The diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) is one of the most severe pests for cruciferous crops. Its widespread distribution and the ability to submissive migration led to an unexpected enhancement in its population, thereby obscuring the control measures aimed at this phytophagous. The presented study sought to determine the expansion of diamondback moth in cruciferous crops (rapeseed, mustard) in two agroclimatic zones of Northern Kazakhstan (Zone I: moderately humid and warm; Zone II: slightly humid and moderately warm). Analysis of population dynamics ran for the long-term during 2012–2022 based on bioecological patterns of the diamondback moth and factors affecting them. Numerical variables of population density and abundance indices served as diagnostic predictors for characterizing the phase state of the pest in a given period and, therefore, recognizing the population dynamics pattern of the diamondback moth. Based on the results, the biological regularity of the stage inception of the phytophagous abundance dynamics does not always persevere, and variations occur with the sway of environmental factors. Hence, the abundance dynamics of diamondback moth depend upon the weather conditions of the previous and current year, as well as, on the accomplishment of the extent of chemical treatment and its regulations. The obtained data can be criteria for predicting the phase state of diamondback moth populations in the agroclimatic zones of northern Kazakhstan to justify and plan protective measures, as well as, to improve phytosanitary control.

Keywords: Diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella L.), phytosanitary monitoring, population dynamics, abundance index, protective measures, agroclimatic zones, Northern Kazakhstan

Key findings: The presented findings can help in improving the phytosanitary monitoring and forecasting of the diamondback moth, as well as, justify effective protective measures during the transition from massive pesticide treatments to preventive pest population management.

A maize (Zea mays L.) field experiment conducted during the crop season 2022 at the Experimental Farm, Al-Mahnawiya, Extension Training Center, Babylon, Iraq, sought to evaluate the water stress tolerance of four maize cultivars under different irrigation regimes. The experiment used a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with a split-plot arrangement and three replications. Four irrigation treatments comprised the main plots: full irrigation (control), no irrigation during elongation (Gs-V7), no irrigation during grain-filling (Gs-R2), and no irrigation during elongation and grain-filling (Gs-V7+R2). The subplots included four maize cultivars: Furat, Dijlah, ZP, and Konsens. Leaf area decreased by 1873.76 cm² plant^-1 during the elongation stage (Gs-V7) due to non-irrigation. Non-irrigation during elongation (Gs-V7) and both elongation and grain-filling (Gs-V7+R2) reduced rows per ear, grains per row, and 500-grain weight at 11.65 and 11.02 rows ear^-1, 26.77 and 23.23 grains row^-1, and 54.90 and 63.94 g, respectively. Withholding irrigation during the elongation stage (Gs- V7), the filling (Gs-R2), and the elongation and filling phases all had decreased grain output. The lack of irrigation during the elongation stage (Gs-V7) boosted the ZmMYBE1 gene expression in vegetative phases. However, irrigation suppression did not impact the ZmMYBE1 gene expression in reproductive stages. The cultivar Furat had the most rows (17.58) and grains per row (37.58), and the cultivar Konsens had the maximum mean of 500-grain weight (84.36 g).

Keywords: Maize (Zea mays L.), irrigation regimes, cultivars, gene expression, water-stress tolerance, grain yield, yield-contributing traits

Key findings: The study demonstrated the stimulation of the ZmMYBE1 gene expression in response to water scarcity. The study also revealed significant differences among the maize cultivars based on their ability to withstand stress, as evidenced by grain yield variations and their components.

A field experiment set out during the winter of 2022–2023 availed one of the Holy Kerbala Governorate’s agricultural experimental fields. The study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of some herbicides in controlling the wild radish weeds accompanying the wheat crop, as well as, diagnosing genetic mutations in the PDS gene responsible for resistance to herbicides in wild radish. The experiment employed a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with a split-plot arrangement and three replications. The main plots included five groups of wild radish seeds taken from five Iraqi Governorates, i.e., Najaf, Kerbala, Babel, Diwaniyah, and Wasit. The subplots contained four herbicides: Navigator, Tatsteler, Mark zone, and Decimate, in addition to the treatment of spraying with water only. Wild radish seeds serve for artificially infecting wheat seeds after field preparation. The study also measured wheat yield components, with the weeds appraised twice after 60 and 90 days of management. Genomic alterations in the PDS gene caused herbicide resistance in wild radish. The global herbicide-resistant cultivar has two missense mutations in codons 69 and 330 (TGT → TAT and CGT → GGT), encoding for Cys → Tyr and Arg → Gly. These alterations were identical in all weeds studied, but some Governorates had new mutations, such as, in the seeds of the Babylon Governorate’s weed. The evaluation of the efficiency of chemical pesticides comes after 60 and 90 days. Wild radish seeds in the targeted Governorates differed in all features. The herbicides Navigator and Decimate are vital in giving the best percentages of control and inhibition in wild radish weeds. Chemical herbicides have enhanced wheat production by eradicating weeds, specifically difficult ones. Genetic changes in wild radish weeds in wheat crops make some chemical herbicides less effective. Herbicide-resistant radish weed seeds are genetically mutated. Thus, herbicides can target gene variants and be diversified to prevent weed resistance.

