Ali Sabah Alhasan

Retunhu et al. (2017) assessed the ability of probiotic bacteria from indigenous food sources to produce acetic acid and the possible use thereof as a natural preservative for sheep meat. Pediococcus and Bifidobacterium spp. were isolated from raw milk, shinina and pickle and screened for ability to produce acid in environmentally rich nutritious media consisting of fruit juice and honey. High-performance liquid chromatography and Fourier-transform infrared spectrometry confirmed the presence of the acid after biosynthesis. Bifidobacterium spp. produced more acetic acid than Pediococcus spp., 52.08 mg/L in fruit juice medium being recorded: 12.82 mg/L. The application of the 0.6% purified acetic acid on sheep meat resulted in improved oxidative stability and microbial quality for 18 weeks storage at −10 °C. Lipid oxidation was significantly inhibited through reduction of thiobarbituric acid (TBA) values (0.13 mg malonaldehyde/kg) and peroxide values (PV) at the end of storage recorded as 1.96 mEq/kg. Microbiological data showed a 0 per cent. incidence of the pathogen Clostridium perfringens in treated while psychrotrophic Flavobacterium spp. count was limited to 2,750 cells/g. Sensory evaluation of the treated meat by an expert panel yielded a high acceptability score of 93, compared to 79 for the control. This work indicates that the right “bacteria acetic acid” can provide us with a two-edged gladiatorial “sword” for a reasonable “shortening of the sheep-meat shelf,” next to the crisps at the refrigerator door when q uality, safety and acceptability are helped- “ be it for the health of the public

Cluster bean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba L.) is usually grown for its high galactomannan content as an industrial crop. Young edible cluster bean pods are also eaten as a nutritious vegetable in many areas. There is little research on the effects of drought on pod yield or the nutritional content of edible cluster bean pods, even with the growing importance of producing vegetable cluster bean in dry and semiarid regions. In this study, the effect of silicon nanoparticles (Si NPs) and methyl jasmonate (MeJA) applied concurrently on the growth performance, pod productivity, and nutritional quality of vegetable cluster bean was evaluated at three irrigation rates. A three-factor experiment was done in a completely randomized block design with three replications under field conditions, with three irrigation rates (100% field capacity, 50% field capacity, and 25% field capacity), three Si NP levels (0, 50, and 100 ppm), and three MeJA levels (0, 20, and 40 μmol L−1). Drought stress (with irrigation at 25% FC) significantly reduced the growth of the plant, pod yield, crude protein, crude fat, fiber, dry weight, and mineral composition of the edible cluster bean pods. Pod weight reduction of approximately 50% occurred when they were irrigated at 25% FC, compared to pod yield from well-watered plants. The addition of Si NPs and MeJA, when applied together, was able to reduce the adverse effects of low and moderate drought on pod yield and improve the productivity and nutritional quality of the edible cluster bean pods. The combined application of 100-ppm Si-NPs and 40-μmol L−1 MeJA was the most effective treatment for improving the productivity and nutritional quality of vegetable cluster bean under deficit irrigation. These findings suggest that this combination for cluster bean cultivation under moderate drought conditions after economic feasibility and field-scale validation studies.

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) is one of the important ornamental, aromatic, and medicinal plants belonging to the family Lamiaceae. This plant is infected by several plant pathogens, causing considerable economic losses to its growth and production. Among these, Fusarium wilt is a major and destructive disease hampering rosemary cultivation in many agroclimatic settings in Iraq. This study aimed to identify the fungal pathogens associated with the rosemary seedlings showing wilt symptoms. To this end, infected rosemary plants were collected randomly from different local nurseries of Al-Qadisiyah Governorate of Iraq. Fungal pathogens from the roots of these plants were isolated, propagated, and identified based on the morphological characteristics of colonies (i.e., colony color, mycelial growth, and colony diameter) and confirmed by molecular sequencing. The initial morphological characterization showed the presence of two pathogenic fungal species, i.e., Fusarium solani and F. chlamydosporum. Furthermore, molecular diagnosis based on sequencing of the ITS-DNA gene region using ITS1F and ITS4 R primers corroborated the morphological diagnosis. Sequence data analyses exhibited 99 and 100% alignment of Iraqi isolates of F. solani and F. chlamydosporum, along with the Chinese isolates (MN960013.1 and KX783373.1), respectively. DNA sequences of Iraqi isolates of F. solani and F. chlamydosporum are deposited in the NCBI Gene-Bank with accession codes OQ299566.1 and OQ301746.1, respectively. To our knowledge, this study encompasses the first morphological and molecular diagnosis of the pathogenic fungal species responsible for Fusarium wilt in rosemary plants in Iraq, posing a serious threat to rosemary cultivation in nurseries.

Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAPs) are widely used in traditional medicine and food industries, forming an important part of the global bioeconomy. Yet, their cultivation often suffers from low yields, inconsistent phytochemical composition, and vulnerability to environmental stress, largely because of continued reliance on conventional farming methods. Precision agriculture (PA) offers a promising approach to addressing these challenges through advanced technologies such as remote sensing, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), geographic information systems (GIS), Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, variable-rate input systems, and automation. Recent research indicates that these technologies can optimize irrigation and fertilization, maintain consistent production of bioactive compounds, enhance uniformity in plant growth, and minimize input losses while increasing yield and quality. Several studies have also reported notable improvements in water-use efficiency, essential oil content, and early disease detection, demonstrating both the economic and environmental benefits of adopting smart farming practices. However, large-scale application of precision agriculture (PA) in medicinal and aromatic plant (MAP) production is still limited due to different factors, such as high initial costs, limited species-specific standardization, poor infrastructure, and low digital literacy among growers. This review examines recent developments in the application of precision technologies in MAP cultivation, assesses their advantages and limitations, and highlights future directions for the development of affordable solutions for growers. Integrating precision agriculture into MAP production is important for ensuring quality and competitiveness in global markets on a sustainable basis.

Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is among the world’s most valuable spices, with applications in culinary, dyeing, medical, and cosmetic industries. This study investigates the volatile profiles of saffron from different geographic origins using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) in combination with principal component analysis (PCA) to assess whether volatile markers reflect geographic provenance. Several compounds were detected using GC-MS. For instance, safranal was found in very high concentrations in these samples. The content of safranal in the Turkish ecotype was higher than those in other ecotypes (Syria and Iran), 43.76, 35.37, and 28.42, respectively. From the GC-MS, it is indicated that main essential chemicals in saffron samples from other origins are mainly safranal, 2(5H)-furanone, m-cresol, isopropylcresol, and α-isophorone. This, therefore, proved the first trial of saffron in Iraq recently cultivated in many countries, i.e., Turkey, Syria, Iraq, which will also open up new horizons for saffron cultivation as an alternative crop for socio-economic upliftment in Iraq. From the findings, it can be recommended that Turkish saffron is an ideal ecotype that can be grown in Iraq due to its richness in safranal plus the other volatile chemicals important for its aroma, and assisting humans to be healthy.

Co-contamination of paddy soils with antimony (Sb) and nickel (Ni) poses significant risks to soil quality, crop productivity, and food safety. This study evaluated the effectiveness of iron–titanium oxide-engineered biochar (Fe-Ti-BC) in mitigating Sb and Ni mobility in contaminated paddy soil and examined associated changes in soil carbon dynamics and microbial communities. Compared with the control, Fe-Ti-BC application reduced CaCl2-extractable Sb and DTPA-extractable Ni by 20.31–34.31% and 39.87–79.67%, respectively. Amendment with Fe-Ti-BC and unmodified biochar enhanced the carbon pool management index (CPMI) and labile organic carbon fractions, indicating improved carbon sequestration potential and nutrient cycling capacity. Rice biomass significantly increased following biochar treatments. Iron and titanium concentrations in root Fe plaque were approximately 20-fold and twofold higher, respectively, in Fe-Ti-BC-amended soils than in the control, suggesting enhanced plaque-mediated immobilization of trace elements. Consequently, Sb and Ni concentrations in rice grains decreased by 20.02–78.18% and 60.17–69.79%, respectively. High-throughput sequencing revealed that Fe-Ti-BC reshaped soil bacterial community composition and metabolic activity, promoting keystone taxa including Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, and Firmicutes. Partial least squares path modeling (PLS-PM) identified CaCl2-extractable Sb, DTPA-extractable Ni, and Fe-Ti plaque formation as key determinants governing trace element accumulation in rice grains. Overall, Fe-Ti-BC effectively stabilized Sb and Ni through coupled geochemical and biological mechanisms, thereby reducing metal transfer to edible tissues while enhancing soil carbon functionality and productivity. These findings highlight the potential of engineered biochar as a sustainable remediation strategy for multi-metal contaminated paddy systems with direct implications for environmental health and food security.

