BACKGROUND:Apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) is a nutritionally valuable subtropical fruit with high economic importance; however, being highly perishable limits its marketability and profitability. Sustainable preharvest management strategies are essential to enhance fruit quality and resilience to environmental stress. Therefore, a research study was conducted for two consecutive years (2022-2023) using a 4 × 4 factorial randomized complete block design. Apricot fruit trees were applied with four potassium silicate (PS) concentrations (0, 1, 3, and 5 mL L-1) and four glycine treatments (0, 400, 600, and 800 mg L-1), at the fruit set and pit hardening stages. RESULTS:Results showed that moderate PS at 3 mL L-1 with 600-800 mg L-1 glycine significantly improved fruit weight (78%), volume (55%), and yield per plant- (32.8 kg; a 64% increase over the control), while reducing the number of fruits per kilogram by 13%, indicating larger average fruit size. Preharvest decay was reduced by approximately 60%, alongside improvements in firmness (by 100%) over the control, total soluble solids (TSS; 16-19%), TSS-acid ratio (64%), juice pH (0.65 units), and sugar accumulation, compared with control treatment. Antioxidant activity increased by 37%, flavonoids by 51%, proline by 116%, and catalase and peroxidase activities by 22%. Principal component analysis identified 3 mL L-1 PS with 600 mg L-1 glycine as the most effective combination. CONCLUSION:These findings demonstrate that the synergistic preharvest application of PS and glycine has enhanced apricot yield, fruit quality, and storability, offering an eco-friendly alternative to conventional chemical treatments. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.

Stored grain losses caused by insect infestation pose a serious threat to food security, particularly in developing countries. The red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum, is a major pest responsible for significant quantitative and qualitative damage to stored products. The present study evaluated the insecticidal and repellent effects of aqueous extracts of neem (Azadirachta indica), black pepper (Piper nigrum), garlic (Allium sativum), and clove (Syzygium aromaticum) under laboratory conditions using a completely randomized design with three replications. The efficacy of the botanical extracts was assessed based on mortality, repellency, oviposition deterrence, and grain weight loss. Mortality increased with exposure time, with neem showing the highest mortality (28%) after 72 hours, followed by black pepper (20%), garlic (14%), and clove (11%). Repellency peaked at 48 hours, where neem exhibited maximum repellency (73%), followed by black pepper (60%), garlic (50%), and clove (30%). Oviposition was significantly affected by treatments, with neem showing the lowest oviposition (32.33%), followed by black pepper (45%), garlic (55%), and clove (60%), compared to the control (92.33%). Similarly, grain weight loss was minimized in neem-treated samples (2.13 g) compared to the control (8.53 g). Overall, the results demonstrate that botanical extracts, particularly neem, significantly reduce insect survival, reproduction, and grain damage, highlighting their potential as environmentally safe alternatives for the management of stored grain pests.

Climate change needs to raise crop security applications while introducing highly productive cultivars resistant to abiotic stresses. Grafted plants could be more vigorous and healthier due to an ample supply of water and nutrients through rootstocks that modify their development. The deep penetration ability and adaptability to the existing environment are of key importance for rootstock. These are the significant reasons why all the researchers struggle to introduce bred rootstocks which can encourage scion growth and efficiency under harsh environments, regulating stomatal conductance and water conservation. A research experiment on rootstock-scion success in commercial grapevine cultivars (Sugraone, King Ruby and Thompson Seedless) enhanced by kinetin concentrations (0, 75, 150 and 225 mg L− 1) was carried out using Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) having two factors and a combination of twelve treatments replicated three times to study the growth and physiological responses of grape scions. The highest graft success was recorded (60.00

The use of novel germplasm in hybridization programs offers crop breeders a valuable opportunity to explore the potential of heterosis for key agronomic traits. This study aimed to evaluate the extent of heterosis for maturity and yield traits using new pea accessions in hybridization. The experimental material consisted of 56 F1 pea hybrids obtained by crossing the parents (UAP-7, UAP-35, UAP-47, UAP-32, UAP-29, UAP-31, Green Gold, and Leena Pak) in all possible combinations. The F1 cross UAP-47 × UAP-29 demonstrated the highest metrics for seeds per pod (12.3), 100-green seed weight (g), 100-green pod weight (g), and green pod yield (tons ha−1). Similarly, the F1 hybrids Green Gold × UAP-47 and UAP-29 × UAP-47 exhibited the greatest pod length (cm) and pods per plant (66.0), respectively. The most noteworthy negative better-parent heterosis (−30.9

