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Seed storage proteins (SSPs) are determinants of wheat end-product quality. SSP synthesis is mainly regulated at the transcriptional level. Few transcriptional regulators of SSP synthesis have been identified in wheat and this study aims to identify novel SSP gene regulators. Here, the R2R3 MYB transcription factor TuODORANT1 from Triticum urartu was found to be preferentially expressed in the developing endosperm during grain filling. In common wheat (Triticum aestivum) overexpressing TuODORANT1, the transcription levels of all the SSP genes tested by RNA-Seq analysis were reduced by 49.71% throughout grain filling, which contributed to 13.38%-35.60% declines in the total SSP levels of mature grains. In in vitro assays, TuODORANT1 inhibited both the promoter activities and the transcription of SSP genes by 1- to 13-fold. The electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) and ChIP-qPCR analysis demonstrated that TuODORANT1 bound to the cis-elements 5'-T/CAACCA-3' and 5'-T/CAACT/AG-3' in SSP gene promoters both in vitro and in vivo. Similarly, the homolog TaODORANT1 in common wheat hindered both the promoter activities and the transcription of SSP genes by 1- to 112-fold in vitro. Knockdown of TaODORANT1 in common wheat led to 14.73%-232.78% increases in the transcription of the tested SSP genes, which contributed to 11.43%-19.35% elevation in the total SSP levels. Our data show that both TuODORANT1 and TaODORANT1 are repressors of SSP synthesis.

Summary The synthesis of seed storage protein (SSP) is mainly regulated at the transcriptional level. However, few transcriptional regulators of SSP synthesis have been characterized in common wheat (Triticum aestivum) owing to the complex genome. As the A genome donor of common wheat, Triticum urartu could be an elite model in wheat research considering its simple genome. Here, a novel NAC family transcription factor TuSPR from T. urartu was found preferentially expressed in developing endosperm during grain‐filling stages. In common wheat transgenically overexpressing TuSPR, the content of total SSPs was reduced by c. 15.97% attributed to the transcription declines of SSP genes. Both in vitro and in vivo assays showed that TuSPR bound to the cis‐element 5′‐CANNTG‐3′ distributed in SSP gene promoters and suppressed the transcription. The homolog in common wheat TaSPR shared a conserved function with TuSPR on SSP synthesis suppression. The knock‐down of TaSPR in common wheat resulted in 7.07%–20.34% increases in the total SSPs. Both TuSPR and TaSPR could be superior targets in genetic engineering to manipulate SSP content in wheat, and this work undoubtedly expands our knowledge of SSP gene regulation.

Starch in wheat grain provides humans with carbohydrates and influences the quality of wheaten food. However, no transcriptional regulator of starch synthesis has been identified first in common wheat (Triticum aestivum) due to the complex genome. Here, a novel basic leucine zipper (bZIP) family transcription factor TubZIP28 was found to be preferentially expressed in the endosperm throughout grain-filling stages in Triticum urartu, the A genome donor of common wheat. When TubZIP28 was overexpressed in common wheat, the total starch content increased by c. 4%, which contributed to c. 5% increase in the thousand kernel weight. The grain weight per plant of overexpression wheat was also elevated by c. 9%. Both in vitro and in vivo assays showed that TubZIP28 bound to the promoter of cytosolic AGPase and enhanced both the transcription and activity of the latter. Knockout of the homologue TabZIP28 in common wheat resulted in declines of both the transcription and activity of cytosolic AGPase in developing endosperms and c. 4% reduction of the total starch in mature grains. To the best of our knowledge, TubZIP28 and TabZIP28 are transcriptional activators of starch synthesis first identified in wheat, and they could be superior targets to improve the starch content and yield potential of wheat.

