Fusarium crown rot (FCR) is a soilborne disease that occurs in many cereal-growing regions in the world. An association between FCR development and drought stress has long been known. The FCR symptoms are pronounced under drought stress in both fields and controlled environments. However, the molecular mechanisms involved in the association between drought and FCR remain largely unknown. For the first time, in this study, the proteomic characteristics of wheat plants under FCR, drought (induced by water limitation), and combined stress of FCR and drought were investigated and compared using label-free quantitative proteomic analysis. Significant interactions between FCR and drought were observed. Combined stress of FCR and drought had more detrimental effects on wheat growth compared with each single stress alone. A total of 823 (FCR), 414 (drought), and 1,520 (combined stress) proteins that responded to three stress conditions were identified, respectively. In addition to proteins, biological processes and KEGG pathways unique to single stress and that were shared among all three stress conditions were also identified. Some of the overlapping proteins, such as chitinase and glutathione S-transferase, may contribute to maintaining basic FCR resistance under drought in adult wheat plants. Moreover, combined proteomic and metabolic analysis indicated that the increased sugar content and reduced lignin content may contribute to the increased FCR severity under combined stress. This study provides insights into the complex interactions between FCR and drought at the proteomics level and will guide future efforts for the genetic improvement of FCR resistance under drought.

Stagnancy in wheat yield over the past decades due to the dependence on limited source of germplasm necessitates exploration of novel sources of genetic variations including the potential of hybrid technology. The present work was designed to assess the potential of Chinese wheat hybrid germplasm for cultivation at Pakistan. For this purpose, 416 hybrids were studied in the year 2017-18 and a subset of high performing and better yielding 108 hybrids were selected and tested in 2018-19. Significant variability (p<0.01) was observed among the hybrids with better performing hybrids for all the studied parameters, particularly thousand grain weight, grain yield, biological yield and harvest index. Considering the yield related traits in the preliminary field evaluation of 416 hybrids (during 2017-18), 1000-grain weight ranged from 34 g (for 17BH088) to 50 g (for 17BH203) among the Chinese hybrids while it ranged from 36 g to 43 g among the local check varieties. For the grain yield, the values ranged from 2000 kg ha(-1) (for 17BH016) to 6053 kg ha(-1) (for 17BH218) among the hybrids while it was in the range of 3382 kg ha(-1) to 4233 kg ha(-1) among the local check varieties. The biological yield values among the Chinese hybrids ranged from 7733 kg ha(-1) (for 17BH088) to 15893 kg ha(-1) (for 17BH015) while among the local check varieties it ranged from 10687 kg ha(-1) to 11971 kg ha(-1). The overall impact of selection was positive on the spike and yield related parameters. For example, the grain yield increased from 2982 kg ha(-1) (in the preliminary collection) to 4138 kg ha(-1) for the selected lines (during 2018-19). Although selection increased the mean value, the variability was decreased for most of the parameters. The selection differential and modified genetic advance, for 1000 grain weight, was 13.74% and 21.90%, respectively. For grain yield, selection differential was 41.21% and G.A was 38.74%; for biological yield, S.D was 34.46% and G.A was 32.79% while for harvest index, S.D was 5.58% and G.A was 2.883%. The performance of the hybrids was assessed for two years which was higher for all the parameters especially yield related parameters which increased for the second-year selected hybrids. Among the 108 hybrids, the maximum grain yield observed was 6053 kg ha(-1) for 17BH218 (2017-18) and 6999 kg ha(-1) for 17BH101 (2018-19), much higher than the local checks. In case of biological yield, the maximum value recorded was 15893 kg ha(-1) for 17BH015 (2017-18) whereas 16019 kg ha(-1) for 17BH035 (2018-19), higher than the check varieties. This will enable to come up with diverse set of varieties from distinct sources of germplasm to increase yield and reduce genetic homogeneity in the crop.

