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Crop statistics are crucial for developing a demand-based export and import strategy to ensure a country's sustainable food security. Remote sensing efficiently generates essential crop statistics, while ground-based supplementary sensor data offers sufficient information for crop delineation. This study explored the multispectral satellite imagery using in-situ ground-based hyperspectral reflectance phenology information as training data to delineate wheat from other competitive winter crops in Northwestern Bangladesh as a case study. Wheat spectral signatures were primarily obtained through a hand-held Spectroradiometer at various phenological stages, aligned with Sentinel-2 data availability. Five vegetation indices (VIs), namely Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Red-edge NDVI (RENDVI), Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI), Greenness Chromatic Coordinate (GCC) and Soil-Adjusted Vegetation Index (SAVI), were derived from Spectroradiometer-data across six wheat growth stages: seedling, tillering, booting, flowering, grain development, and maturity. Maximum and minimum threshold values for the VIs at those six growth stages were determined from regression analysis of the values collected from Spectroradiometer and Sentinel-2. A rule-based classification technique was then used to categorize Sentinel-2 for wheat crop delineation based on those threshold values. The results revealed that maps based on NDVI, EVI, and SAVI showed overall accuracies of 83.33%, 85.18%, and 81.48%, respectively. These accuracies were found to be statistically acceptable (p < 0.05) outcomes. A positive agreement was observed when comparing the remotely sensed area at the union (4th tier administrative level) with the officially reported data of Bangladesh. This innovative method has the potential to be extended for developing phenology and area delineation for other major crops locally and globally. Highlights: A phenology-based algorithm was applied for delineating winter wheat. The algorithm is developed by combining Sentinel-2 images and Spectroradiometer data. Vegetative indices of wheat exhibited a strong relationship between two sensors' data. Accuracy assessment and validation of the produced maps demonstrated significant results. The method has the potential to be extended to area mapping for other crops locally and globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Heat stress is one of the abiotic stresses that make wheat crops vulnerable, which significantly impacts crop production around the world. An increase in temperature during the reproductive phase (anthesis) beyond the optimal range of 15–20 °C leads to decreased crop production, poor quality of the grain, and altered physiological and biochemical processes. To study the association between high temperature and physio-biochemical traits under normal and late sown, a set of fifteen genotypes was utilized. Results: Relative water content under high temperatures had an overall decrease of 8.7%. However, grain protein and malondialdehyde content were higher in the stressed conditions than in the control, with increases of 20.2% and 38.9%, respectively. Marker Xgwm67, located on chromosome 5B, was found to be significantly associated with malondialdehyde content (R2 = 21%) and Xgwm570, located on 6A, was closely linked to relative water content as well as grain protein content (R2 = 16%) revealed by regression analysis. The correlation matrix displays a positive association between the control and stressed condition by R2 = 0.92, 0.82, and 0.53 in malondialdehyde, relative water content, and grain protein, respectively. However, there was a negative correlation between water content–malondialdehyde and malondialdehyde–grain protein, though there was only a 4% correlation between grain protein content (control) and relative water content (stressed). Based on the tolerance matrix, WH730 and RAJ4079 were heat tolerant, and DBW173 and HD3086 were sensitive. Conclusions: These findings indicate that to identify tolerant genotypes, physiological and biochemical traits can be utilized as an alternate criterion, and these closely associated markers can be applied for improved late-planted wheat production through MAS. The breeding scheme and genome editing by recognizing novel genes through physio-biochemical parameters, marker-assisted selection, and prospective screening of tolerant genotypes are proclaimed by the study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheat is an important staple crop not only in Pakistan but all over the globe. Although the area dedicated to wheat cultivation expands annually, the quantity of wheat harvested is declining due to various biotic and abiotic factors. Global wheat production and output have suffered as a result of the drought, which is largely driven by a lack of water and environmental factors. Organic fertilizers have been shown to reduce the severity of drought. The current research was conducted in semi-arid climates to mitigate the negative effects of drought on wheat during its critical tillering (DTS), flowering (DFS), and grain filling (DGFS) stages through the application of three different abscisic acid treatments: ABA0 (0 mgL−1) control, ABA1 (100 mgL−1) and ABA2 (200 mgL−1). Wheat growth and yield characteristics were severely harmed by drought stress across all critical development stages, with the DGFS stage being particularly vulnerable and leading to a considerable loss in yield. Plant height was increased by 24.25%, the number of fertile tillers by 25.66%, spike length by 17.24%, the number of spikelets per spike by 16.68%, grain count per spike by 11.98%, thousand-grain weight by 14.34%, grain yield by 26.93% and biological yield by 14.55% when abscisic acid (ABA) was applied instead of the control treatment. Moreover, ABA2 increased the more physiological indices (water use efficiency (36.12%), stomatal conductance (44.23%), chlorophyll a (24.5%), chlorophyll b (29.8%), transpiration rate (23.03%), photosynthetic rate (24.84%), electrolyte leakage (− 38.76%) hydrogen peroxide (− 18.09%) superoxide dismutase (15.3%), catalase (20.8%), peroxidase (− 18.09%), and malondialdehyde (− 13.7%)) of drought-stressed wheat as compared to other treatments. In the case of N, P, and K contents in grain were maximally improved with the application of ABA2. Through the use of principal component analysis, we were able to correlate our results across scales and provide an explanation for the observed effects of ABA on wheat growth and production under arid conditions. Overall, ABA application at a rate of 200 mgL−1 is an effective technique to boost wheat grain output by mitigating the negative effects of drought stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genetic resistance to the parasitic root-lesion nematode, Pratylenchus thornei, is one of the main management strategies cereal growers can use to minimise the impact of nematodes on winter cereal cropping. Screening of genotypes in the presence of P. thornei populations must provide reliable resistance measures that are realised under field conditions. Adoption of the latest statistical methodologies can help to better differentiate between resistant and susceptible genotypes. In this study, post-harvest P. thornei population densities were measured from a collection of 17 field experiments, with varying starting P. thornei population densities, conducted between 2011 and 2018 in locations across the northern grain growing region of eastern Australia. The experiments primarily consisted of wheat genotypes. The post-harvest P. thornei population densities were analysed across multiple environments in a linear mixed model framework, with a factor analytic structure used to model genotype by environment (G × E) interaction effects exclusively for wheat genotypes. In general, genetic correlations between environments were found to be high, indicating limited G × E interaction for resistance to P. thornei. Post-processing of results using the factor analytic selection tools (FAST) method provided a measure of the overall performance for each wheat genotype, as well as a stability measure reflecting the consistency of the resistance status across environments. The FAST method quantified genotype resistance on a continuous scale, better reflecting the nature of genetic resistance based on a quantitative variable such as nematode population density, and provided a statistically robust and informative means of aiding selection decisions for resistance to P. thornei. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A two-year field experiment was conducted at Lovely Professional University, Phagwara during the Rabi season of 2018–2019 and 2019-20 to study the effect of crop establishment methods and sowing schedule on the growth and yield of wheat under the rice-wheat cropping system. The experiment comprised different rice residue management-based wheat establishment methods, sowing dates, and varying nitrogen levels. The results confirmed that growth, yield and yield attributes were all influenced by different crop establishment methods, sowing dates and level of nitrogen application. The results showed that maximum plant height, number of tillers per plant, number of spikes per plant, spike length, number of grains per spike and grain yield were observed under 20th November sowing (timely sowing) and with 100% RDN (recommended dose of nitrogen). Moreover, the maximum number of spikes per plant, spike length and grain yield were significantly highest for the residue incorporation method of wheat establishment. The optimum time of sowing also improved the grain yield of wheat. Among the different crop establishment methods, the best attainment of available nitrogen status in soil was found in residue incorporation treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The majority of farmers (85%) in Asia operate on small plots (< 2 ha) under low-input conditions to support their livelihoods. Wheat production in India faces challenges due to water scarcity and suboptimal nitrogen (N) management practices. To address this problem, a multi-location (9) field experiment comprising of 9 treatments by including nano and prilled urea alone or in combination was conducted under restricted irrigation conditions (only two irrigations i.e., first at crown root initiation stage and 2nd at flag leaf stage) during 2021–2022 and 2022–2023 in randomised block design with three replications in three agro-climatic regions (NWPZ- North Western Plains Zone, NEPZ- North Eastern Plains Zone and CZ- Central Zone) of India. Results indicated that combining recommended nitrogen (RDN) i.e., 90 kg/ha with two sprays of 5% urea increased grain yield by 4.1% and 41.9% in NWPZ and NEPZ, respectively, over RDN alone. Two