Acta Biologica Szegediensis

Decoding the Genetic Diversity and Population Dynamics of Phalaris minor Through ISSR and SCoT Markers

Zahra Omid, Maryam Keshavarzi, Samaneh Mosaferi, Raheleh Tabaripour — Wed, 04 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Phalaris minor is a noxious weed that thrives in wet soils and swamps across various habitats in Iran. Inter Simple Sequence Repeat (ISSR) markers are effective tools for assessing both intra- and inter-species genetic variations. The relationship between geographical distribution and ecological adaptation in this genus has long been debated. This study aimed to investigate the genetic diversity of P. minor populations in Iran using ISSR and Start Codon Targeted (SCoT) markers to assess genetic variation within and between populations of this taxon. A total of 11 populations of P. minor were sampled. Genomic DNA was extracted from dried leaf samples using a modified Cetyl Trimethyl-Ammonium Bromide (CTAB) protocol. Seven ISSR and two SCoT primers, selected for their reliability and polymorphism, were employed. Genetic diversity indices, the correlation between genetic and geographical distances, and genetic differentiation within and among populations were analyzed. A high level of genetic diversity was observed in P. minor populations. The highest genetic diversity (61%) was found within populations, while genetic diversity between populations accounted for 39%. Genetic distance increased with geographical distance. The observed genetic diversity in P. minor may result from genetic drift, gene flow, and adaptation to environmental conditions.

Multi-trait evaluation of barley genotypes under semi-arid conditions using genotype × trait biplot analysis

Naser Sabaghnia, Asghar Ebadi, Mohsen Janmohammadi, Mehdi Mohebodini — Wed, 04 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Identifying barley genotypes that combine high grain yield with favorable agronomic traits is a key objective of breeding programs. The present study aimed to evaluate a set of barley genotypes and identify superior ones using genotype × trait biplot analysis under rainfed conditions. Twenty barley genotypes were assessed in a field experiment conducted at Moghan, using a randomized block design with three replicates. The biplot analysis explained 68% of the total variation, indicating that the first two principal components effectively captured the complex relationships between genotypes and traits. Genotype G11 emerged as the most superior, demonstrating consistently high performance across a range of yield and yield-related traits, particularly in biomass weight and number of fertile tillers. Genotype G1 (cultivar Mahour) achieved a high grain yield primarily due to an increased thousand-grain weight, reflecting a grainfilling- driven yield strategy. Genotypes G14 and G18 exhibited relatively high yield with low variability, making them stable performers. The polygon view of the biplot distinguished genotypes with specific trait superiority from those showing poor performance, thereby facilitating the efficient elimination of underperforming genotypes such as G3 and G5. The ideal genotype view highlighted G11, followed by G13 and G19, as the genotypes closest to the ideal combination of high mean performance and low variability, confirming their broad desirability across the evaluated traits. Trait association analysis revealed strong positive correlations between biomass weight, number of fertile tillers, and tillers per plant, underscoring the importance of vegetative growth and sink capacity in yield formation under semi-arid conditions. Straw weight, grain yield per plant, and biomass weight exhibited the highest discriminatory power, while spike height and thousandgrain weight provided less useful information for genotype discrimination. The biplot analysis proved to be a highly effective tool for identifying superior barley genotypes and key selection traits, offering valuable insights for breeding programs targeting droughtprone environments.

Beyond proteolysis: the GA–GID1–DELLA module as a transcriptional control hub in plants

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Gibberellins (GAs) promote growth and developmental transitions throughout the plant life cycle. A hallmark of GA action is the control of DELLA proteins, master repressors of GA responses. In the canonical pathway, bioactive GA binds the soluble receptor GID1, enabling formation of a GA–GID1–DELLA complex that recruits SCF-type E3 ubiquitin ligases (e.g., SLY1/SNE (SNEEZY; also called SLY2) in Arabidopsis and GID2 in rice) and triggers ubiquitination and 26S proteasome-mediated DELLA degradation (McGinnis et al. 2003; Dill et al. 2004; Gomi et al. 2004; Ariizumi et al. 2011). However, recent work shows that GA can neutralize DELLA output beyond simple proteolysis. Structural analyses reveal proteolysis-independent suppression of DELLA by GA–GID1 binding (Ariizumi et al. 2008; Dahal et al. 2025), chromatin studies show that phosphorylation can activate DELLA by promoting histone H2A binding at chromatin, and nutrient starvation studies identify ATG8-dependent autophagic DELLA degradation during dark skotomorphogenesis. Together, these findings support a hub model in which DELLA output depends on abundance, conformation, post-translational modifications, interaction partners, and chromatin engagement. We highlight how this expanded view of the GA–DELLA module informs precision strategies for crop improvement that tune growth–stress trade-offs with reduced pleiotropy.