Wheat awn plays a vital role in photosynthesis, grain production, and drought tolerance. However, the systematic identification or cloning of genes controlling wheat awn development is seldom reported. Here, we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) with 364 wheat accessions and identified 26 loci involved in awn length development, including previously characterized B1, B2, Hd, and several rice homologs. The dominant awn suppressor B1 was fine mapped to a 125-kb physical interval, and a C2 H2 zinc finger protein Awn Length Inhibitor 1 (ALI-1) was confirmed to be the underlying gene of the B1 locus through the functional complimentary test with native awnless allele. ALI-1 expresses predominantly in the developing spike of awnless individuals, transcriptionally suppressing downstream genes. ALI-1 reduces cytokinin content and simultaneously restrains cytokinin signal transduction, leading to a stagnation of cell proliferation and reduction of cell numbers during awn development. Polymorphisms of four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located in ALI-1 promoter region are diagnostic for the B1/b1 genotypes, and these SNPs are associated with awn length (AL), grain length (GL) and thousand-grain weight (TGW). More importantly, ali-1 was observed to increase grain length in wheat, which is a valuable attribute of awn on grain weight, aside from photosynthesis. Therefore, ALI-1 pleiotropically regulates awn and grain development, providing an alternative for grain yield improvement and addressing future climate changes.

Dwarfing and semi-dwarfing are important agronomic traits that have great potential for the improvement of wheat yields. Rht12, a dominant gibberellic acid (GA)-responsive dwarfing gene from the gamma-ray-induced wheat mutant Karcagi 522M7K, is located in the long arm of chromosome 5A, which is closely linked with the locus Xwmc410. Rht12 is likely an ideal gene for GA biosynthesis and deactivation research in common wheat. However, information on the Rht12 locus and sequence is lacking. In this study, Rht12 significantly shortened stem cell length and decreased GA biosynthetic components. Using bulked segregant RNA-Seq, wheat 660k single nucleotide polymorphism chip detection, and newly developed simple sequence repeat markers, Rht12 was mapped to a 11.21-Mb region at the terminal end of chromosome 5AL, and was found to be closely linked with the Xw5ac207SSR marker with a 10.73-Mb fragment deletion in all of the homologous dwarfing plants. Transcriptome analyses of the remaining 483-kb region showed significantly higher expression of the TraesCS5A01G543100 gene encoding the GA metabolic enzyme GA 2-β-dioxygenase in dwarfing plants than in high stalk plants, suggesting that Rht12 reduces plant height by activating TaGA2ox-A14. Taken together, our findings will promote cloning and functional studies of Rht12 in common wheat.

Condensation reactions of (2R,3R)- and (2S,3S)-2,3-dihydroxybutanedihydrazide with salicylaldehyde and 3-methoxysalicylaldehyde gave two enantiomeric pairs, (2R,3R)/(2S,3S)-2,3-dihydroxybutanedioylbis(salicylaldehydehydrazone) [(2R,3R)-BSH and (2S,3S)-BSH] and (2R,3R)/(2S,3S)-2,3-dihydroxybutanedioyl bis(3-methoxysalicylaldehydehydrazone) [(2R,3R)-MBSH and (2S,3S)-MBSH]. Their reactions with CuII salts provided two chiral hexanuclear clusters [Cu6L2(C5H5N)10]2[C5H6N]3(ClO4)7·(CH3OH)·(C5H5N) [L = (2R,3R)-BSH; (2S,3S)-BSH] and four chiral tridecanuclear clusters [Cu13L3(OH)2(CH3COO)6(C5H5N)6(DMF)3]·6DMF·3H2O [L = (2R,3R)-BSH; (2S,3S)-BSH] and [Cu13X3(OH)2(CH3COO)6(C5H5N)2(DMF)8]·6H2O [X = (2R,3R)-MBSH, (2S,3S)-MBSH]. Their structures were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. All six compounds are enantiomers of each other. The two hexanuclear clusters exhibit two orthogonal linear trinuclear units. The two pairs of tridecanuclear clusters display esthetic structures with different symmetries; they feature rare heptanuclear vertex-sharing dicubane cores and their six unshared CuII vertexes are linked to another six CuII ions. These represent the first examples of chiral clusters bearing dicubane cores. Magnetic studies revealed the presence of overall antiferromagnetic interactions in these compounds.

