Egyptian wild medicinal plants are Nicotiana glauca R.C., Solanum incanum L., and Withania somnifera L. The phytochemicals, antibacterial activity, and cytotoxicity of each species’ 1%, 3%, and 5% aqueous extracts attained scrutiny. Five fungal and five bacterial species (Aspergillus niger, A. flavus, A. terreus, Alternaria alternata, and Rhizoctonia solani) trials used the antimicrobial activity, agar well diffusion method. The Vicia faba assay showed the cytotoxicity of these plants at varied doses. N. glauca had 1.65% tannins and the most antioxidant activity at 0.32 mg/ml. N. glauca had a superior antifungal activity against A. niger, A. terreus, R. solani, B. cereus, P. aeruginosa, and R. solanacearum. At 1%, 3%, and 5% aqueous extracts, W. somnifera has the largest chromosomal aberrations, 22.97%, 25.46%, and 40.93%, respectively. In anaphase and telophase, cytotoxicity causes interphase micronucleus, stickiness, disrupted metaphase, lagging, bridge, and diagonal abnormalities. For reducing the pharmaceutical cytotoxicity, this study provided information on wild medicinal plants, revealing N. glauca with the greatest phytochemicals, antioxidants, and antibacterial activity with minimum cytotoxicity and abnormalities. Hence, its use can be safe for therapeutic dosages.

Keywords: Wild medicinal plants, Nicotiana glauca, Solanum incanum, Withania somnifera, antimicrobial activity, phytochemical analysis, cytotoxicity

Key findings: Nicotiana glauca, Solanum incanum, and Withania somnifera are Egyptian wild medicinal herbs with high antioxidant secondary metabolites. N. glauca had the most phytochemicals, antioxidant, and antibacterial activity but the lowest cytotoxic effect and abnormality percentage. The findings suggest using N. glauca aqueous extracts at 1%, 3%, or 5% for specific medical disorders.

Maize (Zea mays L.) sprouts growth and activity dynamics of DMDH (decarboxylating malate-dehydrogenase, Malic enzyme EC:1.1.1.40) enzyme have undergone studies under combined stress conditions developed by gamma rays, salt solution, and nanoparticles. Three different factors comprising various doses of gamma radiation (250, 500, and 750 Gy), NaCl solution (100 mM), and iron oxide nanoparticles (maghemite, γ- Fe₂O₃) have been in use by the study to develop artificial stress conditions. These combined stress conditions have significantly affected and delayed the plant growth compared with the control variant. The higher doses of radiation (500 and 750 Gy) have slowed down the plant growth and caused destruction. The effect of gamma radiation (250 Gy) delayed the growth of plants. However, during the combined influence of nanoparticles (Fe₂O₃) with a dose of 250 Gy, plant development was better than with an individual dose of 250 Gy. This difference was not evident in the medium with high doses (500 and 750 Gy) of gamma radiation combined with nanoparticles (Fe₂O₃) and with salt stress (NaCl 100 mM). During the first 10 days of the experiment, DMDH enzyme activity, induced in the root and leaf cells in all variants, included the control, and inhibition occurred on the 15th day. This reaction product can be due to enzyme inhibition. However, the enzyme activity was higher during the combined stress conditions.

Keywords: Maize (Zea mays L.) seedlings, gamma radiation, salt stress, iron oxide nanoparticles, decarboxylating-malate dehydrogenase, combined stress conditions, growth traits

Key findings: Adding maghemite nanoparticles to the medium slightly reduced the stress effects, and thus, the stimulating effect of nanoparticles has manifested. In variants with NaCl solution (100 mM), no stimulating effect appeared; however, on the contrary, a retarding effect was noticeable. The DMDH enzyme (ME, EC:1.1.1.40) activity regarding corn plant growth was prominent at the beginning of the experiment (5^th and 10^th days) in the root and stem tissues under the combined stress conditions and both in control. Gamma irradiation has reduced the plant’s organic matter in applied variants compared with the control variant. However, this reduction was superior for the variants with NaCl solution.

