Wheat breeders focus on enhancing the production potential of bread wheat by creating new varieties with acceptable genetic makeup to combat the pressure of rising human population consumption. Research to resolve this issue transpired during the Rabi of November 2021– April 2022 at the Lovely Professional University, Punjab, India. Developing the field trial used an augmented block design, 45 F₄ segregating population genotypes, and five checks. Data on characteristics, such as days to 50% flowering, days to maturity, number of productive tillers, plant height, ear length, and weight, number of spikelets ear^-1 and grains ear^-1, 1000 grain weight, grain yield plant^-1, biological yield, harvest index, and chlorophyll index underwent assessment. Highly significant variations between the genotypes for all the traits had the analysis of variance determining these, except 1000 grain weight and chlorophyll index in the treatment test and the test versus check. In this study, the harvest index, biological yield plant^-1, and grain yield plant^-1 are all higher for the phenotypic and genotypic coefficient of variances (PCV, GCV). The genetic advancement and heritability are highest for days to maturity, ear weight, number of grains ear^-1, biological yield plant^-1, grain yield plant^-1, and harvest index. Studies on the relationships between various traits divulged that the number of productive tillers and harvest index had a positive, strong link and a direct effect with grain yield plant^-1. These findings support the application of genetic modification to increase seed yield in bread wheat.

Keywords: wheat, genetic variability, genotypic coefficient of variance, phenotypic coefficient of variance, heritability, correlation and path analysis

Key findings: The results from the study stated that the number of productive tillers and harvest index manifested a positive correlation and a direct effect on grain yield plant^-1, indicating that further improvement of these traits may indirectly lead to an overall improvement of the crop yield in future breeding programs.

Maize (Zea mays L.) is a vital grain crop cultivated globally, which ranks third after wheat and rice. Its consumption in Egypt is primarily for human food, livestock and poultry feed, and raw materials for industrial products, such as, oil and starch. The main environmental factors that limit crop productivity worldwide include salinity, drought, and nutrient imbalance. Plant Growth regulators (PGR), such as, gibberellic acid (GA3) and mepiquat chloride (M.C), reduce the dramatic impacts of salinity and drought on crop growth and yield. This experiment sought to verify the influence of foliar spray application of GA3 and M.C as growth regulators on the growth metrics, chemical components, and maize harvest cultivated in calcareous soil under salinity during the summer of 2021 and 2022, respectively. The following treatments comprised foliar applications of 50 ppm GA3, 100 ppm GA3, 100 ppm M.C, and 250 ppm M.C, applied three times every season. It is clear from the results that foliar application of gibberellic (GA3) and mepiquat chloride (M.C) enhanced growth metrics, biochemical parameters, nutritional content, yield and its components, and oil percentage. After treatment with 100 ppm GA3 and 250 ppm M.C foliar spray, the yield and its constituents and oil percentage achieved the highest shares, with substantial differences between the two treatments. Compared with the control, treatments with 100 ppm GA3 and 250 ppm M.C increased grain yield by 33% and 29.9%, respectively. The study concluded that the most effective therapy for improving maize growth, development, and output under salt stress was 100 ppm GA3 and 250 ppm M.C foliar application during the growth stages. Administering GA3 and M.C mitigated successfully the damage caused by salt stress. Under salinity, gibberellic acid and mepiquat chloride addition increased the growth of maize, chlorophyll content, soluble protein, proline, and the concentration of K⁺ ions while decreasing the oxidative stress and the accumulation of Na⁺ ions.

Keywords: maize, gibberellic acid (GA3), mepiquat chloride (M.C), salinity, biochemical parameters, yield, and oil content

Key findings: Administration of GA3 and M.C mitigated successfully the damage caused by salt stress. Under salinity stress, gibberellic acid (100 ppm) and mepiquat chloride (250 ppm) addition increased maize growth, chlorophyll content, soluble proteins, proline, and the concentration of K⁺ ions while decreasing the oxidative stress and the accumulation of Na⁺ ions.

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.