A strong statistical method for investigating the correlations between traits, assessing genotypes based on numerous traits, and finding individuals who excel in particular traits is genotype–trait (GT) biplot analysis. The current study was applied to evaluate 11 sweet corn (Zea mays L. saccharata) genotypes and correlate them based on genotype–trait (GT) biplot analysis for two cropping seasons in Erzurum, Türkiye using the RCBD experimental design with three reputations. The results showed that the genotypes were significantly different for the majority of the examined variables according to the combined analysis of variance findings at 0.01 probability level. An ecological analysis was performed to evaluate sweet corn varieties and environmental conditions and interactions between them (genotype × environmental conditions). Our results showed that the summation of the first two and second main components was responsible for 73.51% of the combined cropping years of the sweet corn growth and development variance, demonstrating the biplot graph’s optimum relative validity, which was obtained. In this study, the Khan F1 (G6) genotype was found to be the stablest genotype, and the Kompozit Seker (G7) genotype was the non-stable genotype, moreover based on the first cropping year, second cropping year, and the average mean of the two cropping years. As a conclusion, the Khan F1 (G6) genotype is the highest-yielding genotype, and the Kompozit Seker (G7) is the lowest. Based on the heat map dendrogram, the context of the differential extent of trait association of all genotypes into two clusters is indicated. The highest genetic distance was shown between the BATEM Tatlı (G3) and Febris (G5) genotypes. Our results provide helpful information about the sweet corn genotypes and environments for future breeding programs.

Climate change has intensified abiotic stresses, notably salinity, detrimentally affecting crop yield. To counter these effects, nanomaterials have emerged as a promising tool to mitigate the adverse impacts on plant growth and development. Specifically, zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) have demonstrated efficacy in facilitating a gradual release of zinc, thus enhancing its bioavailability to plants. With the goal of ensuring sustainable plant production, our aim was to examine how green-synthesized ZnO-NPs influence the seedling growth of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa L. Cv Atlas) under conditions of salinity stress. To induce salt stress, solutions with three different NaCl concentrations (0, 100, and 200 mM) were prepared. Additionally, Zn and ZnO-NPs were administered at four different concentrations (0, 50, 100, and 200 ppm). In this study, plant height (cm), plant weight (g), plant diameter (mm), chlorophyll content (SPAD), K/Na value, Ca/Na value, antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD: EU g⁻¹ leaf; CAT: EU g⁻¹ leaf; POD: EU g⁻¹ leaf), H₂O₂ (mmol kg⁻¹), MDA (nmol g⁻¹ DW), proline (µg g⁻¹ FW), and sucrose (g L⁻¹), content parameters were measured. XRD analysis confirmed the crystalline structure of ZnO nanoparticles with identified planes. Salinity stress significantly reduced plant metrics and altered ion ratios, while increasing oxidative stress indicators and osmolytes. Conversely, Zn and ZnO-NPs mitigated these effects, reducing oxidative damage and enhancing enzyme activities. This supports Zn’s role in limiting salinity uptake and improving physiological responses in quinoa seedlings, suggesting a promising strategy for enhancing crop resilience. Overall, this study underscores nanomaterials’ potential in sustainable agriculture and stress management.

Planting geometry is one of the most important management practices that determine plant growth and yield of corn. The effects of eight planting geometries (35 × 23 cm, 40 × 21 cm, 45 × 19 cm, 50 × 18 cm, 55 × 17 cm, 60 × 16 cm, 65 × 15 cm, 70 × 15 cm) on plant growth and yields of three sweet corn hybrids (Argos F₁, Challenger F₁, Khan F₁) were investigated under Erzurum, Türkiye conditions in 2022 and 2023 years. Variance analysis of the main factors shows a highly significant effect on whole traits but in two-way interactions some of the traits were significant and in the three-way interactions, it was insignificant. As an average of years, the number of plants per hectare at the harvest varied between 92,307 (35 × 23 cm) and 120,444 (70 × 15 cm) according to the planting geometries. The highest marketable ear number per hectare (107,456), marketable ear yield (24,887 kg ha⁻¹), and fresh kernel yield (19,493 kg ha⁻¹) were obtained from the 40 × 21 cm planting geometry. The results showed that the variety Khan F₁ grown at 40 × 21 cm planting geometry obtained the highest marketable ear number (112,472), marketable ear yield (29,788 kg ha⁻¹), and fresh kernel yield (22,432 kg ha⁻¹). The plant density was positively correlated with marketable ear number (r = 0.904 **), marketable ear yield (r = 0.853 **), and fresh kernel yield (r = 0.801 **). The differences among the varieties were significant for the studied traits, except for plant density and kernel number per ear. In conclusion, the variety Khan F₁ should be grown at the 40 × 21 cm planting geometry to maximize yields under study area conditions without water and nutrient limitations.

Selection of variety with high potential yield and adaptability is one of the most effective ways to increase corn production. This research was carried out according to the randomized complete blocks experimental design with 10 corn genotypes (five sweet corn, four flint corn, and one dent corn) in 2022 and 2023 years under Erzurum conditions. The differences among the genotypes were significant in terms of all the characteristics investigated, except plant number per hectare. As average of years, the days to silking of the genotypes was between 63.3-78.0 days, days to maturity for fresh ear harvest 98.2-110.0 days, plant number per hectare 86969-89585, ear number per plant 1.10-1.83, chlorophyll value (SPAD unit) 45.2-55.6, maximum quantum yield at PSII (Fv/Fm) 0.716-0.784, green mass yield 75337-108544 kg/ha, kernel number per ear 231.9-692.0, fresh ear yield 15312-25465 kg/ha, grain protein content 10.4-16.2 %. The highest green mass yield was obtained from Simpatico-KWS, the highest fresh ear yield from Khan F1, the highest kernel protein content from Challenger F1 and Karaçam genotypes. Only silage or corn for fresh consumption can be produced in Erzurum Plain conditions due to the short vegetation period and low average temperatures. Crow damage during the germination-emergence period and the first frost in autumn may a risk for corn production.