The genus Aegilops L. native species, especially Aegilops tauschii, are important sources of numerous beneficial traits that are applicable as donors in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) improvement. In this regard, the genetic diversity study of 23 local populations of Ae. Tauschii, collected from the southeastern region (Samarkand, Urgut, and Kitab districts) of Uzbekistan, became the presented research’s aim, using nine SSR markers and morphometric traits. The SSR analysis amplified 32 alleles, with an average of 3.55 alleles per locus. The average polymorphism information content (PIC) was 0.447, ranging from 0.163 to 0.599, and the expected heterozygosity (He) varied, from 0.007 to 1.557, with an average of 0.850. Genetic distance (GD) indices based on five of nine SSR markers ranged from 0 to 0.789, with a mean of 0.669. The greatest genetic similarity was notable between populations from the Samarkand and Urgut districts (0.789), while the least was evident between the populations of the Samarkand and Kitab districts (0.560). Based on molecular analysis of nine SSR markers, the most informative ones (PIC > 0.5) showed distinction, beneficial to develop genetic passports and determine the genetic homogeneity of local species in Ae. tauschii.

Keywords: local ecotypes Ae. tauschii, PCR analysis, genetic diversity, DNA microsatellite loci, clustering, heterozygosity, genetic similarity

Key findings: A collection of 23 local accessions of Ae. tauschii showed characteristics of a higher level of genetic diversity. Based on molecular analysis, the SSR markers (WSP130, WSP192, and WSP513) occurred highly informative to benefit in developing genetic passports to determine the homogeneity of local species in genus Aegilops L.

Although CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing has become a common technology in gene manipulation, its application to commercial crop species still needs the development of methodology for generating transgene-free genome-edited plants. The transient expression of morphogenesis inducer, ipt, typically stimulates shoot formation and, thus, serves as a positive selection marker in different plant species. Employing a conditional negative selection maker, DAO1, combined with ipt, sought to streamline the screening of transgene-free genome-edited plants. We first generated transgenic tobacco lines expressing DAO1 encoding D-amino acid oxidase, which reportedly conditions the resistance to a few toxic D-amino acids and the sensitivity to some non-toxic D-amino acids, and chose appropriate selection agents. The negative selection condition optimization with different DAO1 tobacco lines became applicable to test the efficiency of genome editing mediated by the transient expression of CRISPR/Cas9. The negative selection with 10 mM D-valine reduced the number of vigorously growing shoots, resulting in enriching transgene-free shoots. This method allowed for the isolation of transgene-free, genome-edited plants with 1.5 times greater efficiency. Our strategy, which combines ipt-mediated shoot formation with the conditional negative selection marker DAO1, can be functional in other crop species to enhance the precision and applicability of genome editing in various plant species.

Keywords: CRISPR/Cas9, transgene-free, genome editing, morphogenesis inducer, negative selection marker

Key findings: We optimized a methodology for generating transgene-free genome-edited plants using CRISPR/Cas9 by combining the transient expression of the morphogenesis inducer ipt with the conditional negative selection marker DAO1. The introduction of DAO1 in tobacco lines allowed us to identify and apply the appropriate selection agents, with 10 mM D-valine effectively reducing the number of vigorously growing shoots. This approach successfully enriched the population of transgene-free shoots, demonstrating the efficiency of the developed selection system.

In Kazakhstan, barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) grains are mainly for feed, food, and materials for brewing industries. Given the development of livestock farming and the processing industry, the Republics of Central Asia and Transcaucasia, Kazakhstan, are prime producers of grain crops used as feed. Similarly, a greater demand for barley grains is prevalent in countries like Iran, Turkey, and UAE. The presented study sought to assess the genetic potential of newly developed and promising winter barley cultivars, adaptive to specific zones and widely adaptable cultivars for cultivation in spacious areas. Climate change caused instability and a decline in yields; hence, stabilizing grain production over crop seasons and locations is one of the chief issues. The role of selection in local cultivars enhanced significantly; however, a conventional introduction cannot combat the negative influence of limiting environmental factors specific to particular zones. Therefore, developing highly productive and competitive barley cultivars adapted to local ecological conditions is highly relevant. The result of scientific research for 2020–2023 recognized 10 new barley cultivars for competitive varietal testing based on economically valuable traits.

Keywords: Winter barley (H. vulgare L.), high-yielding cultivars, climate change, temperature, precipitation, phenology, growing seasons, grain yield and quality, protein, starch

Key findings: The results revealed a weak relationship between the grain yield and quality indicators like starch and protein in winter barley (H. vulgare L.). The winter barley yield bears considerable influences from weather conditions, especially during the heading-ripening phase in Southeast Kazakhstan.

