Search

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

Heavy metal stress poses a significant threat to the productivity of agricultural systems and human health. Silicon (Si) is widely reported to be very effective against the different heavy metal stresses in crops. According to reports, it can help plants that are under cadmium (Cd) and nickel (Ni) stress. The presented work investigated how silicon interacted in Cd- and Ni-stressed wheat and mitigated metal toxicity. A pot experiment was carried out in which wheat crop was irrigated with Cd- and Ni-contaminated water. Application of Cd and Ni-contaminated water to wheat significantly reduced the root and shoot growth parameters and physiological and biochemical factors while increasing the antioxidant enzymatic activity and bioaccumulation of Cd and Ni metal in shoot and root as compared to the control. Application of Si led to an improvement in physiological parameters, i.e., greenness of leaves, i.e., SPAD values (17% and 26%), membrane stability (26% and 25%), and growth parameters i.e., root surface area (42% and 23%), root length (81% and 79%), root dry weight (456% and 190%), root volume (64% and 32%), shoot length (41% and 35%), shoot dry weight of shoot (111% and 117%), and overall grain weight (62% and 72%) under Cd and Ni stress, respectively. It increased the activity of antioxidant activity (max. up to 20%) whereas decreased the metal bioaccumulation of Cd and Ni in the roots and shoot (max. up to 62%) of wheat. It was concluded that the application of Si potentially increases antioxidant activity and metal chelation resulting in decreased oxidative damage and reducing the effect of Cd and Ni stress on wheat which improves growth and physiological parameters as well as inhibits Cd and Ni inclusion in food chain under Cd and Ni toxicity reducing health risks associated with these metals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

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

Background: Sulphotransferase (SOT) enzyme (encoded by a conserved family of SOT genes) is involved in sulphonation of a variety of compounds, through transfer of a sulphuryl moiety from 3'phosphoadenosine- 5'phosphosulphate (PAPS) to a variety of secondary metabolites. The PAPS itself is derived from 3'adenosine-5'phosphosulphate (APS) that is formed after uptake of sulphate ions from the soil. The process provides tolerance against abiotic stresses like drought and heat in plants. Therefore, a knowledge of SOT genes in any crop may help in designing molecular breeding methods for improvement of tolerance for drought and heat. Methods: Sequences of rice SOT genes and SOT domain (PF00685) of corresponding proteins were both used for identification of SOT genes in wheat and six related species (T. urartu, Ae. tauschii, T. turgidum, Z. mays, B. distachyon and Hordeum vulgare), although detailed analysis was conducted only in wheat. The wheat genes were mapped on individual chromosomes and also subjected to synteny and collinearity analysis. The proteins encoded by these genes were examined for the presence of a complete SOT domain using 'Conserved Domain Database' (CDD) search tool at NCBI. Results: In wheat, 107 TaSOT genes, ranging in length from 969 bp to 7636 bp, were identified and mapped onto individual chromosomes. SSRs (simple sequence repeats), microRNAs, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and their target sites were also identified in wheat SOT genes. SOT proteins were also studied in detail. An expression assay of TaSOT genes via wheat RNA-seq data suggested engagement of these genes in growth, development and responses to various hormones and biotic/abiotic stresses. Conclusions: The results of the present study should help in further functional characterization of SOT genes in wheat and other related crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

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

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

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

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

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

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of durum wheat separately substituted with flours of Abakaliki and Ofada rice varieties, and the optimum composite subsequent supplemented with defatted pigeon pea, on the quality attributes of pasta. The pasta, produced using standard methods, dried at 70 °C for 8 h, were evaluated for colour, proximate composition, functional, cooking, textural, and sensory attributes. Durum wheat flours separately substituted with flours (0–60%) of Abakaliki and Ofada rice varieties, resulted in acceptable pasta from the durum wheat: rice (80:20) mix. Subsequently, the durum wheat: rice mix (80:20) was supplemented with defatted pigeon pea (0–40%) to produce optimal pasta. Supplementation of durum wheat: rice (80:20) mix with defatted pigeon pea significantly increased protein (25.3–35.31%), dietary fibre (0.98–1.70%), cooking time (8.15–9.15 min), cooking loss (1.00–1.70%) and cooking yield (196.5–236.5%) of the pasta. These values were higher than wheat-rice pasta without pigeon pea flour which had lower protein (9.52–12.09%) and fibre (0.70–1.65%) contents. Pasta produced using the durum wheat: rice blends (80:20) supplemented with different ratios of pigeon pea mix showed good optimum cooking time (9.00 min), cooking yield (225%), colour (CIE L* = 43.91, a* = 2.08, b* = 13.74), hardness (111.80 N) and overall acceptability (5.75–6.70). Substitution of durum wheat with Abakaliki and Ofada rice varieties (20%), and blending of the composite (80:20) with pigeon pea (20%) for pasta manufacture showed improved pasta quality, which could lead to reduced pressure on durum wheat consumption and development of new products for local palate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are recognized as key molecular regulators in most of