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Existing agricultural nitrogen datasets in China are mostly developed using coarse national or provincial statistics. A crop‐specific nitrogen rate dataset based on the finest‐scale agricultural nitrogen statistics at the county level remains lacking. Here, we constructed a new dataset (CN‐N), which provides annual nitrogen rates for rice, wheat and maize in China at a 1‐km spatial resolution from 2004 to 2016. This dataset was developed by harmonizing county‐level and provincial agricultural nitrogen statistics with gridded crop distribution maps, resulting in 13 years of nitrogen rate maps for each crop covering 2004–2016. Validation against farmers' surveys by crop indicates CN‐N reliably quantifies average nitrogen rates and trends for each crop over 2004–2016, demonstrating improved spatial heterogeneity compared to previous datasets rasterized using only provincial statistics. Our study provides a crop‐specific, temporally consistent, gridded nitrogen rate dataset based on the finest‐scale county‐level agricultural nitrogen statistics. This can support future process‐based modelling for sustainable agricultural nitrogen management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluates wheat, corn, and cassava native starches. Morphological features of the starch granule's surface reveal peculiar granule characteristics. Wheat starch granules are the largest, with 20.83 µm mass median diameter, followed by corn, 13.14 µm, and cassava, 12.37 µm. Nonetheless, cassava and corn starches have the lowest polydispersity and greater surface area average. Corn starch shows more resistance to the gelatinization process when observed. Complete granular disruption and gelatinization occurring at 65–75 °C for wheat, 75–85 °C for cassava, and 85 °C for corn. The curves of viscosity evidence the assertion that the starches from cereals gelatinize at higher temperatures than starch from the tuber. Swelling power indicate that cassava starch held more water, whereas IFTR spectroscopy reveals a more ordered structure when compared to wheat and corn starches. However, corn starch has the highest values of Tonset, Tpeak, and Tendset, with enthalpy of gelatinization of 12.73 J g−1, which can be related to the amylose content of 24.25% and mainly to 0.2% of starch damage. The almost negligible amounts of damaged starch present in corn starch indicate the absence of granule fragments capable of increasing water absorption and decreasing the birefringence of the system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Pentastiridius leporinus (Hemiptera: Cixiidae) is the most important vector of syndrome 'basses richesses' (SBR), a new disease that leads to severe economic losses in sugar beet. In this study, different soil tillage methods (ploughing and cultivator) and crops (winter wheat, spring wheat, maize and bare soil) following SBR‐infested sugar beet were tested as potential management options in field trials. In the laboratory, the survival and development of first and third instar nymphs on wheat and maize was studied to further assess their suitability as host plants. RESULTS: In five out of seven field sites, reduced soil tillage had no effect on adult planthopper emergence compared to ploughing. In two sites, reduced tillage resulted in higher emergence rates. In nearly all field sites, up to 98.9% fewer emerging adults were detected in bare soil and maize, when compared to winter wheat. Under laboratory conditions, the lowest survival rate was found in first instar nymphs feeding on maize seedlings (4.2%), while 66.7% survived on wheat, over a period of 300 days. In contrast, 73.3% and 70% of third instar nymphs survived on wheat and maize over a period of 150 days. CONCLUSION: Soil tillage had little effect against Pentastiridius leporinus. Maize is a poor host for first instars but a suitable resource for third instar nymphs, the stage which encounters maize under field conditions. Hence, reductions in planthopper emergence in the field were likely caused by starvation due to the long host‐free period between sugar beet harvest and the sowing of maize. © 2024 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing the production of the three major food crops (MFCs), maize (Zea mays), rice (Oryza sativa), and wheat (Triticum aestivum), is essential to fulfilling the food demand for the growing human population. Increasing food production may require the integration of machine learning (ML) into plant breeding programs. However, developing ML tools to improve the production of MFCs is a daunting task due to the lack of quality data and the computation resources needed to process this information. Hence, this review discusses the recent applications of ML for improving MFCs production, including plant phenotyping, yield forecasting, and candidate gene prediction. Based on the challenges reported in recent ML experiments for MFCs, this review prescribes solutions to produce scalable ML models. This review provides valuable insights for future studies and promotes collective efforts among researchers implementing ML to enhance MFCs productivity. Core Ideas: Implementation of scalable machine learning models for major food crop breeding is in the exploratory phase.Integrative approaches enhance the use of machine learning for crop breeding.Scalability of machine learning depends on data quality, modeling techniques, and computational resources.Coordinated efforts are required in developing interoperable datasets and scalable machine learning tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fusarium head blight (FHB) resistance in wheat and triticale has a high priority in the European Union because of the strict guidelines for the major mycotoxins deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZON) and the admission policy of the regulatory authorities. Potentially 70% of the arable land in Germany and about 60% in Austria can be affected by Fusarium. Although epidemics occur only in some years and/or some regions, DON and ZON are detected every year in varying amounts in wheat, rye and maize. Despite a high significance of FHB resistance in breeding companies, as validated by a recent survey, breeding progress in wheat is basically absent for FHB resistance in both countries. The main reasons are the complex inheritance of FHB resistance and the high proportions of the dwarfing allele Rht‐D1b in high‐yielding varieties promoting susceptibility. Despite this, some varieties with high FHB resistance (score 2–3 on the 1–9 scale) have been released that account, however, only for 11% and 18% of the multiplication area in Germany and Austria, respectively. For triticale, an official testing system for FHB resistance in terms of DON content exists in Germany and Austria, but not for the other cereals. Susceptibility to maize ear rot has been described in Austria, but not in Germany. Additionally, a testing system for stalk rot resistance in both countries should be established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maintaining or even increasing crop yields while reducing nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions is necessary to reconcile food security and climate change, while the metric of yield‐scaled N2O emission (i.e., N2O emissions per unit of crop yield) is at present poorly understood. Here we conducted a global meta‐analysis with more than 6000 observations to explore the variation patterns and controlling factors of yield‐scaled N2O emissions for maize, wheat and rice and associated potential mitigation options. Our results showed that the average yield‐scaled N2O emissions across all available data followed the order wheat (322 g N Mg−1, with the 95% confidence interval [CI]: 301–346) > maize (211 g N Mg−1, CI: 198–225) > rice (153 g N Mg−1, CI: 144–163). Yield‐scaled N2O emissions for individual crops were generally