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Cadmium (Cd) contamination poses significant risks to agricultural productivity and human health, particularly through its accumulation in staple crops such as bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). This study evaluated Cd accumulation and tolerance among six bread wheat cultivars exposed to six Cd concentrations (0, 2.5, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 mg kg−1 soil). Phenotypic assessments and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) were conducted to analyze the expression patterns of TaNRAMP and TaZIP genes in various tissues and developmental stages of wheat, which play crucial roles in Cd uptake and transport. Results demonstrated significant variability in Cd accumulation. The Barat cultivar exhibited the lowest accumulation in grain (ranging from 0.21 to 8.8 mg kg−1) and the highest tolerance. In contrast, Kavir and Pishtaz displayed elevated Cd levels in both grain and straw, while Parsi accumulated more Cd in straw at lower concentrations (56.9 mg kg−1 in Cd concentration of 10 mg kg−1 soil). The gene expression analysis revealed that most cultivars showed increased expression of TaNRAMP genes, particularly TaNRAMP2 in Cd concentration of 10 mg kg−1 soil, which facilitates Cd uptake from the soil, and TaZIP genes, such as TaZIP4 and TaZIP7, involved in transporting Cd within the plant. Notably, the expression of TaZIP1 was significantly lower in cultivars with high Cd accumulation, suggesting a potential regulatory mechanism for Cd tolerance. Furthermore, cultivars exhibiting higher Cd levels correlated with increased expression of stress-responsive genes, indicating a broader response to Cd stress. These findings highlight Barat's potential for bread-making applications due to its low Cd accumulation, while Morvarid and Pishtaz which show reduced Cd content in the straw even under high Cd exposure are better suited for animal feed. This research underscores the genetic variability of wheat cultivars in response to Cd stress and provides essential insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying Cd accumulation, offering valuable information for breeding programs aimed at developing Cd-tolerant varieties to ensure food security in contaminated regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to analyze the combined impact of CO2 and drought stress at the flowering stage on carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and CN ratios in leaves, stem, and grains of bread wheat. Six diverse bread wheat genotypes, comprised of two commercial checks, two landraces, and two synthetics derivatives, were grown at two levels of CO2, i.e., 400 ppm and 800 ppm, and drought stress was imposed at the flowering stage through progressive soil drying. Stem, leaf, and grain samples were taken at maturity and concentrations of C and N were determined. Our results indicate that the threshold value of fraction of transpirable soil water (CFTSW) at which it diverges towards closure of stomata was different among genotypes and a higher range of values was estimated under elevated CO2. Drought significantly increased C levels in leaves and N levels in grains but decreased N levels in leaves, which increased CN ratios in leaves. In contrast, drought significantly reduced CN ratios in grains. Genotypes differed significantly in N content in grains, where the landrace derivative L2 maintained the highest N content. Moreover, pronounced changes in leaf N and CN ratios were induced by the combination of elevated CO2 and drought stress. Additionally, combined correlation and biplot analyses indicate a strong positive association of grain CN (GCN) with grain number, weight, and grain yield. These effects possibly interact with drought to strongly interfere with the impact of elevated CO2. The differential performance of the tested genotypes shows that selection of appropriate germplasm is essential to maintain agricultural production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In response to the escalating challenges posed by unpredictable environmental conditions, the pursuit of early maturation in bread wheat has emerged as a paramount research endeavor. This comprehensive review delves into the multifaceted landscape of strategies and implications surrounding the unlocking of early maturation in bread wheat varieties. Drawing upon a synthesis of cutting-edge research in genetics, physiology, and environmental science, this review elucidates the intricate mechanisms underlying early maturation and its potential ramifications for wheat cultivation in dynamic environments. By meticulously analyzing the genetic determinants, physiological processes, and environmental interactions shaping early maturation, this review offers valuable insights into the complexities of this trait and its relevance in contemporary wheat breeding programs. Furthermore, this review critically evaluates the trade-offs inherent in pursuing early maturation, navigating the delicate balance between accelerated development and optimal yield potential. Through a meticulous examination of both challenges and opportunities, this review provides a comprehensive framework for researchers, breeders, and agricultural stakeholders to advance our understanding and utilization of early maturation in bread wheat cultivars, ultimately fostering resilience and sustainability in wheat production systems worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current context of climate change, marked by severe drought and heat stresses, we hypothesized that the trait plasticity, opposite of stability, could be an important mechanism of reaching adaptability and therefore enhancing resilience. To assess this, we tested 10 promising genotypes under three environments (E1, E2, and E3) for yield and its components: Number of Spikes per m2 (NS/m2), Number of Spikelets per Spike (NSpk/S), Number of Grains per Spikelet (NG/Spk), Number of Grains per Spike (NG/S), Number of Grains per m2 (NG/m2); and Thousand Grain Weight (TGW). A highly significant effect (p < 0.01) of the environment (E) was observed for all traits. Additionally, a significant effect (p < 0.05) of genotype (G) was identified in all traits except TGW. While a significant effect (p < 0.05) of genotype by environment interaction (G×E) was noted for NSpk/S and TGW. The stability and plasticity criteria were reported as a positive way to achieve adaptability when they reflect a high yielding potential of stable or plastic traits. As depicted by GGE- analysis, the best stable genotypes with high performance were Kharouba for NS/m2, NG/S, and NG/m2, Amal for NG/S, 15/42, Malika, and 90-55-17 for NSpk/S, Achtar for NG/Spk, and 15/49 for TGW. While the plastic genotypes with high performance were 15/42 for NS/m2, Achtar for NG/S and NG/m2, Amal for NSpk/S and NG/Spk, and 90–55-17 for TGW. These genotypes that combine stability or plasticity criteria with high yielding performances hold promise as potential genetic resources in breeding programs aiming to achieve desirable yield component structure for better adaptability and resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought is increasingly becoming a production constraint in wheat world-wide. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF)-bread wheat symbiosis has been shown to improve the tolerance under drought stress. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of AMF inoculation on yield attributes (spike number per plant, spike weight per plant, number of grains per spike, grain weight per spike and 1000 grain weight) and protein quantity and quality in two bread wheat cultivars (PAN3497 and SST806) grown under drought stress. Plant growth was significantly reduced due to drought stress in both cultivars. Shoot dry weight was significantly increased (23%) due to AMF inoculation in SST806. AMF inoculation caused a further significant increase of protein content in both cultivars (10.70% and 13.42% in PAN3497 and SST806, respectively). Low molecular weight (LMW) glutenin was significantly decreased in PAN3497 under drought stress. However, the monomeric proteins were significantly increased by drought and/or a combination of drought and AMF inoculation in both cultivars. In cultivar SST806, significant reduction of polymeric protein was observed due to application of both AMF (6%) and a combination of AMF with drought stress (4%). Regarding the two-dimensional separation of the gluten proteins, drought had the largest effect on protein spots, with AMF causing up-regulation of only some spots. SST806 was generally more drought tolerant than PAN3497. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Arsenic (As) contamination poses a major threat to the sustainable production of wheat by disrupting its cellular structure, ionome, and antioxidant defense mechanisms. Therefore, it is important to identify As-tolerant wheat cultivars with a better ability to thrive in As-contaminated soil. For this purpose, two cultivars (SKD-1 and Borlaug-16) were exposed to As treatment (25 mg/L) for 21 days in a pot experiment and studied for morpho-physiological variations and ionomic profiling (using ICP-OES). The study revealed that Borlaug-16 accumulated more As in roots (0.21 µg/mL) than SKD-1 (0.15 µg/mL) and showed higher root-to-leaf translocation under As stress. The concentrations of trace elements (Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Mn, and Zn) in Borlaug-16 increased by 143%, 853%, 75%, 300%, 200%, and 168%, respectively, whereas those of mineral elements (Fe, K, Mg, and P) increased by 160%, 729%, 274%, and 397%, respectively, compared to SKD-1 under As stress. In addition, SKD-1 leaves showed higher cellular thickness in the upper and lower epidermis (Ep), whereas roots showed lower cellular thickness in Ep. SKD-1 showed a 23.69% decrease in root H2O2, whereas Borlaug-16 showed a 12.1% increase. Additionally, the Borlaug-16 leaf H2O2 content exhibited a significant increase of 68.94%. SKD-1 exhibited increased antioxidant activity in both roots (SOD, Ascorbate, Glutathione) and leaves (Ascorbate Proline, TAC). Thus, the SKD-1 cultivar was found to be tolerant to As toxicity by restricting As translocation and stimulating defense mechanisms. Such cultivars have the potential to provide safer grains for consumption and ensure sustainable production of wheat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transformation protocol based on the dual selection approach (fluorescent protein and herbicide resistance) has been applied here to produce transgenic plants of two cereal species, emmer wheat and bread wheat, with the goal of activating the synthesis of the stress hormone jasmonates by overexpressing ALLENE OXIDE SYNTHASE from Arabidopsis thaliana (AtAOS) and bread wheat (TaAOS) and OXOPHYTODIENOATE REDUCTASE 3 from A. thaliana (AtOPR3) under the strong constitutive promoter (ZmUbi1), either individually or both genes simultaneously. The delivery of the expression cassette encoding AOS was found to affect morphogenesis in both wheat species negatively. The effect of transgene expression on the accumulation of individual jasmonates in hexaploid and tetraploid wheat was observed. Among the introduced genes, overexpression of TaAOS was the most successful in increasing stress-inducible phytohormone levels in transgenic plants, resulting in higher accumulations of JA and JA-Ile in emmer wheat and 12-OPDA in bread wheat. In general, overexpression of AOS, alone or together with AtOPR3, negatively affected leaf lamina length and grain numbers per spike in both wheat species. Double (AtAOS + AtOPR3) transgenic wheat plants were characterized by significantly reduced plant height and seed numbers, especially in emmer wheat, where several primary plants failed to produce seeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Cadmium (Cd) contamination poses significant risks to agricultural productivity and human health, particularly through its accumulation in staple crops such as bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). This study evaluated Cd accumulation and tolerance among six bread wheat cultivars exposed to six Cd concentrations (0, 2.5, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 mg kg−1 soil). Phenotypic assessments and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) were conducted to analyze the expression patterns of TaNRAMP and TaZIP genes in various tissues and developmental stages of wheat, which play crucial roles in Cd uptake and transport. Results demonstrated significant variability in Cd accumulation. The Barat cultivar exhibited the lowest accumulation in grain (ranging from 0.21 to 8.8 mg kg−1) and the highest tolerance. In contrast, Kavir and Pishtaz displayed elevated Cd levels in both grain and straw, while Parsi accumulated more Cd in straw at lower concentrations (56.9 mg kg−1 in Cd concentration of 10 mg kg−1 soil). The gene expression analysis revealed that most cultivars showed increased expression of TaNRAMP genes, particularly TaNRAMP2 in Cd concentration of 10 mg kg−1 soil, which facilitates Cd uptake from the soil, and TaZIP genes, such as TaZIP4 and TaZIP7, involved in transporting Cd within the plant. Notably, the expression of TaZIP1 was significantly lower in cultivars with high Cd accumulation, suggesting a potential regulatory mechanism for Cd tolerance. Furthermore, cultivars exhibiting higher Cd levels correlated with increased expression of stress-responsive genes, indicating a broader response to Cd stress. These findings highlight Barat’s potential for bread-making applications due to its low Cd accumulation, while Morvarid and Pishtaz which show reduced Cd content in the straw even under high Cd exposure are better suited for animal feed. This research underscores the genetic variability of wheat cultivars in response to Cd stress and provides essential insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying Cd accumulation, offering valuable information for breeding programs aimed at developing Cd-tolerant varieties to ensure food security in contaminated regions.

Abstract Background CINNAMYL ALCOHOL DEHYDROGENASE (CAD) catalyzes the NADPH-dependent reduction of cinnamaldehydes into cinnamyl alcohols and is a key enzyme found at the final step of the monolignol pathway. Cinnamyl alcohols and their conjugates are subsequently polymerized in the secondary cell wall to form lignin. CAD genes are typically encoded by multi-gene families and thus traditionally organized into general classifications of functional relevance. Results In silico analysis of the hexaploid Triticum aestivum genome revealed 47 high confidence TaCAD copies, of which three were determined to be the most significant isoforms (class I) considered bone fide CADs. Class I CADs were expressed throughout development both in RNAseq data sets as well as via qRT-PCR analysis. Of the 37 class II TaCADs identified, two groups were observed to be significantly co-expressed with class I TaCADs in developing tissue and under chitin elicitation in RNAseq data sets. These co-expressed class II TaCADs were also found to be phylogenetically unrelated to a separate clade of class II TaCADs previously reported to be an influential resistance factor to pathogenic fungal infection. Lastly, two groups were phylogenetically identified as class III TaCADs, which possess distinct conserved gene structures. However, the lack of data supporting their catalytic activity for cinnamaldehydes and their bereft transcriptional presence in lignifying tissues challenges their designation and function as CADs. Conclusions Taken together, our comprehensive transcriptomic analyses suggest that TaCAD genes contribute to overlapping but nonredundant functions during T. aestivum growth and development across a wide variety of agroecosystems and provide tolerance to various stressors.