Background: Two-line hybrid wheat technology system is one way to harness wheat heterosis both domestically and internationally. Seed vigor is a crucial parameter for assessing seed quality, as enhanced seed vigor can lead to yield increments of over 20% to a certain extent. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) were known to participate in the development and vigor of seed in plants, but its impact on seed vigor in two-line hybrid wheat remains poorly elucidated. Results: The hybrid (BS1453/11GF5135) wheat exhibited superiority in seed vigor and anti-aging capacity, compared to its male parent (11GF5135, MP) and female parent (BS1453, FP). We identified four miRNAs associated with seed vigor, all of which are novel miRNAs. The majority of targets of miRNAs were related to ubiquitin ligases, kinases, sucrose synthases and hydrolases, involving in starch and sucrose metabolism, hydrolysis, catalysis, plant hormone signal transduction, and other pathways, which played crucial roles in seed development. Additionally, we also found miR531 was differentially expressed in both male parent and hybrid, and its target interact with dihydrolipoamide acetyltransferase (E2) and dihydrolipoyl dehydrogenase (E3). Finally, We established a presumptive interaction model to speculate the relationshipof miR531 and seed vigor. Conclusions: This study analyzed the seed vigor of two-line hybrid wheat, and screened seed vigor-related miRNAs. Meanwhile speculated the genetic relationship of hybrid and parents, in terms of miRNAs. Consequently, the present study provides new insights into the miRNA-mediated gene and protein interaction network that regulates seed vigor. These findings hold significance for enhancing the yield and quality of two-line hybrid wheat, facilitating its future applications.

Identification of stable quantitative trait loci (QTL) for yield-related traits across populations and environments is crucial for wheat breeding and genetic studies. Consensus maps also play important roles in wheat genetic and genomic researches. In the present study, a wheat consensus map was constructed using a doubled haploid (DH) population derived from Jinghua 1×Xiaobaidongmai (JX) and an F2 population derived from L43×Shanxibaimai (LS) using BAAFS AFFY wheat 90K single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array. A total of 44503 SNP markers were mapped on the constructed consensus map, covering 5437.92 cM across 21 chromosomes. The consensus map showed high collinearity with the individual maps and the wheat reference genome IWGSC RefSeq v2.1. Phenotypic data on eight yield-related traits were collected in the JX population and F2:3 and F2:4 populations of LS in six, two and two environments, respectively, and used for QTL analysis. Inclusive composite interval mapping (ICIM) identified 32 environmentally stable QTL for eight yield-related traits. Among them, four QTL, i.e., QPH.baafs-4B, QKNS.baafs-4B, QTGW.baafs-4B and QSL.baafs-5A.3, were detected across mapping populations and environments, and seven stable QTL i.e., QPH.baafs-2B, QKNS.baafs-3D, QSL.baafs-3D, QKW.baafs-4B, QPH.baafs-5D, QPH.baafs-6A.1 and QSL.baafs-6A, are likely to be new. The physical region of 17.25-44.91 Mb on chromosome 4B was associated with six yield-related traits, which is an important region for wheat yield. The physical region around the dwarfing gene Rht24 contained QTL for KL, KW, SL and TGW, which are either from a pleiotropic effect of Rht24 or closely linked loci. Two hundred and fifty-four promising candidate genes were identified for the stable QTL. Among them, TraesCS5A03G1264300, TraesCS1B03G0624000 and TraesCS6A03G0697000 were particularly noteworthy due to their homologous genes have similar functions for the corresponding traits. The constructed consensus map and the identified QTL along with their candidate genes will facilitate the genetic dissection of wheat yield-related traits and accelerate the development of wheat cultivars with desirable plant morphology and high yield.

The use of hybrid wheat is one way to improve the yield in the future. However, greater plant heights increase lodging risk to some extent. In this study, two hybrid combinations with differences in lodging resistance were used to analyze the stem-related traits during the filling stage, and to investigate the mechanism of the difference in lodging resistance by analyzing lignin synthesis of the basal second internode (BSI). The stem-related traits such as the breaking strength, stem pole substantial degree (SPSD), and rind penetration strength (RPS), as well as the lignin content of the lodging-resistant combination (LRC), were significantly higher than those of the lodging-sensitive combination (LSC). The phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway was significantly and simultaneously enriched according to the transcriptomics and metabolomics analysis at the later filling stage. A total of 35 critical regulatory genes involved in the phenylpropanoid pathway were identified. Moreover, 42% of the identified genes were significantly and differentially expressed at the later grain-filling stage between the two combinations, among which more than 80% were strongly up-regulated at that stage in the LRC compared with LSC. On the contrary, the LRC displayed lower contents of lignin intermediate metabolites than the LSC. These results suggested that the key to the lodging resistance formation of LRC is largely the higher lignin synthesis at the later grain-filling stage. Finally, breeding strategies for synergistically improving plant height and lodging resistance of hybrid wheat were put forward by comparing the LRC with the conventional wheat applied in large areas.