Plant height is an important agronomic trait. Dramatic increase in wheat yield during the "green revolution" is mainly due to the widespread utilization of the Reduced height (Rht)-1 gene. We analyzed the natural allelic variations of three homoeologous loci Rht-A1, Rht-B1, and Rht-D1 in Chinese wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) micro-core collections and the Rht-B1/D1 genotypes in over 1,500 bred cultivars and germplasms using a modified EcoTILLING. We identified six new Rht-A1 allelic variations (Rht-A1b-g), eight new Rht-B1 allelic variations (Rht-B1h-o), and six new Rht-D1 allelic variations (Rht-D1e-j). These allelic variations contain single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) or small insertions and deletions in the coding or uncoding regions, involving two frame-shift mutations and 15 missenses. Of which, Rht-D1e and Rht-D1h resulted in the loss of interactions of GID1-DELLA-GID2, Rht-B1i could increase plant height. We found that the Rht-B1h contains the same SNPs and 197 bp fragment insertion as reported in Rht-B1c. Further detection of Rht-B1h in Tibet wheat germplasms and wheat relatives indicated that Rht-B1c may originate from Rht-B1h. These results suggest rich genetic diversity at the Rht-1 loci and provide new resources for wheat breeding.

A novel 1D copper(II) helical chain is constructed through the connection of tetranuclear copper(II) units [Cu4(L)(Py)4] (H8L=N,N′-(BINOL-3,3′-dicarboxyl)-disalicylhydrazide, where BINOL is 1,1′-binaphthalenyl-2,2′-diol, py=pyridine) by weak coordination-driven self-assembly, and characterized by IR, single crystal X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, and X-ray power diffraction analysis. Interestingly, the helical chains are packed in an alternating left-(M) and right-handed (P) chirality, the orientation of the helices was determined by the axial chirality of the ligand. The complex shows antiferromagnetic interactions between the copper centers.

The reactions of the new nitrilotriacetic acid N′,N′,N′-tri(salicyloyl)trihydrazide (Ntash) with the corresponding metal salts gave four new complexes [Pb4(bshz)2]·2DMF (1), [Co2(bshz)(C5H5N)6]·2ClO4·(C5H5N)·2H2O (2), [Cu3(fshz)2(C5H5N)2] (3), and [Zn3(fshz)2(C5H5N)3]n·2DMF (4), in which two multidentate ligands, namely N,N′-disalicyloylhydrazine (H4bshz) and N-formylsalicylhydrazide (H3fshz) were generated in situ from Ntash. The structures of these complexes were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Complex 1 presents a novel tetranuclear lead(II) cluster structure with the four lead(II) cations in “hemidirected” coordination spheres. The neighboring tetranuclear clusters of 1 are connected by DMF molecules through weak Pb–O bonds, forming one-dimensional ribbons. Complexes 2 and 3 show dinuclear and linear trinuclear structures with the corresponding CoIII and CuII ions in distorted octahedral and square-planar coordination environments, respectively. Complex 4 exhibits a one-dimensional zigzag chain structure. The magnetic properties of 3 and the photoluminescent properties of 4 were also investigated.

A major objective of quantitative trait locus (QTL) studies is to find genes/markers that can be used in breeding programs via marker assisted selection (MAS). We surveyed the QTLs for yield and yield-related traits and their genomic distributions in common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in the available published reports. We then carried out a meta-QTL (MQTL) analysis to identify the major and consistent QTLs for these traits. In total, 55 MQTLs were identified, of which 12 significant MQTLs were located on wheat chromosomes 1A, 1B, 2A, 2D, 3B, 4A, 4B, 4D and 5A. Our study showed that the genetic control of yield and its components in common wheat involved the important genes such as Rht and Vrn. Furthermore, several significant MQTLs were found in the chromosomal regions corresponding to several rice genomic locations containing important QTLs for yield related traits. Our results demonstrate that meta-QTL analysis is a powerful tool for confirming the major and stable QTLs and refining their chromosomal positions in common wheat, which may be useful for improving the MAS efficiency of yield related traits.