The scarcity of nutrients and synthetic fertilizers reduced crop productivity, increasing production costs and prompting scientists to seek new technologies to ensure high-quality output. In this context, using cytokinins with organic fertilizers ensued to assess their effects on caigua (Cyclanthera pedata L.) production. For this purpose, land preparation for planting comprised two levels of cytokinins (100 and 150 ml, Anthesis Plus per 200 L of water) and organic compost at 10 t/ha, then spread across the land. Results showed that adding cytokinins and compost manure, alone and in combination, significantly improved the agronomic and physiological characteristics of caigua. However, the combined application of compost manure and cytokinins dramatically enriched the caigua plant length, diameter, fruits per plant, and fruit dry and fresh weight per plant up to 85.0%, 46.9%, 81.8%, 80.6%, and 83.2%, respectively, in comparison with the control treatment. Similarly, chlorophyll contents, quantum yield, photosynthetically active radiation, fluorescence yield, and electron transport reaction increased at 68.8%, 66.4%, 79.2%, 51.1%, and 74.0%, respectively, with combined application as compared with control. Furthermore, the co-addition of composting and cytokinins also upgraded the biochemical composition versus the control. The presented results suggested that applying a mixture of compost manure and cytokinins may help enhance caigua plant growth, yield, and quality and improve soil characteristics.

Keywords: Caigua (Cyclanthera pedata L.), mineral fertilizers, composting, cytokinins, less production

Key findings: Results suggested that adding composting with cytokinins solely or in combination improved the agronomic and physiological parameters of caigua (Cyclanthera pedata L.) compared with the control. The combined application of composting and cytokinins could also improve the biochemical composition more than the control treatment.

Iron and zinc are essential micronutrients for human growth, development, and immune system maintenance. Iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) are necessary for psychomotor development, sustained physical activity and work capacity, infection resistance, and various metabolic functions. Currently, rice, preferred for being high in Fe and Zn, is also a choice for being low in anti-nutritional compounds, namely, phytic acid. The presented study sought to identify the phytic acid content in several biofortified rice lines and determine the correlation of phytic acid with Fe and Zn content and yield characters. The research ran during the dry season (DS) from January to September 2022, with an alluvial soil type at the Sukamandi Experimental Station of ICRIST – Subang, West Java, Indonesia (altitude of 40 masl). Testing of 10 rice (Oryza sativa L.) genotypes comprising six BC₄F₃ biofortified rice lines for high Zn and four check cultivars (Inpari IR Nutri Zinc, Inpari 23, Ciherang, and Sintanur) used a randomized complete block design with three replications. Correlation analysis determined breeding strategies for high Zn/Fe rice with low phytic acid. The results revealed that phytic acid did not significantly correlate with Zn content, 1000-grain weight, and yield per plant. However, phytic acid had a strong positive correlation with Fe content. The rice line WR10 occurred as the best line because it had the highest Zn content (33.80 mg kg^-1) and lower phytic acid and Zn ratio (PA: Zn) compared with all check cultivars, giving the highest yield potential and better yield than the Ciherang cultivar.

Keywords: Oryza sativa, iron and zinc content, essential micronutrients, phytic acid, correlation, grain yield

Key findings: The promising line WR10 with high Zn and lower PA: Zn molar ratio compared with the check varieties emerged. Noting phytic acid having a significant positive association with Fe and having no significant association with Zn, the breeding program for getting high Fe rice with low phytic acid becomes more challenging than breeding for acquiring high Zn rice with low phytic acid. Therefore, an advanced breeding approach may help obtain rice cultivars with high Fe and low phytic acid.

The genetic diversity and homogeneity of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) source lines underwent analysis to select the promising parental pairs for hybridization. The 420 individual plants from 21 sugar beet lines served as research materials. A result of the study of polymorphism with nine SSR markers obtained 22 alleles, with an average of 2.4 alleles per marker. The Bvv155 marker emerged as the most useful for detecting the genetic diversity of sugar beet lines and predicting heterosis. Identifying the FDSB1002, FDSB1007, and FDSB957 markers as polymorphic determined the intra-linear heterogeneity of the source material. The analysis of molecular variance showed that in the studied sugar beet samples, the highest variation was prominent among the populations (48%), while heterogeneity within the population was 21%. The genetic distances between pollinator lines and lines with cytoplasmic male sterility ranged by 1.4–3.5 (Euclidean distances) and 0.12–1.0 (Nei’s distances). Distinguishing seven parent pairs of sugar beet attained endorsement for crosses having Nei’s genetic distance of D = 0.81 will create highly productive hybrids. The presented results may play a vital role in developing heterotic hybrids in sugar beet through a practical breeding program.