Nineteen maize genotypes were studied to examine presence and extent of divergence related to green fodder yield and contributing traits using correlation and Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Eight different traits were considered in this study using Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications at the research farm of Fodder Research Institute, Sargodha. It was revealed that significant amount of variation was present among studied genotypes with respect to green fodder yield and related traits. While studying correlation, it was evident that green fodder yield exhibited noteworthy positive association with leaf area (cm2), No. of leaves/ plant and Plant height (cm) while robust negative associations of green fodder yield (t/ha) was observed with no. of dead hearts. The results of principal component analysis depicted that only three of eight principal components have showed eigen value greater than one contributing 89.0 % towards total variation. However, green fodder yield (42.6%) followed by Plant height (41.9%), No. of leaves/ plant (32.2%) and inter nodal distance (12.3%) has supreme positive impact while No. of dead hearts has maximum negative impact (-40.6%) towards variation in PC 1. As evident from biplot and score plot the traits Green fodder yield(t/ha), Plant Height, Leaf area and No. of leaves/ plant are strongly associated with each other and the genotypes MS-09-24, MS-10-24, MS-02-23, MS-08-24, MS-07-24, MS-08-23, MS-05-23, Super green maize and MS-07-23 showed supreme potential for these characters. Therefore, considering selection of genotypes for green fodder yield and its related traits, PC 1 would be the best option and above mentioned genotypes may be considered in future breeding programmes to boost biomass yield of fodder maize.

Optimizing the growth and productivity of Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.), a valuable medicinal plant, is essential for maximizing its commercial and medicinal value. In this regard, an experiment was conducted to study the "Effects of sowing dates and salicylic acid concentrations on growth and production of Roselle" at Ornamental Nursery, The University of Agriculture, Peshawar, Pakistan. The experiment was performed in a randomized complete block design with a split-plot arrangement. Treatments were replicated three times. The experiment was comprised of two factors: factor (A) was different sowing dates i.e., 21st April, 1st May, 11th May, 21st May, and 31st May, and was assigned to the main plot, while factor (B) was salicylic acid concentrations at the rate of 0, 150, 200 and 250 mg L−1 which was subjected to subplot. Results showed that sowing dates and SA concentrations significantly (p ≤ 0.05) affected all measured variables, including days to flowering, plant height, number of leaves plant⁻1, number of branches plant⁻1, leaf area, stem diameter, number of calyces plant⁻1, fresh and dry calyx weight, and 1000-seed weight, whereas their interaction was not significant. Early sowing (21 April) and SA application at 250 mg L⁻1 individually produced the highest values for all growth and yield traits. Based on these findings, early sowing combined with foliar application of 250 mg L⁻1 SA is recommended to improve roselle growth and productivity under the agro-climatic conditions of the Peshawar valley.

Cuticular wax is barley's first line of defense against nonstomatal water loss under drought, and the classical wax biosynthesis pathway from very-long-chain fatty acid elongation through the alkane-forming and β-diketone branches, transcriptionally coordinated by the SHINE-family regulator HvWIN1 was comprehensively reviewed alongside its wheat counterpart in 2022. Since that review, however, a distinct and largely unanticipated regulatory layer has emerged. Barley TILLING mutants in the small subunit of the nuclear cap-binding complex, CBP20, show markedly increased epicuticular wax deposition, faster stomatal closure, and improved water retention under drought apparently through post-transcriptional control of alkane-forming pathway genes rather than through the canonical HvWIN1-mediated transcriptional route. Follow-up studies in 2024 and 2025 have extended this finding to ABA sensitivity during seed germination and to distinct, stage-specific roles for the CBP20 and CBP80 subunits during reproductive development. This review synthesizes the classical barley wax biosynthesis pathway, updates it with this post-2022 cap-binding complex literature, and proposes an integrated model in which the nuclear cap-binding complex acts as a post-transcriptional checkpoint intersecting ABA signaling and the canonical wax biosynthesis transcriptional network. We identify the mechanistic relationship between these two regulatory layers as the central open question for future barley drought-tolerance breeding.