The goal of this study is to identify the optimum NPK fertilization to maximize yield and productivity under local environmental constraints. To address this concern, a field experiment was conducted at Agronomy Research Farm, The University of Agriculture, Peshawar, during the rabi seasons of 2019–2020 and 2020–2021 in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Treatments consisted of five Chinese wheat hybrids (18A-1, JM-1215, JM-1683, JM-1216, H-1) and one Australian hybrid (WS-1) with two local checks (Wadan-17 and Pirsabak-15) and two NPK levels, i.e., basal dose (120-90-60 NPK kg ha−1) and 25% higher than basal dose (150-112-75 NPK kg ha−1). The results of the two years’ experimentation exhibited that wheat hybrid WS-1 produced higher tillers (444 and 423 m−2), leaf area (32.7 and 30.7 cm2), leaf area index (5.0 and 5.4), plant height (105.3 and 103.1 cm), spike length (21.9 and 21.5 cm), spikes (329 and 322 m−2), grains spike−1 (59 and 58), thousand grain weight (62.2 and 62.2 g) and biological yield (9769 and 9906 kg ha−1) as compared to local check varieties. Wheat hybrids WS-1, JM-1683, H-1 and 18A1 produced 31%, 27%, 26% and 26% higher grain yield than local check Pirsabak-15, respectively, while a higher harvest index (61 and 59%) was noted for JM-1683 in both years. Application of NPK at the rate of 150-112-75 kg ha−1 increased emergence (87 m−2), tillers (421 and 407 m−2), leaf area (23 and 20.5 cm2), leaf area index (3.3), plant height (98.2 and 96.9 cm), spike length (15.9 and 16.3 cm), spikes (317 and 314 m−2), grains spike−1 (43), thousand grain weight (56.5 and 56.3 g), biological yield (9057 and 9163 kg ha−1) and grain yield (3702 and 3778 kg ha−1) compared to the lower level of NPK (120-90-60 kg ha−1). It is concluded that Chinese wheat hybrid JM-1683 and Australian hybrid WS-1 responded better to the higher level of NPK (150:112:75 kg ha−1) in terms of grain yield and its components and are therefore recommended for the agro-climatic condition of the Peshawar valley.

This study evaluates the impact of varying planting densities on hybrid winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) varieties in the eastern Huang-Huai-Hai region, an area critical to China’s wheat production. Focusing on ‘Jingmai 17’, a hybrid variety, and ‘Jimai 22’, a conventional type, across three planting densities (150, 300, and 450 plants·m−2) during the 2021–2023 growing seasons, the investigation centered on key agronomic metrics such as leaf area per culm (LAC), SPAD values for chlorophyll content, dry matter, nitrogen accumulation and remobilization, alongside grain yield and its components. The results highlight ‘Jingmai 17’’s superior performance over ‘Jimai 22’, notably in maintaining a larger LAC post-anthesis, a slower decline in SPAD values during grain filling, and an extended green leaf area duration. These characteristics are conducive to higher biomass accumulation and efficient post-anthesis remobilization. Importantly, a planting density of 300 plants·m−2 emerged as optimal, enhancing canopy structure for maximal light interception and promoting a higher nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and yield for both varieties. The NUE of Jingmai 17 and Jimai 22 in both years increased by 2.2

Exploring the potential of novel sources of wheat material is immensely important to combat the ever-changing pathogen causing wheat rust disease, associated with huge losses worldwide. This study focused on assessing rust (YR) resistance in Chinese wheat hybrids, combining molecular markers and field testing over two years with estimation of the impact of selection. Out of 416 hybrids, 108 were selected based on disease scoring parameters, showing negative genetic advancement for rust severity and coefficient of infection. The maximum rust severity reached 100

