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• Transgenerational immune priming in wheat facilitated by Trichoderma demonstrates long-lasting, broad-spectrum protection against biotic stresses. • Inheritance of priming improves disease resistance, biochemical responses, and yield-related traits. • Primed wheat shows clear superiority over non-primed counterparts. • Ability to mount targeted defense response conserves resources and enhances yield under biotic stress. • Inheritance of Trichoderma -mediated priming offers significant breakthrough for sustainable agriculture as non-chemical crop protection alternative. Plants encounter various biotic stresses in their natural habitat, prompting the exploration of innovative protective measures to bolster their immune defences against pathogens. An effective strategy involves priming plant immunity, conferring enduring and comprehensive protection. Defence priming, characterized by heightened responsiveness to attackers following prior stress exposure, intriguingly manifests transgenerationally, transmitting the memory of priming to subsequent plant generations. In our investigation, we delved into the phenomenon of transgenerational immune priming (TGIP) in wheat facilitated by Trichoderma , spanning from the parental generation (G0) to the grand progeny (G2) generation. Successful establishment of transgenerational priming in the G2 generation was achieved by initially priming the G0 generation of wheat with Trichoderma. To assess priming inheritance, seeds from the G1 generation were collected, and both primed and non-primed wheat plants' grand progeny (G2 generation) were cultivated in soil. Subsequent evaluation encompassed the disease phenotype, biochemical parameters, and yield-related traits of the G2 generation wheat when confronted with Bipolaris sorokiniana , the causal agent of spot blotch disease. Our analysis revealed that the G2 generation of primed wheat displayed superior protection against spot blotch compared to non-primed wheat. Biochemical studies indicated no activation of defensive responses in the absence of disease pressure in G2 wheat plants. However, upon pathogen challenge, the grand progeny of primed wheat exhibited a robust defence response, surpassing that of non-primed wheat. This targeted defence response enabled efficient resource utilization and mitigated yield penalties. Furthermore, under biotic stress conditions, the grand progeny of primed wheat exhibited enhanced yield parameters compared to non-primed wheat. Our findings provide conclusive evidence that Trichoderma -mediated priming against B. sorokiniana can be inherited successfully from the parental (G0) generation to the grand progeny (G2) generation of wheat. This study represents the initial documentation of Trichoderma -mediated TGIP in wheat against B. sorokiniana , holding significant promise for sustainable agriculture by offering an environmentally friendly alternative to chemical pesticides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A strongly declining aerosol radiative effect has been observed in China since 2013 after implementing the clean air action, yet its impact on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production remains unclear. We use satellite measures and a biophysical crop model to assess the impact of aerosol-induced radiative perturbations on winter wheat production in the agricultural belt of Henan province from 2013 to 2018. After calibrating parameters with the extended Fourier Amplitude Sensitivity Test (EFAST) and the generalized likelihood uncertainty estimation (GLUE) method, the DSSAT CERES-Wheat model was able to simulate crop biomass and yield more accurately. We found that the aerosol negatively impacted wheat biomass by 21.87% and yield by 22.48% from 2006 to 2018, and the biomass effects from planting to anthesis were more significant compared to anthesis to maturity. Due to the strict clean air action, under all-sky conditions, the surface solar shortwave radiation (SSR) in 2018 increased by about 7.08% over 2006-2013 during the wheat growing seasons. As a result of the improvement of crop photosynthesis, winter wheat biomass and yield increased by an average of 5.46% and 2.9%, respectively. Our findings show that crop carbon uptake and yield will benefit from the clean air action in China, helping to ensure national food and health security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extreme temperatures and droughts are considered as the two main factors that limit wheat growth and production. Although responses of wheat plants to heat and drought stress have been extensively investigated, little is known about the extent to which wheat plants can recover after stress relief. In this study, a winter wheat pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the growth, physiological activities, and yield formation responses of wheat to stress and recovery periods under heat stress (36 °C, daily maximum temperature), drought (45–55% of soil water holding capacity), and combined stress conditions. Heat and drought stress significantly reduced photosynthesis, leaf relative water content (LRWC), leaf water potential (LWP noon), and nitrogen metabolism enzyme activities and increased electrolyte leakage. These parameters showed significant interactions between heat and drought stress. Beneficial osmoregulation of membrane stability was observed in stressed plants because of the accumulation of proline and soluble sugars. Within a range of stresses, the abovementioned physiological processes of individual heat- and drought-stressed plants recovered to levels comparable to those of the control. The recovery capacities of the physiological traits decreased gradually with increasing stress duration, particularly under combined stress. The recovery of LWP noon and LRWC contributed to the improved photosynthetic performance after stress relief. The combined stress caused greater yield losses than individual heat and drought stress, which was mainly attributed to low levels of thousand grain weight (TGW), the number of grains per ear, and the grain filling rate. After stress relief, the recovery of proline content, glutamine synthetase activity, photosynthetic rate, and LRWC were closely associated with grain yield and thousand grain weight. Collectively, these findings contribute to a better understanding of the coordinated responses of winter wheat during the combined heat and drought stress and recovery periods. • Combined heat and drought stress is more detrimental to wheat than individual stress. • Most physiological processes of plants were reversible within a range of stress. • Recovery of physiological traits was closely related to wheat yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We conducted pot experiments during the 2018–2020 growing seasons to study the effects of night warming at different growth stages of wheat on the photosynthetic performance; accumulation, transportation, and distribution of dry matter; and grain yield of winter wheat. Night warming at all the different growth stages resulted in an elevation of wheat yield by increasing the 1000-grain weight and the number of grains per ear. Night warming during the period from jointing to booting stage resulted in the greatest increase in wheat yield. It also increased the amount of overall dry matter and transferrable amount of dry matter in plants and increased the distribution of dry matter to grains to increase grain weight. Night warming treatments at three different growth stages enhanced pre-anthesis photosynthetic capacity by increasing flag leaf net photosynthetic rate, chlorophyll content, and photochemical efficiency of winter wheat at the early stage of grain filling, especially in the night warming treatment from jointing to booting stage. Night warming not only increased the stomatal density and stomatal index of wheat leaves but also increased stomatal conductance and transpiration rate in the early stage of grain filling, thus being conducive to the smooth progress of photosynthesis. In conclusion, night warming treatment at different growth stages increased the photosynthesis of flag leaves at the early stage of grain filling, and promoted the accumulation of dry matter in plants after anthesis, which was conducive to the grain yield of winter wheat. • Night warming promoted the accumulation of dry matter in plants after anthesis, which enhanced the grain yield of winter wheat. • Night warming not only increased the stomatal density and stomatal index of wheat leaves but also increased stomatal conductance and transpiration rate in the early stage of grain filling, thus being conducive to the smooth progress of photosynthesis. • Night warming from the jointing to booting stages resulted in the greatest increase in wheat yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Triticum aestivum is a self-pollinated species with a high proportion of cleistogamous flowers constituting a blockade for out-crossing. Therefore, male parent characteristics are the main goal in the production of hybrid wheat seeds. In a two-year study conducted in Lublin (Poland), the features of flowering biology that can be relevant for the cross-pollination ability of the pollen donor were investigated in winter wheat genotypes. In particular, the anther extrusion capacity, pollen production at the anther and spike levels, and pollen biological value were examined. The pollen production in the anthers was established using an electronic particle counter. The pollen biological value was assessed based on viability (acetocarmine staining) and in vitro pollen germination (raffinose medium) assays. The inter-genotype effect for anther extrusion was significantly correlated to the post-anthesis filament length. The anther extrusion for the individual genotypes fluctuated significantly between the years of the study; however, the interaction with meteorological factors was not assessed. The considerable inter-genotype variability in the pollen donor capability for cross-pollination was highly significantly correlated with the proportion of extruded anthers rather than pollen production, indicating that anther extrusion plays a more important role in the contribution to the final amount of pollen available for cross pollination. The pollen viability determined by staining was high (between 97.5% and 100%), while the in vitro pollen germination varied substantially among the genotypes (between 17.3% and 87.8%). The pollen dispersal ability for cross-pollination in wheat can be improved mainly by increasing the proportion of extruded anthers; however, the pollen production and pollen germination potential cannot be ignored if complete characterization of the ideal male idiotype is to be achieved. [Display omitted] • Proportion of extruded anthers plays substantial role for cross-pollination in wheat. • Anther extrusion is mainly related to the post-anthesis filament length. • Pollen production and pollen germination are important for the ideal male idiotype. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potassium (K) is an important cation that regulates plant metabolism. Therefore the effect of different concentrations of potassium (0, 75, 150 kg ha−1 K 2 SO 4) on photosynthesis efficiency of three winter wheat cultivars (Baran, Homa, Hashtrud) was investigated during the growing seasons of 2017–18 and 2018–19 under cold dryland conditions in Maragheh, Iran. Accumulation of potassium ion (K+) was observed to be increased with an increase in the concentration of K 2 SO 4. With an increase in K+ the Hashtrud cultivar was observed to have more relative water content (RWC), normalized differential vegetation index (NDVI), and stomatal conductance (gs) than other cultivars. This resulted in a higher grain yield for the Hashtrud cultivar. RWC (R2 = 0.97), NDVI (R2 = 0.96), and gs (R2 = 0.92) had a positive relationship with KUE (grain yield/unit of K fertilizer used), especially in dryer years. K deficiency induced hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2) and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration in plants. The application of K increased superoxide dismutases and reduced abscisic acid, to maintain the plants' stomatal conductance. Chlorophyll a fluorescence (ChlF) and the calculation of double normalized relative variable fluorescence reveal detailed information's about the response of wheat plants to K application under dryland conditions. The application of a high concentration of K (150 kg ha−1 K 2 SO 4) on Hashtrud plants had a beneficial effect on the ChlF efficiency at different OJIP phases (KJ and JI). We found the efficiency of ChlF at the ΔW K-I phase with the values of F V /F O and PI ABS improved with the application of 150 kg ha−1 K 2 SO 4 and can be correlated with total yield improvement. These observations indicated that the application of a high concentration of K in stressed conditions for dryland areas could improve photosynthetic efficiency and wheat plant performance. • Application of potassium improve photosynthetic efficiency and wheat plant performance. • Potassium deficiency induce free radicle formation in plants. • Application of Potassium declined the concentration of Abscisic acid in wheat cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excessive release of chromium (Cr) from the tanning industry and antibiotics from livestock caused severe hazards to humans. Gallic acid (GA 10 mM) alleviated alone/combined SDZ 30 mg kg−1 and TWW 40, 60, and 100% stress in wheat. GA (10 mM) decreased the TSP 12 and 13%, TFAA 8 and 10%, TSS 14 and 16%, RS 18 and 16%, and NRS 11 and 9% in shoots and grains under SDZ + TWW (30 mg kg−1+100%), compared without foliar. GA (10 mM) declined the MDA 20 and 31, EL 13 and 36%, H 2 O 2 17 and 15%, O 2 •- 10 and 11% in leaves and roots, under combined SDZ + TWW (30 mg kg−1+100%), compared without foliar. GA (10 mM) improved the POD 106 and 30%, SOD 145 and 31%, CAT 78, and 35%, APX 100 and 25% in leaves and roots under combined SDZ + TWW (30 mg kg−1+100%), compared