Keywords: Sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.), parental forms and their hybrids, genetic diversity, cluster analysis, genetic distance, intra-linear heterogeneity, microsatellite markers

Key findings: The genetic diversity and homogeneity of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) source lines’ analysis helped select the promising parental pairs for hybridization. As a result of the polymorphism study with nine SSR markers, 22 alleles emerged, with an average of 2.4 alleles per marker.

The marigold and zinnia are prominent in the horticulture industry and are widely growing flowering annuals in Pakistan. The well-timed study sought to investigate the effect of different fertilizer combinations on flowering annuals marigold and zinnia. The experiment comprised a completely randomized design with four replications during 2019 and 2020 at the Plant Genetic Resource Institute, National Agricultural Research Center, Islamabad, Pakistan. The data included recording days to bud formation (DBF), days to flower persistence (DFP), flowers per plant (NFP), and days to flower senescence (DFS). Significant differences were recordable among the genotypes and treatments. Average DBF under applications of NPK fertilizers and Grow More + HB101 + Vitafeed (foliar application) revealed higher during the first year of study compared with the second year. The most effective foliar application treatment for DBF of marigold and zinnia resulted in 0.18 g Grow More + 0.18 g HB101 + 0.18 g Vitafeed. A higher number of DBF marigolds occurred for treatment 20% N + 16% P + 14% K, and the same emerged for NFP. Average days for flower persistence in marigold and zinnia were higher under manures application compared with NPK and foliar application. The higher number of DFP of both plants existed for treatment 75% leaf compost (LC) + 25% soil. The organic and inorganic fertilizers may help develop plant health, resistance to early flower senescence, and large flower size of both marigold and zinnia.

Keywords: Marigold (Tagetes erecta), zinnia (Zinnia elenegans), foliar application, nutritional practices, chemical fertilizers, growth and flowering traits

Key findings: Both organic and inorganic fertilizers are vital in promoting the complete health and quality of marigold and zinnia flowers.

The promising research showcased the results of herbicides’ uses, considering the quantitative composition of weeds with zero tillage technology of winter wheat cultivation. It revealed that when treating wheat seeds with the growth stimulator Vimpel (0.5 l/t) and micro-fertilization with Oracle (1.0 l/t) simultaneously etching with the fungicide Bunker (0.4 l/t), as well as, early spring treatment of crops in the tillering phase of winter wheat with the same stimulator (Vimpel, 0.5 l/ha) and micro-fertilization (Oracle multicomplex, 2.0 l/ha) simultaneous with the herbicide “Ballerina” (0.5 l/ha) application, the number of preserved plants before harvesting was 286.1 pcs./m², reaching a height of 88.9 cm, with a productive bushiness of 1.15 pcs., grains per spike (22.2), 1000-grain weight (34.8 g), and collected dry grains at a standard humidity (22.1 c/ha). It was also evident that the competitive productivity of winter wheat also emerged when treating wheat seeds with biological fertilizer Biobars–M (1.0 l/t), the crop at the tillering stage with Biobars–M (0.5 l/ha), and the earring phase (0.7 l/ha). Similarly, using growth stimulants Vimpel and micronutrient Oracle multicomplex enhanced the grain yield with reduced cost of production (USD 61.3–66.0/kg) compared with the control version (USD 78.6 /kg). On one hectare of winter wheat crop, the net income ranged from USD 289.55 to 443.56.

Keywords: Winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), zero technology, growth stimulator, biofertilizers, herbicides, productive moisture, economic efficiency, grain yield, net income

Key findings: In winter wheat, using growth regulators, micro- and biofertilizers significantly enhanced the yield variables and, eventually, the grain yield. In particular, applying growth stimulators combined with micro-fertilization increased grain yields by 2.0–2.1 times, giving winter wheat grain harvest of 1.4–2.2 t/ha, respectively.

