between the two tuber types, with purple tubers showing relatively higher carbohydrate levels and greatly abundant phenolic-related compounds. FTIR spectra indicated functional groups associated with carbohydrates, phenolics, and lipid derivatives, while the GC-MS analysis identified phenolic compounds and fatty acid ethyl esters as major constituents. The agroclimatic data describe the environmental conditions during tuber development and provide contextual background for interpreting the observed phytochemical profiles. These findings highlight the potential use of phytochemical traits as biochemical markers for D. alata germplasm characterization and will support the selection of nutritionally valuable yam varieties in breeding programs.

Keywords: Dioscorea alata, phytochemical variation, agroclimatic influence, germplasm characterization, FTIR, GC-MS, crop improvement

Key findings: Purple and white Dioscorea alata L. exhibited distinct agroclimatic-driven phytochemical variations, with purple tubers consistently containing higher levels of phenolic compounds and fatty acid ethyl esters than white tubers. Favorable agroclimatic conditions, particularly stable temperatures and high solar radiation, enhanced secondary metabolite accumulation, supporting the use of these phytochemical traits as biochemical markers for D. alata germplasm evaluation and varietal selection.

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is a key food crop in Kazakhstan, though its productivity is low due to inefficient utilization of nutrients in Southeastern Kazakhstan. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of biological products and biostimulants on potato growth and development, tuber yield and quality, and economic efficiency. A potato field experiment with seven treatments (T1–T7), including an untreated control (T1), completed its conduct in 2024–2025. The results revealed foliar application of biostimulants accelerated phenological development and improved plant biometric traits. The most pronounced improvement was visible in the growth and yield of treatments T2 (Oboki), T3 (Celobacirin AS-24K + Phosphobacirin-S), T4 (BioSok Energy⁺), and T6 (Fitolaza + Nano-sulfur). The highest tuber yield resulted in T2 (27.4 t/ha) and excelled control by 46.08% (8.65 t/ha). Biochemical analysis displayed increased dry matter, sugar, and starch contents (up to 17.2%); however, nitrate level was below permissible limits. Economic analysis showed the highest profitability with T4 (257%), with a net return of USD 1590.84/ha, followed by T3, T6, and T2 with high economic efficiency (203%, 188%, and 176%, respectively). The results suggested that integrated application of biological products in potato cultivation under semi-arid conditions could effectively improve plant growth, tuber yield and quality, and profitability.

Keywords: Potato (S. tuberosum L.), biostimulants, biological products, productivity, tuber quality, profitability, the foothill zone of Southeast Kazakhstan

Key findings: The foliar and root-applied biological products significantly improved potato (S. tuberosum L.) growth, yield, and tuber quality. The results confirmed biostimulants and biological fertilizers enhance resource-use efficiency, productivity, and economic returns while reducing dependency on chemical inputs.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of row spacing (15 and 30 cm) and biological seed treatments with biofertilizers (phosphobacillin and nitragin) on the yield formation of three lentil (Lens culinaris L.) cultivars. These were on large-seeded cultivars Shyraily and Sakura and small-seeded Krapinka, with the experiment held during 2024–2025 under irrigated conditions of southeast Kazakhstan. The results revealed the highest grain yield emerged in the lentil cultivar Shyraily with a 30-cm row spacing and phosphobacillin in 2024 (1.68 t/ha) and with nitragin in 2025 (1.74 t/ha), exceeding the control by 0.52–0.55 t/ha. However, the narrow-row spacing (15 cm) showed reduced productivity in all lentil cultivars during both crop seasons. The results demonstrated the optimized row spacing combined with biological treatments enhanced the lentil yield formation.

Keywords: Lentil (L. culinaris L.) cultivars, row spacing, biofertilizers, nitragin, phosphobacillin, productivity, dryland farming

Key findings: The large-seeded lentil (L. culinaris L.) cultivar Shyraily achieved the highest grain yield at a 30-cm row spacing with phosphobacillin in 2024 (1.68 t/ha) and with nitragin in 2025 (1.74 t/ha), exceeding the control by 0.52–0.55 t/ha.

