Soybean is a dual-purpose crop, as it serves as pulse and fodder. Legumes like soybeans have a distinctive characteristic of nodule formation. Nitrogen fixation enhancement can succeed by inoculation of soybeans with specific strains of rhizobia, ensuring adequate levels of healthy bacteria near the seed. The presented study materialized during 2018–2020 at the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, and Ayub Agricultural Research Institute, Faisalabad, Pakistan. Two strains of Bradyrhizobium japonicum—S377 and S379—were treatments for inoculating 80 soybean accessions collected from the National Agriculture Research Center, Islamabad. Sowing 10 inoculated seeds per genotype and two seeds for control continued in a randomized complete block design (RCBD). Fresh root and shoot weights, dried root and shoot weights, nodule dry weight, grain and biomass yield, protein, and oil content increased significantly after inoculating seeds with rhizobial strains. These traits also showed significant genotypic correlations. The protein content, followed by the fresh shoot weight, directly affected nodule formation, increasing nitrogen fixation.

Keywords: Bradyrhizobium japonicum, correlation, path analysis, nitrogen fixation, nodule formation, soybean

Key findings: Eighty accessions inoculated with two strains of B. japonicum showed significant improvement in fresh root and shoot weights, nodule dry weight, protein, and oil content. The protein content and fresh shoot weight directly affected nodule formation, predicting the opportunity to improve yield by precisely selecting these traits in future breeding programs.

Wheat is a globally significant cereal crop crucial for ensuring food security. Plant breeders strive to enhance yield potential by developing optimized and stable genotypes. In Pakistan, an agricultural country facing food security challenges, annual multi-environment trials (MET)’s systematic conduct transpire across various research stations in Punjab province. Precise data analysis of these trials is paramount in strengthening the national agricultural research system. The primary objective of this study was to identify stable wheat genotypes by analyzing data from MET trials in 31 distinct environments within the Punjab province during 2020–2021. The study comprised 50 wheat genotypes laid out under an alpha lattice design. The collected data underwent an analysis based on additive main effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) in combination with other stability measures. The findings revealed that genotype G41 (HYT100-27) exhibited superior performance, ranking within the top five across all five stability measures. Likewise, G27 (TWS17042) and G22 (HYT100-100) genotypes have four stability measures recommending these. Notably, G1 (HYT100-74) demonstrated the highest average yield across all locations and gained support from two additional stability measures. Therefore, G41, G27, G22, and G1 emerged as the most stable and productive genotypes among all those studied. Regarding the environments, MLSI proved the most desirable, followed by RARL. Conversely, the ARFG and ARFK resulted as the least ideal environments.

Keywords: AMMI, AMMI Stability Index (ASI), wheat, genotype by environment interaction (GGE), biplot, stability measures, multi-environment trials

Key findings: The additive main effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) analysis, with other stability analyses, helped in identifying stable genotypes from multi-environment trials conducted in 31 different environments in the Punjab province of Pakistan. The genotypes HYT100-27, TWS17042, HYT100-100, and HYT100-74 exhibited high stability, gaining classification as most stable genotypes. Moreover, the MLSI and RARL proved the most desirable environments for wheat cultivation.

Flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) is a significant marketable crop for seed, oil, fiber, and pharmaceutical products. The latest study transpired to assess the morphological, biochemical, and yield traits with inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers to determine the genetic diversity among flaxseeds of Sakha-1, Sakha-2, Sakha-3, Sakha-5, Sakha-6, Giza-12, and Amon genotypes under sandy soil conditions. Results indicated that all flax varieties varied significantly (P > 0.05) in most studied characteristics. Sakha-6 exceeded all genotypes in seed yield (0.888 t ha^-1), straw yield (6.093 t ha^-1), oil yield (0.302 t ha^-1), and biological yield (6.981 t ha^-1). These increases were due to the rise in different biochemical contents of carotenoids (0.601 mg), proline (34.81 mg), free amino acids (396.85 mg), oil (35.46%), phenolic (189.61 mg), and total carbohydrates (32.07%), which reflected on seed yield plant^-1 (0.509 g). Flax genotypes showed high genetic variations; eight of the 15 ISSR primers employed resulted in 74 bands, with 35 as polymorphic. The average percentage polymorphism of the amplified loci ranged from 16.67% to 50%, the average number of polymorphic bands per primer was 4.38, and the average number of amplified bands per primer was 9.25. The marker index for ISSR values ranged from 0.08 to 2.40 for UBC-846 and UBC-825, respectively. The similarity between genotypes ranged from 0.58 to 0.90. Three markers showed significant regression association with the six traits.