在滨州地区典型滨海盐碱地开展秸秆还田试验,通过采取不同秸秆还田处理方式,分析秸秆还田后土壤盐分的变化,以及对小麦生长和产量的影响.结果表明,2 倍秸秆深埋还田与腐熟剂配合使用的处理效果最佳,能够使土壤盐分在小麦返青后的关键胁迫期降低 24.1%,冬前茎、最高茎和成穗数分别较对照增加 45.5%、43.8%、16.8%,最终产量提升 17.3%.由此认为,针对滨海盐碱地的特殊土壤环境,在小麦、玉米轮作的种植模式下,采取秸秆深埋还田配合高效秸秆腐熟剂使用的方案,能够降低耕层土壤盐分、改善盐碱地土壤环境,促进小麦生长,提高小麦产量.

为探明新疆喀什地区现有耕作条件下小麦主要数量性状相关性及不同生育阶段施肥对主要数量性状影响,随机抽取莎车、泽普 2 县 77 块麦田,调查了株高、旗叶、有效穗数、穗粒数、施肥情况和公顷产量情况,对小麦主要数量性状相关性及不同施肥对产量的影响进行了研究.结果表明:产量与株高、旗叶总面积、旗叶宽和有效穗数,穗粒数与旗叶宽、旗叶总面积和有效穗数以及有效穗数与旗叶总面积均呈正相关,有效穗数与旗叶长和旗叶宽,旗叶长与株高均呈负相关.有效穗数在666万穗·hm-2、穗粒数在 22.5～31.1 粒之间及公顷旗叶面积达 7 532.1 m2 时,有利于获得超高产;有效穗数在 666 万穗·hm-2～990 万穗·hm-2 之间容易丰产稳产.综上,在现有耕作条件下,底肥施足N、P、K肥,返青期、拔节孕穗期、抽穗灌浆期合理追施N肥,有利于产量提高,其中底肥对小麦产量影响最大.

Developing cultivars with improved Pi use efficiency is essential for the sustainability of agriculture as well as the environment. Phosphate starvation response (PHR) regulators have not yet been systematically studied in wheat. This study provides the detailed characteristics of PHRs in hexaploid wheat as well as other major gramineous plants at the genome-wide level. The identified PHR proteins were divided into six subfamilies through phylogeny analysis, and a total of 63 paralogous TaPHR pairs were designated as arising from duplication events, with strong purifying selection. The promoters of TaPHRs were identified as stations for many transcription factors. Protein-protein interaction network and gene ontology enrichment analysis indicated a core biological process of cellular response to phosphate starvation. The three-dimensional structures of core PHR proteins showed a high phylogenetic relationship, but amino acid deletions in core protein domains may cause functional differentiation between rice and wheat. TaPHR3 could interact with TaSPX1 and TaSPX5 proteins, which is regarded as a novel interaction mode. Under different Pi gradient treatments, TaPHRs showed low inducible expression patterns among all subfamilies. Our study is the first to comprehensively clarify the basic properties of TaPHR proteins and might accumulate basic data for improving grain yield and environmental homeostasis.

以黄河三角洲地区典型滨海盐碱地为研究对象,结合山东滨州、东营小麦生产实际,从农田改造、土壤改良、耕种方式、耐盐碱小麦品种选择、种子处理、栽培管理6个方面对环渤海滨海盐碱地小麦丰产技术进行分析.汇总实用技术与产品,比较目前主流技术优缺点.总结滨海盐碱地开展小麦生产和综合利用的高效技术方案.强调在生产中因地制宜、灵活运用,充分考虑便利性、经济性和可持续性.提出在生产过程中改良、在改良过程中提升生产水平,循序渐进,最终实现良性循环的综合利用思路.为进一步提升环渤海滨海盐碱地小麦生产水平提供参考和技术支持.