Tomato fruit worm, Helicoverpa. armigera (Noctuidae: Lepidoptera), has been identified as the most harmful and destructive insect pest of tomato crop. Mass rearing of this insect is necessary to obtain enough culture for conducting different bioassays i.e., to screen insecticides as tools for insect pest management under laboratory conditions. For this purpose, five artificial diets were prepared by substituting basic ingredients as flour of chickpea, mung bean, soybean, maize and common bean and tested for biological parameters of H. armigera compared with natural food i.e., okra fruit. The current study was conducted in the Laboratory of Plant Protection Division Nuclear Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Peshawar, Pakistan. The investigations revealed that chickpea flour based-diet produced healthy larvae and pupae that completed development within the minimum duration of 12.7 and 10.5 days, respectively, while artificial diets based on maize and common bean flour increased larval and pupal duration up to 17.5 and 13.4 days, respectively. Likewise, the minimum and maximum larval length of full-grown larvae ranged from 34.2 to 29.8 mm was recorded on common bean flour-based diet and chickpea flour-based diet, respectively. Mortality of larvae was maximum (20%) on natural okra diet. However, mortality was minimum (4%) on chickpea flour-based diet. Percent male and female emergence was varied in all treatments. Apparently maximum adult emergence of 86% was achieved on natural diet, followed by chickpea (83%), soybean (80.3 %), common bean (78%), mung bean (82%) flour based artificial diets while minimum of 68% was recorded on maize flour-based diet. Longevity of adults ranged from 7.6 to 9.4 days in males and 10.2 to 13.3 days in females were recorded among all tested diets. Pre-oviposition, oviposition, postoviposition, fertility and fecundity were also found better in chickpea flour based artificial diet. The male to female sex ratio obtained after feeding the larvae on different diets differ significantly and was found maximum (1:1.8) on chickpea and minimum (1:1.4) on common bean flour-based diet. Therefore, it is concluded from the findings that chickpea flour-based diet is very conducive to maintain good quality culture of H. armigera. Moreover, mung bean and soybean flour-based diets can also be used for successful rearing of H. armigera.

Fruit quality assessment has advanced considerably with the development of imaging technologies and computational data analysis. Conventional evaluation methods are often destructive, labor-intensive, and unsuitable for rapid industrial implementation. Hyperspectral imaging (HSI) has emerged as a powerful nondestructive technique that simultaneously acquires spatial and spectral information across continuous wavelength bands, enabling comprehensive characterization of fruit tissues. By integrating imaging and spectroscopy within a single spectral–spatial framework, HSI allows simultaneous evaluation of both internal and external quality attributes. HSI has been widely applied to predict and classify key parameters, including firmness, soluble solids content (SSC), total soluble solids (TSS), acidity, moisture content, bruising, contamination, chilling injury, and maturity stage, across diverse horticultural commodities. However, the high dimensionality and multicollinearity of hyperspectral datasets require advanced chemometric strategies for effective interpretation. The integration of spectral preprocessing methods, wavelength selection algorithms, and regression or classification models, including Partial Least Squares Regression (PLSR), Support Vector Machines (SVM), and artificial neural networks, enhances prediction accuracy while reducing data redundancy and computational burden. This review synthesizes the principles of HIS, mechanisms of light–tissue interaction, system configurations, and chemometric modeling techniques for efficient fruit quality assessment. Current applications, industrial relevance, and existing challenges are critically discussed. Although limitations related to cost, calibration transfer, and real-time processing remain, ongoing advancements in artificial intelligence, multispectral optimization, and automated grading technologies are expected to accelerate the practical adoption of integrated hyperspectral–chemometric systems in precision horticulture and postharvest quality management.

Year-round strawberry production is achievable by combining advanced forcing techniques, suitable cultivars (low-chilling or day-neutral), and optimized environmental controls. These strategies extend the growing season, enhance productivity, and enable continuous out-of-season cultivation. Garden strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) is one of the most widely produced and consumed fruit crops worldwide, valued for its distinctive flavor, aroma, and nutritional benefits. Year-round production of garden strawberry is an emerging goal for global horticulture, but traditional, season-bound cultivars limit availability and market continuity. Recent advances in forcing culture techniques, combined with the adoption of low-chilling and day-neutral cultivars, now support continuous strawberry harvests beyond conventional seasons. This review synthesizes key developments in forcing culture across major Japanese and European production systems, focusing on photoperiod and temperature regulation, optimized cultivar selection, and regional adaptations. By extending harvest windows, these strategies help stabilize supply chains and improve grower profitability. The physiological basis of floral induction and cultivar responses is examined to reveal practical, climate-resilient pathways for sustainable strawberry cultivation. Challenges remain in labor efficiency, resource sustainability, and adapting forcing protocols to local environments. Future research should integrate genetic, environmental, and technological innovations, including genetic markers for forcing responsiveness and automated environmental controls, to ensure reliable, high-quality year-round yields. Expanding forcing culture holds promise for stabilizing production, enhancing fruit quality, and supporting sustainable livelihoods amid climate variability and growing global demand.