higher in tropical or subtropical zones than in temperate zones, and also showed a trend towards lower intensities from low to high latitudes. This global variation was better explained by climatic and edaphic factors than by N fertilizer management, while their combined effect predicted more than 70% of the variance. Furthermore, our analysis showed a significant decrease in yield‐scaled N2O emissions with increasing N use efficiency or in N2O emissions for production systems with cereal yields >10 Mg ha−1 (maize), 6.6 Mg ha−1 (wheat) or 6.8 Mg ha−1 (rice), respectively. This highlights that N use efficiency indicators can be used as valuable proxies for reconciling trade‐offs between crop production and N2O mitigation. For all three major staple crops, reducing N fertilization by up to 30%, optimizing the timing and placement of fertilizer application or using enhanced‐efficiency N fertilizers significantly reduced yield‐scaled N2O emissions at similar or even higher cereal yields. Our data‐driven assessment provides some key guidance for developing effective and targeted mitigation and adaptation strategies for the sustainable intensification of cereal production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hard red spring wheat (HRSW; Triticum aestivum L). production in South Dakota has decreased by nearly 50% over a recent 10‐year timespan due to grower preferences for producing corn (Zea mays L.) and soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]. End‐users of HRSW are concerned with grain protein concentration (GPC). Among growers that still produce HRSW, cultivar selection decisions are heavily based on grain yield potential, and they become most concerned with GPC only when it is low enough to result in sales price discounts. It is important that HRSW breeding programs release new cultivars that balance the needs of both end‐users and growers. The objective of this research was to release a HRSW cultivar possessing both high grain yield potential and GPC for South Dakota and regional producers. 'Ascend‐SD' (Reg. no. CV‐1204, PI 700966) was developed by the SDSU‐HRSW breeding program and released by the South Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station to certified seed producers in early 2022. The cross MN10261‐1/SD4389 was completed during fall 2013, and the resulting population was advanced via an early‐generation bulk‐testing program, where F4:7 seed was included in the 2018 preliminary yield trial and designated as SD4873. Prior to release, SD4873 also was tested in the advanced yield trial from 2019 through 2021 as well as crop performance testing trials in 2020 and 2021. Ascend‐SD was released for its competitive combination of high grain yield potential and GPC. Core Ideas: Ascend‐SD is a new hard red spring wheat cultivar adapted to the upper Great Plains.Agronomic performance of Ascend‐SD is very competitive.Ascend‐SD has good resistance to FHB and BLS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The high productive potential, heat resilience, and greater water use efficiency of C4 over C3 plants attract considerable interest in the face of global warming and increasing population, but C4 plants are often sensitive to dehydration, questioning the feasibility of their wider adoption.To resolve the primary effect of dehydration from slower from secondary leaf responses originating within leaves to combat stress, we conducted an innovative dehydration experiment. Four crops grown in hydroponics were forced to a rapid yet controlled decrease in leaf water potential by progressively raising roots of out of the solution while measuring leaf gas exchange.We show that, under rapid dehydration, assimilation decreased more steeply in C4 maize and sorghum than in C3 wheat and sunflower. This reduction was due to a rise of nonstomatal limitation at triple the rate in maize and sorghum than in wheat and sunflower.Rapid reductions in assimilation were previously measured in numerous C4 species across both laboratory and natural conditions. Hence, we deduce that high sensitivity to rapid dehydration might stem from the disturbance of an intrinsic aspect of C4 bicellular photosynthesis. We posit that an obstruction to metabolite transport between mesophyll and bundle sheath cells could be the cause. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Soil test phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) and the associated soil test critical values (CSTVs) are widely used as the primary diagnostic tool to determine if a crop needs P and K fertilizer. However, identifying robust and predictive CSTVs requires a large number of field trials in representative soils and environments to assess crop fertilizer responses. From 1976 to 2021, a total of 457 P trials and 458 K trials were conducted in corn (Zea mays), soybean (Glycine max), and wheat (Triticum aestivum) across 40 counties in Ohio. The trials consisted of both multi‐rate, multi‐year trials and single‐year, single‐rate and large strip trials. Across all crops, grain yield responded to P and K fertilizer in 23.4% and 25.3% of trials, with average yield increases of 8.8% and 11.0%, respectively. Corn yield was more responsive to P and K fertilizer (∼30% of P and K trials) than soybean yield (14% of P trials, 20% of K trials). Several models were run to identify CSTVs, but models imparted systematic bias in CSTVs, and a superior model was not identified due to poor model fit and indiscernible criteria to guide model selection. Instead of a single CSTV, data were classified into five discrete categories based on relative yields and Mehlich‐3 soil test values. These classifications provided a useful and consistent framework for assessing the probability of crop response to P and K fertilizer. Ohio soils with Mehlich‐3 values greater than 20 mg P kg−1 and 130 mg K kg−1 have a low probability of responding to P or K fertilizer application. Core Ideas: 457 P and 458 K response trials in corn, soybean, and wheat were conducted across 40 Ohio counties over 45 years.Grain yield response to P and K fertilizer occurred in ∼25% of trials and increased grain yields by ∼10%.Robust critical soil test values (CSTVs) were not identified due to lack of model fit and divergent CSTVs.Classifications based on soil test values and relative yields better conveyed probabilities of crop response.Ohio soils > 20 mg kg−1 Mehlich‐3 P and > 130 mg kg−1 Mehlich‐3 K have a low probability of crop fertilizer response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study published in the Journal of Integrative Plant Biology explores the potential of the zinc finger gene TaCHP to enhance wheat yield in saline-alkaline conditions. The researchers conducted multi-year, multi-site field trials and found that overexpressing TaCHP significantly increased wheat yields in saline-alkaline fields without affecting yields under normal conditions. Genetic variations in the promoter of TaCHP were also identified, with one haplotype (Hap1) conferring greater salt tolerance than the other (Hap2). The study suggests that TaCHP and its tolerant haplotype have promising applications in molecular breeding for stress-tolerant wheat. [Extracted from the article]