Keywords: Flax (L. usitatissimum L.), genotypes, genetic variability, biochemical, physiological, and yield traits, ISSR markers, cluster analysis

Key findings: Seven flax (L. usitatissimum L.) genotypes incurred morphological, biochemical, and ISSR markers evaluation. The flax genotypes varied significantly in all studied traits. They showed a high level of genetic variations, with the genotypes divided into two main clusters and a dendrogram created using the similarity matrix produced by UPGMA.

New plant-type (NPT) rice can increase grain yield globally. Although many studies have shown the association between harvest and yield-related traits in rice, it remains obscure in the case of NPT rice. This study aimed to elucidate the relationship between agronomic and yield features in new plant-type rice based on a 12-years multi-experiment. A large dataset of 704 NPT rice lines of various generations (F₄ to F₁₀), derived from 24 different populations, underwent study. The analysis of variance showed a highly significant population effect (P < 0.01) on all traits studied. The NPT rice populations had groupings into four clusters, with a highly substantial cluster effect (P < 0.01) on the number of total tillers (NTT), number of total grains (NTG), number of filled grains (NFG), and thousand-grain weight (TGW). Standard best NPT lines from each experiment achieved an average of 1.67 t ha^-1 or 26% higher yield than the Ciherang variety. Determining the yield advantage of NPT lines was by higher plant height (PH) (r = 0.37), panicle length (PL) (r = 0.15), NTG (r = 0.28), NFG (r = 0.28), TGW (r = 0.10), and lower days to harvest (DTH) (r = -0.10). The principal component analysis biplot revealed that NFG could better serve as a selection characteristic for enhancing grain yield in developing NPT rice adapted to irrigated tropical ecosystems.

Keywords: Cluster analysis, combined analysis, genotype × trait, grain yield, Pearson correlation, rice breeding

Key findings: The new plant-type rice architecture allows a higher yield (26%) than the green revolution rice type represented by the Ciherang variety. Genetic diversity among the NPT lines is prevalent; therefore, breeding-improved NPT rice varieties are promising.

The root-knot nematode (RKN), Meloidogyne incognita, poses significant challenges for many important crops. Identified distinctive bacterial proteases have emerged as potential nematicides. In this study, the nprE from Bacillus subtilis 168 encoded the neutral metalloprotease, effectively enhancing it through a site-directed mutation. The enzyme-specific activity of pro118, secreted by the modified strain BS118, reached 215.4 U mg^-1. It was twice that of pro168 produced by the wild-type strain BS168, which recorded an enzyme-specific activity of 101.6 U mg^-1. The protease, pro118, caused the highest mortality in M. incognita juveniles, J₂S (91.3% to 84.5%) after 48 h of in vitro treatment. Furthermore, when simultaneously applying pro118 with the nematode infection, it notably decreased the number of J₂S, root galls, and egg masses/root systems by 19.5%, 18.8%, and 26.2%, respectively, compared with its application one week after the nematode infection. This consistent trend also manifested in the plant shoot length and fresh weight enrichment, which showed an increase of 9.7% and 14.7% in the first treatment versus the second. In conclusion, the study asserts that applying neutral metalloprotease as a bioagent to biocontrol M. incognita is a promising approach for mitigating the impact of this agricultural pest.

Keywords: Site-directed mutation, Bacillus subtilis 168, neutral metalloprotease, Meloidogyne incognita, nematicidal agents, growth parameters, eggplant

Key findings: The site-directed mutation, which involves replacing the native promoter with another constitutive one, is a promising approach for constructing strains with higher protease modifications. This method’s subsequent employment as a bioagent against Meloidogyne incognita infection led to significant plant growth and health improvements.