Assessment of agronomic traits of safflower based on various planting arrangements and fertilizer application

M. Janmohammadi, H. Kouchakkhani, F. Shekari, N. Sabaghnia — Wed, 04 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The production of safflower in semi-arid regions is hindered by factors such as the poor quality of soils, low levels of organic matter, inadequate soil structure, deficiencies in essential nutrients, and insufficient information on effective agronomic practices. The current experiment aimed to investigate different planting designs (planting in-furrow with 40 cm or 60 cm inter-row spacing: IN40, IN60; or planting on the ridge with 40 cm or 60 cm inter-row spacing: ORI40, ORI60) and various fertilizer managements (C: control or no fertilizer application; CFW10 and CFW20: application of 10 or 20 t ha ^−¹ cow farm waste; NPK: application of primary macronutrient fertilizers including nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium; and Fe+Zn: application of trace elements iron and zinc) on the agronomic characteristics of safflower in the Razan region, Hamedan, Iran. Application of CFW reduced the days to seedling emergence by 40% compared to the control. The ORI60 planting design accelerated the phenological development of the plant, and this effect was more evident under CFW application. The longest time to maturity was observed under the no-fertilizer condition. The tallest plants were obtained with CFW20 + ORI60. Although all fertilizer applications improved lateral growth and the number of branches, the greatest effect was recorded with CFW20 + ORI60. A similar trend was observed for the number of capitula. However, the highest number of achenes per plant was obtained with the application of CFW or Fe+Zn using the IN60 planting design. Application of CFW+IN60 or micronutrients+ORI60 accelerated ground coverage by the canopy. The highest biological yield and seed yield were achieved with CFW20+IN40. Overall, the results showed that the efficiency of organic fertilizers was more evident than that of chemical fertilizers, and planting in-furrow with low inter-row spacing (higher plant density) improved safflower performance.

Yield performance and seed quality of wheat under different levels of foliar zinc application at vegetative and reproductive stages

Salma Akter, M Abdullah Al Mamun, Erin Zaman, M Saiful Alam, M Abdul Karim — Wed, 04 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Zinc (Zn) deficiency in soil affects wheat productivity and nutritional quality as well. Agronomic biofortification of zinc in wheat crops presumably lessens the problem. An experiment was conducted to evaluate the interactive effects of wheat varieties (BARI Gom-25, BARI Gom-30, and BARI Gom-33) and foliar Zn application (0, 3, and 6 g Zn L⁻¹) at vegetative (VS) and reproductive stage (RS) on growth and yield performances, seed quality, and grain Zn concentration. The application of 6 g Zn L⁻¹ at RS markedly improved yield components (19.0 spikelets spike⁻¹ in BARI Gom-25 and 52 grains spike⁻¹ in BARI Gom-33), grain yield and Zn concentration, particularly in BARI Gom-25 and BARI Gom-33. The highest grain yield (5.07 t ha⁻¹) produced by BARI Gom- 25 with 6 g Zn L⁻¹ applied at the RS. Grain Zn concentration ranged from 35.48 to 65.69 ppm, with the highest value recorded in BARI Gom-33 receiving 6 g Zn L⁻¹ applied at the RS. Zinc application also reduced seed electrical conductivity and improved germination percentage and vigor index. Overall, Zn application at RS at higher doses proved to be more effective than application at VS for improving both productivity and nutritional quality of wheat.

Antibacterial activity of hydroethanolic leaf extracts of Allium ursinum before and after flowering against selected foodassociated bacteria

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Ramsons (Allium ursinum L.; wild garlic) is a seasonal edible Allium species traditionally consumed for health-promoting properties. Here we investigated whether the antibacterial activity of crude leaf extracts depends on the phenological stage of the plant. Fresh leaves collected before and after flowering were extracted with ethanol:water (30:70, v/v), concentrated, re-dissolved in 30% ethanol, sterile-filtered, and tested against a panel of food-associated bacteria and pathogens by broth microdilution. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were defined by absorbance-based growth inhibition, and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBC) were determined by viability plating (track plate method). The pre-flowering extract showed no clear inhibitory activity within the tested concentration range (MIC >20 mg/mL for all strains). In contrast, the post-flowering extract displayed measurable antibacterial activity, most notably against Escherichia coli (MIC >10.8 mg/mL; MBC 10.8 mg/mL) and Staphylococcus aureus (MIC 21.5 mg/mL). Several strains exhibited bactericidal endpoints only at the highest tested concentration, while Serratia marcescens remained poorly susceptible based on MIC values. In addition, Bacillus cereus var. mycoides showed an unusual concentration-dependent response with growth stimulation at subinhibitory concentrations. Our findings indicate that the antibacterial potential of crude A. ursinum leaf extracts is stage-dependent and highlight the need for chemical characterization and standardized preparation to support food- or health-related applications.

Morphological characteristics of the testes and epididymides in a rat excisional wound model under the influence of the medicinal leech Hirudo verbana

Aminov Ruslan Fluzovych — Wed, 04 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000

A standardized excisional wound model was established in male rats by removing circular full-thickness skin areas with a diameter of 1.5 cm. Animals were divided into two groups (n = 20 per group): a control group, in which wound healing occurred spontaneously without treatment, and an experimental group, in which one medicinal leech (Hirudo verbana, body weight 0.5–0.7 g) was applied adjacent to the wound area on days 1, 3, 7, and 14 after injury. On day 30, the testes and epididymides were collected for histological examination. Histological analysis of the testes in control animals revealed a reduced number of spermatocytes, an increased proportion of defective germ cells, and partial arrest of spermatogenesis in some seminiferous tubules compared with the experimental group. Morphometric assessment demonstrated a significant decrease in seminiferous tubule diameter and spermatogenic epithelial height in the control group. In contrast, the experimental group exhibited preservation of testicular architecture with closely packed seminiferous tubules and an intact spermatogenic epithelium. Examination of the epididymis showed that animals treated with Hirudo verbana had a significantly larger duct diameter, a wider lumen, and a preserved pseudostratified epithelium compared with controls. In the control group, degenerative changes of the epididymal epithelium and luminal narrowing were more frequently observed. These findings indicate that medicinal leech application during excisional wound healing is associated with improved histological preservation of the testes and epididymides in rats.