Fractional calculus is a way to describe mathematically a process, and the foundation of this technique is the replacement of the integer‐order differential with fractional order. The approach used in this study was the Caputo derivative and the process analyzed was the drying of beans, corn, and wheat. The fractional order model was compared with Page and first‐order models. For beans, all the conditions analyzed demonstrated an adequate fit, some divergences were found for corn and wheat. The analysis of variance allowed the generalization of parameter k present in the fractional order model as a function of temperature and the results were a first‐degree equation, for beans and wheat, with and without humidification, and for corn, the equation was a second‐degree one; these were successful results for drying of beans, corn, and wheat in the proposed conditions. Practical applications: Fractional order model can predict the drying of beans, corn, and wheat grains with higher accuracy in comparison to traditional models applied to drying studies, indicating that the process does not follow a derivative of integer order as usually considered. According to the efficiency values obtained for the generalized model, it was verified that this model can be applied to equipment design and drying process optimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High‐throughput phenotyping (HTP) with unoccupied aerial systems (UAS), consisting of unoccupied aerial vehicles (UAV; or drones) and sensor(s), is an increasingly promising tool for plant breeders and researchers. Enthusiasm and opportunities from this technology for plant breeding are similar to the emergence of genomic tools ∼30 years ago, and genomic selection more recently. Unlike genomic tools, HTP provides a variety of strategies in implementation and utilization that generate big data on the dynamic nature of plant growth formed by temporal interactions between growth and environment. This review lays out strategies deployed across four major staple crop species: cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.), maize (Zea mays L.), soybean (Glycine max L.), and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Each crop highlighted in this review demonstrates how UAS‐collected data are employed to automate and improve estimation or prediction of objective phenotypic traits. Each crop section includes four major topics: (a) phenotyping of routine traits, (b) phenotyping of previously infeasible traits, (c) sample cases of UAS application in breeding, and (d) implementation of phenotypic and phenomic prediction and selection. While phenotyping of routine agronomic and productivity traits brings advantages in time and resource optimization, the most potentially beneficial application of UAS data is in collecting traits that were previously difficult or impossible to quantify, improving selection efficiency of important phenotypes. In brief, UAS sensor technology can be used for measuring abiotic stress, biotic stress, crop growth and development, as well as productivity. These applications and the potential implementation of machine learning strategies allow for improved prediction, selection, and efficiency within breeding programs, making UAS HTP a potentially indispensable asset. Core Ideas: UAS imagery can be useful in plant breeding programs for routine trait and previously infeasible trait measurement.High‐throughput phenotyping approaches to date differ among crops and each could learn from others.Example applications of UAS imagery are provided for breeding programs of four major crops.The rise of phenomics tools is likely to prove similarly useful to current genomic tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (JE Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is a major migratory invasive pest that poses a severe threat to agricultural production and food security in China. In this study, we estimated the effects of six cereal crops on the development, survival, and fecundity of FAW using the age‐stage, two‐sex life table: maize (Zea mays L.), wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench], oats (Avena sativa L.), millet (species, authority) (all Poaceae), and quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) (Amaranthaceae). In a six‐choice test using detached leaf material, FAW larvae preferentially occurred on maize, followed by sorghum, within 6–24 h, and occurred the least on millet and quinoa. After 24 h, they had consumed the most leaf material from sorghum and maize, and the least from quinoa. In no‐choice tests using detached leaf material, they performed best on maize in terms of development (e.g., short development time), survival (e.g., high larval survival and pupation rate), and fecundity (e.g., high number of oviposition days and number of eggs laid per female), resulting in the highest predicted population growth (e.g., high intrinsic rate of increase and net reproductive rate). Although maize was found to be the most appropriate host plant, FAW was able to complete its life cycle on all six tested cereals. Our findings can help in predicting population dynamics and deepening our understanding of the potential damage incurred by FAW infestation, especially in regions under maize cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elucidating how different fertilization treatments affect the resilience of farming systems and the environmental adaptability of agricultural crops is relevant to assess their efficacy as a strategy for minimizing yield fluctuations and supporting global food security. The aim of this work was to compare the effects of fertilization practices and to distinguish the effect of macronutrients on the resilience of maize, wheat, and soybean cropping systems. A long‐term experiment involving the three crops and five fertilization treatments (control without fertilization, nitrogen and sulphur fertilization, phosphorus and sulfur fertilization, nitrogen and phosphorus fertilization, nitrogen, phosphorus and sulfur fertilization) was conducted for 19 years in the Pampean region (Argentina) that includes five study sites. The four combinations of nutrient additions increased crop yields in unfavorable environments, which indicates that even in adverse years, fertilization was a valid tool to sustain yield performance. The Finlay and Wilkinson regression slopes in maize and full‐season soybean did not differ between fertilization treatments, which suggests that fertilization did not change crop adaptation to the environment and that the observed positive effect of fertilization in unfavorable environments was maintained along the environmental gradient. In contrast, wheat and double‐cropped soybean were able to capitalize on the environmental conditions of favorable years, as shown by the progressive increases in yields as the environment became more favorable. Maize had the highest response to nitrogen, whereas wheat and double‐cropped soybean exhibited the highest responses to phosphorus and sulfur, respectively. Our findings are useful to extract guidelines that may lead to greater resilience through fertilization management practices. Core ideas: Crop yield resilience was studied for five contrasting fertilization treatments over 19 years on five sites.All fertilization treatments raised maize, wheat, and soybean yields in unfavorable environments.These benefits were maintained along the environmental gradient in maize and full‐season soybean.Fertilization helped wheat and double‐cropped soybean to capitalize favorable environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In areas prone to water erosion, crop selection strategies should be based on assessment of their effects on soil structural properties. Aims: The present study compared the effects of the cultivation of forage maize (Zea mays L.) and forage oat (Avena sativa L.) and their cultivars on soil aggregation relative to potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) or wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) at a hydrothermally limited site on the Loess Plateau, China. Methods: The water‐stable aggregate (WSA) distribution in soil was measured under three cultivars in each of maize, oat, wheat, and potato (a total of 12 cultivars from four crops) in their flowering stage of three cropping seasons, when root biomass was largest. Results: In each year, the water‐stable macroaggregates (>0.25 mm) content and mean weight diameter (MWD) of WSAs in the top 20 cm of soil did not differ between tested cultivars of every crop but increased under maize and oat, compared with those under wheat or potato. The increased soil aggregation under maize and oat, compared with wheat or potato, was consistent with the pattern of change in root biomass but was not consistent with the changes in root length density, root surface area, or root mean diameter across the crops. The water‐stable macroaggregates content and MWD of soil was positively correlated with root biomass across cultivars and crop species within each cropping season. Conclusions: We suggest that increased root biomass under maize and oat relative to potato or wheat resulted in increased soil aggregation in maize and oat cultivated soils. It is demonstrated that, in areas prone to soil water erosion, planting high‐biomass‐yielding crops such as maize and oat is more beneficial for increasing soil aggregation and stability, compared with low‐biomass‐yielding crops such as wheat or potato. