Semidwarf varieties of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) carrying Reduced height (Rht) genes revolutionized wheat production. Rht8, a widely deployed semidwarfing allele, encodes RNHL1 (ribonuclease H-Like 1); yet, the molecular mechanisms underlying its growth regulation remain unclear. Here, we uncover a liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS)-mediated transcriptional pathway by which RNHL1 controls plant height. We show that RNHL1 forms nuclear biomolecular condensates via its intrinsically disordered regions (IDR1 and IDR3) and physically interacts with the ethylene signaling transcription factor TaEIL1 (ethylene insensitive3-like 1) to establish functional transcriptional hubs. These RNHL1-TaEIL1 condensates directly bind and repress the ethylene response factor gene TaERF1 (Ethylene response factor 1), and TaERF1 suppresses the gibberellin (GA) biosynthetic gene TaGA3ox2 (Gibberellin 3-beta dioxygenase 2). Genetic analyses demonstrate that both RNHL1 and TaEIL1 positively regulate plant height, with loss-of-function mutants exhibiting similar dwarf phenotypes and convergent transcriptomic profiles. Importantly, we establish TaERF1 as a direct repressor of TaGA3ox2, completing a regulatory cascade in which RNHL1-TaEIL1 condensates modulate GA-mediated internode elongation. Our findings reveal an integration point between ethylene and GA signaling orchestrated by RNHL1-TaEIL1 phase separation and highlight RNHL1's roles in nucleic acid metabolism and transcriptional regulation. This study provides fundamental insights into LLPS-mediated growth control in crops and identifies specific protein domains as potential targets for wheat improvement.

Global warming poses a substantial threat to crop productivity, yet the genetic basis of thermotolerance in wheat remains poorly understood. Here we cloned a heat stress tolerance (HST) gene, TaHST2, and revealed that it underwent functional silencing during wheat domestication. As a negative regulator of basal HST, TaHST2 was progressively suppressed through intronic sequence polymorphisms and epigenetic modifications, which might be an evolutionary consequence of hexaploidization. Haplotype analysis suggests strong artificial selection against TaHST2 expression, favouring improved thermotolerance in cultivated wheat. Further studies demonstrated that TaHST2 encodes a ubiquitin hydrolase that stabilizes HST repression proteins TaHSC701 and TaHSC702, thereby modulating heat response pathways. Our findings uncover a potential key genetic event in wheat evolution and offer new strategies for utilizing synthetic hexaploidy and octoploid wheat to breed heat-resilient varieties.

Plant architecture is a critical determinant of crop yield, in which plant height serves as a key morphological trait. In this study, we characterized a novel wheat mutant named AS34 carrying a pleiotrophic gene named semi-dwarf and dense-spike 1 (sdd1). AS34 has reduced height, shorter spikes and increased spikelet density. Genetic analysis demonstrated monogenic recessive inheritance of these coordinated traits, with a strong negative correlation between spike length and density. The mutant is insensitive to brassinosteroid (BR), shows a minimal response to applied 24-epibrassinolide and has altered expression of key genes in the BR pathway. AS34 also exhibits enhanced sensitivity to applied gibberellin (GA) and auxin compared with the wild type, suggesting that the phenotype involves modifications in multiple hormone signaling pathways. Transcriptome profiling identified 1869 differentially expressed genes, with upregulation of defense- and cell wall-related pathways and downregulation of sulfur metabolism processes. Sdd1 was localized to a 5.7 Mb interval on chromosome 3B (414.7‒420.4 Mb). Among 50 candidate genes located in the interval, TraesCS3B02G260400 was identified as a Sdd1 gene candidate following integrated fine gene mapping, resequencing, expression analysis, and mutant phenotype validation. This study provides new insights into the regulation of wheat architecture and identifies Sdd1 as a new gene resource for breeding for optimized plant architecture.