sprays of nano urea at tillering and jointing stages significantly outperformed the control (Zero N), increasing grain yield by 14.5%, 34.0%, and 19.2% in NWPZ, NEPZ, and CZ, respectively. Moreover, RDN with two sprays of nano urea increased the grain yield and agronomic efficiency by 12.1% and 12.0% in CZ and 25.2% and 24.6% in NEPZ over RDN alone, respectively. From a net benefit perspective, RDN with two sprays of 5% urea was 6.7 and 70.4% higher in NWPZ and NEPZ over RDN under restricted irrigation. In CZ, applying RDN with two sprays of nano urea provided 15.5% higher net benefit over RDN. The recommendation for wheat cultivation in small-scale farming systems in India under restricted irrigation conditions suggests adopting a nitrogen management approach combining RDN with two sprays of 5% urea in NWPZ and NEPZ or with two sprays of nano urea in NEPZ and CZ improved the productivity, profitability and agronomic efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The grain protein concentration (GPC) and yield are intimately and negatively correlated in wheat. However, how carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) supplies influence the wheat growth that underlies yield and quality formation has not been fully explored. Two wheat varieties with high GPCs (ZM578) and low GPCs (LY502) were grown under low and optimum N supplies in the field, and their growth, yields, and GPCs were closely investigated. The grain yield and total N uptake of the wheat variety ZM578 were comparable to those of LY502, but the GPCs increased by 12.4–16.1% on average. Compared with LY502, ZM578 had lower maximum stem numbers but similar spike numbers at maturity due to a lower rate of tiller mortality, which partly contributed to its grain yield. The grain N and C assimilation rates strongly and linearly correlated with each other, while steeper slopes were observed for the optimum- vs. low-N treatments, as well as for the high- vs. low-GPC treatments. Similarly, the C to N ratios in the developing grains of ZM578 were lower than those in the developing grains of LY502, regardless of N availability, which indicated that more N was transported to the grains per unit C in high-GPC ZM578. The random forest model revealed that the grain N uptake and leaf senescence (SPAD during grain filling) were the major controlling factors of yields and GPCs in cultivar ZM578. Overall, this study demonstrated that high yields and high quality can be simultaneously achieved by optimizing N management and selecting superior varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ancient wheats are valuable genetic resources, though knowledge on their response to micronutrients in the presence of saline irrigation water is scanty. Two studies were conducted to unravel the behavior of ancient emmer and spelt wheats upon exposure to saline (75 and 150 mM NaCl) water and foliar-applied Zn (4 g L− 1) under pot and field conditions. Two weeks after implementing the salt treatment, Zn treatment was implemented twice with one week interval and the plants were exposed to the prolonged salt stress until physiological maturity. Then, an array of physiological processes underlying differential grain yield and quality responses of the ancient and standard wheats to these treatments were scrutinized. Salinity suppressed chlorophyll, relative water content, root volume, stubble yield, and grain yield of emmer and spelt and standard durum and bread wheats. Though, it increased the proline concentration, and Na+/K+ in all wheat genotypes. Emmer wheats indicated smaller salt-induced suppressions in stubble yield and grain yield, despite indicating a greater Na+/K+. Ancient emmer and spelt wheats indicated smaller grain yield components, but out-ranked the standard durum and bread wheats in terms of root volume, grain Zn, and protein concentrations. Zn's effect on the grain yield attributes and grain yield was moderate but it enhanced the grain Zn, particularly in emmer wheats. Novel findings of this study suggest that emmer wheats supplied with foliar-applied Zn are superior to standard durum and bread wheats in terms of grain protein and Zn, root volume, and tolerance to saline water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheat plants infested by Russian wheat aphids (RWA) induce a cascade of defence responses, which include increased activity of β-1,3-glucanase and peroxidase (POD). There is a lack of information regarding β-1,3-glucanase and POD synergistic effects on the plant cell wall modification and characterisation during wheat-RWA infestation. This study aimed to characterise the physicochemical properties of the cell wall-bound POD and β-1,3-glucanase during RWA-wheat interaction. The susceptible Tugela, moderately resistant Tugela-Dn1, and resistant Tugela-Dn5 cultivars were planted in a glasshouse to a seedling stage before being infested with RWASA2 for 14 days. The findings showed a significant increase in β-1,3-glucanase and POD activities in the infested Tugela-Dn5 and Tugela-Dn1 cultivars over the 14 days. However, in the Tugela enzymes were repressed. In addition, it was shown for the first time that β-1,3 − 1,4-glucanase activity specific toward mixed-linked glucan was significant in the resistant cultivar over 14 days. β-1,3-glucanase, β-1,3 − 1,4-glucanase and POD displayed optimum at pH 5. β-1,3-glucanase and POD displayed temperature optimum at 40 and 50 °C, respectively. However, β-1,3 − 1,4-glucanase had temperature optimum at 25 °C. β-1,3-glucanase and POD had a thermo-stability at 37 °C followed by about 80% relative activity at 70 °C, but β-1,3 − 1,4-glucanase displayed thermostability at 25 °C and retained more than 75% at 70 °C, confirming that β-1,3 − 1,4-glucanase and β-1,3-glucanase induced in the resistant cultivars cell wall were two different enzymes. Mechanism of actions and oligosaccharide displayed that β-1,3-glucanase was highly active against β-1,3-glucan and required a triose and higher oligosaccharide to be active. Our findings demonstrated cell-wall bound POD and β-1,3-glucanase activities significantly increased in wheat after RWASA2 infestation, revealing they acted synergistically to reinforce the cell wall to deter RWASA2 feeding in resistant cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stress-protective effect of melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) on plant cells is mediated by key signaling mediators, in particular calcium ions and reactive oxygen species (ROS). However, the links between changes in calcium and redox homeostasis and the formation of adaptive responses of cultivated cereals (including wheat) to the action of high temperatures have not yet been studied. In the present study, we investigated the possible involvement of ROS and calcium ions as signaling mediators in developing heat resistance in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seedlings and activating their antioxidant system. Treatment of 3-day-old etiolated seedlings with melatonin solutions at concentrations 0.01–10 µM increased their survival after exposure to 45 °C for 10 min. The most significant stress-protective effect was exerted by melatonin treatment at 1 µM concentration. Under the influence of melatonin, a transient enhancement of superoxide anion radical (O2•–) generation and an increase in hydrogen peroxide content were observed in roots, with a maximum at 1 h. Four hours after treatment with melatonin, the activity of catalase and guaiacol peroxidase increased in roots, while the activity of superoxide dismutase did not change significantly. After exposure to 45 °C, the activity of catalase and guaiacol peroxidase was higher in the roots of melatonin-treated wheat seedlings, and the indices of ROS generation, content of the lipid peroxidation product malonic dialdehyde, and cell membrane damage were lower than in control seedlings. Melatonin-induced changes in root ROS generation and antioxidant enzyme activities were eliminated by pretreatment with the hydrogen peroxide scavenger dimethylthiourea (DMTU), NADPH oxidase inhibitor imidazole, and calcium antagonists (the extracellular calcium chelator EGTA and phospholipase C inhibitor neomycin). Treatment with DMTU, imidazole, EGTA, and neomycin also abolished the melatonin-induced increase in survival of wheat seedlings after heat stress. The role of calcium ions and ROS, generated with the participation of NADPH oxidase, as signaling mediators in the melatonin-induced antioxidant system and heat stress resistance of wheat seedlings have been demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heat stress poses a significant environmental challenge that profoundly impacts wheat productivity. It disrupts vital physiological processes such as photosynthesis, by impeding the functionality of the photosynthetic apparatus and compromising plasma membrane stability, thereby detrimentally affecting grain development in wheat. The scarcity of identified marker trait associations pertinent to thermotolerance presents a formidable obstacle in the development of marker-assisted selection strategies against heat stress. To address this, wheat accessions were systematically exposed to both normal and heat stress conditions and phenotypic data were collected on physiological traits including proline content, canopy temperature depression, cell membrane injury, photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate (at vegetative and reproductive stage and 'stay-green'. Principal component analysis elucidated the most significant contributors being proline content, transpiration rate, and canopy temperature depression, which exhibited a synergistic relationship with grain yield. Remarkably, cluster analysis delineated the wheat accessions into four discrete groups based on physiological attributes. Moreover, to explore the relationship between physiological traits and DNA markers, 158 wheat accessions were genotyped with 186 SSRs. Allelic frequency and polymorphic information content value were found to be highest on genome A (4.94 and 0.688), chromosome 1A (5.00 and 0.712), and marker Xgwm44 (13.0 and 0.916). Population structure, principal coordinate analysis and cluster analysis also partitioned the wheat accessions into four subpopulations based on genotypic data, highlighting their genetic homogeneity. Population diversity and presence of linkage disequilibrium established the suitability of population for association mapping. Additionally, linkage disequilibrium decay was most pronounced within a 15–20 cM region on chromosome 1A. Association mapping revealed highly significant marker trait associations at Bonferroni correction P < 0.00027. Markers Xwmc418 (located on chromosome 3D) and Xgwm233 (chromosome 7A) demonstrated associations with transpiration rate, while marker Xgwm494 (chromosome 3A) exhibited an association with