Nickel (Ni) is an essential micronutrient known for improving the growth and yield of various crops at low concentrations. However, the nickel’s adequate information on shallots is insufficient. This study found out the effect of Ni fertilization with four concentrations (0.0, 0.025, 0.1, and 0.4 mg L^-1 derived from NiSO4.6H2O) on plant and bulb weight, nutrient solution usage, and bulb nickel and nitrate content of two shallot cultivars (Lokananta and Sanren F1) using hydroponic condition, arranged in a split-plot design under field conditions. Increased Ni concentration (0.4 mg L^-1) negatively affected plant height, total plant weight, bulb weight per plant, and total nutrient solution usage, while it increased the bulb nickel and leaf carotenoid contents. The Ni concentration (0.025 mg L^-1) can be safer for shallot plant absorption with optimum growth and yield. Shallot cultivar Sanren F1 provides considerably better results in terms of yield components than cultivar Lokananta. Bulb weight per plant appeared positively correlated with the number of leaves, bulbs, total bulb diameter, and total volume of nutrient solution used per plant. The total bulb diameter per plant showed a better direct effect on the shallot bulb yield at various Ni levels.

Keywords: Shallot (Allium cepa L. Aggregatum group), cultivars, Ni nutrition, growth, physiological components, yield traits, path analysis, Pearson’s correlation

Key findings: Ni at a low concentration (0.025 mg L^-1) stimulates the growth and physiological components of shallot plants, which, in turn, increases bulb yield. Leaf carotenoid content and water uptake can assess the response of shallot plants to heavy metal stress conditions.

The presented study determined the effects of shallot cultivars and levels of horse manure vermicompost on its growth and production traits. The developed shallot cultivars came from true seeds. The research materialized from June to October 2022 at the Agricultural Technology Research and Development Institute (IP2TP) in Kelara District, Jeneponto Regency, South Sulawesi, Indonesia. This study employed a factorial design with two factors and three replications. The first factor included four doses of vermicompost: 0, 5, 10, and 15 t ha^-1. The second factor consisted of three shallot cultivars (Lokananta, Maserati, and Sanren-F1). The results revealed that the shallot cultivar Sanren-F1 recorded the highest average plant height, bulb weight, diameter, and yield. The horse manure vermicompost treatment with the 15 t ha^-1 dose also emerged with the maximum average plant height, number of leaves, bulb weight, and bulb diameter over other applications. However, the horse manure vermicompost (10 t ha^-1) gave the foremost bulb yield.

Keywords: Growth, horse manure vermicompost, shallot cultivars, seed, variety, yield

Key findings: Three shallot cultivars responded differently to the horse manure vermicompost applications. However, the genotype Sanren-F1 generally has the best growth and production. The single application of horse vermicompost (10 t ha^-1) increased the shallot production without using inorganic fertilizers.

Creating a half-diallel cross succeeded among seven diverse canola genotypes. The obtained 21 F₁ hybrids with their seven parents underwent three salinity stress levels exposure—3.91 dsm^-1 (Normal), 6.24 dsm^-1 (S1), and 7.81 dsm^-1 (S2) —during the 2020/2021 growing seasons. Salinity treatments significantly reduced days to 50% flowering, plant height, number of primary branches, pods/plant, 1000-seed weight, seed yield/plant, seed oil content, relative water content, calcium, potassium, and the ratio between K⁺ and Na+ compared with a normal condition. Proline content, osmotic pressure, and Na+ were considerably higher under salinity stress conditions. Highly significant differences showed among the parents and hybrids for all traits across the tested environments. General (GCA) and specific (SCA) combining ability effects were highly significant for all attributes. The parental genotypes Serw4 and Pactol resulted as good general combiners for increased seed oil content (SOC), seed yield/plant (SYPP), and some of its components in research environments. The hybrid combinations H2/S × Serw4 and Serw4 × Serw6 were good specific combiners for days to first flower (DTF), number of primary branches (NPB), number of pods per plant (NP), a thousand seed weight (TSW), seed yield per plant (SYPP), seed oil content (SOC), proline content (ProC), Ca++, and K+/Na+. The SDS-PAGE analysis of seed proteins indicated high levels of genetic variability and revealed some vital biochemical markers for salt tolerance.