Estimation of genetic diversity is vital in sunflower breeding. Principal component analysis (PCA) is one of the best statistical approaches to study diversity among genotypes by using eigenvalue and PC-1/PC-2 based-biplots. An experiment commenced at the College of Agriculture, University of Sargodha, Pakistan to find out the diversity in 28 sunflower hybrids and select stable hybrids for normal and terminal heat-stress conditions. Growing sunflower hybrids in randomized complete block design had three replications. Under normal condition, sunflower hybrid sowing ensued in February 2019, while to check the effect of terminal stress, growing these hybrids transpired at the end of March 2019. The collected data of seven morpho-phenological traits underwent the principal component analysis, found greater than one for the first three and four PCs under normal conditions. In terminal stress environments, these respectively exposed the presence of ample genetic variation among sunflower hybrids in both environments. Bi-plot analysis signified that SF-18100, SF-18045, and SF-19025 were stable hybrids for most studied traits under normal sowing environment. Meanwhile, the performance of SF-18035 and SF-19010 proved better under the heat-stress environment for studied traits. Hence, these hybrids showed better adaptability under the current scenario of climate change.

Keywords: Sunflower (H. annuus L.), diversity, PCA, eigenvalue, genetic variability, phonological traits, biplot

Key findings: Heat stress negatively affects sunflower (H. annuus L.) crop growth, leading to lower achene yield and oil content. However, the sunflower hybrids SF-18100, SF-18045, SF-19012, and SF-19025 performed better than the rest for achene yield and yield-contributing traits under normal and heat stress environments, making them suitable for sunflower breeding programs and general cultivation.

Currently, about 50 known phytopathogenic viruses infect maize worldwide; however, the maize dwarf mosaic virus (MDMV) is the most common. Studies on the effects of MDMV have progressed in the experimental fields of the Chirchik State Pedagogical University, Tashkent, Uzbekistan. In the latest research, seven different maize (Zea mays L.) cultivars received mechanical inoculation of viral sap. After infection, symptoms of a viral disease appeared 4–5 days later. A specific anti-serum, obtained by immunological method, served to diagnose the MDMV. The virus infection rate in 2020 was 47%, but in 2023, after using the developed control measures, it was 23%. Different maize genotypes, selected for the study, came from the genetic bank of the Scientific Research Institute of Plant Genetic Resources. According to the results, under the influence of MDMV, the number of cobs reduced by 50%, the length of cob decreased by 43.21%, the number of grains per cob decreased by 30.43%, and 1000-grain weight declined by 28.6%. In maize healthy genotypes, the average protein content was 3.5%, while in infected samples the said ratio was 2.5% and that decreased by 1.00%.

Keywords: Maize (Zea mays L.), cultivars, maize dwarf mosaic virus (MDMV), distribution, phytoviruses, yield-related traits, productivity, plant diseases

Key findings: The results revealed considerable effects of MDMV on yield-related traits and productivity of different maize (Z. mays L.) genotypes.

Characterization using molecular markers is not influenced by environmental factors; hence, it can provide an accurate picture of kinship relationships between species and distant relatives. The presented research aims to determine the genetic diversity and kinship relationship among 12 local Balinese maize (Zea mays L.) accessions, resulting from the exploration of one drought-resistant and high-yielding maize cultivar (Lamuru) with simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. The DNA amplification carried out by the study used a BIO-RAD T100 PCR instrument. The calculation of 10 SSR markers information utilized the iMEC online software, with the data analyzed using NTSYS 2.02 software to produce a dendrogram (phylogenetic analysis). The dendrogram development engaged the Jaccard similarity coefficient and the UPGMA clustering method. After studying their genetic profiles, the local Balinese maize accessions were genetically diverse. Assessing 12 local Balinese maize accessions and one superior cultivar revealed locations at a Jaccard similarity coefficient of 0.28 to 0.65. Maize accession Putih Bayung Gede (Karo) was the most distinct genotype, separating at a coefficient of 0.28. The separation of two other maize accessions, Berondong Lokal, and Kuning/Panes Daup, from the other 10 maize genotypes had a coefficient of 0.35. Accession Ketan Belok Sidan had the most similar DNA profile to the high-yielding maize cultivar, Lamuru, with a similarity coefficient of 0.65.

Keywords: Maize (Z. mays L.), dendrogram, exploration, genetic diversity, Jaccard similarity coefficient, kinship relationships

Key findings: Local Balinese maize (Z. mays L.) accessions occurred highly diverse regarding their genetic profile. Twelve local Balinese maize accessions, i.e., Lokal Landih, Barak Bayung Gede, Putih Bayung Gede (Karo), Lokal Bangli, Barak Keliki Kintamani, Pengootan, Berondong Lokal, Kuning/Panes Daup, Injin Daup, Bali Malet Gusti, Barak Belok Sidan, and Ketan Belok Sidan and one high-yielding and drought-resistant cultivar (Lamuru) underwent evaluation, and they laid between Jaccard similarity coefficients of 0.28 and 0.65.