photosynthetic rates at both vegetative and reproductive stages under heat stress conditions. Additionally, markers Xwmc201 (chromosome 6A) and Xcfa2129 (chromosome 1A) displayed robust associations with canopy temperature depression, while markers Xbarc163 (chromosome 4B) and Xbarc49 (chromosome 5A) were strongly associated with cell membrane injury at both stages. Notably, marker Xbarc49 (chromosome 5A) exhibited a significant association with the 'stay-green' trait under heat stress conditions. These results offers the potential utility in marker-assisted selection, gene pyramiding and genomic selection models to predict performance of wheat accession under heat stress conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheat is an important source of minerals for human nutrition and increasing grain mineral content can contribute to reducing mineral deficiencies. Here, we identify QTLs for mineral micronutrients in grain of wheat by determining the contents of six minerals in a total of eleven sample sets of three biparental populations from crosses between A.E. Watkins landraces and cv. Paragon. Twenty-three of the QTLs are mapped in two or more sample sets, with LOD scores above five in at least one set with the increasing alleles for sixteen of the QTLs being present in the landraces and seven in Paragon. Of these QTLs, the number for each mineral varies between three and five and they are located on 14 of the 21 chromosomes, with clusters on chromosomes 5A (four), 6A (three), and 7A (three). The gene content within 5 megabases of DNA on either side of the marker for the QTL with the highest LOD score is determined and the gene responsible for the strongest QTL (chromosome 5A for Ca) identified as an ATPase transporter gene (TraesCS5A02G543300) using mutagenesis. The identification of these QTLs, together with associated SNP markers and candidate genes, will facilitate the improvement of grain nutritional quality. Landraces collected 100 years ago have been used to identify novel QTLs and candidate genes for essential mineral micronutrients in wheat, demonstrating the potential of exploiting diversity in older genotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheat grain starch content displays large variations within different pearling fractions, which affecting the processing quality of corresponding flour, while the underlying mechanism on starch gradient formation is unclear. Here, we show that wheat caryopses acquire sugar through the transfer of cells (TCs), inner endosperm (IE), outer endosperm (OE), and finally aleurone (AL) via micro positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT). To obtain integrated information on spatial transcript distributions, developing caryopses are laser microdissected into AL, OE, IE, and TC. Most genes encoding carbohydrate transporters are upregulated or specifically expressed, and sugar metabolites are more highly enriched in the TC group than in the AL group, in line with the PET-CT results. Genes encoding enzymes in sucrose metabolism, such as sucrose synthase, beta-fructofuranosidase, glucose-1-phosphate adenylyltransferase show significantly lower expression in AL than in OE and IE, indicating that substrate supply is crucial for the formation of starch gradients. Furthermore, the low expressions of gene encoding starch synthase contribute to low starch content in AL. Our results imply that transcriptional regulation represents an important means of impacting starch distribution in wheat grains and suggests breeding targets for enhancing specially pearled wheat with higher quality. This study classifies tissue-specific variations in metabolites and transcripts involved in starch biosynthesis and illustrates the factors affecting the spatial distribution of starch in wheat grain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aegilops tauschii Coss., an invasive weed, has a detrimental impact on the winter wheat cultivation areas of China. Understanding how drought influences competitive ability of A. tauschii can help identify traits related to its invasiveness and guide management. Slight, moderate, and severe soil drought stress conditions were established using potted weighing and water control methods. Concurrently, the de Wit replacement experiment was conducted to assess changes in morphological structure, biomass allocation, and physiological characteristics under varying intensities of soil drought stress. Based on observations of alterations in plant height, total leaf area, and total biomass, two-factor variance analysis revealed that soil drought inhibited the growth and development of both A. tauschii and Triticum aestivum L. ('Xinmai 32'). Furthermore, one-factor variance analysis revealed that A. tauschii and wheat responded to soil drought stress by increasing superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and proline content. However, as drought severity escalated, chlorophyll content in A. tauschii and wheat declined significantly, while relative electrical conductivity (REC) and thiobarbituric acid (TBA) content increased markedly. The results of the fuzzy membership function indicated that A. tauschii exhibited greater drought tolerance compared to the tested wheat variety. Lastly, considering adjustments in the corrected index of relative competition intensity (CRCI), it was observed that soil drought amplified the competitive inhibition of A. tauschii on wheat. In short, A. tauschii was more tolerant of the soil drought stress than wheat through the favorable adjustment of morphology, biomass allocation pattern and physiological features, and soil drought intensified its competitive inhibition on wheat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food and feed production worldwide heavily relies on wheat (Triticum aestivum). However, current agricultural practices face numerous challenges including a shortage of land for cultivation, a desire to reduce the use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers, and the development of resistance towards employed pesticides and virulence towards host resistance in the most widely grown varieties. In this paper, we demonstrate based on the literature that cultivating wheat variety mixtures generally leads to increased yield and yield stability across years and environments, reduced severity of multiple diseases, and a decreased risk of lodging before harvest compared to the cultivation of pure stands. Moreover, mixtures may delay fungicide resistance development and increase genetic diversity, ultimately prolonging the durability of resistance genes. Furthermore, growing mixtures may lower the risk of crop failure due to more extreme weather events and lead to better utilization of water and nutrients. We discuss a Danish case study advocating the cropping of wheat varieties in mixtures as an example of how variety mixtures can be utilized in integrated pest management strategies. The study shows that if all involved stakeholder groups promote the adoption of variety mixtures, a major uptake by farmers can be reached, potentially reducing the dependency on pesticides in current cropping schemes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Septoria tritici blotch (STB), caused by the pathogen Zymoseptoria tritici, is one of the most devastating diseases of wheat worldwide. Foliar disease management relies mainly on the application of fungicides. The demethylation inhibitors (DMIs) have been and continue to be one of the core components in STB control. A continuous shift of the Z. tritici population toward reduced sensitivity to DMIs is known for several years. This shift is mainly associated with the accumulation of target site mutations in the CYP51 gene, resulting in distinct CYP51 haplotypes, but also with CYP51 overexpression and increased efflux activity. The occurrence and distribution of the different DMI adaptation mechanisms were monitored in 2021 and compared in relation to previously published results from a survey in 2016 and 2017. In 2021, 54 different CYP51 haplotypes were identified across Europe; however, 15 CYP51 haplotypes represented 90% of the population. The frequency of different CYP51 haplotypes is dependent and variable between countries, with more complex CYP51 haplotypes found in Ireland and the United Kingdom carrying mostly the alteration S524T. In Germany, France, and Poland, a diverse pattern of moderately adapted CYP51 haplotypes together with complex haplotypes carrying S524T was identified, whereas the least complex haplotypes were found in the Eastern- and Southern-European countries. A comparison in the frequency of the different haplotypes for Germany, Poland, France, Ireland and the United Kingdom from 2016 to 2021 revealed a decrease in the frequency of less and moderately adapted haplotypes and an increase in the frequency of complex CYP51 haplotypes carrying the S524T alteration indicating an ongoing shift in DMI sensitivity. An increase in the occurrence and further distribution of CYP51 overexpression based on the ~ 120 bp promotor insert was found from 2017 to 2021. The frequency was shown to vary between countries, with higher frequencies found for example in Poland, Germany and France compared to the United Kingdom and Ireland. An increase in the frequency of increased efflux activity based on the 519 bp insert in the MFS1 promotor was mainly found in Ireland in 2021. In other countries, a stable situation or slight increase in the frequency of this insert was detected. In those countries, the frequency of increased efflux was found at lower levels comparable to findings from 2017. Altogether, the results imply that underlying mechanisms for DMI adaptation are getting more complex and diverse. Regular monitoring to understand the DMI adaptation mechanisms is crucial to implement appropriate anti-resistance strategies in order to slow down further shifts in sensitivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Picarbutrazox is the active ingredient of Vayantis®, a novel seed treatment fungicide developed by Syngenta and discovered by Nippon Soda. Vayantis® received registration from the US EPA in 2021. Picarbutrazox is a systemic fungicide and belongs to the tetrazolyloximes chemical group of fungicides, and its mode of action is still unknown (FRAC group U17). Picarbutrazox targets oomycete plant pathogens and controls diseases caused by Pythium, Phytophthora, and downy mildews. Picarbutrazox is in a new mode-of-action group with no known cross-resistance to other oomycete compounds. The sensitivity to Picarbutrazox of 528 isolates belonging to 40 different Pythium species was determined in vitro. Pythium isolates were collected from infected plants including corn, soybean, cotton, and other crops from 17 different states. Pythium isolates were also obtained from collections kept at universities. Isolates