AbstractSoil pH and salinity significantly affect plant biogeochemical safety, ionome, and nutritional balance. Under such conditions, we established local compositional nutrient diagnosis standards using the centered log ratio (CNDclr*) means and standard deviations of the ionome from high-yield and nutritionally balanced ‘Sirvan’ wheat specimens (Triticum aestivum L. var. ‘Sirvan’). Critical nutrient indices (I2X) and the critical yield of the wheat fields were determined based on the Cate-Nelson method. The Cate-Nelson model indicates that for yields above 6974.9 kg/ha, the CNDr2 index value must be below 17.645. According to clr indices the most critical leaf nutritional indices influencing the performance of low-yield ‘Sirvan’ wheat fields on calcareous and saline soils were identified. Among the leaf nutrient indices in low-yield populations of ‘Sirvan’ wheat fields, increasing leaf Ca, P, Mn, Cu, N, and Zn, while decreasing Mg, B, and K, and bringing them closer to zero within the range of nutritional balance, can have significant effects on yield under saline and calcareous soil conditions, countering the negative impact of high pH due to alkaline salt stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated 290 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) of the nested association mapping (NAM) population from the UK. The population derived from 24 families, where a common parent was "Paragon," one of the UK's spring wheat cultivar standards. All genotypes were tested in two regions of Kazakhstan at the Kazakh Research Institute of Agriculture and Plant Industry (KRIAPI, Almaty region, Southeast Kazakhstan, 2019–2022 years) and Alexandr Barayev Scientific-Production Center for Grain Farming (SPCGF, Shortandy, Akmola region, Northern Kazakhstan, 2019–2022 years). The studied traits consisted of plant adaptation-related traits, including heading date (HD, days), seed maturation date (SMD, days), plant height (PH, cm), and peduncle length (PL, cm). In addition, the yield per m2 was analyzed in both regions. Based on a field evaluation of the population in northern and southeastern Kazakhstan and using 10,448 polymorphic SNP (single-nucleotide polymorphism) markers, the genome-wide association study (GWAS) allowed for detecting 74 QTLs in four studied agronomic traits (HD, SMD, PH, and PL). The literature survey suggested that 16 of the 74 QTLs identified in our study had also been detected in previous QTL mapping studies and GWASs for all studied traits. The results will be used for further studies related to the adaptation and productivity of wheat in breeding projects for higher grain productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genetic and environmental factors influence wheat grain quality, including vitreousness, protein, and starch content. Yellow berry (YB), a physiological condition, adversely affects wheat quality, particularly in irrigated fields with limited nitrogen application, leading to starch‐rich, low‐protein grains. This study examines common wheat, used in baking industries, and durum wheat, primarily employs for pasta production. The focus is on investigating how the physicochemical properties of these wheat types change with the presence of YB, that impacts protein content negatively, increasing total starch content. Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy reveals structural changes in YB‐affected grains, while X‐ray diffraction indicates varying crystallinity. In determination of amylose, an increase of 6% in bread wheat with YB and 3% in durum wheat with YB is observed. In the case of RVA (Rapid Visco Analyzer) analysis, a notable increase in viscosity is evident in the treatments that included the yellow berry. This finding suggests that YB is associated with substantial modifications in starch properties, such as amylose‐to‐amylopectin ratio, chain length, and degree of branching, among several other components, which may have important implications for the texture and quality of food products. This study calls for further research to mitigate YB's impact and enhances the quality of wheat‐derived foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The combined application of biochar and fertilizer has become increasingly popular for improving soil quality and crop productivity. However, the reported research results regarding the effects of biochar on soil properties and crop productivity have contradictory findings, indicating the requirement for further scientific research. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of a combined application of water hyacinth biochar (WHB) and NPS fertilizer on soil physicochemical properties and wheat yield under deficit irrigation conditions in acidic silty loam soil in Ethiopia. Four different biochar rates (0, 5, 10, and 20 t ha−1), three fertilizer rates (0, 100, and 200 kg NPS ha−1), and two irrigation regimes (50 and 100% of crop requirement) were evaluated to assess soil properties and wheat yields. The results showed that biochar amendment significantly reduced soil bulk density by 15.1–16.7%, and improved soil porosity by 6.8–8.6% and moisture content by 10.3–20.2%. Additionally, the combined application of biochar and fertilizer improved soil pH (0.26–0.87 units), NH4+–N (73.7–144%), NO3−–N (131–637%), and available phosphorus (85.8–427%), compared to the application of fertilizer alone. As a result, wheat dry biomass and grain yield increased by 260 and 173%, respectively. Furthermore, the combined application of WHB and fertilizer resulted in a comparable wheat dry biomass and grain yield even with a 50% reduction of irrigation water. Therefore, WHB has a significant potential to improve soil physicochemical properties and wheat yield when it is applied in combination with fertilizer, and it can reduce the water requirement for wheat production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laboratory studies, which field trial was conducted in the 2020-2021 growing season at the Eastern Mediterranean Agricultural Research Institute, were conducted at Gümüşhane University. In this study, the findings showed that urea was used as the top fertilizer in different growth stages of the 'Yakamoz' bread wheat cultivar used as material, and the effects of urea application periods and flour type, on the quality traits, such as dry matter, ash, protein, acidity, fresh and dry gluten, gluten index, sedimentation, and falling number were investigated. For this purpose, in addition to the control application, tillering, stem elongation, milky and dough stages were chosen as urea application periods. Laboratory studies were carried out in randomized plots using the split-plot design with three replications. In the present study, all quality traits showed statistically significant differences for urea application periods; these values were ranged as follows: Dry matter: 90.20-90.77%, ash: 1.037-1.213%, protein: 14.01-15.15%, acidity: 0.037- 0.056%, wet gluten: 41.49-43.67%, dry gluten: 14.75%-15.46, gluten index: 69.28-80.38%, sedimentation: 20.0-21.0 mL, late sedimentation: 23.5-29.8 mL and falling number: 753.8-881.7 s. In addition, other quality parameters except dry matter, protein and sedimentation changed statistically for flour type. Accordingly, whole wheat flour for ash (1.443%), acidity (0.051%) and gluten index (82.53%); white flour showed high values for wet (44.90%) and dry (15.96%) gluten, late sedimentation (35.60 mL) and falling number (836.4 s). As a result, while applying urea as a top fertilizer, it is recommended to choose the stem elongation stage for high gluten index, delayed sedimentation and protein, and the dough maturity stage for high dry matter. It would be appropriate to represent more genotypes and different nitrogen sources in further studies to be more inclusive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the effect of gibberellic acid (GA3) doses (1.0 g/da, 0.8 g/da, 0.6 g/da, and control) on the agricultural and quality characteristics of Halis bread wheat variety, widely grown in various regions of our country, was investigated. The experiment was conducted in the 2022- 2023 growing season according to the randomized block trial design with four replications in Sakarya ecological