Keywords: Triticum aestivum L., weeds resistance, gene inhibition PDS, chemical herbicide, Raphanus raphanistrum L.

Key findings: The Navigator herbicide eliminated wheat crop weeds better than other chemical herbicides, with 423.57 spike m², 15.09 tons ha^-1 biological yield, 5.83 tons ha^-1 grain yield, and 36.92 harvest index. Missense mutations in the target area make weeds herbicide-resistant.

In the presented study, isolation of bacterial strains, viz., Pantoea agglomerans, Priestia megaterium and phytopathogenic micromycetes that cause damage and eventually death of grape crops, came from a 10 to 15-year-old vine plantation. A Pantoea agglomerans gram-negative bacillus facultative and anaerobic bacterium strain achieved isolation from grape plants, with its morphological characteristics studied. Bacterial strains with antifungal activities against phytopathogenic micromycetes succeeded in their identification. Bacterial isolates collected from the vines underwent screening for their growth properties. It was apparent that Pantoea agglomerans actively grew wheat coleoptiles by 2.6 mm and maize coleoptiles by 2.3 mm compared with the control. Observable evidence also showed that sorghum coleoptile actively grew by 1.7 mm compared with the control treatment by 2.9 mm. The 26 Aspergillus sp., 23 Penicillium sp., 25 Fusarium sp., 30 Alternaria sp., and five Curvularia sp. phytopathogenic micromycetes belonging to the genus were notable. Bacterial strains isolated from the vine showed the highest antifungal activity against micromycetes belonging to the genus Penicillium and reduced the radius of phytopathogenic growth to 47–54 mm. Compared with micromycetes belonging to the genus Fusarium, it was also apparent that the pathogen reduced the growth radius to 27–35 mm. Isolation of phytopathogenic micromycetes from the vine allows early detection and prevention of grape diseases. Based on these studies, the identification of antifungal activity of the bacterial strains isolated from the vine and the presence of phytohormones in the culture fluid indicated that it is an essential and environmentally friendly biological tool in the cultivation of grapes for human consumption.

Keywords: Vitis vinifera L., grape, Pantoea agglomerans, Priestia megaterium, Lactobacillus plantarum, Aspergillus sp., Penicillium sp., Fusarium sp., Alternaria sp., Curvularia sp., microflora, phytohormone, antagonist, phytopathogen

Key findings: Disease-spreading phytopathogenic micromycetes belonging to the genera Fusarium, Penicillium, Alternaria, Curvularia, and Aspergillus spp. reached identification from infected grape organoids in the territory of Uzbekistan. Strains of Priestia megaterium and Pantoea agglomerans isolated from healthy grapevine gained genetic recognition and showed high antifungal activity against grapevine phytopathogens.

An investigation on soybean (Glycine max L.) commenced at the experimental field of the Institute of Genetics and Plant Experimental Biology, Academy of Sciences, Republic of Uzbekistan. The purposive study aimed to determine the effects of Fusarium solani phytopathogenic micromycetes on the physiological and biochemical composition of five soybean cultivars, viz., Sochilmas, Genetic-1, Nafis, Tomaris, and Baraka. The results revealed in the budding and flowering stages, the soybean cultivar leaves infected with F. solani showed decreased amounts of chlorophyll a and b compared with the healthy plants (control). In the control comparison against the soybean variants with phytopathogenic micromycetes, some soybean cultivars showed enhanced contents of carotenoids in the leaves, and others revealed a decline in carotenoids to varying degrees. The peroxidase enzyme activity was higher in soybean cultivars Tomaris and Nafis artificially infected with F. solani than the other cultivars. It was evident that the peroxidase enzyme activity under the influence of F. solani in the leaves of studied soybean cultivars increased by 20.76%, 43.6%, and 35.4%, respectively, in Baraka, Tomaris and Nafis cultivars. Results further indicated that under the influence and stressful conditions of F. solani, the activity of the polyphenol oxidase enzyme enhanced by 84.1% and 117.1%, respectively, in soybean cultivars Tomaris and Nafis. The phenylalanine-ammonia-lyase enzyme activity was also higher in the said cultivars with F. solani infection compared with the control. The earlier situation confirmed that the soybean plant leaves’ physiological and biochemical parameters are closely associated with the phytopathogenic micromycetes.