The use of pesticides in agriculture is constantly rising in the Republic of Kazakhstan. Over the past decade, pesticide use per unit area of agricultural land has almost tripled. In 2008, this figure was 0.2 kg/ha, while in 2018, it reached 0.593 kg/ha. In crop production, pesticide application contaminates the soil, water, and plants with toxic residues, negatively affecting human health and the environment. Organic agriculture provides high-quality food and sustainable rural development. However, the development of organic crop production is slow in Kazakhstan. To date, field areas processed using organic production technologies are about 200,000 ha in Kazakhstan, as confirmed by European certifying organizations. In organic agriculture, employing biological agents (manures, straw, siderates, and biofertilizers), according to biological buffering laws, without disturbing the ecological balance, contributes to maintaining soil fertility and enhancing environmentally safe productivity. Plant protection measures require implementation through producing resistant crop genotypes and non-chemical methods like mechanical and biological in organic agriculture.

Keywords: Pesticides, toxic residue pollution, organic agriculture, environmentally friendly products, manure, straw, siderates, biofertilizers, mechanical and biological methods of plant protection

Key findings: Applying biological agents (manures, straw, siderates, and biofertilizers) in organic agriculture contributes to maintaining soil fertility, enhancing productivity, and obtaining environmentally safe products.

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is one of the crucial legume crops and a primary source of protein for human beings worldwide. The genetically diverse accessions are valuable sources for further improvement in chickpeas through breeding. In the presented study, the 36 chickpea lines from the Chickpea International Elite Nursery-Winter, International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), bore assessment for yield-related traits. Determining the effects of various quantitative and yield-attributing traits on the seed yield used linear regression. Simple linear regression models ran separate evaluations for each studied parameter, including plant height, the height of the first pod, the number of secondary branches, the number of pods, the number of seeds per plant, and 100-seed weight. According to analysis for high seed productivity in chickpea cultivation under organic production conditions, the approximate model ensures a high yield as follows: The plant height ranged from 68 to –78 cm, height to the first pod (26–31 cm), number of secondary branches (8–14), number of pods (52–79), number of seeds (64–95), and 100-seed weight (25–45 g). In determining the seed productivity of chickpea genotypes, a direct positive and significant correlation occurred between the 100-seed weight and the number of seeds per plant. These parameters can serve as effective selection criteria for enhancing the chickpea yield.

Keywords: Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), regression analyses, correlation coefficient, quantitative traits, yield-related traits, crop productivity

Key findings: In chickpeas, the seed weight per plant emerged as the pivotal trait influencing seed yield, helping formulate a predictive theoretical model. Additionally, traits like the number of secondary branches and a 100-seed weight demonstrated a substantial positive correlation with seed yield, providing crucial selection criteria for effective breeding programs.

The article outlines the physiological and biochemical parameters of 10 exotic accessions of two local cultivars of grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.). By analyzing the plant leaf spectrophotometrically at the bud formation phase, exotic sample Bio-520 x 1330 showed chlorophyll а of 21.47 mg/ml, Bio (520 x Bio) x 273 with chlorophyll b of 12.79 mg/ml, and Ratan x IG 135481 had carotenoids at 5.57 mg/ml. Based on total pigments, Ratan x 1307 gave the highest value (30.24 mg/ml), while in the flowering phase, Ratan x IG 135481 showed chlorophyll а of 21.37 mg/ml, Ratan x 2125 with chlorophyll b of 16.51 mg/ml, and Prateek x IG 140034 with carotenoid of 6.02 mg/ml. For Ratan x 2125, the total pigments were 37.14 mg/ml, with the highest values for all traits. In the ripening phase, Bio 520 x 1330 with chlorophyll а (11.92 mg/ml), Ratan x 2125 with chlorophyll b (16.63 mg/ml), 1330 x 2125 with carotenoid (4.04 mg/ml), and Ratan x 2125 with total pigments (25.62 mg/ml). Higher protein content resulted in seeds of Prateek x IG 140035 (26.3%), Bio (520 x Bio) x 273 (26.1%), and Ratan x 1307 (26.0). Besides, 1330 x 2125 has biochemical elements (Li, B, Na, Cu, and As), Ratan x 2125 (Mg, K, Ca, Ti, Sr, and Ba), Ratan x IG 135481 (Rb, Mo, and Cd), and Prateek x IG 140034 with chemical elements (Al, Fe, and Ag). The control Lalmikor provided B, Mn, Rb, and Ag higher than other exotic samples.