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For sustainable productivity, a winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)–summer crop (corn [Zea mays L.] or grain sorghum [Sorghum bicolor L.])–fallow (W‐SC‐F) cropping system could benefit from optimal wheat stubble cutting height management, but only limited information is available. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of wheat stubble height on subsequent corn and grain sorghum yields, available soil water, crop water use, and precipitation storage efficiency in a W‐C‐F and W‐S‐F cropping system. This study was conducted from 2006 through 2020 at the Kansas State University Southwest Research‐Extension Center near Tribune, KS. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with three wheat stubble heights (high, low, and strip). Average across all years, there was a 9%–10% corn yield and 7%–11% corn biomass advantage from high and stripper harvested wheat stubble compared with low cut stubble, and a 5% sorghum yield advantage from high cut stubble compared with low cut stubble. Kernel weight of corn was the only yield component that significantly differed among stubble height treatments. Water productivity of corn in the high and stripper harvested stubble treatments (15.3 kg ha−1 mm−1) was significantly greater compared with the low cut stubble (14 kg ha−1 mm−1). Water productivity of sorghum in the high cut stubble treatment (18.9 kg ha−1 mm−1) was also significantly greater compared with low cut stubble (17.7 kg ha−1 mm−1). Total available soil water at planting (ASWP) and available soil water at harvest (ASWH) of corn were both greater for high cut stubble compared with stripper harvested stubble but total ASWP and ASWH of grain sorghum were not significantly different among stubble height treatments. We concluded that low cut wheat stubble decreased subsequent corn and grain sorghum yields in a W‐C/S‐F cropping system. Core ideas: There was a 9%–10% corn yield and 7%–11% biomass advantage from high and stripper harvested compared with low cut wheat stubble.There was a 5% sorghum yield increase from high cut stubble compared with low cut wheat stubble.Kernel weight of corn was the only yield component that significantly differed in response to wheat stubble height.Water productivity of corn and sorghum in the high and stripper harvested was significantly greater compared with low cut wheat stubble. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Reclaimed wastewater is a potential source for irrigation, although its effect on seed germination and plant growth has not been widely investigated. The present study focused on treating wastewater by vermifiltration and investigating the effect on seed germination and seedling development of Zea mays, Triticum aestivum and Sorghum bicolor and their morphological, physiological and biochemical developments. A filter bed was constructed using indigenous and improved materials. The constituents used to develop the filter bed consist of matrix of garden soil, lateritic hardpan gravels and coconut coir inoculated with Eisenia fetida. RESULTS: The wastewater was obtained from a public septic tank toilet facility and contained 35–40% dry matter with high concentrations of total dissolve solids (TDS), total suspended solids (TSS), chemical oxygen demand (COD), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), total nitrogen (Ntot) and phosphorus (Pavail). Portable water was used as the control. Vermifiltration of the wastewater was shown to be effective for the removal of 52–65% TDS, 56–62% TSS, 34–40% COD, 48–52% BOD, 56–62% Ntot and 53–58% Pavail. The results showed that the morphological, physiological and biochemical processes in Z. mays, T. aestivum and S. bicolor improved when seeds were subjected to treated wastewater. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrated that a potential reuse of vermifiltered wastewater as a source of irrigation water with continuous monitoring of the water quality is productive and sustainable. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti Medik.), primarily a cropland weed, exerts adverse impacts on the productivity of various crops, including soybean (Glycine max L.), wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), and maize (Zea mays L.), by hindering their vegetative growth. However, the interference mechanism of velvetleaf on the three crops remains unclear. RESULTS: The inhibitory effect of velvetleaf water extract on the germination and growth of soybean, wheat, and maize was determined in pot experiments and field trials. Four phenolic acids were identified as allelochemicals: protocatechuic acid (PA), gallic acid (GA), chlorogenic acid (CHA), and vanillic acid (VA). These allelochemicals were detected in different parts (leaves, roots, and stems) of velvetleaf, and in the rhizosphere soil of tested crops over the range of 1.19–556.23 μm kg−1. These allelochemicals were administered in approximate concentrations as in velvetleaf roots and rhizosphere soil, and their effects varied with crop species and velvetleaf parts. The allelochemicals generally had low‐dose stimulation and high‐dose inhibition effects on the growth of soybean, wheat, and maize. Furthermore, the biomass distribution of these crops was affected by allelochemicals in the soil. In field trials, the allelochemicals significantly (P < 0.05) inhibited the growth of all tested crops over the whole growth period, and PA showed a significant (P < 0.05) inhibitory effect on the yield of soybean, wheat, and maize. CONCLUSION: GA, PA, CHA, and VA in velvetleaf aqueous extracts were identified as allelochemicals that play an inhibitory role on three crops. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The profit function (net returns minus costs) allows breeders to derive trait economic weights to predict the net genetic merit (H) using the linear phenotypic selection index (LPSI). Economic weight is the increase in profit achieved by improving a particular trait by one unit and should reflect the market situation and not only preferences or arbitrary values. In maize (Zea mays L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum) breeding programs, only grain yield has a specific market price, which makes application of a profit function difficult. Assuming the traits' phenotypic values have multivariate normal distribution, we used the market price of grain yield and its conditional expectation given all the traits of interest to construct a profit function and derive trait economic weights in maize and wheat breeding. Using simulated and real maize and wheat datasets, we validated the profit function by comparing its results with the results obtained from a set of economic weights from the literature. The criteria to validate the function were the estimated values of the LPSI selection response and the correlation between LPSI and H. For our approach, the maize and wheat selection responses were 1,567.13 and 1,291.5, whereas the correlations were.87 and.85, respectively. For