The study on potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) took place during the cropping season of 2019–2020 at the Babil Governorate, Abu Gharq Region, Iraq. This study aimed to determine the response of five potato cultivars, Burren (control), Everest, Arizona, Argos, and Evora, to foliar application of Loenergy Plus Nano-nutrient solution with three concentrations (0, 1.5, and 2.5 m^l-1) and three replicates. The results showed the Loenergy Plus Nano-nutrient solution’s spraying significantly affected the potato cultivars’ vegetative and yield characteristics, especially when used at a concentration of 2.5 ml L^-1. It resulted in the highest average values compared with the lower concentration and the control (distilled water). The potato Argos cultivar expressed the maximum values in vegetative traits among the studied potatoes. The research showed the different potato cultivars behaved differently to the same factor in the Iraqi environmental conditions.

Keywords: Potato (S. tuberosum L.), solanaceae, nano-materials, foliar application, tuber

Key findings: Foliar spraying of Loenergy Plus Nano-nutrient solution (2.5 ml L^-1) resulted in increased potato (S. tuberosum L.) growth and yield regardless of the cultivar type. Some potato cultivars showed suitability to grow in Iraqi environmental conditions much better than the Burren cultivar as the most commonly cultivated variety in local farms.

The aim of this study sought to determine the effect of Azotobacter and nitrogen fertilizer on the growth, yield, and accumulation of capsaicin content in fruits of two chili pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) hybrids. Carried out in the crop season of 2022–2023 at the University of Kerbala, District Husseiniya, Iraq, the experiment was in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with a split-plot arrangement and three replicates. The study included two factors: the first factor was two chili pepper hybrids, i.e., Barbarian and Hyffa, and the second factor was eight fertilizer combinations (control, Azotobacter, urea [150 mg L⁻¹], urea [300 mg L⁻¹], urea [450 mg L⁻¹], Azotobacter + urea [150 mg L⁻¹], Azotobacter + urea [300 mg L⁻¹], and Azotobacter + urea [450 mg L⁻¹]). Results showed the Barbarian hybrid gave the highest total yield (18.12 t ha^-1) and capsaicin content in fruits (742.41 mg kg^-1) compared with the Hyffa hybrid. The fertilizer combination Azotobacter + urea (450 mg L⁻¹) also excelled other treatments in plant height (71.47 cm), the number of branches (9.50 branches plant^-1), stem diameter (2.37 cm), total yield (29.06 t ha^-1), and capsaicin content in chili fruits (820.20 mg kg^-1).

Keywords: Chili pepper (C. annuum L.), cultivars, Azotobacter, nitrogen fertilizer, growth and yield traits, capsaicin content

Key findings: In chili peppers (C. annuum L.), the hybrid Barbarian gave the maximum values in total yield and capsaicin content in fruits compared with the hybrid Hyffa. The fertilizer combination Azotobacter + urea (450 mg L⁻¹) showed the highest values for plant height, the number of main branches, stem diameter, total yield, and capsaicin content in fruits.

The following research assessed the effect of the biostimulant isabion and zinc on the productivity and quality parameters of two cabbage (Brassica oleracea L.) hybrids. The experiment, carried out in the autumn of 2023–2024, transpired at the University of Kerbala, District Al-Husseiniyah, Kerbala Governorate, Iraq. The experiment, laid out in a randomized complete block design, had a split-plot arrangement with three replications. The main plots comprised two cabbage hybrids: Zeina F1 (red cabbage) and Wight Moon (green cabbage). Meanwhile, the subplots included eight fertilizer combinations with different ratios. Results showed hybrid green cabbage was superior in head weight, marketable yield, total yield, and protein percentage in leaves, with average values of 1,087.34 g head^-1, 31.32 t ha^-1, 38.72 t ha^-1, and 12.44%, respectively. As for fertilizer treatments, evidently, the fertilizer combination Isabion (9 L ha^-1) + zinc (1 g L^-1) excelled in head weight, marketable yield, total yield, total dissolved solids, ascorbic acid, and protein content in leaves. Their average values are 1,252.43 g head^-1, 36.07 t ha^-1, 42.93 t ha^-1, 4.48%, 69.04 mg 100 mg^-1, and 17.26%, respectively. The interaction between both factors was also significant for all the cabbage traits under study.

Keywords: Cabbage (B. oleracea L.), biostimulant Isabion, zinc, growth and yield traits, ascorbic acid, protein content

Key findings: Results revealed hybrid green cabbage (B. oleracea L.) was leading in head weight, marketable yield, total yield, protein content, and ascorbic acid in the leaves. As for fertilizer treatments, the fertilizer combination of Isabion (9 L ha^-1) + zinc (1 g L^-1) also excelled in all the cabbage traits.