intracellular processes essential for plant adaptation to environmental changes. microRNAs can mediate regulation of gene expression involved in development, acquisition of nutrients, defense and interactions with soil microorganisms to enhance stress tolerance of plants. Accumulating evidences indicate that microRNAs are also transferred within cells, organs or whole plant and released in soil as stress signals of the plant-microbiome communication. However, little information is available about how mobile microRNAs are conveyed from plants to the rhizosphere. To understand whether this intriguing phenomenon occurs through root secretion, morphological changes, Peroxidase (POX), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) antioxidant enzymes activities, as well as the expression profiles of developmental and oxidative stress responsive microRNAs were analyzed in root tissues and exudates collected from wheat (triticum aestivum) exposed to bisphenol A (BPA) at low and high concentrations (0.1 and 5000 mg. kg−1 soil). BPA contamination significantly affected aerial and root biomass, and miR164, miR167 and miR398 expression in roots of the group that received the highest dose. The presence of miR156, miR164, miR167 was detected in root exudates of controls and contaminated plants while BPA exposure increased miR 167 levels in exudates at high dose. Collectively, this experiment provided first results reporting microRNAs regulatory network participation in the BPA stress response of wheat. The identification of microRNAs as integral component of the root exudates will extend our knowledge about the molecular signaling in plant—soil microbiome interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herbicide residues in agricultural products can have adverse effects on the environment and human health, therefore, there is an urgent need to establish a sensitive, rapid, and wide-ranging detection method. In this study, haptens of phenylurea herbicides (PUs) and sulfonylurea herbicides (SUs) were analyzed and designed based on computational simulation techniques, and two high-performance broad-spectrum monoclonal antibodies against PUs and SUs were prepared. On this basis, a multi-colloidal gold immunochromatography assay (multi-CGIA) was developed to simultaneously detect 13 herbicides in wheat. The visual limit of detection (vLOD) for PUs including diuron, chlortoluron, neburon, chlorbromuron, and linuron was 1–2 µg/kg. The vLOD for SUs including metsulfuron methyl, ethametsulfuron-methyl, sulfometuron-methyl, tribenuron methyl, cinosulfuron, triasulfuron, chlorimuron-ethyl, and chlorsulfuron was 2–10 µg/kg. The results of real sample determination indicated that the multi-CGIA is accurate, stable, and reliable, and adaptable to on-site preliminary screening of actual samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant elicitation offers numerous advantages for both plant development and defense, contributing significantly to the promotion of sustainable agriculture. However, it is essential to recognize that the selection of appropriate experimental designs and techniques is crucial as they directly impact the reliability and impartiality of the data obtained. The utilization of incorrect methodologies can lead to biased and unreliable results. Therefore, an investigation was undertaken to evaluate the elicitation potential of a red seaweed biostimulant (RSB), either independently or in combination with a fungicide, under tightly controlled conditions using wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) plants. This study encompassed an assessment of various parameters at different time intervals following the application of the elicitor, including catalase, superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) activity, salicylic acid (SA) content, the incidence of powdery mildew, photosynthetic rates, and instantaneous water use efficiency. The application of the RSB demonstrated a remarkable ability to prevent the occurrence of powdery mildew in wheat plants. Conversely, the use of the fungicide, either in isolation or in combination with the RSB, led to unfavorable outcomes, manifested as negative photosynthetic rates and a decrease in the activity of certain enzymes. Importantly, it was observed that greater PAL activity did not necessarily correspond to an increased accumulation of SA within the plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spelt products are popular with consumers achieving higher market prizes, making them susceptible to food adulteration with less valuable cereals. To facilitate product control, a recently developed duplex droplet digital PCR method enables the detection and quantification of common wheat (Triticum aestivum) contaminations in food products made from spelt (Triticum spelta). The duplex droplet digital PCR assay targets the γ-gliadin gene and the Q-locus of both subspecies. In this study, the method was validated in an interlaboratory ring trial involving 11 participating laboratories. Test materials containing defined proportions of spelt and common wheat were prepared and tested. The ring trial procedure included DNA extraction of the test samples and determination of subspecies proportions using droplet digital PCR. Results from the ring trial confirmed the method's capability for specific detection and quantification of common wheat in spelt, with acceptable relative measurement uncertainties, and without requiring reference material for calibration. To our knowledge, this is the first interlaboratory validation of a digital PCR method for species differentiation in food. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cerium oxide nanoparticles (Ce2O3-NPs) are widely used for their catalytic and oxidative properties, such as in diesel additives and potential oncology treatments. However, limited data exists on their impact on callus formation and plant regeneration in wheat. This study investigates the effects of different genotypes and Ce2O3-NPs concentrations on callus formation and plant regeneration in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) using mature embryo culture. Our hypothesis was that Ce2O3-NPs would enhance callus and plant regeneration rates in a genotype-dependent manner. We used Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium with varying concentrations of Ce2O3-NPs (1–7 mg/L) to assess their effects. The Kırik genotype showed the highest callus formation (7 mg/L Ce2O3-NPs), while the Rumeli genotype showed the lowest (1 mg/L Ce2O3-NPs). Embryogenic callus formation was the highest in Kırik without Ce2O3-NPs and the lowest in Rumeli with 3 mg/L Ce2O3-NPs. Root and shoot formation rates in Rumeli were 16.03% and 51.40%, respectively, compared to 3.94% and 40.49% in Kırik. The main outcomes demonstrated that 1 mg/L Ce2O3-NPs promoted root formation, while 7 mg/L was optimal for shoot formation. Genotypic effects on callus, root, and shoot formation, as well as plant regeneration, were significant. MS media with Ce2O3-NPs enhanced callus formation and regeneration in wheat tissue culture, highlighting the importance of genotype in these processes. Future research should explore the underlying mechanisms of Ce2O3-NPs’ effects on plant tissue culture and extend the study to other plant species to validate these findings.Key Message: Ce2O3 nanoparticles significantly impact callus formation and plant regeneration in wheat mature embryo cultures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Main conclusion: This study revealed the transcriptome-wide m6A methylation profile under drought stress and found thatTaETC9 might regulate drought tolerance through mediating RNA methylation in wheat. Drought is one of the most destructive environmental constraints limiting crop growth and development. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is a prevalent and important post-transcriptional modification in various eukaryotic RNA molecules, playing the crucial role in regulating drought response in plants. However, the significance of m6A in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), particularly its involvment in drought response, remains underexplored. In this study, we investigated the transcriptome-wide m6A profile under drought stress using parallel m6A immunoprecipitation sequencing (MeRIP-seq). Totally, 4221 m6A peaks in 3733 m6A-modified genes were obtained, of which 373 methylated peaks exhibited differential expression between the control (CK) and drought-stressed treatments. These m6A loci were significantly enriched in proximity to stop codons and within the 3′-untranslated region. Integration of MeRIP-seq and RNA-seq revealed a positive correlation between m6A methylation and mRNA abundance and the genes displaying both differential methylation and expression were obtained. Finally, qRT-PCR analyses were further performed and the results found that the m6A-binding protein (TaETC9) showed significant up-regulation, while the m6A demethylase (TaALKBH10B) was significantly down-regulated under drought stress, contributing to increased m6A levels. Furthermore, the loss-of-function mutant of TaECT9 displayed significantly higher drought sensitivity compared to the wild type, highlighting its role in regulating drought tolerance. This study reported the first wheat m6A profile associated with drought stress, laying the groundwork for unraveling the potential role of RNA methylation in drought responses and enhancing stress tolerance in wheat through epigenetic approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stem reserve remobilization plays a prominent role in maintaining the stability of wheat grain yield. The present study aimed at comparing the amount of dry matter remobilization by employing both the entire stem and the separately weighted internodes in 18 wheat cultivars. To this end, the cultivars were examined under well-watered and terminal drought stress conditions at a Mediterranean climate during 2007–2009. They were also examined under well-watered condition in a subtropical climate during 2014–2015. Time-dependent changes in the weights of the entire stem as well as those of the internodes (peduncle, penultimate, and the lower internodes) were measured after anthesis. Results showed that the lower internodes remobilized their stored dry matter much earlier than the peduncle and penultimate. Moreover, in the majority of cultivars, the amount of entire stem dry matter remobilization was observed to be lower than that of the cumulative internode remobilization (i.e., sum of the remobilized dry matter from the individual internodes). This indicates that the employment of the entire stem for the calculation of the dry matter remobilization might underestimate this trait. Depending on the cultivars and the environmental conditions, the amount of underestimated remobilization was also found to range from 4 to 202 mg. Therefore, for the more precise measurement of the carbohydrate remobilization in wheat stems, the separate measurement of this trait in each internode is highly recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The capability of microalgae had been studied for a long time; however, some basics of using microalgae as a biostimulant are still in question. In the present work, experiments were conducted to reply to questions such as (a) how does the application time affect the effects of microalgae treatments and (b) does variety or genetic variation cause differences in the effect of microalgae biomass application on the plants? The different times of application had different weightage on different parameters; however, when applied at the early reproductive stage the yield as well as the nitrogen % in grain was significantly affected. As per the comparison, the result suggested that varietal differences had negligible differences in biological yield, hexose content, and total phenol content. Furthermore, microalgae