Drought stress threatens global wheat productivity, yet the genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying drought resilience remain incompletely understood. Here we identify TaSCE1-A1, which encodes a SUMO-conjugating enzyme, as a positive regulator of drought resistance through genome-wide association studies. In arid regions, an evolutionary G-to-A transition in the promoter confers elevated TaSCE1-A1 expression through disruption of TaBPC1-mediated transcriptional repression. Prime-edited and near-isogenic lines harbouring elite alleles show improved drought resilience, confirming its functional significance. Moreover, TaSCE1-A1 mediates SUMOylation of TaBAP1/2, thereby enhancing its protein stability, which in turn modulates the ABA pathway to facilitate stomatal closure under drought conditions. Evolutionarily, this adaptive allele originated in tetraploid wheat and underwent positive selection during hexaploid wheat domestication. Our findings reveal a drought resistance pathway shaped by evolutionary selection, offering molecular targets for breeding drought-resilient wheat varieties.

Gene origin, duplication, and loss are key drivers that shape genome evolution, phenotypic diversification, and plant adaptation. Nevertheless, the fine-scale evolutionary trajectories of genes within their local genomic contexts across diverse genera remain poorly characterized. Here, we developed an approach, GoldMiner, that uses homologous gene clusters (HOCs) as evolutionary units for investigating gene evolution and enables hierarchical alignment of pan-genomic HOCs across species and genera. We constructed a genus-level pangenomic map of half a million indexed HOCs across 248 diploid genomes from 25 Poaceae species. We found that most newborn HOCs were derived from existing homologous HOCs. The newborn HOCs in Triticeae were strongly associated with stress response and defense pathways. Two-thirds of Triticeae HOCs, including those containing NLR genes, underwent substantial expansions during evolution, contributing to disease resistance in wheat and barley. Genomic redundancy between wheat subgenomes drives HOC loss associated with genetic variation of wheat populations. We dissected seed storage protein (SSP) gene evolution at two scales: inter-HOC turnover, which governs the origin and amplification of distinct loci across Triticeae, and intra-HOC divergence, which drives functional diversification among paralogous copies. Finally, an interactive web platform, waGOLD (https://wheat.cau.edu.cn/TGT/waGOLD), was developed for the community to explore evolutionary trajectories of HOCs. Overall, we presented a digital atlas of gene evolution for Poaceae species as a resource that opens new avenues for fine-scale gene family evolution and provides a practical framework for constructing genus-level gene-based pangenomes.

Heterosis is an important approach to improving wheat yield and quality. Previously, five recurrent selection populations were established to broaden genetic diversity via a recurrent selection strategy using French wheat, Spelt wheat, spike-branched wheat, Tibetan semi-wild wheat and common wheat as distinct germplasm donors. The present study aimed to characterize and preliminary heterosis evaluate of these wheat recurrent selection populations after 20 cycles of recurrent selection, providing a reference for long-term recurrent selection to enhance inter-population genetic differentiation and heterosis potential. In this paper, 94 materials including recurrent selection lines and their donors, together with 120 common wheat cultivars/lines, were phenotyped for agronomic traits and genotyped with the wheat 90K SNP array to assess genotypic variation and genetic distance. Furthermore, 23 elite lines derived from different recurrent selection populations were used as parents in an incomplete NCII (inter-population crosses) and a full NCI(intra-population crosses) design to evaluate their genetic distance and the heterotic performance. The main results showed that significant phenotypic variation existed within each population, and its magnitude varied with traits and populations. Plant height (PH) and 1000-grain weight (TGW) showed evidence of convergent selection during population improvement, whereas spike length (SL) and mean grains per spike (GSN) displayed divergent selection, particularly within the four male parent populations (Set B). The SNP-based genetic distance and population differentiation patterns were basically consistent with the classification of exotic germplasm resources. The genetic differences of inter-populations were generally greater than those within PopulationI(Domestic wheat population). The general combining ability (GCA) differed across traits, while special combining ability (SCA) showed a significant correlation with parental phenotypic values. The proportion of crosses with positive mid-parent heterosis (MPH) ranged from 45.24% to 98.41%, varying with traits. Meanwhile, the percentage of crosses showing positive commercial heterosis (CH) was 58.73%–99.21%, which also differed across traits. Among all measured traits, TGW had the highest proportion of crosses with positive heterosis. MPH values within PopulationIwere less than that between PopulationI and other populations (Set B) in five traits (except GSN). Seven superior TGW crosses were identified, with CH exceeding 15% and specific combining ability (SCA) ranging from 1.56 to 13.06. A two-year field trial revealed that two of these crosses showed plot yield CH values of 4.81% and 8.54%, respectively. This study provides a reference for broadening genetic diversity for hybrid parents by recurrent selection using exotic germplasm resources, and preliminarily screened promising combinations, which provide an important reference for further investigations.

