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• Bacillus sp.+Fe-modified BC was effective to improve wheat growth. • Bacillus sp.+Fe-modified BC effectively improved enzymatic activity in wheat plants. • Bacillus sp.+Fe-modified BC neutralized soil pH and immobilized Pb translocation. • Microbes+Fe-modified BC reduced Pb bioaccumulation and uptake factors in plants. Soil contamination with heavy metals (HMs) has become a severe environmental problem for crop production. The efficacy of bacillus strain (N18) and Fe-modified biochar (FeB2%) on plant growth, lead (Pb) bioaccumulation and oxidative stress in wheat plants was studied under Pb contaminated soil. Lead stress caused significant reduction in plant growth, chlorophyll contents, antioxidant enzymes activity and Pb tolerance index. The Bacillus strain inoculated seeds stimulated the plant growth, chlorophyll content, antioxidative enzymatic activity with reduced oxidative stress and Pb bioavailability in soil, Pb biological accumulation, translocation and uptake factor in plants. The FeB2% treatment had shown prominently positive results relative to N18 inoculated treatment. Whereas, combined application of N18 and FeB2% depicted maximum significant improvement in root length (37, 36 and 30%), shoot length (45 %, 46 % and 47 %), total chlorophyll (43 %, 51 % and 48 %), carotenoid contents (36 %, 49 % and 48 %) and antioxidative enzymes activities such as; superoxide dismutase (19 %, 35 % and 40 %), peroxidase (29 %, 18 % and 20 %), catalase (19 %, 35 % and 40 %) and ascorbate peroxidase (23 %, 23 % and 13 %) in Pb-0, 400 and 600 mg kg-1 soil, respectively. Reduction in malondialdehyde content (MDA) (52 %, 61 % and 56 %), Pb biological accumulation (48 %, 41 % and 37 %), soil-root translocation factor (11 %, 15 % and 9 %), root-shoot translocation factor (42 %, 36 % and 35 %) and uptake factor (19 %, 22 % and 17 %) in wheat plants observed with combined N18+ FeB2% application as compared to control treatments in Pb-0, 400 and 600 mg kg-1 soil, respectively. The study suggested that combined application of N18+ FeB2% treatment prominently increased plant health with reduction in Pb bio-availability compared to sole application of N18 strain and FeB2% treatment under (Pb) contaminated soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought threatens plant growth and related ecosystem services. The emergence of plant drought stress under edaphic drought is well studied, whilst the importance of atmospheric drought only recently gained momentum. Yet, little is known about the interaction and relative contribution of edaphic and atmospheric drought on the emergence of plant drought stress. We conducted a gradient experiment, fully crossing gravimetric water content (GWC: maximum water holding capacity—permanent wilting point) and vapour pressure deficit (VPD: 1−2.25 kPa) using five wheat varieties from three species (Triticum monococcum, T. durum & T. aestivum). We quantified the occurrence of plant drought stress on molecular (abscisic acid), cellular (stomatal conductance), organ (leaf water potential) and stand level (evapotranspiration). Plant drought stress increased with decreasing GWC across all organizational levels. This effect was magnified nonlinearly by VPD after passing a critical threshold of soil water availability. At around 20%GWC (soil matric potential 0.012 MPa), plants lost their ability to regulate leaf water potential via stomata regulation, followed by the emergence of hydraulic dysfunction. The emergence of plant drought stress is characterized by changing relative contributions of soil versus atmosphere and their non‐linear interaction. This highly non‐linear response is likely to abruptly alter plant‐related ecosystem services in a drying world. Summary statement: Plant drought stress emerges from a nonlinear interaction of soil water availability (here estimated based on gravimetric water content, GWC) and atmospheric water demand (vapour pressure deficit, VPD) with the relative contribution of VPD accelerating below a critical threshold of GWC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The response of mesophyll conductance (gm) to CO2 plays a key role in photosynthesis and ecosystem carbon cycles under climate change. Despite numerous studies, there is still debate about how gm responds to short‐term CO2 variations. Here we used multiple methods and looked at the relationship between stomatal conductance to CO2 (gsc) and gm to address this aspect. We measured chlorophyll fluorescence parameters and online carbon isotope discrimination (Δ) at different CO2 mole fractions in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.), cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.), and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) leaves. The variable J and Δ based methods showed that gm decreased with an increase in CO2 mole fraction, and so did stomatal conductance. There were linear relationships between gm and gsc across CO2 mole fractions. gm obtained from A‐Ci curve fitting method was higher than that from the variable J method and was not representative of gm under the growth CO2 concentration. gm could be estimated by empirical models analogous to the Ball‐Berry model and the USO model for stomatal conductance. Our results suggest that gm and gsc respond in a coordinated manner to short‐term variations in CO2, providing new insight into the role of gm in photosynthesis modelling. Summary statement: For photosynthesis modelling, the response of gm to short‐term CO2 changes is essential. Using variable J and carbon isotope discrimination methods, we showed that gm decreased with an increase in CO2 mole fraction, which contradicts the assumption of a constant gm in photosynthesis models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: To assess the effect of wheat milling or bran separation method, five wheat bran fractions, one from stone milling (SB), two from roller flour milling (coarse: RB1, fine: RB2), and two from grain pearling (0–3%: PB1, 3–6%: PB2) were analysed. Physiological properties provided good physical and flow characteristics of SB fraction; however, it was the darkest. Particle size was in the order of RB1 > SB > RB2 > PB1 > PB2. The fibre analysis showed the highest insoluble fibre components for RB1, PB1, and exceptionally higher soluble fibre for PB1. The protein, fat, ash, and starch content were highest for RB2 and PB2. Antioxidant properties followed the order PB2 > RB2 > PB1 > RB1 > SB. Pearled fractions (PB1 and PB2) showed better functional properties than others. SEM, XRD, and FT‐IR verified the changes in the properties of bran fractions. The characterisation data will find applications to help increase the usage of bran fractions in specific food products. [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]

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

