This experiment transpired to determine the effect of the fungus Fusarium dimerum on the chlorophyll content and some phenotypic and anatomical morphological traits of the leaves of date palms (Phoenix dactylifera L.). The study results showed the ability of the fungus F. dimerum to cause infection on date palm leaves of five cultivars. The findings revealed that F. dimerum can secrete the enzymes cellulase, phenol oxidase, lipase, and amylases, as the area of their enzyme activity reached 6.1, 5.8, 6.2, and 12.4 mm, respectively. The results of histological analysis of the infected leaves also indicated the presence of F. dimerum spores in tissues of the infected leaves and the decomposition of cell walls and the loss of their integrated shape. The experiment showed significant differences in the chlorophyll content in healthy leaves and those infected with the fungus F. dimerum, wherein the percentage decreased in leaves infected with the fungus compared with the control treatment (healthy leaves).

Keywords: Date palm (P. dactylifera L.), Fusarium dimerum, histological anatomy, chlorophyll content in leaves, enzymes, fungal disease

Key findings: The results of the pathogenicity test for the fungus F. dimerum on the leaves of five cultivars of date palms (P. dactylifera L.) showed the ability of the fungus F. dimerum to cause infection and its ability to secrete the enzymes cellulase, phenol oxidase, lipase, and amylases. The ability to secrete enzymes plays a primary role in causing infection in the date palms.

In determining the best level of humic acid foliar application and suitable plant density and their effect on growth traits, yield components, and the quality of three safflower (C. tinctorius L.) cultivars, an experiment commenced during the winter crop season of 2019–2020 at two locations. The first location was Zmmaar Village, Mosul City, and the second location was in the Sallamiya Region, south of Mosul City, Iraq. The experiments had a randomized complete block design (RCBD) layout with factorial arrangement and three replications. Each experiment included three levels of humic acid (HA1: 0, HA2: 4, and HA3: 8 mg L^-1) with three plant densities (PD1: 46,296, PD2: 69,444, and PD3: 138,888 plants ha^-1) and three safflower cultivars (C1: Goldasht, C2: Oleic Leed, and C3: Aswan). The safflower with a humic acid concentration of 8 mg L^-1 resulted in a significant increase in growth, yield, and quality traits compared with the lowest concentration (4 mg L^-1) and the control treatment in both locations. Plant density (46296 plants ha^-1) was superior by giving the highest seed yield per plant, biological yield, harvest index, oleic and linoleic acid, and oil and protein percentages for both locations. The safflower cultivar Aswan achieved the highest rate of growth, productivity, and quality traits compared with cultivars Oleic Leed and Goldasht at both locations.

Keywords: Safflower (C. tinctorius L.) cultivars, humic acid, plant density, seed yield, biological yield, harvest index, oleic and linoleic acid, oil and protein percentage

Key findings: The safflower (C. tinctorius L.) cultivars with humic acid foliar application (8 ml L^-1) resulted in a significant increase in growth, yield, and quality traits compared with the lowest concentration (4 ml L^-1) and the control treatment in both locations.

This study sought to measure the yield and quality of rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) and their response to different tillage systems and foliar spraying with humic acid within the conditions of Mosul City. A field experiment proceeded during the winters of 2020–2021 and 2021–2022 in the Al-Rashidia Region, Iraq (longitude 43.15° East and latitude 36.35° North), to study the response of three rapeseed genotypes (G1: Lirakotta, G2: Edita, and G3: Diamant) to three tillage levels. The first was conventional (CT: conventional tillage), which plowed the land with a perpendicular disc plow before field division; the second level was minimal tillage (MT: minimal tillage), leveling the soil and reducing tillage; and the third level was no-tillage (NT: no-till). Additionally, applying foliar spraying with three concentrations of humic acid (0, 5, and 10 mg L^-1) emerged at the six-leaf stage. The experiment, carried out using a factorial experiment in a randomized complete block design, had three replicates for each experiment. The following results were notable. The Diamant genotype gave the highest mean for all growth, yield, and quality traits for both growing seasons. Tillage systems significantly affected all categories of growth, yield, and quality traits in two planting seasons (2020–2021 and 2021–2022). Foliar application of humic acid at the concentration of 5 mg L^-1 gave a significant increase in all growth, yield, and quality traits for both growing seasons.

Keywords: Rapeseed (B. napus L.), genotypes, tillage systems, foliar application, humic acid, growth and yield traits

Key findings: The rapeseed (B. napus L.) genotype Diamant gave the highest mean for all growth, yield, and quality traits for both growing seasons. Tillage systems had a significant effect on all categories for growth, yield, and quality traits in two planting seasons of 2020–2021 and 2021–2022.