The presented research investigated the pollen morphology of endemic Iraqi Hypericum species. The study revealed phenotypic features of pollen grains in the polar and equatorial views and their quantitative and qualitative characteristics. The results showed that the pollen grains of the genus Hypericum were radially symmetrical and isopolar, and their apertures were simple and tricolporate, except the species H. davisii, distinguished as tetracolprate. Dividing the studied species based on pollen grain sizes comprised two groups. Small pollen grains with an average length of the equatorial view ranged between 10–16 μm in H. lysimachioides and H. vermiculare. Medium-sized pollen grains with an average extent between 17–26 μm emerged in the species, i.e., H. retusum, H. triquetrifolium, H. perforatum, H. lydium, H. tetrapterum, H. asperulium, H. scabrum, and H. davisii. Pollen grains, also divided according to the P/E ratio, had two main groups. The pollen grains were subprolate and spherical, with the exine sculpturing examined by a scanning electron microscope (SEM), and isolated into four groups: 1) microreticulate reticulum, including H. asperulium, H. lydium, and H. vermiculare, 2) perforate, i.e., H. retusum, H. scabrum, H. tetrapterum, and H. triquetrifolium, 3) psilate with H. perforatum and H. davisii, 4) and reticulate exine sculpturing in H. lysimachioides, all isolated from the rest of the species. SEM images showed the thickness of exine ranged from 0.5 to 2 μm. The topical study also added H. davisii as a new species with no previous records in Iraq. This pollen study added valuable data for taxonomy and suggested that it should proceed with its first-time registration in Iraq. The pertinent research could provide a taxonomical key for Hypericum species in Iraq.

Keywords: Hypericum L., Hypericaceae, endemic Iraqi species, palynological diversity, pollen grains, SEM

Key findings: A comparative palynological study for the endemic Iraqi Hypericum species by light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) determined the shape and size of the pollen grains, which were subprolate and sph prolate with small and medium size. Additionally, the ornamentation on the exine were microreticulate, perforate, psilate, and reticulate. The thickness of the exine was 0.5–2 μm. The number and shapes of apertures provide useful taxonomic information to distinguish the species. H. davisii was a new addition, having no previous records in Iraq.

Strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duchesne ex Rozier) is an economically important fruit crop grown commercially worldwide due to its known nutritional value. The demand for strawberries in the Philippines has been increasing but varietal development is slow due to the lack of genetic information on locally available germplasm. In addition, molecular marker resources for strawberries are limited. Here, we developed Simple Sequence Repeats (SSR) markers to characterize strawberries cultivated in tropical environments, particularly in the Philippines. In silico mining generated a total of 219,239 SSR markers, from which 160,025 unique markers were identified. Polymorphism scoring and the variation on the expected alleles resulting to the synthesis of the top 160 markers were validated using representative strawberry cultivars from the core collection. All 70 markers produced successful amplicons from all the genotypes, but only 67 markers displayed polymorphism. Using UPGMA, genetic similarities among the cultivars were calculated generating a dendrogram which categorized the strawberry cultivars into 3 groups. The grouping clearly showed the separation of the diploid Fragaria vesca from the octoploid F. x ananassa cultivars, considered as group 1. Furthermore, Groups 2 and 3 contained cultivars from different geographical origins (US, Japan, and North America). The eight novel markers developed and validated here can be added to the genetic marker resource for cultivar verification, assessment of genetic diversity, and most importantly, marker-assisted breeding.

Keywords: In silico mining, Fragaria genome, Philippine strawberry cultivars, simple sequence repeats

Key findings: In silico mining from F. x ananassa genome sequence generated a total of 160,025 unique markers from which a subset of 70 markers was validated and approximately 95.7% (67 markers) are polymorphic. These markers were able to discriminate representative strawberry cultivars from the core collection of the BSU breeding program. It can also be utilized to further characterize and fingerprint these sets of germplasm as a prerequisite for a successful breeding programs.

The responses of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) seeds to germination depend upon the point in the germination-through-emergence sequence at which seed environmental conditions conclude to promote germination and seedling development. Temperature and genotype can influence seedling vigor in upland cotton and help identify promising genotypes that could perform well under different temperature extremes. In the presented research, the nature of the development of cotton seeds largely depends on temperature conditions and the growing seasons, which provide information that determines their uniformity based on the thermal regime of germination. The physical and biological diversity of cotton seeds has close relations to the pattern of plant development and the influence of certain environmental factors on them. In the presented study, sowing seeds of three local cotton cultivars, AN-Bayaut-2, Tashkent-6, and Armugon-2, transpired on two dates (April 17 and May 10). The nature of cotton seeds’ development, largely dependent on temperature and growing season and on the thermal regime of their germination, showed different indicators. A discovery revealed that the germination of seeds decreased in areas with later-sown kernels. In terms of germination energy and other physiological functions, the best results were notable in seeds at the lower and middle stages of plant development. The cultivar AN-Bayaut-2 is adaptable to various environmental factors according to seed germination and vegetation period compared with other local cotton varieties, i.e., Tashkent-6 and Armugon-2.

keywords: Upland cotton (gossypium hirsutum l.), cottonseeds, seed germination, respiration intensity, productivity

Key findings: The nature of the development of cotton seeds largely depends on temperature and the growing season. According to germination vigor and other physiological functions, the best plants resulted from the grains of the bolls at the lower and middle stages of the harvest. The research has also established that the variety AN-Bayaut-2 proved superior to the other two cultivars based on seed germination and adaptation to various environmental factors during the growing season.