without foliar application. Considerably GA (10 mM) reduced total Cr 18, CrIII 20, and CrVI 50% in roots and shoots 19, 41, and 48%, and grains 15, 27, and 29% respectively, under combined SDZ + TWW (30 mg kg−1+100%) stress, compared without foliar. Overall, GA boosted the wheat growth, physiology, and defence system by inhibiting the combined SDZ + Cr toxicity. [Display omitted] • TWW + SDZ toxicity decreased the growth, photosynthesis, and antioxidants, compared to TWW. • TWW + SDZ toxicity reduced the wheat nutrient profile compared to TWW. • Gallic acid promoted wheat growth, antioxidants, and nutrient profile under TWW + SDZ stress. • Gallic acid minimized the oxidative damage by reducing oxidative stress and Cr uptake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of sugar in plant tissue can lead to an increase in the osmotic pressure within cells, a decrease in the freezing point of plants, and protection against ice crystal damage to the tissue. Trehalose is closely related to sucrose, which comprises the largest proportion of sugar and has become a hot topic of research in recent years. Our previous studies have confirmed that a key trehalose synthesis gene, TaTPS11 , from the cold-resistant winter wheat DM1, could enhance the cold resistance of plants by increasing sugar content. However, the underlying mechanism behind this phenomenon remains unclear. In this study, we cloned TaTPS11-6D , edited TaTPS11-6D using CRISPR/Cas9 technology and transformed 'Fielder' to obtain T 2 generation plants. We screened out OE3-3 and OE8-7 lines with significantly higher cold resistance than that of 'Fielder' and Cri 4–3 edited lines with significantly lower cold resistance than that of 'Fielder'. Low temperature storage limiting factors were measured for OE3-3, OE8-7 and Cri 4–3 treated at different temperatures.The results showed that TaTPS11-6D significantly increased the content of sugar in plants and the transfer of sugar from source to storage organs under cold conditions. The TaTPS11-6D significantly increased the levels of salicylic, jasmonic, and abscisic acids while also significantly decreasing the level of gibberellic acid. Our research improves the model of low temperature storage capacity limiting factor. • TaTPS11-6D significantly increased the content of sugar in plants and the transfer of sugar from source to storage organs under cold conditions. • Trehalose content is limited by sucrose degradation, not TPS activity. • TaTPS11-6D regulates the synthesis, degradation, and transport of sucrose to modulate plant cold resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Hesbaye region (Belgium) with a loamy soil and under temperate climatic condition, winter wheat is a key component of agricultural rotations. As part of these rotations, soil management is a known driver of soil fertility and carbon storage. However, it could also influence the weed flora. In this study, the long-term effect of four soil management on the expressed and potential weed flora was examined. Soil management levers were i) the export (OUT) or restitution (IN) of crop residues and ii) the burial of residues by conventional tillage (mouldboard ploughing 25 cm depth, CT) or reduced tillage (cultivator ploughing 10 cm depth, RT). The weed seedbank and expressed flora in winter wheat were characterized. Weed diversity was assessed using the Richness and the Shannon diversity index. Then, the impact of flora and management on yield were investigated. Tillage management showed little impact on weed diversity with only a slight increase in diversity in reduced tillage. However, reduced tillage resulted in a higher weed seedling density and a higher weed density than conventional tillage, which indirectly led to yield losses. Exporting residues had no clear effect on weeds. In conclusion, within cropping systems based on the cultivation of wheat, reduced tillage can pose problems for the long-term management of the weed flora, and great attention has to be paid to its management. • Long-term residue exportation has no effect on weed diversity and density. • Long-term reduced tillage has a little effect on weed diversity. • Long-term reduced tillage promotes high weed density. • Tillage has indirect effect on yield by the attenuation of weed pressure.. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breeding advancements have significantly improved grain yield over recent decades, yet further progress is needed to meet global food demands amid a growing population. In this study, we systematically examine the responses of both historical and modern winter wheat cultivars, released between 1895 and 2007 in Germany, to varying management intensities. We quantified the independent contributions of nitrogen (N) levels, growth regulators, and plant protection measures to crop productivity and growth variables over two growing seasons. Historical cultivars (pre-1960) exhibited a lower yield (4.6 t ha−1) and harvest index (0.30) compared to modern cultivars (post-1960), which demonstrated a higher yield (6.8 t ha−1) and harvest index (0.40) across all treatments, even those excluding both nitrogen and agrochemicals. We found positive trends in the yield and yield components for both historical (1895–1960) and modern (1961–2007) cultivars; however, significance was only noted for modern cultivars. Crop growth in historical cultivars was aided more by growth regulators, while modern cultivars gained more benefits from plant protection. However, both categories of cultivars produced a synergistic response when combining agronomic practices. Based on a comparison of N application rates and agronomic practices, N had a distinctly greater impact on yield and yield components than other treatments. In both historical and modern cultivars, grain number per ear was the most influential contributing factor to yield. Nevertheless, the effect of the thousand grain weight on yield was notably less for modern cultivars compared to their historical ones. Grain nitrogen yield increased up to mid-supply nitrogen application but remained constant at high rates. Results underscored that cultivar-specific responses for yield and yield components need to consider the interactions between fertilization and other agronomic practices. [Display omitted] • Long-term breeding increased wheat yield, independent of intensity of management • The yield of historical cultivars was damaged by increasing N rate without agrochemicals • Modern cultivars showed improved grain and N yield higher N rates and agrochemical use [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The combined effects of nitrogen (N) fertilizers and straw incorporation (SI) on GHG emissions, crop yields, and net ecosystem carbon budget (NECB) in summer maize-winter wheat rotation systems are still uncertain. We conducted a two-year field experiment to evaluate the effects of SI combined with different N fertilization practices on soil N 2 O emissions, ecosystem respiration (Re), NECB, grain yields, net global warming potential (NGWP), and greenhouse gas intensity (GHGI). In total, five treatments were considered, namely conventional urea-N application (FP), optimal urea-N fertilizer (OPT) with and without SI (S+OPT and OPT), and enhanced-efficiency N fertilizers (equivalent to OPT) with and without SI (S+EENF and EENF). The results showed significantly decreased average annual N 2 O emissions under the OPT and EENF treatments by 22.70 and 51.35% (P < 0.05), respectively, compared with that under the FP treatment. However, no significant differences in the annual Re emissions, NECB values, and crop yields were observed between the N fertilizer treatments (P > 0.05). The SI significantly increased the average annual N 2 O emissions, annual Re emissions, and annual grain yields by 36.01, 27.94, and 11.54% (P < 0.05), respectively , compared to no-straw treatments. The annual NECB values under the SI and no-straw treatments ranged from 1.19 to 1.94 t C ha−1 yr−1 and −1.89 to −1.19 t C ha−1 yr−1, respectively. The lower NGWP and GHGI values were observed in the S+EENF plots. The results suggest that the practice of enhanced-efficiency N fertilizers coupled with SI could improve crop yields and reduce NGWP and GHGI values in summer maize-winter wheat rotation systems. • The combination of enhanced-efficiency nitrogen fertilizers and straw returning can reduce net global warming potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Extending dualex indicators to canopy level by LAI raised N diagnosis accuracy. • Fusing multi-source data helps build dynamic and reliable N diagnosis models. • Independent data and integrated assessment ensured the optimal N diagnosis model. • Advising on the priority of obtaining external data under different targets. Rapid and accurate nitrogen (N) diagnosis plays a crucial role in precise N fertilizer management of wheat. However, most existing N diagnosis models based on proximal fluorescence sensors' indicators are confined to a single growth stage, thereby limiting the accuracy and universality of models. Therefore, this study aimed to construct and evaluate wheat N diagnosis models based on proximal fluorescence sensors across growth stages by fusing multi-source data. Six field experiments conducted over four years, involved diverse planting densities, wheat varieties, and N rates. These experiments were performed to investigate the relationship between optical indicators obtained from Dualex 4 and Multiplex 3, and both the plant N accumulation (PNA) and the N nutrition index (NNI). The dualex indicators were extended to the canopy level (canopy_dualex indicators) by the leaf area index (LAI). In addition to formulating N nutrition diagnostic models based on the three optical indicators solely, we further integrated meteorological factors, soil basic fertility, and cultivation practices to construct dynamic N diagnosis models coupling with machine learning algorithms. Fusing multi-source data significantly improved the R2, resulting in an increase of 0.20 and 0.29 when predicting PNA for dualex and multiplex, respectively. The canopy_dualex indicator consistently performed best in predicting both PNA (R2 = 0.75, RRMSE = 28.71 %) and NNI (R2 = 0.60, RRMSE = 24.62 %) among the three optical indicators. Moreover, the inclusion of LAI effectively addressed the overfitting issue observed in dualex when fusing multi-source data to construct the models. Consistency tests and ROC curve analyses provided robust evidence that canopy_dualex exhibited the highest consistency and the most powerful diagnostic ability. Additionally, multiplex demonstrated superior performance compared to dualex in predicting PNA and NNI, with higher R2 (0.46–0.50) and lower RRMSE (28.57 %-40.84 %). The results underscored that multi-source data fusion significantly improved the accuracy of universal N nutrition models for wheat across growth stages, leveraging proximal fluorescence sensors to cover the entire wheat growth process. This approach allows for the identification of N nutrition status at any given time, facilitating timely adjustments in N fertilizer management. From the two aspects of feature selection results of multi-source data fusion and the difficulty of obtaining data in the application, it is recommended that the first variable to be added in N nutrition diagnosis of is N application amount. If the target is PNA, the accumulated precipitation (APP) data is collected first. In order to obtain NNI, the soil total N content is considered first. Furthermore, this flexibility offers a convenient and promising option for practical agricultural production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reduction in the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and nitrogen (N) pollution of ground water by improving nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in crops has become an intensively investigated research topic in pursuit of a more sustainable future. Although, distinct solutions have been proposed there are only a few reports documenting the detailed interplay between observed plant growth dynamics and changes in plant N related transcriptional and biochemical changes. It was previously demonstrated that the application of a formulated biostimulant (PSI-362) derived from Ascophyllum nodosum (ANE) improves N uptake in Arabidopsis thaliana and in barley. In this study, the effect of PSI-362 on the growth dynamics of wheat seedlings was evaluated at different biostimulant and N supplementation rates. Wheat grown on N deficient MS medium was also analysed from the first hour of the treatment until the depletion of the nutrients in the medium 9 days later. During this time the biomass increase measured for PSI-362 treated plants versus untreated controls was associated with increased nitrate uptake, with surplus N assimilated by the biomass in the form of glutamate, glutamine, free amino acids, soluble proteins, and chlorophyll. Phenotypical and biochemical analysis were supported by evaluation of differential expression of genetic markers involved in nitrate perception and transport (TaNRT1.1/NPF6.3), nitrate and nitrite reduction (TaNR1 and TaNiR1) and assimilation (TaGDH2, TaGoGAT, TaGS1). Finally, a comparative analysis of the precision biostimulant PSI-362 and two generic ANEs demonstrated that the NUE effect greatly differs depending on the ANE formulation used. [Display omitted] • Improving NUE in crops has become critical in pursuit of sustainable agriculture. • Ascophyllum nodosum extract biostimulant PSI-362 significantly improves winter wheat NUE. • PSI-362 enhanced biomass, nitrate uptake, and N assimilation under reduced and full N rate. • PSI-362 dysregulated genes involved in nitrate perception/transport and N assimilation. • NUE effect greatly differs depending on the ANE biostimulant used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crop rotation is an agronomic practice that can offer benefits such as increased soil aggregation, carbon storage, crop yield, nutrient transformation, and utilisation efficiency, alongside an increased abundance