After the 1960s, breeding activities carried out on many crops, including wheat, and the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, saw increased criticism of the negative consequences in terms of nutrition, social, and environmental impacts. There is a current re-emphasis upon changing the methods of flour and bread production technologies, and wheat landrace varieties have made a resurgence. Wheat landrace varieties have become widespread and create the demand for their consumption as an alternative to industrial wheat. Producers have come together to form collectives of different structures and seek ways to expand production of wheat landraces. As a result, alternative food consumption communities have become established in which consumers can access wheat landrace products. The factors related to the development of wheat, flour, bulgur, bread, etc. should be put forward to consumers and producers. The fieldwork of this research is based on five community supported food groups formed by consumers in the İzmir province of Turkey, and associations/groups that produce wheat varieties in Çanakkale, Balıkesir and Kars provinces. The aim of the research is to identify common problems that reduce the separation between wheat production and consumption and how to increase the use of wheat landraces and their products by using participatory action research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tan spot disease of wheat (also known as yellow spot) is caused by the necrotrophic fungal pathogen Pyrenophora tritici‐repentis (Ptr). Initially described as a grass pathogen, Ptr has become a wheat pathogen of global importance. In Australia, tan spot was first recorded in 1952 as a minor wheat disease. However, by the 1970s tan spot had reached epidemic levels in Australia with yield losses of up to 49% reported in the north‐eastern region. A national survey carried out in 2007/2008 placed tan spot as the most economically important wheat disease with an estimated yield loss of 6%, corresponding to nearly a quarter of all disease losses. The incidence of tan spot in Australia has now markedly reduced with some wheat breeding programmes no longer considering tan spot disease resistance to be a priority trait. The disease can be effectively managed with integrated control strategies such as crop rotation, timely application of fungicides and removal of surface stubble. However, the key to the success of controlling tan spot disease in Australia has been achieved through wheat breeding programmes. The development of tan spot resistance resources suitable for the Australian climate was a concerted effort between national and international research organizations and Australian wheat breeders, supported by the Australian Grains Research Development Corporation (GRDC). While traditional breeding was essential to combat the disease, this article highlights the value of effector biology in assisting the development of resistant cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The resistance gene Lr34 conditions durable disease resistance to many biotrophic wheat pathogens and has been incorporated into many wheat cultivars throughout the world. Lr67 is a similar adult plant resistance gene that also conditions resistance to multiple wheat diseases. Both genes significantly reduce disease severity and work in an additive manner with other rust resistance genes. To determine the effect of Lr34 and Lr67 on Fusarium head blight (FHB), two doubled haploid populations, segregating for each of these genes, were developed in the Thatcher wheat background by crossing near‐isogenic lines. Progeny from these populations were tested in five Fusarium graminearum‐inoculated disease nurseries and assessed for FHB symptoms, using a visual rating index (VRI), and deoxynivalenol (DON) accumulation. Both Lr34 and Lr67 significantly reduced visual symptoms of FHB and DON overall, though those effects were not significant in all environments. The overall reduction in the group of progeny with the resistant allele compared to the group with the susceptible allele for VRI was 9.4% for Lr34 and 6.8% for Lr67, while for DON it was 16.4% for Lr34 and 14.9% for Lr67. These genes represent important tools for improving resistance to FHB and many other diseases in wheat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The importance of monitoring and management of yellow rust, caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst), has markedly increased in Russia over recent years because of intensifying negative effects of this destructive disease on wheat production. The Pst virulence survey was conducted in 2019–2021 in the European (North‐West, Volga, North Caucasus) and Asian (Siberia) parts of Russia, and the same 109 isolates have been genotyped here with 20 SSR markers. Fifty‐three multilocus genotypes (MLGs) were detected, seven of which occurred in two or more regions. The most frequent MLG was found in three European Pst collections (except Dagestan) and Siberia. SSR‐based variation within the regional collections was low because many MLGs were closely related. Nevertheless, each collection contained relatively different small genotype groups. No clear geographic structure of the Russian Pst population was observed because the five studied regional collections shared groups of similar genotypes. The most singular SSR genotype was identified in the North‐West collection, but genotypes of four invasive isolates belonging to the PstS2 temperature‐adapted aggressive strain did not considerably differ from others. The observed heterozygosity at all SSR loci exceeded the expected one in all regional Pst collections, which could imply asexual reproduction of the pathogen. Both the SSR and virulence analyses demonstrated similar patterns of relationships between the regional Pst collections, although the magnitude of differences between the collections was larger for virulence pathotypes. However, no significant association was established between the virulence pathotypes and SSR genotypes because multiple pathotypes had the same genotype and vice versa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: Polyploidy is a prominent driver of plant diversification, accompanied with dramatic chromosomal rearrangement and epigenetic changes that affect gene expression. How chromatin interactions within and between subgenomes adapt to ploidy transition remains poorly understood. We generate open chromatin interaction maps for natural hexaploid wheat (AABBDD), extracted tetraploid wheat (AABB), diploid wheat progenitor Aegilops tauschii (DD) and resynthesized hexaploid wheat (RHW, AABBDD). Thousands of intra‐ and interchromosomal loops are de novo established or disappeared in AB subgenomes after separation of D subgenome, in which 37–95% of novel loops are lost again in RHW after merger of D genome. Interestingly, more than half of novel loops are