PHO基因家族主要参与磷酸盐的转运,在植物生长发育中起重要作用.为研究小麦PHO基因家族成员的潜在功能,本研究从小麦全基因组中鉴定PHO基因家族成员,并利用生物信息学手段对其基因结构特征、蛋白结构域、系统进化、顺式作用元件及表达特性进行分析.结果在小麦全基因组中共鉴定到12个PHO基因家族成员,所有成员均含有SPX和EXS结构域.系统进化、保守结构域和基因结构分析发现,小麦PHO蛋白与拟南芥PHO1-H1蛋白以及水稻PHO1蛋白亲缘关系较近;除TaPHO7、TaPHO10、TaPHO11和TaPHO12蛋白缺少部分基序外,其余小麦PHO蛋白均具有完整基序,且同一亚组内的成员具有相似的蛋白保守结构域和基因结构,说明PHO亚家族成员间高度保守.顺式作用元件分析发现,小麦PHO基因启动子区域含有与磷调控相关的激素诱导、光响应、低温响应等元件.基于RNA_seq数据的组织特异性分析发现,大部分PHO基因在根中的表达量较高.qRT-PCR分析发现,低磷胁迫处理下磷高效小麦品种小偃54地下部分(根)TaPHO7和TaPHO8基因的表达量显著高于对照.

In order to study the heredity and gene expression differences of wheat nitrogen metabolism-related indices, five wheat varieties with different nitrogen use efficiency and their six hybrid progenies were used as materials. Samples were grown in Hoagland’s nutrient solution with 2 nitrate levels at seedling stage: low nitrogen（LN） and normal nitrogen（CK） at 0.4 and 4.0 mmol·L -1 ,respectively. Heredity of morphology, antioxidant enzymes and nitrogen metabolism-related enzymes were explored, which will provide a theoretical basis for selecting wheat cultivars with high nitrogen utilization. The results showed that the root fresh weight under low nitrogen level was significantly higher than that under the normal nitrogen level, and the heterosis showed super-middle-parent or below-mid-parent; while the seedling fresh weight was lower than that under the normal nitrogen level at low nitrogen level, and the heterosis showed middle parent. Under two nitrogen levels, the activities of NR,GS and GDH enzymes in N-efficient wheat varieties were higher than those in N-inefficient wheat varieties, and most of the crosses showed positive heterosis. The content of MDA in wheat leaves under normal N level was lower than that under low N level, and the heterosis under low N level was super middle parent or low parent. The soluble protein content showed positive heterosis at both nitrogen levels, and super parental dominance at low nitrogen levels. These results indicated that nitrogen efficient cultivars showed better growth potential under low nitrogen conditions, and nitrogen efficient cultivars as parents can improve the nitrogen use efficiency of hybrid combinations. Therefore, it is an effective way for nitrogen efficient breeding of wheat by using nitrogen efficient heterosis to configure hybrid combinations.

二系杂交小麦育种是小麦产量提高的重要途径之一.光温敏雄性不育小麦生殖生长过程中花药的发育及开裂情况直接影响杂交小麦的制种效率和产量.植物花药的开裂与脱水活动紧密相关.水通道蛋白(aquaporins,AQPs)是高效转运水分及特异小分子的膜内在蛋白,其中质膜内在蛋白(plasma membrane intrinsic proteins,PIPs)在水分的吸收与外排中发挥着重要作用.为进一步了解水通道蛋白在小麦光温敏核雄性不育系花药开裂中的作用提供理论基础.本研究以不育系BS366花药的cDNA为模板,克隆获得了TaPIP1基因.利用生物信息学软件对TaPIP1进行分析,该基因包含一个879 bp的开放阅读框,编码292个氨基酸.TaPIP1的启动子区存在赤霉素、脱落酸、茉莉酸和光等响应元件.TaPIP1属于MIP超家族,具有典型的NPA保守结构域,亚细胞定位于细胞质膜与核膜上.miRNA互作预测发现TaPIP1受tae-miR1131与tae-miR408的剪切抑制,表明TaPIP1可能和与植物的抗氧化能力相关.通过蛋白互作预测及qPCR实验,表明TaPIP1可与热激蛋白(heat shock protein 90,TaHSP90)相互作用,在高温和干旱复合胁迫下,参与花药细胞壁膨压调控,进而调控花药的开裂.

