The innovative study comprised a comparative evaluation of phenotypic and anatomic characters of anthers in 14 citrus taxa grown in Iraq. The results revealed the classification of citrus anthers into three groups based on the apex shape—round in five taxa, round-flattened apex in three taxa, and acute apex in six taxa. The epidermis surface patterns also exhibited four groups—reticulated surface, pitted, smooth, and slightly disassembled. The tapetum was evident in three forms, viz., densely folded, folded orbicules, and almost unfolded. The anatomical study disclosed that the cross-section shape of the anther was like a butterfly in all taxa. The anther wall of the studied citrus taxa consisted of four distinct cell layers. The endothecium cells of the studied citrus taxa had the characteristic of semi-circular outline thickenings with needle-shaped crystals appearing in the anther tissue in some taxa. The stamen filament was irregular in the citrus taxa, comprising an epidermis with cuticle, followed by the cortex with raphides crystals, with the vascular bundle located in the center. The results confirmed that the citrus anther micromorphology and anatomy represent effective tools in supporting taxonomy and breeding by facilitating the differentiation of taxa and improving the understanding of relationships within Citrus.

Keywords: Citrus taxa, citrus anther, Iraqi citrus, anther anatomy, SEM

Key findings: Classification tools vary to differentiate taxonomic taxa down to the smallest structure; therefore, the anther’s adoption morphologically and anatomically served as one of the distinguishing marks between citrus taxa, and with hybridization, their characterization resulted in a high degree of convergence and similarity.

Currently, significant attention centers on cultivating rare fruit crops with unique properties worldwide. The cornelian cherry (Cornus mas L.) is also popular for its abundant and stable yield. Industrial plantation of cultivated cornelian cherry remains limited globally, which restricts the ability to meet the growing demands of this valuable fruit. Therefore, studying the morphological and biochemical composition of its cultivated cultivars can be an important research task. The following research analyzes the morphological and biochemical traits of fruits of five cornelian cherry cultivars grown in the Tashkent Region, Uzbekistan, as well as the content of photosynthetic pigments in their leaves. The study recorded the cornelian cherry fruit mass up to 2.88 g, length (22.47 mm), and width (13.80 mm). In cornelian cherry fruits, the dry matter content reached 20.2%, pH is 3.18, and sugar level is 10.88%. Leaf chlorophyll content ranged from 8.55 to 9.34 mg/kg. The study also identified D. destructiva as the primary fungal pathogen affecting cornelian cherry under the growing conditions of Uzbekistan. Infection by D. destructiva resulted in losses of dry matter (6.27%), sugars (7.18%), macroelements (34.37–755.78 mg/kg), microelements (0.05–3.22 mg/kg), and reduction in chlorophyll a and b (0.9–1.4 and 1.0–1.81 mg/g, respectively).

Keywords: Cornelian cherry (C. mas L.), morphological traits, biochemical analysis, macro- and microelements, chlorophylls (Chl-a and Chl-b), D. destructiva

Key findings: The morphological and biochemical traits and chlorophyll content determination were successful in the cornelian cherry (C. mas L.). The results revealed that anthracnose disease caused by D. destructiva leads to a considerable reduction in biochemical traits of fruits and leaf pigments.

Waterlogging represents one of the most destructive abiotic stresses, preventing global crop production, including tobacco (Nicotiana spp.), which experiences yield reductions reaching 83% under extended flooding conditions. This systematic review aimed to determine the tobacco-specific synthesis that combines metabolomic data from different genotypes with an assessment of proposed metabolic markers and identification of important research areas that require addressing in future investigations. This systematic review synthesizes findings from 18 peer-reviewed articles, which researchers selected from 571 records that the Scopus and Web of Science databases identified during the period from 2018 to 2024. The compiled evidence shows how waterlogging triggers tobacco plants to make controlled metabolic changes, affecting their antioxidant defense systems, anaerobic energy production, nitrogen-containing compound synthesis, and cellular communication pathways. Tolerant genotypes consistently exhibited enhanced antioxidant and fermentation enzyme activities and greater energy reserve retention than susceptible genotypes. Identifying enzymatic activities, energy-related metabolites, and Ca²⁺ ions was recurrent as candidate metabolic indicators.