formed by cascade reactions that are triggered by disruption of chromatin interaction between AB and D subgenomes. The interaction repressed genes in RHW relative to DD are expression suppressed, resulting in more balanced expression of the three homoeologs in RHW. The interaction levels of cascade anchors are decreased step‐by‐step. Leading single nucleotide polymorphisms of yield‐ and plant architecture‐related quantitative trait locus are significantly enriched in cascade anchors. The expression of 116 genes interacted with these anchors are significantly correlated with the corresponding traits. Our findings reveal trans‐regulation of intrachromosomal loops by interchromosomal interactions during genome merger and separation in polyploid species. Significance Statement: Understanding the chromatin interaction changes in response to ploidy transition can provide further insight into the role of chromatin loops in regulation of gene expression and phenotypes in polyploidy. We find that the ploidy transition can result in cascaded changes in chromatin interactions, which are associated with balancing homoeologous gene expression and altering the expression of coexpressed genes related to specific phenotypes in polyploids. Many trait‐associated genes interact with quantitative trait loci through these cascaded chromatin interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: Global wheat production amounted to >780 MMT during 2022–2023 whose market size are valued at >$128 billion. Wheat is highly susceptible to high‐temperature stress (HTS) throughout the life cycle and its yield declines 5–7% with the rise in each degree of temperature. Previously, we reported an array of HTS‐response markers from a resilient wheat cv. Unnat Halna and described their putative role in heat acclimation. To complement our previous results and identify the key determinants of thermotolerance, here we examined the cytoplasmic proteome of a sensitive cv. PBW343. The HTS‐triggered metabolite reprograming highlighted how proteostasis defects influence the formation of an integrated stress‐adaptive response. The proteomic analysis identified several promising HTS‐responsive proteins, including a NACα18 protein, designated TaNACα18, whose role in thermotolerance remains unknown. Dual localization of TaNACα18 suggests its crucial functions in the cytoplasm and nucleus. The homodimerization of TaNACα18 anticipated its function as a transcriptional coactivator. The complementation of TaNACα18 in yeast and overexpression in wheat demonstrated its role in thermotolerance across the kingdom. Altogether, our results suggest that TaNACα18 imparts tolerance through tight regulation of gene expression, cell wall remodeling and activation of cell defense responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) nitrogen-use efficiency (NUE) and recovery with nitrogen (N) fertilization rates in crop rotations need further exploration. The effect of cropping sequence and N fertilization rate were evaluated on spring wheat N concentration and uptake, N harvest index (NHI), N-use efficiency (NUE), and N recovery index (NRI) from 2012 to 2019 in the northern Great Plains, USA. Cropping sequences were conventional till spring wheat-fallow (CTWF), no-till spring wheat-fallow (NTWF), no-till spring wheat-pea (Pisum sativum L.) (NTWP), and no-till continuous spring wheat (NTCW), and N fertilization rates to spring wheat were 0, 50, 100, and 150 kg N ha−1. Straw N concentration and N uptake were greater for CTWF than NTWP and NTCW in 4 out of 8 years and increased with increased N fertilization rate. Grain N concentration and NHI varied with treatments and years. Grain N uptake was greater for CTWF and NTWF than NTWP and NTCW at most N fertilization rates and years. In contrast, NUE was greater for NTCW than CTWF and NTWF at all N fertilization rates in most years. The NRI was greater for NTWP or NTCW than CTWF or NTWF in most years. Increasing N fertilization rate increased grain N uptake for most cropping sequences in all years but had a variable effect on NUE and NRI. Although spring wheat N concentration and N uptake were superior for CTWF and NTWF, and NUE for NTCW, NTWP with 50 to 100 kg N ha−1 can be used to sustain grain yield, N uptake, NUE, and NRI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Consumer demand for healthier and more sustainable foods has led to a multitude of innovative food products. The aim of the work was to monitor the physico-chemical quality parameters (color, taste, smell, infestation, granularity, humidity, gluten index, falling number, alveographic properties, ash content, hectoliter mass of wheat) for the raw material: wheat, for the flours resulting from the milling, and for different types of flours and resulting mixtures. The mixtures were made with wheat flour and carob, oats, rice, buckwheat, and coconut flour added in proportions of 5%, 10%, and 20%. Heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Zn, and Cu) were also determined for different types of flour. The metal content was determined by the atomic absorption method using a GBC Avanta PM atomic absorption spectrometer. The detection and quantification limits were evaluated using calibration curves. The degree of coloring of the flours differs depending on the degree of extraction and, therefore, also depends on the amount of ash contained. As for infestation contamination, it was not identified in any of the analyzed flour. Rheological properties indicate the quality of flours. Flour types 480 and 550 recorded exceptional values of the rheological parameters, presenting a deformation energy (W) above 200 10-4J and a curve configuration ratio (P/E) of 1.08. The metal concentrations were between the permissible limits defined by the FDA/WHO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

Long‐term genetic studies of wild populations are very scarce, but are essential for connecting ecological and population genetics models, and for understanding the dynamics of biodiversity. We present a study of a wild wheat population sampled over a 36‐year period at high spatial resolution. We genotyped 832 individuals from regular sampling along transects during the course of the experiment. Genotypes were clustered into ecological microhabitats over scales of tens of metres, and this clustering was remarkably stable over the 36 generations of the study. Simulations show that it is difficult to determine whether this spatial and temporal stability reflects extremely limited dispersal or fine‐scale local adaptation to ecological parameters. Using a common‐garden experiment, we showed that the genotypes found in distinct microhabitats differ phenotypically. Our results provide a rare insight into the population genetics of a natural population over a long monitoring period. [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]