Organic farming is among the most rapidly expanding industries in agriculture. Organic agricultural strategy employs organic fertilizers, while prioritizing methods such as crop rotation and companion planting to ensure sustainable agriculture. To complete the output, we reviewed 50 studies that examined sustainable agriculture; its components and methods. Furthermore, we identified organic farming, its advantages, challenges and contribution to sustainable development. Sustainable development is characterized as progress that satisfies current demands without jeopardizing the capacity of future generations to fulfill their own requirements. This is achieved through resource utilization, investment direction, technological advancement, and institutional transformation. Human, economic, and social development are critical domains for attaining sustainable development. Agriculture is universally acknowledged as an essential element of sustainable development over the long run. Sustainable agriculture is characterized by the effective use of agricultural resources to fulfill evolving human requirements, while preserving or enhancing environmental quality and conserving natural resources. Organic farming gained prominence in the 1970s owing to the growing awareness of the harmful environmental effects of some synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. It denotes a system that predominantly avoids or eliminates synthetic inputs, including inorganic fertilizers, pesticides, hormones, and similar substances. Organic farming is a production system that preserves the integrity of soil, ecosystems, and human health. It depends on natural processes, biodiversity, and cycles adapted to local conditions, rather than on inputs having detrimental impacts. The principles of health, ecology, justice, and compassion serve as the foundational pillars of organic agriculture. We may draw the conclusion that organic farming is a successful strategy for preserving environmental equilibrium and protecting natural resources like soil, water, air, forests, biodiversity, and so forth. Agricultural productivity is increased by organic farming's creative and sustainable methods.

Mint Mentha aquatica L. also known as water mint belongs to ‘Lamiaceae’ family, is a perennial aromatic plant naturally grown in various regions of Iraq and has been utilized in traditional medicine for its diverse therapeutic properties since prehistoric times. The current experiment focused on exploring the chemical constituents present in essential oil (EO) extracted from naturally grown M. aquatica and to evaluate its potential for further pharmacological applications. Fresh aerial plant parts were collected, followed by washing and oil extraction through hydrodistillation using a Clevenger-type apparatus to obtain the essential oil. The extracted oil was analyzed by gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to identify its volatile constituents. Around 44 bioactive compounds were identified representing the major chemical profile of the essential oil. The results depicted that major components detected were caryophyllene (5.15%), followed by isocarveol (4.90%), menthofuran (4.59%), menthone (4.52%), and eucalyptol (3.53%). These compounds are well known for various biological activities, suggesting the therapeutic applications of extracted oil. The results highlight the chemical variation of M. aquatica essential oil and suggest that environmental and geographical factors may influence its profiling. It is suggested that phytochemical exploration of water mint from different Iraqi regions to complete characterization is necessary for the assessment of its potential in pharmaceutical and industrial usage.

Melatonin is essential for promoting plant growth and development even under stress conditions. This study examined the morphological and biochemical changes of Solanum muricatum under drought stress and studied the effects of foliar-applied melatonin in mitigating drought-induced stress. A completely randomized design with three replications was done using two levels of drought stress (50% and 75% FC) and four levels of melatonin application (0, 50, 100, and 150 µM). Drought stress had a negative effect on several growth attributes, which include plant growth, pedicle length, area of leaves, height of plants, and root length. Morphological traits such as pedicle length, leaf area, and root length improved particularly at 100 µM MT by 59.6%, 58.2%, and 41.3%, respectively. Melatonin reduced oxidative stress markers, with MDA levels decreasing by 61.5% and 55.8% under 50% and 75% FC, respectively. Antioxidant enzyme activities were enhanced; SOD was increased by by 28.2% under 50% FC at 100 µM, while CAT and POD activities were reduced to 44.7% and 58.9%, respectively, under 50% FC at 100 µM. Proline content was increased by 20.5% under 50% FC at 50 µM. The correlation analysis, along with the heatmap visualization, showed strong relationships between the melatonin application and growth, physiological traits, and biochemical responses. The study found that moderate melatonin concentrations (50–100 µM) significantly improved drought resilience. While a 150 µM concentration of melatonin showed lower improvements. These findings underscore melatonin's potential as a sustainable strategy to enhance crop productivity under water-limited conditions. Future studies should focus on long-term field studies and the molecular mechanisms of melatonin stress mitigation effects.