High temperature is a primary abiotic stress that severely constrains crop productivity. Deciphering the regulatory pathways underlying heat responses is essential for breeding heat-tolerant crops with stable yields. Although both epigenetic and epitranscriptomic regulations are involved in plant heat adaptation, their mechanistic interplay remains unclear. Here, integrated epigenomic (H3K9Ac/H3K14Ac) and transcriptomic profiling under heat stress identifies the mRNA m⁵C methyltransferase TaNSUN2 as a key regulator of thermotolerance in wheat. We demonstrate that TaNSUN2 is transcriptionally activated by the histone acetyltransferase TaHAG1, which deposits H3K9Ac at the TaNSUN2 promoter and transcription start site. This recruitment is facilitated by the transcription factors TaE2F1 and TaDP1, which interact with TaHAG1 to form a functional complex. Functional assays revealthat TaNSUN2 operates downstream of TaHAG1 and enhances thermotolerance through m⁵C‑dependent mRNA methylation and stabilization of transcripts involved in chloroplast organization. Furthermore, field trials show that TaNSUN2-overexpressing lines exhibit higher grain yield under normal conditions and reduced yield loss under heat stress. Our findings elucidate an integrated regulatory network linking histone acetylation to RNA m⁵C methylation in heat stress adaptation, providing promising targets for molecular breeding of heat‑resilient wheat. High temperature can severely constrain crop productivity. Here the authors show that the mRNA m⁵C methyltransferase TaNSUN2 regulates thermotolerance in wheat and show that TaNSUN2-overexpression can increase heat resilience.

As a cornerstone of global food security, wheat (Triticum aestivum) faces unprecedented pressure from a growing population and a changing climate. However, traditional breeding approaches are increasingly insufficient to address the genetic complexity required to achieve substantial gains in yield and resilience. This review highlights key advances in the generation of large-scale, standardized datasets through the integration of high-throughput genotyping and multidimensional phenotyping. We explore how multi-omics integration and knowledge graph-based frameworks transform heterogeneous data into actionable breeding knowledge. In addition, we examine the pivotal role of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning in enhancing predictive modeling, refining genomic selection, and enabling intelligent decision-making. These advances underpin the emerging paradigm of Breeding 5.0, which leverages data-driven innovation and closed-loop iterative cycles. Looking ahead, multimodal AI and personalized breeding strategies will be critical for developing sustainable systems capable of ensuring global food security under climate change.

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yield and quality are critically influenced by starch and seed storage protein (SSP) content. In this study, we demonstrate that the transcriptional adapter ADA2 physically interacts with histone acetyltransferase GENERAL CONTROL NONDEREPRESSIBLE 5 (GCN5) and regulates starch synthesis and SSP content in wheat grains. In ada2 mutants, reduced H3K9ac enrichment was observed in the promoter regions of key starch synthesis genes and the SSP regulator NAC019 during endosperm development. This reduction leads to lower expression levels, resulting in decreased starch content, smaller grains, reduced yield, and poor gluten quality. We also found that ADA2 contains an intrinsically disordered region 2 (IDR2) that undergoes liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) and forms nuclear condensates. In vitro assays, the LLPS of ADA2 is affected by GCN5 through direct interaction with IDR2, and the ratio of their concentrations determines the behavior of phase-separated condensates and HAT activity. High levels of GCN5 can dissolve ADA2 aggregates, while excessive ADA2 recruits and sequesters GCN5 into co-aggregated droplets, with lower HAT activity. This potential dynamic regulatory mechanism may facilitate the efficient promotion of transcription by the ADA2-GCN5 complex in wheat. Finally, we identified an elite haplotype of ADA2-B Hap2, which is significantly associated with grain size and weight, highlighting its potential as a candidate gene for genetic improvement of wheat yield.

