Breeding wheat for resistance to major rust diseases stem rust (Puccinia graminis), stripe rust (Puccinia striiformis), and leaf rust (Puccinia triticina) is a pivotal strategy for advancing sustainable agronomic systems, safeguarding yield potential, and reducing dependence on fungicides. This effort employs race-specific resistance genes, including Lr47, Lr52, Yr5, Yr10, Yr36, Sr31, and Sr24, which confer high efficacy against specific pathogen races but are vulnerable to evolving virulent strains. To complement this, durable adult plant resistance (APR) genes such as Lr34, Lr46, and Sr57 provide broad-spectrum and long-lasting defense by modulating systemic resistance pathways. These genes trigger mechanisms like enhanced signaling cascades and antimicrobial compound synthesis. Genetic introgression from wild relatives, such as Triticum turgidum and Aegilops spp., enriches the wheat gene pool with novel resistance alleles. Cutting-edge methodologies, including marker-assisted selection (MAS), genomic selection, and pathogen monitoring, accelerate the incorporation of resistance genes while mitigating risks posed by pathogen adaptation. Through the strategic integration of genetic resistance and molecular precision, this multidimensional approach forms the basis for the creation of durable resistant varieties. These varieties ensure agronomic sustainability and enhance crop defense against biotic stresses, accounting for the complexities of evolving agro-ecological and climatic dynamics.

The research work presented in this manuscript was carried out to know the pattern of various osmolytes accumulation in maize plants exposed to heat stress after application of different types and modes of extracts of moringa plants. Two maize hybrids (SB-11 heat tolerant, ICI-984 heat sensitive) were grown under control and heat stress conditions. These were exposed to exogenously application of water and aqueous leaf (fresh and shade dried) and flower extracts of moringa plant using three different modes i.e., seed priming, medium supplementation and foliar spray. Data suggested that all the types and modes of moringa extract applications were substantially effectual in enhancing the osmolytes synthesis. Maize plants from heat tolerant hybrid indicated a greater while heat stressed plants revealed a lesser accumulation of all the omsolytes. Among the modes of extract application, the medium supplementation of extracts was substantially more effectual than foliar spray while seed priming was the least effectual. Moreover, among the osmolytes, the most conspicuous accumulation was recorded for shoot free proline and shoot glycinebetaine, while total free amino acids did not display much variation across the application modes. The differences in the synthesis of osmolytes may be attributable to the possible differences in the phytochemical constituents of extracts. Such a biosynthesis pattern of osmolytes may lead to heat tolerance in maize hybrids.

Crop production and yields can be increased either by expanding the agricultural land or by enhancing crop productivity per unit area.Historically in early decades of the 20th century, it was known that extending crop growing area was a prime factor for

The research experiment was conducted to know the photosynthetic parameters in maize plants exposed to high temperature after applying different methods and types of extracts of Moringa oleifera for mitigating heat stress. Two maize hybrid varieties namely SB-11 (heat tolerant) and ICI-984 (heat sensitive) raised under control (ambient temperature 25 degrees C) and high temperature (35 degrees C) conditions. To lessen the effect of thermal stress, these hybrid maize plants were exposed to exogenously application of aqueous leaf (fresh and shade dried) and flower extracts of M. oleifera using 3 methods such as seed priming, foliar spray and medium supplementation. The data regarding various photosynthetic pigment parameters like chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, carotenoids and their ratios were recorded. The results depicted that foliar application of M. oleifera extracts was the most effective in increasing the amount of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and carotenoid contents and soil application of moringa extract was more favorable towards enhancing total chlorophyll pigments. Moringa oleifera dry leaves extract (MDLE) applied through foliar application and medium supplementation modes was the most effective in improving the photosynthetic pigments in heat tolerant hybrid under heat stress. Thus increased accumulation of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and reduced chlorophyll-to-carotenoids ratio shown by SB-11 (a heat tolerant maize hybrid) resulted in enhancing photosynthetic pigments leading directly to more photosynthesis and indirectly to the heat tolerance. This study would be helpful in alleviating the adverse effects of heat on photosynthetic machinery and thus increasing the yield of maize under heat stress.

He at stress induced oxidative damage is a major reason for reduced productivity in crop plants. This problem needs to be addressed by different ways and means but ecofriendly means, may be the application of aqueous extracts of different parts of plants. In this study, optimized concentration of 3% aqueous moringa fresh leaf extracts (MFLE), 10% aqueous moringa dry leaf extract (MDLE) and 15% moringa flower extract (MFE) were used for medium supplementation to find out effectiveness and possible mechanism involved in abolishing the heat-induced oxidative damage in selected heat tolerant and heat sensitive maize (Zea mays L.) hybrids. For the induction of heat stress, one set of ten day old plants was grown in plexiglass fitted canopies wherein the average temperature was 7-10 degrees C higher than ambient while a control set was grown in the open net house. The plants were harvested after ten days of exposure to heat stress. Results revealed that heat stress induced the production of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and malondialdehyde (MDA), while reduced the biosynthesis of ascorbic acid, niacin, riboflavin, soluble phenolics and anthocyanins both in the shoot and root. Although application of all the extracts was beneficial in improving heat tolerance in both the maize hybrids, MDLE was the most effective followed by MFLE and MFE. The changes were observed in terms of reduction in the H2O2 and MDA generation, vitamins and phenolics synthesis. In conclusion, MDLE supplemented via medium was the most effective for improving heat tolerance in maize hybrids, although improvisation was substantially greater in maize hybrid SB-11. The extracts had a positive effect on the accumulation of vitamins and antioxidants with the production of ROS and minimizing the membrane peroxidation. (C) 2016 Friends Science Publishers