Thymus vulgaris L., also known as wild thyme, is a well-known aromatic herb important for its therapeutic uses and is extensively used in the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic products. This study focused on exploring the chemical profile of essential oil extracted from the aerial parts of wild thyme collected from naturally grown plants around Diwaniyah city in Iraq, a region previously unexplored for aromatic compounds identification and profiling. The harvesting of plant samples was done at the full flowering season; air dried at room temperature under shaded conditions, and hydrodistillation was carried out for three hours using a Clevenger apparatus to isolate essential oil. The analysis of thyme essential oil was carried out on gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) for the detection of vital constituents, for identification and quantification of volatile compounds optimized parameters was followed through consulting the spectral databases and retention index values. Around thirty-four constituents were detected in total, with thymol (8.99%), carvacrol (8.43%), p-cymene (7.55%), linalool (7.47%), γ-terpinene (7.13%), and isolimonene (6.37%) being the major constituents. The current experiment offers the first detailed chemical analysis of Iraqi wild thyme essential oil, emphasizing its potential as it contains several biologically active compounds usable for various industrial applications.

The rapidly increasing global demand for food security urgently calls for agricultural technologies that can boost productivity without contributing to environmental degradation. A group of fertilizers that combines nanotechnology with beneficial microorganisms – known as nano-biofertilizers – has shown tremendous potential to enhance plant growth, increase yields, and improve soil health. Controlled nutrient release, enhanced microbial activities, and improved nutrient-use efficiency are key benefits of these new fertilizers, collectively leading to higher crop productivity with reduced environmental impact. These advantages contribute to sustainable agriculture by reducing the use of chemical fertilizers, surface soil degradation, nutrient leaching, and greenhouse gas emissions. Recent research findings have also highlighted their role in increasing plant resilience to abiotic stress factors, enhancing soil microbial diversity, and supporting ecological balance. This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of the multifaceted roles of nano-biofertilizers in modern agriculture, focusing on their contributions to plant physiology, soil health, environmental sustainability, and long-term agricultural productivity. Through empirical integration, we argue that nano-biofertilizers could be a transformative tool in advancing sustainable farming and achieving global environmental conservation goals.

Lavender is a medicinal and aromatic crop grown worldwide for essential oil (EO) production that is used in the pharmaceutical, ecofriendly pesticides, foods, perfumery, cosmetics, and other industries. However, the quantity and quality of lavender EO is affected by several factors including the extraction process. This study examined the effect of distillation time (DT) on the quantity and quality of the EO obtained from dried lavender flowers through the hydro-distillation process. Different distillation times ranging from 10 to 180 min were applied in isolating the EO from dried lavender flowers using a Clevenger-type apparatus while gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) identified the chemical compositions derived from the oils. The maximum EO of 2.15% was obtained after 150 min distillation and the minimum (0.16%) at 10 min. In all the analyzed samples, the chemical composition of the isolated EO revealed the dominance of cyclohexanol (4.64-16.33%), cyclohexanone (3.42-10.77%), eucalyptol (1.04 6.06%), caryophyllene oxide (2.94-5.23%), caryophyllene (2.89- .74%), nerol oxide (1.12 196%), trans-carveol (0.32-1.66%), and β-ocimene (0.46-0.89%). The results suggest that distillation time affects the yield of EO and the quantity of some constituents in dried lavender flowers.

On Al-Qadisiyah farms, mushroom flies can cause several damages by reducing growth of mushroom body. Recently, mushroom flies have significantly reduced mushroom production in Iraq. moreover, larvae and adults of these pest cannot be identified due to their lack of morphological and genetical information. Thus, Iraqi farmers are unable to identify which pest is the primary cause of the mushroom damage in their farms. In this study, mushroom flies (adults) were collected from damage mushroom farms at Al-Qadisiyah governorate in Iraq, and subsequently determined by using 28S ribosomal RNA. Divergences of the 28S ribosomal RNA sequences among the species discriminated the clusters clearly, and the mushroom flies were identified as Scatopse notata and Coboldia fuscipes.

