SOUTHERN JOURNAL OF SCIENCES

The presented article describes the soil types existing in east Georgia, particularly in several villages of Gurjaani Municipality-Vazisubani, Kalauri, Mukuzani, Shashiani. Meadow-brown and brown soils represent good soil types for viticulture development in Kakheti. The vineyards cultivated on these soils produce such wellknown wines as Tsinandali, Vazisubani, Mukuzani, Akhasheni, Gurjaani, Manavi. The study explores brown carbonate and meadow-brown soil lab tests to examine the absorption of phosphate ions by them. The study showed that the amount of phosphorus deposited through soils is sufficiently absorbed under various conditions, having a positive effect on the amount of crop. Was compared the rates of phosphate absorption in these soils with the efficiency of phosphorus fertilizers, which showed that the higher the absorption of phosphorus, the lower the amount of phosphorus available to the plant and the lower the yield, and the lower the strength of phosphorus retention, the higher the amount of phosphorus to be consumed by the plant and the higher the yield. But under the conditions of high cultivation degree, the strength of phosphorus absorption became weak, resulted in a large amount of exchangeable and movable phosphates already existing in the soil, which is available to the plant. So, the efficacy of phosphorus fertilizers on such soil is weak. The speed of phosphorus absorption in the soil of Gurjaani municipality villages is satisfactory. However, in case of a high degree of cultivation (or in case of excess fertilization), the degree of phosphorus retention decreases. Accordingly, phosphorus-containing fertilizers should be used within strictly controlled limits. 

Background: Background: Vitamin D plays an essential role in bone health and overall physiological function, and its deficiency is common in children and adolescents with β-thalassemia major (βTM). Iron overload, as reflected by elevated ferritin, may further influence vitamin D status. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate serum vitamin D levels in βTM patients and determine their association with ferritin levels. Methods: A total of 40 βTM patients and 20 age-matched healthy controls (aged 4–25 years) were enrolled between October 2024 and February 2025. Serum vitamin D, calcium, ferritin, and hemoglobin were measured. Statistical analysis, including correlation and logistic regression, was performed using SPSS v.26 to identify predictors of vitamin D deficiency. Results: Vitamin D deficiency was highly prevalent among βTM patients (70%) compared with controls. Patients showed significantly lower vitamin D levels (17.32±1.56) than controls (25.34±1.76). Vitamin D levels were positively correlated with age (r = 0.788), calcium (r = 0.772), and hemoglobin (r = 0.771), and negatively correlated with ferritin (r = −0.517). Logistic regression demonstrated that ferritin >1000 ng/mL strongly predicted vitamin D deficiency (OR = 17.875; 95% CI: 3.258–98.074; p = 0.001), while younger age ( < 10 years) also increased the odds of deficiency (OR = 5.200; p = 0.018). Discussion: D deficiency is a prevalent and intrinsic metabolic disturbance in β-thalassemia major, closely linked to chronic iron overload and elevated ferritin levels. This interplay disrupts hepatic vitamin D hydroxylation, induces inflammation, and contributes to endocrine and skeletal complications, highlighting ferritin as a key predictor of deficiency in these patients. Conclusion: Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent in βTM and is strongly associated with elevated ferritin levels, suggesting that iron overload is a significant predictor. Integrating vitamin D assessment into routine monitoring may support better management of disease-related metabolic disturbances in patients with βTM.

Of the most fundamental fields of modern biology is transcriptomics, with a focal point on the expression pattern of plants under various conditions by assessing ribonucleic acid. So far, this approach has been a game-changer in revealing the gene structure, function, and most importantly, their cellular and biological role. Considering the criticality of pathogens for crop plants, understanding plant defense mechanisms against them is in high demand. This study aimed to review the principles of these approaches and their recent application in the plant. An Important method to address this gap is transcriptomics, which can effectively provide insight into plants against pathogens. This field has covered different aspects of plant biology besides the plant-pathogen relationship. Identifying pathogens in infected plants and the series of reactions they provoke at the gene level is crucial to finding the responsible gene (s). Finding the gene associated with resistance or vulnerability to a specific pathogen paves the way to differentiate the potential genotypes. Thus, the breeding attempts would be more successful. The advancement in biotechnology has revolutionized this field with some of the methods that have been commonly applied in studies on the plant-pathogen relationship, for instance, Northern blotting, microarray, real-time polymerase chain reaction.