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A comprehensive modelling methodology is proposed to describe wheat seeds using the discrete element method. By analysing the geometrical characteristics of wheat seeds, the multi-sphere approach is employed to establish 7-, 11-, 15-, 19-, and 23-sphere models based on ellipsoids. The physical and mechanical characteristics of wheat grain are measured and calibrated. Then, the proposed model is verified with several assessment criteria by contrasting the results of the experiment and simulation, including the wheat seed volume fraction, static angle of repose, hopper discharge, rotating drum and "self-flow screening". By balancing the accuracy of the multi-sphere model and computational efficiency, the 7-sphere or 11-sphere model is found to be the optimal model for determining the static stacking behaviour and hopper discharge of wheat seeds. For the rotating drum and the "self-flow screening", there is a considerable discrepancy between the simulation and experimental findings due to the surface roughness of the 7- and 11-sphere models. However, 15-, 19-, and 23-sphere models show a high accuracy, which can be applied for drying seeds of the rotating drum and accurately reproducing the sieve permeability of the "self-flow screening" experiment. In summary, the proposed multi-sphere method can be extended to related industry fields by demonstrating satisfactory accuracy in several validation tests. • A general multi-sphere modelling approach for wheat seed based on DEM is proposed. • DEM parameters of wheat grain are measured and calibrated. • Wheat grain experiments are conducted to verify the accuracy of the model. • Provides an effective guide for the validation of irregular particle models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Flexible pressure sensors with high sensitivity and wide sensing range are highly desired in e-skins and wearable electronics. However, there is always a trade-off between high sensitivity and broad sensing range for most flexible pressure sensors. Herein, an artificial wheat awn-like hierarchical structure is designed onto the dielectric layer of the iontronic pressure sensor, realizing both high sensitivity and broad working range. The sensor is constructed by sandwiching a wheat awn-like polyvinyl alcohol/H 3 PO 4 dielectric layer between two transparent electrodes of silver nanowires/thermoplastic polyurethane/ionic liquid. The obtained sensor exhibits a high precision of 1 Pa, a high sensitivity of 47.65 kPa−1 (1–200 Pa), a wide measurement range from 1 Pa to 238 kPa, short response/recovery time of 13 ms/12 ms, outstanding stability over 6000 cycles, as well as good transparency. Considering these excellent properties, the sensor shows promising potential in health monitoring, human–computer interaction, wearable electronics, etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Protein body (PB) formation in wheat seeds is a critical process influencing seed content and nutritional quality. In this study, we investigate the potential mechanisms governing PB formation through an in vitro approach, focusing on γ-gliadin, a key wheat storage protein. We used a microfluidic technique to encapsulate γ-gliadin within giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) and tune the physicochemical conditions in a controlled and rapid way. We examined the influence of pH and protein concentration on LLPS and protein-membrane interactions using various microscopy and spectroscopy techniques. We showed that γ-gliadin encapsulated in GUVs can undergo a pH-triggered liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS) by two distinct mechanisms depending on the γ-gliadin concentration. At low protein concentrations, γ-gliadins phase separate by a nucleation and growth-like process, while, at higher protein concentration and pH above 6.0, γ-gliadin formed a bi-continuous phase suggesting a spinodal decomposition-like mechanism. Fluorescence and microscopy data suggested that γ-gliadin dense phase exhibited affinity for the GUV membrane, forming a layer at the interface and affecting the reversibility of the phase separation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Feeding the growing world population is a primary concern faced by plant breeders and producers. The world population of 8 billion is expected to reach 9.8 billion by 2050, which will demand a 60% increase in food production. These demands need to be met under changing climatic conditions and already stretched resources by extending the boundaries of agriculture to urban areas, deserts, and fresh and saltwater bodies. Additionally, crops are needed to support deep space explorations. Therefore, plants with desirable stature, organization, better resource use efficiency, and higher yield are required to meet these targets. The food security challenge is not new; from prehistoric times, humans shaped plant architecture to make plants fit their needs. For example, intentional/unintentional selection in different plants led to the development of un-branched maize from branched teosinte, spikes with more to fewer inflorescence branches in barley and wheat, tall vine-like plants into compact bushes in tomato and soybean, and from tall to semidwarf varieties in wheat, barley, rice, and sorghum. However, control of plant architecture is complex, as several phytohormone-signal transduction pathways, besides other genetic and epigenetic factors, determine it. Among the plant hormones, strigolactones are vital in shoot branching and root growth, influencing the plant's architecture. Given the importance of shoot architecture in determining yield, we reviewed different traits defining plant architecture and genetic and physiological factors contributing to these traits with attention to wheat, barley, rice, and Arabidopsis. We hope the information will help develop crops with desired architecture for terrestrial and extraterrestrial farming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global wheat production has remained stable in the last 20 years, benefiting from increased grain yields despite decline in harvested wheat area. Here, we conducted a comprehensive review of ca. 300 peer-reviewed studies worldwide to outline benefits of adding wheat to simple crop rotations (i.e., one to three rotational crops). We highlight the wheat's versatility for tactical in-season crop management (e.g., flexible sowing dates, crop type [winter vs spring], and nitrogen fertility) and strategic cropping system management (e.g., grazing and double-cropping) and provide evidence supporting the positive impact of wheat on the grain yield and yield stability of other rotational crops. The inclusion of wheat in simple cropping systems enhances agroecosystem diversity and improves resilience to biotic and abiotic stresses. The high carbon-to-nitrogen ratio (C:N) residue of wheat offers benefits and drawbacks on soil quality attributes, weed control, and climate change mitigation potential. The introduction of wheat to simple crop rotations can (i) interrupt pest population cycles by serving as a break crop; (ii) decrease N application requirements, thus reducing N losses, greenhouse gas emissions, soil acidification, and production costs; (iii) improve soil health and carbon sequestration; (iv) increase resource use-efficiency of the cropping system; (v) foment fauna population; and (vi) decrease variability in economic returns. This review highlights that wheat offers unique opportunities to increase diversification and foster more sustainable and resilient agroecosystems that will feed a growing global population while acting as a net carbon sink, helping to mitigate drivers of climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A horizontal air-assisted centralised metering device involves the use of conveying airflow for mixing and conveying during the seeding process, making it suitable for high-speed precision seeding. This study identified key structural parameters for the mixing component. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations were used to analyse the influence of the key structural parameters on airflow distribution and airflow velocity. The results suggested selecting a contraction section conical angle of 40° with maximal conveying airflow velocity and minimal airflow pressure loss. A mixing chamber length of 25 mm prevented the retention and blockage. An expansion section conical angle of 20° achieved higher airflow velocity within the expansion section. CFD-DEM (Discrete Element Modelling) coupled simulation were used to analyse the influence of mixing chamber height, seeding rate, and conveying airflow velocity on seed conveying performance. The results indicated that a mixing chamber height of 16 mm ensured stable seed acceleration, reduced the probability of seed-wall collisions. Seed collisions within the mixing chamber and expansion section increased noticeably along with the rising seeding rates. While airflow velocity in the range of 16–25 m s−1 facilitated timely seed conveyance and reduced seed-wall collisions. Verification experiments for the optimal parameter combination of the mixing component indicated that a conveying airflow velocity of 22 m s−1 resulted in the stability coefficient of variation of total seeding mass not exceeding 1.04 %, the uniformity coefficient of variation of seeding mass in each row not exceeding 3.61 %. This research offers valuable insights for structural improvements in the mixing component of the horizontal air-assisted metering device. • The influence of mixing component structure on airflow distribution was analysed. • The key parameter values of the mixing component were determined by CFD simulation. • CFD-DEM coupled simulation were used to analyse the seed conveying performance. • The mixing component for reducing seed-wall collision and retention was determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Characterisation of pore structure inside grain bulks is essential for predicting the airflow resistance during grain drying and aeration. Herein, the 3D pore network of wheat mixed with different percentages of canola and dockage was characterised. The characterised parameters include pore size, throat length, coordination number, airpath length, and tortuosity. To simulate the grain storage condition, the loaded wheat mixtures were cured using wax at 110 °C. The images of the waxed wheat mixtures were produced by using a high-resolution X-ray micro-computed tomography (μCT) system at a resolution of 50 μm per pixel. The computed space distribution was based on the 3D medial axis analysis of each image stack using Dragonfly 4.1 software. The pore space was segmented using a deep-learning model with 90.1–98.0% accuracy. A watershed-based image algorithm was used to generate the pore network from the segmented pore space. The pore structure parameters were extracted from the pore network of each wheat mixture. Most pores were classified as mesopores (>99%) in a range from 62.5 to 4000 μm, with less than 1% classified as micropores (1–62.5 μm). The mean pore size of clean bulk wheat was 648 ± 403 μm with a mean throat length of 1115 ± 611 μm. In the mixtures with 10% canola, 5 and 10% wheat dockage, the mean pore size was reduced by 10%, 29%, and 17%, respectively, from