Background and Objective: Borage is a medicinal plant with different culinary and medicinal uses. It is also cultivated for commercial oil production. Little information is available regarding the influence of the type of fertilizer on borage performance under different environmental conditions. Therefore, there is a need to determine the impact of some fertilizers such as seaweed and NPK on several agronomic parameters. Materials and Methods: Fertilizer treatments include seaweed (2 g LG1) and NPK (2 g LG1) in addition to control. The study was conducted using a completely randomized design with three replications. Results: Results showed that both types of fertilizers significantly increased plant traits measured over the control. Some of those traits included, plant height, vegetative biomass, chlorophyll content, seed yield and harvest index. Conclusion: It can be concluded that applying these fertilizers was beneficial in increasing vegetative growth as well as seed yield of borage.

Saffron or red gold (Crocus sativus L.) is the costliest aromatic and medicinal plant in the world. Saffron is utilizedmainly as a spice for coloring and flavoring of food. Moreover, it is also used as an antioxidant, anticancer, anti-depressive,antitussive, anti-ischemic and anti-inflammatoryeffects. Agronomic and environmental factors can influence the morphologicaland anatomical traits of the saffron plants. Therefore, the study was performed to assess the impact of different NPKapplication rates on saffron plant development and yield. The potted experiment was performed utilizing a Completelyrandomized design (CRD) with five replications. It was found that the application of NPK treatments significantly influencedthe total numbers of leaves per plant, leaf length, flower fresh weight and corm traits. Overall, it seems that applying NPK at2 g/L can improve the agronomic traits and stigma production in saffron.

One of the most important insects in the world is Apis mellifera, which shows a critical role in different environmentalconditions. For thousands of years, diverse honeybee products have been used to cure human ailments in manycivilizations, and their curative effects have been mentioned in several holy books. The worker bees and queenproduce an apitoxin, which is a cytotoxic and colorless liquid of hemotoxic bitter. The bee venom or apitoxin containsdifferent sugars, volatile pheromones, phospholipids, enzymes, peptides, amino acids, minerals, proteins, and otherbioactive compounds. The present review aims to collect more information about the history of honeybee venom andits medicinal uses. The apitoxin or bee venom is medicinally utilized to control different human diseases such ascancer, fibrotic disease, liver fibrosis, Parkinson disease, Alzheimer disease, arthritis, HIV, and Lyme disease. The firstreport on the application of bee venom to treat human ailments was published in 1888, when European clinicalresearch was conducted to determine the efficacy of honeybee venom in treating rheumatic disorders. According toseveral studies published in different scientific journals, honeybee venom has been applied to control different humandiseases for several centuries. Thus, it can be decided that bee venom can be a potential future biomedicine to controldifferent diseases such as cancer.

The National Program of Wheat Development in Iraq (NPWD) performed a field experiment at the Al-Shafeieyah Wheat Research Station to determine the impact of sprayed nano-specific, nano-complete micronutrients, and nano-manganese on the agronomic traits and yield of wheat (cv. Baghdad 3). The experiment involved spray application of eight treatments with nano-specific (NSF), nano-complete micro (NCM), and nano-manganese fertilizers (NMnF), as well as di (NSF+NCM), (NSF +NMF), (NCM + NMnF), and tri (NSF+NCM+NMF). Different agronomic traits, as well as yield (quality and quantity) characteristics, were measured. As a result of the statistical study, the following conclusions were drawn: LSD0.05 was sprayed with NMnF, NCM, and NSF, followed by spraying with a combination of di (NMnF+NCM), (NMnF+NSF), (NCM+NNSF), and tri (NMnF+NCM+NSF), treatments in all agronomic traits and yield of wheat, with an increment of 94.92cm, 14.00cm, 66.00 SPAD, (2.20, 0.60, and 1.87) percent, (141.90, 44.82, 37.22, and 94.55) µg g-1 for plant height, spike length, total chlorophyll, and N,P,K, Fe, Cu, Zn, and Mn concentrations in grain, respectively, in comparison to the control treatment. The same treatment was considerably better in biological yield, grain yield, protein yield, and harvest index, with 14.792 Meg ha-1, 7.100 Meg ha-1, 890.34 kg ha-1, and 40.00 percent, respectively, as compared to control, bilateral combinations, and mono spray. The greatest agronomic efficacy was obtained when foliar spraying tri combination treatments and dual nano-mixed fertilizers of (NCM + NSF) (1850.00 and 2111.11) kg kg-1, respectively.