The root system is essential for plant development and nutrient acquisition; however, the genetic and molecular mechanisms governing root elongation and function in wheat remain largely unknown. In this study, we identified a novel quantitative trait locus (QTL), QRL.cau-7D, associated with root elongation in wheat. Through map-based cloning, we identified TaCOL1-7D, a CONSTANS-like (COL) transcription factor, as the causal gene underlying this QTL. Functional analyses revealed that TaCOL1-7D promotes root elongation through modulation of lignin biosynthesis and by physical interaction with TaMADS25, a regulator of root architecture and nitrogen uptake. Furthermore, our findings suggest that TaCOL1-7D participates in nitrogen absorption by increasing the transcription factor activity of TaMADS25. An elite allelic variant, TaCOL1-7DTAA10, was found to promote both root elongation and nitrogen absorption. This study provides new insights into the genetic basis of root system architecture in wheat and opens avenues for improving nutrient uptake efficiency through molecular breeding.

Summary statement Knockouts of cytokinin oxidase‐dehydrogenase (TaCKX2.2) homeologs increased grain number per spike, grain size, grain weight per spike, and final yield without negative impacts on other major agronomic traits, revealing a novel approach to improve grain yield by manipulating the TaCKX2.2 gene family in wheat.

Drought stress severely constrains wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) growth and productivity. Here, we identify the histone deacetylase TaHDA1 as a negative regulator of drought tolerance in wheat. We demonstrate that TaHDA1 interacts with and deacetylates the L-glutamate decarboxylase TaGAD1 at lysine 493, promoting its ubiquitination-dependent degradation and thereby suppressing γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) accumulation. Loss of TaHDA1 function enhances TaGAD1 stability, increases GABA levels, and confers markedly improved drought tolerance, along with elevated grain GABA content. Integrated multi-omics analyses further reveal that TaHDA1 globally modulates H3K9 acetylation to orchestrate drought-responsive transcriptional programs. Notably, tahda1-ko mutants show a slight reduction in grain size under normal conditions, but maintain stable yield under drought stress. Our findings uncover a dual mechanism by which TaHDA1 integrates non-histone and histone deacetylation to balance growth and stress adaptation, providing a promising target for breeding drought-resilient and nutritionally enhanced wheat varieties.

The TdHLS gene controlling hairy leaf sheath derived from wild emmer wheat was fine-mapped to a 2.3 Mb physical interval on chromosome 4BL based on the Zavitan (WEW_v1.0) reference genome. Trichomes on leaf sheaths serve as specialized epidermal structures that form a protective barrier for plants. Wild emmer wheat (WEW), a tetraploid progenitor of common wheat, represents a valuable genetic resource for wheat breeding programs. This study reported the fine mapping of TdHLS, a gene controlling hairy leaf sheath that was introgressed from WEW. Genetic mapping by F2 and F3 (0T267/Han 87–1*2 and 0T267/AK58*2) individuals revealed this gene was delimited in a 2.3 Mb region on chromosome 4BL based on the WEW reference genome (Zavitan v1.0), and this region shows observed recombination suppression. Transcriptomic and sequence analyses identified four expressed genes containing nonsynonymous mutations between hairy and glabrous leaf sheath lines, within the 28 annotated genes located in the target interval. Among them TRIDC4BG062310 (encoding an oxysterol-binding protein-related protein) exhibited differential expression patterns, suggesting its potential role in trichome development. Collinearity analysis indicated orthologous hairy leaf sheath loci in WEW (Zavitan v1.0), barley (Morex v1.0) and Aegilops tauschii (AL8/78 v4.0), indicating the presence of evolutionarily conserved homologous genes governing this morphological characteristic. Introgression lines demonstrated successful trait incorporation without affecting plant architecture and grain characteristics. This study establishes a foundation for cloning the TdHLS gene and provides a valuable morphological marker for wheat breeding.

Heat stress poses a severe threat to global crop yields and food security. Here, we demonstrate that TaSnRK1α1, the α-catalytic subunit of sucrose non-fermenting-1-related kinase 1, serves as a pivotal regulator that confers thermotolerance and enhances grain weight in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). The findings reveal that TaMYB55 directly binds to the TaSnRK1α1 promoter to activate its expression, which positively contributes to heat tolerance in wheat. An A-to-G substitution in the TaSnRK1α1 promoter enhances the binding affinity of TaMYB55, which cosegregates with wheat thermotolerant phenotypes. In addition, we show that TaSnRK1α1 interacts with and phosphorylates the transcription factor TabZIP9, which subsequently promotes TabZIP9 degradation. Genetic analyses confirm that TaSnRK1α1 functions upstream of TabZIP9, and loss or gain-of-function of TabZIP9 significantly alters thermotolerance in wheat by modulating reactive oxygen species homeostasis and scavenging capacity. Together, our findings shed light on the importance of the TaMYB55-TaSnRK1α1-TabZIP9 signaling module in the regulation of heat tolerance, providing practical strategies for engineering climate-tolerant crops.

