Weak seed dormancy (SD) is prone to pre-harvest sprouting (PHS), which reduces cereal yield and quality. Here, through map-based analysis, we identify TaCNGC-2A, encoding a cyclic nucleotide-gated channel protein, as a negative regulator of wheat SD. Knocking out of TaCNGC-2A enhances SD and PHS resistance, with no yield penalty. Two transcription factors, TaMYB-5B and TaMYB-5D, directly bind to the T/A mutation site of TaCNGC-2A promoter to synergistically repress its expression. The calmodulin TaCaM-3A interacts with TaCNGC-2A to jointly modulate SD and PHS resistance through influencing calcium and multiple hormonal signaling pathways. Knocking out of TaCaM-3A not only enhances SD and PHS resistance, but also increases grain weight and per-plant yield. Finally, we identify allele combinations of TaCNGC-2A and other known dormancy genes associated with strong SD. This study uncovers a regulatory mechanism underlying SD and PHS resistance and provides gene targets for breeding wheat varieties with PHS resistance.

Abstract In wheat, weak seed dormancy (SD) is related to an increased tendency for pre-harvest sprouting (PHS), which reduces yield and quality. However, the molecular mechanism underlying SD remains elusive. Here, we identified a wheat R2R3-MYB transcription factor ( TaMYB83-7B ) related to SD. Expression analysis showed that TaMYB83-7B was highly expressed in wheat seeds, and was more highly expressed in strong-dormancy varieties than in weak-dormancy varieties. Sequence and association analysis indicated that T/C mutations at −907 bp and −1133 bp in the TaMYB83-7B promoter were significantly associated with wheat SD, with C at both sites related to strong dormancy. Dual-luciferase reporter assays demonstrated that the transcriptional activity of the TaMYB83-7B promoter was significantly higher in strong-dormancy varieties than in weak-dormancy varieties. Further analyses indicated that TaMYB83-7B functions as a transcriptional inhibitor. Germination experiments revealed that overexpression of TaMYB83-7B significantly enhanced SD, while its loss-of-function reduced SD. Finally, TaMYB83-7B was found to regulate SD by influencing the balance between abscisic acid (ABA) and gibberellin (GA) in wheat seeds. Overall, the results of this study enhance our understanding of the complex regulatory mechanism underlying SD, and provide gene targets and molecular markers for the genetic improvement of PHS resistance in wheat.

Understanding the regulatory mechanisms underlying wheat plant architecture is essential for yield improvement and molecular breeding. The miR156-SPL module plays a pivotal role in controlling plant architecture and agronomic traits, however, its regulatory functions in wheat remain incompletely understood. In this study, we first report the miR156h-TaSPL4-TaPIN18 module regulates plant architecture and grain size by modulating auxin transport in wheat. Overexpression of miR156h resulted in reducing the size of leaf, spikelet and grain, accompanied by increased tillering and a more compact plant architecture. And miR156h directly cleaves and suppresses the expression of TaSPL4. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout of TaSPL4 leads to increased tiller number, compact growth, and significant reductions in grain width and thousand-grain weight. In contrast, overexpression of TaSPL4 reduced tillering, increased tiller angle, and significantly enhanced grain length, grain width, and thousand-grain weight, highlighting its critical role in regulating plant architecture and grain size. Furthermore, we identified TaPIN18 as a novel downstream gene regulated by TaSPL4 and demonstrated that TaSPL4 positively regulates TaPIN18 expression and mediates auxin transport and distribution. Taken together, our findings reveal a previously uncharacterised miR156h-TaSPL4-TaPIN18 regulatory module that modulates wheat plant architecture and grain size, and provides potential molecular targets for yield improvement.