Over the last few decades, biotechnology research has advanced to the point where it is now possible to improve essential agricultural crops. Synthetic seed manufacturing has opened up new possibilities of in vitro plant propagation technique since it has various practical benefits on a commercial scale for the cultivation of a wide range of agricultural crops. It is one of the most important tools for plant tissue culture breeders and scientists, since it provides significant benefits for massive production of distinct (elite) plant species. Synthetic seeds offer a promising strategy for mass plant production in a way of encapsulation of non-embryonic or embryonic (somatic embryos) tissues in a gel-like matrix, such as shoot buds, shoot tips, microshoots, protocoms and nodal segments. When the strategies minimize the cost of the production of elite plant genotypes, this strategy can be adapted for commercial production. The technology of the synthetic seed necessitates the use of in vitro growth systems in order to produce viable materials that can be converted into plants on a wide scale. The discovery of an artificial seed technology opens up new possibilities of a promising strategy for improving a wide range of commercially significant plant species, including cereals, fruit crops, medicinal plants, and vegetable crops, which we focus on in this review article.

High nitrogen input is important to guarantee higher production and essential oil yield. Ecologically, it is necessary to determine whether reduced nitrogen levels have an impact on the medicinal herbs’ productions. In the recent research, the influences of reduced nitrogen supply on the agronomic traits and essential oil productivity of chamomile have been evaluated. The experiment pots were set, and five levels of nitrogen fertilizer Urea (0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 kg N/ha) have been applied to the soil during the growing season. As a result, Chamomile growth, flower, essential oil content and yield were significantly increased when urea was applied as 75 kg N/ha. As a result, this research illustrates that reducing nitrogen supply might be a promising environmentally friendly way and an alternate strategy for improving the essential oil of chamomile and perhaps other medicinal plants, while also helping the environment.

The major issues influencing human health in developing countries is the nutrient deficiency in different field crops. Several problems with the low efficiency of using the traditional chemical fertilizers by plants, despite there are more development in agricultural cultivation. Therefore, biofortification with nano-fertilizers and nano-biostimulants have been proposed as potential ways to enrich diets with nutrients. Organic fertilizers confront the issue of extending the duration of nutrient release and decreasing mineral content; however, inorganic fertilizers suffer from volatilization and loss of leaching. Nanotechnology’s application in agriculture has enormous promise to address these issues. The use of nanoparticles in biofortification of wheat is gaining traction due to their capacity to provide the optimal amount of fertilizer at the optimal time, hence reducing environmental concerns, facilitating nutrient uptake and absorption, and increasing grain production and profitability. Wheat is a major field crop that can solve with applying nano-biofortification the problem of malnutrition and nutrient deficiencies in humans. Although numerous research experiments on nano-bio-fortification of wheat plants have been conducted, this review article summarizes the benefits and results of nano-bio-fortification for grain maximization through a comprehensive review of nanomaterials and fertilizers and their effective role in bio-fortification and grain yield maximization. Moreover, current trends in the usage of many nanotechnology-based biofortification methods for wheat production were highlighted. Several methods for wheat improvement, including macro and micronutrient supply, are reviewed in more details. Understanding several features of the safe use of nanoparticles and their future prospects may assist in their effective use in terms of economics and nutritional needs after the usage of nano-fertilizers and nano-biostimulants in biofortification and wheat grain yield maximization.