The research dealt with olive (Olea europaea L.) cultivars cultivated in the central and southern regions of Iraq by using the ISSR technique. It aimed to determine the degree of relatedness and draw the phylogenetic tree of the studied cultivars using nine primers. The study also used ISSR indicators in recognizing the relationships among the cultivars. The primers used gave 68 bands, showing the 56 formed had multiformats with an average of 82% for the multi-banding format. Moreover, the primers used succeeded in giving polymorphism among the resulting bandings, as the highest percentage of polymorphism reached 90% in the primers CT7CG, while the primer AG10G did not give more than 71.3% of polymorphism. It indicated that the highest percentage of similarity corresponding to the least genetic dimension (0.80) was between the two types—Shami and Qaisi, and Shami and Satakatrina—which were the most distant genotypes from the rest of the varieties. In conclusion, the study successfully utilized the ISSR technique to assess the genetic relationships among olive cultivars in central and southern Iraq. Hence, it provides useful information in understanding the genetic structure of olive cultivars in the region and could benefit as a guide for future breeding programs and the conservation of genetic resources programs.

Keywords: Olive (O. europaea L.), cultivars, genetic structure, ISSR technique, phylogenetic tree, primers CT7CG, polymorphism

Key findings: The ISSR technology effectively distinguished olive (O. europaea L.) genotypes and revealed their genetic relationship and the degree of genetic kinship between the genotypes.

The particular research aimed to evaluate the performance of 24 rice (Oryza sativa L.) genotypes comprising four local (Amber 33, Yasmine , Al-furat , and dajla) and four Egyptian cultivars (Giza 201, Giza 178, Giza 179, and Basmati 1). Completing the 24 were 16 hybrids obtained through the factorial hybridization method held in 2021 and 2022 at the Rice Research Station, Al-Mishkhab, Al-Najaf Al-Ashraf, Iraq. Significant differences were evident among the genotypes (varieties and their hybrids) in all studied traits. The hybrid Giza 201 × Al-furat excelled on traits of 1000-grain weight, biological yield, grain yield per plant, and harvest index (27.60 g, 429.33 g, 234.67 g, and 54.66%, respectively). The hybrid Basmati 1 × Dajla also excelled for biological yield, grain yield, and harvest index (405.33 g, 196.67 g, and 48.55%, respectively). Similarly, the cultivar Al-furat stood out for the above traits (367.67 g, 192.67 g, and 52.41%, respectively).

Keywords: Rice (O. sativa L.), cultivars, hybrids, genetic parameters

Key findings: The rice (O. sativa L.) hybrid Giza 201 × Al-furat excelled for the traits of 1000-grain weight, biological yield, grain yield per plant, and harvest index (27.60 g, 429.33 g, 234.67 g, and 54.66%, respectively).

This study on hawk moths, belonging to the family Sphingidae found in different regions of Uzbekistan, was successful in its conduct during 1998–2024, as well as research of literature sources. In total, the work recorded 27 species that belong to 16 different genera in the republic. The study sample collection came from the different regions, as follows: 791 from the northwestern regions, 443 from the central and southern regions, and 342 from the eastern regions in the Fergana Valley. Analysis based on varied landscapes revealed the collection of 563 samples (35%) originated from deserts, 441 samples (27%) from mountainous regions, and 628 samples (38%) procured from the lowlands and agro-landscapes. Most samples collected took place during spring, summer, and autumn. Twenty-one out of 27 hawk moth species recorded emerged during the research, while the remaining six species identified were reliant on the literature sources and material obtained from the Zoology Institute, Academy of Sciences, Uzbekistan.

Keywords: Sphingidae, hawk moths, biogeography, ecology, distribution, Northwestern and Central Uzbekistan

Key findings: The promising faunal analysis revealed hawk moth species appeared widely distributed in three regions of Uzbekistan. The species composition also varies across the different regions.

In the Chirchik oasis and Almalyk region of Uzbekistan, industrial activities and intensive agriculture have led to considerable contamination of irrigated soils with toxic elements. The presented study aimed to evaluate the agrochemical state of irrigated serozem and irrigated meadow soils under the influence of the JSC Maksam-Chirchik and the Almalyk Mining and Metallurgical Complex, respectively. For restoring soil fertility, a biological remediation technology including plowed-in tree leaf litter, inoculation with actinomycete strains, and introduction of earthworms took place through lysimetric experiment. Laboratory analyses over spring and autumn showed remediation treatment increased soil nutrient availability. The nitrate nitrogen rose from 16.0 mg/kg (spring) to 22.0 mg/kg (autumn), and phosphorus also increased in treated soils. The mobile potassium level decreased by autumn, likely due to crop uptake and leaching. The contaminated soils contained aluminum (up to 72.4 mg/kg) and water-soluble fluorine (up to 64.3 mg/kg) in spring, exceeding permissible limits; however, these toxic elements declined by autumn after remediation. Heavy metals (chromium and nickel) with trace amounts manifested in spring and declined to safe thresholds in autumn in polluted sites. The biological remediation technology significantly improved the soil’s health by enhancing macronutrient content, promoting humus formation, and reducing the concentrations of toxic elements in the soil. The results demonstrate the technology’s effectiveness in rehabilitating polluted irrigated soils and improving their ecological state.

Keywords: Irrigated serozem soils, irrigated meadow soils, toxic elements, trophic chain, humus, nutrient elements

Key findings: The contaminated irrigated soils showed significant seasonal dynamics in nutrient content, with biological remediation increasing available nitrogen and phosphorus. The remediation technology effectively reduced the exchangeable aluminum and fluorine levels and accumulation of chromium, nickel, and persistent pesticides and improved soil fertility, demonstrating its potential for ecological restoration of irrigated soils.