the other economic weights, the selection responses were 0.79 and 2.67, whereas the correlations were.58 and.82, respectively. The simulated dataset results were similar. Thus, the profit function is a good option to assign economic weights in plant breeding. Core Ideas: LPSI is the best linear predictor of the net genetic merit.The main LPSI objective is to predict the net genetic merit and maximize the selection response.The profit function allows breeders to derive trait economic weights to predict H.Economic weight is the increase in profit achieved by improving a particular trait by one unit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During grain filling, starch and other nutrients accumulate in the endosperm; this directly determines grain yield and grain quality in crops such as rice (Oryza sativa), maize (Zea mays), and wheat (Triticum aestivum). Grain filling is a complex trait affected by both intrinsic and environmental factors, making it difficult to explore the underlying genetics, molecular regulation, and the application of these genes for breeding. With the development of powerful genetic and molecular techniques, much has been learned about the genes and molecular networks related to grain filling over the past decades. In this review, we highlight the key factors affecting grain filling, including both biological and abiotic factors. We then summarize the key genes controlling grain filling and their roles in this event, including regulators of sugar translocation and starch biosynthesis, phytohormone‐related regulators, and other factors. Finally, we discuss how the current knowledge of valuable grain filling genes could be integrated with strategies for breeding cereal varieties with improved grain yield and quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Starch hydrolysis is attracting much attention due to its relationship to digestion and glucose release. The objective is to propose rapid and continuous analytical methods that allow measuring gels hydrolysis following apparent viscosity (μ). Three different starches (corn, wheat, and rice) are tested recording starch gelatinization followed by gels digestions (digestograms) using a rapid‐visco analyzer (RVA) or a rheometer. Results are compared with those obtained by measuring glucose release along hydrolysis. A modified first‐order kinetic model in the RVA (R2 > 0.99) and rheometer (R2 > 0.99) describes the gels digestograms. Wheat gel shows a higher hydrolysis rate (k), which indicates faster digestion followed by rice and corn gels. The proposed models allow rapid analysis of starch digestograms, allowing to discriminate among hydrolysis rate of different starches. These less time‐consuming methods can be an option to continuously analyze starch gelatinization followed by enzymatic digestion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Determining whether isotope fractionation occurs during root water uptake is a prerequisite for using stem or xylem water isotopes to trace water sources. However, it is unclear whether isotope fractionation occurs during root water uptake in gramineous crops.We conducted prevalidation experiments to estimate the isotope measurement bias associated with cryogenic vacuum distillation (CVD). Next, we assessed isotope fractionation during root water uptake in two common agronomic crops, wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and maize (Zea mays L.), under flooding after postdrought stress conditions.Cryogenic vacuum distillation caused significant depletion of 2H but negligible effects on 18O for both soil and stem water. Surprisingly CVD caused depletion of 2H and enrichment of 18O in root water. Stem and root water δ18O were more than soil water δ18O, even considering the uncertainty of CVD. Soil water 18O was depleted compared with irrigation water 18O in the pots with plants but enriched relative to irrigation water 18O in the pots without plants.These results indicate that isotope fractionation occurred during wheat and maize root water uptake after full irrigation and led to a heavy isotope enrichment in stem water. Therefore, the xylem/stem water isotope approach widely used to trace water sources should be carefully evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the 1970s, cereal aphids populations (specially Metopolophium dirhodum) were out of balance in the subtropical region of South America and a successful biological control program with the introduction of parasitoids restored equilibrium. After that, changes in crop systems may have affected aphid‐parasitoid communities.The objective of this work was to evaluate the current assemblage of cereal aphid parasitoids, describing their oscillations, parasitism level, and trophic relationships in food webs in a cereal succession system (wheat‐corn‐oat) currently adopted in this region.Over a year, the associated parasitoid/hyperparasitoid species were inventoried by field‐exposed Rhopalosiphum padi, Schizaphis graminum, M. dirhodum, and Sitobion avenae (recruitment method) and by Moericke traps.Six species of primary parasitoids were sampled in both aphids and traps with the same abundance sequence: A. platensis, A. rhopalosiphi, L. testaceipes, D. rapae, A. uzbekistanicus, and A. ervi.Parasitism and complexity of food webs were higher during the wheat season (winter–spring), decreasing in corn (summer) and increasing again in oat (autumn).In the current assemblage of cereal aphid parasitoids in the subtropical region of South America, three species of parasitoids that were already present before the biological control program and three that were introduced oscillate in abundance throughout the year, resulting in an alternation of the complexity of the food webs and in the levels of parasitism in the crop seasons. A. platensis and A. rhopalosiphi are the most abundant species and A. rhopalosiphi remains fundamental in the control of M. dirhodum and S. avenae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Denitrification in agricultural soils is responsible for the majority of anthropogenic N2O production. The objective of this research was to assess denitrification potential and the spatial dependence of soil N2O flux from claypan soils in the Central Claypan Region of Missouri. Surface soil samples (0–10 cm) were collected on a 90‐m grid from two claypan fields, one conventionally managed in a corn (Zea mays L.)–soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] rotation with tillage and without cover crops (Field 1), and the other managed as a corn–soybean–wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) rotation with no‐till and cover crops (Field 3). The denitrification enzyme activity (DEA) protocol was used to measure denitrification potential and actual soil denitrification rates of N2O and N2 were measured with the N‐free atmospheric recirculation method (N‐FARM). In both fields, DEA fluxes were highest in the toeslope, with a rate of 1.4 kg N ha–1 d–1 in Field 1, and 1.8 kg N ha–1 d–1 in Field 3. Actual denitrification was dominated by N2 (>85%) rather than N2O emissions, and it was considerably lower than DEA. Actual N2, N2O, and total denitrification (N2 + N2O) fluxes were not different between fields; however, only total denitrification flux showed an effect of landscape position similar to that of DEA in both fields. Although the high smectitic clay content of upland soils provides environmental conditions suitable for denitrification, these results indicate that the accumulation of soil C in the toeslope position controlled DEA and actual denitrification rates. Core Ideas: Changes in soil properties across landscape position influenced denitrification variability.N2 accounted for >85% of total denitrification emissions.Denitrification enzyme activity did not adequately predict actual denitrification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Retention of crop biomass