The use of silicon is an option for reducing the adverse effects of water deficit conditions. The recent study took place at the Agricultural Research and Experiment Station of the Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt (30°02′ N and 31°13′ E, with an altitude of 30 m) in two seasons of 2019 and 2020. The study’s chief objective aimed to investigate the effect of water deficit at flowering on maize and its relation to silicon spraying. The study included two water treatments: non-stress (NS) and water stress (WS); three silicon treatments: (0, 3, and 6 mM L^-1); and five single-cross hybrids. A split-split plot under the concentration of 6 mM L^-1. The most interesting observation in the study showed the noteworthy increase in oil yield/ha for all studied hybrids, ranging from 13.33% (SC-3444) to 29.41% (SC-3433). It resulted from the application of the concentration of 6 mM L^-1. The hybrids SC-30N11, SC-3433, and SC-3444 proved the best hybrids, displaying tolerance to water.

Keywords: Maize (Zea mays L.), water stress, silicon, yield, carbohydrate, protein, oil, stress-tolerance index

Key findings: The water deficit condition at the flowering stage caused a significant reduction in yield and its components in maize. The silicon treatment 6 mM L^-1 concentration notably enhanced the grain and oil yields and carbohydrates.

This research aimed to determine the effects of different levels of marine seaweed extract on growth and yield traits of Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) cultivars (eggplant, red, white, and striped) and their six half diallel hybrids. The experiment layout was in a randomized complete block design with a factorial arrangement and three replications. The first factor included four cultivars and their semi-reciprocal hybrids, while the second factor comprised the foliar application of marine seaweed extract with three concentrations (0, 10, and 20 ml L^-1). The results showed the roselle cultivar eggplant surpassed all other cultivars and provided the highest values for the traits, i.e., plant height, leaf area, dry weight of nuts, nuts per plant, and seeds of nut (160.03 cm, 635.50 cm², 402.77 g plant^-1, 172.44 nuts plant^-1, and 28.69 seeds nut^-1, respectively). The marine seaweed extract with the strongest concentration (20 ml L^-1) also displayed better performance for the above traits (176.02 cm, 615.58 cm², 361.22 g plant^-1, 176.74 nuts plant^-1, and 25.80 seeds nut^-1, respectively).

Keywords: Roselle (H. sabdariffa L.), cultivars, seaweed extract, growth and yield traits

Key findings: The Roselle (H. sabdariffa L.) cultivar eggplant excelled all other cultivars for growth and yield traits. The marine seaweed with the strongest concentration (20 ml L^-1) also provided better performance for growth and yield traits in Roselle.

This study presents the use of plant tissue culture technology in inducing callus from different plant parts and varying concentrations of growth regulators in common grape vine (Vitis vinifera L.). The research, carried out in 2022–2023 at the Tissue Culture Laboratory-College of Agriculture, University of Kerbala, Kerbala, Iraq, comprised two stages, including sterilizing the explants using various concentrations of sodium hypochlorite (0%, 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, and 2%) for 5, 10, and 15 minutes. The second stage included establishing callus types by growing the explants on MS medium prepared with different concentrations of 2,4-D (0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 mg L^-1) and benzyl adenine (BA) (0, 0.1, 0.2, and 0.4 mg L^-1). The results showed the sterilizing agent (1.5%) with 10 minutes gave the lowest contamination without affecting the vitality of explants. The interaction of 2,4-D (3 mg L^-1) and BA (0.4 mg L^-1) emerged superior by showing the highest response rate (80%) to callus induction from shoots. The growing apex with 2,4-D (2 mg L^-1) achieved the maximum fresh and dry weights of callus (3.32 and 1.03 mg, respectively).

Keywords: Grape vine (V. vinifera L.), explants, growth regulators, 2,4-D, benzyl adenine, fresh and dry weights of callus

Key findings: In the common grape vine (V. vinifera L.), the sodium hypochlorite (1.5%) with a duration of 10 minutes showed the lowest percentage of contamination without affecting the vitality of explants. The interaction of 2,4-D (3 mg L^-1) and BA (0.4 mg L^-1) was superior in most of the studied traits.

The study aimed to assess the effectiveness of silver nanoparticles, synthesized from strawberry fruit extract, in inhibiting the growth of fungi responsible for spot and blight diseases in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.). The research identified 18 species of fungi linked to these symptoms on tomato foliage, notably Alternaria alternata, Alternaria solani, Botrytis cinerea, Cladosporium cladosporioides, and Scytalidium lignospora, using molecular ITS1-ITS4 gene analysis. The characterization of silver nanoparticles, with a size of 61.87 nanometers, proceeded through ultraviolet-visible and zeta potential measurements. Findings indicated these biosynthesized silver nanoparticles hindered the growth of all tested fungi. Notably, they exhibited greater efficacy against Cladosporium, with its growth inhibited by 86.4%. Inhibition percentages for other pathogenic fungi ranged between 75.06% and 81.11%.