Keywords: canola (Brassica napus L.), combining ability, gene action, saline environments, seed yield, oil content, physio-biochemical traits

Key findings: Parents and F₁ hybrids showed high genetic variation for all attributes in nonsaline and saline environments. The parental genotypes Serw4 and Pactol were effective general combiners for enhancing seed yield and other features under stressed and non-stressed situations. H2/S × Serw4 and Serw4 × Serw6 were good specific combiners for most traits and can benefit future hybrid development to improve canola salt tolerance.

The pulse beetle is a primary pest of mung bean (Vigna radiata L.), causing heavy losses during storage. Conventional control of pulse beetle with insecticides has led to various challenges. This study sought safer alternatives by exploring the efficacy of hexane extracts derived from seeds of Azadirachta indica and Trachyspermum ammi, Curcuma longa rhizomes, Allium sativum bulbs, Citrullus colocynthis fruits, and Caralluma tuberculata stems against pulse beetle. Each plant extract was tested at six concentrations of 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5%, 2.0%, 2.5%, and 3.0% w/v, under the constant laboratory conditions of the Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The hexane extracts prepared from A. sativum and C. longa at 3% concentration exhibited significant efficacy, resulting in mortality rates of 99.20% and 94.40% of adult beetles, respectively. Furthermore, mung bean grains treated with the A. sativum extracts at the maximum concentration (3%) demonstrated minimum egg deposition (2.20 per grains^-20), prolonged time to adult emergence (25.10 days), minimum progeny emergence (33.40), lowest infestation (5.47%), minimum weight loss (4.39%), and shortest adult life span (8.70 days). The hexane plant extracts prepared from A. sativum and C. longa powders at higher concentrations (2.5% and 3.0%) can benefit the safer management of pulse beetles.

Keywords: Mung bean (Vigna radiata L.), hexane plant extract, Callosobruchus analis, mortality, sublethal effects

Key findings: The hexane plant extract demonstrated insecticidal properties and caused significant mortality of beetle adults in mung bean (Vigna radiata L.). The hexane plant extracts also affected significantly the biology and survival of beetles. Among the six-tested plant extracts, the hexane extracts of A. sativum and C. longa proved the most effective, whereas C. tuberculata extracts were found least effective.

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) is a vital cash crop in Pakistan, but climate change scenarios threatened its production by biotic and abiotic stress, especially drought. Nutrient management, specifically potassium (K) fertilization, typically alleviates the effects of drought. To this end, a greenhouse experiment evaluated the genotypes for drought stress tolerance and its management by K fertilization. The experiment consisted of 70 cotton genotypes factorially combined with two water levels (standard irrigation and drought stress) and two potassium levels (control and 102 mg/kg of potassium). Data collection occurred for shoot and root lengths, fresh shoot and root weights, dry shoot and root weights, root shoot ratio, total dry matter production, and K uptake after 45 days of germination. Results depicted that mean squares for genotypes, drought, potassium, and their interaction were significant for shoot and root lengths, fresh shoot and root weights, dry shoot and root weights, total dry weight, and potassium uptake, while some traits showed nonsignificant differences. Based on the principal component analysis, membership function value, and genotypic diversity, five genotypes emerged as tolerant: CIM-496, IR-3701, Cp-15/2, FH-113, and CIM-1100, and three, i.e., 4-F, MNH-129, and FH-1000, as susceptible. Tolerant and susceptible genotypes can further benefit breeding programs to develop cotton genotypes adaptable to drought stress and with better K uptake.

Keywords: Cotton (G. hirsutum L.), drought, potassium, PCA, cluster, the membership function value

Key findings: The five upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) genotypes, CIM-496, IR-3701, Cp-15/2, FH-113, and CIM-1100, performed better for potassium uptake under drought stress conditions. The three susceptible genotypes were the FH-1000, 4-F, and MNH-129.