Drought is a major problem that threatens rice production worldwide. The development of drought-tolerant rice (Oryza sativa L.) genotypes is vital in overcoming such challenges. The study’s objective sought to investigate the diversity of drought responses of 33 elite rice cultivars of Indonesia. Two sets of experiments proceeded, covering germination and seedling stages. Imposing drought stress treatment in the germination stage used 25% polyethylene glycol (PEG) 6000, while in the seedling stage, treating rice germplasms with water stress took place in a soil-filled concrete tank. The selection of the best germplasm ensued using the multi-trait genotype-ideotype distance index (MGIDI). Based on the MGIDI selection, six drought-tolerant rice cultivars succeeded in their identification, including Inpari 13, Inpari 35, Inpari 28, Inpari 37, Inpari 23, and Inpari 43. The rice variety Inpari 13 showed close similarity to the ideotype in response to drought stress at the germination stage, whereas Inpari 35 and Inpari 43 exhibited close similarity to the ideotype in response to drought stress during the seedling stage. The selected drought-tolerant rice from an elite germplasm collection is a valuable genetic source for rice improvement and, in the short term, for direct deployment of the genotype in drought-prone environments.

Keywords: Rice (O. sativa L.), germplasm, drought tolerance, MGIDI, Inpari 13

Key findings: This study identified drought-tolerant rice (O. sativa L.) genotypes based on a multi-trait index selection, which will be a valuable genetic resource for rice improvement.

Hybridization between high-yielding assamica and high-quality sinensis tea types results in wide genetic variation that provides opportunities for early selection of elite tea genotypes. This study evaluated 24 F₁ hybrid progenies derived from eight cross combinations (sinensis × assamica) to assess shoot regeneration, branching, canopy development, and plant architecture under heavy and medium pruning during six months of observation. Several progenies derived from the Suka Ati-40 parental line showed more vigorous vegetative growth than the other hybrid combinations. According to the Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) descriptors, most hybrid progenies displayed upward or outward leaf orientation, together with shrub growth habit and spreading canopy architecture. Shoot number had a positive correlation with canopy diameter and the number of primary branches, whereas shoot length showed a positive correlation with canopy diameter. These results provide useful morphological criteria for identifying tea genotypes associated with a desirable canopy ideotype and support early clonal selection in tea breeding programs.

Keywords: Tea (C. sinensis L.), hybrid progenies, pruning, canopy ideotype, morphological traits, early clonal selection

Key findings: Tea (C. sinensis L.) hybrid progenies derived from crosses between sinensis and assamica showed wide variation in shoot regeneration and canopy development after pruning, providing useful morphological traits for early clonal selection.

During the dry season, declining soil moisture frequently limits water availability for potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.), exposing plants to drought stress that disrupts normal growth and ultimately reduces tuber yield. Therefore, drought stress-tolerant potato cultivars are essential to address this alarming issue. Stomatal conductance plays a central role in plant responses to drought because it regulates both water losses through transpiration and CO₂ uptake for photosynthesis. Hence, optimizing stomatal conductance represents an effective strategy to improve water-use efficiency while sustaining plant growth under water-limited conditions. The Pain-1 gene with reduced expression promotes the degradation of sucrose into glucose and fructose through genome editing using CRISPR/Cas9 (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats/CRISPR-associated protein 9). This study aimed to identify the potato explant type with the highest transformation efficiency to support efficient CRISPR/Cas9-mediated editing of the Pain-1 gene. As a preliminary study, transformation efficiency analysis ensued through leaf and internode explants of potato clone BR1 plantlets used for genome editing. The transformation took place using the Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain EHA101 containing the pGW903 vector plasmid, target sequence, and two sgRNA designs (VIST2 and VIST3). Transformant status received assessment by identifying the presence of the Cas9 and hpt genes. The results showed internode explants exhibited significantly higher transformation efficiency (33.46%) than leaf explants (7.95%).

Keywords: Potato (S. tuberosum L.), drought tolerance, genome editing, CRISPR/Cas9, explant, sgRNA, tuber yield

Key findings: In potatoes (S. tuberosum L.), the efficient genome editing was highly dependent on the explant type. This preliminary study revealed a significant difference between the transformation efficiency of potato leaves and internodes. Internode explants consistently showed higher transformation efficiency across two different sgRNA designs. The results suggested the use of internodes as explants for genome editing in potatoes.