biomass treatment irrespective of the strain species or genus influences the biological photosynthate accumulation and nitrogen uptake or in short, the efficiency of uptake. Finally, the metabolomic analyses suggested the influence of the microalgae strains on the biochemical composition of the plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 3-year experiment was established in which four wheat classes were evaluated including soft, medium hard, hard and durum wheat with the objective to determine which class is more efficient in water use under reduced irrigation. The experiments were established during three growing seasons (2016–2018). The amount of water applied were: 26, 34 and 54 cm distributed in 2, 3 and 5 irrigations, respectively. Eighteen genotypes from each wheat class were evaluated in an alpha lattice design with three replicates. Phenological data, yield and yield components were analyzed. Yield in the two-irrigation regime ranged from 3974 to 5436, 4453 to 6909 under three and 6177 to 9107 kg ha−1 under five. Correlation analysis showed that with two irrigations there is a greater association of grain yield with thousand kernel weight (TKW), but under three and five irrigations, grain yield was associated to a greater degree with kernel number per unit area (KNO). When analyzing the grain yield, it was observed that under reduced irrigation (2 and 3 irrigations), bread wheats were superior to durum wheats regardless of the class. Under five irrigations, durum wheats showed the highest yield (8303 kg ha−1); however, they were only significantly superior (Tukey ≤ 0.05) to the hard wheats (7721 kg ha−1). In general, the tested wheats showed higher water efficiency (considered as water productivity) under reduced irrigation than under normal irrigation. The lowest losses in water productivity when going from two to five irrigations were observed in durum wheats (0.17 kg m−3) and the highest losses in the hard wheats (0.38 kg m−3). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The identification of genotypes with high yield and yield stability under drought is the first step towards the generation of novel lines with better adaptation to climate change variation. The aim of this work was to explore the efficiency of ten different drought tolerance indices to identify superior genotypes. Ten wheat genotypes were evaluated for two years under two irrigation regimes: control and water deficit. As expected, the water deficit reduced the phenotypic values, of the evaluated traits in tested wheat cultivars. Significant positive correlations were found considering the grain-yield under both regimes (Yp, Ys), and three drought tolerance indices (DTIs): the Mean Productivity Index (MP), the Stress Tolerance Index (STI) and the Geometric Mean Productivity (GMP). These correlations were confirmed in Bi-plot analysis and the graphical separation of tested genotypes associated with different performances in drought indices. MP, STI and GMP indices consistently selected BioInta 2002, Baguette 9 and BioInta 2004 as the drought tolerant materials, and conversely, Baguette P. 11, BioInta 1005 and Pampeano as drought susceptible materials. These analyses positionate MP, STI and GMP as appropriate tools to find genotypes with contrasting drought response to drought to later be incorporated as genetic resources into breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yellow rust, caused by Puccinia striiformis Westend. f. sp. tritici Erikss. (Pst), is one of the most damaging wheat diseases because of their widespread distribution and ability to produce new races that can attack cultivars that were previously resistant. In this study characterization of 48 wheat genotypes was done using 51 primers comprised of stripe rust gene-specific markers and found that WH730 and WH1142 possess the highest number of rust resistant genes while WH1263 bears the lowest Yr genes. These identified resistant Yr genes were exhibited at different frequencies. The resistant genes like, Yr6, Yr18, Yr46, Yr53 and Yr61 were absent in all the 48 studied wheat genotypes. Yr35 and Yr51 had the highest frequency (95.3 and 91.6%, respectively), while Yr16 related to xwmc177 and xwmc18 had lower frequencies (8.0 and 10.4%, respectively). Genetic diversity analysis using 61 molecular markers, and population structure analysis grouped the population into three clusters. Association study of morph-physiological traits showed that the marker xgdm160 was strongly associated with two traits i.e. days to anthesis and days to heading at P value 0.0031 and 0.0048 (P < 0.01), respectively, and showed the highest phenotypic variance (R2). These assessed markers might help develop novel genotypes with numerous genes of resistance against yellow rust races in wheat genotypes by marker-assisted pyramiding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to determine the structure of GEI in the investigated parameters and to investigate the performance stability of durum wheat varieties using the GGE biplot and AMMI analysis method. The study was carried out in four different locations (Diyarbakır-1, Diyarbakır-2, Hatay, and Şanlıurfa) using 31 durum wheat genotypes under rainfed conditions. Field experiments were conducted in a randomized complete block design with three replications. As a result of the study, it was determined that there was a significant difference between locations in terms of grain yield. The highest grain yield was obtained from Diyarbakır-1 (6797 kg ha-1) location, followed by Hatay (4584 kg ha-1), Diyarbakır-2 (2512 kg ha-1) and Şanlıurfa (2026 kg ha-1), respectively. Significant variations in grain yield were detected among the examined genotypes, and Artuklu and Zühre had the highest grain yields (4774 and 4501 kg ha-1). Again, Artuklu and Zühre were the most stable varieties in terms of their performance in different locations. Diyarbakır-1 has come to the fore as the location where the