Keywords: Tobacco (Nicotiana spp.), waterlogging, inundation stress, plant defense systems, metabolite profile, antioxidant enzymes, metabolic indicators

Key findings: According to the literature review, tolerant tobacco (Nicotiana spp.) genotypes maintained elevated levels of antioxidant and fermentation enzymes, higher energy reserves and ATP levels, and increased Ca²⁺ ion concentrations. These collectively serve as promising metabolic indicators for developing waterlogging-tolerant cultivars through breeding programs.

Plants use several biological defense mechanisms associated with microorganisms in their microbiota to mitigate the effects of abiotic stress factors such as salinity and drought. This situation enhanced this research interest aimed at isolating beneficial bacteria from plant microbiota and using them to combat salinity stress conditions. This study evaluated the effect of five bacterial strains, viz., Priestia megaterium HAST2, Priestia aryabhattai HAST7, Pseudomonas plecoglossicida HAST9, Pseudomonas putida HAST10, and Pseudomonas chlororaphis HAST17, on the growth and development parameters of cotton under a saline environment. The strains came from the endomicrobiota of the vegetative organs of glasswort (Halocnemum strobilaceum). The results showed the bacterial strain P. chlororaphis HAST17 considerably stimulates cotton germination, shoot and root growth and development, and seed cotton yield traits under salinity conditions. The findings revealed such types of bacterial strains can increase the diversity of eco-products that stimulate crop growth and production under salinity conditions.

Keywords: Bacterial strains, cotton, endophyte, glasswort (H. strobilaceum), salinity stress, seed germination, seed treatment, yield

Key findings: The study evaluated the potential of endophytic bacteria isolated from glasswort (H. strobilaceum) as a promising stimulator for sustainable cotton cultivation under salinity conditions, selecting the bacterial strain P. chlororaphis HAST17 from among them.

The inventory of the genus Anabasis L. collection in the herbaria of Kazakhstan and neighboring countries, particularly the specimens of the endemic and relict species Anabasis cretacea Pall., comprised this study. Systematizing and analyzing the herbarium collection focused on species diversity, their morphological characteristics, and ecological implications. The endemic species received special attention, highlighting the need for their conservation and preservation. The studied herbaria included the Institute of Botany and Phytointroduction and Al-Farabi Kazakh National University in Almaty, the Astana Botanical Garden and National Center of Biotechnology in Astana, and the Utemisov West Kazakhstan University in Uralsk. The collection made in Kazakhstan’s own herbaria took place during field research in June-August 2025. Likewise, a visit to the personal herbaria of Prof. S.A. Aipeisova was fruitful. Similarly, virtual tours of herbaria took place in the study. These were Lomonosov Moscow State University; the N.V. Tsitsin State Library of the Russian Academy of Sciences; the V.L. Botanic Institute, Komarova RAS, St. Petersburg; and the Digital Herbarium of the Central Siberian Botanical Garden SB RAS, Novosibirsk. Thus, studying the various herbaria resulted in the 13 different species of the genus Anabasis L. found in Kazakhstan, five of which were in the Aktobe Region. Moreover, the location of the species Anabasis cretacea Pall succeeded in its identification in the study area at the Aktobe Region, Kazakhstan.

Keywords: Anabasis L., Chenopodiaceae, endemic, relict species, herbarium collection, samples, Aktobe region, Kazakhstan, neighboring states

Key findings: Analysis of the genus Anabasis L. collection revealed the species diversity, distribution ranges, and ecological preferences, including relict and endemic types with the highest tolerance to salinity and drought. The results were of scientific and conservation values, providing insights into soil and environmental conditions, aridization processes, and speciation. The identification of the genus Anabasis L. species was successful in the study area at the Aktobe Region, Kazakhstan.