conditions. The study examined agricultural characteristics such as plant height, grain yield, number of grains per spike, number of spikes per m², grain weight per spike, thousand-grain weight, and hectoliter weight, as well as quality properties including protein content, wet gluten, gluten index, moisture, zeleny sedimentation, alveograph energy value, alveograph P/L ratio, farinograph water absorption, farinograph development time, farinograph stability value, and farinograph softening value. Variance analysis revealed statistically significant effects of GA3 applications on grain yield, number of grains per spike, number of spikes per m², grain weight per spike, and hectoliter weight. Correlation analysis revealed statistically significant positive relationships among traits. According to Principal component analysis, the first four principal components explained 73.81% of the variation. As a results, it was determined that the application of 1.0 g/da GA3 significantly increases wheat yield but has no effect on quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The most important step in plant breeding is the correct selection of parents, and it would be wise to use heterotic groups for this. The purpose of this study is to analyse yield and its components as well as genetic diversity in line × tester wheat populations. It also seeks to present a coherent framework for the isolation of early superior families and the development of heterotic groups in bread wheat. F1 and F2 generations of 51 genotypes, including 36 combinations between 12 lines and three testers and 15 parents, were evaluated for yield and its components in a three-replication experiment according to the randomized block design. Line × tester analysis of variance, general and specific combining abilities, heterosis, heterobeltiosis and inbreeding depression were calculated. Heterotic groups created based on general and specific combining abilities were compared with each other. The results showed that there was sufficient genetic variation in the population and that further genetic calculations could be made. The selections made based on general and specific combining abilities, heterosis values and average performance of genotypes without heterotic grouping indicated different genotypes for each feature. The creation of heterotic groups made it possible to select genotypes that were superior in terms of all the criteria listed. It was concluded that heterotic groups created based on specific combining abilities may be more useful for breeding studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crop production is largely limited by water availability in arid and semi-arid regions of Ethiopia. Changing climate conditions and declining water resources demand appropriate approaches to improve crop yield and water use efficiency through a reduced and more reliable water supply. A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of limited irrigation water use on bread wheat production and water use efficiency under the semi-arid climate conditions of Awash basin of Ethiopia. Five irrigation levels, that is, full irrigation (100% ETc/control), 85% ETc, 70% ETc, 55% ETc, and 40% ETc, were evaluated using a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replicates. Statistical analysis has shown a significant effect of irrigation levels on wheat grain yield, water use efficiency, economic profit, wheat grain quality, and aboveground biomass. The highest grain yield (5,085 kg ha−1) was obtained from 100% ETc irrigation application (i.e. 417.2 mm of water), and the lowest grain yield was obtained from 40% ETc (i.e. 223.7 mm of water) application. A deficit level of 85% ETc resulted in a yield that was comparable to that of full irrigation. Compared to other treatments, the 70% ETc application produced the highest water use efficiency (1.42 kg m−3). Using the saved water obtained from 70% ETc deficit irrigation application, 23.4% more wheat could be produced on 1.38 ha of land, resulting in the highest profit (US$2,563.9) and higher MRR (137%). The yield response factor and crop-water production function indicated that maintaining irrigation at optimal levels can prevent potential yield reductions. Consequently, a 70% ETc deficit irrigation application was found to be optimal for increasing wheat grain yield, water use efficiency, and economic benefits from irrigated wheat production. These results suggest that deficit irrigation for wheat under semi-arid climatic conditions is a viable irrigation management option for enhancing water use efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: CINNAMYL ALCOHOL DEHYDROGENASE (CAD) catalyzes the NADPH-dependent reduction of cinnamaldehydes into cinnamyl alcohols and is a key enzyme found at the final step of the monolignol pathway. Cinnamyl alcohols and their conjugates are subsequently polymerized in the secondary cell wall to form lignin. CAD genes are typically encoded by multi-gene families and thus traditionally organized into general classifications of functional relevance. Results: In silico analysis of the hexaploid Triticum aestivum genome revealed 47 high confidence TaCAD copies, of which three were determined to be the most significant isoforms (class I) considered bone fide CADs. Class I CADs were expressed throughout development both in RNAseq data sets as well as via qRT-PCR analysis. Of the 37 class II TaCADs identified, two groups were observed to be significantly co-expressed with class I TaCADs in developing tissue and under chitin elicitation in RNAseq data sets. These co-expressed class II TaCADs were also found to be phylogenetically unrelated to a separate clade of class II TaCADs previously reported to be an influential resistance factor to pathogenic fungal infection. Lastly, two groups were phylogenetically identified as class III TaCADs, which possess distinct conserved gene structures. However, the lack of data supporting their catalytic activity for cinnamaldehydes and their bereft transcriptional presence in lignifying tissues challenges their designation and function as CADs. Conclusions: Taken together, our comprehensive transcriptomic analyses suggest that TaCAD genes contribute to overlapping but nonredundant functions during T. aestivum growth and development across a wide variety of agroecosystems and provide tolerance to various stressors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: Analysis of salinity tolerance processes in wheat has focused on salt exclusion from shoots while root phenotypes have received limited attention. Here, we consider the varying phenotypic response of four bread wheat varieties that differ in their type and degree of salt tolerance and assess their molecular responses to salinity and changes in root cell wall lignification. These varieties were Westonia introgressed with Nax1 and Nax2 root sodium transporters (HKT1;4‐A and HKT1;5‐A) that reduce Na+ accumulation in leaves, as well as the 'tissue tolerant' Portuguese landrace Mocho de Espiga Branca that has a mutation in the homologous gene HKT1;5‐D and has high Na+ concentration in leaves. These three varieties were compared with the relatively more salt‐sensitive cultivar Gladius. Through the use of root histochemical analysis, ion concentrations, as well as differential proteomics and targeted metabolomics, we provide an integrated view of the wheat root response to salinity. We show different metabolic re‐arrangements in energy conversion, primary metabolic machinery and phenylpropanoid pathway leading to monolignol production in a genotype and genotype by treatment‐dependent manner that alters the extent and localisation of root lignification which correlated with an improved capacity of wheat roots to cope better under salinity stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zinc (Zn) deficiency is one of the most prevalent micronutrient deficiencies and is mostly brought on by a diet high in cereal grains with low Zn contents. In order to screen prominent bread (12 varieties) and durum (6 varieties) wheat varieties grown under Zn deficient (control) and sufficient (Zn @ 25 mg kg−1 as soil) condition and a pot experiment was conducted in the screen house of the Department of Soil