Keywords: Grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.), growth phases, leaf stomata, photosynthetic pigments, chlorophyll a and b, carotenoids, total water content, water retention, transpiration intensity, total protein

Key findings: Grass pea (L. sativus L.) exotic and local genotypes revealed varied values of physiological traits, viz., chlorophyll a and b, total chlorophyll, carotenoid pigments, and concentration of total pigments analyzed spectrophotometrically. The grass pea genotypes showed nonsignificant differences in nitrogen and total protein content.

The morphological analysis of buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) is crucial in developing germplasm resources. The study used 19 local common buckwheat landraces to characterize their morphophysiological and yield-related traits for germplasm development. The analysis of variance revealed no statistically significant variations in most morphophysiological and agronomic features, except for plant height and chlorophyll content (SPAD Value). Landraces L₇ and L₁₄ stood out for their superior morphological and yield-related traits, while L₂ had the highest grain yield per raceme. Employing principal component analysis helped identify key morphological and yield-related traits. The first six principal components accounted for 99% of the total variance, with the first component having the highest Eigenvalues. Cluster analysis assessed the similarities among landraces based on their morphophysiological and agronomic traits. Notably, the distribution of landraces from similar locations often appeared across different clusters, indicating diverse genetic variability. These findings are crucial for selecting suitable landraces for germplasm development in common buckwheat. Additionally, the insights gained into morphophysiological and yield-related variations can help enhance buckwheat breeding programs in Bangladesh.

Keywords: Buckwheat, diversity, germplasm, morphological markers, PCA

Key findings: Landraces L₁₄ and L₇ contributed the highest variation among the buckwheat’s (Fagopyrum esculentum) 14 morphophysiological and yield-contributing traits. The principal component analysis showed that the first six principal components comprised 99% of the total variation. Dendrogram data demonstrated that the various landraces reached different cluster groupings based on morphophysiological and yield variations.

Ngoc Linh ginseng (Panax vietnamensis Ha et Grushv.) is a rare, precious, and endemic herb in Vietnam in terms of medicinal treasures. This herb’s in vitro propagation has significant implications for both conservation and production. The promising research investigated how culture conditions can influence the growth of Ngoc Linh ginseng in vitro. Ngoc Linh ginseng plantlets have served as materials for research and culture. The effects of light intensities, day-night temperatures, and culture medium on the in vitro growth of plants received evaluation. The study found that the light intensity at 20 μmol.m^-2.s^-1, the day-night temperature of 23 °C–15 °C and the SH medium were optimal for the growth of Ngoc Linh ginseng in vitro. These results are essential for enhancing future in vitro Ngoc Linh ginseng growth.

Keywords: Ngoc Linh ginseng, light intensity, temperature, medium, in vitro propagation

Key findings: The latest study sheds light on certain primary culture conditions discovery directly affecting the growth of in vitro Ngoc Linh ginseng (Panax vietnamensis Ha et Grushv.) in Vietnam. The research successfully determined the optimal light intensities at 20 μmol.m^-2.s^-1, day-night temperatures of 23 °C–15 °C, and culture SH medium to grow in vitro Ngoc Linh ginseng. Furthermore, these findings could potentially improve the in vitro Ngoc Linh ginseng growth for production, preservation, and other extensive research in the future.