of microorganisms. As winter wheat is sensitive to certain forecrops, selecting suitable ones may influence productivity. This study assessed the impact of three forecrops on selected soil properties (carbon content, mineralisation, aggregate stability, and microbial biomass) at two soil depths and on wheat yield over three years. This approach introduced a novel evaluation of the interrelations between soil and crop traits. The experiment comprised the following variants: I. wheat after alfalfa (AW), II. wheat after maize (MW), and III. wheat in monoculture (WW). Compared to wheat following alfalfa, wheat monoculture displayed higher total carbon and total organic carbon and the lowest relative residual oxidisable carbon (among all variants) at depth 2 (0.15–0.30 m). In variants where wheat followed different forecrops, significantly higher carbon mineralisation activities were observed at depth 2. The greatest increases in dehydrogenase, basal, and L-alanine-induced respiration (IR) were in the depth 2 of the MW variant, whereas in depth 1 (0–0.15 m) in the AW variant, the highest L-arginine-IR and fungal biomass were recorded. The WW showed increased soil aggregate stability between depth 1 and depth 2. The MW variant did not exhibit a significant depth-dependent effect on most properties. High bacterial biomass was associated with carbon mineralisation and with an increased proportion of recalcitrant carbon in both forecrops (AW, MW). These variants improved crop yield, number of spikes, and thousand-grain weight compared to WW. While forecrop practices were only moderately effective in enhancing soil carbon storage and stabilisation at soil depth 2, they contributed positively to soil microbial abundance, mineralisation activity, and grain yield. [Display omitted] • Forecropping was beneficial to soil microbial abundance and activity. • Forecropping derived increased crop yield, number of spikes, thousand grain weight. • Alfalfa and maize forecrops increased carbon mineralization in soil 0.15–0.30 m deep. • Aggregate stability was directly depth-dependent in soil with wheat in monoculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A transformer-based neural network (STLF) was proposed for estimating wheat yield. • SLTF model effectively solved commonly existed low yield overestimation problem. • SLTF model showed robust performance under different circumstances and over years. • FPAR and LAI at heading-filling and milk maturity are important variables influencing yields. • VTCI has an indispensable impact on yield estimation in rainfed areas. Timely and accurate yield prediction before wheat harvest is of great significance for food policy formulation and national economic development. Deep learning method gains importance on crop yield estimation and growth monitoring with the rapid development of deep learning models combined with remotely sensed data. However, the problems of nonlinear parameter optimization and long-term dependence in time series data have restricted the improvement of yield estimation accuracy. Transformer model completely abandons the traditional deep learning architecture and is gradually applied to time series tasks due to the advantage in modeling long-term dependence. This study introduced a novel transformer-based deep learning framework to estimate winter wheat yield in the Guanzhong Plain utilizing remotely sensed multi-variables, namely leaf area index (LAI), fraction of photosynthetically active radiation (FPAR) and vegetation temperature condition index (VTCI). The proposed model, called SSA-LSTM-transformer (SLTF), was developed for dealing with above problems under the automatic optimization capability of the sparrow search algorithm (SSA) and the long-term memory advantage of the long sh or t-term memory (LSTM) structure. The findings demonstrated that the SLTF model achieved better estimation accuracy at the county level (R2 = 0.72, RMSE = 488.68 kg/ha) compared with the single transformer model (R2 = 0.61, RMSE = 573.99 kg/ha). The analysis on SLTF model's performance at sampling sites over different disasters suggested that the model can effectively learn the effects of diseases, lodge and pests on crop yield estimation, which had good generalization ability at all sampling sites (R2 = 0.45, RMSE = 738.63 kg/ha). The Shapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) approach was employed to evaluate the relative importance of remotely sensed multi-variables to yield and to understand how each input variable influences the estimated yield for global interpretability and local interpretability of the SLTF model. It was found that FPAR played the largest roles in yield estimation with the highest importance value, and FPAR and LAI from late April to late May and VTCI from late March to mid-April were regarded as important features for the estimated yield with high importance value. In conclusion, our findings indicated the potential of SLTF model for winter wheat yield estimation, which contributes to promoting further application of remotely sensed technology for agricultural production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soils with high organic carbon (SOC) have been shown to enhance crop yields while minimizing climate-induced losses. However, the resilience impacts and mechanisms by which high SOC enhances crop performance have not been fully explored. Here, eight-year rotations of winter wheat and summer maize managed with chemical fertilizer input alone (CF) or with cattle manure (OM) or with peat and vermiculite (PV) were conducted, and various soil properties were measured alongside crop growth, nitrogen (N) uptake, and grain yield, with seasons categorized as dry or normal based on precipitation amounts. The OM and PV treatments increased SOC by 57% and 78% relative to the CF, respectively, and improved soil nutrient availability and the soil quality index. Soil moisture content in the 0–30 cm layer increased by 3.5–26.6%, but was less influenced in the 30–90 cm soil layers. Annual yield of wheat plus maize increased by 13% and 12% in OM and PV compared to the CF, and the yield sustainability index increased by 29% and 17%. Yield gains were more pronounced in dry compared to normal seasons, ranging from 19% to 28% and 12–15% for wheat. At least in part, the relative advantages of OM and PV treatments under drying conditions were associated with accelerated growth and N uptake rate from sowing to stem elongation for wheat and maize. Among the factors influencing yield in the present study, soil moisture exerted the greatest positive total effect on yield. Overall, the results highlight that enhanced SOC resulting from combined application of organic amendments and mineral fertilizer was positively associated with yield by promoting soil quality and water availability, with a more pronounced benefit under water-limited conditions. [Display omitted] • Improved soil quality and moisture enhance wheat and maize yield and stability. • Combined inorganic fertilizer and organic amendments increased soil moisture in the 0–30 cm but not in deeper layers. • Better soils with high SOC enhanced wheat and maize yield and stability during dry seasons. • Accelerated vegetative growth and nutrient uptake by high SOC contributed to productivity resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optimized irrigation management plays a pivotal role in wheat production in the North China Plain (NCP). However, there exists limited research on the potential impact of different irrigation regimes on the loss of reactive nitrogen (Nr) and the fate of nitrogen (N) within the wheat-soil system. Our study involved an irrigation experiment aimed at quantifying nitrogen-reducing (Nr) while tracing the N fate. Our primary objective was to glean insights into improving nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and reducing N surplus, thereby enhancing crop yields and minimizing environmental risks. A two-year field experiment involving winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) was conducted in the NCP, employing four distinct irrigation management strategies: I0, pre-planting irrigation; I1, pre-planting + jointing irrigation; I2, pre-planting + anthesis irrigation; I3, pre-planting + jointing + anthesis irrigation. Throughout the wheat growth stages, we measured soil NH 3 and N 2 O emissions alongside yield assessments. The Nr loss, N surplus, NUE and Nr footprint were evaluated. Among the components contributing to Nr loss, ammonia (NH 3) volatilization was the most significant, accounting for 53.1–58.9%, followed by nitrate (NO 3 -) leaching (18.9–23.2%), indirect Nr loss (10.9–12.7%), nitric oxide (NO) emission (4.90–6.02%), nitrous oxide (N 2 O) emission (2.52–3.55%), and ammonium (NH 4 +) leaching (2.10–2.58%). NH 3 emission and Nr loss demonstrated a close association with soil moisture levels influenced by irrigation management. Across all treatments, the primary fate of the N input was N uptake, representing 42.7–59.4%, and N surplus, accounting for 28.4–46.0%. Furthermore, NH 3 volatilization, as the leading contributor to total N loss (11.4–12.9% of N input), accounted for 5.70–6.80% of N input. Compared to over-irrigation (I3), the I1 treatment, characterized by supplemental irrigation during the jointing stage, exhibited a remarkable 29.0% (P < 0.05) reduction in N surplus, achieved a higher NUE of 59.4%, and sustained wheat yield, thereby minimizing the Nr footprint. Our findings highlight that supplementary irrigation at the jointing stage effectively mitigates Nr loss and shapes the N fate, resulting in both high NUE and increased wheat yields, while simultaneously reducing the Nr footprint. Our study offers a promising irrigation solution that can contribute to the coordinated development of agricultural production and environmental sustainability. • Optimized irrigation method mitigates Nr loss and shapes N fate. • NH 3 emission showed a close association with soil moisture affected by irrigation. • The NH 3 volatilization dominated the Nr loss with 53.1-58.9%. • N uptake is the main fate under supplemental irrigation conditions. • Optimal irrigation method minimized Nr footprint and maximized crop output. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hierarchically porous magnetic biochar (HMB) had been found to act as an effective amendment to remediate cadmium (Cd) in water and soil in a previous study, but the effects on wheat growth, Cd uptake and translocation mechanisms, and soil microorganisms were unknown. Therefore, soil Cd form transformation, soil enzyme activity, soil microbial diversity, wheat Cd uptake and migration, and wheat growth were explored by adding different amounts of HMB to alkaline Cd-contaminated soil under pot experiments. The results showed that application of HMB (0.5 %–2.0 %) raised soil pH, electrical conductivity (EC) and available Fe concentration, decreased soil available Cd concentration (35.11 %–50.91 %), and promoted Cd conversion to less bioavailable Cd forms. HMB treatments could reduce Cd enrichment in wheat, inhibit Cd migration from root to stem, rachis to glume, glume to grain, and promote Cd migration from stem to leaf and stem to rachis. HMB (0.5 %–1.0 %) boosted antioxidant enzyme activity, reduced oxidative stress, and enhanced photosynthesis in wheat seedlings. Application of 1.0 % HMB increased wheat grain biomass by 40.32 %. Besides, the addition of HMB (0.5 %–1.0 %) could reduce soil Cd bioavailability, increase soil enzyme activity, and increase the abundance and diversity of soil bacteria. Higher soil EC brought forth by HMB (2.0 %) made the wheat plants and soil bacteria poisonous. This study suggests that applying the right amount of HMB to alkaline Cd-contaminated soil could be a potential remediation strategy to decrease Cd in plants' edible parts and enhance soil quality. [Display omitted] • HMB facilitated the rapid conversion of Cd in soil to less bioavailable Cd forms. • HMB could promote Cd migration from stem to leaf and stem to rachis. • HMB could effectively reduce Cd uptake and translocation to wheat grains. • Moderate HMB could positively affect bacterial species diversity and abundance. • Moderate HMB could alleviate the wheat Cd-induced oxidative damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glutamine synthetase (GS) is a key enzyme that assimilates ammonium to form glutamine. However, little is known about the function of TaGSr (Triticum aestivum L. root glutamine synthetase) in nitrogen metabolism in wheat. In this study, we evaluated the effects of ectopic expression of TaGSr from wheat on nitrogen uptake, assimilation, and accumulation in Arabidopsis under low nitrogen (LN) conditions. TaGSr was mainly expressed in vascular tissues and dramatically induced by nitrogen deficiency treatment. The transcripts of the TaGSr-4A and TaGSr-4D were relatively more abundant compared with TaGSr-4B. We observed that the growth performance of ectopic expression of TaGSr from wheat in Arabidopsis transgenic plants were better than that of Col-0. The dry weight, NO 3 --N, NH 4 +-N, free amino acid content, the total N accumulation of shoot in TaGSr Arabidopsis were significantly higher than that of Col-0 under both low and high nitrogen conditions. In conclusion, TaGSr positively promotes the growth and biomass of Arabidopsis via up-regulating expression of genes involved in N uptake, transport and assimilation, significantly contributing to the tolerance to LN stress. • TaGSr was expressed in vascular tissues and displayed nitrogen deficiency-induced expression in the roots. • TaGSr improved growth and biomass in Arabidopsis under both HN and LN conditions. • TaGSr enhanced nitrogen uptake, transport and assimilation in Arabidopsis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although lipids are involved in plant adaptation to phosphorus (P) deficiency, the underlying relationships are not fully understood, especially in wheat. Thus, a comparative study of changes in leaf lipid content, composition and implicated gene expression during low-P was