clean wheat. Adding canola and dockage generally influenced the connectivity in the pore microstructure with changes in bulk porosity, tortuosity, airpath number, and length. • Pore diameter, throat length and tortuosity were quantified by pore network model. • Μicro-CT images were analyzed to describe the 3D geometry of wheat mixtures. • CNN models distinguished pore space from wheat mixtures. • Dockage size and percentage influenced the pore structure of wheat mixtures. • Most pores were mesopores (>99%) ranging from 62.5 to 4000 μm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long-term experiments (LTEs) are a vital source of information contributing to understanding and assessing the sustainability of agricultural systems. The Broadbalk Wheat Experiment at Rothamsted Research, UK, started in 1843, is the oldest continuing LTE in the world. In 1968, and later, major modifications were made to the experiment. These included the introduction of short-straw winter wheat varieties, growing wheat in rotation with other crops, for comparison with continuous (monoculture) wheat and testing higher rates of N fertilizer (up to 288 kg N ha-1). Other changes included the use of herbicides and other agrochemicals, except on selected sections. Regular liming continued to maintain soil pH. This paper reports crop yields and soil changes since 1968 and summarizes other studies including the incidence of weeds, pests and crop diseases, effects of treatments on nitrate and phosphate movement to drainage water, greenhouse gas fluxes, measurements of N and S inputs from the atmosphere, and many other factors. The change to short-straw varieties led to a doubling of grain yields. In recent years with cv. Crusoe yields of first wheat after a 2-year break in a rotation were >3 t ha-1 greater than continuous wheat, mainly because of decreased incidence of soil-borne pests and diseases. On average, yields of continuous wheat tended to increase at N rates up to 240 or 288 kg N ha-1 while the 1st wheat after a 2-year break often needed less N to reach maximum yield. Best yields now exceed 12 t ha-1 in some years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The identification of different plant genotypes, particularly during various developmental stages, is challenging due to the high genetic diversity of agricultural products. In this study, the efficacy of visible and infrared leaf spectroscopy in identifying five wheat genotypes was assessed across three main growth stages: leaf opening, tillering, and flowering. Soft independent modelling of class analogy (SIMCA) and artificial neural networks (ANN) were employed to develop growth-stage dependent and independent classification models based on spectral reflection. To handle the large amount of spectral data generated, a deep learning technique was first used to extract advanced features from the spectral data using the stacked autoencoder (SAE) approach. The results revealed that the tillering stage yielded the highest accuracy in predicting wheat genotypes when using the linear SIMCA approach. Furthermore, employing deep learning features extracted by SAE networks in the ANN classifier resulted in superior performance compared to the SIMCA classifier. During the leaf opening and tillering stages, the ANN classifier achieved perfect classification, with a weighted F1-score of 100 %, while during the flowering stage, it achieved a weighted F1-score of 98.02 %. In the combined dataset, the ANN classifier demonstrated impressive performance, with a weighted F1-score of 95.98 %. These findings suggest that in-field leaf spectroscopy techniques using deep learning feature extraction methods can be a suitable approach for identifying wheat plant genotypes during different growth stages. • In-field Vis-NIR leaf spectroscopy was examined for genotyping of wheat plants. • Growth-stage dependent and independent classification models were extracted. • Tillering stage was the most accurate in predicting wheat genotypes. • Better classifications were attained by ANN classifier fed by deep learning features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Timely and accurate crop monitoring and harvest property prescription map making before harvesting is valuable for the precision operation of combine harvesters. The development of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) and sensor technology makes it feasible to acquire crop remote sensing images with high temporal and spatial resolution. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of UAV-based time series remote sensing data and multimodal data fusion using RGB and multispectral sensors in estimating wheat yield, biomass, and straw-grain ratio in the ripening stage. Wheat RGB and multispectral images of nine major growth stages were collected using a UAV (DJI P4M, Phantom4 Multispectral). To extract data's temporal and spatial features, a new deep neural network, CNN-LSTM, was proposed. Multimodal information, including wheat canopy colour, spectral, and space structure features, was extracted and integrated to predict wheat harvest properties in the model, and the three types of feature predictive power were compared. The highest precision rates (0.553, 0.527) were obtained by CNN-LSTM on yield and biomass, when the three types of features of nine stage were inputs. The prediction accuracy of the classical convolutional neural network (CNN) (0.367, 0.387) and long short term memory (LSTM) (0.467, 0.46) used for comparison was worse than that of the proposed model. Furthermore, the increasing rate in yield prediction at each period indicates that heading is the most important stage for wheat yield estimation. The study proves that the proposed approach can provide a relatively precise estimations of crop harvest properties. • A novel wheat harvest property prediction CNN-LSTM network was proposed. • The temporal and spatial characteristics of wheat remote sensing data were compared. • A metre-scale wheat harvest prescription map was obtained. • The key period of yield forecast was obtained by data accumulation training pattern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China and India are the two top consumers of fertilizer nitrogen (N) in the world not only to provide food security to 36% of the global population living in the two countries but also due to fertilizer-related government policies being followed during the last more than 50 years. Excessive fertilizer N use is now a cause of N-related environmental pollution as well as a concern for climate change. Nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) at farmers' fields dictates both production of food crops as well as loss of N to the environment including efforts to curb climate change due to N2O emission. We used a gridded database on N input and N output for wheat, rice, and maize in China and India from 1961 to 2013 to synthesize the dynamics of NUE (percentage of applied N used by the crop) and surplus N (difference between total N input and N output) and in the light of relevant literature interpreted it in terms of past and future fertilizer N management scenarios and fertilizer related policies in the two countries. From 1961 to 2013, the percentage of fertilizer N in total N input in cereal crop production increased from 8-10% to 71-75% in India and from 30-37% to 80-84% in China. In both India and China, NUE has been continuously declining and in 2013 it was in the range of 20-24% (except 32% for wheat in India) due to several-fold increases in fertilizer N use and imbalanced use of fertilizer nutrients (particularly in India)--a consequence of huge subsidies provided by the governments on different fertilizer products. Estimates of maximum N output in the form of crop yield at saturating N input regimes determined from trajectories of N output as a function of total N input for 1961-2013 and 2001-13 revealed that crop and fertilizer N management for rice, wheat, and maize in India and China did not improve significantly since the Green Revolution era. As a large number of studies in India and China show that NUE can be increased by the advancement of technology front in terms of crop and fertilizer management and by reducing the fertilizer N rate without a significant reduction in the yield of crops, recommendations have been given for governments (to frame suitable policies), farmers, extension agencies, and fertilizer dealers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To safely store wheat in silos considering filling and discharging process, the stress–strain behaviour of wheat plays a key role for silos design. A series of triaxial tests of wheat were performed using a digital imaging triaxial apparatus, which can capture local deformation across the entire surface of the specimen. By comparing the global and local stress–strain behaviour of wheat, the non-uniform deformation affected by the end restraints of triaxial apparatus were identified during the pre-failure and failure processes. The radial strain contour corresponding with non-uniformity coefficient values was presented. It was concluded that local stress–strain of the 40 mm-high specimens from the central regions of the specimen was less affected by the end restraints, indicating that they better characterise the stress–strain behaviour of wheat. A constitutive model of wheat was then deduced based on local measurements, from which strength and deformation characteristics were quantificationally analysed. It was concluded that the mechanical parameters from the local data of wheat specimen were greater than the global ones identified from the whole data. • Local stress–strain from specimen centre better characterised behaviour. • Tests were conducted on wheat using a modified digital imaging triaxial apparatus. • Entire surface deformation across the specimen was investigated. • This reduced the effects of end restraints by the triaxial apparatus. • A constitutive model of wheat was deduced from local data from experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An accurate measurement of field-grown wheat traits, including spike number, dimension and volume are essential for crop phenotyping and yield analysis. A high-throughput method to image field-grown wheat in three dimensions is presented with an accompanying unsupervised measuring method to obtain individual wheat spike data. Images are captured using four structured light scanners on a field mobile platform, creating dimensionally accurate sub-millimetre resolution 3D point clouds for a 4.5 m3 volume in less than 10 s. The unsupervised method analyses each trial plot's 3D point cloud, containing hundreds of wheat spikes, calculating the average size of the wheat spike and total spike volume per plot. The analysis utilises an adaptive k -means algorithm with dynamic perspectives, to fit each spike's shape and measures the dimensions with a random sample consensus algorithm. The method generates small cuboids to fit all the wheat spikes and estimate the total spikes volume. Experimental results show that the proposed algorithm is a reliable tool for identifying spikes from wheat crops and identifying individual spikes. Compared with the manual measurement, according to the results of five scenes, the average error rate in the number of spikes, spikes' height