Science, Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar. In the Zn deficient and sufficient soil, the highest yield was observed in HD-2967 (14.57 & 16.13 g/pot) and PWD-291 (8.68 & 11.70 g/pot) of bread and durum wheat, respectively. In Zn-deficient soil, the highest total protein content and Zn content in grain were observed in DBW-88 (8.17 & 26.50%) and PWD-291 (8.42 & 26.52%) of bread and durum wheat, respectively. All the bread wheat varieties were found to be semi tolerant, i.e. the percentage increase in yield was in the category of 10–25% except WH-52 and RAJ-3765 where increase in yield was more than 25%. The maximum increase in yield was found 28.91% in the WH-542 and the minimum increase (10.70%) in the HD-2967 wheat varieties. For durum wheat, two varieties (WH-912 &WHD-943) were found to be semi tolerant, i.e. the percentage increase in yield was in the category of 10–25%. In conclusion, it was determined that this study is helpful for creating methods for micronutrient biofortification using various wheat varieties in south-central Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated 290 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) from the Nested Association Mapping (NAM) population in the UK, consisting of 24 hybrid families. All genotypes were grown in Southeastern Kazakhstan (Kazakh Research Institute of Agriculture and Plant Growing, Almaty region, 2021–2022) and Northern Kazakhstan (Alexandr Barayev Scientific-Production Center for Grain Farming, Akmola region, 2020). The studied traits included six yield-related characteristics: spike length (SL, cm), number of productive spikes per plant (NPS, pcs), number of kernels per spike (NKS, pcs), weight of kernels per spike (WKS, g), thousand kernel weight (TKW, g), and yield per square meter (YM2, g/m2). The significant phenotypic variability among genotypes was observed, which was suitable for the genome-wide association study of yield-related traits. Pearson's index showed positive correlations among most yield-related traits, although a negative correlation was found between NKS and TKW in southeastern regions, and no correlation was recorded for northern regions. Top-performing RILs, surpassing local checks, were identified for NKS, TKW, and YM2, suggesting their potential for breeding programs. The application of GWAS allowed the identification of 72 quantitative trait loci (QTLs), including 36 QTLs in the southeastern region, 16 QTLs in the northern region, and 19 in both locations. Eleven QTLs matched those reported in previous QTL mapping studies and GWAS for studied traits. The results can be used for further studies related to the adaptation and productivity of wheat in breeding projects for higher grain productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Untapped wheat germplasm is conserved globally in genebanks. Evaluating it for grain quality and yield will help achieve nutritional and food security. Aims: We aimed to evaluate the Indian National Genebank bread wheat core collection for grain quality, phenology and yield, to identify potential donor germplasm. Methods: 1485 accessions were grown at three locations in India during winter 2015–2016 to evaluate test weight, grain protein content, sedimentation value (SV), days to spike emergence, days to maturity, grain yield and thousand-grain weight (TGW). Key results: Best linear unbiased estimates indicated mean protein of 13.3%, 14.7%, and 13.0% and yield of 73.0 g/m, 70.9 g/m and 66.6 g/m at Ludhiana, Pune, and Varanasi locations, respectively. The SV ranged from 26.6–65.6 mL and 17.7–66.6 mL at the Ludhiana and Pune locations, respectively. The top 10 accessions were identified for all the studied traits. Six high protein accessions, with consistent protein of more than 15% along with moderate Thousand-grain and test weights were further validated and assessed for stability across environments. Grain protein content was correlated negatively with thousand-grain weight and yield, but positively with days to maturity and spike emergence. Conclusion: The identified accessions with high trait values could be used in future breeding programmes to develop high yielding biofortified cultivars to address protein malnutrition and also cultivars with suitable end-product quality. Implications: The diversity in a core collection can be exploited to develop modern high yielding bread wheat cultivars with higher grain protein content and suitable end-product quality. To eliminate hunger and malnutrition, genetic resources for cereals with high grain protein content, grain yield, and other quality traits are needed. A diverse and representative set of bread wheat genetic resources is extracted from national genebank of India. We evaluated this diverse core collection across multiple environments to find novel and stable high yielding germplasm with superior grain quality for further use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a major grain crop and staple in many regions of the world. The objective of this research is to discover high-yielding genotypes while also analyzing gene variation, heritability, and progress of yield-determining variables related to bread wheat genotypes. As a result, this study assesses the production potential, genetic diversity, and heritability of bread wheat genotypes produced under irrigated settings in Ginchi, Ethiopia. Sixty-four bread wheat advanced pure lines and standard checks were evaluated using a simple lattice (8X8) design. The results show considerable phenotypic and genotypic variations among the tested genotypes for all considered traits. Traits such as grain yield per hectare, biomass yield, number of kernels per spike, and thousand kernels weight showed moderate phenotypic coefficients of variation. Broad sense heritability ranged from 30% for biomass yield to 91% for days to 50% heading. Expected genetic advance as percent of means values ranged from 3.73% for days to 50% emergence to 16.91% for thousand kernel weight. The identified high-yielding genotypes, G31, G11, G51, G6, G3, G34, G23, G5, G41, and G59, have shown promising potential for advancing the breeding objectives in the field of irrigated wheat. The study concludes that the use of these traits for direct selection would bring advancement. The future scope of this research lies in the confirmation of the identified high-yielding genotypes in multi-location and season trials to further advance the breeding objectives in the field of breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheat, as a widely cultivated cereal crop, has encountered challenges due to its limited genetic diversity throughout its evolution. To facilitate effective crop improvement and ensure sustainability, a comprehensive understanding of the genetic diversity among wheat cultivars is essential. In this study, 17 bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and 22 durum wheat cultivars (Triticum durum Desf.) were investigated. These cultivars originated from 19 provinces in Iran, encompassing the majority of their natural distribution range. Twenty inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) molecular markers were utilized to assess the genetic correlations among the different cultivars. The ISSR analyses identified 133 ISSR loci in bread wheat cultivars, out of which 124 loci (93.23%) exhibited polymorphism. In durum wheat cultivars, 104 loci were detected, with 92 loci (88.46%) showing polymorphism. By utilizing the Dice similarity coefficient and the unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA) algorithm, a cluster analysis dendrogram was constructed, which successfully divided both bread and durum wheat cultivars into four distinct groups. Furthermore, our results were reinforced through principal component analysis clustering, validating the robustness of the grouping. The dissimilarity matrices derived from the Dice coefficient and the UPGMA analysis provided evidence of distinct genetic diversity between bread and durum wheat. Importantly, this study marks the first attempt to assess origin genetic variation in Iranian indigenous wheat using ISSR markers. This establishes a critical foundation for ex situ conservation and the utilization of genetic resources in wheat breeding