conducted hydroponically using two wheat cultivars differing in low-P tolerance. Low-P reduced phospholipid content but increased digalactosyldoacylglycerol (DGDG) and sulfoquinovosyldiacylglycerol (SQDG) content in older fully unfolded leaves (OL), with ND2419 (tolerant) showing greater changes than ZM366 (sensitive), suggesting a greater capacity to recycle internal P in ND2419. Interestingly, a novel lipid remodeling pattern was detected in the youngest unfolded leaf (YL) of ND2419, which reduced less in phospholipid content but accumulated more DGDG and SQDG with higher unsaturation levels than ZM366. These changes favored better chloroplast development, functionality and membrane integrity of ND2419, which together improved low-P tolerance. The expression of genes encoding glycolipid synthases and enzymes involved in phospholipid biosynthesis and degradation explained the lipid changes. Furthermore, our findings indicate that phospholipid loss in OL is primarily caused by enhanced degradation, whereas that in YL is driven by decreased biosynthesis and increased degradation. The detailed description of the changes in lipid profiles and gene expression under low P provides a basis for improving wheat low-P tolerance. • Tolerant cultivars retain growth and chloroplast ultrastructure upon low phosphorus. • Tolerant cultivars replace more phospholipids in old leaves with DGDG and SQDG. • Tolerant cultivars sustain phospholipid but accumulate DGDG and SQDG in young leaves. • The sustained phospholipid level is partly due to superior biosynthetic capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Selenium (Se) is an indispensable trace element for humans and other animals. Currently, Se deficiency is a prevalent global issue, contributing to the overall inadequate Se content in wheat grains. Wheat is significant source of Se intake for humans. The objective was to evaluate the impact on yield and establish a theoretical foundation for the judicious use of Se fertilizers and the production of high-quality, Se-rich wheat. A comprehensive meta-analysis of 51 publications comprising 387 yield records and 554 grain Se content records pertaining to wheat was conducted. The primary findings revealed that the effect of Se fertilizer on yield was more pronounced in winter wheat than spring wheat. However, Se fertilizer enhanced the grain protein content in both winter and spring wheat. Notably, the effects on both yield and grain protein were more significant in soils with high Se and organic matter contents. Overall, this study shows that selenium fertilizer can augment grain Se content without compromising yield under appropriate conditions. We recommend the application of 10–30 g·ha-1 of selenium fertilizer in the form of selenate during the flowering to filling period, as it effectively boosts wheat yield and grain selenium content. • The application of Se significantly enhanced both wheat yield and grain Se content. • Winter wheat responds to Se fertilizer is higher than spring wheat. • Soil Se and organic matter content affected wheat yield and grain Se content. • It is recommended to apply Se fertilizer at a rate of 10-30 g·ha−1. • Selenite and flowering-filling period is the optimal forms and period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Winter wheat (Triticum aestivum) is one of Switzerland's most important field crops and requires large quantities of nitrogen (N) to produce a high yielding and high-quality crop. However, N is an expensive input for producers that is prone to environmental losses, thus causing pollution and environmental degradation. Furthermore, the N use efficiency (NUE) of wheat remains low. Our goals were to test whether different N fertilizer splits could maximize grain yield and grain N content (a proxy for grain quality) while improving nitrogen use efficiency, identify key variables in determining yield and N grain content, and to determine if variety- and site-specific fertilization recommendations provide additional benefits to nutrient use efficiency. We designed a four-year study across three sites in Switzerland that incorporated five top Swiss varieties of winter wheat and six different N application regimes applied at BBCH 21, 31, and/or 39 that totaled either 0, 80, or 160 kg N ha−1. In addition to mixed model analyses, we used random forest to identify key genetic, environmental, and management variables in determining wheat grain yield and grain N content. Grain N content and yield were found to be maximized at 8000 kg ha−1 and ≈ 2.24% N. Further, more N is required to increase grain N content compared to yield. With respect to nitrogen use efficiency, we found that the total amount of N applied has a greater effect on NUE compared to the rate of the N splits. In general, the rate of the first and second N applications were most important in determining both yield and grain N content, but the rate of the third N application was important in determining the latter. In general, our results did not show broad support for variety-specific fertilization, however site-specific fertilization holds some promise. Creating a winter wheat fertilization system that reduces negative environmental externalities while retaining high yields and quality remains challenging. However, we found that under the conditions tested here, a N regime of 40-40-80 kg N ha−1 may maximize both yield and grain N content, and under some circumstances, improve nitrogen utilization efficiency. This may provide environmental benefits, as well as monetary benefits for producers. Given the current focus on nitrogen use and regulation, research maximizing the utility of nitrogen applications to ensure high grain yield, grain N content, and nitrogen use efficiency is vitally important. This and future work will help producers grow high-quality crops while lessening the environmental impact. • In winter wheat, nitrogen is crucial for attaining both high yield and quality. • In wheat, the efficient use of nitrogen is low, thus impacting profits and the environment. • Swiss top varieties are more similar in yield than grain N content. • Yield and grain N content can be maximized at ≈ 8000 kg ha−1 and ≈ 2.24% N (or ≈ 14% protein). • The efficient use of N is largely controlled by total N applied, rather than different N splits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Root morphology and anatomical traits that occurred during the cultivar selection process are important for understanding improvements in grain yield and water use efficiency. However, little is known about the changes in root morphology and root anatomy caused by cultivar replacement and their effects on grain yield and water use efficiency. Field and pot experiments were conducted to investigate the changing trends in root morphological and anatomical traits of six dryland winter wheat cultivars widely cultivated in Shaanxi Province of China, from 1949 to 2014, and determine their relationships with grain yield and water use efficiency. The results illustrated that compared with old cultivars, the grain yield and water use efficiency of modern cultivars increased by 35.7% and 48.4% respectively, and were closely related to root system changes. With cultivar succession, root biomass, root surface area, root length and root length density all decreased in the topsoil under irrigated or rainfed conditions, whereas these traits increased in the subsoil. The subsoil root biomass, root surface area, root length and root length density of cultivars released after 2000 increased by 26.1%, 11.7%, 25.4% and 23.2% respectively compared with the older cultivars before 2000. Cultivar replacement also increased the root cortex thickness by 29.2%, but reduced the root xylem center vessel diameter by 13.2%, without obvious changes in root diameter. Our study demonstrated that cultivar replacement altered root morphology and root anatomy, thereby improving grain yield and water use efficiency. The future challenge for wheat breeding is to increase grain yield and water use efficiency under water-deficit conditions, which may be achieved by further promoting subsoil root development and optimizing root anatomy. • Assessed trends in root morphology and root anatomical traits during cultivar. • replacement is important for understanding improvements in yield performance. • Increased wheat grain yield during cultivar replacement was associated with changes in root morphology and root anatomical traits. • With cultivar succession, the distribution of roots in the topsoil layer decreased significantly, but increased in the subsoil layer. • Optimized root anatomy of modern cultivars facilitated water storage and showed yield superiority. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to investigate the mechanisms of assimilate distribution and sugar metabolism in spike-stem that inhibit the formation of fertile florets and grains per spike in winter wheat under pre-reproductive drought stress. Two winter wheat cultivars, CH58 (relatively strongly drought tolerant) and LH6 (relatively weakly drought tolerant), were subjected to successive soil drought treatments from jointing to heading during the 2020–2022 growing seasons. The results showed that pre-reproductive drought stress intensified the degradation and abortion of wheat florets. Compared to CH58, the decrease in the number of fertile florets and grains per spike of LH6 under drought stress increased by an average of 5.3%−8.0% and 8.3%−9.0%, respectively. Drought significantly inhibited the distribution of 13C-photosynthates in wheat spikes (15.7%−24.7%) and stems (8.5%−11.7%) during the booting stage. The number of differentially expressed genes enriched in starch and sucrose metabolic pathways was much higher in the spike and stem of LH6 than in those of CH58. Drought significantly reduced sucrose and hexose in young spikes but increased hexose and fructan concentrations in stems. Compared to LH6, the higher invertase activity and accompanying high expression of sugar transporter protein (STP) in CH58 spikes under drought stress contributed to the utilization of sucrose in young spikes. Additionally, under severe drought, the higher fructan concentration and expression of sugar transport proteins (SWEET and SUT) in the stem of CH58 improved the ability of the stem to transport assimilates to young spikes and thus alleviated the loss of grain number per spike. Exogenous spermidine optimized hexose and sucrose allocation in young wheat spikes and stems after drought stress, thereby increasing the number of fertile florets under drought stress. Overall, the ability of the dominant spike to utilize sugar and the ability to compete for assimilates between the spike and stem contribute to the resistance to drought stress-induced grain reduction in the spike. Exogenous chemicals can regulate the number of fertile florets through this pathway, thereby promoting the formation of wheat grain number. [Display omitted] • Pre-reproduction drought stress exacerbated the decrease in grain number per spike. • The transfer rate of 13C-photosynthate was linearly related to floret degradation. • Drought-resistant wheat had a greater capacity to catabolize sugar in spike. • Dominant stem-to-spike sugar transfer capacity helped floret resist drought. • Exogenous spermidine optimized the allocation of sugar in spike-stem by drought. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Short chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs) are ubiquitous persistent organic pollutants. They have been widely detected in plant-based foods and might cause adverse impacts on humans. Nevertheless, uptake and accumulation mechanisms of SCCPs in plants remain unclear. In this study, the soil culture data indicated that SCCPs were strongly absorbed by roots (root concentration factor, RCF>1) yet limited translocated to shoots (translocation factor<1). The uptake mechanism was explored by hydroponic exposure, showing that hydrophobicity and molecular size influenced the root uptake and translocation of SCCPs. RCFs were significantly correlated with log K ow values and molecular weights in a parabolic curve relationship. Besides, it was extremely difficult for SCCPs to translocate from shoots back to roots via phloem. An active energy-dependent process was proposed to be involved in the root uptake of SCCPs, which was supported by the uptake inhibition by the low temperature and metabolic inhibitor. Though SCCPs at environmentally relevant concentrations had no negative impacts on root morphology and chlorophyll contents, it caused obvious changes in cellular ultrastructure of root tip cells and induced a significant increase in superoxide dismutase activity. This information may be beneficial to moderate crop contamination by SCCPs, and to remedy soils polluted by SCCPs with plants. [Display omitted] ● SCCPs are readily uptake by roots but have limited upward translocation. ● An active energy-dependent process was involved in the root uptake. ● Hydrophobicity and molecular weight influenced the uptake and translocation. ● Phloem-based transport of SCCPs was extremely difficult. ● SCCPs at environmentally relevant levels altered the cellular ultrastructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Post-anthesis drought stress (PADS) greatly influences wheat grain development and programmed cell death (PCD) in endosperm. However, the response mechanism of PCD in wheat endosperm to abiotic stress is still unclear at present. In this study, the physiological parameters and transcriptome and proteome of winter wheat varieties Xindong No. 18 (XD18, drought-sensitive variety) and Xindong No. 22 (XD22, drought-tolerant variety) under PADS were analyzed. The results showed that under PADS, the endosperm cell viability of XD18 and XD22 decreased, the number of nuclei with DNA break increased by 21% and 9%, respectively, the chromatin condensed, and the nuclear envelope rupture and cytoplasm leakage occurred, compared with those in the control group. Besides, the nuclei count of XD18 and XD22 decreased by 6.07% and 7.5%, respectively, and