Journal of Medicinal and Industrial Plant Sciences

A field experiment was conducted in 2024 at a private farm in the Al-Hor Rajab area, Baghdad Governorate, to evaluate the effect of compound fertilizer and zeolite on the growth, yield, and active compounds of four roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) genotypes: Hit Black, Sudan 3, Areeb, and Hit Red. The treatments included: control (no fertilization), zeolite at a rate of 100 kg ha⁻¹, compound NPK fertilizer (20:20:20) at a rate of 250 kg ha⁻¹, and a combination of both. The experiment was laid out in a two-factor randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications (48 experimental units).No significant differences were recorded among the genotypes in the number of days to 50% flowering or full maturity, while significant differences were observed among the treatments. The Hit Black genotype outperformed others in most traits, recording the following values: leaf area index (6.30), total chlorophyll (9.12 mg g⁻¹), dry calyx capsule weight (2.29 g plant⁻¹), and dry calyx yield (683.48 kg ha⁻¹). while Areeb achieved the highest number of seeds per capsule (22.53 seeds capsule⁻¹). The combined NPK fertilizer + zeolite treatment significantly enhanced all studied traits, yielding: days to 50% flowering (162.83 days), days to maturity (182.33 days), leaf area index (6.57), total chlorophyll (10.10 mg g⁻¹), dry capsule weight (2.61 g plant⁻¹), number of seeds per capsule (24.18 seeds capsule⁻¹), and dry calyx yield (799.61 kg ha⁻¹). The interaction between Hit Black and the combined fertilization recorded the highest absolute values, while Sudan 3 with the same treatment recorded the highest number of seeds per capsule (24.46 seeds capsule⁻¹), with no significant difference from Hit Black (24.16 seeds capsule⁻¹) and Areeb (24.30 seeds capsule⁻¹).

This research was conducted at the field crops research station in the autumn season of 2024, College of Agriculture- Tikrit University, Iraq- in the season of 2024 , with the aim of evaluating the Effect of Foliar Application of Salicylic Acid on Growth and Yield Traits of Corn genotypes (Zea mays L.). The experiment included two factors: the first was the spraying of three of concentration of salicylic, and the second involved four corn genotypes. A factorial experiment was applied using a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) .The statistical analysis revealed that the 200 mg·L⁻¹ salicylic acid concentration significantly improved traits such as number of days from planting until 75% male flowering and number of days from planting until 75% female flowering and ear height and individual plant grain yield, and grain yield. Among the genotypes, genotype 777 outperformed others in traits such as ear height, chlorophyll content, number of grains per row, individual plant grain yield, grain yield, and harvest index. Furthermore, the interaction between salicylic acid concentrations and genotypes resulted in significant differences in vegetative growth and yield. The combination of (200 mg·L⁻¹ × genotype 777) and (200 mg·L⁻¹ × genotype Toro) recorded the highest values in Vegetativ growth and yield. Climatic fluctuations have pushed farmers to face agricultural challenges, which encouraged researchers to study the effect of salicylic acid in improving growth and production.

This study aimed to assess how various pinching schedules and gibberellin (GA) treatments affect carotenoid and chlorophyll levels in fenugreek at two different sites, Ankawa (AK) and Grdarash (GR), along with evaluating pigment absorption properties. The experiment was conducted in both locations using four pinching treatments: no pinching (P0), pinching once at 30 days after sowing (DAS) (P1), at 45 DAS (P2), and twice at 30 and 45 DAS (P3). Gibberellin was applied at 25, 45, and 65 DAS in concentrations of 100, 200, and 300 ppm (G1, G2, and G3), in addition to a control with no application (G0). Key findings revealed that gibberellin levels and pinching at 45 DAS (P2) significantly affected absorbance at 665 nm in AK (P < 0.05), while absorbance at 649 nm was notably influenced by gibberellin concentrations in GR. Additionally, gibberellin treatments in AK significantly enhanced absorbance at 470 nm. Interaction analysis highlighted that double pinching (P3) combined with all gibberellin levels had a highly significant effect on chlorophyll concentration at GR (P < 0.01). Furthermore, pinching treatments notably impacted carotenoid content at GR, and gibberellin levels also influenced chlorophyll amounts in AK. Overall, the results indicate that careful timing of gibberellin applications and pinching can effectively enhance carotenoid and chlorophyll content and improve pigment absorption in fenugreek. This approach has the potential to boost photosynthetic efficiency and enhance the yield of medicinal plants across varied environmental conditions.