Keywords: Tomato (S. lycopersicum L.), nanotechnology, plant diseases, silver nanoparticles

Key findings: The study found biosynthesized silver nanoparticles effectively inhibited the growth of various fungal pathogens responsible for spot and blight diseases in tomato (S. lycopersicum L.). Their notable efficacy against Cladosporium reached an inhibition rate of 86.4% and demonstrated a correlation between nanoparticle concentration and effectiveness.

Four species of Salvia L., S. palaestina, S. spinosa, S. compressa, and S. multicaulis, sustained scrutiny by the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) fragments (ITS1, 5.8S rRNA gene, and ITS4) analysis with Ocimum basilicum to identify and explore their phylogenetic relationship based on many morphologically investigated properties. The analysis of the phylogenetic tree revealed that Salvia L. is a polyphyletic genera, indicating varying degrees of genetic relatedness among Salvia spp. and clearly distinct from Ocimum basilicum. This genetic differentiation is highly consistent with the obtained morphological data, which provide valuable insights into the evolutionary relationships between both genera and among Salvia spp. The observed genetic diversity highlights the reasons beyond morphological modification, including the number of biotic and abiotic environmental factors. Several characters, such as the calyx shape, corolla shape, and stamen features, revealed valuable taxonomic importance of the infrageneric and interspecific differentiating. The newly recorded ITS sequences attained the NCBI GenBank deposit to enrich the species database for more future investigations. The ITS markers represent the most preservative and useful taxonomic tools. Breeding approaches can employ genetic divergence and broad taxonomic phylogeny for Lamiaceae genera.

Keywords: Salvia, Ocimum, species, morphological traits, ITS, phylogenetic tree

Key findings: Morphological analysis of four Salvia spp. and Ocimum basilicum revealed many features of significant taxonomic importance. Molecular analysis based on nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer regions (nrITS) results in the identification of studied taxa, with the new accessions deposited in the NCBI GenBank and construction of a phylogenetic tree.

Determining the effect of foliar spraying of moringa silver nanoparticles synthesized from aqueous leaf extract of Moringa oleifera on the growth, yield, and carotene content of four genotypes of maize (Zea mays L.) was this study’s aim. The research, carried out during the spring of 2022–2023, occurred at the Governorate of Kerbala, Kerbala, Iraq. The experiment, conducted in a randomized complete block design (RCBD), had a split-plot arrangement and three replicates. The main plots included the foliar application of moringa silver nanoparticles with four concentrations (0, 200, 400, and 600 mg L^-¹), while the subplots comprised four maize genotypes, i.e., NadH-9055, NadH-362, NadH-386, and NadH-315. The results showed the nano-moringa extracts (400 and 600 mg L^-1) caused a significant increase in leaf area and 500-grain weight, while an increased concentration (600 mg L^-1) exceeded for grain yield and total carotene content. The outcomes also revealed the maize genotype Nadh-315 was superior in leaf area compared with the rest of the genotypes. The genotype Nadh-362 was excellent in the 500-grain weight and grain yield. The results enunciated that moringa silver nanoparticles positively affected the growth traits of maize genotypes that differed in their color intensity, which positively reflects on yield traits and carotene content.

Keywords: Maize (Z. mays L.), genotypes, moringa silver nanoparticles, growth and yield traits, leaf area, carotene content

Key findings: The concentration of moringa silver nanoparticles (600 mg L^-1) emerged superior in maize grain yield and carotene content. The maize cultivar NadH-9055 also excelled over other genotypes for most traits.

The presented study aimed to determine the effects of nano-selenium foliar application and types of irrigation water on growth traits of three citrus (C. aurantium, C. volkameriana, and C. aurantifolia) rootstocks. The research started in 2023 at the canopy of the Kerbala-certified citrus nursery, Holy Kerbala Governorate, Iraq. The experiment, laid out in a randomized complete block design, had a split-plot arrangement of three factors and three replications. The first factor was two types of water, i.e., river water and well water, placed in main plots. The second factor (subplot) was the seedlings grown from seeds of three types of Citrus rootstocks, i.e., sour orange, volkameriana, and lime. The third factor (sub-subplot) was the foliar application of nano-selenium with three concentrations (0, 1, and 2 mg L^-1). The results showed the river water was superior in the percentage of nitrogen (1.786%) and phosphorus (0.193%), while the well water was better in the content of CAT and POD enzymes (10.76 and 176.7 abs unit min g^-1, respectively). Notably also, the cultivar Volkameriana rootstock was superior in the percentage of nitrogen (2.083%) and phosphorus (0.213%). Moreover, the nano-selenium (2 mg L^-1) foliar application has a positive effect and exceeded all the doses for various traits.

Keywords: Citrus rootstock (C. aurantium, volkameriana, and aurantifolia), nano-selenium, water quality, growth and biochemical traits

Key findings: Citrus cultivar Volkameriana rootstock proved better with nano-selenium concentration (2 mg L^-1) than the other rootstocks and nano-selenium concentrations, providing superior results for various traits.