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a crucial global cereal crop, but its yield is severely affected by Leaf rust (LR) caused by Puccinia triticina. LR results in reddish-brown lesions on wheat leaves, which disrupt photosynthesis and reduce crop productivity. This study identifies three novel quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with LR resistance in wheat and evaluates optimal cross combinations within a segregating F2 population. Yield-related traits including 1000-grain weight, peduncle length, spike length, and grain yield per plant were evaluated over three replications. The parental genotypes, AN179, AN1687, PR123, and PR127, demonstrated high potential for both yield and reduced LR infection rates. Among the crosses, AN179 x PR127 was the most effective, exhibiting healthier grains, higher grain counts per spike, longer peduncles for better photosynthate translocation, and adult plant resistance to slow rusting. Disease severity ranged from 2.9 % to 29.1 % in the parental genotypes and from 4.7 % to 51.1 % in the crosses. Parents PR123, PR127, AN179, and AN1687 showed resistance to field disease severity. The crosses AN176 x PR127, AN1687 x PR123, and AN179 x PR123 exhibited high resistance, while AN179 x PR127 showed the lowest field disease severity at 4.7 %. A linkage map of the F2 population revealed three novel LR resistance QTLs on chromosomes 2AS, 1BL, and 6B in the cross AN179 x PR127. Microsatellite markers Xgwm273, Xgwm610, and Xgwm493 were closely linked to these QTLs. These novel QTLs can be utilized in wheat hybridization programs for marker-assisted selection and pyramiding of all-stage LR genes to enhance resistance.

ABSTRACT Leaf rust (LR) poses a global threat to wheat crops and can lead to severe yield losses if environmental conditions favour its spread. Using resistant wheat cultivars offers a sustainable approach to managing LR. This study aimed to identify promising wheat lines for LR‐resistance breeding using classical analytical methods to screen for LR tolerance. We evaluated 10 parental lines, comprising 6 lines and 4 testers, crossed into 24 combinations using a line × tester mating design. These germplasm were grown in a triplicate RCB design under both optimal and LR‐stress conditions. We recorded data on various morphological, physiochemical, yield and component traits at key growth stages. The analysis of combining ability indicated significant variations among genotypes, with non‐additive gene action influencing most traits. Four promising parents (AN179, AN1687, PR123 and PR127) and two crosses (AN179 × PR127 and AN179 × PR123) showed high combining ability for yield traits under LR‐stress. Cluster analysis revealed divergent groups among the genotypes, with shifting clustering under LR‐stress suggesting varied genotypic responses. Factor analysis identified genotypes that performed consistently well under LR‐stress. These genotypes are suitable for use in LR‐resistance breeding programs. We also recommend peduncle length and tillers per plant as phenotypic markers for wheat selection and breeding due to their positive correlation with grain yield. The findings of this study can contribute valuable insights to sustainable wheat breeding research.

Leaf rust (LR) epidemics present a persistent threat to global wheat production, despite the presence of resistance (Lr) genes in wheat. The evolving pathogen Puccinia triticina continually challenges these resistance mechanisms. This study assessed 10 wheat lines for relative resistance index (RRI) and screened them for Lr genes or quantitative trait loci (QTLs) using microsatellite markers. The lines were classified into three groups: Ssusceptible (< 5; 4.32 +/- 0.68), moderate (5-7; 6.05 +/- 0.67) and resistant (> 7; 8.50 +/- 0.22) (p < 0.001). Genetic analysis with 12 polymorphic markers revealed 186 alleles with varying allelic diversity. Markers Xbarc124 and Xgwm512 showed greater diversity, and resistance-related alleles were linked to markers Xgwm512 and Xgwm493, associated with the Lr34 gene. Moderate associations were found with Lr37 (Xbarc1138 and Xgwm400) and Lr24 (Xgwm273), while Lr26 (Xwmc407) was linked to susceptibility. Parental line crosses resulted in higher RRI, indicating beneficial recombination. Structure analysis revealed genetic diversity among resistance groups, with susceptible groups showing distinct clustering. Lines AN179 and PR127 clustered together, showing key resistance alleles, particularly in crosses with resistant PR123. The findings highlight novel pathogen races contributing to resistance breakdown and suggest combining all-stage resistance genes (Lr9, Lr24, Lr37) with adult plant resistance (APR) genes (Lr48, Lr22a, Lr34, Lr46) for durable LR resistance. The identified alleles offer valuable insights for marker-assisted breeding to enhance wheat resistance to LR.