variation between genotypes can be best detected. As a result, more data should be provided to plant breeders in the selection studies by considering the irrigated conditions as a factor in the studies to be carried out and determining the stable cultivars in terms of grain yield in both precipitation-based and irrigated conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three different wheat varieties were the subject of an experiment to see how salt affected seed germination and seedling development. BARI Gom20 (Gourab) was employed as a salt sensitive variety, whereas BARI Gom28 and BARI Gom25 were utilized on salt tolerant types. Three replications, three salinity levels (0, 150, and 200 mM of NaCl), and a complete randomized design (CRD) were used to set up the experiment. All the wheat varieties had a noticeable growth loss due to salt stress. Wheat growth was inhibited more in salt-sensitive cultivars compared to salt-tolerant cultivars, BARI Gom28 showed overall stronger salt tolerance. When wheat was tested for salt tolerance, there were striking variations in the antioxidant enzymes (catalase, peroxidase, and ascorbate peroxidase) that were present. The effect of rising salt content, catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and peroxidase (POD) activity varied between salt-sensitive and salt-tolerant cultivars. Intriguingly, TaAOX1a and TaAOX1c gene expression levels increased in BARI Gom28 as the degree of salt concentration increased. Additionally, the salt-tolerant BARI Gom28 had smaller accumulations of hydrogen peroxide, malondialdehyde, and higher activity of the antioxidant enzymes than the salt-sensitive Gourab, indicating that the latter had comparatively less oxidative damage. However, the contribution of antioxidant enzymes and AOX gene family to salinity stress response in wheat is further requisite to unlock the molecular functions. Exploring the molecular mechanism for lowering salt stress in wheat cultivars will require more research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

Background: Phytosulfokine (PSK) functions as a plant peptide growth factor that plays important and diverse roles in plant development and stress responses. Nevertheless, PSKs have not been systematically analyzed in wheat. Results: A genome-wide comparative analysis of PSK genes in wheat was conducted and 15 TaPSKs were identified and divided into four subgroups in the wheat genome based on sequence similarity. The examination of motif compositions of TaPSK genes revealed the presence of the YIYTQ signature motif in the C-terminus of all TaPSK polypeptide precursors, with a highly conserved feature across different species. Exogenous application of TaPSK peptide promoted root growth in wheat. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis revealed that the TaPSKs exhibited preferential or tissue-specific expression patterns in wheat. In particular, three homologs of the TaPSK1 genes were specifically expressed in grains, with the strongest expression observed in the developing grains at 15 days after anthesis. Compared with wild type, transgenic rice lines overexpressing TaPSK1-A exhibited larger grain size and higher thousand-grain weight. The promoter region and genomic sequence of the wheat TaPSK1-A gene were cloned. Sequence polymorphism showed that five single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified in the promoter region of TaPSK1-A. A Kompetitive Allele-Specific PCR (KASP) marker was developed for TaPSK1-A based on –806 bp SNP (C/T transition), and two haplotypes, TaPSK1-A-HapI and TaPSK1-A-HapII were detected in 260 wheat accessions collected from different regions. The expression of TaPSK1-A, promoter activity, and thousand-grain weight (TGW) in the TaPSK1-A-HapII haplotype were higher than those in the TaPSK1-A-HapI haplotype. Furthermore, yeast one-hybrid assays revealed the binding of TaNF-YB1 and TaERF39 to the promoter regions of the TaPSK1-A gene, and TaMADS29 could bind to the promoters of TaPSK1-B and TaPSK1-D genes. Conclusions: Comparative genome-wide analysis of TaPSK peptide family revealed that the TaPSK1 gene is involved in wheat grain development, and the developed TaPSK1-A-KASP marker could be utilized for marker-assisted selection breeding of wheat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

Microplastics persist as a challenging pollutant in agroecosystems, posing potential risks to soil health and crop productivity. Root growth, elongation and expansion may significantly influence the vertical transport and infiltration of microplastics into the soil profile. Wheat plants (Triticum aestivum) grown in 70 cm deep rhizotrons were investigated for their influence on the vertical movement of two prevalent microplastic shapes, polyester fibres and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) fragments. Wheat was chosen for its dense and extensive fibrous and fine root system, which is a robust model for studying root-soil-microplastic interactions. Microplastics at a 0.24% w/w dry soil weight concentration were homogeneously distributed in the topsoil (0–20 cm). Infiltration of polyester fibres up to 50 cm into the soil profile was discerned as strong adherence to plant roots. PVC fragments exhibited greater mobility, reaching depths of 70 cm in the presence and absence of wheat plants. Plant growth response on exposure to microplastics appeared in the form of increased root branching and decreased shoot biomass, indicating a stress response in wheat plants. The results prove the vertical movement of microplastics, while the infiltration depth was influenced by microplastic shape. Movement was detected as either strong adherence of polyester fibres to plant roots or infiltration of PVC fragments. PVC fragments may have infiltrated through preferential flow paths in soil pores and the fissures created by root elongation and water movement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In agroforestry