Fusarium crown rot(FCR),caused by the fungal genus Fusarium,is a severe soil-borne disease of wheat(Triticum aestivum)worldwide.In this study,we identified five quantitative trait loci(QTL)associated with FCR resistance on chromosomes 3A,3B,4B(two QTL),and 6A using a population of 128 F7 recom-binant inbred lines(RILs)derived from a cross between the two Chinese cultivars 04zhong 36 and Jinxiu 21.Of these QTL,two major QTL,QFcr.cau-3A and QFcr.cau-4B.1,were stably detected across multiple tri-als and explained 14.06％and 18.09％,respectively,of the phenotypic variance based on best linear unbi-ased prediction(BLUP)data.The resistance alleles at these two loci were derived from the parental lines 04zhong36(QFcr.cau-3A)and Jinxiu 21(QFcr.cau-4B.1),respectively.We confirmed the effects and stabil-ity of QFcr.cau-3A and QFcr.cau-4B.1 in an independent RIL population and in a collection of wheat acces-sions,respectively.Additionally,we detected a major and stable QTL for plant height,QPh.cau-4B,that overlapped with QFcr.cau-4B.1.The allele of QPh.cau-4B conferring tallness was from Jinxiu 21.Conditional QTL mapping indicated that although QFcr.cau-4B.1 and QPh.cau-4B showed significant inter-actions,the effect of QFcr.cau-4B.1 remained significant after the effects of plant height were removed.Field inoculation experiments with the 60 RILs showing the greatest sensitivity or resistance to FCR at the seedling stage detected a significant and positive correlation between seedling and adult plant resis-tance(correlation coefficient=0.71).The confidence intervals for QFcr.cau-3A and QFcr.cau-4B.1 contain 264 and 240 high-confidence genes,respectively.Based on gene annotation,sequence variation,and expression patterns,three genes(TraesCS3A02G373300,TraesCS3A02G376500,and TraesCS4B02G222600)were considered as potential candidates for QFcr.cau-3A and QFcr.cau-4B.1.Our results provide valuable resources for the cloning of FCR resistance loci that can be utilized in FCR resistance breeding programs.

Melanins are a class of dark pigments widely distributed among living organisms. In cereal crops, the black husk-pericarp trait arises from melanin accumulation. The durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. var. durum Desf.) cultivar Ofanto (Oft) exhibits black awns beginning at the soft dough stage. To identify the genetic loci associated with awn color, we analyzed an F2 population derived from a cross between Oft (black awn) and Langdon (LDN, yellow awn). Genetic mapping revealed a single dominant black awn gene, TdBa, located within an approximately 4.38 Mb interval on the short arm of chromosome 1AS. Among the 34 annotated genes located within this interval, TRITD1Av1G000090, which encodes amino acid transporters homologous to the rice black hull gene OsBh4 and barley black husk/pericarp gene HvBlp, was identified as a candidate gene based on sequence, expression, and gene function prediction analyses. In contrast to its homologous genes OsBh4 and HvBlp, TdBa causes only black awn in wheat. The role of TRITD1Av1G000090 in awn coloration was subsequently confirmed through transgenic assays.

In contrast to many wheat ( Triticum aestivum )-based products that benefit from strong gluten development, cookies benefit from weaker gluten. However, the development of wheat varieties that produce flour optimal for cookie making remains limited. In this study, we identified the wheat mutant low gluten protein 2 ( lgp2 ), with reduced gluten content and a weakened gluten network, that significantly improved several aspects of cookie-making performance. The lgp2 phenotype is caused by a missense mutation in LGP2 that affects the signal peptide cleavage site of the encoded protein. Map-based cloning reveals that LGP2 encodes alpha-2-purothionin, a member of the thionin family of small proteins with potential antimicrobial activity. The lgp2 mutation leads to endoplasmic reticulum stress, abnormal protein body formation, and disrupted gluten development. Additionally, alpha-2-purothionin interacts with key seed storage proteins, contributing to gluten formation. Knockdown and overexpression studies confirmed that LGP2 affects gluten quantity and quality. Based on these findings, we propose dual genetic strategies targeting signal peptide processing and modulating LGP2 expression to fine-tune gluten properties for improved cookie quality. The lgp2 allele offers great potential for breeding low-gluten wheat varieties tailored for the production of cookies and other specialty food products.