A new stripe rust resistance gene YrAn1589 in Chinese wheat Annong1589 was mapped to a 160.9-166.6 kb interval on chromosome arm 3BL and co-segregated with a marker CAPS9 developed from candidate gene TraesCS3B03G1054600. Stripe rust, caused by Puccinia. striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst), is a devastating fungal disease that can significantly reduce wheat yield. The Chinese wheat cultivar Annong1589 demonstrates high resistance against the predominant Pst races in the Huang-Huai valley wheat region. The present study aimed to identify the stripe rust resistance gene in Annong1589. Genetic analysis indicated that the resistance in Annong1589 was conferred by a single dominant gene, provisionally designated YrAn1589. Using Wheat660K SNP array, bulked segregant RNA sequencing and new molecular markers developed, the resistance gene was mapped to a 160.9–166.6 kb region between CAPS8 and CAPS10 on chromosome 3BL based on IWGSC CS RefSeq v2.1 and eight other reference genome sequences, including eight high-confidence annotated genes. Transcriptome and qRT-PCR analyses revealed significantly upregulated expression of TraesCS3B03G1054600 in resistant plants following CYR32 inoculation, suggesting it is a potential candidate gene for YrAn1589. A functional marker CAPS9 developed from a A/G polymorphic SNP in the candidate co-segregated with YrAn1589 in the F2 population. Subcellular localization experiments showed that TraesCS3B03G1054600 protein was localized in the cytoplasm and nucleus, implying its role in immune response and resistance. Our findings establish YrAn1589 as a new stripe rust resistance gene, providing valuable gene resource and molecular markers for improvement of stripe rust resistance in wheat.

A new stripe rust resistance gene YrBDT in Chinese landrace wheat Baidatou was mapped to a 943.6-kb interval on chromosome arm 6DS and co-segregated with a marker CAPS3 developed from candidate gene TraesCS6D03G0027300. Stripe rust caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst) is a devastating foliar disease of wheat. Chinese landrace wheat Baidatou has shown high resistance to a broad spectrum of Pst races at both the seedling and adult-plant stages for decades in the Longnan region of Gansu province, a hot spot for stripe rust epidemics. Here, we report fine mapping and candidate gene analysis of stripe rust resistance gene YrBDT in Baidatou. Analysis of F1, F2 plants and F2:3 lines indicated that resistance in Baidatou to Pst race CYR31 was conferred by a single dominant gene, temporarily designated YrBDT. Bulked segregant exome capture sequencing (BSE-seq) analysis revealed 61 high-confidence polymorphic SNPs concentrated in a 5.4-Mb interval at the distal of chromosome arm 6DS. Several SNPs and InDels were also identified by genome mining of DNA sampled from the parents and contrasting bulks. The YrBDT locus was mapped to a 943.6-kb (4,658,322–5,601,880 bp) genomic region spanned by markers STS2 and STS3 based on IWGSC RefSeq v2.1, including five putative disease resistance genes. There was high collinearity of the target interval among Chinese Spring RefSeq v2.1, Ae. tauschii AL8/78 and Fielder genomes. The expression level of TraesCS6D03G0027300 showed significant association with Pst infection, and a gene-specific marker CAPS3 developed from TraesCS6D03G0027300 co-segregated with YrBDT suggesting this gene as a candidate of YrBDT. The resistance gene and flanking markers can be used in marker-assisted selection for improvement of stripe rust resistance.

The microRNA156 (miR156) has been widely studied in plants, however, the characterization of the miR156 family of genes in wheat and their expression patterns under abiotic stress are not completely clear. In this study, a total of 20 miR156 family members, referred to as tae-miR156a to tae-miR156t, were identified in wheat with their loci mapped to various chromosomes. These members were divided into five subgroups: miR156a/b/c/d/e/f, miR156g/h/i, miR156j/k, miR156l/m/n/o/p/q, and miR156r/s/t. They were highly conserved during evolution. The prediction of cis-elements in the tae-MIR156(s) promoter region revealed that the tae-MIR156(s) had diverse cis-acting elements; of these, 15 tae-MIR156(s) and 6 tae-MIR156(s) were found to be drought-responsive elements and cold-responsive elements, respectively. And the prediction target genes of tae-miR156(s) are mainly SPL transcription factor genes. Expression analysis based on quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‒PCR) showed that miR156(s) have different expression levels in the various wheat tissues, and the subgroups' response to abiotic stress varied. Among them, miR156g/h/i were strongly induced in the root of cold and heat stress, and miR156a/b/c/d/e/f were significantly increased in roots after drought stress, whereas miR156r/s/t were highly inhibited in leaves and roots after salt stress. These findings imply that tae-miR156(s) are involved in stress response in wheat, and they provide new fundamental knowledge for further analysis of the function of miR156 and its regulatory mechanism in response to abiotic stress.