and spikes' width in tests were 16.27%, 5.24% and 12.38% respectively. • Laser imaging technology for automatic field phenotyping application. • High-throughput field capture platform was constructed. • Unsupervised algorithm allows for wheat dimensions measurement in 3D point clouds. • Automatic measurement can estimate wheat spike size, volume and number of spikes. • Framework was evaluated by comparing the experiment with manual measurement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheat bran is widely used in the commercial bakery and cereal snacks to improve the health benefits. The prebiotic effect of wheat bran is associated with its phenolic compound content, composition as well as forms of existence. However, the role of intestinal microbiota in the metabolism of free and bound phenols in wheat bran has rarely been reported. This study investigated the role of intestinal microbiota in the metabolism of different forms of seven individual phenolics in brans of different wheat varieties. The bioaccessibility of total phenols was significantly lower in the upper gastrointestinal digestion tract (2.75%–18.56%) compared to the bioaccessibility in the colon (92.55% on average). The addition of wheat bran digesta significantly increase the abundance of beneficial bacteria such as Bifidobacterium , Acidaminococcus and Faecalibacterium. However, the correlation analysis showed that Bifidobacterium played a role in the metabolism of free phenolic compounds, while Phascolarctobacterium was associated with the metabolism of bound phenolic compounds. In summary, higher content of bound phenolics was positively related with prebiotic effect. This suggests that when selecting wheat bran as a potential prebiotic, attention should be paid to the phenolic compound composition and their forms of existence. • The prebiotic effects of wheat bran are associated with the phenols' existence forms. • Free and bound phenols are associated with different bacteria. • The dynamic metabolic changes of different phenol forms are elucidated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several previous studies concerned of microbial fuel cells integrated into constructed wetlands, nevertheless, their application as a convenient treatment for wastewater is still developing. In this experimental investigation, five CW-MFC systems were similarly designed, setup, and operated in a batch mode for two subsequent cycles. Each cycle lasted for 10 days to evaluate the performance of CW-MFC system for the remediation of real leather tannery wastewater (LTW). Four CW-MFCs were planted, each with different type of vegetation including Conocarpus , Arundo donax , Canna lily , and Cyperus papyrus in CW1-MFC, CW2-MFC, CW3-MFC, and CW4-MFC, respectively. The fifth CW5-MFC was maintained unplanted and considered as the control system. The performance of each CW-MFCs systems was evaluated mainly based on the removal of organic content (COD), total dissolved solid (TDS) elimination, and power generation. The results demonstrated that the four types of plants maintained healthy and no sign of wilting was observed during the 20 days of monitoring. For the first cycle of batch operation, maximum removal efficiencies of COD were 99.8%, 99.5%, 99.7%, 99.6% and 99.5% with power outputs of 10,502.8, 10,254.6, 9956.4, 10,029.6, and 9888.0 mW/m3, while, maximum TDS elimination were 46.7%, 39.7%, 60.8%, 55.5%, and 13.8% observed in CW1-MFC, CW2-MFC, CW3-MFC, CW4-MFC, and CW5-MFC, respectively. Very comparable results were observed in the second operation cycle. Results of phototoxicity test indicated that the germination of Hordeum vulgare and Triticum aestivum were 100% watered with treated effluent compared to 90% accomplished with tap water as the control solution for both types of seeds. • Constructed wetland integrated MFC enhanced treatment of real leather tannery effluent. • Biodegradation of organic contents by anodic biofilm was the sole mechanisms of their removal. • No adverse effect was observed on the four types of vegetations by tannery wastewater in CW-MFCs. • Unplanted CW-MFC exhibited comparable efficiency of organic content removal as planted CW-MFCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on the traditional methods used by the Janabib Bedouin tribe in the Negev Highlands to cultivate wheat and barley during the British Mandate period from 1917 to 1948. Despite the fact that this region receives only 90 mm of precipitation per year on average, and was located at a great distance from settlements and markets, the local Bedouin cultivated cereals by exploiting the ancient agricultural terraces from the Byzantine period which prevented runoff and distributed water over the agricultural plots. This research also found that the choice of which cereals to grow in different years, were determined by local climatic conditions. Thus, the Bedouin who lived in the Negev Highlands before 1948, developed specific adaptations in order to survive in these arid conditions. • Cereal grains were stored in two different types of warehouses. • Cultivation of cereal crops was mainly for family consumption. • The distribution of streamflow during winter is crucial for crops in the region. • The Bedouins adapted themselves to the geological and geographical conditions. • The cereal cultivation plots were sown in the ancient agricultural systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A complexity-reduced pipeline was developed via target-enriched sequencing methodology in genotyping Hordeum / Triticum / Aegilops species. • The incomplete lineage sorting (ILS) as the major factor causing phylogenetic discordance among four subgenomes in Hordeum. • Through revising the evolutionary relationship amongst Hordeum species, our results raised new queries about the Hordeum phylogeny. Hordeum is an economically and evolutionarily important genus within the Triticeae tribe of the family Poaceae , and contains 33 widely distributed and diverse species which cytologically represent four subgenomes (H, Xa, Xu and I). These wild species (except Hordeum spontaneum , which is the primary gene pool of barley) are secondary or tertiary gene-pool germplasms for barley and wheat improvement, and uncovering their complicated evolutionary relationships would benefit for future breeding programs. Here, we developed a complexity-reduced pipeline via capturing genome-wide distributed fragments via two novel target-enriched assays (HorCap v1.0 and BarPlex v1.0) in conjugation with high-throughput sequencing of the enrichments. Both assays were tested for genotyping 40 species from three genera (Hordeum , Triticum , and Aegilops) containing 82 samples 67 accessions. Either of both assays worked efficiently in genotyping, while integration of both assays can significantly improve the robustness and resolution of the Hordeum phylogenetic trees. Interestingly, the incomplete lineage sorting (ILS) was inferred for the first time as the major factor causing phylogenetic discordance among the four subgenomes, whereas in New World species (carrying I genome) post-speciation introgression events were revealed. Through revising the evolutionary relationships of the Hordeum species based on an ancestral state reconstruction for the diploids and parental donor inference for the polyploids, our results raised new queries about the Hordeum phylogeny. Moreover, both newly-developed assays are applicable in genotyping and phylogenetic analysis of Hordeum and other Triticeae wild species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A robust QuEChERS coupled LC-ESI-MS/MS method for the detection and quantification of 103 fortified pesticides in cookies was developed. Pre-soaking, before extraction assisted in releasing the adsorbed pesticides from the matrix. Original QuEChERS with little modification, and a 25 mg C-18+150 mg anhydrous MgSO 4 combination yielded acceptable recovery for 98 pesticides. The method was validated for SANTE guidelines (SANTE/11312/2021). 95, 80 and 60 pesticides could be satisfactorily recovered at 0.1, 0.05, and 0.01 µg g−1 fortification with HorRat values 0.3 – 1. The total uncertainty of the method ranged between 5.55 % and 28.73 % with a mild to medium matrix effect for the majority. Residue analysis in real samples was carried out and the detected residues were less than the prescribed MRLs in raw wheat grain. According to the analytical Eco-Scale protocol, the method had penalty points of 23 and thus is much greener and more environmentally friendly with the overall eco-score of 77. [Display omitted] • The multi residue LC-MS/MS method for the detection and quantification of 103 pesticides in cookies. • Original QuEChERS extraction with little modification acceptable recovery for 98 pesticides with <20 % RSD. • Method validation and real sample analysis. • Eco-Scale based greenness assessment using penalty points. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn) oxides can be used to remediate Cd-polluted soils due to their excellent performance in heavy metal adsorption. However, their remediation capability is rather limited, and a higher content of available Mn and Fe in soils can reduce Cd accumulation in wheat plants due to the competitive absorption effect. In this study, goethite and cryptomelane were first respectively used to immobilize Cd in Cd-polluted weakly alkaline soils, and sodium citrate was then added to increase the content of available Mn and Fe content for further reduction of wheat Cd absorption. In the first season, the content of soil-available Cd and Cd in wheat plants significantly decreased when cryptomelane, goethite and their mixture were used as the remediation agents. Cryptomelane showed a better remediation effect, which could be attributed to its higher adsorption performance. The grain Cd content could be decreased from 0.35 mg kg−1 to 0.25 mg kg−1 when the content of cryptomelane was controlled at 0.5%. In the second season, when sodium citrate at 20 mmol kg−1 was further added to the soils with 0.5% cryptomelane treatment in the first season, the content of soil available Cd was increased by 14.8%, and the available Mn content was increased by 19.5%, leading to a lower Cd content in wheat grains (0.16 mg kg−1) probably due to the competitive absorption. This work provides a new strategy for the remediation of slightly Cd-polluted arable soils with safe and high-quality production of wheat. [Display omitted] • Cd is efficiently immobilized by Fe and Mn oxides in weakly alkaline arable soils. • Fe and Mn ions significantly decrease wheat Cd uptake due to competitive absorption. • Sodium citrate improves the effect of Fe and Mn oxide for inhibiting wheat Cd uptake. • Competitive uptake was significantly improved in the presence of sodium citrate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheat productivity is significantly limited by biotic stresses, notably Bipolaris sorokiniana , which are exacerbated by competition for nutrients and space among plants. This study addresses the critical problem of developing sustainable, pesticide-free strategies to enhance wheat defense against pathogens, particularly under competitive conditions. In the present study, we demonstrated BABA priming in wheat against Bipolaris sorokiniana under varying degrees of competition. Our findings