Spearmint (Mentha spicata L.) is a critically important herb across the globe, with rising demand for greenhouse culture; nevertheless, little information is known concerning spearmint reactions to nitrogen addition. In a controlled environment in Iraq, the influence of different nitrogen fertilizer levels (0, 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 kg N/ha) on the morphological characteristics and essential oil (EO) output of spearmint was investigated. With nitrogen fertilizer treatments, spearmint’s leaf chlorophyll content (SPAD), agronomic characteristics, and essential oil output rose dramatically. The findings suggested that maintaining a nitrogen content of 60 kg N/ha boosted spearmint’s various agronomic features and essential oil output. Nitrogen application boosted spearmint chlorophyll content, while the control treatment had the lowest chlorophyll level (without N application). Nitrogen fertilizer applications at 60 and 80 kilogram/ha improved essential oil output and percentage of essential oil, suggesting that commercial native spearmint plants should get 60 kg N/ha. In conclusion, the amount of nitrogen applied may have an influence on spearmint’s vegetative growth and development, as well as on the generation of essential oils when cultivated in a greenhouse.

The experiment was carried out under the shade net house conditions in a private farm located in Al-Diwaniyah city, Al-Qadisiyah, Iraq to investigate the influence of applying different rates of seaweed extract (0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, and 3.0 g/L) on different plant growth parameters and flowers production of gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii L.) plant. Results showed that there were statistically differences in the levels of seaweed extract that applied as a source of organic fertilizer, and also applying seaweed fertilizer has been increased the agronomic traits and number of flowers produced per plant. It can be concluded that applying of seaweed fertilizer at 3.0 (g/L) had beneficial influenced on the growth and flowering production of gerbera plant grown under the shade net house conditions.

Assessments of growth, calyx yield and nutritional composition of roselle can help farmers in Iraq to determine which cultivars are the best for commercialization. The field experiment has been done on two roselle cultivars (red and white) during summer of 2019 in a private farm that belongs to a farmer in Al-Saniyah county, Al-Diwaniyah, Al-Qadisiyah province, Iraq, to investigate the impact of applying various rates of N fertilizer (0, 30, 60, 90, and 120 kg N/ha) on some agronomic traits and calyx yield. The results exhibited that there were significant differences in the rate of Nitrogen and applying N fertilizer has increased the vegetative growth and yield. Significant differences have been also reported in different agronomic traits between the cultivars and the white cultivar showed the best. The red cultivar of roselle showed the better in yield and yield components than the white cultivar grown in Iraq. it can be concluded that applying of nitrogen fertilizer had a pronounced beneficial influenced on the red roselle cultivar.

A field experiment has been used two purple cultivars of basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) during summer of 2019 at Al-Diwaniyah Station for Crop Cultivation and Development, Al-Diwaniyah city, Iraq, to study the effect of different rates of NPK on some vegetative characters and oil yield. The treatments comprised different rates (0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, and 3.0 g.L−1) of NPK foliar fertilization which were applied after 50 DAP. Obtained results revealed that NPK had significant effect on all parameters tested in both cultivars. Red Rubin cultivar showed a linear relationship between all parameters tested and NPK rates. However, only one parameter; plant height, showed this relationship in Dark Opal cultivar at which, all other four parameter showed polynomial relationship. The maximum values for the parameters were obtained at the 3.0 g.L−1 NPK treatment for Red Rubin cultivar and at 1.5-2.5 g.L−1 NPK treatments in most parameters for Dark Opal. It can be concluded that NPK application had a pronounced beneficial effect on basil plant.

This study is aimed to investigate the effect of Senna (Cassia senna) powder and extract and the material of potassium sulfate and aqueous aluminum salts (KAl (SO4 )2 12H2 O) in inhibiting the growth of Aspergillus ochraceus and Fusarium sp. These fungi produce the mycotoxins accompanying the stored yellow corn and wheat grains, their efficiency in preventing the growth of the fungi and thus inhibiting the toxins secreted. It was found that the application of powder and extract of the senna plant to the plant medium of Potato Sucrose Agar (PSA), A. ochraceus and Fusarium sp at concentrations (1, 3 and 5) % led to inhibit fungal growth by (20.5, 50.7, 65.52%) and (25.55, 53.65, 67.6%) for fungi and concentrations, respectively. The alcoholic extract of the senna plant at concentrations (0.5, 1 and 2%) inhibited the growth of fungi by (60.5, 81.6, 90.5%) and (65.5, 88.1 and 93.6%) for the fungi, respectively. The alum powder and at concentrations (0.2, 0.5 and 1%) led to the inhibition rate of (70.5, 95.2, 100%) and (73.6, 100, 100%) for fungi and concentrations, respectively. Therefore, they both have a role in inhibiting and preventing fungal growth.