were identified at the species level using morphological and molecular tools. Mycelial growth inhibition was quantified using the following Picarbutrazox concentrations: 0, 0.00001, 0.0001, 0.001, 0.01, and 0.1 mg/L. All the species of Pythium tested were sensitive to Picarbutrazox. The sensitivity distribution (EC50 values) across all the Pythium species tested had a mean sensitivity of 0.000376 mg ai/L. The Picarbutrazox sensitivity of 40 species of Pythium species has been documented, and results demonstrate the high in vitro intrinsic activity of this fungicide to control Pythium species. The high potency of Picarbutrazox to control Pythium diseases in corn, soybeans, cotton, and other crops has also been demonstrated under field conditions when used as a seed treatment. Picarbutrazox, with its novel mode of action, will contribute to the management of potential fungicide resistance issues developed by other fungicide products controlling Pythium, including mefenoxam and ethaboxam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We detected isolates with SdhC-I87F-conferring mutations that were slightly SDHI-adapted in the barley leaf rust Puccinia hordei in France and the UK in 2019. SdhC-I87F of P. hordei is orthologous to SdhC-I86F in Phakopsora pachyrhizi, and SdhC-I88F in Puccinia horiana induced SDHI resistance. Nevertheless, the field performance of SDHIs against P. hordei was good, although strains with SdhC-I87F dominated the field. The sensitivity ranges were narrow for wheat leaf rust and Puccinia triticina in 2019; however, isolates with slightly higher EC50 values were obtained in southern France and the eastern UK in 2021. These isolates of P. triticina harbored an orthologous SdhC-I87F-conferring mutation. The range of EC50 values for the SDHI fungicide inpyrfluxam overlapped between the wild type and SdhC-I87F isolates. Further analyses are currently underway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheat production in cooler regions like the north-western Himalayas, is significantly impeded by devastating diseases, namely stripe rust (SR) and powdery mildew (PM). Genetic resistance against SR and PM loses effectiveness over time which underscores the importance of periodic disease screening. This study aims to assess resistance to SR and PM in 81 wheat genotypes across multiple locations over three years (2019–20, 2021–22 and 2022–23); and detect candidate genes (Yr5, Yr10 and Pm24) for resistance using respective molecular markers viz., SSR/STS primers (STS7/8, Xp3000 and Xgwm337). The resistance towards SR and PM under natural epiphytotic conditions was displayed by eight and twelve genotypes respectively, across all locations. Notably, four genotypes (DH 202, HPW 368, HPW 373 and DH 114) were found resistant to both diseases. The phenotypic disease reaction for SR and PM was further validated through molecular markers. Genotypes DH 202, DH208, DH 217, CIMMYT Entry no. 23 and VL 829 emerged as high yielding disease resistant genotypes. Agrometeorological parameters specifically, precipitation and relative humidity exhibited significant positive correlations with disease incidence, leading to reduced grain yields. Genotype and genotype by environment interaction (GGE) biplot identified stable genotypes with less disease incidence over locations. Additionally, Kukumseri may serve as the optimal test site for screening wheat germplasm against SR, while Palampur and Kukumseri could be ideal for PM screening. Genotypes exhibiting combined disease resistance to both SR and PM, alongwith superior agronomic traits, hold promise for immediate deployment as wheat varieties or as potential donors for breeding resistant cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: Underpinned natural variations and key genes associated with yield under different water regimes, and identified genomic signatures of genetic gain in the Indian wheat breeding program. A novel KASP marker for TKW under water stress was developed and validated. A comprehensive genome-wide association study was conducted on 300 spring wheat genotypes to elucidate the natural variations associated with grain yield and its eleven contributing traits under fully irrigated, restricted water, and simulated no water conditions. Utilizing the 35K Wheat Breeders' Array, we identified 1155 quantitative trait nucleotides (QTNs), with 207 QTNs exhibiting stability across diverse conditions. These QTNs were further delimited into 539 genomic regions using a genome-wide LD value of 3.0 Mbp, revealing pleiotropic control across traits and conditions. Sub-genome A was significantly associated with traits under irrigated conditions, while sub-genome B showed more QTNs under water stressed conditions. Favourable alleles with significantly associated QTNs were delineated, with a notable pyramiding effect for enhancing trait performance. Additionally, allele of only 921 QTNs significantly affected the population mean. Allele profiling highlighted C-306 as a most potential source of drought tolerance. Moreover, 762 genes overlapping significant QTNs were identified, narrowing down to 27 putative candidate genes overlapping 29 novel and functional SNPs expressing (≥ 0.5 tpm) relevance across various growth conditions. A new KASP assay was developed, targeting a gene TraesCS2A03G1123700 regulating thousand kernel weight under severe drought condition. Genomic selection models (GBLUP, BayesB, MxE, and R-Norm) demonstrated an average prediction accuracy of 0.06–0.58 across environments, indicating potential for trait selection. Retrospective analysis of the Indian wheat breeding program supported a genetic gain in GY at the rate of ca. 0.56% per breeding cycle, since 1960, supporting the identification of genomic signatures driving trait selection and genetic gain. These findings offer insight into improving the rate of genetic gain in wheat breeding programs globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potassium deficiency in wheat can significantly influence the accumulation of other macronutrients and affect various yield traits. Understanding the genetic factors controlling wheat macronutrient accumulation and yield attributes is important for improved nutritional wheat quality and human health under potassium deficiency This study investigated a set of 111 wheat accessions to assess their response to potassium deprivation. The accessions were subjected to two different levels of potassium treatment: moderate (K1) and low (K2). The wheat grains were analyzed for four macronutrients, mainly magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), potassium (K), and phosphorus (P), as well as yield attributes, under both treatments. A statistically significant decrease was observed for all assessed minerals and yield traits in wheat accessions under low potassium. Genome-wide association study (GWAS) analysis identified 366 SNP markers that were significantly linked with all assessed macronutrients and yield parameters, regardless of the potassium treatments. Remarkably, 14 genomic regions were identified that exhibited highly significant relationships with all evaluated characteristics under both treatments. Interestingly, the TraesCS1B02G359800 gene was located on chromosome 3B and annotated as protein kinases that harbor the variation of NGS, P, Mg_K2, and Mg_K1. Protein kinases can modulate the activity of ion transporters and channels, such as the High-Affinity K+ Transporter (HKT) family, to enhance the uptake and redistribution of potassium and other macronutrient. Therefore, integrating these genetic insights with modern breeding techniques holds the promise of developing superior wheat varieties that can meet the challenges of global food security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate production estimates, months before the harvest, are crucial for all parts of the food supply chain, from farmers to governments. While methods have been developed to use satellite data to monitor crop development and production, they typically rely on official crop statistics or ground-based data, limiting their application to the regions where they were calibrated. To address this issue, a new method called VeRsatile Crop Yield Estimator (VeRCYe) has been developed to estimate wheat yield at the pixel and field levels using satellite data and process-based crop models. The method uses the Leaf Area Index (LAI) as the linking variable between remotely sensed data and APSIM crop model simulations. In this process, the sowing dates of each field were detected (RMSE = 2.6 days) using PlanetScope imagery, with PlanetScope and Sentinel-2 data fused into a daily 3 m LAI dataset, enabling VeRCYe to overcome the traditional trade-off between satellite data that has either high temporal or high spatial resolution. The method was evaluated using 27 wheat fields across the Australian wheatbelt, covering a wide range of pedo-climatic conditions and farm management practices across three growing seasons. VeRCYe accurately estimated field-scale yield (R2 = 0.88, RMSE = 757 kg/ha) and produced 3 m pixel size yield maps (R2 = 0.32, RMSE = 1213 kg/ha). The method can potentially forecast the final yield (R2 = 0.78–0.88) about 2 months before the harvest. Finally, the harvest dates of each field were detected from space (RMSE = 2.7 days), indicating when and where the estimated yield would be available to be traded in the market. VeRCYe can estimate yield without ground calibration, be applied to other crop types, and used with any remotely sensed LAI information. This model provides insights into yield variability from pixel to regional scales, enriching our understanding of agricultural productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Triticummilitinae Zhuk. et Migusch., a tetraploid wheat with the GAA genome, is considered a natural naked mutant of Triticum timopheevii Zhuk. Previously, the karyotype and crossing characteristics of this wheat were examined. To clarify the origin and relationships of T. militinae with other representatives of the wheat family, analysis of its chloroplast genome, which remained unexplored, is of great interest. In the present study, for the first time, sequencing and annotation of the complete chloroplast genome of T. militinae, the size of which was found to be 135 898 bp, was conducted. The plastome of this wheat is composed of two inverted repeats, each of 21 552 bp in length, the small single-copy (SSC) region of 12 791 bp, and the large single-copy (LSC) region of 80 003 bp. The chloroplast genome of T. militinae contains 132 annotated structural genes, of which 85 genes are protein-coding, 31 are tRNA genes, and four genes code for rRNA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To sustainably increase wheat yield to meet the growing world population's food demand in the face of climate