indicate that growth parameters were reduced in both primed and non-primed wheat with an increase in the level of competition. However, overall, the primed wheat showed better morphological growth compared to the non-primed at each level of competition. Under disease pressure, BABA-primed performed better than non-primed wheat at each level of competition, and the level of protection was consistent across all competition levels. Biochemical parameters such as photosynthetic pigments, enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants, and defence enzymes suggested that the defence mechanism was activated in primed wheat only after pathogen challenge, ensuring the establishment of the priming effect. Non-primed HD plants exhibited maximum susceptibility under high competition and disease pressure. BABA priming enabled the plants to outweigh the fitness cost and mitigate the effects of competition under pathogen pressure. Additionally, the yield performance of BABA-primed wheat was superior across all competition levels. These results suggest that BABA priming is a viable, pesticide-free approach to enhancing wheat resilience against Bipolaris sorokiniana , particularly in competitive environments. Our research highlights the potential of BABA priming to contribute to sustainable agricultural practices by improving crop protection and yield. • β-aminobutyric acid priming boosts wheat growth and disease resistance, reducing competition and enhancing defense. • Yield performance was positively correlated with β-aminobutyric acid priming, underscoring its relevance. • The study highlights the potential of β-aminobutyric acid against Bipolaris sorokiniana in competitive environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of multiple allelism at the GLI loci encoding the grain storage proteins, gliadins, makes it possible, theoretically, to distinguish between half a billion of common wheat homozygous genotypes differing among them at least at one GLI locus. No one case of the identity of gliadin genotype was observed among unrelated cultivars in our study of about 1000 registered world-wide cultivars (seed-by-seed analysis). Three well-distinguished types of intra-varietal non-uniformity were observed in the material studied: authentic biotypes (morphologically identical lines appearing as a result of segregation of heterozygous genotype produced by breeder), single foreign seeds (admixtures), and different types of mutant seeds carrying mutations at the GLI loci. Another finding made using gliadin alleles for wheat genotype identification is that wheat polymorphism is not proportionally distributed around the world. Groups of cultivars bred in different countries and even in regions of the same country might differ strongly in the frequency of specific alleles at the GLI loci. The possibility of a role of some alleles at the GLI loci in determining dough quality is discussed. [Display omitted] • The grain sample of a cultivar might consist of authentic biotypes. • Wheat polymorphism is not proportionally distributed around the world. • Allelic variation at the GLI loci affects the dough quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The multiple microalgal collaborative treatment of domestic wastewater has been extensively investigated, but its whole life cycle tracking and consequent potential have not been fully explored. Herein, a dual microalgal system was employed for domestic wastewater treatment, tracking the variation in microalgal growth and pollutants removal from shake flask scale to 18 L photobioreactors scales. The results showed that Chlorella sp. HL and Scenedesmus sp. LX1 combination had superior growth and water purification performance, and the interspecies soluble algal products promoted their growth. Through microalgae mixing ratio and inoculum size optimized, the highest biomass yield (0.42 ± 0.03 g/L) and over 91 % N, P removal rates were achieved in 18 L photobioreactor. Harvested microalgae treated in different forms all promoted wheat growth and suppressed yellow leaf rate. This study provided data support for the whole process tracking of dual microalgal system in treating domestic wastewater and improving wheat growth. [Display omitted] • Dual algal system effects were compared from shake flask scale to 18 L reactor scale. • N and P removal exceeded 91 % in the 18 L domestic wastewater reactor. • Interspecific soluble algal products contributed significantly to microalgae growth. • Biofertilizer by 10 times diluting algal effluent (S6) improved greatly wheat growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • An ADE1 auxotrophic mutant from parental endophytic P. liquidambaris was constructed. • The UGT gene was overexpressed in the auxotrophic mutant named as PL-UGT. • The strain PL-UGT could tolerate deoxynivalenol and transform it into DON-3-glucose. • The PL-UGT could effectively reduce the incidence of Fusarium head blight. Fusarium head blight is a devastating disease that causes severe yield loses and mycotoxin contamination in wheat grain. Additionally, balancing the trade-off between wheat production and disease resistance has proved challenging. This study aimed to expand the genetic tools of the endophyte Phomopsis liquidambaris against Fusarium graminearum. Specifically, we engineered a UDP-glucosyltransferase-expressing P. liquidambaris strain (PL-UGT) using ADE1 as a selection marker and obtained a deletion mutant using an inducible promoter that drives Cas9 expression. Our PL-UGT strain converted deoxynivalenol (DON) into DON-3-G in vitro at a rate of 71.4 % after 36 h. DON inactivation can be used to confer tolerance in planta. Wheat seedlings inoculated with endophytic strain PL-UGT showed improved growth compared with those inoculated with wildtype P. liquidambaris. Strain PL-UGT inhibited the growth of Fusarium graminearum and reduced infection rate to 15.7 %. Consistent with this finding, DON levels in wheat grains decreased from 14.25 to 0.56 μg/g when the flowers were pre-inoculated with PL-UGT and then infected with F. graminearum. The expression of UGT in P. liquidambaris was nontoxic and did not inhibit plant growth. Endophytes do not enter the seeds nor induce plant disease, thereby representing a novel approach to fungal disease control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green manure with appropriate amount of chemical nitrogen fertilizer can increase crop yield, but also aggravate soil carbon emissions. However, it is unclear whether incorporation of green manure into the cropping pattern with reduced nitrogen amount can alleviate this situation and enhance carbon sequestration potential. So, a field experiment with split-plot design was set up in 2018 of northwest China, and studied the effects of nitrogen reduction on crop productivity, carbon emissions, and carbon sequestration potential in 2021–2023. The main plots were two cropping patterns, including multiple cropped green manure after wheat harvest (W-G) and fallow after wheat harvest (W). Three nitrogen application levels formed the split-plots, including local conventional nitrogen amount (N3, 180 kg ha−1), nitrogen amount reduced by 15% (N2, 153 kg ha−1) and 30% (N3, 126 kg ha−1). The results showed that W-G increased grain yield of wheat and energy yield of wheat multiple cropped green manure pattern. The multiple cropped green manure after wheat harvest with local conventional nitrogen amount reduced by 15% (W-GN2) had the significant increasing-effect, and increased grain yield of wheat by 9.6% and increased total energy yields by 39.3% compared to fallow after wheat harvest with local conventional nitrogen amount (W–N3). Relative to W–N3, W-GN2 did not significantly increase carbon emissions of wheat season, and increased total carbon emissions of cropping pattern by 11.1%. Compared to multiple cropped green manure after wheat harvest with local conventional nitrogen amount (W-GN3), W-GN2 decreased carbon emissions by 5.8% in wheat season and decreased by 3.9% in the whole cropping pattern. Therefore, W-GN2 gained high carbon emission efficiency based on grain yield, and were 9.9% and 11.2% higher than W–N3 and W-GN3, respectively. In addition, W-GN2 enhanced soil total nitrogen, carbon, and organic carbon contents, compared with W–N3, thus increasing soil carbon sequestration potential index (net primary productivity/carbon emissions). We conclude that multiple cropped leguminous green manure after wheat harvest with local conventional nitrogen amount reduced by 15% can enhance crop productivity and carbon sequestration potential of farmland in arid areas. [Display omitted] • Wheat multi-cropped green manure with reduced N by 15% (W-GN2) increased wheat yield. • W-GN2 alleviated soil carbon emission (CE) and improved carbon emission efficiency. • W-GN2 increased soil total nitrogen, total carbon, and organic carbon contents. • W-GN2 improved soil carbon sequestration and NPP/CE value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyploidy is a prominent evolutionary feature in all plants and many animals. Most important crops including wheat, cotton, and canola are allopolyploids, some such as alfalfa and potato are autopolyploids, and many others such as soybean and maize are ancient polyploids or paleopolyploids. Hybridization between different strains or species during allopolyploid formation can induce rapid and dynamic changes in gene expression in the allopolyploid offspring, leading to nonadditive gene expression and phenotypic variation, which can be potentially selected during plant evolution and crop domestication. There is an emerging consensus that nonadditive expression patterns largely result from genetic rearrangements and epigenetic modifications in response to subgenomic interactions, which may contribute to plasticity and genomic potential for adaptation to environmental perturbations and niches, including extreme weather and climate change. These epigenetic changes can induce epigenes or epialleles, many of which can be retained through transgenerational inheritance during polyploid plant evolution and crop domestication. Understanding genetic and epigenetic bases of nonadditive gene expression will enable gene editing tools and epigenetic engineering approaches to facilitate breeding improvement of high-yielding polyploid crops, vegetables, and trees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Worldwide, wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) serves about 20% of the human calorie needs and 40% of protein needs. Hence, it is imperative to pay attention to its nutritional quality. About 74-78% of a wheat kernel consists of carbohydrates, where starch is the predominant type. The soluble amylose-amylopectin ratio greatly affects the quality of different products. Moreover, the water-soluble carbohydrates stored in the culm contribute significantly to the plant's drought tolerance during the dry spells of the growth cycle. The wheat protein content typically ranges between 8% and 16%, and its content and composition primarily determine the wheat's end-use quality. Wheat grains are rich in trace elements, such as calcium, zinc, iron, and selenium. These elements are essential for human growth and development. In addition, wheat kernels accumulate various pigments that give them characteristic