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Wheat constitutes pivotal position for ensuring food and nutritional security; however, rapidly rising soil and water salinity pose a serious threat to its production globally. Salinity stress negatively affects the growth and development of wheat leading to diminished grain yield and quality. Wheat plants utilize a range of physiological biochemical and molecular mechanisms to adapt under salinity stress at the cell, tissue as well as whole plant levels to optimize the growth, and yield by off-setting the adverse effects of saline environment. Recently, various adaptation and management strategies have been developed to reduce the deleterious effects of salinity stress to maximize the production and nutritional quality of wheat. This review emphasizes and synthesizes the deleterious effects of salinity stress on wheat yield and quality along with highlighting the adaptation and mitigation strategies for sustainable wheat production to ensure food security of skyrocketing population under changing climate.

This research assessed 42 lentil genotypes developed by ICARDA along with a local variety over three growing seasons (2019–2022) in Southeastern Türkiye. Phenological, morphological, and yield attributes were determined to observe earliness, yield stability, and adaptation properties. Genotype G3771 showed outstanding performance in grain yield (2579 kg ha−1), 1000-seed weight (54.9 g), and harvest index (37.3%), although it had lower stability under more severe drought conditions. Early-maturing genotypes like G3744, G3715, and G3716 consistently flowered and matured sooner, making them better suited for escaping terminal drought stress areas. The highest yields were recorded during the 2019–2020 season, which experienced favorable rainfall and soil nutrient levels, while the lowest yields occurred due to changing climatic conditions in the 2020–2021 season, highlighting the crop’s sensitivity to climate. Principal component analysis, hierarchical clustering, the Modified Multi-Trait Stability Index (MTSI), and the Multi-Trait Genotype-Ideotype Distance Index (MGIDI) aided in effective genotype classification. Although G3771 was the most productive, genotypes G3687, G3715, and G3689 proved to be the most stable and early maturing based on MGIDI scores. Strong relationships between grain yield, biological yield, and seed size identified these as key selection criteria. This study underscores the value of multi-trait selection tools like MGIDI and MTSI in consistently pinpointing lentil genotypes that balance earliness, productivity, and adaptability, laying a strong foundation for developing climate-resilient varieties suited to semi-arid climates.

The importance of lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) as a crop with valuable nutritional content is expected to increase with the growing global population; therefore, this research was conducted in 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 to evaluate the effects of organic (vermicompost, chicken manure, and farm manure) and inorganic (S and diammonium phosphate [DAP]) fertilizers on the yield and nutrient content of the lentil 'Cagil'. The study used no fertilizer control, chemical fertilizer (140 kg [ha.sup.-1] DAP 18-46), sulfate fertilizer (30 kg S [ha.sup.-1]), and organic fertilizers such as chicken manure (2 t [ha.sup.-1]), farm manure (20 t [ha.sup.-1]), and vermicompost (2 t [ha.sup.-1]). The experiment was designed as a randomized block with three replicates. According to results, S fertilizer was found to significantly improve plant height, 1000-grain weight, grain yield, protein ratio, S and Fe content. It was predicted that farmyard manure significantly improves the grain nutrient properties (P, Cu, K, Mg, Mn, and Zn) of lentil compared to other treatments. The S fertilizer increased plant height (55.1 cm), thousand-grain weight (33.6 g), grain yield (2065 kg [ha.sup.-1]), and protein ratio (33.1%); additionally, farmyard manure application was found to enhance the nutrient content of lentil grains, including P (4056.7 mg [kg.sup.-1]), Cu (16.15 mg [kg.sup.-1]), K (8926.3 mg [kg.sup.-1]), Mg (985.1 mg [kg.sup.-1]), Mn (15.3 mg [kg.sup.-1]), and Zn (35.0 mg [kg.sup.-1]). It is recommended to use a combination of S fertilizer and organic fertilizers such as farmyard manure to enhance environmental sustainability, maintain soil fertility, and improve yield and nutrient content in lentil production.