change, Conservation Agriculture (CA) is a promising approach. Still, there is a lack of genomic studies investigating the genetic basis of crop adaptation to CA. To dissect the genetic architecture of 19 morpho-physiological traits that could be involved in the enhanced adaptation and performance of genotypes under CA, we performed GWAS to identify MTAs under four contrasting production regimes viz., conventional tillage timely sown (CTTS), conservation agriculture timely sown (CATS), conventional tillage late sown (CTLS) and conservation agriculture late sown (CALS) using an association panel of 183 advanced wheat breeding lines along with 5 checks. Traits like Phi2 (Quantum yield of photosystem II; CATS:0.37, CALS: 0.31), RC (Relative chlorophyll content; CATS:55.51, CALS: 54.47) and PS1 (Active photosystem I centers; CATS:2.45, CALS: 2.23) have higher mean values in CA compared to CT under both sowing times. GWAS identified 80 MTAs for the studied traits across four production environments. The phenotypic variation explained (PVE) by these QTNs ranged from 2.15 to 40.22%. Gene annotation provided highly informative SNPs associated with Phi2, NPQ (Quantum yield of non-photochemical quenching), PS1, and RC which were linked with genes that play crucial roles in the physiological adaptation under both CA and CT. A highly significant SNP AX94651261 (9.43% PVE) was identified to be associated with Phi2, while two SNP markers AX94730536 (30.90% PVE) and AX94683305 (16.99% PVE) were associated with NPQ. Identified QTNs upon validation can be used in marker-assisted breeding programs to develop CA adaptive genotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To obtain seasonable and precise crop yield information with fine resolution is very important for ensuring the food security. However, the quantity and quality of available images and the selection of prediction variables often limit the performance of yield prediction. In our study, the synthesized images of Landsat and MODIS were used to provide remote sensing (RS) variables, which can fill the missing values of Landsat images well and cover the study area completely. The deep learning (DL) was used to combine different vegetation index (VI) with climate data to build wheat yield prediction model in Hebei Province (HB). The results showed that kernel NDVI (kNDVI) and near-infrared reflectance (NIRv) slightly outperform normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) in yield prediction. And the regression algorithm had a more prominent effect on yield prediction, while the yield prediction model using Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) outperformed the yield prediction model using Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LGBM). The model combining LSTM algorithm and NIRv had the best prediction effect and relatively stable performance in single year. The optimal model was then used to generate 30 m resolution wheat yield maps in the past 20 years, with higher overall accuracy. In addition, we can define the optimum prediction time at April, which can consider simultaneously the performance and lead time. In general, we expect that this prediction model can provide important information to understand and ensure food security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a primary nutrient in agricultural soils, phosphorus plays a crucial but growth-limiting role for plants due to its complex interactions with various soil elements. This often results in excessive phosphorus fertilizer application, posing concerns for the environment. Agri-research has therefore shifted focus to increase fertilizer-use efficiency and minimize environmental impact by leveraging plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria. This study aimed to evaluate the in-field incremental effect of inorganic phosphate concentration (up to 50 kg/ha/P) on the ability of two rhizobacterial isolates, Lysinibacillus sphaericus (T19), Paenibacillus alvei (T29), from the previous Breedt et al. (Ann Appl Biol 171:229–236, 2017) study on maize in enhancing the yield of commercially grown Duzi® cultivar wheat. Results obtained from three seasons of field trials revealed a significant relationship between soil phosphate concentration and the isolates' effectiveness in improving wheat yield. Rhizospheric samples collected at flowering during the third season, specifically to assess phosphatase enzyme activity at the different soil phosphate levels, demonstrated a significant decrease in soil phosphatase activity when the phosphorus rate reached 75% for both isolates. Furthermore, in vitro assessments of inorganic phosphate solubilization by both isolates at five increments of tricalcium phosphate-amended Pikovskaya media found that only isolate T19 was capable of solubilizing tricalcium at concentrations exceeding 3 mg/ml. The current study demonstrates the substantial influence of inorganic phosphate on the performance of individual rhizobacterial isolates, highlighting that this is an essential consideration when optimizing these isolates to increase wheat yield in commercial cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil-borne wheat mosaic virus (SBWMV) in the genus Furovirus is divided into Nebraska-like (NE) group and New York-like (NY) group on genomic sequences. Isolates Hk-Is and Hk-Tk showed more than 97% nucleotide identities to group NE and ca. 90% to group NY both in RNA1 and RNA2, and phylogenetic analyses revealed their affiliation to group NE. Another isolate Kgw, however, was closely and distantly related to the American groups in RNA1 and RNA2, respectively (95% and 88% nucleotide sequence identity to group NE). Consequently, it is concluded that the isolate Kgw is distantly related to the American group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to rapidly adapt to the evolving climate and sustainably nourish the growing global population, plant breeders are actively investigating more efficient strategies to enhance crop yields. In this study, we present the development of a bread wheat mapping population and backcross breeding program, serving as a valuable genetic resource for mapping the effects of different alleles on trait performance. We employed innovative methodologies to rapidly introgress traits into the bread wheat cultivar. Specifically, we utilized two parents, including Tosunbey x Tahirova2000, in a recombinant inbred line population, in addition, a backcross strategy was applied with line 148 (obtained by crossing Tosunbey x Tahirova2000 with high gluten quality) as the recipient parent of the Nevzatbey cv., known for its awnless feature. The two most important applications of the rapid breeding method are extending the light period and breaking dormancy in early harvested seeds. Both applications were successfully implemented in our study. Our vegetation periods ranging from approximately 50–60 days. Additionally, an early genotype in our developed population was harvested in 40 days. Considering that the genotype underwent a 15-day vernalization period, the generation cycle, including vernalization, drying, and refrigeration, was completed in a total of 64 days. Notably, we employed not only biochemical markers for selection but also incorporated the rapid generation advance technology known as 'speed breeding', allowing us to develop BC5F1 within a span of two years. We posit that this approach proves instrumental in swiftly transferring genes for multiple target traits into adapted wheat cultivars or in pyramiding desirable traits within elite breeding material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An attempt was undertaken to comprehend how phenotypic markers, leaf tip necrosis (LTN), and pseudo black chaff (PBC), are associated with pleiotropic resistance genes in wheat (Triticum spp.). Pleiotropic resistance to stripe rust (Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici), leaf rust (P. triticina), stem rust (P. graminis f. sp. tritici) and powdery mildew (Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici) was evaluated in 57 Egyptian spring wheat cultivars at seedling stage in greenhouse and at adult plant stage in field during 2021/22 and 2022/23. At seedling stage, pleiotropic resistance rated moderately resistance (MR) was observed in five cultivars, Misr-3 (all three rusts), Misr-4 (stripe rust, leaf rust, powdery mildew), Giza-168 (leaf rust, stem rust, powdery mildew), Sakha-94 and Sids-13 (leaf rust, stem rust). At adult plant stage, Misr-4 outperformed all other evaluated cultivars, exhibiting a high level of pleiotropic adult plant resistance (PAPR) against all diseases investigated. High levels of PAPR were also noticed against the three rusts in nine cultivars, Misr-3, Sakha-93, Sakha-94, Sakha-95, Giza-156, Giza-168, Giza-171, Gemmeiza-10 and Sids-13, and moderate levels against powdery mildew in Misr-3, Sakha-95, Giza-156. Four PAPR genes were characterized in cultivars based on phenotypic and molecular markers. Phenotypic markers (LTN and PBC) were observed in 23 cultivars. Molecular marker csLV34 indicated the presence of Lr34/Yr18/Sr57/Pm38/Ltn1 in six cultivars, whilst marker Xwmc44 indicated that Lr46/Yr29/Sr58/Pm39/Ltn2 was present in five cultivars. Marker Xcfd71 indicated the presence of Lr67/Yr46/Sr55/Pm46/Ltn3 in 19 cultivars. Gene Sr2/Yr30/Lr27/Pbc was identified with marker csSr2 in three cultivars. A complete association between LTN and molecular markers was recorded, while a strong association (r = 0.73) was recorded between PBC and molecular markers. Findings demonstrated the reliability of phenotypic markers in predicting pleiotropic resistance in wheat, which would facilitate marker-assisted selection in breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yellow rust caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst) is one of the most important wheat diseases. Adult plant resistance (APR) genes have gained the attention of breeders and scientists because they show higher durability compared to major race-specific genes. Here, we determined the effect of the APR genes Yr18, Yr29 and Yr46 in North-West European field conditions against three currently important Pst races. We used three pairs of sibling wheat lines developed at CIMMYT, which consisted of a line with the functional resistance gene and a sibling with its non-functional allele. All APR genes showed significant effects against the Pst races Warrior and Warrior (–), and a race of the highly aggressive strain PstS2. The effects of Yr18 and Yr46 were especially substantial in slowing down disease progress. This effect was apparent in both Denmark, where susceptible controls reached 100 percent disease severity, and in United Kingdom where disease pressure was lower. We further validated field results by quantifying fungal biomass in leaf samples and by micro-phenotyping