ANBAR JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES

Molecular analysis techniques such as RAPD represent modern tools that have brought a significant advancement in studying genetic diversity in plants. They provide high accuracy in distinguishing genetic structures without the need for prior knowledge of genome sequences in this study, RAPD markers were employed to analyze genetic variation and assess the genetic diversity among ten Iraqi cotton genotypes. The RAPD profiles revealed substantial differences in the number and size of amplified fragments, confirming the presence of genetic diversity among the tested genotypes. A total of 258 DNA bands were detected, including 213 polymorphic and 45 monomorphic bands. Primer OPN-07 generated the highest number of bands 31, whereas OPQ-17 yielded the fewest 10. Primer OPA-11 exhibited the highest discriminatory power 13.17, while OPQ-20 showed the lowest 2.71. Genetic distance analysis revealed maximum divergence between ‘Nazly 87’ and ‘Awar 310’ 0.9677, and the minimum between ‘Ashour’ and ‘Marsoumi’ 0.1002. Distinctive DNA fragments were identified as molecular fingerprints for each genotype, such as a 780 bp band for ‘Nazly 87’, a 460 bp band for ‘Awar 310’, a 920 bp band for ‘Marsoumi’, and a 650 bp band for ‘Ashour’. Overall, the findings demonstrate the effectiveness of RAPD markers in detecting genetic diversity and establishing genetic relationships among Iraqi cotton genotypes. This study provides a molecular foundation for breeding programs aiming to enhance cotton productivity and develop superior, resistant cultivars in Iraq. This study represents a valuable foundation for future research aimed at enhancing cotton productivity in Iraq through the use of molecular techniques

The productivity of shallot from true seed (Allium ascalonicum L.) is influenced by the interaction of genetic, nutritional, and spatial factors. This study aimed to evaluate the combined effects of variety, foliar fertilizer composition, and planting density on shallot growth and yield. The experiment was conducted from June to September 2024 at the Hasanuddin University Experimental Farm, Makassar, Indonesia (5°7′40.07″ S, 119°28′48.94″ E), using a split-split plot design with three varieties (Lokananta, Merdeka F1, Sanren F1), three foliar fertilizer packages, and two planting densities (single and double seedlings per hole). Analysis of variance showed significant (p < 0.05) three-way interactions among variety, fertilizer, and density for plant height, dry biomass, and bulb weight. The maximum plant height (58.41 cm) was recorded in Merdeka F1 with fertilizer package A and double seedlings, while the greatest dry biomass (54.30 g) occurred in Sanren F1 with fertilizer package C and single seedlings. The maximum bulb fresh weight (41.72 g) was achieved in Lokananta under package A with single seedlings. Fertilizer package C produced the highest bulb dry weight (33.09 g) and yield (22.06 g per plant), representing a 35% increase over package A. Single-seedling planting yielded 21.34 g compared with 16.39 g under double planting. A strong positive correlation (r = 0.95) was found between bulb dry weight and total yield. These results confirm that optimal combinations of variety, fertilizer composition, and planting density substantially enhance shallot productivity under controlled conditions.

In this study, four local isolates of Trichoderma harzianum from the fields in Hama governorate were isolated from the eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) in 2022. Treatments with the pathogenic fungi R. solani and F. oxysporum resulted in a sharp, significant decrease in all studied growth and production indicators. In contrast, the application of T. harzianum isolates resulted in a marked increase in the studied indicators, including plant dry weight, fresh and dry weight of the vegetative mass, and plant yield, compared with the untreated control. The isolate I25 achieved the most significant increase in production indicators. Treatments involving the addition of T. harzianum isolates in association with the pathogens R. solani and F. oxysporum showed a significant increase in the studied production indicators compared to treatments with the pathogens alone. The research results also demonstrated the effectiveness of the four local isolates in reducing fungal infection rates in the field. The isolate I25 outperformed the others in both biofertilizer and biocontrol applications.

Different levels of pomegranate pomace (PP) were added to the diets of broiler chickens to evaluate their performance and the quality of their carcasses and meat. In the experiment, 400 one-day old unsexed Ross 308 chicks weighing an average 38.85 ± 0.07 g were randomly assigned into five treatment groups. Birds in the first group (Control; T1) were fed a standard diet (SD) without any additives, T2 birds received SD + 0.02% butylhydroxytoluene (BHT), and the T3, T4, and T5 treatment groups received a SD + 0.25%, 0.50%, and 0.75% PP, respectively. Each treatment included four replicates of 20 birds. The treatments had no significant impact on their growth performance index and carcass yield. T4 produced enhanced characteristics in meat quality, such as reduced cooking loss and increased water-holding capacity. There were no noticeable variations in shear force. By increasing HDL and decreasing LDL, total cholesterol, and triglycerides, T5 significantly enhanced serum lipid profiles. Antioxidant status was also improved with increased glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations in the PP-treated groups, specifically T4 and T5. In conclusion, PP supplementation at 0.50% or 0.75% concentrations can be used in the diets of broiler chickens as antioxidants and for improving their meat quality without affecting growth performance.

Indonesia’s rising demand for corn for animal feed continues to outstrip domestic production, posing a risk to long-term food security. This study quantifies the supply-demand dynamics of corn in Central Java and identifies feasible policy pathways to achieve provincial self-sufficiency by 2031. A system dynamics model, calibrated using secondary data from 2015 to 2024, was developed in Powersim to capture the interactions among production, harvested area, productivity, consumption, trade flows, and policy interventions. Three scenarios were simulated: a baseline without intervention, a moderate intervention with 1% annual improvements in yield and area, and an aggressive intervention combining 3% yield growth with 5% land expansion. Model validation generated mean absolute percentage errors of less than 2%, confirming strong predictive performance. The results show that the baseline trajectory leads to a widening deficit, while the moderate strategy reduces but does not eliminate reliance on imports. Only the aggressive scenario closes the gap, achieving import elimination by 2027 and generating a surplus by 2031. The study contributes a localized dynamic-system framework that integrates agronomic, demographic, and trade variables to identify the precise turning point when domestic supply overtakes demand. These findings underscore the need for coordinated policies that jointly enhance productivity, manage land expansion, and align import controls with real-time monitoring and control. Embedding dynamic-system tools in policy formulation would enable adaptive, evidence-based planning to safeguard the region’s corn self-sufficiency and strengthen national food security.