The experiment proceeded in the Telafer site during the year 2022, with two seasons (spring and autumn) to study two maize (Zea mays L.) cultivars (Furat and Dijla) and eight levels of fertilizers (control treatment, 120 kg N₁₅P₁₅K₁₅ ha^-1 of traditional compound fertilizer, 1.5 and 3 g liter^-1 of N₂₀P₂₀K₂₀ nano fertilizer, 1 and 2 ml liter^-1 of Optimum Plus organic fertilizer, 1.5g liter^-1 of N₂₀P₂₀K₂₀ nano fertilizer + 1 ml liter^-1 of organic fertilizer, and 3 g liter^-1 of N₂₀P₂₀K₂₀ nano fertilizer + 2ml liter^-1 of organic fertilizer) on yield traits of the maize grain. The research employed a randomized complete block design (RCBD) using the s p li t-pl o t system, with the cultivars placed in the main plots, and the fertilizers in the secondary plots. Results indicated that the Furat cultivar excelled in all yield trai t s in the two seasons, except for the weight of the cob and the w e ig h t of 500 g r a i n s in the autumn season; cultivar Dijla was superior in the biological yield for the two seasons. As for the fertilizers, the treatment 2ml L^-1 of the organic fertilizer achieved the highest rate in all studied traits for both seasons, except for the traits cob weight and biological yield, where the treatment was superior in 3 g L^-1 of the N₂₀P₂₀K₂₀ nanofertilizer. The interaction showed significant differences in all studied traits of maize in both seasons.

Keywords: Maize (Zea mays L.), cultivars, organic fertilizer, NPK, nano fertilizer, foliar application, grain yield

Key findings: The possibility of replacing costly and field-strained ground fertilization with cheaper and more efficient foliar fertilization to grain yield and its components and its reflection on productivity and the maize (Zea mays L.) cultivars significantly impacted these traits.

A laboratory experiment studied the effects of the green tea (Camellia sinensis L.) aqueous extract at concentrations of 10, 20, and 30 ppm on the germination and growth traits of the mung bean (Vigna radiata L.), carried out in 2021 at the Department of Biology, College of Education for Pure Sciences, Ibn Al-Haitham, University of Baghdad, Iraq. The results showed that Camellia sinensis green tea extracts played a vital role by significantly boosting all the examined characteristics compared with the control treatment. The aqueous extract of Green tea at concentrations of 10 and 20 ppm gave the best performance in increasing germination rates, germination speed, plant promoter indicator, and seedling strength compared with the control treatment. Meanwhile, the concentration of 30 ppm indicated a significant increase in the shoot length, root system, carbohydrates, proteins, proline, superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT) compared with other concentrations used and control treatment.

Keywords: Mung bean (Vigna radiata L.), green tea (Camellia sinensis L.) extract, germination, growth traits, antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, catalase, carbohydrates, proteins, proline

Key findings: Using natural environmentally friendly materials ,They do not have aharmful effect on humans ,they contain antioxidants.

The Temporary Immersion System (TIS) Bioreactor’s performance in cultivation for several commercial potato cultivars became the prevailing study’s review focus. The experiment in a split-plot design had two factors. The first factor comprised the type of culture system (conventional and TIS Bioreactor) treatment used as main plots. The second factor was the four potato cultivars (Atlantic Malang, Dayang Sumbi, Granola L., and Maglia) used as subplots. The TIS Bioreactor culture has the highest average in all studied variables compared with conventional cultures at the multiplication stage. In the TIS Bioreactor, potato cultivar Dayang Sumbi excelled in the number of axillary branching and number of primary roots. At the same time, genotype Granola L. surpassed the height of the plantlets of other cultivars. Meanwhile, the cultivar Atlantic Malang shone in the number of nodes, with Maglia in the number of leaves. Using the TIS Bioreactor produces microshoots with more nodes and can be beneficial as a propagation organ. The Dayang Sumbi cultivar was superior to all other potato cultivars.

Keywords: Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), cultivars, conventional in vitro, TIS Bioreactor, microshoots, axillary shoots, number of nodes

Key findings: The Temporary Immersion System (TIS) Bioreactor can be advantageous as an alternative to the cultivation system to maximize the productivity of plantlets and microtubers of several potato cultivars, which is beneficial. The success of increasing the axillary branching and the number of internodes through the TIS system will encourage an increase in the production of microshoots as one of the primary seed sources.

The prevailing study aimed to determine the effects of organic fertilizer Libro with four concentrations (0, 1, 2, and 3 ml L^-1) and the growth retardant Cultar with three concentrations (0, 0.03, and 0.05 mg L^-1) on Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon L.) in a randomized complete block design (RCBD), carried out in 2022 at the University of Anbar, Iraq. The results revealed that the treatment of plants with organic fertilizer Libro at a concentration of 3 ml L^-1 led to a significant increase in most of the vegetative growth characteristics represented by the plant density rate, nitrogen, phosphorus, color degree, and the degree of trampling tolerance 2.500, respectively. The treatment with a growth retardant represented by Cultar reduced cutting times to 2.000.

Keywords: Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon L.), organic fertilizer, Cultar, Libro, biochemical traits

Key findings: The results showed that organic fertilizer Libro at a concentration of 3 ml L^-1 led to a significant increase in most vegetative growth characteristics, viz., plant density rate, nitrogen, phosphorus, color degree, and the trampling tolerance degree of Bermuda grass. The growth retardant Cultar reduced the number of cutting times.