of samples collected during early disease development. Microscopic image analyses using deep learning allowed us to quantify separately the APR effects on leaf colonization and pustule formation. Our results show that the three APR genes can be used in breeding yellow rust resistant varieties of spring wheat to be grown in North-West European conditions, and that deep learning image analysis can be an effective method to quantify effects of APR on colonisation and pustule formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: Major QTL for grain number per spike were identified on chromosomes 2B and 2D. Haplotypes and candidate genes of QGns.cib-2B.1were analyzed. Grain number per spike (GNS) is one of the main components of wheat yield. Genetic dissection of their regulatory factors is essential to improve the yield potential. In present study, a recombinant inbred line population comprising 180 lines developed from the cross between a high GNS line W7268 and a cultivar Chuanyu12 was employed to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with GNS across six environments. Two major QTL, QGns.cib-2B.1 and QGns.cib-2D.1, were detected in at least four environments with the phenotypic variations of 12.99–27.07% and 8.50–13.79%, respectively. And significant interactions were observed between the two major QTL. In addition, QGns.cib-2B.1 is a QTL cluster for GNS, grain number per spikelet and fertile tiller number, and they were validated in different genetic backgrounds using Kompetitive Allele Specific PCR (KASP) markers. QGns.cib-2B.1 showed pleotropic effects on other yield-related traits including plant height, spike length, and spikelet number per spike, but did not significantly affect thousand grain weight which suggested that it might be potentially applicable in breeding program. Comparison analysis suggested that QGns.cib-2B.1 might be a novel QTL. Furthermore, haplotype analysis of QGns.cib-2B.1 indicated that it is a hot spot of artificial selection during wheat improvement. Based on the expression patterns, gene annotation, orthologs analysis and sequence variations, the candidate genes of QGns.cib-2B.1 were predicted. Collectively, the major QTL and KASP markers reported here provided a wealth of information for the genetic basis of GNS and grain yield improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Branching/tillering is a critical process for plant architecture and grain yield. However, Branching is intricately controlled by both endogenous and environmental factors. The underlying mechanisms of tillering in wheat remain poorly understood. In this study, we identified Less Tiller 1 (LT1) as a novel regulator of wheat tillering using an enhanced bulked segregant analysis (BSA) method, uni-BSA. This method effectively reduces alignment noise caused by the high repetitive sequence content in the wheat genome. Loss-of-function of LT1 results in fewer tillers due to defects in axillary meristem initiation and bud outgrowth. We mapped LT1 to a 6 Mb region on the chromosome 2D short arm and validated a nucleotide-binding (NB) domain encoding gene as LT1 using CRISPR/Cas9. Furthermore, the lower sucrose concentration in the shoot bases of lt1 might result in inadequate bud outgrowth due to disturbances in the sucrose biosynthesis pathways. Co-expression analysis suggests that LT1 controls tillering by regulating TaROX/TaLAX1, the ortholog of the Arabidopsis tiller regulator REGULATOR OF AXILLARY MERISTEM FORMATION (ROX) or the rice axillary meristem regulator LAX PANICLE1 (LAX1). This study not only offers a novel genetic resource for cultivating optimal plant architecture but also underscores the importance of our innovative BSA method. This uni-BSA method enables the swift and precise identification of pivotal genes associated with significant agronomic traits, thereby hastening gene cloning and crop breeding processes in wheat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The characterization of the physicochemical properties of wheat flour and the rheological characteristics of dough is necessary to predict processing behavior, functionality, and end-product development. Differential scanning calorimetry, pasting analysis, FTIR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction study, and rheological measurements were used to analyze the wheat flour of different cultivars. The thermal and pasting parameters varied significantly (p ≤ 0.05) among the cultivars and showed a negative correlation with amylose content. The FTIR spectra of all wheat flour showed a weaker intensity of absorption peak at 1540 cm–1 and 1420 cm–1 associated with amide II and amide III bands. The relative crystallinity showed a significant positive correlation with HPV and CPV (hot and cold paste viscosities) and a negative correlation with amylose content. The rheological characteristics were analyzed by amplitude sweep (AS), frequency sweep (FS), and creep-recovery test of dough. The AS/FS results showed a weak gel-like structure reflecting a more elastic nature than viscous behavior. Gʹ and Gʹʹ positively correlated with pasting viscosities i.e., peak (PV), CPV, and breakdown viscosities. Viscoelastic compliance (J1) of recovery showed a significant negative correlation with textural parameters, i.e., chewiness and gumminess. Principal component analysis (PCA) reflected 71% of the cumulative variance and PC1 accounted for maximum variance (34%) with PV, HPV, CPV, Tp (peak temperature), 1047/1022 cm–1, crystallinity, and G' as the main factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The chloroplast genome of the synthetic octaploid Triticum timonovum Heslot et Ferrary k-43065 (France) was sequenced for the first time. Plastome sequencing was carried out on a Genolab M sequencer (GeneMind, China). The genome assembly was carried out using the NOVOwrap program. The size of the chloroplast genome of T. timonovum was 136 158 bp. The length of the inverted repeat region was 21 552 bp, that of the SSC region was 12 795 bp, and the LSC length was 80 257 bp. The chloroplast genomes of T. timonovum and different T. timopheevii accessions from the GenBank database were compared. As for the chloroplast genome, T. timonovum was closer to T. timopheevii (AB976560.1) but differed from it by the presence of one insert A at position 47891. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dehydrins proteins accumulate and play important protective roles in most plants during abiotic stresses. The objective of this study was to characterize a YSK2-type dehydrin gene, WDHN2, isolated from Triticum aestivum previously. In this work, wheat dehydrin WDHN2 was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified by immobilized metal affinity chromatography, which exhibited as a single band by sodium dodecyl sulfonate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and western blotting. We show that WDHN2 is capable of alleviating lactate dehydrogenase inactivation from heat and desiccation in vitro enzyme activity protection assay. In vivo assay of Escherichia coli viability demonstrates the enhancement of cell survival by the overexpression of WDHN2. The protein aggregation prevention assay explores that WDHN2 has a broad protective effect on the cellular proteome. The results show that WDHN2 is mainly accumulated in the nucleus and cytosol, suggesting that this dehydrin may exert its function in both cellular compartments. Our data suggest that WDHN2 acts as a chaperone molecular in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Choosing appropriate tillage methods and applying the right amount of chemical fertilizers are pivotal for optimizing wheat management and enhancing wheat quality. This study investigated the influence of conservation agriculture and phosphorus levels on nutrient content, yield components, and quality traits of wheat in a corn-wheat rotation. Conducted over five years in field conditions, the study employed a randomized complete block design with tillage treatments (conventional tillage, CT; minimum tillage, MT; and no tillage, NT) and phosphorus levels (no fertilizer use, P0; and 100% fertilizer recommendation, PR) as factors. Soil samples were collected during the fourth year (2021–2022). Results revealed significant impacts of tillage methods and phosphorus levels on wheat straw and grain nutrient composition, yield components, and quality traits. Conventional tillage yielded the highest values for protein content (12%), Zeleny sedimentation volume (20.33 mL), hardness index (45), water absorption (64.12%), and wet gluten content (25.83%). Additionally, phosphorus fertilizer application positively influenced protein percentage, gluten weight, and gluten index. The study highlights the potential of strategic soil management, particularly conventional tillage combined with phosphorus fertilization, to enhance wheat quality and yield. By elucidating these relationships, the findings contribute to optimizing wheat cultivation practices and advancing the development of superior wheat cultivars for baking applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diffuse light is produced by clouds and aerosols in the atmosphere. Exploring the effects of diffuse light on ecosystem productivity is important for understanding the terrestrial carbon (CO2) cycle. Here, 2 years of gross ecosystem primary productivity (GEP) from a (winter) wheat cropland in China was assessed using eddy covariance technology to explore the effects of diffuse photosynthetic active radiance (PAR) on wheat GEP. Wheat GEP increased significantly and positively along with diffuse PAR. In addition, wheat GEP was significantly affected by total PAR, air temperature, and vapor press deficit in different diffuse PAR fraction (fDIF) change stages. Because significant autocorrelations existed among the controlling factors, a path analysis was used to quantify the effects of diffuse light on GEP. Diffuse PAR was the primary and secondary importance factors affecting GEP with direct path coefficients of 0.54 and 0.48, respectively, in different fDIF change stages. A multilayer canopy model revealed that the middle and lower canopy levels intercepted more light when diffuse PAR increased. This resulted in the photosynthetic enhancement of middle and lower canopy levels, which contributed approximately 65% and 35%, respectively, to the increase in photosynthesis for the entire canopy (~ 30.5%). Overall, our study provided new evidence regarding the importance of diffuse light for CO2 uptake in agroecosystems, which is important for predicting the responses of ecosystem CO2 budgets to future climate-related light changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hybrid development is one of the most promising strategies for boosting crop yields. Parental lines used to create hybrids must have good per se performance