The latest study aimed to evaluate the genotypes’ genetic potential and estimate the genetic parameters for yield-related traits in two faba beans (Vicia faba L.) cultivars with the influence of nano-silicon different concentrations. The experiment comprised a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with a factorial arrangement of two factors and three replications. Faba bean cultivars (Turkish and Italian) were content in the main plots, while the subplots comprised nano silicon different levels (0, 1, and 2 ml L^-1). The analysis of variance exhibited significant differences between the cultivars for all studied traits. The superiority of the Turkish cultivar was remarkable for the pods per plant, seeds per pod, seed yield, and biological yield. The results showed that the phenotypic and genotypic variations were high for all traits at the nano silicon level of 2 ml L^-1). However, they decreased at the control treatment. Heritability (broad sense) was extremely high for all traits and nano-silicon concentrations, indicating that the variation among the cultivars was mainly genotypic. The genetic gain displayed the highest for the 100-seed weight while low for the rest of the yield-related traits in faba beans.

Keywords: Faba bean (Vicia faba L.), cultivars, nano-silicon concentrations, genotypic and phenotypic variations, heritability, genetic gain

Key findings: The study showed the superiority of the Turkish cultivar in yield characteristics and its components and was more responsive to foliar application of the nano-silicon. It indicates that the phenotypic variation between the cultivars was predominantly genetic.

Veronica is a prominent genus belonging to the family Plantaginaceae. Six species samples came from different mountainous areas of AL-Sulaimaniyah, Northern Iraq, comprising V. anagalloides, V. anagallis-aquatica, V. beccabunga, V. minuta, Veronica persica, and V. polita. DNA genomic manually extracted from plant leaves, and the specific PCR fragments partially covering the internal transcribed spacer-1, internal transcribed spacer-2, and 5.8S rRNA, and internal transcribed spacer-2 sequences were options for the latest study that proceeded with primers ITS5 (5′ GGAAGTAAAAGTCGTAACAAGG-3′) and ITS4 (5′-TCCTCCGCTTATTGATATGC-3′) to amplify the samples of six different Veronica species. The electrophoresis migration for PCR analysis showed that the length of the amplified segment was about 600 bp for all the studied samples. An assumption from the generated tree was that the detected nucleic acid variants showed a noticeable effect on changing the evolutionary positioning of the investigated samples compared with the wild-type sequences. All the investigated rRNA sequences deposited in the NCBI web server acquired unique accession numbers for the analyzed S1 to S3 sequences. The deposited sequences received the GenBank accession numbers, i.e., OP363796.1, OP363795.1, OP363794.1, OP363793.1, OP363792.1, and OP363791.1, representing the six investigated isolates of the Veronica species, respectively.

Keywords: Veronica species, Plantaginaceae, ITS primers, DNA sequences, genetic variations

Key findings: The variation of the rRNA sequences can also help in Veronica characterization due to its possible ability to adapt to variable genetic diversity. The sequencing reactions indicated the precise identity after performing NCBI BLASTn for these PCR amplicons. Concerning the investigated ribosomal amplicons, the NCBI BLASTn engine showed 99% to 100% sequence similarities between the sequenced samples and the intended reference target sequences.

Seeking to promote the earliness traits in apples (Malus × domestica Borkh.), this study evaluated 246 half-sib descendants of their mature trees for pheno-morphology, pomological, and sensory attributes. From a productivity criterion, the gene pool performance ranked in 12 resistance and susceptibility classes to spring frost. The two selected groups comprised five and 23 descendants, assigned by high and moderate tolerance in 2019. In the following season, assessing 246 progenies for bloom intensity led to the selection of 80 outstanding hybrids. The earliness traits showed a high promotion of the appearance of new classes of earliness. The ripening time distribution of the bearing progenies consisted of six categories, namely, four extra-early (June 5 to 17), 18 far-early (June 22 to 30), 22 very early (July 2 to 9), 21 very early-early (July 11), nine early plus to control (July 19), and six progenies (July 25). Subsequent pomological and sensory analyses led to the choice of 18 progenies for high fruit set, well-formed fruits, different colors, and superior organoleptic qualities. The results authenticated the efficiency of breeding methods, supported by heritability and morphological markers to predict the earliness traits.

Keywords: Apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.), breeding, heritability, earliness traits, spring cold tolerance, morphological markers, phenological stages, fruit setting

Key findings: Promoting earliness traits were associated with large fruit size, red color, and apple acceptability. Five promising apple progenies with spring cold tolerance, late bloom-early, and dual-purpose continued for release.