The ensuing study aimed to assess the variations in land-vegetation cover caused by the influence of climate change and human activities. The use of an integrative relationship of various factors helped determine the boundaries of natural and anthropogenic impacts, assessing their pressure level on the ecosystem. In a study from 1999 to 2024, observations on the negative impact of climatic factors progressed on the soil cover of the Nakhchivanchay River basin. Against this background, the temperature increased (approximately 0.19 °C–0.22 °C), precipitation decreased (9.15–9.75 mm), soil moisture decreased (4.95–5.35 mm), degraded soils’ area rose by 2.85%–3.05%, and the area with dense vegetation incurred depletion by 1.75%–1.95%. These climate-based variations can help in the selection of crop types and natural fodder for livestock. On the soil-vegetation cover, human activities have also occurred in negative and positive directions. With positive human activities, it was possible to mitigate the negative impact of climate change and maintain soil fertility and biomass balance. The results showed climate change has consistently degraded soil and vegetation, while human activities can either intensify or alleviate these effects in the Nakhchivanchay River basin. The results highlighted that well-managed land use practices are crucial for reducing climate-driven degradation and enhancing sustainable productivity.

Keywords: Climate change, human activities, synergistic approach, vegetation density, soil degradation

Key findings: The study delineates the respective boundaries of climatic and anthropogenic influences on soil fertility and biomass dynamics. The results highlighted that well-managed land use practices are crucial for reducing climate-driven degradation and enhancing sustainable productivity.

An investigation of the population and genus composition of soil fungi in the rhizosphere of intensive 12-year-old apple orchards grown on the three distinct chernozem soil subtypes—podzolized, leached, and typical—inspired this study. Research transpired in the growing seasons of 2024–2025 across the Tambov and Lipetsk regions, Central Russia. Soil samples’ collection had three different depths (0–10, 10–30, and 30–60 cm). From 12 genera, fungi isolation primarily included Penicillium, Mucor, Aspergillus, Fusarium, Botrytis, Trichoderma, Rhizopus, and Verticillium, with data on Penicillium, Mucor, Aspergillus, Verticillium, and Pythium presented graphically. Meanwhile, the remaining genera presentations were in the narrative form. The podzolized chernozem soil subtype, characterized by the highest acidity and humus content, yielded a higher number and diversity of fungal genera, in which the Botrytis and Verticillium were predominant. Conversely, Aspergillus was the characteristic of the leached chernozem, while Mucor and Rhizopus dominated the typical chernozem. A considerable positive correlation (r > 0.85) was evident between the soil’s humus content and acidity (low pH) and the total abundance of the investigated fungal genera. The results highlighted the crucial role of the chernozem soil subtype, governed by its specific chemical parameters, in structuring the fungal community in the apple tree rhizosphere.

Keywords: Genera of soil fungi, chernozem soil subtype, apple tree, intensive orchards, apple tree rhizosphere, soil microbiology, Czapek’s medium

Key findings: The results showed the diversity and abundance of fungal genera in the apple tree rhizosphere largely depend on the soil pH and humus content, which generally materialize in differences in the subtypes of chernozem.

The timely study aimed to evaluate the salt resistance in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) cultivars under the influence of salinity stress conditions. The research analyzed variations in antioxidant enzyme activity, osmoprotective metabolites and oxidative stress indicators, and protein content in grains to select the promising genotypes. The results revealed that under salinity stress conditions, the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and peroxidase (POD) displayed sharp increases in chickpea cultivars, with the highest index recorded in the chickpea cultivar Polvon (with 6 times SOD). In chickpea cultivars Darmon and Gulistan, the proline accumulation increased to 2–3 times as compared to the control cultivar, while it was a bit higher in the cultivar Polvon than the control. The hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and malondialdehyde (MDA) content decreased in cultivars Polvon and Darmon, while the MDA increased in the cultivar Gulistan. Salinity caused a reduction in the grain protein content in all cultivars. In conclusion, antioxidant enzymes and osmoprotective metabolites proved important in chickpea genotypes’ salt stress tolerance.

Keywords: Chickpea (C. arietinum L.), cultivars, salinity, antioxidant enzymes, proline, ascorbic acid, malondialdehyde, hydrogen peroxide, glutathione, protein

Key findings: The degree of chickpea (C. arietinum L.) genotypes’ adaptation to salinity stress significantly varied. Cultivars Polvon and Darmon showed the highest salt-stress resistance through a considerable self-defense system.