systems (AFS), where environmental conditions are highly variable at small spatial scales, the use of uniform genetic material of a single cultivar commonly grown in monoculture cropping might not be optimal. However, the use of composite cross populations (CCPs) that contain an inherent genetic variability might be a promising approach under the environmental variability created by trees in AFS. In this experimental trial, the performance of a CCP ('CC-2 k') of winter wheat was compared to a commercial variety ('Wiwa') in a split-plot design at two AFS (Feusisberg and Wollerau) in Central Switzerland. Yield of CC-2k (1.9 ± 0.7 Mg ha−1) was higher than yield of Wiwa (0.7 ± 0.4 Mg ha−1) in Wollerau, but yields did not differ between CCP and variety in Feusisberg (1.9 ± 0.7 Mg ha−1 and 2.0 ± 0.8 Mg ha−1, respectively). The interaction of site and variety was significant (p < 0.05). Wiwa had a higher protein, Fe and Ca content than CC-2k. Therefore, while the CC-2k outperformed Wiwa in terms of yield in one of the two AFS, Wiwa outperformed CC-2k in terms of quality. In this one-year field experiment, the composite cross population might have been better adapted to the heterogenous environment of agroforestry systems (found in one out of two sites) but failed to reach the high-quality product of modern cultivars. These initial results must be seen as first insights which need to be complemented by larger field experiments for generalisation. The findings of this study may be interpreted as an indication that further improvements in terms of quality might make CCPs a viable option for diversified agricultural systems with larger environmental heterogeneity than common monoculture cropping systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The root rot disease in wheat, caused by the pathogen Bipolaris sorokiniana, has emerged as a significant concern for wheat yield loss and food security in central China. This study aimed to investigate the antagonistic mechanisms of grafting antimicrobials and to develop new microbial resources for biocontrol purposes. A study was conducted to evaluate the antagonistic effect of Bacillus tequilensis JK-11 on B. sorokiniana. Following treatment with JK-11 culture filtrate (CF) at a concentration of 20%, spore germination and mycelial dry weight of B. sorokiniana decreased by 84.9% and 80.63% respectively. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed significant damage to the morphology of B. sorokiniana cells, while laser confocal microscopy (LSCM) showed pronounced apoptosis of B. sorokiniana mycelial cells in the treated group. Furthermore, changes in ergosterol levels and electrical conductivity indicated increased mycelial cell membrane permeability. Contrary to the untreated group, CF-treated B. sorokiniana cells exhibited notable DNA and mitochondrial damage, along with excessive accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The activities of antioxidant enzymes and key metabolic enzymes in mycelial cells were significantly impaired with varying CF concentrations. Wheat potting experiments with JK-11 demonstrated its capability to maintain stable wheat root colonization for a specific duration. Additionally, post-irrigation, the bacterial suspension of JK-11 influenced the prevention of wheat root rot. The findings of this study suggest that the JK-11 strain of B. tequilensis shows promising potential for controlling wheat root rot, presenting a novel approach to wheat disease management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheat is a globally important crop, and its production is critically challenged by heat stress. To understand the heat tolerance mechanism at grain-filling stage in wheat, two genotypes, W156 (tolerant) and Brazil 32 (susceptible) were evaluated for their morphological responses and expressions of TaAP2/ERF super-family transcription factor genes under heat stress (at 37/27 °C) at 11 days and 13 days post-anthesis. The W156 showed significantly higher thousand kernel weight (TKW), chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv/Fm) and delayed senescence of flag leaf and exposed peduncle. Twenty-two differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were selected from in silico expression analysis of 630 TaAP2/ERF genes under abiotic stress and their RT-qPCR expression validation identified twenty major DEGs responsive to heat stress. Co-expression network analysis of these DEGs identified hub TF genes including TraesCS1A02G221900, TraesCS6D02G324200, TraesCS6B02G331000, TraesCS4D02G298600, TraesCS5B02G193200, and TraesCS1A02G058400. Gene Ontology analysis and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis further revealed that 16 (80%) out of the 20 DEGs were involved in the ethylene-activated signaling pathway. Those DEGs involved in ethylene signaling pathway were further validated in an additional pair of contrasting genotypes (Perenjori and Yitpi). Therefore, heat tolerance regulated by TaAP2/ERF genes at grain filling stage of wheat may be mainly through ethylene signaling pathway while maintaining seed development under heat stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought escape is an important wheat mechanism that triggers rapid growth development to complete the life cycle before drought occurrence. Earliness could reduce the risk of dehydration during heading date to physiological maturity. Three gene groups including vernalization (Vrn), photoperiod (Ppd), and earliness per se (Eps) control heading time in bread wheat. In the present research, isogenic lines for Vrn-B1 and Vrn-D1 were developed to assess the precise effect of Vrn genes on days to heading, grain yield, and important agronomic traits under well-watered and rain-fed conditions. It was assumed that spring habit alleles improve earliness in bread wheat. Here we showed for the first time that a winter growth habit allele on the B genome, vrn-B1, reduced days to heading by 5.47 days. The