the DNA hydrolase activity (24.7% and 28.9%), H 2 O 2 content (54.3% and 38.7%), and MDA content (44.1% and 33.8%) all increased. A total of 21,677 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 3388 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were detected. Among them, 48 PCD-related proteins were identified. The ubiquitin protein (TraesCS1A01G397400.1) exhibited a high expression level in XD22. The integrated transcriptomic and proteomic analysis showed that the expression of genes related to DNA repair and membrane functions were up-regulated, which confirmed the results of physiological analysis. Particularly, the glutathione-ascorbic acid cycle pathway and the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling cascade pathway mediated by Ca2+, abscisic acid (ABA), ethylene (ETH), and flg22 were significantly enriched. Therefore, the two were key pathways involved in the regulation of wheat endosperm PCD under PADS. This study will deepen our understanding of the PCD in wheat endosperm in response to PADS, and is of great significance for screening candidate genes related to wheat stress resistance. [Display omitted] • Drought stress triggers programmed cell death (PCD) in endosperm cells. • Forty-eight candidate genes regulating endosperm PCD were identified. • The glutathione-ascorbate cycle regulates drought-induced endosperm PCD. • The MAPK signaling cascade pathway regulates drought-induced endosperm PCD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought is an important environmental factor leading to wheat yield loss in arid areas. The accumulation of amino acids during the filling stage is closely related to wheat drought resistance and yield, but the mechanism is still unclear. In this study, winter wheat plants (cultivars Xindong 18 (XD18) and Xindong 22 (XD22)) were subjected to post-anthesis drought treatment (DT) and sufficient water treatment (WT), and the measurement of free amino acid and carbohydrates content and the proteomic and transcriptomic analysis of wheat grains were conducted 7 and 14 days after anthesis (DAA). Finally, the improvement effect of application of exogenous glutamate (Glu) on the drought resistance of wheat was validated by hydroponic and field experiments. The results showed that sucrose and soluble sugar contents of XD22 grains were higher than those of XD18 grains under DT. The grain weight and filling rate of both wheat cultivars increased in the early stage of DT but reduced in the late stage. The content of most free amino acids in grains reduced under DT, but the Glu content increased. Regression analysis of grain weight and free amino acid content found that Glu was involved in the responses of wheat to DT and WT. The transcriptomic analysis results showed that XD18-DT7/WT7 and XD22-DT7/WT7 had 161 and 350 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to amino acid metabolism, respectively, and XD18-DT14/WT14 and XD22-DT14/WT14 had 380 and 326 DEGs related to amino acid metabolism, respectively. Proteomic analysis results showed that XD18-DT7/WT7 and XD22-DT7/WT7 had 163 and 117 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs） related to amino acid metabolism, respectively, and XD18-DT14/WT14 and XD22-DT14/WT14 had 29 and 109 DEPs related to amino acid metabolism, respectively. Besides, the expression level of most DEPs involved in Glu metabolism (> 95 %) was significantly up-regulated at the early stage of DT. It should be noted that the application of different concentrations of exogenous Glu at seedling stage, heading stage, and flowering stage significantly reduced wheat root/shoot ratio and relative conductivity (RC) under DT, and increased the SPAD value, grain weight, and filling rate. The free amino acids and carbohydrates in wheat grains changed significantly under DT, and a large number of DEPs involved in the Glu metabolism pathway were up-regulated to cope with drought stress. Finally, exogenous Glu application can improve the drought resistance of drought-stressed wheat at seedling and filling stages and increase grain weight. • Carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism cooperate to cope with drought. • Glutamic acid metabolism plays a key role in drought resistance in wheat. • Exogenous glutamic acid application significantly improves wheat drought resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A theoretical model was developed using electrical parameters to detect root volume. • The simplified model was valid under different conditions particularly in the field. • The reliable detection of root volume suggests its potential for wide applications. Noninvasive and nondestructive root phenotyping techniques under field conditions are needed to advance plant root science. Soil electrical parameters including capacitance and resistance hold potential to meet this need, although their specific ability to detect roots remains uncertain. In this study, we developed a two-phase root and soil permittivity model at high frequency enabling accurate and noninvasive prediction of root volume. The validation calculation showed that the two-phase model successfully predicts root volume with a minimal error of less than 1 % under the control conditions with roots placed in wet soil and water. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the high-frequency bulk soil capacitance when integrated into an empirical model, can accurately estimate root volume for summer maize (Zea mays L.) in both the field (root mean square error (RMSE) = 1.52 cm3) and in root washing-free measurement applications in the absence of soil (RMSE = 0.36 cm3). When the empirical relationship between high-frequency bulk soil capacitance and root volume is not adequate, the two-phase model can be used to calibrate the empirical model. To this end, a series of soil pot experiments with winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) showed that the measurement accuracy can be fundamentally improved. These results highlighted the effectiveness of the two-phase permittivity model, making high-frequency bulk soil capacitance a reliable method for in situ measurement of root volume. It is anticipated that the availability of new equipment for measuring high-frequency soil electrical parameters will lead to widespread adoption of this root phenotyping technique in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficiently assessing drought resistance of different cultivars is crucial for genotypic selection. The existing indicators, however, do not adequately cover both aspects of drought resistance: grain yield differences among cultivars under drought conditions, and drought sensitivity of a specific cultivar in response to water condition changes from wet to dry. Carbon isotopes have shown promise in this regard, but the commonly used bulk leaf carbon isotope (δ13C bulk) is not consistently correlated with grain yield, resulting in an inability to consistently predict drought resistance. This study explored the effectiveness of carbon isotopes, particularly the n -alkane carbon isotope (δ13C alk), in assessing drought resistance of different cultivars in both aspects of drought resistance and provide insights into the potential mechanisms behind the inconsistent relationships between δ13C bulk and grain yield. We conducted field experiments involving multiple cultivars and irrigation treatments on winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and measured the δ13C bulk and δ13C alk on various growth stages and organs. Our study found that neither leaf δ13C bulk nor δ13C alk could consistently predict the grain yield difference among cultivars under the same water treatment. This inconsistency is due to the influence of cultivar characteristics and post-photosynthetic carbon isotope fractionations. However, leaf δ13C alk demonstrated a more robust and consistent correlation than leaf δ13C bulk as a surrogate for the drought sensitivity of different cultivars to reduced water conditions. The accuracy of evaluation can be influenced by the sampling periods and organs, with the optimal strategy being the collection of flag leaf at early grain filling stage. The key findings of our study highlight the advantages of leaf δ13C alk in assessing the crop drought sensitivity and evaluating drought-resistant cultivars. • Leaf n -alkane δ13C showed stronger correlations than bulk leaf δ13C in indicating drought sensitivity. • Inconsistent predictions of δ13C on yield were attributed to cultivar traits and post-photosynthetic isotope fractionations. • Sampling periods and organs impact accuracy with the optimal strategy of collecting flag leaf during early grain filling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In drylands, optimized management of fertilization based on precipitation is very important to reduce fertilizer inputs and environmental risks and improve crop yield and benefits. Based on a four-year winter wheat experiment with two treatments (FP, farmers' practices; NE, Nutrient Expert system recommendation) at nine counties of the Chinese Loess Plateau, we determined the effects of NE on wheat yield, environmental risks, and economic benefits under three precipitation year types (dry, normal, and wet) and recommended optimized N fertilization. The results showed that the NE treatment reduced N and P fertilizer input rates by 21.7% and 50.0%, respectively, Nr losses by 30.1% and GHG emissions by 21.6%, but it did not affect wheat grain yield compared to the FP treatment. There were no significant differences in N and P input rates among the three precipitation year types, but higher grain yield and partial factor productivity of N and P fertilizers were found in wet years in the NE treatment. Additionally, soil nitrate N residues in the 0–100 cm soil layers were ordered in wet years < normal years < dry years. Based on the NE system, the optimized N fertilization method could further reduce the N fertilizer rate by 16.6% and 62.5%, Nr losses by 20% and 68%, and GHG emissions by 1.7% and 47.8% in normal and dry years, respectively, but could increase economic benefits by 3.3% and 5.6%, suggesting that optimized fertilization based on fallow season precipitation can result in multiple benefits for agriculture and the environment. • Wheat yield and soil nitrate N residues were affected by rainfall in fallow season. • NE reduced N and P fertilizer input rates by 21.7% and 50.0% but not wheat yield. • NE increased the use efficiency of N and P by 27.3% and 106.2% and had higher values in the wet years. • A recommendation method for NE based on precipitation in summer fallow season. • New method can further reduce N inputs and increase economic benefits in normal and dry years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soils with subsurface drip irrigation are often characterized by hypoxia, which could impair the aerobic respiration of roots and the productive potential of crops. Irrigation with hydrogen peroxide oxygenated water (HPOW) is one way to improve soil aeration in the rhizosphere. However, few studies have focused on exploring the interaction of HPOW with soil aeration and productivity of crops. The current work aimed to investigate the effects of four levels of HPOW [0 ppm H 2 O 2 solution (tap water) as a control (H 0), 600 ppm, 800 ppm and 1000 ppm H 2 O 2 solution (H 600 , H 800 and H 1000)] on irrigation water properties, soil aeration, antioxidant defenses, growth biomarkers and yield components in winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) plants. Results confirmed that dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations in H 600 , H 800 and H 1000 were significantly increased by 52.10%–126.59% and surface tension coefficients were significantly decreased by 17.72%–31.60% as compared to H 0. DO concentrations in soil solutions irrigated with H 600 , H 800 and H 1000 were significantly elevated by 9.78%–15.68% as compared to H 0 , and the maximum value equal to 7.44 mg L−1 was found at a soil depth of 20 cm. Further, H 600 and H 800 reduced concentrations of malondialdehyde and H 2 O 2 in leaves, increased accumulation of proline and activities of antioxidant enzymes, and resulted in an enhancement in grain yield of 15.28% and 25.23%, respectively. Application of H 1000 resulted in lower growth biomarkers and yield components due to oxidative stress induced by decreased activities of antioxidant enzymes and accumulation of proline as well as elevated levels of lipid peroxidation as compared to H 600 and H 800. The optimal regulation was achieved with the H 800 treatment. Overall, HPOW improved the plants growth by modulating soil aeration and antioxidant defenses which enhanced tolerance to hypoxic stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental stresses, such as heat and drought, severely affect plant growth and development, and reduce wheat yield and quality globally. Squamosa promoter binding protein-like (SPL) proteins are plant-specific transcription factors that play a critical role in regulating plant responses to diverse stresses. In this study, we cloned and characterized TaSPL6 , a wheat orthologous gene of rice OsSPL6. Three TaSPL6 homoeologs are located on the long arms of chromosomes 4A, 5B, and 5D, respectively, and share more than 98% sequence identity with each other. The TaSPL6 genes were preferentially expressed in roots, and their expression levels were downregulated in wheat seedlings subjected to heat, dehydration, and abscisic acid treatments. Subcellular localization experiments showed that TaSPL6 was localized in the nucleus. Overexpression of TaSPL6-A in wheat resulted in enhanced sensitivity to drought stress. The transgenic lines exhibited higher leaf water loss, malondialdehyde and reactive oxygen species (ROS) content, and lower antioxidant enzyme activities after drought treatment than wild-type plants. Gene silencing of TaSPL6 enhanced the drought tolerance of wheat, as reflected by better growth status. Additionally, RNA-seq and qRT-PCR analyses revealed that TaSPL6-A functions by decreasing the expression of a