Soybean (Glycine max L.) is an important edible-oil crop whose productivity faces threats of rising temperature under climate change, making the identification of heat-tolerant genotypes crucial. This study evaluated 18 soybean genotypes for heat tolerance across five temperatures (25 °C, 30 °C, 35 °C, 40 °C, and 45 °C), focusing on survival rate, shoot and root lengths, and total plant weight. Gepak Kuning, Argomulyo, and Demas 1 showed robust resilience and consistent superiority. The highest broad-sense heritability (H² up to 1.00) recorded was for these traits, underscoring their breeding potential. Correlation showed positive associations among root length, shoot length, and leaf area, suggesting these as tolerance indicators. Heat tolerance index (HTI) classified Gepak Kuning, Argomulyo, and Demas 1 as tolerant; Devon 1, Denasa 1, and Derap 1 as moderately tolerant; and Detap 1, Grobogan, and Dering 3 as susceptible. The study identified promising heat-tolerant genotypes and traits for climate-smart soybean breeding.

Keywords: Soybean (G. max L.), heat stress, early growth stage, heat tolerance index, thermo-tolerance screening

Key findings: Soybean (G. max L.) genotypes Gepak Kuning, Argomulyo, and Demas 1 revealed significant heat tolerance at 45 °C with the highest survival rate and heat tolerance index. Positive correlation between root-shoot traits enables integrated selection strategies to enhance plant vigor under tropical heat stress conditions.

The identification of stable and high-yielding wheat genotypes under variable environmental conditions is essential for sustainable grain production. In this study, evaluating 201 bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars succeeded during 2021–2023 under contrasting environmental conditions in the Tashkent and Khorezm regions of Uzbekistan. Based on morphophysiological characteristics, yield components, and stress tolerance indices, 20 promising genotypes attained selection for detailed evaluation. Several productivity and stability indices used included the stress tolerance index (STI), mean productivity (MP), geometric mean productivity (GMP), plant productivity index (PPI), and Mexican index (Mx), assessing the adaptability and yield performance of studied genotypes. The results revealed considerable variability among wheat genotypes in yield components and productivity indices across environments. The highest recorded 1000-kernel weight resulted in the cultivar Krasnovodopadskaya 210 under Tashkent conditions, whereas in the Khorezm Region, high values were evident in cultivars Krasnovodopadskaya 210, Ramin, and Frunzenskaya 60. Combined analysis of yield performance and stress tolerance indices identified cultivars Asr, Alex, and Genotype-2 as the most stable and high-yielding genotypes across contrasting environments. The identified promising genotypes represent valuable genetic resources aimed at improving yield stability and stress tolerance under diverse agroecological conditions in Uzbekistan.

Keywords: Bread wheat (T. aestivum L.), stress tolerance index, yield indicators, different conditions

Key findings: Promising bread wheat (T. aestivum L.) genotypes, Asr, Alex, Genotype 2, Karavan, and Krasnovodopadskaya 210, emerged with higher yield potential and stability through multi-environment evaluation across the contrasting environments of Uzbekistan.

This study aimed to evaluate the physiological performance of 13 promising advanced lines and the cultivar Namangan-77 of upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) under different water supply conditions. Genotypes enunciated significant differences for plastid pigments under optimal and water-stressed conditions. The results revealed that a marked decrease in pigment content expressed impaired photosynthesis, weakened leaf energetic status, and increased metabolic disruptions in drought-sensitive genotypes, whereas pigment retention reflected robust adaptive mechanisms in drought-tolerant cotton genotypes. These physiological mechanisms confirmed that pigments served as reliable biomarkers for assessing drought-tolerant cotton genotypes. The results exhibited water deficit conditions significantly affect key processes in cotton plant leaves, from water balance to the stability of the photosynthetic apparatus. Under optimal conditions, all physiological processes proceeded efficiently, while under modeled drought, it activated complex adaptive mechanisms to preserve more water and pigments, reduce transpiration, and stabilize the leaf structure.

Keywords: Upland cotton (G. hirsutum L.), water regimes, drought stress conditions, physiological traits, chlorophyll, carotenoids, morphological traits, agronomic variables

Key findings: The plastid pigments’ analysis showed drought-tolerant cotton (G. hirsutum L.) genotypes (T-217, T-4, and Xi Zhong 52) retained higher pigment levels under water stress, while drought-sensitive genotypes (Namangan-77, T-2, and Xi Zhong 78) exhibited a significant decrease in pigment content. The results highlighted the effectiveness of using a comprehensive assessment of physiological, morphological, and agronomic traits to select drought-tolerant cotton genotypes.