mentioned allele, significantly increased grain yield under well-watered conditions by 0.36 t/ha. Spring growth habit allele of the D genome, Vrn-D1a, decreased days to heading by 4.89 days and significantly improved grain yield under both well-watered and rain-fed conditions. This allele improved grain yield by 0.88 t/ha and 0.14 t/ha under well-watered and rain-fed conditions, respectively. The combination of vrn-B1 and Vrn-D1a decreased days to heading by 9.87 days and significantly increased grain yield by 1.24 and 0.15 t/ha under well-watered and rain-fed conditions, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mechanism underlying seed germination promotion by plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) remains unclear. This study investigated the effects of Bacillus subtilis QM3 (a PGPR) and gibberellic acid (GA3) on germination indexes, seedling growth, and amylase activity in wheat seeds (Triticum aestivum L.) (caryopses) at different germination times. The results showed that B. subtilis QM3 exhibited a significantly greater increase in most measured indicators compared to GA3 (p < 0.05), and the coordinated effect of bacteria QM3 and GA3 was superior. GA3 showed no promotion of radicle length (LR) from day 3 to day 7. Conversely, the addition of uniconazole (U), a gibberellin synthesis inhibitor, significantly reduced all indexes except for fresh weight (FW) and root-shoot ratio (RSR). However, both B. subtilis QM3 and GA3 significantly alleviated the inhibition (p < 0.05), especially in the germination rate and amylase activity. The gibberellin (GA) content and expression of two key biosynthetic enzyme genes were also characterized. Further investigations revealed that the GA content in the B. subtilis QM3 group was significantly higher than in the control group at 12 h, 24 h, and 48 h during seed germination (p < 0.05). Moreover, B. subtilis QM3 significantly increased TaGA3ox-B2 expression (p < 0.05), with 1.44 times that of the control group, while there was no significant effect on TaGA20ox-D2 expression. Furthermore, amylase activity was positively correlated with the germination rate (GR) and GA content was positively correlated with amylase activity according to Pearson's correlation analysis, with R2 values of 0.8102 and 0.8365, respectively. Our results demonstrate that one of the mechanisms by which B. subtilis QM3 promotes wheat seed germination may be the induction of GA biosynthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salinity poses a significant challenge to global wheat production. The screening of wheat cultivars for salt tolerance is essential for developing new varieties resilient to salinity and advancing breeding strategies. Identifying key traits from a myriad of morphological, physiological, and molecular markers in screening studies can enhance selection efficiency and expedite the process. In this study, 16 common wheat cultivars were subjected to 0 and 150 mM NaCl stress for ten days during the seedling stage. To assess the salinity tolerance of wheat cultivars comprehensively, we employed a diverse array of morpho-physiological, biochemical, and molecular markers, coupled with multivariate analysis. Salt stress resulted in reduced germination and seedling growth across most wheat cultivars. Notably, the 'Ikizce-96' and 'Demir-2000' genotypes exhibited a higher salinity tolerance index, with the least reduction in morpho-physiological parameters. These cultivars demonstrated elevated osmoregulator proline content and enhanced activity of reactive oxygen species-scavenging antioxidant enzymes. Under 150 mM NaCl, tolerant cultivars exhibited up-regulated transcript expression levels of TaHKT1;4, TaP5CS, and TaDHN marker genes compared to salt-sensitive cultivars. The accuracy of our findings was validated through principal component analysis, hierarchical clustering analysis, and a correlation network. Proline content, glutathione reductase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase activity emerged as the most reliable indicators of salt tolerance in wheat under saline conditions. The identified salt-tolerant cultivars hold promise as donor parents in salinity tolerance breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beneficial microbes colonizing plant tissues are recognized as a value-added soil amendment for enhancing soil fertility. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of co-inoculation with plant growth-promoting endophytic actinobacteria and nitrogen-fixing rhizobacteria for improved growth attributes, soil properties, microbial activity, yield, and nutrient uptake of wheat under field conditions for two consecutive years. Three endophytic actinobacterial isolates, Streptomyces sp. strain WR27, Streptomyces sp. strain WR15, and Streptomyces sp. strain WS6 were evaluated alone and in combination with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, Azotobacter in field experiment with recommended fertilization rate in north-western Indian plains. Results of the study indicated that all the growth attributes were higher in treatments receiving microbial inoculants than un-inoculated control. It was also observed that inoculation with actinobacterial isolates significantly increased total number of tillers m−2, spike length, number of grains spike−1, and 1000 grain weight as compared to control. Streptomyces sp. strain WR27 + Azotobacter and Streptomyces sp. strain WR15 + Azotobacter exhibited maximum grain yield (5.7 t ha−1, respectively) as compared to control (5.0 t ha−1). The treatment involving inoculation with Streptomyces sp. strain WR27 + Azotobacter recorded higher nutrient contents. Soil properties were significantly increased by application of actinobacterial inoculants in both years over the un-inoculated control. Furthermore, among different inocula, Streptomyces sp. strain WR27 + Azotobacter dual inoculation exhibited highest response efficiency for all the traits