The following study sought to determine the effects of irrigation with treated sewage water on celery (Apium graveolens) and radish (Raphanus sativus) plants, carried out in Mosul City, Iraq. Additionally, it measured the heavy metals, i.e., cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn), and the percentage of chlorophylls a, b, and a + b and the wet and dry weight of plant parts. By irrigating with water treated by sedimentation, the average concentration of heavy metals (Cd, Pb, and Zn) in those plants reached the highest levels (0.18825, 0.10900, and 0.59775 mg/kg, respectively), as compared with the lowest average concentration of these heavy metals (0.05800, 0.02625, and 0.12450 mg/kg, respectively) irrigated with tap water (control). The maximum average concentration of chlorophyll a, b, and a + b (2.18000, 1.32183, and 1.47150 mg/g, respectively) occurred in celery and radish plants irrigated with untreated water. However, the minimum average concentration of chlorophyll a, b, and a + b (1.21800, 1.08900, and 1.30550 mg/g, respectively) resulted in those two plants being irrigated with tap water. The highest average fresh weight of celery and radish plants (3.03750 g/plant) emerged by irrigating them with water treated with sedimentation.

Keywords: Celery (A. graveolens), radish (R. sativus), wastewater, heavy metals, physiological and growth traits

Key findings: The sewage water treatment will develop a new water wealth that will benefit humans and living organisms and create a safe environment, eventually improving the agriculture sector in the long term.

The following research comprised the molecular study of cultivars associated with different species of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), broad bean (Vicia faba), and peas (Pisum sativum) in the family Fabaceae, using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers for genome classification. Overall, the results generated 406 random bands with primers, and some were variant and others had distinct fragment sizes ranging from 100 to 3,000 bp, which distinguished the cultivars of different species. The species Vigna unguiculata cultivars showed the highest number of unique bands, while the French cultivar of the species Pisum sativum revealed the fewest bands with no unique bands. The genetic distance among the different cultivars ranged from 0.122 to 1.231 cM. The dendrogram revealed three main clusters. The RAPD proves to be a useful tool for evaluating genetic diversity and relationships among different genotypes.

Keywords: Fabaceae, cowpea, broad bean, peas, RAPD markers, molecular identification, genetic distance

Key findings: Based on the studies, the different species cultivars displayed characteristics of unique bands with the highest genetic variation. The determined genetic distance may be effective for breeding programs, as RAPD markers showed the maximum genetic variation, fingerprint, and dimensions in the studied species cultivars.

Black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) is a shrubby plant with a root system of 0.5 m in the soil. Its fruits are rich with antioxidant properties, making it a valuable plant in the pharmaceutical, food, and perfumery industries. The following study comprised the microclonal propagation of A. melanocarpa acclimatized under the conditions of Uzbekistan. The efficacy of its seed coat in sterilization and germination underwent evaluation, and the germination was higher (32%) in husked seeds. Based on the analysis of clone stages, the study determined that starting from Mk3, the length of microshoots (3.2 cm) and other quality indicators were ready for the rooting stage. During the rooting of A. melanocarpa, applying different concentrations of IBA (1, 3, 5, 7, and 10 mg/l) served for the evaluation. Based on the results, 7 mg/l IBA emerged as an optimal dose of IBA for root formation in A. melanocarpa. During the black chokeberry’s acclimatization, plant survival was 100% in a 3:1 peat-perlite substrate.

Keywords: Chokeberry (A. melanocarpa), seeds, ex vitro, rooting, in vitro, acclimatization, microclonal stages, hormone concentrations

Key findings: The presented research comprised microclonal propagation of A. melanocarpa acclimatized under the conditions of Uzbekistan. The IBA (7 mg/l) emerged to be an optimal dose for root formation in A. melanocarpa.

Climate change and frequent droughts are assumedly one of the major constraints in crop production in the near future. Crop productivity has crucial threats from increasing environmental stresses and disruptions in the water and nutrient regimes. Drought reduces crop production and causes rapid soil erosion, with long-lasting effects on the soil microbiota. This also instigates environmental degradation under stressful conditions, increasing the soil microorganisms’ role in the regulation of plant adaptability. In combating deleterious consequences of drought, the creation of new strategies for crop development is a challenging task because of the complexity of plant stress tolerance mechanisms. New technologies have emerged to enhance the drought resistance in crop plants and minimize the negative impact of water-deficit conditions. Selection of highly productive and drought-resistant crop cultivars, using integrative genetics, molecular biology, and microbiological approaches offers promising opportunities to mitigate the adverse effects of drought stress. The following review presents state-of-the-art biotechnological strategies and solutions based on recent advances in transgenic plant breeding, seed preparation, and the use of superabsorbent hydrogels as soil conditioners for sustainable crop production under arid conditions.

Keywords: Biotechnology, climate change, drought stress, microbiological approaches, seed priming, hydrogels, transgenic plants

Key findings: Drought is an environmental stress factor that affects crop plants at various phases and eventually negatively impacts the plant’s metabolism, growth, development, and yield. The strategies to overcome drought effects are now intensively evolving. Therefore, the future research should address reproducible experiments under field conditions and the development of optimized protocols for commercialization of these new techniques.