The experiment was conducted during the 2023/2024 agricultural season in Al-Qubba village, north of Mosul, to evaluate the performance of ten bread wheat genotypes and their response to nitrogen fertilization in terms of growth and yield traits. A randomized complete block design with a split-plot arrangement was used. Three nitrogen levels (0, 120, 240 kg/ha of urea 46%) were assigned to main plots, and ten wheat genotypes (14BAASH-, AZAD-2, BAOBAB-1, ASEEL-1, Ibaa99, Buhuth22, Mawaddah, Adana99, Baghdad1, Jihan99) were allocated to subplots. Measured traits included plant height, flag leaf area, tiller , spike number-m2, spike length, days to 50% physiological maturity, grains spike-1, 1000-grain weight, biological and grain yield, harvest index, and protein content.Analysis of variance showed that nitrogen levels significantly affected all traits at the 1% level. Genotypic differences were also significant at 1% for most traits, except flag leaf area and harvest index, which were significant at 5%. The interaction between genotypes and nitrogen levels was significant for all traits except spike length., environmental, and phenotypic variances were all greater than zero. Heritability values were generally low, except for moderate values in spike number/m-2and grain yield. The highest phenotypic and environmental coefficients of variation were observed for grain yield and harvest index, while phenotypic coefficients were consistently higher than genetic ones, indicating strong environmental influence on trait expression.

The purpose of this study was to measure the concentrations of leaf pigment and assess the light absorbance of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) plants cultivated in two different ecologically locations while being influenced by two agronomic factors. The Grdarasha and Ankawa locations, which have different soil types and microclimates, were used for the experiment. Using a factorial design, the two components under investigation were factor A [40 , 60 and 80 kg seeds ha-1] and factor B [ 0,100,200 and 300 ppm Nano-Zn fertilizer ]. In order to ascertain absorbance at particular wavelengths (665 nm, 649 nm, and 740 nm), which correspond to chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and background correction, respectively, leaf samples were taken during the vegetative stage and subjected to spectrophotometric analysis. Pigment concentrations were calculated using standard equations. Results revealed significant variations in chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and total chlorophyll contents depending on the treatment combinations and site conditions. In general, [Factor A] enhanced chlorophyll accumulation more effectively at [Ankawa], while [Factor B] showed synergistic effects in c Standard equations were used to compute pigment concentrations. The findings showed that the amounts of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and total chlorophyll varied significantly based on the site circumstances and treatment combinations. While [Factor B] had synergistic effects when combined with [Factor A] under [Ankawa Site ] conditions, [Factor A] generally improved chlorophyll accumulation more efficiently at [Grdarasha]. These results provide insights for maximizing growth and production in various agro-ecological zones by highlighting the significance of environmental context and agronomic interventions in regulating photosynthetic pigment composition in fenugreek.in conjunction with [Factor A] in the circumstances of [Sites]. These results provide insights for maximizing growth and production in various agro-ecological zones by highlighting the significance of environmental context and agronomic interventions in regulating photosynthetic pigment composition in fenugreek.

To investigate the effect of spraying with indole acetic acid and the row spacing, a field experiment was carried out during the summer 2024 at the Field Crops Research Station, Tikrit University. Four concentrations of Indole Acetic Acid (IAA) (zero, 150, 300, and 450 ppm) were applied when the plants reached 35 days after planting and four row spacing (30-30, 30-60, 60-60, and 75-75 cm) were used. The experiment was applied according to RCBD design and average were tested according to Duncan test. The results showed that the 300 ppm of IAA increased the branches number per plant (9.02 branches plant-1), the 100 seeds weight (16.04 g), yield (1.50 tons ha-1), and the yield oil (329.59 kg ha-1). The row spacing 75-75 cm recorded the highest averages in the branch number per plant (9.73 branch plant-1), and the 100 seeds weight (16.89 g) while 60-60 cm was the highest in nodes number (11.79 node plant-1). The interaction between IAA and row spacing affected significantly most of soybean traits. The interaction 300×75-75 was significantly higher 100 seeds weight (18.38 g) while the interaction 150×60-60 was significantly higher in nodes number (13.13 nod plant-1), and the interaction 450×30-30 was the highest in the yield oil (416.64 kg ha-1). The result outcomes will be benefitting the industrial and agronomic soybean community.