studied. Therefore, the results revealed multiple benefits of plant growth-promoting actinobacteria and Azotobacter inoculation for wheat crop in terms of improved soil properties and macronutrient content without hampering the soil fertility and productivity. Thus, it could be recommended as a plant growth-promoting bacteria for wheat at the recommended level of fertilizer application rates for field use in north-western India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Main conclusion: TaMYB44-5A identified as a transcription factor negatively regulates drought tolerance in transgenic Arabidopsis. Drought can severely reduce yields throughout the wheat-growing season. Many studies have shown that R2R3-MYB transcription factors are involved in drought stress responses. In this study, the R2R3-MYB transcription factor MYB44-5A was identified in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and functionally analyzed. Three homologs of TaMYB44 were isolated, all of which localized to the nucleus. Overexpression of TaMYB44-5A reduced drought tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana. Further analysis showed that TaMYB44-5A reduced the sensitivity of transgenic Arabidopsis to ABA. Genetic and transcriptional regulation analyses demonstrated that the expression levels of drought- and ABA-responsive genes were downregulated by TaMYB44-5A, and TaMYB44-5A directly bound to the MYB-binding site on the promoter to repress the transcription level of TaRD22-3A. Our results provide insights into a novel molecular pathway in which the R2R3-MYB transcription factor negatively regulates ABA signaling in response to drought stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: For the development of any life cycle assessment study, the practitioner frequently integrates primary data collected on-field, with background data taken from various life cycle inventory databases which are part of most commercial LCA software packages. However, such data is often not generally applicable to all product systems since, especially concerning the agri-food sector, available datasets may not be fully representative of the site specificity of the food product under examination. In this context, the present work investigates the background, sources and methodological aspects that characterise the most known commercial databases containing agri-food data, with a focus on four agri-food supply chains (olive oil, wine, wheat products and citrus fruit), which represent an important asset for the Italian food sector. Methods: Specifically, the paper entails a review of currently available LCI databases and their datasets with a twofold scope: firstly, to understand how agri-food data is modelled in these databases for a coherent and consistent representation of regional scenarios and to verify whether they are also suitable for the Italian context and, secondly, to identify and analyse useful and relevant methodological approaches implemented in the existing LCI databases when regional data are modelled. Results: Based on the aforementioned review, it is possible to highlight some problems which may arise when developing an LCI pertaining to the four Italian agri-food supply chains, namely: 1. The need for specific inventory datasets to tackle the specificities of agri-food product systems. 2. The lack of datasets, within the existing DBs, related to the Italian context and to the abovementioned supply chains. In fact, at present, in the currently available LCI DBs, there are very few (or in some cases none) datasets related to Italian wine, olive oil, wheat-based products and citrus fruit. The few available datasets often contain some data related to the Italian context but also approximate data with that of product systems representing other countries. Furthermore, the present study allowed to identify and discuss the main aspects to be used as starting elements for modelling regional data to be included in a future Italian LCI database of the abovementioned four supply chains. Conclusions: The results of the present study represent a starting point for the collection of data and its organisation, in order to develop an Italian LCI agri-food database with datasets which are representative of the regional specificities of four agri-food supply chains which play an important role in the Italian economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheat is an essential crop for food security in North Africa. However, it's productivity is limited by several factors, among them climate change effects. Predicting wheat yield on a large scale is thus important for ensuring food security, as it allows farmers and policymakers to make informed decisions regarding agricultural production and marketing. Machine learning (ML) algorithms have been used in previous studies to predict wheat yield in Africa, but there is still a need for improvement in terms of accuracy and usability. The advantage of using several ML algorithms is that it allows for comparing and selecting the best-performing model. The objective of this study is to develop an accessible and user-friendly web-based application that predicts wheat yield using an ensemble learning model that integrates four feature scaling algorithms (Min-Max, Z- score, MaxAbsScaler, and Robust scaling) and seven ML techniques (LASSO, Extreme Gradient Boosting [XGBoost], Random Forest [RF], Linear Regression [LR], Ridge, Gradient Boosting Regression [GBR], Support Vector Regression [SVR]), based on meteorological data (rainfall and temperature), and agriculture and soil properties (pesticides, fertilizers, and irrigation). Findings show that the GBR algorithm with MaxAbsScaler feature scaling is the best with an R 2 of 97%, demonstrating the developed model's effectiveness. Farmers and farm managers could use the suggested model for better decisions, contributing to food productivity and security in North Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]