Societal Impact Statement: Increasing crop productivity is often proposed as a key goal for meeting the food security demands of a growing global population. However, achieving high crop yields alone without meeting end‐use quality requirements is counter to this objective and can lead to negative environmental and sustainability issues. High yielding feed wheat crops in the United Kingdom are a typical example of this. The historical context of UK agricultural industrialisation, developments in plant breeding and wheat end‐use processing are examined. We then outline how employing innovations in plant breeding methods offer the potential to redress the balance between wheat quantity and quality. Summary: Bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) has historically been an important crop for many human civilisations. Today, variability in wheat supply and trade has a large influence on global economies and food security. The United Kingdom is an example of an industrialised country that achieves high wheat yields through intensive cropping systems and a favourable climate. However, only a minority of the wheat grain produced is of suitable end‐use quality for modern bread baking methods and most wheat produced is fed to livestock. A large agricultural land area and input use dedicated to producing grain for animal rather than human food has wide‐ranging negative impacts for environmental sustainability and domestic food production. Here we present an historical perspective of agricultural and economic changes that have resulted in UK production primarily focussing on wheat quantity over quality. Agricultural intensification, liberalisation of free trade in agricultural commodities, innovations in the milling and baking sector, developments in scientific understanding of genetics and plant breeding, and geopolitical changes have all played a role. We propose that wheat breeding plays a crucial role in influencing these issues and although wheat breeders in the United Kingdom have historically applied the most‐up‐to‐date scientific advances, recent advances in genomics tools and quantitative genetics present a unique opportunity for breeders to redress the balance between quantity and quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Societal Impact Statement: The Green Revolution is commonly understood as the dramatic increase in food production in Mexico and India between the 1940s and 1970s due to the spread of new agricultural technologies, especially high‐yielding seed varieties. Beyond this conventional understanding, however, historians are now revealing the occurrence of—and connections between—various Green Revolutions across space and time. This article identifies a "fascist Green Revolution" through the history of agrarian development and scientific wheat breeding in fascist Italy (1922–1943). Through this case study, the article provides new insights into key themes of discussion around the Green Revolution such as the relationship between plant breeding, the environment, food security, and food self‐sufficiency. Summary: In 1925, the fascist regime launched the "Battle of Wheat," a plan of agrarian development aimed at achieving self‐sufficiency in wheat, Italy's main food crop. Key to this project was the replacement of traditional landraces with "elite" semi‐dwarf and early‐maturing wheat cultivars released by Italy's star plant breeder Nazareno Strampelli. Through the historical analysis of Strampelli's breeding program and of the implementation of the fascist "seed replacement" strategy, this article makes the case for viewing the Battle of Wheat as a "fascist Green Revolution."The article draws on new methods and perspectives developed by the historiography of the Green Revolution. It is grounded on the historical analysis of fascist‐era publications and archival documents produced by Italian crop scientists and agricultural research institutions.While "elite" cultivars spread rapidly in fertile and wealthy northern Italy, they struggled to take hold in the dry and poor Italian South. The article delineates the environmental, social, and economic reasons underpinning this divergence. Focusing in particular on agrarian scientists' approaches to crop improvement in the Italian South, the article shows how this "marginal" region became a key site for the development of scientific counter‐narratives and concrete alternatives to the official fascist strategy of "seed replacement."The article reveals the co‐existence of multiple approaches over space and time within fascist‐era agrarian science. Through this case study, it provides new elements to analyze key themes in science and agriculture historiography such as the tension between hyper‐modernization and agroecological concerns, centralized and decentralized research, imported technologies and local resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objective: There is a growing interest in incorporating whole grain highland barley (HB) to wheat bread for improving nutrients and potential health benefits. However, the qualities and sensory properties of whole grain‐based bread were reduced compared to refined wheat‐based bread due to the strong water absorption and large particle size of dietary fiber in whole grain. Therefore, ultra‐fine ground whole grain HB partially substituted 5%–40% wheat flour to make bread, and the relevant dough properties and bread qualities were studied. Findings: The increased addition of ultra‐fine ground whole grain HB from 5% to 40% to wheat increased dough development time, whereas, decreased dough stability time, elasticity, pH, G′ modulus, and G″ modulus. The increased substitution of ultra‐fine ground whole grain HB to wheat further reduced the specific volume, cohesiveness, elasticity, and resilience of bread, whereas, increased the hardness, adhesiveness, and chewiness of bread. Conclusions: The partial substitution of wheat with ultra‐fine ground whole grain HB from 5% to 40% wheat significantly affected wheat‐HB dough properties and resultant bread qualities mainly due to weakened gluten networking. Significance and Novelty: The 5%–10% substitution of wheat by ultra‐fine ground whole grain HB showed the optimum dough properties and bread qualities compared to other treatments, which substituted 20%–40% wheat flour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Wheat is used extensively as the key ingredient for baked goods. Oats are used as an alternative for a range of commercial reasons, including "gluten‐free." Often the rationale driving the utilization of oats for gluten‐related disorders (GRDs)/gluten intolerance, gets lost due to assertions regarding the relative nutritional benefits of eating oats rather than wheat. This review looks at the dietary benefits of eating oats versus wheat‐based products to clarify the relative merits of each. Findings: Wheat and oats are important components of the human diet. Wheat‐based products cannot be replicated directly by oats. However, oats are a useful alternative where GRDs are present. Conclusions: Wheat is supreme in creating desirable food structures although it can be problematic for individuals with GRDs. Oats can be utilized to provide alternatives. However, in products like bread, other ingredients are needed to replicate the role of gluten. Significance and Novelty: This review provides a novel insight into the applications of wheat and oats in foods and the associated nutritional impact. The anticipated benefit is for people working in the food sector, health‐based professionals, and individuals who wish to understand the role of oats as an alternative to wheat to avoid gluten. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Preharvest sprouting (PHS) is the premature germination of seeds, which is often caused by late‐season rains after seeds reach physiological maturity. PHS negatively impacts grain yield and end‐use quality. Previous studies in spring bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) and durum wheat (Triticum turgidum) have identified that some mutations in the mother of FT and TFL1 gene (MFT) coding sequence decrease seed dormancy and increase wheat PHS. Findings: Here, we report two novel alleles for the MFT‐A and two novel alleles for the MFT‐B1 homologs in spring bread wheat and durum wheat. Conclusions: A haplotype analysis suggests that TaMFT‐3A1b (OQ729929), TaMFT‐3B1b (OQ729932) and TdMFT‐3B1b (OQ729937) increase PHS susceptibility. It is expected that functional copies of MFT promote seed dormancy. Variant analysis of the novel MFT‐A and MFT‐B1 alleles in both spring and durum wheat suggest impairment of protein function, therefore a negative impact on seed dormancy. Significance and Novelty: Previously unassessed durum wheat varieties were examined for PHS susceptibility. The information in this study can serve as a resource for spring and durum wheat breeders to make selections for alleles of MFT that impact susceptibility to PHS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food security is one of the main directions of ensuring the country's national security. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the collection of the main varieties of wheat cultivated in Iraq, according to a complex of morphological and physiological characteristics, along with the determination of grain quality indicators, and to identify the most promising varieties into the breeding process. This experiment was conducted in the fields of the College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences, University of Baghdad, during 2020-21 and 2021-22 by planting 10 genotypes of soft wheat 5 Russian genotypes viz.; - Mors-1, Tymur, Medved, Astrak, Varon-39and 5 Iraqi genotypes viz., Ibaa-99, Tamuz-3, Abigrab-3, Iraq and Ibaa-95. The experiment was designed as a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with one factor and three replicates. The results showed significant differences in the effect of genotypes on the studied traits. Russian genotype Astrak was the best in average plant height with an average of 84.8cm and 82.8cm for both seasons, respectively, Iraqi genotype Tamuz-3 was the best in average weight of spike with an average of 2.4g and 2.8g for both seasons, respectively, the highest average in number of spikelets per spike reached to 19.5 in season 2021-22. Iraqi Genotype Iraq also recorded the highest average length of spike 9.5cm in the season 2020-21, and the best 1000 grain weight was 39.9g in season 2020-21. Iraqi Genotype Ibaa-95 recorded the best average length of spike 9.6 cm in the 2021-22 season and the best number of spikelets per spike reached to 14.2 in the season 2020-21 and the best number of grains, spike was 48.3 grains in season 2021-22. Genotype Abigrab-3 also recorded the highest average number of grains reached 40.4 grains in the season 2020-21, and recorded the best weight of 1000 grains reached 42.3g in the season 2021. Genotype Tymur recorded the best weight of 1000 grains reached 39.9g in season 2020-21, and recorded the best weight of spike 2.7g and the best weight of grain/spike 2g. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheat, prized for its economic significance, is the predominant crop globally. However, drought stress has emerged as a critical constraint in wheat production, increasingly limiting growth and productivity across major wheat-growing regions worldwide. Therefore, the present study assesses the impact of trace elements silicon, zinc, and manganese on the morphological characteristics of seed germination in spring soft wheat varieties (Taimas, Granny) under both normal and drought stress conditions in 2023. To achieve this, wheat seeds were subjected to varying concentrations of microelements (Si+Zn+Mn) during germination under controlled drought and regular conditions. The most significant beneficial combined effect of the three metals was observed when Si (0.25) + Zn (0.5) + Mn (0.5) was present at a concentration level, resulting in improvements in key germination parameters such as the germination index (GI) and the shoot viability index (SVI). Under drought stress conditions, utilizing the ideal concentrations of trace elements led to a notable increase in germination rates, ranging from 94.07% to 95.23%. The findings indicated that the presence of trace elements resulted in a suppressive impact, which became evident as the concentration of metals increased in the measurements of roots, shoots, and the phytotoxicity index. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A multiplicity of substantial disruptions in the physiological systems of the wheat crop (Triticum aestivum L.) are the result of a potassium deficiency.The foliar application of potassium improves the quality of wheat and the production of grains for end-use purposes. This study was carried out during the growing seasons of 2021-22 to investigate the response of winter wheat cultivars to foliar application of potassium (0, 1, and 2 g/L), at two growth stages (green up and heading) on the grain yield (t/ha), protein content (%), specific weight and plant vegetative indicators (chlorophyll content, flag leaf area and plant height). Foliar applications of potassium fertilizer were implemented at concentrations of (0, 1 and 2 g/L). The treatments were applied at both the tillering and flowering stages. Potassium treatments, wheat cultivars, and their interactions significantly differed in most measured parameters. Application of 2g/L of K increases grain yield, protein content, and plant height than 0, 1 g/L by 5.51 t/ha, 10.52% and 95.60 cm, respectively. Foliar application of nano-potassium timed at both tillering and flowering stages would be beneficial in improving the yield and its component. Furthermore, the various trait responses of cultivars to K application can be attractive to wheat breeders for