Keywords: Soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.), genotypes, chlorophyll, carotenoids, budding, flowering, pigment, enzyme, peroxidase, catalase

Key findings: The physio-biochemical defense system of the soybean exhibited the protective enzymes’ sharp increase in resistant genotypes, showing a significant resistance to the fungus F. solani. Therefore, the local soybean cultivars Tomaris and Nafis became the choices as resistant cultivars to F. solani that can serve as a base material to develop the soybean-resistant cultivars to fusariosis in future breeding programs.

A study on the Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon L.) materialized from February to October 2022 at the Department of Horticulture and Landscaping, College of Agriculture, University of Anbar, Iraq. The organic fertilizer Libro used comprised four concentrations (0, 1, 2, and 3 ml L^-1) and the growth retardant Paclobutrazol with three concentrations (0.00, 0.03, and 0.05 g²), with their interaction effects assessed on the vegetative, phenotypic, and chemical characteristics of Bermuda grass. All the 12 treatments had randomized complete block design (RCBD) arrangements, with three replications. The results showed that Bermuda grass with organic fertilizer Libro at a concentration of 3 ml L^-1 led to a significant increase in most vegetative growth and phenotypic and chemical characteristics. The number of vegetative branches, the percentage of chlorophyll and carbohydrates, and the degree of acceptability of quality and homogeneity emerged with 8.912 plant branches^-1, 19.129%, 30.892 mg g^-1, and 6.778, respectively. However, the rates of internode length and the number of mowing times decreased after treating the Bermuda grass with Paclobutrazol at 0.05 g² concentration, recorded with 5.840 mm and 2.000, respectively.

Keywords: Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon L.), organic fertilizer Libro, Paclobutrazol, vegetative growth, phenotypic and chemical characteristics

Key findings: The results revealed that Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon L.) applied with organic fertilizer Libro (3 ml L^-1) exhibited a significant increase in vegetative branches, the percentage of chlorophyll and carbohydrates, and the degree of acceptability of quality and homogeneity, with recorded values of 8.912 plant branches^-1, 19.129%, 30.892 mg g^-1, and 6.778, respectively. The rates of interphalangeal lengths and the number of shearing times decreased after treating the Bermuda grass with Paclobutrazol (0.05 g²), recorded with 5.840 mm and 2.000, respectively.

Cercospora leaf spot disease on lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) caused losses in Tabanan Regency, Bali, Indonesia. Cercospora leaf spot in lettuce results from the pathogenic fungi Cercospora canescens. The preventive research aimed to identify the fungi on the morphological and molecular basis by using universal primers for PCR of ITS 1 and ITS 4. The study used Koch’s Postulates method to isolate the pathogenic fungal isolates from lettuce plants and test for pathogenicity. Identification of fungi continued macroscopically, microscopically, and molecularly. The macroscopic and microscopic observations showed that the cause of cercospora leaf spot on lettuce is the fungal disease caused by pathogenic fungi Cercospora spp. The isolate creates a dull white and robust mycelium structure, sideways growth, branched and septate hyphae, branched conidiophores, and dark lanceolate conidia. Through molecular identification, it helped recognize that fungi Cercospora canescens isolate Cer11-18 (Accession Number: MN400290.1) is the foremost cause of a withered lettuce crop. It is also the first research on the cercospora leaf spot disease on lettuce caused by Cercospora spp. in Tabanan Regency, Bali, Indonesia.

Keywords: Cercospora canescens, DNA barcoding, lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), leaf spot disease, molecular study

Key findings: This research identified the pathogenic fungi Cercospora canescens being a prime cause of the cercospora leaf spot disease on lettuce crops morphologically and molecularly.