Leaf rust (LR) epidemics present a persistent threat to global wheat production, despite the presence of resistance (Lr) genes in wheat. The evolving pathogen Puccinia triticina continually challenges these resistance mechanisms. This study assessed ten wheat lines for relative resistance index (RRI) and screened them for Lr genes or quantitative trait loci (QTLs) using microsatellite markers. The lines were classified into three groups: susceptible (< 5; 4.32 ± 0.68), moderate (5–7; 6.05 ± 0.67), and resistant (> 7; 8.50 ± 0.22) (p < 0.001). Genetic analysis with 12 polymorphic markers revealed 186 alleles with varying allelic diversity. Markers Xbarc124 and Xgwm512 showed greater diversity, and resistance-related alleles were linked to markers Xgwm512 and Xgwm493, associated with the Lr34 gene. Moderate associations were found with Lr37 (Xbarc1138 and Xgwm400) and Lr24 (Xgwm273), while Lr26 (Xwmc407) was linked to susceptibility. Parental line crosses resulted in higher RRI, indicating beneficial recombination. Structure analysis revealed genetic diversity among resistance groups, with susceptible groups showing distinct clustering. Lines AN179 and PR127 clustered together, showing key resistance alleles, particularly in crosses with resistant PR123. The findings highlight novel pathogen races contributing to resistance breakdown and suggest combining all-stage resistance genes (Lr9, Lr24, Lr37) with adult plant resistance genes (Lr48, Lr22a, Lr34, Lr46) for durable LR resistance. The identified alleles offer valuable insights for marker-assisted breeding to enhance wheat resistance to leaf rust.

In this comprehensive genome-wide study, we identified and classified 83 Xylanase Inhibitor Protein (XIP) genes in wheat, grouped into five distinct categories, to enhance understanding of wheat's resistance to Fusarium head blight (FHB), a significant fungal threat to global wheat production. Our analysis reveals the unique distribution of XIP genes across wheat chromosomes, particularly at terminal regions, suggesting their role in the evolutionary expansion of the gene family. Several XIP genes lack signal peptides, indicating potential alternative secretion pathways that could be pivotal in plant defense against FHB. The study also uncovers the sequence homology between XIPs and chitinases, hinting at a functional diversification within the XIP gene family. Additionally, the research explores the association of XIP genes with plant immune mechanisms, particularly their linkage with plant hormone signaling pathways like abscisic acid and jasmonic acid. XIP-7A3, in particular, demonstrates a significant increase in expression upon FHB infection, highlighting its potential as a key candidate gene for enhancing wheat's resistance to this disease. This research not only enriches our understanding of the XIP gene family in wheat but also provides a foundation for future investigations into their role in developing FHB-resistant wheat cultivars. The findings offer significant implications for wheat genomics and breeding, contributing to the development of more resilient crops against fungal diseases.

In order to clarify the relationship between the morphological and structural characteristics of stem basal node 2 and lodging resistance in wheat, we explored key stem morphological indicators and Quantitative trait loci（QTL）sites for lodging resistance.120 RILs families were selected as research materials, and stem strength, basal second internode length, stem diameter, wall thickness, cellulose content and lignin content were measured in 2020 and 2021,respectively.Multiple regression analysis and QTL locations were performed by combining 55K SNP data.The results showed that the stem strength was significantly or extremely significantly positively correlated with the stem diameter and wall thickness of the second basal internode, and was extremely significantly positively correlated with the cellulose content and lignin content of the second basal internode.Multiple regression analysis showed that cellulose content in basal second internode was the key index affecting stalk strength of wheat.A total of 19 QTLs related to stem traits were detected on chromosomes 1A,1D,2B,2D,4D,5A,5B,5D and 7B,explaining 7.67% to 65.33% of the phenotypic variation.On chromosome 1D,the QTL linked to AX-110771095 and AX-109431570 simultaneously controlled the basal second internode length, wall thickness and cellulose content, explaining the phenotypic contribution of 7.96%—10.76%.

Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a devastating fungal disease that poses a significant threat to wheat production, causing substantial yield losses. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of wheat resistance to FHB is crucial for developing effective disease management strategies. This study aimed to investigate the mechanisms of FHB resistance and the patterns of toxin accumulation in three wheat cultivars, Annong8455, Annong1589, and Sumai3, with different levels of resistance, ranging from low to high respectively, under natural field conditions. Samples were taken at three different grain-filling stages (5, 10, and 15 DPA) for gene expression analysis and phenotypic observation. Results found that toxin concentration was inversely correlated with varietal resistance but not correlated with disease phenotypes, indicating that toxin analysis is a more accurate measure of disease status in wheat ears and grains. Transcriptomic data showed that Sumai3 exhibited a stronger immune response during all stages of grain filling by upregulating genes involved in the active destruction of pathogens and removal of toxins. In contrast, Annong1589 showed a passive prevention of the spread of toxins into cells by the upregulation of genes involved in tyramine biosynthesis at the early stage (5 DPA), which may be involved in cell wall strengthening. Our study demonstrates the complexity of FHB resistance in wheat, with cultivars exhibiting unique and overlapping defense mechanisms, and highlights the importance of considering the temporal and spatial dynamics of gene expression in breeding programs for developing more resistant wheat cultivars.