selection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rice and wheat yields in the western Terai region of Nepal over the past four decades have been drastically reduced mainly by climatic anomalies such as fluctuating temperatures, decreased solar radiation, uneven and erratic rainfall, drought and so on. NASA-POWER derived weather data of Dumkauli in Nawalparasi (27.68° N, 84.13° E) and of Taulihawa in Kapilbastu (27.55° N, 83.0667° E) districts in western Terai region of Nepal for the past four decades (1984/85-2022/23) were downloaded, validated with the recorded weather data of Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM) and studied the trends of climatic variability. Furthermore, the trend analysis for the grain yield of rice in Nawalparasi and wheat yield in Kapilvastu was drawn with the historical data sets of maximum and minimum temperatures and rainfall. Positive correlations between grain yields and minimum temperature and rainfall each showed acceptable coefficient of determinations (R²) for both of the crops. The correlation between precipitation and observed rice yield estimated was 0.71. Similarly, the correlation coefficient of minimum temperature and wheat yield was 0.272. The multi-year predicted rice and wheat yields using the historical weather data and by the use of the IPCC (2007) scenario embedded in the DSSAT crop model showed that yield of the both crops could be sustained with the use of the current crop cultivars only for a few years. Climatic index, mainly temperature was found to be more sensitive to wheat production, and the rainfall to rice production in the Nepalese western Terai region. This study suggests for the development of high yielding climate change-ready rice and wheat cultivars to feed the increasingly growing Nepalese population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zinc (Zn) fertilization of hard red and soft white winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is uncommon in the low precipitation zone of the inland Pacific Northwest. It is uncommon because there have been no indications of deficiency. Soil test data, however, show Zn levels have been declining over time. We conducted a four‐site‐year experiment to evaluate effects of fertilization on early‐season tissue Zn concentration (TZC), dry matter accumulation (DMA), Zn uptake (ZNU), the grain test weight (TWT), protein content (PRO), and yield (YLD) of two regionally adapted cultivars. Planting occurred late in September or early in October. Zinc fertilizer, placed with the seed while planting, was applied at rates of 0 and 5 kg Zn ha−1. Application of 5 kg Zn ha−1 increased TZC and ZNU at one of two sites. There were corresponding trends of increased DMA and improved YLD. Response to fertilization occurred on a relatively shallow soil that had a diethylenetriamine‐pentaacidic acid–extractable Zn test level of 0.3 mg kg−1. Core Ideas: Zinc fertilization increased tissue Zn concentration and Zn uptake in winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) at one of two experimental sites.There were corresponding treatment‐induced trends of increased dry matter accumulation and improved grain yield.Response to fertilization occurred on a relatively shallow soil that had a diethylenetriamine‐pentaacidic acid‐extractable soil test Zn level of 0.3 mg kg−1.Response to fertilization may have been due, at least in part, to the near‐surface position of carbonates and alkalinity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Integrated crop‐livestock systems (ICLS) bring diversity to agricultural systems, enhancing soil ecosystem services, food production, and environmental sustainability. Resource utilization efficiency practices under semiarid ecoregions include dual systems that grow wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) for both grain and grazing (G) and recently complementary to wheat dual systems, cover crops (CC) for feeding both the soil and cattle during the fallow period. The latter continues to generate interest and there is a paucity of information on associated biochemical cycles. The objective was to evaluate the impact of CC and grazing thereof on soil microbiota structure, diversity, proliferation, and nutrient cycling. Introducing CC to no‐till (NT [NTC]) and grazing CC (NTCG [ICLS]), increased total PLFA biomass (TPB) for ungrazed CC (NTC) by 12%, and grazed CC (NTCG [ICLS]) by 20%; total bacteria biomass (TBB) by 10% for NTC and 24% for NTCG; total fungal biomass (TFB) by 9% for NTC and 21% for NTCG. The CC significantly increased Gram (−) bacteria biomass by 17% and 34% for NTC and NTCG, respectively; the CC significantly increased Gram (+) bacteria biomass by 6% and 12% for NTC and NTCG, respectively; and the CC significantly increased arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi by 55% and 89% for NTC and NTCG respectively, compared to NT fallow practice. Significant correlations were observed for NO3−–N, NH4+–N, water‐extractable organic nitrogen, total nitrogen, and water‐extractable organic carbon with TPB, TBB, and TFB using Haney soil health methods. Based on the measured parameters, the soil health status decreased in the order NTCG > NTC > NT > CT, where NT is the no‐till, C is the cover crop, G is the grazing, and CT is the conventional‐till. Grazing CC enhanced soil bacterial biomass over CC in solitude. Core Ideas: All cover crops (CC) increased actinomycetes, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, and Gram (−) and (+) and undifferentiated biomasses.Grazed CC further increased actinomycetes, Gram (−), and undifferentiated biomasses compared to ungrazed CC.High correlations for phospholipid‐linked fatty acid biomass with NO3−–N, NH4+–N, water extractable organic nitrogen, total nitrogen, and water extractable organic carbon were observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheat rusts, including leaf, stripe, and stem rust, have been a threat to global food security due to their devastating impact on wheat yields. In recent years, significant strides have been made in understanding wheat rusts, focusing on disease spread mechanisms, the discovery of new host resistance genes, and the molecular basis of rust pathogenesis. This review summarizes the latest approaches and studies in wheat rust research that provide a comprehensive understanding of disease mechanisms and new insights into control strategies. Recent advances in genetic resistance using modern genomics techniques, as well as molecular mechanisms of rust pathogenesis and host resistance, are discussed. In addition, innovative management strategies, including the use of fungicides and biological control agents, are reviewed, highlighting their role in combating wheat rust. This review also emphasizes the impact of climate change on rust epidemiology and underscores the importance of developing resistant wheat varieties along with