number of genes involved in stress responses. These findings suggest that TaSPL6 acts as a negative regulator of drought stress responses in plants, which may have major implications for understanding and enhancing crop tolerance to environmental stresses. • The expression of wheat TaSPL6 was repressed by heat, dehydration, and ABA treatments. • TaSPL6 protein was exclusively localized in the nucleus. • TaSPL6 has a negative role in wheat drought resistance. • RNA-seq and qRT-PCR analyses indicated that TaSPL6-A functions through regulating the expression of stress-related genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The MEDIATOR (MED) complex is a molecular bridge that regulates transcription by connecting transcription factors (TFs) and specific gene promoters. The MED subunit 25 (MED25) can interact with specific TFs in the phytohormone signaling pathways to regulate the transcription of downstream genes and affect various physiological processes in plants. Although MED25 plays an important role in adaptation to abiotic stresses, it is still unclear whether MED25 is involved in freezing tolerance in wheat. In this study, we found that the expression of TaMED25 was significantly increased under extremely low temperatures (–25 °C) in Dongnongdongmai1 (Dn1) plants, a variety of winter wheat with excellent cold-stress resistance,and hypothesized that TaMED25 may be a novel regulator of freezing tolerance in this wheat variety. To further characterize the function of TaMED25 in freezing tolerance, we cloned TaMED25 from Dn1 plants and overexpressed it in Arabidopsis thaliana. The results showed that the overexpression of TaMED25 improved freezing tolerance in Arabidopsis plants, with decreased relative conductivity, enhanced ability to effectively scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS), and increased expression of cold-responsive genes. Furthermore, we proposed that TaMED25 mediates jasmonate-induced cold resistance in plants, possibly by interacting with TaJAZ7 and TaMYC2 of the jasmonate signaling pathway and TaICE41 of the ICE–CBF–COR pathway. Our findings reveal the functions of MED25 in plants and provide a scientific basis for an in-depth analysis of the transcriptional regulation mechanism of freezing tolerance in winter wheat. • TaMED25 is involved in JA signal pathway. • TaMED25 expression is responsed to low temperature stress in wheat. • Overexpression of TaMED25 gene enhances freeze resistance in Arabidopsis plants. • TaMED25 is localized in the nucleus. • TaMED25 interacts with TaJAZ7, TaMYC2 and TaICE41 proteins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improving the photosynthetic capacity of crops is key to achieving synergism between high crop yield and nitrogen (N) efficiency, and it is also an important target for future cultivar breeding and cultivation management. Although photosynthetic N use efficiency (PNUE) is commonly used to determine the N economy of leaves, it is unclear whether the PNUE of wheat has improved through genetic engineering of wheat cultivars. The objectives of this study were to investigate the development of net photosynthetic rate (P n) and PNUE, and to identify the key factors that limited P n and PNUE in the tested cultivars. A 2-year field experiment with three different N fertilizer application rates using five wheat cultivars developed between 1950 s and 2010 s was conducted to examine the evolution and physiological processes of wheat P n and PNUE. Grain yield, N recovery efficiency (NRE), leaf P n , leaf area, the content of N in leaves (LNC), and the content of N per unit area in leaves (N A) increased through genetic engineering of wheat cultivars. However, the increase in P n was lower than that in N A , resulting in a decrease in PNUE. Modern cultivars had a higher P n , which was attributed to the improvement of N A , which likely enhanced the maximum ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) carboxylation rate (V cmax), maximum electron transport rate (J max), electron transport rate from photosystem II (J F), and electron transport rate from the cytochrome b6f complex (J c). The Rubisco content and activity of modern cultivars were higher than those of early cultivars, but the activation state decreased, which was related to the downregulation expression of TaRca1α and TaRca2β-A and the decrease of the adenosine diphosphate/adenosine triphosphate (ADP/ATP) ratio in modern cultivars, resulting in decreased Rubisco activase (Rca) content and activity. Increasing N application increased N A and P n but decreased the PNUE. N fertilizer had a greater effect on Rubisco content and PNUE than genetic engineering, while it had a smaller effect on N A , leaf mass per area (LMA), Rubisco activity, and Rca content and activity than genetic engineering. Our results suggest that lower Rubisco activation is a major reason for the lower PNUE of modern wheat cultivars, and improving Rca content and activity in the future could enhance P n and PNUE while improving the N utilization of leaves to enhance crop yield and N efficiency of wheat under current or lower leaf N conditions. • The increase in Pn was lower than that in leaf N content per area during cultivars evolution. • Lower Rubisco activation is a major reason for the lower PNUE of modern wheat cultivars. • The lower Rubisco activation state was related to the downregulation expression of TaRcas. • Improving Rca content and activity could enhance wheat yield and leaf N utilization in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acid rain (AR) is a global environmental problem that causes a number of morphological, physiological and molecular changes in plants. N -acyl homoserine lactones, as bacterial quorum sensing signal molecules, mediate a number of physiological processes in plants. In this study, we have demonstrated for the first time the stress-protective role of AHL foliar treatment under conditions of abiotic stress - acid rain. The effects of simulated acid rain (SAR), treatment of plants with N -hexanoyl- l -homoserine lactone (C 6 -HSL) solution, and a combination of these two factors on the microstructure of the leaf surface, photosynthetic pigments, secondary metabolites, and lipoxygenase activity in winter wheat plants were analyzed. It was established that on the fourth day following treatment of 14-day-old plants with C 6 -HSL, the thickness of the outer cell wall of the leaf epidermis, together with the cuticle layer, increased by 15 %. SAR treatment resulted in a significant thinning of the cell wall (33 %), while pretreatment with C 6 -HSL followed by SAR reduced cell wall thickness by only 9 %. Under SAR, the cuticular wax layer was destroyed and there were unequal wax lamellae on the epidermal surface, while in C 6 -HSL treated plants only partial cracking of the cuticular wax layer, slight destruction of the wax lamellae, and formation of wax crusts took place. C 6 -HSL induced a significant increase in total chlorophyll content under non-SAR conditions, and significantly mitigated the decrease of total chlorophyll content caused by SAR. Lipoxygenase activity, the content of total phenols, flavonoids, and proline increased after treatment of plants with C 6 -HSL solution alone and in combination with SAR. This is the first report on the possibility of using C 6 -HSL as an ecological biostimulator under conditions of AR. [Display omitted] • The protective effects of C 6 -HSL treatment against acid rain were estimated. • Pretreatment with C 6 -HSL followed by acid rain had an effect on cell wall thickness. • C 6 -HSL induced an increase in chlorophyll content in conditions without acid rain. • C 6 -HSL reduced the decline in total chlorophyll induced by acid rain. • C 6 -HSL and acid rain changed LOX-activity and non-enzymatic antioxidant content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green area index (GAI), leaf chlorophyll content (LCC) and canopy chlorophyll content (CCC) are key variables that are closely related to crop growth. Concurrent and continuous monitoring of GAI, LCC and CCC is critical to keep consistency among variables and make decisions for field precision managements. Previous studies have developed several instruments and algorithms to monitor continuous GAI, while the autonomous monitoring of three variables simultaneously has been lacking. This study presents a novel algorithm to retrieve daily GAI, LCC and CCC from continuous directional observations acquired by a fixed and economic affordable multi-band spectrometer (6 bands covering red, red-edge and near infrared domains) and a photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) sensor in the field. It is composed of three main steps, corresponding to three crucial questions when retrieving variables under natural environments using multi-band spectrometer installed on a near-surface platform: diffuse fraction in each spectral band, radiometric calibration and diurnal sun variation of daily acquisitions. First, we estimated diffuse fraction in each spectral band from the relationship with PAR diffuse fraction based on simulations of the 6S atmospheric radiative transfer model. Second, we computed the relative value of each band to the reference of mean of measurements on all six bands from near-surface measurements, in place of absolute radiometric calibration to limit the influence of changing illumination conditions. In the third step, we combined PROSAIL canopy radiative transfer model and kernel-driven models to retrieved GAI, LCC and CCC from artificial neural network using above spectral diffuse fraction and diurnal multi-angle relative observations. The algorithm was evaluated over 43 IoTA (Internet of things for Agriculture) systems that were installed in 29 wheat fields in France from March to May 2019. Results showed that our method provides good estimates of GAI with root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.54, relative RMSE (RRMSE) of 26.95%, R2 of 0.86, LCC (RMSE = 12.06 μg/cm2, RRMSE = 33.34%, R2 = 0.52) and CCC (RMSE = 0.23 g/m2, RRMSE = 24.58%, R2 = 0.93). This study shows great potentials for concurrent estimates of GAI, LCC and CCC from continuous ground measurements. It will be useful over other vegetations or other near-surface platforms for simultaneous estimations of biophysical variables. • Concurrent daily GAI, LCC and CCC are computed by a multi-band spectrometer. • No necessity to perform absolute radiometric calibration in this algorithm. • Instantaneous spectral diffuse fraction is estimated and considered in inversion. • Multispectral and multi-angle acquisitions during a day are used in the inversion. • Estimated GAI, LCC and CCC correspond well with validation datasets over wheat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Planting performance is essential for wheat seeders and reliable seed germination. The seed-filling effect is also important in the sowing performance. In this study, a self-suction wheat shooting device was developed to improve the seed-filling performance. In specific, the shooting device structure was optimized, in which negative pressure was generated in the inner cavity of the device. A DEM-CFD coupling simulation experiment was conducted to investigate the seed-filling and shooting performance. The effect of three working parameters (rotational speed of shooting device, window length and window width of directional seed delivery wheel) on the coefficient of variation of the seed-filling performance (CVSF), average shooting speed (ASS), average shooting depth (ASD) and drag force (DF) were analyzed. Afterward, a validation experiment was conducted to investigate the shooting performance of the self-suction shooting device. The results showed that the shooting performance of the self-suction device under optimized operation parameters could fully meet the shooting requirements of winter wheat in the North China plain. In specific, the coefficient of variation of the seed amount (CVSA), ASD and ASS of self-suction shooting device were 7.1%, 30.9 mm and 33.5 m/s at the rotational speed, window length and window width were 1200 rpm, 35 mm and 60 mm, respectively. [Display omitted] • A "seed–air-soil" coupling model is simulated by DEM–CFD approach. • The seed motion characteristics and shooting performance are described. • The characteristic of drag force in self-suction device is conducted. • A comparison of self-suction and mechanical shooting device is conducted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heat stress is one of the most important environmental factors that influences wheat growth and development, leading to significant losses in grain yield and has become a significant detrimental factor for worldwide wheat production. In recent years, several studies suggested that eukaryotic elongation factor 1A (eEF1A), may contribute to heat tolerance in plants, therefore the aim of this study was: to investigate the accumulation of eEF1A in wheat under conditions of moderate and high air temperatures; to determine the amount of photosynthetic pigments and to determine the yield traits; and to examine whether there is a correlation between eEF1A accumulation, photosynthetic pigments, and yield in different wheat varieties. The results showed that heat stress induced accumulation of eEF1A significantly different among wheat varieties and showed that varieties with a higher accumulation of eEF1A under heat stress are characterized by a smaller decrease in the photosynthetic pigments. A correlation between higher accumulation of eEF1A under heat stress and yield traits was found. Analyzed parameters from two growing seasons, indicated that the higher accumulation of eEF1A and a smaller decrease in photosynthetic pigments distinguishes the varieties more resistant to heat stress. The analysis of the molecular mechanisms by immunoblot, under conditions of high and moderate air temperatures in two growing seasons, aims to develop agricultural strategy and develop wheat varieties tolerant to heat stress. • eEF1A accumulation, photosynthetic pigments and yield in the two growing