colors. Based on recent studies, these colored grains are recommended to consumers due to their health benefits. However, breeding for these nutritional traits is remarkably challenging due to their complex genetics and environmental influence. In this review, we summarized the genes/QTLs mapped for wheat starch, protein, and micronutrient (e.g., calcium, iron, zinc, and selenium) content, and pigments (carotenoids and anthocyanins), with a hope that this review will serve as a resource for wheat breeders and provide up-to-date information on the genetic of wheat nutrient-related traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hyperspectral imaging (HSI) technology provides an efficient and non-destructive tool for studying leaf chlorophyll content (LCC) to evaluate photosynthesis capability and crop growth status. The challenges from soil background interferences and canopy complexities always reduce the estimation accuracy in field wheat. Thus, this paper aimed to improve accuracy of wheat LCC estimation by overcoming challenges from soil background and complex canopy. A method was proposed based on hyperspectral image segmentations and pixel-wise spectra clustering of wheat canopy. According to the spectral features of green vegetation, canopy segmentation methods were discussed based on near-infrared (NIR) image at 807 nm, excess green (ExG) image in visible bands (470, 550, 660 nm), and soil-adjusted vegetation index (SAVI) image calculated by 807 and 660 nm. Among the average spectra from raw HSI regions, three sequence spectra were from the segmented canopy based on NIR, ExG, and SAVI, the modelling results of R P 2 presented an ascending tendency following 0.66, 0.70, 0.79, and 0.81, and RMSEP exhibited a gradually descending tendency of 5.24, 4.11, 3.65, and 3.14 mg L−1. These findings suggest that SAVI segmentation gained the best estimation result with the optimal soil background removal performance. After canopy segmentation, K-means clustering was applied to divide pixel-wise spectra of wheat canopy into four clusters. Partial least squares (PLS) regression results of the four clusters showed R P 2 of 0.81, 0.86, 0.89, and 0.83 and RMSEP of 3.55, 2.97, 2.64, and 3.79 mg L−1, respectively. The spectra clusters showed the potential to reduce the influences of canopy complexities. As a result, the third pixel-wise spectra cluster based on SAVI image segmentation contributed to the improvement of the LCC estimation. • In-field wheat LCC estimation was improved by proposed HSI processing methods. • HSI images were segmented by SAVI to remove soil backgrounds interference. • K-means clustering was used to suppress the influence of complex wheat canopy. • Positions of pixel-wise spectra at each cluster were visualised and analysed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheat (Triticum aestivum) is a major staple crop worldwide, and its yields are significantly threatened by wheat powdery mildew (Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici). Enhancing disease resistance in wheat is crucial for meeting global food demand. This study investigated the disease response in wheat, focusing on the bioactive small molecules salicylic acid (SA), pipecolic acid (Pip), and N -hydroxypipecolic acid (NHP), to provide new insights for molecular breeding. We found that endogenous levels of SA, Pip, and NHP significantly increased in infected plants, with Pip and NHP levels rising earlier than those of SA. Notably, the rate of increase of NHP was substantially higher than that of SA. The gene expression levels of SARD1 and CBP60g , which are transcription factors for SA, Pip, and NHP biosynthesis, increased significantly during the early stages of infection. We also found that during the later stages of infection, the expression of ALD1 , SARD4 , and FMO1 , which encode enzymes for Pip and NHP biosynthesis, dramatically increased. Additionally, ICS1 , which encodes a key enzyme involved in SA biosynthesis, also showed increased expression during the later stages of infection. The temporal changes in ICS1 transcription closely mirrored the behavior of endogenous SA levels, suggesting that the ICS pathway is the primary route for SA biosynthesis in wheat. In conclusion, our results suggest that the early accumulation of Pip and NHP cooperates with SA in the disease response against wheat powdery mildew infection. • Pip and NHP accumulated before SA during wheat powdery mildew infections. • An antagonistic relationship between SA and ABA was not observed in wheat. • The ICS pathway is the main route for SA biosynthesis in diseased wheat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheat granular flour (GF) is highly nutritious due to low machining precision but the large particle size leads to poor processability. By reducing the particle size from 224 μm to 62 μm without sifting in the present study, flour chemical compositions, dough rheology, and fresh noodle qualities were tracked, and the underlying mechanism was preliminarily explored through the changes in corresponding dough's gluten quality, water–solid interaction, and microstructures. Results indicated that only moisture significantly decreased and damaged starch signally increased with the reduction in particle size. Compared with refined flour, all the GF samples had higher ash, dietary fiber, beneficial lipids, and intact endosperm cells. Noticeably, the GF samples with particle size from 91 μm to 68 μm developed higher gluten quality and quantity, stronger water-solids interplay, and optimal gluten networks; therefore, the resultant doughs displayed a super balance between viscosity and elasticity. Accordingly, the noodles possessed excellent consumer acceptability with higher water absorption, lower cooking loss, and higher smoothness and chewiness after optimum cooking. These observations provide a theoretical basis for wheat flour processing and the development of healthier wheat-based noodles using the GF as raw material. • Wheat granular flour (GF) has higher ash, dietary fiber, and beneficial lipids than refined flour. • GF has much fewer damaged starch with a high digestibility than refined flour. • GF clearly shows the endosperm masses enclosed by an intact cell wall and flaky cell wall fragments. • GF with particle size from 68 μm to 91 μm developed an optimal dough for making fresh wet noodle. • Using the GF to develop healthy noodles with desirable edible qualities is an idea strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the use of an electrostatic field on a Teflon surface to separate free bran from bulgur during processing was investigated. The results suggest that this method could be an effective solution to the problem of free bran, which can negatively impact the appearance and quality of bulgur in bulgur processing and packaged products. Unlike traditional methods, a novel technology was used with the device having flat and folded Teflon surfaces (flat and folded inclined channels). The device was designed with the widths of 4, 5 and 6 cm, the lengths of 20, 40 and 60 cm and the angles of 30, 35 and 40°. The flat Teflon system produced the best results overall. In addition, the design parameters of 4 and 5 cm width, 20 and 40 cm length, and 35 and 40° inclination were suitable for separating bran from bulgur using an electrostatic system. As a result, a fine bulgur mixture containing 5 g of bran per 1000 g of bulgur was passed through the system at a flow rate of 0.89 g/s, resulting in a reduction of bran in bulgur from 5 to around 2 g (around 60% reduction). [Display omitted] • Separation of bran from bulgur through tribocharging is achieved with Teflon. • Flat or folded Teflon electrostatic systems are suitable in the operation. • Channel width, length and angle are critical for the performance. • Industrial application using tribocharging is possible to separate bran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gluten quality in bread wheat is mainly determined by gluten strength and protein content. Traditionally gluten quality has been predicted based only on allelic variation for HMW-GS characterized by SDS-PAGE- The ratio of high to low molecular weight glutenin subunits has received less attention despite its influence on gluten properties is acknowledge. That is mainly because accurate quantification of glutenin fractions is made by RP-HPLC, a more complex, expensive and time-consuming technology. In the present study, a methodology to estimate HMW/LMW glutenin subunit ratio by SDS-PAGE results was assessed. We used a segregating population derived from a cross between two Spanish bread wheat landraces (Richela Blanca and Jeja Pardilla) showing striking differences according to SDSS tests. Quantification of prolamins by RP-HPLC confirmed a wide range of variation in the HMW/LMW glutenin subunit ratio within the population. Then, we selected 22 lines that represented the available variation. Subsequently, we obtained high-quality SDS-PAGE images following a standard protocol to characterize glutenin allelic variants. Estimation of HMW/LMW-GS ratio was obtained by analyzing the intensity of HMW-GS and LMW-GS gel bands. Correlation between RP-HPLC and SDS-PAGE values was greater than 0.85 proving the suitability of the much simpler and cheaper electrophoretic-based alternative. [Display omitted] • Highly reproducible image-assisted gel-based quantification of HMW and LMW glutenins. • HMW/LMW ratios estimated by RP-HPLC and SDS-PAGE are highly correlated. • A single SDS-PAGE gel can serve for qualitative and quantitative glutenin analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gluten quality is an important characteristic of wheat. Gluten is a viscoelastic protein network that is formed after hydrating and mixing wheat flour. This protein network is mainly composed of glutenins (High and Low Molecular Weight Glutenins (HMW-GS and LMW-GS, respectively)) and gliadins. HMW-GS are codified by the loci GLU-A1 , GLU-B1 and GLU-D1 in common wheat. For the GLU-A1 locus, many alleles have been described and collected in the Wheat Gene Catalogue (WGC). Many of those alleles have not been compared in conjunction and it is not possible to know if the current GLU-A1 variability described is real or it is overestimated. This study has focused on collecting all the germplasm associated with GLU-A1 variability, to verify the GLU-A1 allele of each accession and if the current variability described in the WGC is real. It was possible to collect and compare by SDS-PAGE most of the germplasm described in the WGC. The identity of many alleles was confirmed while there are other cases that should be reviewed in more detail. This study contributes to the correct classification of the GLU-A1 diversity and will promote the use of different alleles in future breeding programs aiming to improve gluten quality. [Display omitted] • Many alleles of GLU-A1 high molecular weight glutenin have been described. • The variability could not be real because some alleles had not been compared. • Germplasm carrying these alleles has been collected and analysed in common. • Some of the alleles described showed the same mobility in SDS-PAGE gels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The anthocyanin-enriched wheat varieties were explored for their health benefits and development