adaptive management practices. Finally, gaps in knowledge are identified and suggestions for future research are made. This review aims to inform researchers, agronomists, and policy makers, and to contribute to the development of more effective and sustainable wheat rust control strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The optimized sowing method and appropriate seed rate can improve wheat N use efficiency. However, the interactive effect of the sowing method and seed rate on N use efficiency, particularly N uptake and root length density, are unclear. A field experiment was conducted for two growing seasons in southern Shanxi province, China, using a split-plot design with the sowing method as the main plot (wide-belt sowing, WBS, and conventional narrow-drill sowing, NDS) and seed rate as the sub-plot (100–700 m−2). Our results showed that WBS had a significant and positive effect on N use efficiency (yield per unit of available N from the fertilizer and soil, by 4.7–15.4%), and the relatively higher seed rates (>300 or 400 m−2) enlarged the effects. The N use efficiency increases under WBS were mainly attributed to the increases in N uptake before anthesis, resulting from the promoted nodal roots per plant and per unit area, and root length density in the top layer(s). WBS promoted N translocation and the N harvest index, resulting in equivalent grain protein concentration and processing quality compared to NDS. Thus, adopting higher seed rates (>300 m−2) combined with WBS is recommended for achieving greater N efficiencies while maintaining the grain protein concentration and processing quality of winter wheat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nano-biochar is a source of blackish carbonaceous material, a prerequisite for sustainable crop productivity. By using a variety of feedstock materials, nanobiochar synthesis can be employed via pyrolysis. Therefore, a project was initiated to explore the morpho-physio-biochemical alteration at the vegetative stage of wheat crops after the foliar application of nanobiochar suspension (NBS). This investigation was conducted at the Botanical Research Area of the University of Lahore in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) arrangement, with four treatments (0, 1, 3, and 5% NBS) by maintaining three replications for each treatment using the wheat variety "Zincol". Nano biochar suspension in above mentioned concentrations were foliarly applied at the end of tillering/beginning of leaf sheath elongation of wheat seedlings to assess the morphological changes (root length, shoot length, number of leaves, fresh biomass/plant, dry biomass/plant), physio-biochemical alterations (total free amino acids, total sugars, chlorophyll content, protein, phenols, flavonoids), and nutrient uptake (Na, K, Ca, Mg, N, P contents. Our findings indicate that the foliar application of 3% NBS yielded the most favorable results across all measured attributes. Furthermore, Treatment-4 (5% NBS) specifically improved certain traits, including leaf area, total soluble proteins, and leaf calcium content. Finally, all NBS resulted in a decrease in carotenoid and sodium content in wheat seedlings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Warming and drying trends in the Mediterranean Basin exacerbate regional water scarcity and threaten agricultural production, putting global food security at risk. This study aimed to review the most significant research on future water availability for the Mediterranean agricultural sector under climate change (CC) scenarios published during 2009–2024. Two searches were performed in the Scopus and Web of Science databases, to which previously identified significant studies from different periods were also added. By applying a methodology duly protocoled in the PRISMA2020-based guideline, a final number of 44 particularly relevant studies was selected for review. A bibliometric analysis has shown that most of the published research was focused on Southwestern European countries (i.e., Spain, Italy, Portugal) and grapevine and olive tree crops. Overall, the reviewed studies state that future Mediterranean water reserves may not meet agricultural water demands, due to reduced reservoir inflows and higher irrigation demands under future CC and socioeconomic scenarios. Regarding adaptation measures to improve water-use management in agriculture, the majority of the reviewed studies indicate that the use of integrated modelling platforms and decision–support systems can significantly contribute to the development and implementation of improved water/land-management practices. [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]

With an increase in the frequency of hot-dry-windy weather and reported significant increase in winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in-season average temperatures, it is important to understand how soil management affects yield stability. This study quantified the combined effects of tillage and fertilizer-N on winter wheat yield stability in a wheat–sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench]–fallow crop rotation. The research was conducted from 1975 to 2022 and the experimental design was a randomized complete block with a split-split-plot arrangement. Crop phases were the main plots, tillage (conventional tillage [CT], reduced tillage [RT], and no-tillage [NT]) in the sub-plot, and N application rates (0, 22, 45, and 67 kg N ha−1 or 0, 45, 90, and 134 kg N ha−1) in the sub-sub-plot. Results showed winter wheat yield under NT increased by 0.8 Mg ha−1, compared with about 1.1 Mg ha−1 for CT and RT, when environmental average increased by 1 Mg ha−1 for N rates ≤90 kg ha−1. Yields with CT and RT increased by 0.8 Mg ha−1, compared with about 1.1 Mg ha−1 rate for NT, when environmental average increased by 1 Mg ha−1 for N >90 kg ha−1. In 30%–52% of the time, CT wheat yield was greater than NT, but yield advantage with CT decreased as fertilizer-N rate increases. Yield stability of winter wheat varied by tillage and fertilizer rate. We concluded that NT wheat required greater N rates to reach the same yield potential as CT and RT, and long-term CT or RT wheat at 45 kg N ha−1 was most stable [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various agronomic practices can affect the processes of aboveground dry matter accumulation (source) and grain filling (sink), resulting in yield differences. Improved source-sink relationships can facilitate the production and accumulation of assimilates to increase the productivity of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). A two-season field experiment was undertaken on winter wheat during 2020–2021 and 2021–2022. In a split-split-plot design with three replicates (randomized blocks), we compared two planting modes (ridge-furrow planting with plastic mulching [RFPM]; traditional flat planting [TF]), two complementary