Medicinal plants have played a vital role in human health and nutrition since ancient times, laying the groundwork for pharmacology and dietary practices. Historical figures such as Theophrastus and Linnaeus classified numerous therapeutic herbs, many of which have contributed to modern medicines. Today, herbs, spices, fruits, and vegetables are valued for their nutritional and therapeutic properties. This evolving “pharm-nutrition” approach emphasizes bioactive phytochemicals that bridge food and medicine. Plant extracts now serve as natural preservatives, flavor enhancers, and alternatives to synthetic additives. Regulatory frameworks vary: in the U.S., botanicals in dietary supplements are regulated as food under DSHEA without FDA pre-approval, while in the EU, traditional herbal products must meet pharmacopeia and WHO standards. The global dietary supplement market is expanding rapidly, projected to reach $300 billion by 2028, reflecting rising demand for natural health products. However, this growth raises sustainability concerns, with over 15,000 of the 80,000 medicinal plant species globally endangered due to overharvesting. Conservation efforts emphasize cultivation and biotechnological solutions such as tissue culture and synthetic seeds. Herbal components are increasingly incorporated into modern diets and nutraceuticals for their bioactive benefits. Scientific studies have isolated active compounds and validated their antibacterial, antioxidant, and therapeutic effects. While some herbs are clinically studied, many traditional remedies remain under-researched. Global research trends now focus more on drug discovery and functional bioactives than agronomic studies. Future directions include applying genomics, metabolomics, and digital traceability to ensure safety, efficacy, and sustainable use of medicinal plants within integrated food–pharma strategies.

A field experiment was conducted at the Research Station of the Field Crops Department at the College of Agriculture, Tikrit University, during autumn season of 2024. The aim was to determine the best autumn planting dates and plant density, and their impact on growth, yield, and quality of maize seeds. The study included two factors: three planting dates (1/8, 15/8, and 1/9) and three plant densities (83,333, 71,428, and 62,500 plant ha-1). The field study was implemented according to a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replicates. Results showed that second planting date outperformed all studied traits. Lowest planting density was superior in leaf chlorophyll content, stem diameter, protein and oil content. While 71428 plant ha-1 was superior in leaf area, ear length, number of rows per ear, and number of seeds per row. The high planting density was superior in plant height, and seed yield.

Globally, cucumber is a popular vegetable grown for its nutrients, large amount of water, and economic value. More people interested in sustainable and healthy farming have encouraged use of organic fertilizers. The study provides a summary of recent results about how using organic and integrated fertilizers affects cucumber growth, yields, quality and antioxidants. It has been seen that using organic fertilizers increases growth of plants, leads to better flowering and fruiting, improves soil texture and boosts microbial activity. The quality of fruit is enhanced by organic ingredients, for factors such as its size, weight, texture, length of stay on shelves and antioxidants it contains. Moreover mixture of plant nutrients in organic and inorganic fertilizers leads to results where nutrients are quickly accessible and soil remains fertile for a long period. Sciences also analyze how antioxidant production is increased through a better supply of nutrients and more impressive physiological reactions. The review stresses that by using organic fertilizers on crops, you can boost production and protect environment and food produced. It would be beneficial to study how best to use mixture of fertilizers and followed by tracking their effects over time.

Cluster analysis and principal component analysis are multivariate analyses used widely to assess genetic diversity. The present study was conducted in the Autumn of 2024 at the Grdarasha experimental station, College of Agriculture Engineering Sciences, Salahaddin University, Erbil, Iraq, to assess the phenotypic genetic diversity among 20 sweet and forage corn single-cross hybrids using cluster and principal component analysis. Results demonstrated that the 20 single-cross hybrids were significantly different from each other. Moreover, almost all of the traits studied showed high broad-sense heritability, which is important for selecting corn single-cross hybrids. Cluster analysis and principal component analysis revealed a high level of genetic diversity, which has implications for characterizing, conserving, and breeding sweet and forage corn single-cross hybrids, as well as for categorizing them. The hybrids under study were divided into six different groups based on the performance of phenotypic traits, indicating that the hybrids have a varied genetic background. The cluster analysis and principal component analysis were also able to separate sweet corn well from the forage corn. This indicated the differentiation of the genetic makeup of sweet corn from forage corn. Biplot analysis showed positive correlations among ear yield and several traits such as ear weight, ear length, number of kernel rows per ear, number of leaves per plant, ear height, plant height, number of leaves per ear, leaf area, stem diameter, and number of ears per plant. A correlation of the first three principal component analyses accounted for 76.26% of the variation, indicating a significant variation among the hybrids studied.