The calmodulin-binding transcription activator (CAMTA) is a Ca2+/CaM-mediated transcription factor (TF) that modulates plant stress responses and development. Although the investigations of CAMTAs in various organisms revealed a broad range of functions from sensory mechanisms to physiological activities in crops, little is known about the CAMTA family in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Here, we systematically analyzed phylogeny, gene expansion, conserved motifs, gene structure, cis-elements, chromosomal localization, and expression patterns of CAMTA genes in wheat. We described and confirmed, via molecular evolution and functional verification analyses, two new members of the family, TaCAMTA5-B.1 and TaCAMTA5-B.2. In addition, we determined that the expression of most TaCAMTA genes responded to several abiotic stresses (drought, salt, heat, and cold) and ABA during the seedling stage, but it was mainly induced by drought stress. Our study provides considerable information about the changes in gene expression in wheat under stress, notably that drought stress-related gene expression in TaCAMTA1b-B.1 transgenic lines was significantly upregulated under drought stress. In addition to providing a comprehensive view of CAMTA genes in wheat, our results indicate that TaCAMTA1b-B.1 has a potential role in the drought stress response induced by a water deficit at the seedling stage.

小麦种质烟农74(11)是20世纪70年代烟台农业科学院选育的小麦育种中间材料,衍生了鲁麦14、鲁麦13、烟农19等多个大面积推广品种,并以这些品种为育种亲本,选育出多个国审小麦品种,是近期山东省小麦育种的基础.选用烟农74(11)种质衍生品种(系)62份、非烟农74(11)种质衍生品种(系)58份,共计120份实验材料,采用小麦90K芯片,分析了供试材料的遗传关系.共获得26 026个有效SNP位点,其中A、B、D基因组各占32.17％、40.69％和7.64％.供试群体多态性信息含量(PIC)为0.18～0.31,平均为0.25,低于SSR标记揭示的遗传多样性.分析了全部材料组(组Ⅰ)和烟农74(11)衍生材料组(组Ⅱ)遗传相似性系数,发现组Ⅰ材料间的遗传相似性系数在0.61～0.70的占59.44％、0.71～0.80的占32.98％、≥0.91的占0.80％;组Ⅱ的遗传相似性系数在 0.61～0.70 的占 26.77％、0.71～0.80 的占 53.22％、0.81～0.90 的占 17.26％,≥0.91 的占 2.75％,这表明烟农74(11)种质衍生后代间的遗传关系比较狭窄,需要拓宽遗传基础.此外,对几个经典小麦杂交组合进行了遗传相似性系数分析,发现子代和上缘亲本间的遗传相似性系数为0.68～0.87,平均为0.79;姊妹系间为0.84～0.87,父母本间为0.65～0.71.通过经典组合分析并结合当前小麦遗传关系狭窄的现实,建议在中短期育种目标中,双亲遗传相似性系数最好控制在0.8以下;在中长期育种目标中,双亲遗传相似性系数最好控制在0.7以下.

BACKGROUND:As one of the microelements, nitrogen play essential roles in cereal production. Although the use of chemical fertilizers has significantly improved the yield of wheat, it has also caused increasingly adverse environmental pollution. Revealing the molecular mechanism manipulating wheat nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), and cultivating wheat germplasms with high nitrogen use efficiency has become important goals for wheat researchers. In this study, we investigated the physiological and transcriptional differences of three wheat cultivars with different NUE under low nitrogen stress.RESULTS:The results showed that, under low nitrogen conditions, the activities of nitrogen metabolism-related enzymes (GS, NR, GDH), antioxidant enzymes (SOD, POD, CAT) and soluble protein contents of ZM366 (high NUE cultivar) were higher than those of JD8 (low NUE cultivar). The hybrid cultivar of ZM366 and JD8 showed mid-parent or over-parent heterosis. Transcriptome analysis revealed that 'alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism', 'terpenoid backbone biosynthesis' and 'vitamin B6 metabolism' pathways play key roles in nitrogen use efficiency in wheat. The significant enhancement of the 'Calvin cycle' and 'photorespiration' in ZM366 contributed to its higher level of carbon metabolism under low nitrogen stress, which is an important attribute differs from the other two varieties. In addition, the activation of ABA signal transduction and biosynthesis pathways also helps to maintain NUE under low- nitrogen conditions. Moreover, bHLH transcription factors were also found to play a positive role in wheat NUE.CONCLUSIONS:In conclusion, these results enriched our knowledge of the mechanism of wheat NUE, and provided a theoretical basis for improving wheat NUE and breeding new cultivars.