endeavors. Overall, this research substantially advances our knowledge of wheat genetic diversity, guiding future crop improvement strategies and sustainable management of genetic resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheat is one of the most important staple food crops in Ethiopia and elsewhere in the world. Knowledge of its genetic diversity provides breeders a chance to develop new, improved cultivars with desirable traits. In this research the genetic diversity and population structure of 180 bread wheat germplasms representing eight populations was analyzed using 10 Inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers used. Based on diversity indices all the ISSR markers were polymorphic and highly informative. High within-populations genetic diversity with a mean allele values of 1.47, effective alleles of 1.33, Shannon's Information index of 0.29, Nei's gene diversity of 0.19, and percent polymorphic loci of 80.5% were obtained in this research. Among the populations, those from the International Septoria Observation Nursery (ISEPTON) showed relatively, the highest observed number of alleles (1.47), effective number of alleles (1.33), Shannon's Information index (0.4) and Nei's gene diversity (0.19). Thus, the ISEPTON lines could be a good source of useful alleles to be used in wheat improvement programs. Analysis of molecular variance revealed that 95% of the total genetic variation resides within populations, while the remaining 5% is accounted to among populations. Clustering using unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean, principal coordinate analysis and population structure analysis did not group the wheat populations into genetically distinct clusters following their breeding objectives. In the present research adequate polymorphism and reproducible fingerprint profiles were explored from of the genetic structure analysis in the wheat germplasms. The information obtained could thus be useful in future bread wheat breeding programs as well it its sustainable use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a significant crop for human nutrition and global food security. Ensuring stable wheat yields is crucial, as fluctuations in production can have major effects on food availability and prices globally. We evaluated 82 bread wheat genotypes in two growing seasons using multi-environment trial analysis (eight environments) in Kazakhstan to identify superior genotypes using AMMI-based stability statistics. The analysis of variances (ANOVA) of AMMI showed that environmental effects largely explained yield variability (87.6 %), whereas the contribution of genotype (2.79 %) and genotype-environment interaction (8.19 %) had minimal influence. An estimated set of stability parameters showed positive correlations between each other, and these measurements can be utilized to choose stable genotypes. The mean yield of bread wheat genotypes ranged from 24.5 to 17.9 centners per ha. Genotypes 342/08 (G62), Line Р-1413m (G8), Lyutescens 54 190/09 (G54), 233/10 (G58), Bajterek 15 (G25), and Lyutescens 57 4/09 (G52) were shown to be the most stable and productive based on AMMI-based stability scores for grain yield. Breeders and farmers could use these samples as stable and high-performing genotypes in a wide range of environments in Kazakhstan. Future studies could use more growth seasons to identify the most stable genotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: As one of the most important cereals, bread wheat is an essential part of food security in the world, which supplies one -fifth of the total calories of the world population. Nowadays, the yield of wheat has been affected by climate change -driven drought as one of the most important abiotic stresses that has become an important threat to food security in the world. Root and stomatal traits are especially important in breeding plants to withstand drought stress. Stomata play a key role in controlling carbon dioxide uptake and water loss through transpiration. Therefore, stomatal characteristics are used as indicators of water status and plant growth, especially in drought stress conditions. Having a wide range of physiological and morphological characteristics, roots play an essential role in absorbing water and nutrients. They are also the first organ that sends signals to control the stomata in response to dryness. Therefore, the difference in the structure of the root system can cause the difference between the performance in different cultivars. This study was conducted to investigate stomatal characteristics and their relationship with the root system and plant performance in 24 bread wheat lines and cultivars. Methods: To investigate the relationship between stomatal dimensions and density with the root system, an experiment was conducted on 24 bread wheat genotypes in the form of a randomized complete block design with three replications in the rainfed conditions of the research farm at Zanjan University Faculty of Agriculture in the crop year 2018 -2019. In this experiment, PVC pipes were used to study the root system. Twelve seeds were planted in each tube, which were thinned to seven after germination. In each experimental unit, there were two tubes for each genotype, one of which was used to evaluate traits and final yield, and the second tube was used for root studies. Stomatal traits, including the length and width of stomata and number of stomata per unit area, root traits including root length, root diameter, root volume, root surface, and root biomass, and seed yield were measured in the end. The resulting data from the measured traits were analyzed in the form of a randomized complete block design, and the averages were compared using the LSD method. The data were analyzed using multivariate statistical analy ses, including regression analysis, path analysis, and factor analysis, and cluster analysis was used to group genotypes. Statistical calculations were done using SAS 9.0 and SPSS 21 software. Results: The results of analysis of variance and mean comparison showed high variability among genotypes for all measured traits. The results of the mean comparison of genotypes showed that genotypes 2, 5, 8, and 16 had the highest yield, and genotype 23 had the lowest yield among the examined genotypes. The highest number of stomata on the upper and lower leaf surface s belonged to genotypes 5 and 2. In terms of root traits, the highest diameter, volume, length, root surface, and root dry weight at a depth of 0 -25 cm were recorded for genotypes 2, 3, 18, and 5, respectively. There was a high and significant correlation between the yield and the number of stomata on the upper and lower leaf surface s, the length and width of the stomata on the upper leaf surface, diameter, volume, dry weight, and root surface at a depth of 0 -25 cm in the soil. Based on the results of stepwise regression analysis, two variables, the number of stomata on the lower leaf surface and root dry weight at a depth of more than 25 cm explained 91.4% of the changes in grain yield. According to the results of the causality analysis of the number of stomata on the lower leaf surface, the most direct effect had a positive effect on seed yield. The results of factor analysis grouped the studied traits into three factors with 82.48% variability justification. The share s of the first, second, and third facto r s to explaining data changes were 48.86%, 24.62%, and 8.99%, respectively. Based on the plot obtained from factor analysis, genotypes 2, 5, 8, and 16 had high values for the first and second factors. According to the coefficients of the factors, it can be claimed that the genotypes located in this area have high performance, a high number of stomata, and strong root traits, which were found at the soil depth of 0 -25 cm. For this reason, these are the genotypes that could produce high yields by absorbing water from the surface layers of the soil by having a large number of stomata and carrying out more photosynthesis. Moreover, the investigated genotypes were divided into three groups from cluster analysis by the ward method and Euclidean distance. Genotypes 2, 5, 8, and 16 were placed in the first group and had the highest mean values for grain yield