This meta-analysis systematically reviews the genetic and breeding strategies for enhancing spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) adaptation to Russia's vast Non-Chernozem Zone (NCZ). The NCZ presents significant agricultural challenges due to its heterogeneous agro-climatic conditions, which are categorized into four distinct regional groups. The analysis, conducted following PRISMA guidelines, synthesizes data from 152 selected studies to identify key genetic targets and evaluate modern breeding methodologies. The findings reveal that genetic improvement for the NCZ hinges on developing resilience to a complex of abiotic and biotic stresses. Critical abiotic targets include alleles for photoperiod insensitivity (Ppd-1) and vernalization (Vrn-1) to ensure timely maturation, alongside genes for cold tolerance (CBF regulon), drought resilience (root architecture QTLs, dehydrins), and heat stability. For biotic stresses, the strategy emphasizes pyramiding both major resistance genes and durable adult plant resistance (APR) complexes, such as Lr34/Yr18 and Fhb1, to combat evolving pathogens like rusts, Fusarium head blight, and powdery mildew. The review underscores a paradigm shift from conventional breeding to integrated approaches that leverage genomic selection (GS), marker-assisted selection (MAS), speed breeding, and high-throughput phenotyping. These tools enable the rapid pyramiding of complex traits and enhance selection efficiency for polygenic characteristics. The conclusion asserts that the future of spring wheat breeding in the NCZ lies in the synergistic application of advanced genomic tools and precise phenotyping within a multi-trait selection framework to develop high-yielding, climate-resilient cultivars tailored to the zone's unique and demanding constraints.

In recent years, sustainable industrial development has been expanding globally. Different industries produce by-products that pose significant environmental challenges. Fly ash is one of the by-products from the coal combustion process used by many industries. For the sustainable utilization of by-products, fly ash has gained increasing attention by improving soil quality, and can also be used as a potential solution for the waste management system. As a soil amendment ingredient, the impact of fly ash-enriched soil on plant growth requires a comprehensive evaluation and understanding. In this research, the growth of the radish plant is analyzed by a Multi-Attribute Decision-Making (MADM) method. The growth data of the radish plant were collected under two types of soil conditions with different fly-ash compositions. The experiment was performed under semi-controlled conditions in a greenhouse facility. In this research, we used a multi-objective optimization framework, which is one of the MADM methods, to analyze the impact of the fly ash composition in the delta clay-rich soil and coastal sandy soil on plant growth. The data for five fly ash compositions: 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% were collected for the delta clay-rich soil and coastal sandy soil. The significant growth factors are germination rate, plant height, and number of leaves. We used the 'Multi-Objective Optimization on the Basis of Ratio Analysis' (MOORA) technique to understand the most significant configuration for evaluating the plant growth under different soil conditions. The MOORA technique is widely used in process parameters optimization, materials selection, and system performance assessment. The method simultaneously incorporates both desirable and undesirable criteria by using a ratio system to convert a decision matrix into a ranking system based on the sample configuration. Our research finds the optimized fly ash composition and the impacts of soil conditions on the radish plant growth in different soil conditions.

The rising demand for sustainable and eco-friendly alternatives to chemical pesticides has intensified research into the potential of insect-derived by-products for plant protection. This study investigates the antifungal efficacy of Tenebrio molitor frass against two major soil-borne pathogens, Rhizoctonia solani and Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici, through a two-tiered experimental approach: in vitro and in planta assays using tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum, cv. ‘Optima F1’).

In vitro experiments evaluated both liquid and solid forms of frass for their ability to inhibit fungal growth. Liquid extracts—both autoclaved and non-autoclaved—were tested via disk diffusion and direct application methods, using multiple controls, including commercial fungicide and pH-adjusted solutions. Significant growth inhibition was observed in R. solani when treated with frass extracts, while F. oxysporum remained largely unaffected. Solid media assays using PDA amended with 1% frass corroborated these findings, showing a 38.06% reduction in R. solani growth, with no statistically significant impact on F. oxysporum.

Following these promising in vitro results, in planta assays were conducted using frass-amended substrates to assess disease suppression and plant growth parameters under R. solani infection. Plants grown in the presence of 1% frass exhibited reduced disease symptoms, increased root biomass, and enhanced shoot length. Statistics analysis revealed that frass significantly influenced shoot elongation in both infected (+2.63 cm) and uninfected plants (+5.29 cm), with a more pronounced effect in the absence of the pathogen.