Plant breeding has advanced significantly with the advent of new techniques that boost the resilience of food systems. Modern approaches, such as CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats)-Cas9, RNA (ribonucleic acid) interference, and genome-wide association studies (GWAS), have revolutionized the ability to enhance crop resilience against biotic and abiotic stresses. These technologies enable precise and targeted genetic modifications, facilitating the development of crops that can withstand extreme weather conditions, pests, and diseases. Additionally, novel breeding methods contribute to improved nutritional quality and yield stability, essential for food security against climate change. The integration of high-throughput phenotyping and bioinformatics accelerates the identification and incorporation of desirable traits, ensuring rapid progress in crop improvement. These advancements support sustainable agricultural practices as well as reduce reliance on chemical inputs, promoting environmental health. By fostering genetic diversity and enhancing adaptive capacity, new plant breeding techniques play a crucial role in building resilient food systems capable of enduring and thriving under future challenges.

Keywords: CRISPR/Cas9, genome editing, climate resilience, drought tolerance, disease resistance

Key findings: New breeding techniques (NBTs), such as CRISPR-Cas9 and genomic selection, have revolutionized plant breeding by enabling precise genetic modifications and accelerating the development of robust crop varieties. These techniques enhance crop resilience to environmental stresses, pests, and diseases, significantly contributing to food security. The integration of NBTs with traditional breeding methods offers a comprehensive approach to developing sustainable and resilient food systems, ensuring stable food supplies to combat climate change and other agricultural challenges.

The process of selecting rice (Oryza sativa L.) tolerant to low-temperature stress through phenotype selection activities is a time-consuming process. However, in rice (Oryza sativa L.) genotypes, the genetic diversity can be assessed rapidly using molecular marker-based characterization. This study aimed to evaluate the genetic diversity and cold tolerance of 15 F4 rice lines derived from crosses and their six parental genotypes using five SSR markers. The genetic diversity analysis employed the NTSYS pc 2.1 software. Results showed 21 rice genotypes had allele sizes of 150 to 230 bp, with an average number of alleles (5.4) and a polymorphism level of 0.79. The genetic similarity coefficient level of 0.37 contained three clusters. Four promising rice lines (F4UKIT102R-2-100, F4UKIT102-2-024, F4UKIT102R-2-078, and F4UKIT102R-2-018) were classified as tolerant to low temperature and exhibited the best agronomic performance. The tolerant line F4UKIT102R-2-100 was notably very similar to the parental genotype Pare Bau. The three other lines, F4UKIT102-2-024, F4UKIT102R-2-078, and F4UKIT102R-2-018 were similar to the parental genotypes Pare Lallodo, Pare Kombong, and Pare Ambo, respectively.

Keywords: Cold-tolerant rice (O. sativa L.) lines, molecular characterization, genetic similarity, new rice type

Key findings: The category as tolerant to low temperature, along with the best agronomic performance, was achieved by four promising rice (O. sativa L.) lines (F4UKIT102R-2-100, F4UKIT102-2-024, F4UKIT102R-2-078, and F4UKIT102R-2-018))

The rediscovery of Indigofera longeracemosa Boiv. ex Baill. in Sleman in 2016 has since continued in its cultivation in various regions of Central Java and Yogyakarta. This study explored the molecular characteristics and genetic diversity of I. longeracemosa from Java. The replanting of specimens resulted in 32 accessions that underwent morphological characterization and genetic diversity using ISSR markers. Four accessions, selected for DNA barcoding, helped confirm their identity. Significant morphological variation was evident, particularly in leaf coloration and margins. Notably, samples from Srandakan and Trisik exhibited a deep bluish-green color in fresh leaves, whereas those from Grogol and Lemahireng displayed a bluish-green shade. The dried leaves from Srandakan and Trisik were dark gray, contrasting with the gray leaves from the other two locations. Undulate leaf margins were outstanding in the Srandakan samples. The ITS sequence analysis confirmed the identity of all samples as I. longeracemosa, revealing a closer relationship to Indian specimens than to specimens from Madagascar, differing by one nucleotide at position 408. Genetic diversity assessment indicated greater intrapopulation variation than interpopulation variation, highlighting substantial genetic diversity within I. longeracemosa. This study enhances our understanding of the species’ morphological and genetic characteristics, contributing to its biodiversity and conservation efforts.

Keywords: I. longeracemosa, Fabaceae, genotypes, molecular markers, phylogenetic, morphological examination, molecular identification

Key findings: The presented study offers significant insights into species validation utilizing ITS for DNA barcoding in I. longeracemosa. The obtained genetic diversity data will support its conservation and plant breeding initiatives.