of antioxidant-rich biscuits. In the present study, around 35 advanced lines, showcasing different colors (7 white, 9 purple, 11 black, 8 blue), and robust yield potential under local climatic conditions were selected. The wheat lines were screened for yield, grain hardness, protein, dough quality, biscuit baking and sensory quality attributes. The two advanced black wheat lines (black-1 and black-6) showed low grain hardness indices (49.8 and 32.4) and protein content (9.1 and 8.2%). The dough obtained from these wheat lines exhibited excellent parameters including low hardness and high springiness. The black-1 (soft texture) and black-6 (very soft texture) lines exhibited superior biscuit-making quality with a high spread ratio (13.2 and 14), mirroring the positive controls {white-6 (vs)-15}, and surpassing the average (8.9) and negative controls {white-C3 (7.7) and white-C4 (8.4)}. Despite a reduction in anthocyanin content during baking, both lines demonstrated a 1.3-fold higher antioxidant activity compared to the control. These black wheat lines present significant potential for commercialization, offering an avenue to enhance the quality and nutritional profile of biscuits in the food industry. [Display omitted] • Textural diversity in wheat germplasm development. • Comprehensive material evaluation: 35 germplasms and 4 commercial checks. • Identification of two high-quality black wheat lines for biscuit production. • 1.3-fold higher antioxidant activity in biscuits from selected lines. • Augmentation: First report of anthocyanin-rich black wheat for biscuit production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheat (Triticum spp.) has been one of the most important cereal crops, serving as a source of protein and energy in the human diet. It remains a vital component of global food security, with extensive scientific literature dedicated to its study, although the large volume of literature often hinders global analysis. In this study, different unsupervised machine learning techniques, such as K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN) and Uniform Manifold Approximation and Projection (UMAP), text mining analyses, including word embeddings and statistical word analysis, and graph analysis methodologies, were applied to gain a deeper understanding of the wheat literature. The proposed bibliometric analysis was conducted and integrated with the Journal Citation Reports (JCR) to identify major wheat research trends in the PubMed literature. This analysis examined the evolution of these trends over time, evaluated the geographical distribution, impact, and research domains, and assessed author collaboration networks and the evolving relevance of different countries. Research on disease resistance, genetic modification, and dietary impact demonstrates a consistent increase in output, while interest in topics related to overcoming salt stress and enhancing animal feed appears to be diminishing. Interestingly, research on wheat germ agglutinin saw a surge in interest during the late 2000s, stabilizing thereafter. These trends underscore the dynamic nature of wheat research, driven by evolving priorities and technological advancements, particularly in genetics and omics tools. Moreover, the increasing significance of China in wheat research, including its size, impact, and networking, alongside longstanding leaders such as the United States, signals a shifting landscape in global wheat research. [Display omitted] • Rise in wheat disease resistance and genetic studies, reflecting ongoing challenges. • Shift in focus towards dietary impacts, with less emphasis on salt stress and feed. • Genomic and omics breakthroughs since 2000s, transforming cereal crop research. • China's growing dominance in wheat research, alongside traditional leaders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High yield and quality are crucial goals of wheat production. In this study, Ning7840 (high protein content) and Clark (low protein content) as parents to develop recombinant inbred lines (RILs), and used to investigate the differential responses to different nitrogen (N) levels (0, 150, and 300 kg N ha−1). The results showed that the RILs exhibited transgressive segregation in yield and grain quality traits. A comprehensive index of grain quality response to N (quality response index, QRI) was computed by entropy weight-fuzzy membership function method, two types of high yield and quality genotypes were screened based on yield and QRI: quality-sensitive wheat lines in response to N (SWLs) characterized by high yield and high QRI, and quality-tolerant wheat lines in response to N (TWLs) with high yield and low QRI. SWLs were particularly adept at combining high yield with quality enhancement under N application. Partial least square - structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) analysis identified leaf dry matter accumulation at anthesis, and N recovery efficiency were main factors affecting wheat grain quality improvement. Overall, screening high-yield and high-quality genotypes with the entropy weight - fuzzy membership function method is a useful strategy. These results provide a theoretical basis for breeders to select high yield and quality wheat. [Display omitted] • The entropy weight method was used for the comprehensive evaluation of quality. • Construction of a quality response index to describe the variation of grain quality. • N susceptible wheat lines are conducive to grain quality improvement. • Leaf dry matter accumulation at anthesis and NRE affecting quality improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A high grain zinc wheat cultivar, Zincol-2016, was released in Pakistan to mitigate mineral malnutrition. Here, we used RNAseq based approach to reveal transcriptional landscape of its developing grains, and to identify genetic variants in zinc (Zn) and iron (Fe) homeostasis genes. Differential gene expression analysis identified 8370 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) over the course of grain filling. The profiling of 265 Fe/Zn homeostasis genes revealed the homeologs of TaNAS9 , TaFER1, TaNAAT2 , TaDMAS, TaZIFL5-A , TaZIFL5-D , TaZIP14-B , TaNRAMP3 , TaVIT1, TaPRI2-D , TabZIPF1-7B , TabZIPF1-7D , TabZIPF2-5A , and TabZIPF2-5B had increased expression in Zincol-2016 relative to other cultivars from expVIP database. The variant calling identified 358 SNPs and 34 InDels in the Fe/Zn homeostasis genes. Two of those SNPs in TaZIP14-B (TraesCS3B02G140400), and TaNAAT2-B (TraesCS1B02G300600), were associated with grain zinc and iron concentrations (GZnC and GFeC) in a diverse panel of 145 wheat cultivars. The Zincol-type alleles of both genes significantly increased GZnC and GFeC by 7.3–8.6% and 5.9–6.3%, respectively. In addition, 8 SNPs causing missense mutation and 2 InDels causing frameshift mutation were found unique to Zincol. The present study forms a basis for understanding the genetic basis of high GZnC and GFeC in Zincol-2016 and can help efforts to biofortify other wheat varieties. [Display omitted] • RNAseq of Zincol-2016 developing grains during grain filling stage was conducted. • Increased expression of several Fe/Zn homeostasis genes was observed in Zincol. • In total 358 SNPs and 34 InDels in known Fe/Zn homeostasis genes were identified. • Comparison with variants data of other wheat cultivars identified 10 unique variants in the Fe/Zn homeostasis genes of Zincol. • Zincol-type alleles of TaZIP14-B and TaNAAT2-B increased grain iron and zinc contents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Expression level of the gene Wheat Breadmaking (TaWBM) has been shown to be correlated with bread quality, and influences the rising of the bread loaf. We found that a family of the wbm homologous genes are present not only in wheat, but also in oat, rye and barley. However, a WBM protein has never been demonstrated experimentally. We have identified the existence of a family of W BM-like S eed P rotei n s (WSPN) from the prolamin fraction of barley flour, encoded by three closely linked genes on the long arm of chromosome 7H, analysing the gene expression by qPCR and relative protein levels by mass spectroscopy. All three genes are expressed specifically in seeds with no detectable expression in the leaves. The barley WSPNs share a common gene structure with a single exon containing an open reading frame in the size 253–313 bp, with the first 80 bp predicted by TargetP 2.0 to encode a sorting peptide. Furthermore, they all contain the conserved motif C–P-X-G-X4-C-X(4–8)-C-X-C. Structure prediction with Alphafold 2.0 suggest that this motif is a structurally conserved microdomain consisting of two antiparallel strands where the cysteines align. [Display omitted] • WSPN is a newly identified micro-protein family, found in cereal grains. • WSPNs from cereals all contains a novel conserved cysteine-finger motif. • In barley there are minimum 3 HvWSPN genes, expressed specifically in grains. • Two of the HvWSPN proteins are found in the prolamin fraction by mass spectroscopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous studies have aimed to dissect the genetic basis of wheat end-use quality, yet the consideration of gluten aggregation properties in this context has been limited despite its important role in determining the processing quality. This study has addressed the evaluation of the end-use quality of a collection of 189 Spanish bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) landraces. For phenotyping, we utilized the GlutoPeak methodology to assess gluten aggregation traits, the SDS-sedimentation test to measure gluten strength and NIR for grain protein content. In addition to previous genotyping data with numerous DArT-seq markers distributed across the entire wheat genome, we developed ten KASP-based molecular markers designed for GLU-1 loci, which encode high molecular weight glutenins (HMW-GS). The reliability of these markers was thoroughly assessed. Our genome-wide association analysis (GWAS) focused on gluten properties and protein content, revealed 89 marker-trait-associated loci (MTAs). These loci were further grouped into 50 MTA-QTLs across various chromosomes based on linkage disequilibrium. While some MTA-QTLs overlapped with regions identified in other studies, others represented novel genomic regions. Inside these regions, we identified several candidate genes with gluten quality-related annotated functions or grain-specific expression patterns, which represent potential targets for marker development and future wheat end-use quality improvement. [Display omitted] • Rapid screening of gluten properties in a landraces collection utilizing GlutoPeak. • Development of KASP markers to facilitate the identification of HMW-GS. • Identification of genomic regions associated with gluten properties through GWAS. • Novel candidate genes associated to gluten properties have been identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the beneficial role of biological acidification in improving the quality of cereal-based products, this study evaluated the applicability of Jiaozi as a starter for whole wheat dough fermentation and steamed bread quality improvement. During the first 12 h of dough fermentation, yeast and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) populations increased significantly, resulting in rapid carbohydrate consumption and acidification of the dough. The lactic/acetic acid molar ratio was approximately 3.3, which was within the recommended fermentation quotient (FQ). Compared with the unfermented dough and the dough fermented for 12 h, the dough fermented for 6 h had an improved protein network structure, and the steamed bread made from it also showed the best quality. At a low leavening temperature of 28 °C, satisfactory specific volume and height/diameter ratio were obtained. The dough with an inoculation amount of 50% of the fully fermented dough showed the highest CO 2 production capacity. Compared with yeast, the whole wheat steamed bread produced by Jiaozi using the two-stage fermentation process showed higher specific volume, resistant starch (RS) content and protein digestibility. The results showed that the use of Jiaozi as a starter has great potential for application in improving the quality of whole wheat steamed bread. [Display omitted] • Jiaozi fermentation changed the physicochemical properties of dough. • Mild fermentation improved microstructure of the dough. • Two-stage fermentation improved the texture and digestibility of steamed bread. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heat stress reduces wheat grain yield and affects quality traits relevant to trading and end use. In this study, 98 landraces and 152 elite hexaploid wheat varieties and breeding lines were trialled at two irrigated field sites in southern NSW to better understand heat stress responses and identify promising genotypes for heat tolerance breeding. Potential heat tolerance was defined using performance in heat-exposed late-sown (LS) plots relative to normal-sown (NS) plots, using a regression approach to calculate response indices uncorrelated with awn emergence time and performance per se in NS. The best individual responders for grain yield included genotypes from both Australia and Mexico. On average, lines selected in CIMMYT's High Temperature Wheat Yield Trials (HTWYT) performed well for yield per se in NS as well as for yield response to LS. CIMMYT lines previously selected for large grains under heat stress conditions performed well for grain size in NS and for LS responses of grain size and test weight. Dough peak resistance and time to peak resistance in a mixograph were increased by LS and these traits were positively correlated with grain protein and the occurrence of the Glu-D1d high molecular weight glutenin locus allele, respectively. [Display omitted] • Irrigated time of sowing trials to study heat stress responses in hexaploid wheat. • Heat tolerance index based on deviation from late vs. regular-sown regression. • CIMMYT heat tolerant selections validated by the trials in New South Wales. • Dough stability after heat stress maximised by Glu-D1d HMW-glutenin variant. • Potential heat-tolerant landraces identified from among heat stress FIGS set. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study compared the properties of A- and B-type starch granules isolated from non-GMO high-amylose wheat with those from normal and waxy wheat. The focus was on morphological, molecular structural, crystalline, pasting, thermal, and digestible aspects. A- and B-type granules of high-amylose wheat starch (starch H) exhibited distinct morphological features, appearing more elongated with higher amylose content and longer amylopectin branch chain length compared to those of normal and waxy wheat starch (starch N and W). This led to different crystalline patterns and thermal properties. The pasting properties of A- and B-type granules in starch H displayed a unique viscosity pattern, indicating slower and insufficient swelling for A-type than B-type granules, which was an opposite trend to those in starch N and W. Although A-type granules of all starches exhibited slower digestion rates with smaller rapid digestible starch content and larger slowly digestible starch content than their B-type counterparts, starch H exhibited significantly greater resistance to digestion, resulting in higher resistant starch content, particularly for A-type granules, influenced by their molecular structural properties. Overall, this study provides insights into the unique characteristics of high-amylose wheat starch granules based on molecular structure and in vitro digestibility. • Comparative analysis of A and B-type wheat starch granules in high-amylose wheat. • A-type granules exhibit higher amylose levels and longer amylopectin chains. • Distinct pasting patterns observed for both granule types of high amylose wheat. • A-type granules generally exhibit slower digestion and higher RS content. • Molecular structure critical to digestibility in both granule types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Maillard reaction between asparagine and a carbonyl source can lead to acrylamide formation, which is classified as "probably carcinogenic to humans". This study aimed to investigate the impact of varying amounts, incubation times, and temperatures of asparaginases on reducing acrylamide in wheat and rye cookies while preserving sensory attributes. To determine if different asparaginases reduce acrylamide without negative effects on cookie quality, acrylamide was quantified using ELISA, and color, texture and sensory attributes were assessed. Adding asparaginases resulted in a reduction of acrylamide by up to 85%. Incubating cookie dough for 10 or 30 min at 60 °C or 90 °C did not impact acrylamide formation. Acrylamide concentrations were higher by an average of 78 μg/kg for an incubation temperature of 90 °C compared to 60 °C. Rye cookies exhibited higher acrylamide concentrations by 490 μg/kg compared to wheat due to higher free asparagine in rye flour. Asparaginases showed minimal effects on cookie color and texture, with no changes in sensory evaluation. Acrylamide can be reduced using asparaginases, providing a simple and effective means of ensuring safe food for consumers. • Higher dough incubation temperature (90 °C vs. 60 °C) increased acrylamide • Longer dough incubation time had no effect on acrylamide formation • Increasing asparaginase concentration had little effect on acrylamide reduction • Optimal incubation temperature and time reduced acrylamide by up to 85% • Asparaginases showed little or no effect on flavor, color and texture of cookies [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

WRKY transcription factors are widely involved in plant responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. However, there is currently a limited understanding of the regulation of viral infection by WRKY transcription factors in wheat (Triticum aestivum). The WRKY transcription factor TaWRKY50 in group IIb wheat exhibited a significant response to Chinese wheat mosaic virus infection. TaWRKY50 is localized in the nucleus and is an activating transcription factor. Interestingly, we found that silencing TaWRKY50 induces cell death following inoculation with CWMV. The protein kinase TaSAPK7 is specific to plants, whereas NbSRK is a closely related kinase with high homology to TaSAPK7. The transcriptional activities of both TaSAPK7 and NbSRK can be enhanced by TaWRKY50 binding to their promoters. CRP is an RNA silencing suppressor. Furthermore, TaWRKY50 may regulate CWMV infection by regulating the expression of TaSAPK7 and NbSRK to increase CRP phosphorylation and reduce the amount of programmed cell death (PCD). • TaWRKY50 play a negative role in the regulation of CWMV resistance in wheat. • The transcription level of both TaSAPK7 and NbSRK can be enhanced by binding TaWRKY50 to their promoters. • TaWRKY50 promote CWMV infection by enhancing CRP phosphorylation to reduce programmed cell death (PCD). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The extensive use of mineral fertilizers has a negative impact on the environment, whereas wastewater and microalgal biomass can provide crops with nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, and have the potential to be used as a source of fertilizers in circular agriculture. In this study, a step-by-step resource utilization study of algae-containing wastewater generated from microalgae treatment of swine wastewater was carried out. When wheat seedlings were cultivated in the effluent after microalgae separation, the root fresh weight, seedling fresh weight, and total seedling length were increased by 3.44%, 14.45%, and 13.64%, respectively, compared with that of the algae-containing wastewater, and there was no significant difference in seedling fresh weight, total seedling length, maximum quantum yields of PSII photochemistry (F v /F m), and performance index (PI ABS) from that of the Hogland solution group, which has the potential to be an alternative liquid fertilizer. Under salt stress, microalgae extract increased the contents of GA3, IAA, ABA, and SA in wheat seedlings, antioxidant enzymes maintained high activity, and the PI ABS value increased. Low-dose microalgae extract (1 mL/L) increased the root fresh weight, seedling fresh weight, longest seedling length, and total seedling length by 30.73%, 31.28%, 16.43%, and 28.85%, respectively. Algae extract can act as a plant biostimulant to regulate phytohormone levels to attenuate the damage of salt stress and promote growth. • Swine wastewater effluent after algae separation can be used as liquid fertilizers. • Algae extract obtained from algae cultivated in wastewater has biostimulants effects. • Microalgae extract improved the photosynthetic activity of wheat under salt stress. • Microalgae extract regulated plant hormones to attenuate salt stress damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • We characterized a baculovirus of the wheat armyworm, Mythimna sequax. • The virus has occlusion bodies with an irregular polyhedral morphology. • The genome is 148,403 bp long with four homologous regions and 163 open reading frames. • It is a group II alphabaculovirus closely related to other noctuid nucleopolyhedroviruses. • It may represent a new tentative species. We report the genomic analysis of a novel alphabaculovirus, Mythimna sequax nucleopolyhedrovirus isolate CNPSo-98 (MyseNPV-CNPSo-98), obtained from cadavers of the winter crop pest, Mythimna sequax Franclemont (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). The insects were collected from rice fields in Southern Brazil in the 1980′s and belongs to the 'EMBRAPA-Soja' Virus Collection. High-throughput sequencing reads of DNA from MyseNPV occlusion bodies and assembly of the data yielded an AT-rich circular genome contig of 148,403 bp in length with 163 annotated opening reading frames (ORFs) and four homologous regions (hrs). Phylogenetic inference based on baculovirus core protein sequence alignments indicated that MyseNPV-CNPSo-98 is a member of Alphabaculovirus genus that clustered with other group II noctuid-infecting baculoviruses, including viruses isolated from Helicoverpa armigera and Mamestra spp. The genomes of the clade share strict collinearity and high pairwise nucleotide identity, with a common set of 149 genes, evolving under negative selection, except a bro gene. Branch lengths and Kimura-2-parameter pairwise nucleotide distances indicated that MyseNPV-CNPSo-98 represents a distinct lineage that may not be classified in any of