为更好适应新农科对高等农林教育创新发展的需求,本研究设计并收集了 363 份有关农学类专业核心课"作物育种学实习"教学现状与问题的调查问卷.结果表明,学生对待实习的整体态度是积极的,但也存在一些突出问题.基于问题分析和教学探索,提出了改革方向:教学内容方面,应当充分尊重学生心声,以新农科培养目标为导向,突出课程的"综合性+应用性+实践性",提高学生动手能力;课程体系建设方面,应与授课教师团队科学研究结合,实现"理论+科研+实习"协同,提高学生的理论水平和综合素养;条件保障建设方面,应优化实习课时设计、完善实习基地建设及改进实习考核方式等措施,提高学生实习积极性.结果为新农科背景下农学类"作物育种学实习"教学改革提供依据和参考.

Additional file 3: Table S2. Transcriptome reads and reference genome comparison rate statistics results.

Based on four years'phenotypic data,and combined with 13 molecular markers developed and identified in our laboratory,833 wheat germplasm resources(including 278 wheat micro-core germplasms,124 local varieties and 431 modem promoted varieties and advanced lines)were identified for pre-harvest sprouting(PHS)resistance.The results showed that the differences in relative germination index(RGI)were significant or extremely significant between the resistance and sensitive alleles(R/S)of the 13 molecular markers,respectively.Among these markers,the largest difference between R/S was identified in TaMFT-222 and TaMFT-194 markers,which U values were 14.98**and 11.30**,respectively,and reached the extremely significant level.The RGI could be reduced from 0.21 to 0.32 by the two resistant alleles,respectively.The next markers were Sdr2A,CNGC2AL,Vpl-b2,TaMKK3-A,PM19,CAPS-2AL,A17-19 and EX06323,as well as the signifiicant differences in PHS resistance were also detected among R/S alleles.The Qsd1 and Barc321 markers could also significantly distinguish PHS resistance between R/S alleles.A total of 63 germplasm resources with high PHS resistance were identified in this study.The 41 germplasms mainly including red-grained and local varieties had higher PHS re-sistance than that of the 22 germplasms mostly with the white grained.Through using hybridization combined with marker-assisted selection,the PHS resistance genes/loci were pyramided,and 12 new breeding materials with high pre-harvest sprouting resistance were created,which carried at least 3 genes/loci for PHS resistance.The re-sult can provide important genetic resources for breeding new varieties with high PHS resistance.

Identification and accurate mapping of new resistance genes are essential for gene pyramiding in wheat breeding. The YrJ22 gene is a dominant stripe-rust-resistance gene located at the distal end of chromosome 2AL, which was identified in a leading Chinese-wheat variety, Jimai 22, showing high resistance to CYR32, a prevalent race of Puccinia striiformis tritici (Pst) in China. In the current study, 15 F1 and 2273 F2 plants derived from the cross of Jimai 22/Avocet S were used for the fine-mapping of YrJ22. The RNA-Seq of resistant and susceptible bulks of F2 plants (designated BSR-Seq) identified 10 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in a 12.09 Mb physical interval on chromosome 2AL. A total of 1022 EMS-induced M3 lines of Jimai 22 were screened, to identify susceptible mutants for MutMap analysis. Four CAPS markers were developed from SNPs identified using BSR-Seq and MutMap. A linkage map for YrJ22 was constructed with 11 CAPS/STS and three SSR markers. YrJ22 was located at a 0.9 cM genetic interval flanked by markers H736 and H400, corresponding to a 340.46 kb physical region (768.7–769.0 Mb), including 13 high-confidence genes based on the Chinese Spring reference genome. TraesCS2A01G573200 is a potential candidate-gene, according to linkage and quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) analyses. The CAPS marker H732 designed from an SNP in TraesCS2A01G573200 co-segregated with YrJ22. These results provide a useful stripe-rust-resistance gene and molecular markers for marker-assisted selection in wheat breeding and for further cloning of the gene.