traits, number and width of stomata on the upper and lower leaf surfaces, and root traits including diameter, volume, and dry weight at a soil depth of 0 - 2 5 cm, and root diameter at a depth greater than 25 cm. The lowest values for stomatal length were observed in both leaf surfaces. These were the best genotypes for cultivation in dry conditions. Conclusion: A strong superficial root system can provide the plant with water from scattered rains that occur with low frequency at the end of the growth period. On the other hand, the increase in the number of stomata along with their smaller size reduces leaf pores and enables a faster response of the stomata, and the rapid response of the stomata maximizes water use efficiency. Therefore, having a strong superficial root system along with high stomatal density can increase seed yield in dry conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to rapidly adapt to the evolving climate and sustainably nourish the growing global population, plant breeders are actively investigating more efficient strategies to enhance crop yields. In this study, we present the development of a bread wheat mapping population and backcross breeding program, serving as a valuable genetic resource for mapping the effects of different alleles on trait performance. We employed innovative methodologies to rapidly introgress traits into the bread wheat cultivar. Specifically, we utilized two parents, including Tosunbey x Tahirova2000, in a recombinant inbred line population, in addition, a backcross strategy was applied with line 148 (obtained by crossing Tosunbey x Tahirova2000 with high gluten quality) as the recipient parent of the Nevzatbey cv., known for its awnless feature. The two most important applications of the rapid breeding method are extending the light period and breaking dormancy in early harvested seeds. Both applications were successfully implemented in our study. Our vegetation periods ranging from approximately 50–60 days. Additionally, an early genotype in our developed population was harvested in 40 days. Considering that the genotype underwent a 15-day vernalization period, the generation cycle, including vernalization, drying, and refrigeration, was completed in a total of 64 days. Notably, we employed not only biochemical markers for selection but also incorporated the rapid generation advance technology known as 'speed breeding', allowing us to develop BC5F1 within a span of two years. We posit that this approach proves instrumental in swiftly transferring genes for multiple target traits into adapted wheat cultivars or in pyramiding desirable traits within elite breeding material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Agriculture & Nature / Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam Üniversitesi Tarım & Doğa Dergisi is the property of Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam Universitesi and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Agricultural Chemistry & Biotechnology is the property of Egyptian National Agricultural Library (ENAL) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

AbstractWheat is one of the cereal crops grown around the world, as well as in Ethiopia. However, female farmers are limited in their ability to achieve their estimated potential as a country in general and in the study area in particular. Even though Emba Alaje district is a potential area for bread wheat production in the Tigray region, so far studies have been scanty on female farmers’ adoption of improved bread wheat production. Thus, this study analyses the determinants of female farmers’ adoption of bread wheat production. This primary data was collected from 169 female farmers in Emba Alaje district using semi-structured interview schedules. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select representative samples. The data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics and econometric analysis. A binary probit regression model was used to analyze factors influencing the adoption of improved bread wheat varieties by female farmers. According to the model results, educational level, family labour, oxen ownership, training access, membership in cooperatives, and credit access positively influenced, while the age of the female farmers negatively influenced the adoption of bread wheat production by female farmers. Therefore, policymakers and other stakeholders should consider these factors to support female farmers in bread wheat production and to accelerate overall agricultural development.

In abiotic stress factors, drought is a complex feature controlled by many genes. For this reason, drought stress effects should be investigated using molecular markers and biochemical characterization in wheat genotypes. Within the scope of this study; eight different wheat cultivars and two for control group including Gerek-79, known to be highly tolerant of drought, and sensitive Sultan-95 were grown during 40 days. After breeding, they were subjected to drought stress for 10 days. As a result of water deficiency stress, antioxidant amounts and antioxidant enzyme activities, which convert ROS into harmless components, are the most important resistance mechanisms against oxidative stress. Among the most effective anti-oxidative enzymes such as polyphenol oxidase (PPA), peroxidase (POD), ascorbate peroxidase (ASPX), catalase (CAT) levels were determined. The response of plants to stress can be described as changes in photosynthetic pigment, total protein, hydrogen peroxide, lipid peroxidation (MDA) and proline levels as well as antioxidant enzymes level. We also analyzed wheat genotypes with drought tolerance related SSR markers (Xwmc 89, Xwmc 118, Xwmc 304, Xgwm 337). Thus, the effect of molecular characterization on the analysis of biochemical changes under drought stress was evaluated.

Stripe Rust, caused by Puccinia striiformis Westend f. sp. tritici , is an important fungal disease of wheat worldwide. In this study, 41 wheat genotypes from various institutes across India were screened for adult plant resistance (APR) in field trials, and the presence of effective stripe rust resistance genes was evaluated in the laboratory using ten molecular markers.The bread wheat variety Agra local was used as a susceptible control. Molecular characterization studies revealed that the gene Yr 2 was found in 29 entries, Yr5 in 15 entries, Yr9 in 7 entries, Yr10 in 18 entries, Yr15 in 18 entries, Yr17 in 12 entries, Yr18 in 29 entries, Yr36 in 21 entries, Yr40 in 31 entries while Yr65 was absent in all the entries. The genotypes PBW780 and High Rainfall Wheat Screening Nursery (HRWSN) line 2105 had seven Yr genes conferring resistant phenotypes, suggesting that these were excellent sources of effectual stripe rust resistance. The coefficient of infection showed adequate genotypic variations for rust severity, 41 genotypes showed year-specific responses, suggesting strong G × E interactions.

Heat stress is one of the major constraints in wheat production due to its adverse effect on grain yield and component traits. Moreover, it negatively affects the physiological, biochemical and quality traits of wheat. Therefore, selection of heat tolerant wheat lines is one of the major breeding goals for wheat scientist. In present study, 238 recombinant inbred lines were evaluated along with their parents WH 711 × WH 542 under timely and late sown (heat stress) condition. The heat tolerance indices were calculated based on grain yield under normal and stress conditions. The mean grain yield of 238 wheat lines was reduced by 20.54% suggesting critical effect of heat stress on grain yield. The harmonic mean (HM), stress tolerance index (STI), mean productivity (MP), geometric mean productivity (GMP), and mean relative performance (MRP) were correlated significantly and positively with grain yield under stress and normal conditions. Whereas, Tolerance index (TOL) was correlated negatively with grain yield under stress conditions and positively under normal condition. Based on STI, MP, HM, GMP and MRP, wheat lines WL 92, WL 119, WL 114, WL 110, WL 6 were identified as heat tolerant and could be utilized as potential lines for increasing heat stress tolerance of future wheat breeding programs.