With enhanced sustainability in food and feed production systems, agronomic biofortification is a key strategy to alleviate micronutrient deficiencies in animal diets, with indirect benefits for human nutrition through improved quality of animal-derived foods. A field experiment, carried out using a randomized complete block design with a split-plot arrangement, included two levels each of zinc (Zn, 0 and 2 kg ha⁻¹) and iron (Fe, 0 and 2 kg ha⁻¹) and their integrated application (2 kg Zn ha⁻¹ + 2 kg Fe ha⁻¹) in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). The Zn and Fe foliar application enhanced the concentration of both micronutrients in alfalfa without compromising its yield and quality. Alfalfa cultivars responded differently to biofortification treatments, and the cultivar California 55 showed the highest recovery efficiency (RE) of Zn (119.4%) and Fe (68.0%) at the fifth harvest. An RE value above 100% indicates the applied nutrient both contributed directly to uptake and enhanced the mobilization or utilization of native soil reserves, leading to greater total accumulation than the amount applied. The results highlighted that foliar biofortification is an effective and sustainable approach to improve the nutritional quality of forage crops, thereby contributing to livestock health, food security, and agricultural resilience.

Keywords: Alfalfa (M. sativa L.), cultivars, agronomic biofortification, foliar fertilization, zinc, iron, micronutrients efficiency, yield and quality

Key findings: Foliar applications of Zn and Fe significantly increased their concentration in alfalfa (M. sativa L.) without affecting its yield and quality. Zn and Fe foliar application enhanced the concentration of both micronutrients in alfalfa.

The Usnea Dill. ex Adans is the second largest genus within the family Parmeliaceae, with enormous diversity in Indonesia comprising approximately 30 species. Despite this substantial diversity, relatively few taxonomic studies have progressed on Usnea in Indonesia. This study aimed to document the diversity of Usnea species in West Java and to report newly recorded taxa from the region. During the field expedition conducted from September 2023 to March 2024 in West Java, Indonesia, the identification of 18 species of Usnea was successful, representing three subgenera: Usnea Dill. ex Adans, Eumitria Stirt, and Dolichousnea (Y. Ohmura) Articus. Among these species, five species were newly documented specimens in West Java. Species identification depended on morphological, anatomical, and microchemical analyses, including spot tests and microcrystal observations. These findings significantly enhanced the taxonomic understanding of Usnea in the region and suggested the unexplored diversity in montane forest ecosystems. The newly recorded species also exhibited ecological specificity to high-altitude habitats, underlining their conservation importance.

Keywords: Beard lichen, ecosystem, genetic diversity, Kayu Angin, morphology, species, taxonomy, Usnea Dill. ex Adans

Key findings: In the identified 18 Usnea species, five species were the newly recorded specimens in West Java, which considerably contributed to the taxonomic and ecological status of lichens in Indonesia. The results offer valuable prospects for breeders and plant scientists in utilizing lichen-derived bioresources for plant health and environmental management.

The presented investigations aimed to elucidate the genetic diversity and phylogeny of nine species of the family Asteraceae. The research applied two types of DNA markers—the directed amplification of minisatellite DNA (DAMD) and the sequence-related amplified polymorphism (SRAP)—and the ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase (rbcL) barcode. The genetic distance and phylogenetic relationship estimations used the UPGMA (unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean) algorithm and the Neighbor-Joining (NJ) tree clustering approaches. The total determined bands were 135 and 75, with an average of 13.5 and 9.37 for DAMD and SRAP markers, respectively. By analyzing the DAMD marker, the highest genetic distance (0.4666) was noticeable between species Cousin sp. and Urospermum picroides, while the lowest (0.785) was notable between the species Tragopogon sp. and Carduus pycnocephalus. In SRAP marker values, the lowest genetic distance (0.351) was evident in Carthamus oxyacantha and Sonchus oleraceus, while the highest (0.891) appeared between Notobasis syriaca and Carduus pycnocephalus. Based on combined data, the species Carthamus oxyacantha and Onopordum carduchorum emerged as highly diverse (0.483) compared with the species Tragopogon sp. and Carduus pycnocephalus (0.808). Four evolutionary clades were distinct, i.e., Urospermum picroides, Lactuca serriola, Notobasis syriaca, and Carthamus oxyacantha. Clade four underwent further subdivision into two subclades—Sonchus oleraceus and Tragopogon sp. with Cousin sp. and Carduus pycnocephalus and Onopordum carduchorum. The DAMD and SRAP markers with rbcL proved effective in analyzing genetic diversity in the family Asteraceae.

Keywords: Asteraceae species, DNA markers, DNA sequencing, genetic distance, genetic diversity, phylogenetic tree

Key findings: The DAMD and SRAP markers with rbcL chloroplast sequencing occurred as considerable tools to estimate the genetic distance, as well as the evolutionary relationship among the Asteraceae species. The tribe of Cardueae members appeared most clustered together.