Introduction of Reduced height (Rht) genes into modern wheat cultivars has resulted in 'Green Revolution' that skyrocketed wheat grain yields worldwide since the 1960s. These 'Green Revolution' cultivars show shorter plant height, but higher lodging resistance and harvest index. The identification and exploitation of novel Rht genes are of great significance for the development of high-yielding wheat cultivars. In this study, a semi-dwarf wheat mutant, d14078, with reduced plant height and grain size, was generated by ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) mutagenesis. Here, through map-based cloning, we cloned the causal gene for the semi-dwarf phenotype of d14078 as TaWAK3-B that encodes a cell wall-associated receptor kinase 3. A single-base mutation occurred in the coding region of TaWAK3-B, resulting in an amino acid mutation from Glu to Lys (E938K) at residue 938, which reduces its stability and the formation of homodimers. The cytoskeletons were changed in both the d14078 and TaWAK3-B knockout mutants, as well as the TaWAK3-B overexpression of transgenic plants. Further investigation revealed that TaWAK3-B directly forms stable protein assembly with TaADF3-A (actin depolymerisation factor), TaKLCR1-A (kinesin light chain-related protein 1), and TaIQD2-D (IQ67-domain protein 2). These interactions and complex formations were significantly attenuated by the TaWAK3-BE938K mutation. Therefore, our findings clarify TaWAK3-B regulating the microfilament and microtubule formation that elucidate on the regulation of wheat stem development.

The florigen protein TaFT1 coordinately regulates heading time and spikelet number per spike (SNS), serving as a key yield determinant in wheat. However, how its stability is post-translationally controlled in the shoot apical meristem remains unclear. Here, we identify the F-box protein WHEAT ORTHOLOG OF APO1 (WAPO1), allelic to a major SNS quantitative trait locus (QSns.cau-7A), as a direct ubiquitin E3 ligase targeting TaFT1 for degradation. A crucial missense mutation (C47F) in the F-box domain of WAPO1 has a significant impact on the SNS. The elite allele WAPO-A1b (from large-spike germplasm AS420, encoding 47F) exhibits stronger binding affinity and ubiquitination activity toward TaFT1 compared with the allele WAPO-A1f (from cultivar Lunxuan987, encoding 47C). Enhanced degradation of TaFT1 by WAPO-A1b in the shoot apical meristem impairs the TaFT1-TaFDL transcriptional complex, thereby downregulating the floral identity gene VRN1/WAP1 and increasing SNS without delaying heading. Notably, the favourable WAPO-A1b allele has been positively selected in modern breeding, and its ectopic activation significantly boosts grain yield in field trials. Our work elucidates a post-translational pathway that fine-tunes spike architecture and highlights WAPO-A1b as a valuable genetic target for high-yield wheat breeding.

Global climate change intensifies drought threats to wheat productivity, necessitating genetic enhancement of drought resistance. We present a high-quality genome assembly of drought-resistant wheat genotype Jin50LP82 (JIN50; contig N50 = 50.24 Mb) and conduct genomic analyses across 31 wheat genomes and 196 germplasm samples, revealing 430,739 structural variants. Integrated structural variant-, single-nucleotide polymorphism- and InDel-based genome-wide association study identified 46 drought-resistance loci enriched in JIN50. Notably, the structural variation in the promoter of the root development regulator TaLBD1 and functional haplotypes of the methylglyoxal detoxification enzyme TaGLYI7 contribute to drought adaptation through distinct mechanisms. The JIN50 genome and genetic resources provide valuable tools for elucidating drought-resistance networks and for facilitating molecular breeding. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the multigenic drought response system in wheat and support the development of genomic strategies to enhance food security amid climate challenges.