seasons was analyzed in the experimental field. • The analysis of molecular mechanisms, aims to develop agricultural strategy and to develop heat tolerant wheat varieties. • Higher eEF1A accumulation and a decrease in photosynthetic pigments distinguishes varieties more resistant to heat stress. • Significant correlation was found between eEF1A and hectoliter mass under heat stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silicon (Si) and hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) are known to enhance plant defense against multiple stresses. Current study was conducted to investigate the application of Si and H 2 S alone as well as in combination, improved physiological resilience of wheat plants to drought stress (DS) and pathogen- Puccinia triticina (Pt) infection. We aimed to increase the wheat plant growth and to enhance the DS tolerance and Pt resistance with the concurrent applications of H 2 S and Si. In the first experiment, we selected the best growth enhancing concentration of H 2 S (0.3 mM) and Si (6 mM) to further investigate their tolerance and resistance potential in the pot experiment under DS and pathogen infection conditions. The obtained results reveal that DS has further increased the susceptibility of wheat plants to leaf rust pathogen infection while, the sole application of Si and the simultaneous exogenous treatments of H 2 S + Si enhanced the plant growth, decreased disease incidence, and significantly improved tolerance and defense mechanisms of wheat under individual and interactive stress conditions. The exogenous treatment of H 2 S + Si improved the growth criteria, photosynthetic pigments, osmoprotectants, and defense related enzyme activities. The same treatment also reinforced the endogenous H 2 S, Si, ABA and SA contents while decreased the disease incidence and oxidative stress indicators under individual and combined stress conditions. Overall, results from this study presents the influence of combined drought and P. triticina stress in wheat and reveal the beneficial impacts of concurrent exogenous treatment of H 2 S + Si to mitigate the drought and pathogen (P. triticina) induced adverse effects. • DS triggered the oxidative stress and further increased the susceptibility of wheat plants to Pt infection. • Si and H 2 S pretreatments alleviated the negative impacts of drought and rust infections. • Si and H 2 S + Si treatments reduced oxidative stress by increasing antioxidant enzyme activities. • H 2 S underpins the impacts of Si and enhanced the activities of PR proteins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Timely knowledge of phenological development and crop growth is pivotal for evidence-based decision making in agriculture. We propose a near real-time approach combining radiative transfer model inversion with physiological and phenological priors from multi-year field phenotyping. Our approach allows to retrieve Green Leaf Area Index (GLAI), Canopy Chlorophyll Content (CCC) and hence Leaf Chlorophyll Content (Cab) from Sentinel-2 optical satellite imagery to quantify winter wheat growth conditions in a physiologically sound way. Phenological macro stages are based on accumulated growing degree day thresholds obtained from multi-year field phenotyping covering more than 2400 ratings from roughly 300 winter wheat varieties and reflect important physiological transitions. These include the transition from vegetative to reproductive growth and the onset of flowering, which is important information for agricultural decision support. Validation against a large data set of on-farm trials in Switzerland collected in 2019 and 2022 revealed high accuracy of our approach that produced spatio-temporally consistent results. Phenological macro stages were predicted for 970 Sentinel-2 observations reaching a weighted F1-score of 0.96. Sentinel-2 derived GLAI and CCC explained between 77 to 84% and between 79 to 84% of the variability in in-situ measurements, respectively. Here, the incorporation of phenological priors clearly increased trait retrieval accuracy. Besides, this work highlights that physiological priors, e.g., obtained by field phenotyping, can help enhancing landscape scale observations and hold potential to advance the retrieval of remotely sensed vegetation traits and in-season phenology. • We estimated crop functional traits and phenology in season. • We used physiological and phenological priors from field phenotyping. • Retrievals were validated at multiple sites. • The methodology is simple and suited for operational usage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a winter cereal crop with higher energy footprints. We therefore aimed to budget energy use, establish input-output relationships, and to perform data envelopment analysis (DEA) based optimization in wheat established with innovative super seeder technology. Data-set of 45 decision-making units (DMUs) collected during face-to-face interviews were changed to energy units for enhancing their energy efficiency. These results revealed that total energy input (E I) of 22.6 GJ ha−1 and output energy of 125.3 GJ ha−1 yielded energy productivity of 0.231 kg MJ−1. The net energy gain (102.7 GJ ha−1) accomplished with an energy ratio of 5.6 indicates that super seeder technology was energy-efficient. Direct and indirect energy share ∼53.2 and 46.8%, whilst renewable and non-renewable energy comprised ∼24.8 and 75.2% of E I , respectively. Fertilizer-N emerged as the major energy input (∼44.7% of E I), followed by irrigation water (∼17.4%) and electricity (15.1%). The DEA based benchmarking elucidated 23 DMUs (∼51.1% of total studied) as efficient, whilst others inefficient. An average technical efficiency of 0.89 illustrates ∼11% E I saving possibilities by the adoption of best management practices. These results underpin the overwhelming significance of efficient fertilizer-N, irrigation water and electricity for reduced energy footprints in north-western India. [Display omitted] • Energy use efficiency of wheat established with super seeder technology was studied. • Net energy gain of 102.7 ± 1.7 GJ ha−1 was achieved with energy ratio (ER) of 5.6. • Fertilizer-N has highest energy input, comprised ∼44.7% of total energy input. • Data envelopment analysis (DEA) elucidated ∼51.1% wheat farms as energy efficient. • About 11% (2046.7 MJ ha−1) energy could be saved following recommendations of DEA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent times, significant attention has been directed toward the synthesis and application of nanoparticles (NPs) in agriculture sector. In current study, nanoceria (CeO 2 NPs) synthesized by green method were employed to address cadmium (Cd) accumulation in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivated in field with excess Cd. The application of CeO 2 NPs was carried out through foliar spraying, performed twice during the growth of T. aestivum. Four levels of CeO 2 NPs were used: T0, T1, T2, and T3 as 0, 50, 75, and 100 mgL−1, respectively. Results highlighted the positive effects of CeO 2 NPs on various growth parameters, including plant height, spike length, photosynthetic related attributes, as well as straw and grain of grains in comparison to T1 (control group). Furthermore, CeO 2 NPs led to a reduction in oxidative stress in the leaves and enhanced in enzyme activities in comparison to T1. Notably, Cd concentrations in straw, roots, and grains exhibited a decline following the treatment with CeO 2 NPs, in contrast to the control group. In terms of health implications, the calculated health risk index associated with dietary consumption of grains by adults remained below the defined threshold with supply of nanoparticles. Foliar application of CeO 2 NPs proved to be an effective approach in reducing cadmium content in wheat grains. This reduction holds significant potential for minimizing the risk of cadmium exposure to human health through the food chain. Employing the green synthesis method amplifies the potential for extensive production and a wide array of environmental applications for CeO 2 NPs. This dual capacity makes them proficient in tackling environmental stresses while concurrently mitigating adverse ecological effects. [Display omitted] • Wheat plants were grown in Cd-polluted soil and CeO 2 NPs were foliar sprayed • CeO 2 NPs boosted plant growth and photosynthesis of Cd-stressed wheat • CeO 2 NPs increased grain and biomass yield and reduced Cd accumulation in plants • CeO 2 NPs decreased human health risk index due to consumption of wheat grains [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change and management practices influence crop allocation of carbon (C), and consequently can alter grain yield and the magnitude of C sequestration (or release) from agroecosystems. However, few in situ longitudinal studies are available to quantify these changes. Here, we combined the results from 13 years (from October 2007 to September 2020) of eddy covariance data and detailed crop production measurements to investigate changing climate and C allocation in a typical wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and maize (Zea mays L.) double cropping agroecosystem in the North China Plain. We found that the agroecosystem on average acted as a slight C sink, i.e., net ecosystem carbon balance (NECB) is 36 g C m−2 yr−1) across the study period. Increased CO 2 led to a rising trend of gross primary production (GPP, 72 g C m−2 yr−2), ∼35% of which led to increased NECB (the slope is 25 g C m−2 yr−2). However, concomitant increases in temperature and decreases in surface soil moisture caused higher partitioning of GPP to autotrophic respiration, leading to lower increases in net primary production and grain yield. Summer maize experienced a greater risk of C source increase, as well as greater grain yield reduction than winter wheat, most likely due to higher temperatures and drought in summer. Overall, our observational evidence suggests that current management and ongoing climate change increase the ability of the agroecosystem to increase NECB, but does not enhance crop production in this intensively managed high yield agroecosystems. However, C allocation strategies are unlikely to maintain constant in the future as multiple climate change factors act on the agroecosystem. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A possible mechanism for the improved availability of zinc (Zn) in soil by combining nitrogen (N) with Zn supply was investigated based on the root exudates of winter wheat. N, Zn supply as well as their combination significantly regulated nine root exudates in winter wheat; in which, the secretion of cis-aconitic acid involving in the TCA cycle, C5-branched dibasic acid metabolism, glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism and 2-oxocarboxylic acid metabolism was upregulated by N, Zn supply as well as their combination. N–Zn combination induced the activities of citrate synthase and cis-aconitase in roots and shoots of winter wheat thus to increase the concentrations of citric and aconitic acid; the decrease of isocitric acid concentrations in shoots indicated the inhibited conversion of aconitic acid to isocitric acid by N–Zn combination. It revealed a possible reason for the enhanced secretion of cis-aconitic acid by N–Zn combination. Exogenous addition of 10 μ plant−1 cis-aconitate significantly increased available Zn concentrations in soil and Zn concentrations in winter wheat under N–Zn combination. Thus, the N–Zn combination regulated the metabolism of cis-aconitic acid in winter wheat, thus enhancing the secretion of cis-aconitic acid to increase the bioavailability of Zn in soil. • N–Zn combination affected the composition of root secretions in wheat. • N–Zn combination regulated TCA cycle to promote the secretion of cis-aconitic acid. • Cis-aconitate acid enhanced Zn availability in soil and further Zn uptake in wheat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China's winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production heavily relies on nitrogen (N) fertilizer application, which poses challenges due to the inability of most smallholders to accurately apply N according to site-specific conditions. Difficulty in accurately estimating the nitrogen demands of wheat is a barrier to precise nitrogen fertilizer management. We hypothesized that assessing plant N uptake at different sites can potentially improve site-specific N management based on the theoretical N rate method. To address this issue, this study proposes a cost-effective and user-friendly method to accurately predict plant nitrogen uptake for improving N management decisions. The study used a meta-analysis method, and modeling by integrating datasets from published papers. Then, the model's performance was evaluated using nine different nitrogen input and yield level scenarios built from published paper datasets. A nitrogen fertilizer recommendation model under a specific target yield using both the linear mixed effects model and random forest model was established, with the latter demonstrating superior performance. The model predicts plants' N demand index (NDI) considering geographic, varietal, and climatic characteristics as model input variables. In the scenario suitable for the model, the model reduces the N fertilizer rate by 17.91–110.48 kg ha−1 N, resulting in improved economic benefits by 14.15–137.59 $ ha−1, reduced N 2 O emissions by 15.23∼53.7%, and enhanced NEEB benefits by 0.18∼1.78%. Notably, the medium-level N input with low-level yield output scenario closely resembles the smallholder production scenario. Improving wheat plants' grain protein content and plant height through breeding can improve their nitrogen requirements by analyzing the factors affecting NDI. The model's efficacy in terms of N recommendation, economic benefits, N 2 O emissions, and the net ecosystem economic benefit (NEEB) across the nine evaluated scenarios was assessed. Based on the model performance, the factors influencing NDI and providing insights for wheat breeding improvements were