and disease resistance for developing superior hybrids. Indian wheat line HD3209 was developed by introducing the rust resistance genes Lr19/Sr25 into the background of popular wheat variety HD2932. The wheat line HD3209 carrying Lr19/Sr25 has been successfully and rapidly converted to the CMS line A-HD3209, with 96.01% background genome recovery, based on selection for agro-morphological traits, rust resistance, pollen sterility, and foreground and background analyses utilizing SSR markers. The converted CMS line A-HD3209 was completely sterile and nearly identical to the recurrent parent HD3209. Based on high per se performance and rust resistance, the study concludes that the derived CMS line A-HD3209 is promising and can be employed successfully in hybrid development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In bread wheat, a literature search gave 228 QTLs for six traits, including resistance against spot blotch and the following five other related traits: (i) stay green; (ii) flag leaf senescence; (iii) green leaf area duration; (iv) green leaf area of the main stem; and (v) black point resistance. These QTLs were used for metaQTL (MQTL) analysis. For this purpose, a consensus map with 72,788 markers was prepared; 69 of the above 228 QTLs, which were suitable for MQTL analysis, were projected on the consensus map. This exercise resulted in the identification of 16 meta-QTLs (MQTLs) located on 11 chromosomes, with the PVE ranging from 5.4% (MQTL7) to 21.8% (MQTL5), and the confidence intervals ranging from 1.5 to 20.7 cM (except five MQTLs with a range of 36.1–57.8 cM). The number of QTLs associated with individual MQTLs ranged from a maximum of 17 in MQTL3 to 8 each in MQTL5 and MQTL8 and 5 each in MQTL7 and MQTL14. The 16 MQTLs, included 12 multi-trait MQTLs; one of the MQTL also overlapped a genomic region carrying the major spot blotch resistance gene Sb1. Of the total 16 MQTLs, 12 MQTLs were also validated through marker-trait associations that were available from earlier genome-wide association studies. The genomic regions associated with MQTLs were also used for the identification of candidate genes (CGs) and led to the identification of 516 CGs encoding 508 proteins; 411 of these proteins are known to be associated with resistance against several biotic stresses. In silico expression analysis of CGs using transcriptome data allowed the identification of 71 differentially expressed CGs, which were examined for further possible studies. The findings of the present study should facilitate fine-mapping and cloning of genes, enabling Marker Assisted Selection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of current study was to prepared zinc oxide nanofertilzers by ecofriendly friendly, economically feasible, free of chemical contamination and safe for biological use. The study focused on crude extract of Withania coagulans as reducing agent for the green synthesis of ZnO nano-particles. Biosynthesized ZnO NPs were characterized by UV–Vis spectroscopy, XRD, FTIR and GC–MS analysis. However, zinc oxide as green Nano fertilizer was used to analyze responses induced by different doses of ZnO NPs [0, 25, 50,100, 200 mg/l and Zn acetate (100 mg/l)] in Triticum aestivum (wheat). The stimulatory and inhibitory effects of foliar application of ZnO NPs were studied on wheat (Triticum aestivum) with aspect of biomass accumulation, morphological attributes, biochemical parameters and anatomical modifications. Wheat plant showed significant (p < 0.01) enhancement of growth parameters upon exposure to ZnO NPs at specific concentrations. In addition, wheat plant showed significant increase in biochemical attributes, chlorophyll content, carotenoids, carbohydrate and protein contents. Antioxidant enzyme (POD, SOD, CAT) and total flavonoid content also confirmed nurturing impact on wheat plant. Increased stem, leaf and root anatomical parameters, all showed ZnO NPs mitigating capacity when applied to wheat. According to the current research, ZnO NPs application on wheat might be used to increase growth, yield, and Zn biofortification in wheat plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies showed that Australian wheat cultivars Janz and Sunco carry leaf rust and stem rust resistance genes Lr24 and Sr24 derived from Thinopyrum ponticum chromosome arm 3AgL. However, the size of the alien segments carrying Lr24 and Sr24 in the lines were not determined. In this study, we used non-denaturing fluorescence in situ hybridization (ND-FISH), genomic in situ hybridization (GISH), and PCR-based landmark unique gene (PLUG) markers to visualize the alien segments in Janz and Sunco, and further compared them with the segments in US cultivars Agent and Amigo. The fraction length (FL) of the alien translocation in Agent was 0.70–1.00, whereas those in Janz, Sunco, and Amigo were smaller, at FL 0.85–1.00. It was deduced that the alien gene RAg encoding for red grain color and rust resistance genes Lr24 and Sr24 on chromosome arm 3AgL were in bins of FL 0.70–0.85 and 0.85–1.00, respectively. We retrieved and extracted nucleotide-binding site-leucine-rich repeat (NBS-LRR) receptor genes corresponding to the region of Lr24 and Sr24 on chromosomes 3E, and 3J, 3Js and 3St from the reference genome sequences of Th. elongatum and Th. intermedium, respectively. A set of molecular markers developed for Lr24 and Sr24 from those extracted NBS-LRR genes will provide valuable information for fine mapping and cloning of these genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salinity stress significantly impacts crops, disrupting their water balance and nutrient uptake, reducing growth, yield, and overall plant health. High salinity in soil can adversely affect plants by disrupting their water balance. Excessive salt levels can lead to dehydration, hinder nutrient absorption, and damage plant cells, ultimately impairing growth and reducing crop yields. Gallic acid (GA) and zinc ferrite (ZnFNP) can effectively overcome this problem. GA can promote root growth, boost photosynthesis, and help plants absorb nutrients efficiently. However, their combined application as an amendment against drought still needs scientific justification. Zinc ferrite nanoparticles possess many beneficial properties for soil remediation and medical applications. That's why the current study used a combination of GA and ZnFNP as amendments to wheat. There were 4 treatments, i.e., 0, 10 µM GA, 15 μM GA, and 20 µM GA, without and with 5 μM ZnFNP applied in 4 replications following a completely randomized design. Results exhibited that 20 µM GA + 5 μM ZnFNP caused significant improvement in wheat shoot length (28.62%), shoot fresh weight (16.52%), shoot dry weight (11.38%), root length (3.64%), root fresh weight (14.72%), and root dry weight (9.71%) in contrast to the control. Significant enrichment in wheat chlorophyll a (19.76%), chlorophyll b (25.16%), total chlorophyll (21.35%), photosynthetic rate (12.72%), transpiration rate (10.09%), and stomatal conductance (15.25%) over the control validate the potential of 20 µM GA + 5 μM ZnFNP. Furthermore, improvement in N, P, and K concentration in grain and shoot verified the effective functioning of 20 µM GA + 5 μM ZnFNP compared to control. In conclusion, 20 µM GA + 5 μM ZnFNP can potentially improve the growth, chlorophyll contents and gas exchange attributes of wheat cultivated in salinity stress. More investigations are suggested to declare 20 µM GA + 5 μM ZnFNP as the best amendment for alleviating salinity stress in different cereal crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four species of Trichoderma genius (T. harzianum, T. citrinoviride, T. viride and T. asperellum) and Metarhizium anisopliae were assessed for their effects on larval mortality and progeny production of Trogoderma granarium Everts (Coleoptera: Dermestidae). The fungal strains were tested at 2.0 × 106, 2.0 × 107, 2.0 × 108 and 2.0 × 109 spores/kg. The larval mortality of T. granarium was recorded after 7, 14 and 21 days of treatment. The emerged adults (F1) from treated larvae were counted after 30 days of treatment, while F2 and grain weight loss were examined after 80 days of treatment. In general, increasing of spore concentration of all fungal strains enhanced the larval mortality. After 21 of treatment, all fungal strains induced notable larval mortality particularly at the highest concentration (2.0 × 109 spores/kg) except T. viride (19.4%). The highest larval mortality was observed in treatments with M. anisopliae (82.1%) and T. citrinoviride (69.0%) at 2.0 × 109 spores/kg, respectively. Furthermore, all spore concentrations of tested fungi decreased the emerged adults (F1 and F2) with M. anisopliae, T. citrinoviride and T. harzianum being the most potent, particularly at 2.0 × 109 spores/kg. After 80 days, M. anisopliae and T. citrinoviride at 2.0 × 109 spores/kg induced the highest protection of wheat grains against larvae of T. granarium with weight loss of 0.7 and 1.3%, respectively. The outcomes of the present study indicate that the two fungi, M. anisopliae and T. citrinoviride are highly effective seed protectants against T. granarium and could be applied in the integrated pest management programs (IPM) of khapra beetle as effective biological control agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bioefficacy of several inert materials, such as Diatomaceous earth (DE), bentonite, and biochar enhanced with pirimiphos-methyl against Sitophilus oryzae, was used to evaluate the insecticidal activity of three new formulations using the technique of mixing with grain. DE was the most effective material (LC50 3.198 g/kg), followed by biochar LC50 3.709 g/kg, whereas bentonite was the least effective (LC50 3. 