the currently listed species in the genus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheat is a major grain crop of the world that provides a stable food for human consumption. Large amounts of by-products/waste materials are produced after the harvesting and processing of wheat crop. Such materials can cause an environmental issue if not disposed of properly. Several studies have shown that wheat residues can be efficient precursors for adsorbents because of their availability, renewability, lignocellulosic composition, and surface active groups enriched structure. In the literature, there are few review articles that address wheat residues-based adsorbents. However, these reviews were specific in terms of adsorbate or adsorbent and did not provide detailed information about the modification, properties, and regeneration of these adsorbents. This article extensively reviews the utilization of wheat biomass/waste including straw, bran, husk, and stalk as precursors for raw or untreated, chemically treated, carbonaceous, and composite adsorbents against various environmental pollutants. The influences of inlet pollutant amount, adsorbent dose, pH, temperature, and time on the performance of adsorbents against pollutants were considered. The maximum uptakes, equilibrium time, and adsorption nature were identified from isotherms, kinetic, and thermodynamic studies. The highest adsorbed amounts of most tested contaminants were 448.20, 322.58, and 578.13 mg/g for lead, chromium, and copper, 1374.6 and 1449.4 mg/g for methylene blue and malachite green, and 854.75, 179.21, and 107.77 mg/g for tetracycline, phosphate, and nitrate, respectively. For the studied adsorbate/adsorbent systems the adsorption mechanism and regeneration were also discussed. Significant results and future directions are finally presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Straw return is an effective measure to promote sustainable agriculture by significantly improving soil fertility. At present, few studies have been conducted on the most effective carbon enhancing management measures for various crops. Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis using data collected from 184 literature sources, comprising 3297 data sets to analyze the carbon increase effects of straw returning in three main crops (rice, maize, and wheat) in China and to explore the influence mechanism of natural factors, soil properties, straw return measures, and cropping systems on the carbon enhancement effect. The study showed that straw return significantly increased soil organic carbon and the rate of increase was higher for wheat at 15.88% (14.74%–17.03%) than for rice at 12.7% (11.5%–13.91%) and maize at 12.42% (11.42%–13.42%), with varying degrees of improvement in other soil physicochemical properties. Natural factors have the greatest impact on the carbon increasing effect of rice fields, reaching 28.8%, especially at temperature between 10 °C and 15 °C, less than 800 mm precipitation, low latitude, and short frost-free period. Maize and wheat are most affected by soil properties, reaching 41% and 34.5% respectively. Furthermore, field management practices also play a pivotal role, organic carbon increasing obviously was observed when the C/N ratio of exogenous nutrients is bigger than 20 with the low initial organic matter. Shallow tillage and less than 7.5 t hm−2 straw returning with 3–10 years to the field are ideal for rice and maize. Crop rotation, especially in drylands, increased soil organic carbon more significantly than continuous. The results of our analysis can provide valuable insights into the effect of straw return on carbon increase. In the future, the soil carbon can be improved by adopting rational cropping patterns and straw return measures with taking into account climate and soil characteristics for different crops. [Display omitted] • The effects of straw return on soil organic carbon in three major crops were studied using meta-analysis. • SOC levels significantly increased for rice, maize, and wheat after straw return. • The impact of natural factors, soil properties, straw return measures, and cropping systems varied for different crops. • The increase in SOC for rice was largely influenced by natural factors, while for maize and wheat by soil properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ug99 (TTKSK) and Digalu (TKTTF) race groups of Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici (Pgt), are thought to be the most virulent, rendering many wheat stem rust resistance genes (Sr) ineffective. A total of 600 single pustule Pgt isolates were collected from eight Egyptian provinces during 2016–2022, undergoing both phenotyping and genotyping assays. Among these, 129 viable samples (v-samples) underwent phenotyping using the North American differentials delineated to Pgt races in the TTKS (Ug99) and TKTTF race groups, identifying 24 distinct physiologic races of Pgt. Notably, seven virulent races, TKTTF (Digalu), TKKTF, TKPTF, TKKTP, TTRTF, TTTTF, and TKFTF, were discovered in Egypt. The host reaction of wheat germplasm to these seven races indicated a high level of susceptibility. A set of 437 dead samples (d-samples) of Pgt isolates from Egypt were genotyped using newly created 17 core SNP markers. Genotypic analysis revealed that these seven races could be classified into two major clades: III and IV. Within these clades, six subclades were identified, namely III-B, IV-A.2, IV-B, IV-E.1, IV-E.2, and IV-F. These SNP genotypes exhibited a broad geographic distribution, highlighting the global movement of Pgt populations across Europe, Asia, and Africa. Notably, none of these genetic groups were present in Egypt before 2016. The most prevalent genotypes were subclades IV-A.2 (TKTTF; Digalu), IV-E.2 (TKKTF, TKPTF, TKFTF), and III-B (TTRTF). The prevalence of these unique genotypes/races suggests clonal reproduction and evolution within them. Race TKKTP (subclade IV-E.1) is particularly concerning because of its ability to overcome the resistance conferred by gene Sr24 against race TTKSK (Ug99). Phylogenetic analysis of Pgt genetic groups revealed that the majority of identified races belong to TKTTF (Digalu) race group (subclade IV-A.2). Notably, no races were found to belong to the TTKS (Ug99) race group (clade I). This information should help breeders select a broader range of resistance genes that are both diverse and effective to enhance the durability of stem rust resistance. • Race phenotyping resulted in identification of 24 races of Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici (pgt). • Seven Pgt races revealed a broad distribution, virulence and diverse range. • Genotyping using a new custom SNP assay divided Pgt races into two major clades, III and IV. • Genotyping/races belonged to Digalu race (subclade IV-A.2), but not to Ug99 race (clade I). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), a staple crop cultivated across an estimated 215 million hectares worldwide, encounters significant yield reductions due to the leaf rust disease, instigated by the fungus Puccinia triticina (Pt). Control strategies for this pathogen are limited. Research on wheat-leaf rust interaction in the past few years has mainly focused on characterizing and modulating the performance of resistance (R) and other defense genes of the host plant, but rarely targeted to decipher the network of molecular strategies employed by the pathogen except secretome analysis. In wheat plants, pathogen may induce a greater diversity of small RNAs (sRNAs) to manipulate the host's gene expression and suppress defense responses. In the present study, Pt microRNA-like-RNAs (milRNAs) were screened and identified from sRNA libraries prepared from leaf rust pathogen-infected leaves of wheat near isogenic lines (NILs). Pathogenesis engendering Pt target genes were validated through degradome libraries. Our study indicates that milRNAs enter the host system to suppress its immunity and promote symbiosis-like association to maintain a longer virulence span. Through RT‒qPCR expression analysis, it was suggested that milRNAs create an environment to enhance symbiosis via cross-kingdom silencing of host disease resistance gene encoding proteins. We found that seven out of eight milRNAs effectively regulate pathogenesis-related genes and repressed the disease-resistance genes in host wheat. Functional annotation of target genes of Pt reveals regulation of vesicle synthesis, transport, and fusion, which represents cross-kingdom vesicle-mediated export of milRNAs. Our results also manifest an integrative view of how virulence-associated milRNAs endeavor to stamp out PTI (PAMP-triggered immunity) and ETI (Effector-triggered immunity) to increase susceptibility of the host. This study epitomizes one of the tactics developed by Pt employing milRNAs in regulating virulence during leaf rust infection and will usher to design strategies to manage pathogenesis to protect wheat immunity against leaf rust disease. • P. triticina (milRNAs) were identified in small RNA libraries prepared from leaf rust pathogen-infected leaves of wheat NIL. • Pathogenesis engendering P. triticina target genes were validated through degradome libraries. • 7 identified milRNAs regulate pathogenesis-related genes of P. triticina and repress the disease-resistance genes in the wheat. • milRNAs penetrate the host system, dampening its immunity and silencing disease resistance genes to promote symbiosis-like associations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of intra-crop diversity (e.g.: variety mixtures) in bread wheat cropping is getting popular in Europe, mostly for agronomic purposes. However, much less is known about the implications on baking quality. In this paper, we formalized and tested a framework based on two hypothetical mechanisms for mixture effects as a result of plant interactions within mixtures: (i) proportion shifts , relating to changes in grain weight proportion of the varieties at harvest and (ii) component alteration , relating to changes in the baking quality of the component varieties. To test this framework, we measured several baking quality indicators on twelve variety mixtures and their component varieties in pure stands. By recording varietal proportions at harvest, we could measure the relative importance of both mechanisms in explaining observed mixture effects. Our results showed that proportion shifts explained a large share of mixture effects on protein baking quality (Zélény sedimentation index and W baking strength) but failed to explain mixture effects on protein content in one year and Hagberg's falling number in both years. Our results also suggest component alteration on protein content resulting from altered nitrogen uptake in mixtures, and possibly on Hagberg's falling number resulting from lodging reduction in mixtures. [Display omitted] • Variety mixtures are not simply equivalent to grain blends, baking quality-wise. • We propose two underlying mechanisms for mixture effects on baking quality: • Mixture effects may arise from changes in the varietal proportions at harvest ... • ... or from changes affecting the quality of individual varieties within the mixture. • Further research is needed to uncover the main drivers of these mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]