is widely recommended to improve soil organic carbon (SOC). However, the magnitude of contribution of above‐ground residues and below‐ground roots from C3 and C4 crops to SOC is unclear.Data from a 10‐year field experiment and a 60‐day laboratory incubation were synthesized to identify the respective contribution of C3 (e.g., wheat) and C4 (e.g., maize) residues and roots to SOC, as well as its underlying mechanisms under no‐till (NT) using 13C labelling trace in wheat‐maize rotations.The field experiment showed that residue retention significantly increased SOC accumulation, and SOC derived from wheat was 126.0% higher than that from maize. Conversion to NT promoted SOC derived from wheat and thus accumulated 17.6% higher SOC stock compared with plough tillage (PT) under residue returning at 0–20 cm soil depth (p < 0.05). The data from laboratory incubation revealed the mechanisms that lower priming effects at 0–10 cm depth decreased total mineralization by 91.8% after inputs of wheat residues and roots compared with that of maize residues and roots, especially under NT compared with PT. Priming effects were negatively correlated with enzyme activities associated with the C recycle, SOC, and total nitrogen (TN) contents (p < 0.01). NT increased enzyme activities, SOC, and TN contents and thus reduced priming effects and improved residual carbon.Synthesis and applications. These results suggested that wheat may contribute more to SOC accumulation than maize, and carbon increment efficiency in farmland could be enhanced by considering the crucial roles of C3 crops in SOC accumulation. NT practice sustains the benefits of C3 crops to SOC sequestration in the upper soil depths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: The precise and accurate identification and quantification of transcriptional start sites (TSSs) is key to understanding the control of transcription. The core promoter consists of the TSS and proximal non‐coding sequences, which are critical in transcriptional regulation. Therefore, the accurate identification of TSSs is important for understanding the molecular regulation of transcription. Existing protocols for TSS identification are challenging and expensive, leaving high‐quality data available for a small subset of organisms. This sparsity of data impairs study of TSS usage across tissues or in an evolutionary context. To address these shortcomings, we developed Smart‐Seq2 Rolling Circle to Concatemeric Consensus (Smar2C2), which identifies and quantifies TSSs and transcription termination sites. Smar2C2 incorporates unique molecular identifiers that allowed for the identification of as many as 70 million sites, with no known upper limit. We have also generated TSS data sets from as little as 40 pg of total RNA, which was the smallest input tested. In this study, we used Smar2C2 to identify TSSs in Glycine max (soybean), Oryza sativa (rice), Sorghum bicolor (sorghum), Triticum aestivum (wheat) and Zea mays (maize) across multiple tissues. This wide panel of plant TSSs facilitated the identification of evolutionarily conserved features, such as novel patterns in the dinucleotides that compose the initiator element (Inr), that correlated with promoter expression levels across all species examined. We also discovered sequence variations in known promoter motifs that are positioned reliably close to the TSS, such as differences in the TATA box and in the Inr that may prove significant to our understanding and control of transcription initiation. Smar2C2 allows for the easy study of these critical sequences, providing a tool to facilitate discovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cover crops are rarely adopted in the northern Corn Belt because of short growing periods but could provide benefits when grown between wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and corn (Zea mays L.). We evaluated corn normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and leaf N (at six leaf, ear leaf, 75% silk, and physiological maturity), over three growing seasons in response to factorial treatments of cover crop of annual ryegrass [Lolium perenne L. ssp. multiflorum (Lam.) Husnot], radish [Raphanus sativus L.], and no‐cover control, and N rate (0×, 0.25×, 0.5×, and 1×) relative to the recommended rate based on pre‐plant soil tests (157–190 kg N ha−1). Grain N was also measured in the last study year (2016) to evaluate if leaf N indicated grain N. Radish cover crop increased corn NDVI relative to the no‐cover control, but annual ryegrass decreased NDVI relative to no‐cover control. This response to cover crop treatment suggests that radish cover crop may improve corn nutritional status. Corn receiving 1× N rate had the slowest decrease in leaf N over the growing season, but 2016 data revealed that grain from all treatments receiving some level of N had similar N content. Root biomass was also highest in the 0.5× N rate treatment and could explain the previously reported result that 0.5× N rate results in highest corn yield. Taken together, these results suggest that half the recommended N fertilizer can be used with little effect on nutritional status of corn following spring wheat in the northern Corn Belt. Core Ideas: Compared with no cover, corn NDVI was higher following radish cover crop.Compared with no cover, corn NDVI was lower following annual ryegrass cover crop.Corn leaf N decreased slowest in the full (1×) N rate treatment.Corn root biomass was highest at half (0.5×) of recommended N fertilizer rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crop rotations, cover crops, and poultry litter (PL) under no tillage (NT) may improve soil health and crop yields. However, farmers' adoption depends on whether they can generate extra profits. This study evaluated profitability of NT corn (Zea mays L.) in monoculture versus rotations with soybean (Glycine max L.) and cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) with or without winter covers from 2002 to 2017. Whole‐block treatments were cropping rotations with monoculture (control) versus nine, 4‐yr cropping sequences (phases) repeated four times (I, II, III, and IV). Split‐block treatments were no cover versus winter covers of PL, hairy vetch (Vicia villosa L.), and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Different phases influenced yields and net returns (NRs; p <.05), with the greatest NRs in Phase IV, and the lowest in Phase III. Rotation interacted with phase to influence corn yield and NRs (p <.01), with positive rotation effects occurring in Phase IV. Covers influenced yields and NRs over 16 yr (p <.01). Vetch cover resulted in the highest corn yields, whereas wheat cover was the lowest. However, no cover plots produced NRs greater than any other cover. Enhanced yields or cost savings due to reduced fertilizer from covers did not offset cover costs. Lowering costs of PL, hairy vetch, and wheat by 70, 68, and 100%, respectively, from their base values produced equivalent NRs to no cover. Thus, farmers may need subsidies to adopt conservation agriculture‐based practices. Core Ideas: Rotation, cover crop, and poultry litter affected corn yields and net returns.Rotation effect was positive in the last 4 yr of the 16‐yr experiment.Corn yields were greater after vetch than no cover, wheat, and poultry litter.No cover corn had more net returns than any cover crop or poultry litter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Concerns about the effects of global warming on crop yields have been raised due to stagnating yield progress in recent years. However, an understanding of the effects of changes in temperature and rainfall throughout the crop cycle on historical yield progress is lacking in Europe (EU). In this study, positive wheat, barley, rice, and maize yield progress in the EU (1961–2019) was significant, with rates of 0.05, 0.04, 0.05, and 0.07 Tha−1year−1, for the four crops