A current study assessed the leaf anatomical and molecular characteristics of eight species of the genus Euphorbia (Euphorbiaceae), i.e., E. craspedia Boiss, E. denticulate Lam., E. falcate L., E. hirta L., E. helioscopia L., E. peplus L., E. kansuensis L., and E. macroclada Boiss ,collected from several districts of the Middle and Northern Iraq. The anatomical result refers to a uniseriate epidermis (single layer), except for the species E. kansuensis and E. peplus, wherein the upper epidermis recorded a variable thickness among the species. The highest epidermis thickness (28 μm) was visible in the species E. falcata, while the mean decreased to 17 μm in the species E. helioscopia. Based on the anatomical attributes, further species groupings resulted in two. In the first group, the leaf’s cross-section was unifacial, with the palisade tissues on both sides of the blade. This group included E. hirta, E. peplus, E. macroclada, and E. denticulata. Contrastingly, the second group has a bifacial leaf, with the mesophyll distinguished as palisade and spongy. The said group comprised the E. craspedia and E. helioscopia species. In the genus Euphorbia species, the study of the genetic relationship continued according to the sequencing method of rbcl and matk genes. The results revealed that most species samples showed light bands, characterized by their intensity ranging from 800 to 1000 bp. The highest recorded genetic affinity through the rbcl gene emerged in E. denticulata and E. kansuensis, whereas the lowest was in E. macroclada and E. hirta. Based on matk gene results, the highest genetic affinity observed resulted in the species E. kansuensis and E. denticulata with an average value of 0.0160, with the lowest recorded in the species E. helioscopia and E. peplus with a value of 0.1307.

Keywords: Euphorbia, taxonomy, leaf anatomical traits, rbcl and matk genes sequencing

Key findings: Taxonomic Study, including molecular and anatomy of leaves and anatomical characteristics’ molecular diagnosis, used the rbcl and matk genes to distinguish the eight species of the genus Euphorbia L. (Euphorbiaceae) that grows in the central and northern areas of Iraq. Based on anatomical and genetic similarities and differences, the study results classified the species into various groups.

Banana (Musa acuminata) is a tropical fruit plant vigorously growing in Southeast Asia, particularly Indonesia. Despite its prevalence in different Musa acuminata cultivars, the LCYB gene expression and morphological and physiological traits remain unexplored. Therefore, the presented study sought to examine the manifestation of the LCYB gene and analyze various morphophysiological features. The promising research focused on probing the five cultivars of banana, specifically M. acuminata var. breviformis, M. acuminata var. tomentosa, M. acuminata var. malaccensis (Ridl.), M. acuminata var. microcarpa (Becc.), and M. acuminata var. rutilifers. The morphological observations revealed these cultivars have no prominent distinctions in stem size, fruit characteristics, banana blossom, and leaf traits. Remarkably, cultivar Rutilifers showed the highest carotenoid and total chlorophyll content levels. Inversely, the banana cultivars Breviformis and Microcarpa exhibited comparatively lower contents of physiological parameters than the other cultivars. Likewise, by analyzing the LCYB gene expression, it was evident that the cultivar Tomentosa displayed the superior level, followed by the cultivar Malaccensis. Conversely, the cultivar Microcarpa exhibited the lowest LCYB gene expression. To summarize the results, the applicable study enunciated a significant relationship between the LCYB gene expression and the chlorophyll and carotenoid contents across the various banana cultivars.

Keywords: Banana (Musa acuminata) cultivars, chlorophyll and carotenoid content, LCYB gene expression, Musa acuminata, Tomentosa

Key findings: LCYB gene expression and morphophysiological traits significantly differed among Musa acuminata Indonesian local cultivars.

Maize incurs many diseases, but stalk rot has badly influenced the crop yield. A pathologist, extension worker, or experienced farmer can only identify susceptible stalks to determine the accurate application of fungicide to the crop. It is rigorous for the farmers of developing countries to hire them in time. Moreover, a variation in the views of professionals leads to incorrect findings. In this manuscript, pathologists’ discoveries have become a standard to compare the farmer’s detections with an intelligent-based model. The Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) employment sought to identify the resistant and susceptible stalk against stalk rot. The Maize and Millet Research Institute Yousafwala, Sahiwal, was the chosen field for experimentation. Gathering resistant and vulnerable images from maize germplasm, having local origins, progressed via a smartphone. The CNN architecture’s exploration classified the images into two resistant and susceptible classes. The P value (0.00001) calculated by the Chi-square method for resistant and predisposed groups showed highly significant results. An 83.88% achieved accuracy came from the CNN, while 49.5% of the accuracy resulted from the farmer. Recording recall ratio and precision of 0.766 and 0.896 occurred for resistant, and 0.911 and 0.796 were the recordings for susceptible classes by deep learning technique, respectively. The proposed approach is an influential source of detection of resistant lines against stalk rot disease by minimizing the need for pathologists, extension workers, or experienced farmers. It will help farmers to identify the quantity of fungicide against stalk rot and explore lines for resistant breeding programs.

Keywords: Extension worker, disease, CNN, deep learning

Key findings: The proposed model identified the resistant lines against stalk rot more accurately, benefiting breeding programs for improving existing high-yielding varieties.