This study aimed to identify the optimal concentration of seaweed extract (SE) for enhancing growth, photosynthetic traits, antioxidant activity, and bioactive compound accumulation in Thai basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) plants cultivated in a fully controlled plant factory. Basil plants were foliar-sprayed twice weekly with five SE concentrations (0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, and 2.5 mL·L⁻¹), while untreated plants served as controls. After 28 days of transplanting, plant growth parameters, photosynthetic parameters, chlorophyll pigments, antioxidant activity, and the concentrations of phenolic acids and rosmarinic acid (RA) were analyzed. Moderate SE concentrations (1.0–2.0 mL·L⁻¹) significantly enhanced plant growth, chlorophyll a, carotenoid levels, DPPH radical scavenging, and total flavonoid content relative to control. The 2.0 mL·L⁻¹ treatment produced the highest total phenolic content (1.88-fold increase over the control) and was associated with elevated benzoic acid, rutin, quercetin, and kaempferol, along with reduced trans-cinnamic acid, indicating activation of the phenylpropanoid pathway. Moreover, all SE treatments significantly increased RA accumulation. These findings demonstrate that SE is an effective, sustainable biostimulant for Thai basil, with 2.0 mL·L⁻¹ as the optimal concentration for maximizing growth and phytochemical production.

Disease resistance breeding of wheat using molecular markers aims to efficiently identify and incorporate key resistance genes against stripe rust into elite wheat cultivars. This approach enhances the precision and speed of breeding programs to develop durable, resistant wheat varieties capable of withstanding Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst) infections, ultimately contributing to sustainable wheat production and global food security. A total of 174 bread wheat genotypes, comprising 94 Turkish cultivars and 80 exotic landraces obtained from the USDA, were screened using gene-specific markers for the stripe rust resistance genes Yr15 and Yr5. The Yr15 resistance gene was detected in 31 genotypes, including 22 Turkish cultivars and nine USDA landraces. The Yr5 resistance gene was not found in any of the tested germplasm, but the susceptibility gene was identified in 77 genotypes. Turkish cultivars showed higher susceptibility to stripe rust, with 46 out of 94 genotypes vulnerable, compared to 25 out of 80 USDA genotypes. These findings highlight the urgent need to integrate Yr15 and other resistance genes into wheat breeding programs to enhance crop resilience against evolving Pst isolates, thereby ensuring sustainable wheat production and contributing to global food security.

In hydroponic cultivation, variations in nutrient solution electrical conductivity (EC) can substantially influence plant growth and the nutritional characteristics of the harvested crop. This study aimed to determine the effects of different nutrient solution EC levels on growth, photosynthetic pigments, antioxidant responses, and phenolic accumulation in lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) grown in a deep-water culture (DWC) system under natural sunlight. Twenty-day-old seedlings were subjected to five EC levels (0.2 (control treatment), 1.0, 2.0, 4.0, and 8.0 dS m−1) for 21 days. Moderate EC levels (2.0–4.0 dS m−1) promoted leaf development and supported high shoot biomass, increasing whole-plant dry weight by 54.31–70.96% compared with the control, whereas root dry weight was highest at 0.2 dS m−1. Chlorophyll a (70.25%–100.39%), total chlorophyll (62.52%–95.39%), and carotenoid concentrations (92.67%–99.22%) were significantly higher than the control at moderate EC levels (2.0–4.0 dS m−1), with chlorophyll a and total chlorophyll reaching their highest values at 4.0 dS m−1. Total flavonoid content was enhanced at 1.0 and 4.0 dS m−1, while superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was significantly higher in all EC treatments than in the control. In contrast, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity showed no consistent response to increasing EC. Total quantified phenolic content was significantly enhanced at 2.0–4.0 dS m−1, with the maximum numerical value observed at 4.0 dS m−1 (108.23% higher than the control). Among individual phenolic compounds, trans-ferulic acid reached its highest concentration at 2.0 dS m−1, whereas p-coumaric acid showed the higher concentrations at 2.0–4.0 dS m−1; rutin concentration generally declined with increasing EC. Overall, EC levels of 2.0–4.0 dS m−1 were associated with favorable growth and selected phytochemical responses under the experimental conditions. However, further assessment of nitrate concentrations in edible tissues is required before recommending an optimal EC range for commercial lettuce production.