Although legumes can meet nitrogen requirements via symbiotic nitrogen fixation, they must acquire phosphorus from the rhizosphere through their roots. Additionally, the fixation of phosphorus with various cations in soils reduces its availability, thereby decreasing its effectiveness and increasing production costs. This study was conducted during the 2021-22 and 2022-23 growing seasons to investigate the effects of seed pre-treatment (priming) and phosphorus doses on plant growth, yield attributes, and seed chemical composition in lentil at Siirt, Türkiye. Six seed priming treatments and four phosphorus doses were used in the study. The research was laid out in split-plot randomized complete block design with four replications. According to the results, phosphorus fertilizer increased seed yield, but there was no statistical difference between 15 and 60 kg P 2 O 5 ha − 1 . Seed priming had a synergistic effect, allowing for higher seed yield when combined with phosphorus fertilizer, especially silicon priming resulting in high seed yield even at low phosphorus fertilizer doses. This result also indicated that seed priming improved phosphorus efficiency. The highest seed yield and net income were obtained by 6 kg P 2 O 5 ha − 1 with silicon priming treatment. Moreover, seed priming with salicylic acid, beneficial bacteria and silicon boosted growth and yield attributes, and seed chemical composition. Silicon priming increased the total antioxidant content in seeds while salicylic acid priming provided opportunities for both the increase of total antioxidants and phenolics. In conclusion, seed priming is an easy-to-implement and economical method for reducing phosphorus fertilizer and an effective way for higher profitability in lentil cultivation.

Limited availability of nutrients to crops is a major agricultural concern. Deteriorated soil health and poor fertility status decrease the bioavailability of essential nutrients to the plants. Consequently, organic soil amendment biochar is gaining attention due to its potential benefits. Rhizobacterial inoculation, are also documented as an effective technology for mobilization of immobile nutrients in soil. However, limited literature is available on combined use of rhizobacteria and biochar. Therefore, this study was carried out to examine the changes in the nutrient content of einkorn wheat and the change in some soil properties during the application of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) with biochar. Four doses of biochar (0, 2.5, 5, and 10%) were applied with and without PGPR in the study. Biochar increased the growth criteria such as plant fresh weight (PFW), plant dry weight (PDW), root fresh weight (RFW), root dry weight (RDW), number of tillers, germination rate (GR) and potassium (K), calcium (Ca), sodium (Na), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), and nickel (Ni) elements. While PGPR application increased soil pH, dry and fresh weight of root, R/S, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, and Ni contents, and it caused a decrease in PH, PFW, tillers, GR, P, Cu, and Zn values. Combined biochar applications and PGPR had a significant effect on the pH, RFW, R/S, P, Na, and Cu. In conclusion, the combination of biochar and PGPR applications has shown a positive effect in terms of soil properties, plant growth, and element contents of einkorn wheat.

This study was conducted to determine the effects of plant growth-promoting bacteria (Brevibacillus choshinensis) on Eurygaster integriceps Puton, 1881 (Hemiptera: Scutelleridae) and the predators Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) and Coccinella septempunctata L. (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) during the 2022–2023 season. The study was laid out according to a completely randomized factorial design with five replications, including areas with and without B. choshinensis application. Sampling was carried out every 7 days until the harvest period. Predator insect species C. carnea, C. septempunctata and Sunn pest (E. integriceps) found in wheat plots were determined using the visual counting method. According to the results, B. choshinensis treatment boosted beneficial insect population and restriced E. integriceps over control plants. E. integriceps population reduced up to 75%, 100%, 66% and 92% compared to control at the 1st., 2nd., 3rd. and 4th. observation times, respectively. In addition, foliar B. choshinensis treatment reduced E. integriceps population by 6.3-fold (from 0.63 to 0.10) over control plots. Number of beneficial insects per plot were determined as 1.35 and 6.75 at control and PGPB treatmen, respectively, therby increasing by 5-fold over control. In conclusion, it is thought that B. choshinensis can be an alternative bio-insecticide that can be used to control the harmful insect population and to encourage the beneficial insect population. In addition, new researches are needed to understand the mechanisms by which B. choshinensis treatment suppresses E. integriceps populations while attracting beneficial insect communities.

Drought poses a significant challenge to wheat production globally, leading to substantial yield losses and affecting various agronomic and physiological traits. The genetic route offers potential solutions to improve water-use efficiency (WUE) in wheat and mitigate the negative impacts of drought stress. Breeding for drought tolerance involves selecting desirable plants such as efficient water usage, deep root systems, delayed senescence, and late wilting point. Biomarkers, automated and high-throughput techniques, and QTL genes are crucial in enhancing breeding strategies and developing wheat varieties with improved resilience to water scarcity. Moreover, the role of root system architecture (RSA) in water-use efficiency is vital, as roots play a key role in nutrient and water uptake. Genetic engineering techniques offer promising avenues to introduce desirable RSA traits in wheat to enhance drought tolerance. These technologies enable targeted modifications in DNA sequences, facilitating the development of drought-tolerant wheat germplasm. The article highlighted the techniques that could play a role in mitigating drought stress in wheat.