respectively. Much of this progress has been sustained by Eastern European countries (EE), which had the highest yield progress rates. On average, in the case of wheat and barley, a temperature increase of 1°C in the winter resulted in yields increasing by +0.33 Tha−1 in EE. This was potentially due to decreasing cold damage and improved photosynthesis and vegetative growth, supporting positive yield progress. Recent historical (2001–2019) rates of wheat, barley, rice, and maize yield progress were positive in all EU regions except Western Europe (WE), barley in Southern Europe (SE) and wheat in Northern Europe (NE). Stagnated wheat, barley and rice yields in WE were not explained by temperature or rainfall using direct correlations of observed data. However, May and July temperatures were associated with wheat yields in NE (−0.30 Tha−1°C−1), barley in SE (−0.14 Tha−1°C−1) and maize in WE and SE (−0.42 and −0.39 Tha−1°C−1). With increasing temperatures becoming less than optimal for photosynthesis, reducing grain filling duration and increasing drought episodes, crop yields have stagnated for wheat in NE and barley in SE. With consistent increases in temperature and water evaporative demand expected in the future, the interplay among genetic adaptation, increased crop cycle duration, drought tolerance, sowing dates, smart irrigation and sustainable practices may require thorough regional testing to maximise the yields of wheat, barley and maize in Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One approach to water optimization in agriculture is to increase soil water retention. A soil amendment that has received attention for its ability to increase soil water retention is biochar, the remaining biomass after high‐C materials have been pyrolyzed. Two studies were conducted in Utah at two sites each during 2018–2020 to evaluate how a fast‐pyrolysis wood biochar influenced the productivity and crop quality of irrigated alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), corn (Zea mays L.), and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) along with soil water tension. One study included a single biochar rate of 22 Mg ha−1 at two levels of irrigation (full vs. partial), where soil‐incorporated biochar increased silage corn yield by 12% in 2018 and reduced yield by 10% in 2019. Topdressed biochar had no effect on alfalfa yield from 2018 to 2020 in either irrigation rate. The other trial had six to seven biochar rates (0–67 Mg ha−1) plus the addition of wood chips at a single rate (22 Mg ha−1) at one site. This trial displayed a yield decrease of 0.01 Mg ha−1 of wheat grain for each additional 1 Mg ha−1 of biochar applied; however, there were no effects on silage corn production. Data obtained over 10 site‐years showed minimal effects from this type of biochar on crop yield, quality, or soil water tension, leading us to conclude that this wood biochar was not an effective tool for enhancing short‐term crop production or conserving irrigation water in arid agriculture. Core Ideas: Wood biochar did not consistently increase alfalfa and corn performance under water stress.Biochar rate trials showed wheat yield reductions and no corn silage effect as rate increased.Soil water availability was not consistently greater with biochar at any site.Biochar provided few crop yield, quality, or available moisture benefits at 10 site‐years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knowledge about the changes in soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks and grain yields under different field management practices is necessary for achieving agricultural sustainability. An 8‐yr experiment for testing different tillage and straw management practices was conducted in a wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)–maize (Zea mays L.) rotation system in the southern Loess Plateau of China. Three tillage methods (control with no‐tillage and straw removal [CK], no‐tillage with straw stubbles 30–40 cm in height [NT], and rotary tillage with straw incorporation [RT]) were applied before maize planting, and two straw treatments (straw return [SR] and no straw return [SR0]) were applied after maize harvest. Over the 8 yr, SOC stocks exhibited similar dynamic changing trends in all treatments but were higher under NT, RT, and SR than under CK‐SR0. Compared with the initial soil, SOC stock increased the most (34.1%) in NT‐SR. Compared with the CK‐SR0, the NT‐SR, RT‐SR, CK‐SR, NT‐SR0, and RT‐SR0 increased wheat grain yields by 47.2, 36.8, 24.9, 25.1, and 20.0%, respectively. Similar trends were found for maize grain yields. The NT, RT, and SR increased crop yield stability with the highest sustainable yield index in NT‐SR for both wheat (.67) and maize (.70). Overall, the combination of no‐tillage with wheat straw stubbles 30–40 cm in height and maize straw return was the best strategy for improving SOC stocks, grain yields, and agricultural sustainability for grain production in dry, sub‐humid areas of northwestern China. Core Ideas: No‐tillage (NT) and rotary tillage (RT) increased SOC stocks compared with control.NT, RT, and straw return (SR) increased crop yield stability.NT‐SR is an optimal strategy for improving agricultural sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On claypan soils of the eastern Great Plains, yield of no‐till crops often lags yield of crops grown with tillage, especially cereals requiring sound N management. The objective of this 14‐yr study was to determine the yield response of corn (Zea mays L.), winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), and double‐crop soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] in a 2‐yr rotation to tillage system and N fertilizer placement. Tillage, N placement, or their interaction affected corn yield in all seven‐corn crop‐years. Corn yields averaged about 25% lower with no‐till than with conventional or reduced tillage and were never greater with no‐till in any year. Nitrogen fertilization increased corn yield by increasing kernels per ear; however, corn yield increase to subsurface band (knife) N applications compared with surface (broadcast or dribble) applications was only about 10%. In the lower‐yielding no‐till system, corn yield increase to knifed N fertilization was greater than in tilled systems and may partially ameliorate the no‐till yield decline. Average wheat yield was unaffected by tillage. Adding N more than doubled wheat yield, but differences in wheat yield between preplant N placements methods were small. Average double‐crop soybean yield was unaffected by tillage with few, inconsistent differences by year. Compared with no‐till, tillage tended to increase soil P and K, but soil organic matter was just redistributed with no net increase with no‐till. Thus, tillage and N placement treatments may affect corn but have lesser effects on wheat and double‐crop soybean and soil properties in this rotation. Core Ideas: Tillage and N fertilization may affect corn–wheat–double‐crop soybean yields in rotation.Corn yield averaged ∼25% lower with no‐till than with conventional or reduced tillage.Corn response to knife N applications may partially ameliorate yield decline due to no‐till.Wheat and double‐crop soybean yields were marginally affected by tillage and N placement.Soil organic matter distribution was affected by tillage, but there was no net increase with no‐till. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In intercropping systems, interspecies interaction intensity has an important effect on water consumption. However, how interspecies interaction intensity reduces water consumption in intercropping is still unclear. The effects of interspecies interaction intensity in wheat (Triticum aestivum)–maize (Zea mays) intercropping system on water consumption characteristics, root length density, and grain yield were examined. A 3‐yr field experiment was conducted to evaluate three root interaction intensities: complete belowground interaction (W/M, without root barrier), partial belowground interaction (NW/M, nylon mesh barrier), and without belowground interaction (PW/M, plastic sheet barrier), with two plant densities of maize (45,000 plants ha−1, M1, and 52,500 plants ha−1, M2) in wheat–maize intercropping system. During co‐growth period of wheat and maize and independent growth of maize, evaporation was reduced by W/M and with increased maize plant density. Root length density of maize was inhibited by intercropped wheat during the co‐growth period. Root length density of maize in the W/M treatment was increased by 14% in 2014 and 45% in 2015, compared with the NW/M treatment, and increased by 26% in 2014 and 119% in 2015, compared with the PW/M treatment, expect for 2016, during maize independent growth. Moreover, there was a negative correlation between evaporation and root length density of maize. Grain yield was increased by W/M2 treatment. Increasing interspecies interaction intensity can decrease evaporation by increasing the root length density of intercropping crops. Core Ideas: With increased maize plant density, evaporation was reduced by complete belowground interaction.Root length density of maize was increased by complete belowground interaction.Root length density of maize was negatively correlated with evaporation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of plant growth‐promoting bacteria (PGPB) to enhance plant growth and protection against heavy metal toxicity has been extensively studied. However, its potentiality to reduce arsenate toxicity, a threat to plant growth and metabolism, has been hardly investigated. Moreover, the toxic effect of arsenic oxide nanoparticles (As‐NPs) on plants and possible mechanisms for its alleviation has not yet been explored. In this study, the impact of the bioactive actinomycete Streptomyces spp. on the growth, physiology and stress‐related metabolites, such as sugars and proline, on As‐NPs‐stressed wheat and maize plants was investigated. Soil amendment with arsenic oxide nanoparticles (As‐NPs) induced the uptake and accumulation of As in the plants of both species, resulting in reduced growth and photosynthesis, but less marked in maize than in wheat plants. Under As‐NPs‐free conditions, Streptomyces spp. treatment markedly improved growth and photosynthesis in wheat only. The application of Streptomyces spp. reduced As accumulation, recovered the As‐NPs‐induced growth, photosynthesis inhibition, and oxidative damage in plants of both species. Wheat plants specifically accumulated soluble sugars, while both species accumulated proline. Under As‐NPs stress, the ornithine pathway of proline biosynthesis was more important in maize than in wheat plants, while the glutamine pathway was dominant in wheat ones. The addition of Streptomyces spp. further induced the accumulation of proline and starch in both plant species. Overall, despite a different response to Streptomyces spp. under nontoxic conditions, the amendment of as‐contaminated soil with Streptomyces spp. induced similar metabolic responses in the two tested species, which trigger stress recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) demand in Bangladesh has increased significantly in recent years, becoming the second major staple cereal after rice (Oryza sativa L.). Domestic production of wheat accounts for only 16% of domestic use. More than 30 wheat varieties have been released in the past 30 yr by the Bangladesh Wheat and Maize Research Institute (BWMRI). In the last 10 yr alone, nine varieties with improved yield and disease resistance have been released. Bangladesh and the BWMRI lack the regulatory framework and infrastructure to accurately track the rate of adoption of these new releases. To determine the adoption of these varieties across the country, DNA fingerprinting of wheat samples was conducted across the six wheat growing regions in Bangladesh during the 2018–2019 cropping season. A reference library was established to compare and identify the wheat samples collected from farmers' fields. Wheat grain samples collected from the fields and breeders' lines were genotyped using Diversity Arrays Technology sequencing (DArTseq)‐based single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers. Of the 1,791 samples collected from farmers' fields, 68% were identified as varieties released after 2000 and 32% matched with older varieties. Among the varieties grown, BARI Gom 25 represented 29% of the collected samples followed by 23% of BARI Gom 24 and 16% of BARI Gom 26. These three most common varieties were well distributed across the six regions and have broad adoption. Core Ideas: High throughput DNA fingerprinting can be efficiently used for assessment of varietal adoption.68% of samples identified as varieties released after 2000 and 32% matched with older varieties.Improving management of wheat breeder seed is essential for accurate adoption studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interactive effect of silicon (Si) application on soil fertility is poorly understood when inoculation with Azospirillum brasilense is performed. This research determined if Si application and A. brasilense inoculation to corn (Zea mays L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) has agronomic benefits on soil nutrient concentration and grain yield. Treatments were tested under a no-till system in a Rhodic Haplustox in a full factorial design with four replicates and comprised (a) two soil amendment sources--calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) silicate and dolomitic limestone; (b) with and without seed inoculation with A. brasilense; and (c) five sampling dates collected during two corn-wheat crop rotations (2015-2017). Calcium and Mg silicate application was effective at decreasing soil hydrogen + aluminum (H+Al) and Al content and increasing soil pH, sum of bases, and base saturation. However, silicate changed soil nutrient availability, reduced cation exchange capacity, phosphorus (P) and Mg content and did not significantly affect (p > .05) corn and wheat grain yield. Inoculation reduced Al toxicity, with lower H+Al and Al contents, and increased K content, leading to a greater pH and base saturation after four cropping seasons. Inoculation increased corn and wheat grain yield by 8.2 and 8.3%, respectively. Application of Ca and Mg silicate was more effective than limestone as a liming agent but could result in decreased availability of certain nutrients in soil. Inoculation with A. brasilense could be an important management practice to maintain adequate Si content in soil when limestone is applied. However, with silicate application, A. brasilense could increase Si depletion in soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the off-targets in wheat, CRISPR-Cereal specifies whether they belong to the homologous group in the A, B or D sub-genomes (Figure 1d), and telling users whether the selected gRNAs would cause unintended editing in the homologous genes from the sub-genomes. CRISPR-Cereal: a guide RNA design tool integrating regulome and genomic variation for wheat, maize and rice Keywords: Crop gene editing; gRNA design; regulome; open chromatin; SNP EN Crop gene editing gRNA design regulome open chromatin SNP 2141 2143 3 10/26/21 20211101 NES 211101 The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)-associated protein (Cas) genome editing system (CRISPR-Cas) is revolutionizing agriculture. [Extracted from the article]

Cover Caption: Scientists are working to improve crop yield and quality by optimizing the CRISPR/Cas tools. The special issue features the latest progresses in crop genome editing, including improving base editing systems, expanding CRISPR toolbox, engineering multiplex gene editing and creating novel rice, wheat and maize germplasms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]