irrigation levels (I30+30: 30+30 mm; I0: no irrigation), and three planting densities (D1, D2, and D3: 240, 360, and 480 plants m−2). The results showed that RFPMI30+30 significantly increased maximum yield by 28.5% compared with TFI0. Although D3 increased the number of effective spikes per unit area and duration of grain filling compared to D2, it reduced the number of grains per spike, 1000-grain weight, and average filling rate. Compared to TF and I0, RFPM and I30+30 improved the sink/source ratio by 5.3% and 6.5%, respectively. Grain yield peaked at D2 in the RFPM and at D3 in the TF. Medium planting density (D2) and complementary irrigation (I30+30) during the wintering and reviving periods under RFPM can achieve better source-sink balance relationships and the maximum grain yield of winter wheat. Overall, we believe that in most cases, wheat yields are source-limited and can be improved by ridge-furrow planting with plastic mulching, complementary irrigation, and planting density regulation. [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]

Low-temperature flooding and ice encasement (LTFIE) cause variable survival of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in Ontario, which limits the adoption of wheat into crop rotations by growers. The development of novel cultivars capable of withstanding LTFIE is a promising avenue for improvement, but the methods used to assess the survival of winter wheat under LTFIE are restricted. This study developed updated methods to determine the survival of wheat cultivars under LTFIE using controlled environments and, to our knowledge, is the first method since the 1980s to use Canadian eastern soft red winter wheat (CESRW) to conduct cold tolerance studies. Chamber-acclimated plants of AC Carberry (spring wheat control), Branson (CESRW), CM614 (CESRW), and Norstar (hardy Canadian western red winter control) cultivars were used to estimate the days (LD50) and temperature (LT50) to reach 50% mortality under ice and without ice treatments. Norstar had the longest LD50 at 33 days, Branson and CM614 had similar LD50 of 18 and 20 days, and AC Carberry did not reach an LD50 as it died early in both treatments. The LT50 of each cultivar was different; Norstar had the lowest LT50 (−13.6 °C day 0 and −13.2 °C day 7), and AC Carberry had the highest LT50 (−6.6 °C day 0 and −2.7 °C day 7). The detailed methods developed in this study were more reliable compared to older methods based on the more accurate reported LD50 and LT50 of the cultivars, therefore, these methods can be used to screen winter cereals for LTFIE in the future. [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]

Micronutrient deficiencies in agricultural soils significantly affect crop productivity and the nutritional quality of produce, posing potential risks to human health. Abandoned mine tailings, which are rich in micronutrients, can serve as an effective solution to enhance the nutritional value of crops while also mitigating environmental impact. In this study, the soils were sourced from the semi-arid Doukkala region in western Morocco, while the tailings were obtained from the abandoned Kettara mine in the nearby Marrakech region. This study assessed the biomass and bioconcentration of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grown in three different soils amended with treated mine tailings (TMT) at doses of 0, 0.2, 1, 2, and 4 g·kg-1. The experiment, conducted under greenhouse conditions and in pots, employed a split-plot design with three replicates, monitoring morphological parameters and plant biomass. Concentrations of Cu, Fe, Zn, and Mn in wheat grains were measured by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP AES) after harvest. The results indicate an increase in root length, shoot height, number of tillers, shoot biomass and grain biomass with TMT amendment doses of less than 1 g.kg-1 soil, by 13.6, 42.1, 42.6, 49.6, and 32.9% respectively. However, these parameters decreased with doses > 2 g·kg-1. Significant linear correlations were observed between the concentrations of micronutrients in wheat grains and those present in the soil. The bioconcentration factor increased but remained below 1. This research reveals that TMT are perfectly suitable to fertilize wheat using doses < 1 g·kg-1, ensuring safe application for the environment and human health. Through this research, it was demonstrated that within certain thresholds, TMT can enhance the mineral nutrition of plants as well as positively impact agricultural productivity and product quality. These results can be replicated in other regions worldwide by adhering to the described procedure. [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]

Fusarium head blight (FHB; caused by Fusarium graminearum) is a destructive disease of wheat (Triticum spp.), barley (Hordeum vulgare), rye (Secale cereale L.), and triticale (×Triticosecale Wittmack) not only reducing their yield but also contaminating the grain with mycotoxins such as deoxynivalenol (DON). Developing varieties with genetic resistance is integral to successfully manage FHB. Triticale acreage worldwide is steadily increasing. However, the genetic diversity of triticale for FHB resistance is not well characterized. In the present study, a sequential screening of a set of winter triticale accessions from a global collection was done for their type‐2 FHB resistance and DON accumulation. In the first‐year screening, 298 triticale accessions were tested for FHB in an artificially inoculated, misted‐field nursery with high inoculum density. Most of the triticale accessions were susceptible to FHB, and only 8% of the accessions showed resistance in the field nursery screening. Next, the 24 resistant accessions identified in the nursery screening were tested for 2 years in greenhouse and 17 accessions showed significantly lower FHB severity in Year 2 and/or Year 3. These 17 resistant accessions were further tested for their FHB severity and DON accumulation in Year 4 in greenhouse and for DON accumulation in Year 5 in the field FHB nursery. Eight accessions showed significantly lower FHB severity and nine accessions showed DON accumulation of less than 1 mg/kg in Year 4 greenhouse testing. Eleven accessions had significantly lower DON concentration than the susceptible check in the Year 5 field screening. The resistant accessions common across all years identified in the study can be used for enhancing FHB resistance and reducing DON accumulation in triticale breeding programs. Core Ideas: A set of 298 triticale accessions was sequentially tested for FHB severity and DON content over multiple years.Only 2% of the accessions were found to be resistant and with low DON content across all the years.The robustly characterized accessions with low FHB severity and DON content can be used as sources of resistance. [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]