This study aimed to evaluate the genetic potential, heterotic effects, and inbreeding depression in F₁ hybrids and F₂ wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) populations for yield and yield-related traits. Six wheat genotypes’ crossing in a half-diallel fashion comprised Galaxy-13, Inqilab-91, Ghaznavi-98, Khaista-17, Benazir-13, and Parula to produce 15 F₁ hybrids. These hybrids and their six parental genotypes proceeded their planting in a randomized complete block design with three replications at the Cereal Crops Research Institute (CCRI), Pirsabak, Nowshera, during 2016–2017, with their F₂ populations evaluated in 2017–2018. Analysis of variance revealed significant differences among the genotypes, parents, parents vs. F₁ and F₂ populations in both generations for all traits. The recorded maximum grain yield per plant resulted in the F₁ hybrid Benazir-13 × Khaista-17 (38.12 g), followed by Khaista-17 × Galaxy-13 (37.58 g) and Khaista-17 × Parula (37.32 g). Mid-parent heterosis for grain yield per plant ranged from -2.77% (Benazir-13 × Inqilab-91) to 15.84% (Ghaznavi-98 × Parula). The best parent heterosis varied from -8.13% (Khaista-17 × Inqilab-91) to 13.11% (Ghaznavi-98 × Parula). Inbreeding depression ranged from 8.97% (Benazir-13 × Ghaznavi-98) to 36.00% (Benazir-13 × Galaxy-13). These promising F₁ and F₂ populations could be highly beneficial in future wheat breeding programs.

Keywords: Bread wheat (T. aestivum L.), F₁ and F₂ populations, heterosis, inbreeding depression, quantitative traits, grain yield

Key findings: This study comprised evaluating the genetic potential, heterotic effects, and inbreeding depression in F₁ hybrids and F₂ wheat (T. aestivum L.) populations. The F₁ hybrid Benazir-13 × Khaista-17 showed the maximum grain yield per plant, while Ghaznavi-98 × Parula exhibited the highest mid- and better-parent heterosis. The F₂ population Benazir-13 × Galaxy-13 displayed the highest reduction in grain yield due to inbreeding depression.

Sweet corn (Zea mays var. saccharata Sturt) is a popular horticultural crop cultivated widely in Indonesia. However, low productivity still hampers the development of its cultivation. The following study aimed to evaluate the combining ability of seven sweet corn parental genotypes (SB8.4.3, SB13.1.3B.1, SM1.1.9, SM6.3.1, SM9.3A.1, SM12.2.13, and T13.1.8.1) with their diallel hybrids and identify the optimal combinations with higher yields. The parental cultivars sustained crossing in a complete diallel fashion to generate the 42 hybrids, studied in comparison with four check cultivars (Secada, Talenta, Bonanza, and Glory) from January to November 2023 at two locations—Pasir Kuda and Leuwikopo, Indonesia. The variables observed include the cob weight with and without husks, cob length and diameter, productivity, and sweetness level. The results showed the hybrid SM6.3.2 x SB8.4.3 had the highest SCA values for all observed traits, except sweetness level, and was also the second-highest genotype for cob diameter at both locations. Moreover, the said promising hybrid had the maximum mean values for yield-related traits, except sweetness level. The hybrid SM6.3.2 x SM9.3A emerged with negative SCA effects and the lowest mean values for all traits. The study concluded that the best hybrid in this study is the combination of SM6.3.2 and SB8.4.3.

Keywords: sweet corn (Z. mays var. saccharata Sturt), mean performance, combining ability, GCA and SCA, yield-related traits, sweetness level

Key findings: The results revealed a cross combination with two parental genotypes having different GCA produced the hybrid with a higher SCA and mean performance for most sweet corn traits (Z. mays var. saccharata Sturt). However, the hybrid formed from two parent cultivars with the same GCA produced the hybrid with a low SCA and mean performance.

The cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) crop is a priority sector of agriculture in the Turkestan Region, Kazakhstan. An evaluation of the cotton cultivar Maktaaral-5027’s response took place for nine variants comprising different doses of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium under two soil backgrounds (slightly saline and medium saline). The study occurred at the Agricultural Experimental Station of Cotton and Melon Growing, Turkestan, Kazakhstan. Fertilizers used included ammonium nitrate (34%), double superphosphate (45%), and potassium sulfate (51%), which were applied in one step before sowing the cotton crop for deep cultivation. The fertilizer application revealed some patterns in the formation of seed cotton yield. In the variant combining triple doses of nitrogen with double doses of phosphorus and potassium (N₁₅₀P₁₀₀K₈₀) under low soil salinity, the seed cotton yield was higher, reaching 6.49 t/ha of raw cotton. On a slightly saline background, nitrogen fertilizers increased the raw cotton yield to 18.3% and 28.8% in variants with double (N₁₀₀P₁₀₀K₈₀) and triple (N₁₅₀P₁₀₀K₈₀) doses compared with medium doses of phosphorus and potassium.

Keywords: Cotton (G. hirsutum L.), saline soil, fertilizer doses, seed cotton yield, fiber quality

Key findings: The upland cotton (G. hirsutum L.) cultivar Maktaaral-5027 with different doses of fertilizers allowed us to identify its higher seed cotton yield on the gray soil of the Turkestan Region, Kazakhstan.