Horticulture crops face stresses that threaten their productivity and survival, making it imperative to unravel the underlying molecular and biochemical mechanisms governing their multi-stress responses. This investigation provides insights into the molecular and biochemical methodologies used to comprehend and control multi-stress responses in horticulture crops. This review explores the critical factors involved in addressing abiotic stress responses, the mechanisms by which plants sense and respond to abiotic stress conditions, the identification of candidate genes for drought and salt stress tolerance, the use of promoters for constitutive gene expression, molecular mechanisms of transcription factors in countering abiotic stress and the function of proteins in stress response. Transcriptional regulation involves controlling gene expression by binding transcription factors to certain DNA regions. Post-translational regulation encompasses alterations after protein synthesis, including phosphorylation or acetylation, which can potentially modify protein function. Epigenetic modification control refers to alterations in gene expression patterns that could be passed down across generations without any modifications to the DNA sequence itself. Gaining comprehension of these molecular and biochemical pathways is essential for formulating sustainable approaches to augment stress resilience in horticulture crops. By clarifying the mechanisms that drive stress responses and pinpointing crucial genes and proteins involved, scientists have investigated possibilities for genetic influence and biotechnological interventions to enhance the ability of crops to withstand adverse conditions. The study seeks to strengthen sustainable agricultural practices and ensure food security, particularly in changing climate scenarios.

Plants contain a ubiquitous group of proteins called germin-like proteins that belong to the cupin superfamily. These proteins are known to be expressed in response to biotic and abiotic stress. This study analyzed the expression behavior of rice germin-like protein genes, OsGLP12-3, OsGLP8-12, and OsGLP9-3, in response to abscisic acid and drought stresses using in vitro and silico tools, highlighting their mechanisms in plant defense. In vitro experiments involved the surface sterilization of seeds from the rice cultivar Nipponbare, which were then grown hydroponically on sterile MS media under light conditions. Total RNA was extracted from leaves subjected to drought and abscisic acid stress at intervals of 1, 2, 3, 5, and 10 h, followed by reverse transcription to synthesize cDNA. Expression analysis of the genes OsGLP8-12, OsGLP9-3, and OsGLP12-3 revealed varying levels of induction. In silico investigations identified three unique clusters of OsGLP genes, highlighting differences in mRNA homology. The proteins are predicted to localize extracellularly, with molecular weights ranging from 22,456.06 Da to 24,677.16 Da. The isoelectric points for OsGLP-9-3 and OsGLP-12-3 were found to be 5.45 and 5.76, respectively, indicating a basic nature. The aliphatic index varied between 24.58 and 40. Validation of the 3D structures confirmed their good model quality, and the MEME software identified various conserved motifs within the cupin domain. Notably, OsGLP-9-3 contained two transmembrane helices, suggesting that it is associated with membranes, while OsGLP-8-12 and OsGLP-12-3 did not possess these features. The current data can be utilized to develop economically and ergonomically robust rice cultivars that can withstand various environmental stresses.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE:Fagonia bruguieri var. laxa Boiss., also known as Dhamansa or Dhamaran, is a well-known xerophyte traditionally used for managing pain, inflammation, fever, and related disease conditions. AIMS OF THE STUDY:This study was designed to assess the chemical profile of hydromethanolic (70%) extract of F. bruguieri (HMEFB), its analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antipyretic properties, and the possible mechanisms involved, using rats and mice as experimental animals. MATERIALS AND METHODS:HMEFB was subjected to chemical profiling using polyphenolic quantification and HPLC analysis. An oral toxicity test in mice assessed the extract for safety and toxicity. The central analgesic effect of HMEFB was evaluated in rats subjected to hot plate and tail immersion tests. Formalin and capsaicin tests were carried out to further support the evidence of analgesic action. The test of acetic acid-induced writhing was performed in mice to estimate the peripheral analgesic potential. The anti-inflammatory effect was studied by the carrageenan-induced paw edema model, while, an antipyretic study was conducted following the yeast-induced pyrexia method. Moreover, inflammatory cytokines and prostaglandins were estimated in the blood samples of animals from various groups to assess the possible mechanism involved in the anti-inflammatory potential of the extract. RESULTS:The chemical profiling of HMEFB revealed the presence of functionally important polyphenols. The oral toxicity test revealed the safety up to the dose of 5 mg/kg b.w. The extract was found to have significant analgesic activity at the doses of 300 and 500 mg/kg in hot plate, tail immersion, capsaicin, and formalin tests. Furthermore, HMEFB significantly reversed the acetic acid-induced writhing compared to the control group. Similarly, HMEFB showed a dose-dependent effect against carrageenan-induced paw edema. While, in the yeast-induced pyrexia model, HMEFB showed a decrease in rectal temperature at 300 and 500 mg/kg. The extract significantly modulated the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and prostaglandins in different treated groups. CONCLUSION:The results reinforce the folkloric use of F. bruguieri in pain and inflammation by verifying its analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities both via central and peripheral anti-nociceptive mechanisms which authenticate the use of this plant species as a suitable alternative for the alleviation of pain and inflammatory disorders.