These results suggest that T. molitor frass holds potential as a biological soil amendment with dual benefits: mitigating disease impact and promoting plant growth. Further research is warranted to elucidate the mechanisms underlying its bioactivity and to optimize its application in integrated pest management (IPM) strategies.

Postharvest fungal diseases remain one of the most significant causes of economic losses in pome fruits, leading to substantial waste during storage, distribution, and commercialization. This challenge is becoming increasingly critical due to the instability of current environmental conditions. The progressive global restrictions on synthetic fungicides demand the development of effective, sustainable, and climate-resilient alternatives. In this context, endophytic microorganisms—naturally inhabiting plant tissues without causing harm—represent a promising, underexplored reservoir of biological diversity with high potential for the discovery of novel biocontrol agents and antifungal metabolites applicable to postharvest protection.

In this study, a broad collection of 88 endophytic isolates (65 fungi/yeasts and 23 bacteria) was obtained from apple, pear and nashi fruits belonging to several commercial varieties. Microorganisms were isolated from both mesocarp and peduncle tissues, with the aim of capturing a representative diversity of fruit-associated endophytes. The antagonistic potential of all isolates was systematically screened through a series of in vitro assays against five major postharvest fungal pathogens of pome fruit: Penicillium expansum, Botrytis cinerea, Alternaria alternata, Colletotrichum acutatum and Monilinia fructigena. Initial confrontation assays revealed that multiple isolates were capable of reproducibly inhibiting pathogen development, as quantified through reductions in colony area relative to untreated controls. These results permitted the selection of a subset of promising strains for further mechanistic studies.

To gain insight into potential modes of action, split-plate assays were performed to evaluate volatile-mediated inhibition. No significant growth suppression was observed, suggesting that volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were not responsible for the antagonistic activity detected in earlier assays. Conversely, liquid-culture filtrates obtained from selected strains revealed that at least one endophyte produced extracellular antifungal metabolites capable of reducing pathogen growth in vitro, supporting the hypothesis that bioactive, secreted compounds contribute to its inhibitory activity. This finding identifies the strain as a particularly strong candidate for future metabolite characterization.

Current and future work is focused on the molecular identification of the most active isolates, extraction and characterization of their inhibitory metabolites, and the assessment of additional mechanisms potentially involved in antagonism, including competition and nutrient depletion. Furthermore, the research pipeline will progress toward in vivo validation on fresh fruit to determine the real-world applicability of the most promising candidates.

Overall, this study highlights the potential of fruit-associated endophytes as a valuable source of sustainable biocontrol agents and antifungal compounds, contributing to the development of climate-adaptive postharvest management strategies and offering new tools for reducing fruit losses in a more environmentally conscious framework.

Salinity stress is a major constraint to global crop productivity, affecting physiological processes and reducing yield and quality in many horticultural crops. Although tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is moderately salt-sensitive, salt-induced reductions in photosynthetic capacity, fruit size, and overall plant performance remain significant challenges for sustainable production. Endophytic fungi produce a diverse array of bioactive fungal extracts with potential biostimulant properties. This study evaluated whether foliar application of Talaromyces ruber extracts could alleviate salinity stress effects on tomato plants and improve fruit quality parameters. Tomato plants were grown in a climate-controlled greenhouse with four treatments established: control, salinity, fungal extracts and salinity + fungal extracts. Foliar application of fungal extracts were carried out at two developmental stages: early fruit set and full flowering. Physiological parameters, chlorophyll content, flavonol index, and anthocyanin index, were measured at three time points. Furthermore, yield components, fruit diameter, soluble solids content (°Brix), and shoot biomass were also evaluated. The interaction between salinity and fungal extract application significantly affected chlorophyll content during the first evaluation period, indicating that extracts enhanced chlorophyll accumulation specifically under saline conditions. Although salinity drastically reduced total fruit production per plant, the application of fungal extracts significantly improved fruit diameter regardless of salinity level, with mean fruit diameter increasing in extract-treated plants under both control and saline conditions. This suggests a positive effect on commercial fruit quality, although extracts did not significantly enhance total yield or shoot biomass. While the extracts tested did not confer tolerance to high salinity levels, their ability to improve fruit calibre highlights their potential as biostimulants in less extreme saline environments or when applied more frequently throughout the crop cycle. Future research should explore lower salinity levels, repeated applications, and identification of specific bioactive compounds responsible for the observed effects, contributing to the growing evidence supporting endophytic fungi as sources of sustainable, eco-friendly biostimulants for stress management in horticulture.