Accurate estimation of crop yield and biomass using UAV-based remote sensing is influenced by flight altitude, plant density, canopy structure, vegetation index (VI) selection, and crop growth stage. This study evaluated how the joint optimization of these factors influences biomass and yield prediction in common buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench var. 'Yangjeol'). Field experiments were conducted using broadcast seeding and drill seeding at four row spacings (12.5, 20, 30, and 40 cm) following the complete Latin square design. UAV RGB imagery was acquired at the third-leaf and full-flowering stages from 30, 50, and 60 m altitudes, and vegetation indices Excess Green Index (ExG), Green Leaf Index (GLI), and Normalized Green-Red Difference Index (NGRDI)were extracted. ANOVA with Tukey's HSD revealed significant variations in biomass and yield traits among sowing treatments (p < 0.005). The highest fresh weight was recorded under drill seeding at 12.5 cm spacing, while seed weight was consistently higher under all drill seeding treatments compared with broadcast seeding. The number of seeds per plant peaked under 40 cm spacing, indicating a trade-off between planting density and reproductive output. Strong and significant correlations between vegetation indices and ground-measured traits were observed (r = 0.82-0.98), but these relationships were highly dependent on growth stage, sowing configuration, and UAV altitude. The third-leaf stage under broadcast seeding and full flowering stage under drill seeding at 20 cm spacing showed the strongest and most consistent VI-trait associations. Among UAV altitudes, 50 m provided the most stable predictive performance across traits. ExG and GLI exhibited more consistent relationships with biomass and yield parameters than NGRDI. These findings demonstrate that no single UAV altitude, vegetation index, or growth stage is universally optimal. Instead, coordinated optimization of UAV operational parameters and sowing configurationsubstantially improves the reliability of UAV-based yield and biomass estimation in buckwheat.

Zymoseptoria tritici , the causal agent of Septoria tritici blotch (STB), poses a major threat to wheat production in temperate regions worldwide. This study aimed to determine the distribution of 15 known Stb resistance genes in 60 bread wheat cultivars from Serbia, Croatia, France, Italy, Romania, Hungary, and Mexico using validated gene-specific simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. Genomic DNA was extracted from 35-day-old seedlings and subjected to PCR amplification using 15 Stb -linked SSR markers. The presence of target alleles was confirmed via 2% agarose gel electrophoresis. Results showed that Stb1 was present in all genotypes (60/60 = 100%), highlighting its widespread use. The 44.1% (60/136) gene detection rate was recorded for Stb1 ; in contrast, Stb9 and Stb16 were not amplified in any sample, suggesting their absence within the evaluated germplasm. Other frequently detected genes included Stb12 (33.3%), Stb14 (23.3%), and Stb4 (15%). Genes like Stb2 , Stb3 , and Stb6 were identified in only 5%, 5%, and 3.3% of genotypes, respectively. The French cultivar ‘Falado’ possessed the highest number of resistance genes (7), followed by ‘Cellule’, ‘Solindo’, ‘Sofolk’, and Serbian cultivars ‘NS Epoha’ and ‘NS Grivna’ with five genes each. These results support gene pyramiding as a strategy for durable resistance. In conclusion, while Stb1 remains predominant, the lack of diversity increases vulnerability to resistance breakdown. Underutilized genes such as Stb6 , Stb8 , and Stb17 offer potential for future resistance breeding. The study emphasizes integrating SSR-based screening with advanced tools like GWAS and functional genomics to enhance marker-assisted selection and promote sustainable wheat improvement.