979 g/kg). The three materials were loaded with pirimiphos-methyl (0.5%). The formula of Pirimiphos-methyl with DE reported the highest significant effect compared to the other two formulations, with an LC50 value of 0.082 g/kg. DE formula had a co-toxicity coefficient value that was 6.46 times greater than pirimiphos-methyl, followed by the biochar formula, which was 1.74 times more effective, and the bentonite formula, which had a 0.69-fold increase in activity. In the laboratory examination of the wheat's free and compact bulk densities after being treated with LC50s of each dust material, DE slightly affected wheat-free bulk density. Still, both bentonite and biochar reduced the free bulk density. However, all the tested materials decreased in compact bulk density. The germination percentages of wheat treated with LC50 values of DE and bentonite and biochar after 10 days of storage revealed no significant difference between treated and untreated seeds after 7 days of germination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iron (Fe) is an essential mineral element, and its deficiency in soil largely affects crop productivity. In plants, the molecular mechanisms underlying the genetic regulation of Fe-deficiency responses pinpointing microRNA (miRNA)-mediated regulation of Fe-deficiency response and its regulatory network are largely unaddressed. In the present study, we performed a small RNA-targeted whole-genome transcriptome analysis from hexaploid wheat and identified small RNAs (sRNAs) responding to Fe deficiency. Detailed analysis identified 105 differentially expressed miRNAs corresponding to Fe-deficiency response, and nine miRNAs were found to be novel in this study. Interestingly, tissue-specific regulation of Fe-deficiency response also participates through miRNA-mediated regulation. We identified 17 shoot-specific miRNAs and 18 root-specific miRNAs with altered expression. We validated the tissue specificity of these miRNAs by stem-loop quantitative RT-PCR that confirmed a temporal regulation. Furthermore, an attempt was made to predict their targets to speculate their participation in Fe-deficiency response. The miRNA target prediction analysis suggested a few major target genes, such as multicopper oxidases, E3 ubiquitin ligases, GRAS family, and WRKY transcription factors; those are previously known to play key roles in Fe homeostasis. The first preliminary information generated here will classify the repository of wheat miRNAs (with few novel miRNAs) for their role in Fe-deficiency response. Our work provides insights into miRNA-mediated regulatory pathways during Fe deficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice residue burning poses a significant challenge in the rice-wheat cropping system of India, leading to environmental pollution, health issues, and substantial nutrient loss. To combat this menace, a three-year study (2020-21 to 2022-23) was conducted, investigating the effects of rice residue retention (RRR) and rice residue incorporation (RRI) at graded N levels (0, 50, 100, 150, and 200 kg/ha) alongside farmers' practices. The primary objective was to enhance wheat productivity, profitability, and soil fertility within this system. Pooled analysis revealed that RRR outperformed RRI at lower nitrogen doses, while RRI excelled with 7.5%, 7.4%, and 10.0% higher biological yields at higher nitrogen doses (100, 150, and 200 kg/ha). The success of RRR and RRI was attributed to 10.5% and 5.0% higher effective tiller/m2, respectively, compared to farmers' practices at 150 kg N/ha. Notably, RRR exhibited superior NDVI values at the flag leaf stage (0.76) over farmers' practices (0.73). At the 150 kg N/ha, RRR displayed a 9.6% lower cost of cultivation compared to farmers' practices, with 19.6% higher net returns at lower N levels (50 kg/ha), suggesting its greater benefits under low-input conditions. Furthermore, RRR showed the highest benefit-cost ratio (2.75) at 150 kg N/ha, followed by RRI (2.59) and farmers' practices (2.55). Over the three-year period, RRR significantly increased organic carbon content (0.49–0.54%) compared to the initial value (0.38%), affirming its long-term benefits. Consequently, the adoption of RRR by farmers is a preferable eco-friendly option over RRI and present practices for enhancing wheat productivity within the rice-wheat system. Due to 60–65% saving of fuel with the practice of zero tillage along with rice residue retention, it can reduce CO2 emission by 120 kg/ha, therefore, its implementation can reduce CO2 release by 1.62 MT in South Asia per year. Ultimately, it can meet the target of Paris Agreement of limiting global warming to 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels and reaching net-zero CO2 emissions globally by 2050. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies on the wheat response under late sowing (LS) and salinity stress (SS) are available, however, in rice-wheat and cotton-wheat cropping systems, wheat planting is often delayed resulting in co-occurrence of LS and SS in salt affected soils. This two-year field study was conducted to evaluate the influence of foliar application of plant growth regulators (PGRs) [thiourea (TU), salicylic acid (SA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2); water and no application were taken as control] on the productivity, grain quality and economic returns of timely-sown (TS) and LS wheat under normal (NC) and natural saline conditions (SS; EC 11.27 dS m− 1). Delay in sowing and planting in naturally saline soils caused a significant decrease in plant growth, grain yield, grain quality and net economic returns during both years of study. Late planting and SS caused a significant reduction in grain yield reduction by 40.58% and 34.72% (LS) and 40.66% and 42.89% (SS) compared with respective controls during 2021 and 2022, respectively. However, the influence of co-occurrence of LS and SS was more devastating than the individual stress causing 62.17% and 60.18% reduction in grain yield than the respective control during 2021 and 2022, respectively. However, the application of all PGRs improved the grain yield, grain quality and economic turnover under SS and LS stress. The order of improvement in grain yield by the application of PGRs treatments was TU > SA > H2O2. In conclusion, the application of different plant growth regulators improved economic returns, grain yield and quality attributes of late-sown wheat under saline conditions. In this regard, TU application was the most effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seed priming is beneficial in improving the germination and subsequent growth performance of seeds under normal as well as stressed conditions. Mostly, natural and chemical substances have been used for priming. Microbes are also used in priming to counter the negative effects of stress and to improve productivity. In this context, the potential of cyanobacteria to secrete growth-promoting substances makes them ideal candidates for seed priming. Therefore, in the present study, seed priming was carried out using cyanobacteria to investigate its role in imparting drought stress tolerance during post-germination stages in the drought-sensitive cultivar (HD-2967) of wheat. For this, the wheat seeds were subjected to priming with cyanobacteria and the plants germinated were subjected to drought stress during tillering stage. Plants exposed to drought stress showed significant reduction in growth, pigment content and photosynthetic activity. However, plants developed from seeds primed with cyanobacteria, upon drought stress maintained better growth rate, relative water content, chlorophyll, carotenoid and photosynthetic activity. Furthermore, the plants developed from primed seeds showed less accumulation of superoxides, peroxides and lipid peroxidation products and higher activity of ascorbate peroxidise, catalase and glutathione reductase. On the other hand, plants exposed to stress without priming showed enhanced accumulation of free radicals and lipid peroxidation products and lower activity of antioxidant enzymes. The results show that seed priming with cyanobacteria improved growth during post germination stages in wheat plants exposed to drought stress through modulation of physiological and biochemical responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Bio stimulants are substances and/or microorganisms that are used to improve plant growth and crop yields by modulating physiological processes and metabolism of plants. While research has primarily focused on the broad effects of bio stimulants in crops, understanding their cellular and molecular influences in plants, using metabolomic analysis, could elucidate their effectiveness and offer possibilities for fine-tuning their application. One such bio stimulant containing galacturonic acid as elicitor is used in agriculture to improve wheat vigor and strengthen resistance to lodging. Objective: However, whether a metabolic response is evolved by plants treated with this bio stimulant and the manner in which the latter might regulate plant metabolism have not been studied. Method: Therefore, the present study used 1H-NMR and LC–MS to assess changes in primary and secondary metabolites in the roots, stems, and leaves of wheat (Triticum aestivum) treated with the bio stimulant. Orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis effectively distinguished between treated and control samples, confirming a metabolic response to treatment in the roots, stems, and leaves of wheat. Results: Fold-change analysis indicated that treatment with the bio stimulation solution appeared to increase the levels of hydroxycinnamic acid amides, lignin, and flavonoid metabolism in different plant parts, potentially promoting root growth, implantation, and developmental cell wall maturation and lignification. Conclusion: These results demonstrate how non-targeted metabolomic approaches can be utilized to investigate and monitor the effects of new agroecological solutions based on systemic responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: The intercropping has great advantages in production gain, resources use and soil quality improvement. However, the effects of perennial forage legumes intercropped with annual grain crop on soil alkali-salinity was not well revealed. This study aimed to propose a spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)/alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) intercropping and reveal whether this cropping system could ameliorate soil salinity. Methods: A two-year field experiment was conducted under 3 cropping systems at 3 irrigation amounts in the inland arid area of northwestern China. The cropping systems were sole spring wheat cropping (W), 12 rows spring wheat/4 rows alfalfa intercropping (W12A4) and 8 rows spring wheat/4 rows alfalfa intercropping (W8A4), and irrigation amounts included 450 (full irrigation amount, If), 360 (moderate irrigation amount, Im) and 180 mm (low irrigation amount, Il). Results: The intercropping system, especially W8A4, could more decrease soil salinity, pH and topsoil bulk density, and increase soil water content, topsoil porosity, and Ca2+ and Mg2+ contents, compared to W. Soil electrical conductivity was positively correlated with topsoil bulk density and negatively correlated with topsoil porosity, which were enhanced by intercropping and irrigation. There was weak correlation between soil electrical conductivity and soil water content. W12A4 and W8A4 led to reduction in contents of Na+, K+, Cl−, and SO42−, while Ca2+ and Mg2+ accumulated in the soil. Conclusion: Intercropped alfalfa and spring wheat could reduce soil salinity, improve soil structure and ions balance. It was recommended that W8A4 with 360 mm irrigation could be extensively used in the arid area of northwestern China, gaining grain and forage production, and helping reduce salt accumulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]