Plant breeders use polyploidy as a crop enhancement tool to obtain the required character, as various economically important plants are diploids. Polyploids are the best choice against climate change due to their unique characteristics, e.g., ecological, biochemical, physiological, and morphological. Flow cytometry analysis testified the diploid level in the control treatment while N2O treatments (5 and 6 MPA) resulted in tetraploids. The maximum number of leaves (23), leaf length (10.6 cm), width (10 cm), chlorophyll content (65 µmol m−2), and plant height (69 cm) were observed in 6 MPA N2O pressure, followed by 5 MPA pressure, and the lowest of all in the control treatment. The guard cells of stomata in diploid leaves were noted to be smaller, with a greater number compared to tetraploid leaves, which have larger stomata size with less density. While 6 MPA treated leaves for 24 h have a higher stomata size than 5 MPA applied leaves. Epidermal cells get wider in size, but the number of cells is reduced in tetraploid samples, while diploid (control) samples show denser and higher epidermal cells. Enhanced pollen viability and size were recorded in treated plants rather than in diploid (control). Pearson’s correlation results exhibited strong negative and positive correlations between all the variables. N2O treatment with the 6 MPA pressure-treated samples gave good results, but the pressure was beyond its threshold, leading to the death of seedlings after 14 days of survival. Therefore, 5 MPA applied pressure could be recommended for better results.

Understanding the intricate interplay between plant and soil microbiomes and their effects on plant growth and productivity is vital in a rapidly changing climate. This review explores the interconnected impacts of climate change on plant-soil microbiomes and their profound effects on agricultural productivity. The ongoing rise in global temperatures, shifting precipitation patterns and extreme weather events significantly affect the composition and function of microbial communities in the rhizosphere. Changes in microbial diversity and activity due to rising temperatures impact nutrient cycling, microbial enzyme synthesis, soil health and pest and disease management. These changes also influence the dynamics of soil microbe communities and their capability to promote plant health. As the climate changes, plants' adaptive capacity and microbial partners become increasingly crucial for sustaining agriculture. Mitigating the adverse effects of climate change on plant growth and agricultural productivity requires a comprehensive understanding of the interconnected mechanisms driving these processes. It highlights various strategies for mitigating and adapting to environmental challenges, including soil management, stress-tolerant crops, cover cropping, sustainable land and water management, crop rotation, organic amendments and the development of climate-resilient crop varieties. It emphasises the need for further exploration of plant-soil microbiomes within the broader context of climate change. Promising mitigation strategies, including precision agriculture and targeted microbiome modifications, offer valuable pathways for future research and practical implementation of global food security and climate change.

Despite being one of the most significant stone fruits in Pakistan, peaches are not given as much attention. The present experiment was conducted to study the effect of pre-harvest calcium spray on the postharvest quality of peach fruit (cv. ‘Early Grand’) and its performance in various storage durations. Three calcium sources (calcium chloride, calcium nitrate, and calcium sulfate) with four concentrations (0, 0.5, 0.75, and 1.0

Urban environments have profoundly impacted natural ecosystems, particularly in large cities. Industrialization, urban sprawl, and air pollution have hindered sustainable green development and affected the availability of recreational spaces, peace, and eco-tourism. Among the most appealing features of urban green spaces is natural greenery, which can be leveraged as a tool for promoting eco-tourism. Most tourists visiting these areas travel by private tourist buses, with some using personal vehicles. Winter is considered the peak season for visits, driven by tourists seeking a peaceful environment and mental relaxation through the attraction of snowfall. This seasonal preference highlights the connection between natural spaces and stress reduction. The government has taken steps to conserve natural green spaces through initiatives aimed at controlling deforestation and launching large-scale conservation projects. Collaboration between environmental and tourism departments could further enhance both conservation efforts and tourism. About 34.8% of respondents believe that natural greenery and vegetation in urban areas have improved in recent years and expressed a desire for more greenery during future visits. This study concludes that the preservation of natural green spaces plays a vital role in fostering eco-tourism and contributes to the national economy. Ensuring their continued conservation will provide long-term benefits for both the environment and the tourism sector.