Rice is a staple crop for over half of the global population, necessitating improved yield stability to meet the increasing demand for food. As it is grown under different input management systems depending on resource availability, farmers’ capacity, and production objectives, genotype × environment interactions greatly affect yield, underscoring the need for breeding programs that improve stability and adaptability across varied management systems. The effects of G × E under conventional (CM), organic (OM), and no-input (NM) management remain poorly understood. With this objective, an evaluation of 46 rice genotypes across three systems used the additive main effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) and genotype plus genotype-by-environment (GGE) biplot models to assess yield stability. A multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) showed that genotype (G), management (M), and their interaction (G × M) significantly influence yield. GGE biplot analysis identified Kattuyanam, ASD19, Sennar20, Navera, Kalanamak, and Pokkali as highly stable genotypes, while KR09003 and CR1009 showed limited adaptability. AMMI analysis confirmed the results, with PC1 explaining 69.83% of variation, highlighting management as the main factor. Genotypes CO(R)50, PY7, and ADT38 exhibited broad adaptability, whereas KR10019 and Mappillai Samba were suitable under organic systems. Under conventional management, KKL(R)-1, Mappillai Samba, CO(R)50, Kattuyanam, and KR10023 performed well. In organic management, Karudan Samba, Poongar, and Mappillai Samba excelled, while in no-input systems, Mappillai Samba, Kattuyanam, Karuppu Kavuni, and Kitchilli Samba showed a stable performance.

Keywords: rice stability, organic management, conventional management, no-input management, GGE biplot, AMMI, MANOVA

Key findings: Results revealed that Kattuyanam, ASD19, Sennar 20, Navera, Kalanamak, and Pokkali are highly stable genotypes across all management systems. Meanwhile, KR10019 and Mappillai Samba were suitable for OM, KKL(R)-1, Mappillai Samba, CO(R)50, Kattuyanam, and KR10023 performed well in CM. In NM, Mappillai Samba, Kattuyanam, Karuppu Kavuni, and Kitchilli Samba showed a stable performance.

The marigold (Tagetes erecta L.) is an ornamental plant with high economic value. The generation of the white flower marigold phenotype could proceed through genetic transformation with the InMYB1-CCD4ɑ gene. This study aimed to evaluate a) the regeneration of marigold leaf through indirect organogenesis, b) the transformation of callus with the InMYB1-CCD4ɑ gene, and c) analyze the InMYB1-CCD4ɑ gene presence in transgenic plantlets. Testing of shoot formation from callus continued in MS medium containing indole-3-acetic acid (IAA, 0.5 mg L^-1) with the addition of different levels of Thidiazuron-TDZ (0.25, 0.5, 0.75, and 1 mg L^-1), and 6-Benzylaminopurine, or BAP (2.5, 5, and 7 mg L^-1). BAP (7 mgL^-1) produced the highest number of shoots (six shoots per explant). In genetic transformation with A. tumefaciens harboring InMYB1-CCD4ɑ, the explants entailed pre-culturing in a bacterial suspension for one hour, co-cultivating in MS medium containing acetosyringone for 2–3 days, washing, and eliminating the Agrobacterium. Afterward, transferring explants to resting media ensued before selecting transgenic callus in the medium containing hygromycin (20 mg L^-1). The results showed the PCR analysis confirmed six plants regenerated from 24 calluses passed antibiotic selection (2.5%) and harbored the InMYB1-CCD4a gene.

Keywords: Marigold (T. erecta L.), 6-Benzylaminopurine (BAP), callus, cytokinins, hygromycin, leaf explants, Thidiazuron (TDZ), transformation efficiency

Key findings: In marigold (T. erecta L.), the optimum BAP concentration (7 mg L^-1) medium for indirect shoot organogenesis through callus of marigold leaf explants produced the highest number of shoots with shooting explant (100%) and rooting explant (11.1%). Genetic transformation protocol by using Agrobacterium was successful in establishing with the 4% of transformation efficiency at the antibiotic selection and 1% at the PCR confirmation.