为测定小麦籽粒中因赤霉病产生的毒素脱氧雪腐镰刀菌烯醇(deoxynivalenol,DON)、雪腐镰刀菌烯醇(nivalenol,NIV)和玉米赤霉烯酮(zearalenone,ZEN),本研究构建了一种多功能净化柱-超高效液相色谱-二极管阵列检测器(multifunctional column-ultra performance liquid chromatography-diode array detec-tor,MFC-UPLC-DAD)方法,可同时测定上述三种毒素,对该方法与多功能净化柱-高效液相色谱-二极管阵列 检测器(multifunctional column-high performance liquid chromatography-diode array detector,MFC-HPLC-DAD)法测定9个小麦品种中上述3种毒素含量的结果进行比较;并用MFC-UPLC-DAD法检测了 129份小麦品种(系)的毒素含量.结果显示,MFC-UPLC-DAD法检测三种毒素在检测范围内(0.01～10.00μg·mL-1)标准曲线的相关系数均大于0.994;三种毒素的检出限为15～78μg·kg-1;回收率在80.25％～118.35％之间,相对标准偏差为0.20％～1.92％;9份小麦品种中,3种毒素含量的测定结果在两种方法间差异均不显著.利用MFC-UPLC-DAD法测定自然发病的129份材料发现,DON毒素与NIV毒素检出率较高,分别为99％和92％;符合限量标准且毒素含量较低的材料共80份.本研究构建的MFC-UPLC-DAD法可同时测定小麦种DON、NIV和ZEN含量,测定结果重复性好,准确度高,可对抗赤霉病育种提供方便.

Wheat yellow rust (YR) caused by Puccinia striiformis is lethal for the leaf photosynthetic process, which substantially affects yield components and ultimately causes drastic yield reduction. The current study aimed to identify all-stage YR resistance linked QTLs in the best cross-combination. Experimental materials were phenotyped for disease severity in YR-hot spot area at Cereal Crops Research Institute, Pirsabak Pakistan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in 2019 and 2020 and 2020 and 2021 Rabi seasons. The AN179 × KS17 was found to be the best cross combination, which showed high resistance to YR, whereas crosses AN179 × PK15 and PR129 × PK15 demonstrated susceptibility to YR with high disease severity. The recombinant inbred lines (RIL) F2 wheat population Annong-179/Khaista-17 demonstrated highly desirable YR resistance and yield component traits. Simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers were used to genotype the RIL population and their parents. Three novel QTLs linked to all-stage YR resistance were found on chromosomes 2BS, 3BS and 6BS, which explained 1.24, 0.54, and 0.75 phenotypic variance, respectively. Incorporation of the newly identified novel YR-resistance associated QTLs into hybridization wheat breeding program could be effective for marker-assisted selection of the improved and sustainable resistance.

The AP2/ERF is a large protein family of transcription factors, playing an important role in signal transduction, plant growth, development, and response to various stresses. AP2/ERF super-family is identified and functionalized in a different plant but no comprehensive and systematic analysis in wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) has been reported. However, a genome-wide and functional analysis was performed and identified 322 TaAP2/ERF putative genes from the wheat genome. According to the phylogenetic and structural analysis, TaAP2/ERF genes were divided into 12 subfamilies (Ia, Ib, Ic, IIa, IIb, IIc, IIIa, IIIb, IIIc, IVa, IVb, and IVc). Furthermore, conserved motifs and introns/exons analysis revealed may lead to functional divergence within clades. Cis -Acting analysis indicated that many elements were involved in stress-related and plant development. Chromosomal location showed that 320 AP2/ERF genes were distributed among 21 chromosomes and 2 genes were present in a scaffold. Interspecies microsynteny analysis revealed that maximum orthologous between Arabidopsis , rice followed by wheat. Segment duplication events have contributed to the expansion of the AP2/ERF family and made this family larger than rice and Arabidopsis . Additionally, AP2/ERF genes were differentially expressed in wheat seedlings under the stress treatments of heat, salt, and drought, and expression profiles were verified by qRT-PCR. Remarkably, the RNA-seq data exposed that AP2/ERF gene family might play a vital role in stress-related. Taken together, our findings provided useful and helpful information to understand the molecular mechanism and evolution of the AP2/ERF gene family in wheat.