Conventional breeding is vital in improving yield-related traits and developing high-yielding cultivars. In the presented study, an evaluation of 15 F₁ hybrids compared them to their six parental genotypes for genetic variation of various traits. The results showed that the analysis of variance revealed significant (P ≤ 0.01) differences among the cross combinations and parental cultivars and among the parents and crosses. The mean sum of squares of parents vs. crosses also indicated substantial (P ≤ 0.01) for all the characteristics. The general (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) variances were significant (P ≤ 0.01) for all traits studied in the F₁ generation. Three varieties, namely, Sakha108, Giza179, and Sakha109, were highly significantly positive for grain yield plant^-1, which means these varieties can benefit as good combiners to transfer the said trait in the breeding program. In SCA, seven crosses were negative in plant height and a negative value was desirable to avoid lodging and suitable for mechanical harvesting; however, positive significant values are preferable in the rest of the traits. The results indicated that the best crosses for grain yield plant^-1 and plant height were Sakha105 × Sakha102, Sakha105 × Sakha108, and Sakha108 × Sakha109. Conducting cluster analysis also exhibited the genotypes dividing into four groups. The first group included rice genotypes Sakha109 and Sakha108 alone. These cultivars, produced from a common parent Sakha101, could have genetic relations for three quantitative traits (flag leaf area, 1000-grain weight, and panicle weight). The second group, comprising Sakha 102 and Sakha 106, has a very similar genetic background because both cultivars share a common parent, Giza 177. In addition, these two rice cultivars had at par number of tillers plant^-1, 1000-grain weight, and panicles plant^-1. The third group included only Giza 179 belonging to Indica-Japonica varieties. A fourth group has Sakha 105 produced by different parents.

Keywords: rice (Oryza sativa L.), breeding, combining ability, genetic variation, genetic potential, genotypic and phenotypic variances, heritability

Key findings: The half-diallel method was for crossing between six parents of rice to produce 15 crosses. Three parents, namely, Sakha108, Sakha102, and Giza179, were suitable donors for some traits and could serve as better parents for use in breeding programs. Three crosses also gave a good result for grain yield plant^-1 and plant height. PCA and cluster analysis studied the similarity through quantitative traits, providing results that the varieties produced from the same parents cluster in one group.

The ultimate objective of breeding is to produce high-yielding cultivars that are fascinating to the farming community and end users, allowing for easy marketing. Therefore, it is crucial to conduct various tests on milling quality, physicochemical properties, and eating quality to determine the overall rice quality and evaluate the response of potential consumers. The presented study sought the complete rice quality and the consumer acceptance of 12 upland rice lines derived from superior parental genotypes. This research conducted in 2019 performed milling and eating quality assessments on milled and cooked rice, respectively. The milling quality analysis revealed that lines L-04, L-05, and L-06 produced middle-length grains, while others produced full-length grains. Rice from lines L-02, L-09, and L-12 were slender, while the rest were medium-shape. All upland rice lines also met the national standard (SNI 6128-2015) for milling degree (85%–100%), moisture content (9.85%–11.30%), chalky rice (0.06%–1.59%), and yellow rice (0.21%–1.77%). Lines L-03 and L-05 met the Medium-I quality standard with head rice recovery (HRR) values of 84.15% and 84.76%, respectively. However, lines L-01 and L-02 met the Medium-III standard with HRR values of 66.24% and 66.39%, separately. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) revealed four principal physicochemical characteristics, i.e., degree of milling, length, width, and HRR. Partial Least Squares Regression (PLSR) analysis displayed the overall liking as determined by the interaction of four descriptive factors, mostly taste and texture. Cooked rice of line L-12 (cross of cv. Inpago-8 × B11930F-TB-2) was the most liked compared with other cooked rice samples.

Keywords: milling quality, eating quality, hedonic, PCA, PLSR

Key findings: Upland rice production through cross-breeding of superior parental genotypes hopes rice meets consumer acceptance criteria and the Indonesian National Standard for Quality (SNI 6128–2015). PCA assisted in the clustering of the 12 resultant crossbred lines based on the physicochemical properties of their rice crops. PLSR analysis helped to reveal the correlation between the sensory descriptive scores and overall liking of the cooked rice from the 12 lines.