identified. Additionally, model suitability assessment demonstrates that, under a typical smallholder production scenario, the model offers economic benefits while reducing pollution. By implementing this approach, smallholders can achieve optimized N management, improving their economic outcomes and contributing to environmental sustainability. This study partially filled the gap between blanket fertilization recommendations and fertilization based on site-specific soil testing. • Estimating the nitrogen demands of wheat plants in different scenarios for nitrogen fertilizer recommendation. • A model for predicting the nitrogen demands of wheat by variety and environmental factors was constructed. • Factors affecting wheat N demands and directions for wheat breeding improvement were identified. • The scenarios suitable for the application of the model are the actual production scenarios of most smallholders. • The model is easily used by smallholders, improving their economic benefits and reducing environmental risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecological theories indicate that increasing plant genetic diversity promotes ecosystem productivity. Thus, the cultivation of different genotypes within a field, known as cultivar mixtures, could provide beneficial agroecosystem services for wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production. However, it remains unclear whether these benefits are dependent on the optimization of functional traits, which can improve light capture and yield of the wheat cultivar mixtures. Here, we conducted a field experiment over 3 years in the North China Plain to investigate the effects of cultivar mixtures on functional traits, light capture and the grain yield of winter wheat. We compared the performance of individual cultivars (8× monocultures) and combinations of cultivar mixtures that contained two (mixture-2), four (mixture-4) and eight (mixture-8) wheat cultivars. The results showed that grain yield was closely correlated with optimization of functional traits in cultivar mixtures. The specific leaf area (SLA) was lower in the mixtures than the mean of their component cultivars in monoculture, leading to weaker shading effects and higher capture rates of canopy photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) in the middle layer. Moreover, mixture-4 had a significantly increased flag leaf area (LA), leaf weight (LW), effective tiller number and SPAD of 35 days after anthesis compared with mean-4 (the mean of four cultivars in monoculture). The grain yields of mixture-4 and mixture-8 significantly increased by 6.31 % and 10.59 %, respectively, in 2019 and by 13.08 % and 12.25 %, respectively, in 2021 compared with mean-4 and mean-8 (the mean of eight cultivars in monoculture). Therefore, enhanced synergy among functional traits in cultivar mixtures tends to promote higher capture efficiencies for limited resources, such as light, which in turn contributes to greater grain yields. In short, as an ecological approach, increasing within-field genetic diversity can be regarded as an effective strategy to enhance agroecosystem productivity and food security worldwide. • Functional traits in wheat cultivar mixtures was significantly improved at population level. • Wheat cultivar mixtures could increase capture rate of canopy PAR in the middle layer. • Enhancing wheat genetic diversity at population level can effectively increase grain yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Development of novel crop rotations with superior water- and N-use efficiency will be fundamental in the quest for securing sustainable food supplies under environments that are increasingly resource limited. Here, our aim was to examine how replacing maize with soybean as part of winter wheat rotations impacted the nutrient-equivalent yield (EY), evapotranspiration (ET) and water-use efficiency (WUE) of rotation systems. We contrasted summer soybean-winter wheat (SW) and summer maize-winter wheat (MW) cropping systems under three nitrogen (N) fertilization regimes: no, medium, and high nitrogen application rates (0 N, MN, and HN, respectively). Results showed that SW not only resulted in lower annual yields, but also caused more variable inter-annual wheat productivity compared with MW. SW had similar annual productivities to MW in wet (2019–2020) and dry (2020–2021) years, but lower productivity than MW in an average precipitation year (45% reduction, 2018–2019). As well, SW had higher average annual ETs (633–854 mm) than MW, mainly was attributed to higher ETs (268–440 mm) in summer. SW reduced WUEs by 17% and 28% in average (2018–2019) and dry (2020–2021) years, respectively. Regardless of cropping system, N fertilization increased annual EYs and ETs by 10–18% and 5–18% compared with no fertilization, respectively. Together these comparable increments in EY and ET, we found that N fertilization had rare effects on annual WUE of both systems. Overall, our study demonstrated that replacing maize with soybean in winter wheat rotations increased annual ET and neither maintained productivity nor improved water productivity. Thus, we suggest that practitioners explore other drought tolerant grain legumes to generate more reliable yields and less water consumption under legume-based crop rotations. ● Summer soybean consumed more soil water than that of summer maize. ● Replacing maize with soybean compromised subsequent wheat yield under water deficit. ● Replacing maize with soybean decreased subsequent wheat evapotranspiration (ET). ● Replacing maize with soybean decreased annual water-use efficiency (WUE) under adequate precipitation conditions. ● N fertilization increased both crop yield and ET, leading to a rare effect on annual WUE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We developed a new yield prediction model using crop model and satellite images. • The new model had better performance at irrigated fields and rainfed fields. • Extreme climate events had little effect on the yield prediction model. • The yield prediction had good consistency with the statistical yield. There are great challenges for the accurate prediction of wheat yield at large-scale region due to the spatial heterogeneity of soil, management and meteorological conditions. The Huang-Huai-Hai plain (HHHP) is the most important wheat producing area in China. Timely and effective prediction of wheat yield in the HHHP is of great significance for ensuring food security. However, there is still a lack of studies on long-term wheat yield prediction with high spatial resolution in the HHHP. In this study, the simulation results (including phenological information, LAI and yield) of WheatGrow model and the meteorological variables were used to train regression model, which was applied in the corresponding satellite images and gridded meteorological variables to develop wheat yield prediction model (SCYMvp). Then time-series yield maps of wheat in the HHHP (2001-2020) were obtained and the digitization footprint was estimated. We found that SCYMvp model developed by combining machine learning algorithm (ML) with two state variables (phenological information and GCVI) had the best performance (r = 0.7, NRMSE = 15 %) for wheat yield prediction in the HHHP. Compared with other yield prediction models, SCYMvp model reduced the error of yield prediction to some extent. Meanwhile, SCYMvp model showed good accuracy in wheat yield prediction at the irrigated fields and rainfed fields. In addition, extreme climate events had a weak influence on the SCYMvp model in wheat yield prediction. The yield prediction with high spatial resolution generated by SCYMvp model in the HHHP during past 20 years had good consistency and low error with the statistical yield in the spatio-temporal scale. Compared with the GlobalWheatYield4km product, the SCYMvp model had a better ability to capture spatial heterogeneity of wheat yield at site scale. In addition, required data size per hectare for predicting wheat yield showed a significant increasing trend. The results indicated that the SCYMvp model developed in this study can effectively map wheat yield with high spatial resolution in the study area, and has good potential in smallholder farming economy with large spatial heterogeneity of management conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water stress, improper fertilization practices, and agricultural waste pollution severely reduce soil fertility and limit agricultural sustainability on the Loess Plateau. Organic fertilizer application is an efficient method for improving soil water and nutrient availability and grain yield in semi-arid and arid areas. However, the impact of bio-organic fertilizer derived from agricultural waste on soil characteristics and wheat yield and the optimum bio-organic fertilizer substitution rate in semi-humid drought-prone areas remain unclear. A two-year field study was conducted to explore the effect of combined bio-organic and chemical fertilizer application on soil moisture, hydraulic properties, soil structure, soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), grain yield, and water productivity (WP). Six different treatments were designed: no fertilization (CK), conventional chemical fertilization (CF), and bio-organic fertilizer treatments substituting 25% (OF 25%), 50% (OF 50%), 75% (OF 75%), and 100% (OF 100%) of the chemical N fertilizer. From the seedling to over wintering stage, the OF 75% and OF 100% treatments generally improved soil water storage (SWS) and soil water content (SWC) within the 0–100 cm soil layer compared to the CK and CF treatments across both growing seasons. Bio-organic fertilizer substitution significantly reduced soil bulk density by 4.0–5.6% and enhanced soil porosity by 4.2–5.9% in the 0–40 cm soil layer. Moreover, bio-organic fertilizer substitution significantly increased soil saturated hydraulic conductivity and water content, improved aggregate size distribution, and enhanced SOC and TN contents in both years. The OF 75% treatment produced the highest aboveground biomass, yield components, grain yields, and WP, attributed to the improved soil physical environment and nutrient contents. Notably, the OF 75% treatment increased the average wheat yield and WP by 21.1% and 24.9%, respectively, relative to the CF treatment across both growing seasons. The measured soil properties strongly correlated with wheat yield, yield components, and WP. Thus, the OF 75% treatment is an appropriate and promising fertilization management strategy to alleviate water stress, improve soil properties, and promote crop production in semi-humid drought-prone regions. • The performances of bio-organic fertilizer were evaluated in semi-humid drought-prone regions. • Bio-organic fertilizer substitution increased SWS and SWC at early wheat growth stages. • Bio-organic fertilizer substitution improved soil physical structure and enhanced SOC and TN at 0–40 cm soil depth. • The OF 75% treatment is an appropriate management practice for improving soil properties and grain yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is the main staple crop worldwide. Understanding the genotype × management × environment (G × M × E) interaction is critical for breeding, yield, grain quality estimation and to develop sustainable production systems that meet food and feed demand. Many studies have explored grain yield changes and yield stability over time, as well as G × M × E (i.e., the effect of breeding progress), but limited studies have looked at these effects on yield components and grain quality parameters. A field experiment was conducted to understand the G × M × E interactions for yield components of winter wheat cultivars. The study was carried out for three seasons (2015–2018) using a split plot design with four replications, with nitrogen (N) fertilizer levels (0, 120 and 240 kg N ha-1), in the main plot and cultivars in the subplot. Three old cultivars (released before 1960), Heines II, Heines Rot, Heines VII and three modern cultivars (released after 1960), Jubilar, Sperber and Tommi, were selected. Total aboveground biomass (TAGB), grain yield, harvest index (HI), thousand kernel weight (TKW), grains m-2, grain protein and hectoliter weight (HLW) were collected at harvest. The three-way interaction was significant for most variables except for grain protein, but after applying the AIC method, the three-way interaction was just relevant for HI. The 0 N level always resulted in lowest TAGB, grain yield, grains m-2, grain protein and HLW for all cultivars. All cultivars showed a positive response in grain yield when applying 120 kg ha-1 of N but no significant further yield increase was observed with higher N levels. With regards to HI, cultivar differences were more apparent during the wettest year 2016. The HI tends to decrease with increasing N levels and was the highest in modern cultivars with Tommi and Sperber, though in 2017, also Heines VII showed one of the highest HI across treatments. Grain protein content progressively increased with N level, but newer cultivars like Tommi and Sperber, showed some of the lowest protein contents. Yield component contribution to grain yield has changed over time with grain number, grain size and HI, becoming more important for yield realization. Modern cultivars, especially Tommi, performed better than the rest of the cultivars under sufficient N supply. Optimal N-rates among cultivars differ for grain yield and grain protein, posing a challenge to maintain wheat supply to the increasing wheat demand in the future but also to meeting sustainability targets to reduce and optimize resource use. ● Two-way interactions explained better yield component's variance of winter wheat. ● Three-way interaction was only significant for harvest index, especially in 2016. ● Intermediate N levels showed a positive increase in grain yield. ● Grain protein increased with N-level, modern cultivars showed the lowest levels. ● N-rates for optimal grain yield and protein differed among cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]