The objective of this experiment was to determine drought tolerance exhibited by lentil lines developed by the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) in an artificial environment, and to investigate the relationships between traits with various methods. This experiment examined 15 traits of 21 lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) accessions grown under artificial drought stress created with polyethylene glycol (PEG)-6000 (0%, 10%, 15% and 20%) concentrations during germination and early seedling stages. Germination characteristics, seedling developmental properties and root system architecture traits were investigated to observed the impacts of drought stress. The originality lies in enabling the identification of drought-tolerant and sensitive genotypes through a brief and practical research method, while shedding light on the key traits by principal component analysis. The first two PCs explained 22.9% and 31.7% (total 54.6%) under optimal conditions while they described 14% and 58.3% (total 72.3%) under PEG-induced drought conditions, respectively. Variation in PC1 was mostly contributed by positive coefficients of germination index, uniformity of germination and germination energy, and negative coefficients of mean germination time. Variation in PC2 was mostly contributed by positive coefficients of seedling vigor index, root fresh weight and root dry weight. 'Tigris', G3664 and G3840 exhibited higher performance in terms of germination characteristics, while G3710, G3829 and G3840 produced higher DM accumulation, total biomass and lateral roots. Overall, PC-biplot denoted that selection based on germination index and seedling vigor index at germination and seedling stages would improve drought tolerance. In conclusion, genotypes G3840 and G3664 were identified as drought-tolerant, whereas genotypes G35, G3659, G3759, G3837, and G3844 were classified as drought-sensitive. In addition, G3664, G3840 and G3710 exhibited the highest stress tolerance index (STI) under artificial drought conditions. Key words: Biplot, drought tolerance, Lens culinaris, plant stress, principal component analysis, radar graph.

Genome-editing (GE) is having a tremendous influence around the globe in the life science community. Among its versatile uses, the desired modifications of genes, and more importantly the transgene (DNA)-free approach to develop genetically modified organism (GMO), are of special interest. The recent and rapid developments in genome-editing technology have given rise to hopes to achieve global food security in a sustainable manner. We here discuss recent developments in CRISPR-based genome-editing tools for crop improvement concerning adaptation, opportunities, and challenges. Some of the notable advances highlighted here include the development of transgene (DNA)-free genome plants, the availability of compatible nucleases, and the development of safe and effective CRISPR delivery vehicles for plant genome editing, multi-gene targeting and complex genome editing, base editing and prime editing to achieve more complex genetic engineering. Additionally, new avenues that facilitate fine-tuning plant gene regulation have also been addressed. In spite of the tremendous potential of CRISPR and other gene editing tools, major challenges remain. Some of the challenges are related to the practical advances required for the efficient delivery of CRISPR reagents and for precision genome editing, while others come from government policies and public acceptance. This review will therefore be helpful to gain insights into technological advances, its applications, and future challenges for crop improvement.

In the 21st century, the use of beneficial microorganisms as biological fertilizers has become a notable phenomenon, driven by the ongoing search for sustainable solutions due to environmental issues associated with synthetic fertilizer use. This study aimed to investigate the effect of bio-priming with plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) strains comparing them with synthetic fertilizer and rhizobium inoculation in Siirt ecological conditions. The field experiment was laid out according to a completely randomized design with four replications in the arable land of Siirt University (Siirt, Türkiye) during the 2019 summer season. Three synthetic fertilizer doses as diammonium phosphate (SF1: 100 kg ha-1, SF2: 200 kg ha-1, SF3: 300 kg ha-1) and seven biological fertilizer treatments (B1: TV61C, B2: TV62C, B3: TV126C, B4: TV24C, B5: TV53D, BMIX: TV119E+TV126C, RZB: Bradyrhizobium sp.) were compared with control (no fertilization+hydro-priming) in the study. The research results indicated that 300 kg ha-1 DAP and PGPB consortia showed the best results on agronomic characteristics. However, particularly when applied in the form of a consortium, PGPB strains exhibited performance very close to synthetic fertilization. Moreover, it was determined that 300 kg ha-1 DAP and PGPB consortia increased grain yield over hydro-primed plants by 54.6% and 42.4%, while they provided a net income of$654 and $ 721.6, respectively. Thus, bio-priming with PGPB increased higher net income compared with synthetic fertilizer due to lower treatment costs. In conclusion, bio-priming with PGPB strains has the potential of useful, sustainable and cost-effective strategy in cowpea production.