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Parthenium weed (Parthenium hysterophorus L.) is an emerging production constraint in many summer crops including sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench), but limited control options are available. In this field study, the efficacy of sole and sequential applications of a pre-emergence (pendimethalin) and a post-emergence (bromoxynil) herbicide was evaluated for parthenium weed control in grain sorghum over two years. Pendimethalin or bromoxynil alone could only provide 54% and 63% control, whereas their sequential application provided 86% control of parthenium weed over the weedy treatment. The sorghum plants in pendimethalin followed by bromoxynil treatment had the highest leaf fresh weight per plant, plant dry biomass, plant height, and the number of heads among the herbicide treatments. Sorghum fresh forage yield, dry fodder yield, 1000-grain weight, and grain yield were highest in the weed-free treatment followed by the pendimethalin followed by (fb) bromoxynil treatment. Overall, the herbicide treatment performance was in an order of pendimethalin fb bromoxynil > bromoxynil > pendimethalin for weed control and sorghum yield improvement. These results suggest that pendimethalin followed by bromoxynil may provide acceptable control (>85%) of parthenium weed and may improve sorghum grain yield (up to 23%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advances in genomics resources have facilitated the evolution of cereal crops with enhanced yield, improved nutritional values, and heightened resistance to various biotic and abiotic stresses. Genomic approaches present a promising avenue for the development of high-yielding varieties, thereby ensuring food and nutritional security. Significant improvements have been made within the omics domain, specifically in genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics. The advent of Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) techniques has yielded an immense volume of data, accompanied by substantial progress in bioinformatic tools for proficient analysis. The synergy between genomics and computational tools has been acknowledged as pivotal for unravelling the intricate mechanisms governing genome-wide gene regulation. Within this review, the essential genomic resources are delineated, and their harmonization in the enhancement of cereal crop varieties is expounded upon, with a paramount focus on fulfilling the nutritional requisites of humankind. Furthermore, an encompassing compendium of the available genomic resources for cereal crops is presented, accompanied by an elucidation of their judicious utilization in the advancement of crop attributes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global rice crop production is being threatened by a frequent rise in high temperatures and drought. Drought and heat stresses adversely affect the morphological, physiological, and biochemical characteristics of rice, resulting in reduced crop productivity. Heat and drought stresses entail physiological changes in rice plants, such as stomata closure, reduced photosynthesis, loss of turgor adjustment, and reduction in crop productivity. These stresses also cause metabolic changes by increasing the activities of antioxidative enzymes, phytohormones, abscisic acid, reactive oxygen species, and reactive stress metabolites. Among the different growth stages of rice, the reproductive stage is the most sensitive stage to high temperature and drought, resulting in low seed setting and grain yield. Genetic improvement and development of drought and heat-stress-tolerant rice varieties increase seed setting and enhance yield production even under stress conditions. Because of the multigenic nature of traits, the development of drought and high-temperature-tolerant varieties through genetic improvement is the best approach. Here, we summarized the effects of heat and drought stresses on the physiological traits of rice. We focused on different approaches to managing high-temperature and drought stresses, such as an adjustment in cultural practices, genetic improvement through molecular breeding, and the development of transgenics and chemical spray from an agricultural practice perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Australia, wheat planting is preferred in June compared with May to kill early cohorts of weeds before planting, particularly in fields with a history of high weed infestation. However, wheat grain yield is often reduced for June planting. This study aimed to investigate the integrated effect of planting dates (May 7, i.e., early‐planted, and June 7, i.e., late‐planted), seeding rates (100 and 200 seeds m−2), and weed control treatments (nontreated control, pyroxasulfone 100 g a.i. ha−1, triallate 800 g a.i. ha−1, trifluralin 600 g a.i. ha−1, and prosulfocarb 2000 g a.i. ha−1 + S‐metolachlor 300 g a.i. ha−1) on Avena ludoviciana (Durieu) control and wheat yield. For early‐planted wheat, the pyroxasulfone‐treated plots had a higher yield (5.5 Mg ha−1) at a low seeding rate compared with a high seeding rate (4.7 Mg ha−1). Pyroxasulfone and triallate treatments in early‐planted wheat using a low seeding rate produced a higher yield than each treatment of late‐planted wheat. In late‐planted wheat, varied seeding rates did not influence grain yield, irrespective of weed control treatments. Pyroxasulfone and triallate treatments in early‐planted wheat at a low seeding rate gave similar yields, and yield levels in these treatments were higher than trifluralin and prosulfocarb + S‐metolachlor treatments. A high seeding rate in early‐planted wheat resulted in an increased grain yield by 42%, 27%, and 28% in nontreated, trifluralin, and prosulfocarb + S‐metolachlor, respectively, compared with a low seeding rate. Weed biomass and weed seed production were lower in late‐planted wheat than in early‐planted wheat. Pyroxasulfone‐ and triallate‐treated plots accrued lower weed biomass and weed seed production than the nontreated plots. Averaged over weed control treatments, weed seed production was highest (2700 seeds m−2) in the early crop planted at a low seeding rate, which was reduced by 42% with late planting using a similar seeding rate. Averaged over weed control treatments, a high seeding rate in early‐ and late‐planted crops reduced weed seed production by 68% and 48%, respectively, compared with a low seeding rate. These results suggest that pyroxasulfone in early‐planted wheat can control A. ludoviciana effectively, limit weed seed production similar to late‐planted wheat, and prove a profitable option due to improved productivity compared with late‐planted wheat. Core Ideas: Avena ludoviciana is a problematic weed in Australian wheat cropping systems.Early‐planted wheat at 100 seeds m−2 provided a higher yield than late‐planted wheat under effective weed control.Pre‐emergence application of pyroxasulfone in early‐planted wheat at 100 seeds m−2 provided the highest yield.Weed seed production was reduced due to an interactive effect of increased seeding rate and late‐planted wheat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]