Extended Abstract Background: As one of the most important cereals, bread wheat is an essential part of food security in the world, which supplies one-fifth of the total calories of the world population. Nowadays, the yield of wheat has been affected by climate change-driven drought as one of the most important abiotic stresses that has become an important threat to food security in the world. Root and stomatal traits are especially important in breeding plants to withstand drought stress. Stomata play a key role in controlling carbon dioxide uptake and water loss through transpiration. Therefore, stomatal characteristics are used as indicators of water status and plant growth, especially in drought stress conditions. Having a wide range of physiological and morphological characteristics, roots play an essential role in absorbing water and nutrients. They are also the first organ that sends signals to control the stomata in response to dryness. Therefore, the difference in the structure of the root system can cause the difference between the performance in different cultivars. This study was conducted to investigate stomatal characteristics and their relationship with the root system and plant performance in 24 bread wheat lines and cultivars. Methods: To investigate the relationship between stomatal dimensions and density with the root system, an experiment was conducted on 24 bread wheat genotypes in the form of a randomized complete block design with three replications in the rainfed conditions of the research farm at Zanjan University Faculty of Agriculture in the crop year 2018-2019. In this experiment, PVC pipes were used to study the root system. Twelve seeds were planted in each tube, which were thinned to seven after germination. In each experimental unit, there were two tubes for each genotype, one of which was used to evaluate traits and final yield, and the second tube was used for root studies. Stomatal traits, including the length and width of stomata and number of stomata per unit area, root traits including root length, root diameter, root volume, root surface, and root biomass, and seed yield were measured in the end. The resulting data from the measured traits were analyzed in the form of a randomized complete block design, and the averages were compared using the LSD method. The data were analyzed using multivariate statistical analyses, including regression analysis, path analysis, and factor analysis, and cluster analysis was used to group genotypes. Statistical calculations were done using SAS 9.0 and SPSS 21 software. Results: The results of analysis of variance and mean comparison showed high variability among genotypes for all measured traits. The results of the mean comparison of genotypes showed that genotypes 2, 5, 8, and 16 had the highest yield, and genotype 23 had the lowest yield among the examined genotypes. The highest number of stomata on the upper and lower leaf surfaces belonged to genotypes 5 and 2. In terms of root traits, the highest diameter, volume, length, root surface, and root dry weight at a depth of 0-25 cm were recorded for genotypes 2, 3, 18, and 5, respectively. There was a high and significant correlation between the yield and the number of stomata on the upper and lower leaf surfaces, the length and width of the stomata on the upper leaf surface, diameter, volume, dry weight, and root surface at a depth of 0-25 cm in the soil. Based on the results of stepwise regression analysis, two variables, the number of stomata on the lower leaf surface and root dry weight at a depth of more than 25 cm explained 91.4% of the changes in grain yield. According to the results of the causality analysis of the number of stomata on the lower leaf surface, the most direct effect had a positive effect on seed yield. The results of factor analysis grouped the studied traits into three factors with 82.48% variability justification. The shares of the first, second, and third factors to explaining data changes were 48.86%, 24.62%, and 8.99%, respectively. Based on the plot obtained from factor analysis, genotypes 2, 5, 8, and 16 had high values for the first and second factors. According to the coefficients of the factors, it can be claimed that the genotypes located in this area have high performance, a high number of stomata, and strong root traits, which were found at the soil depth of 0-25 cm. For this reason, these are the genotypes that could produce high yields by absorbing water from the surface layers of the soil by having a large number of stomata and carrying out more photosynthesis. Moreover, the investigated genotypes were divided into three groups from cluster analysis by the ward method and Euclidean distance. Genotypes 2, 5, 8, and 16 were placed in the first group and had the highest mean values for grain yield traits, number and width of stomata on the upper and lower leaf surfaces, and root traits including diameter, volume, and dry weight at a soil depth of 0-25 cm, and root diameter at a depth greater than 25 cm. The lowest values for stomatal length were observed in both leaf surfaces. These were the best genotypes for cultivation in dry conditions. Conclusion: A strong superficial root system can provide the plant with water from scattered rains that occur with low frequency at the end of the growth period. On the other hand, the increase in the number of stomata along with their smaller size reduces leaf pores and enables a faster response of the stomata, and the rapid response of the stomata maximizes water use efficiency. Therefore, having a strong superficial root system along with high stomatal density can increase seed yield in dry conditions.

Abstract Flag leaf (FL) dimension has been reported as a key ecophysiological aspect for boosting grain yield in wheat. A worldwide winter wheat panel consisting of 261 accessions was tested to examine the phenotypical variation and identify quantitative trait nucleotides (QTNs) with candidate genes influencing FL morphology. To this end, four FL traits were evaluated during the early milk stage under two growing seasons at the Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research. The results showed that all leaf traits (Flag leaf length, width, area, and length/width ratio) were significantly influenced by the environments, genotypes, and environments × genotypes interactions. Then, a genome-wide association analysis was performed using 17,093 SNPs that showed 10 novel QTNs that potentially play a role in modulating FL morphology in at least two environments. Further analysis revealed 8 high-confidence candidate genes likely involved in these traits and showing high expression values from flag leaf expansion until its senescence and also during grain development. An important QTN (wsnp_RFL_Contig2177_1500201) was associated with FL width and located inside TraesCS3B02G047300 at chromosome 3B. This gene encodes a major facilitator, sugar transporter-like, and showed the highest expression values among the candidate genes reported, suggesting their positive role in controlling flag leaf and potentially being involved in photosynthetic assimilation. Our study suggests that the detection of novel marker-trait associations and the subsequent elucidation of the genetic mechanism influencing FL morphology would be of interest for improving plant architecture, light capture, and photosynthetic efficiency during grain development.

Abstract The limited engagement of farmers and their community agents in the process of variety development and evaluation is one of the main factors for lower rates of variety adoption, which resulted in lower crop productivity. Participatory bread wheat variety evaluation was jointly conducted by breeders, members of seed producer cooperative (SPC) and local experts with the objectives to identify farmers’ selection criteria, to assess farmers’ preferred varieties and to increase the SPC’s variety portfolios. Twelve released bread wheat varieties were evaluated during 2019 cropping season at Sekela district of Amhara region, Ethiopia. Pair-wise ranking was used to identify farmers’ selection criteria and direct matrix ranking to prioritize those selected criteria. Varieties were planted in two sets with and without lime application. Grain yield, followed by earliness, disease tolerance, and tillering capacity, was identified the first preferred criterion by farmers. The mean values showed that higher yield was recorded with the lime application compared to no lime application. Lemu (6.4 t/ha), Alidoro (6.3 t/ha), Dambal (6.3 t/ha), Obora (6.1 t/ha) and Liben (6.1 t/ha) had greater yield with lime application. The t-test results indicated that significant difference between with and without liming for the number of tillers per plant, spike length per plant, plant height, 1000 seed weight, and hectoliter weight, but non-significant difference for grain yield. The selected varieties should be included in the production plan of the cooperatives for large scale production to increase the variety portfolios and to address the demand of the farming community.

Bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) is a staple food crop worldwide. The genetic dissection of important nutrient traits is essential for the biofortification of wheat to meet the nutritional needs of the world’s growing population. Here, 45,298 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from 55K chip arrays were used to genotype a panel of 768 wheat cultivars, and a total of 154 quantitative trait loci (QTLs) were detected for eight traits under three environments by genome-wide association study (GWAS). Three QTLs (qMn-3B.1, qFe-3B.4, and qSe-3B.1/qFe-3B.6) detected repetedly under different environments or traits were subjected to subsequent analyses based on linkage disequilibrium decay and the P-values of significant SNPs. Significant SNPs in the three QTL regions formed six haplotypes for qMn-3B.1, three haplotypes for qFe-3B.4, and three haplotypes for qSe-3B.1/qFe-3B.6. Phenotypic analysis revealed significant differences among haplotypes. These results indicated that the concentrations of several nutrient elements have been modified during the domestication of landraces to modern wheat. Based on the QTL regions, we identified 15 high-confidence genes, eight of which were stably expressed in different tissues and/or developmental stages. TraesCS3B02G046100 in qMn-3B.1 and TraesCS3B02G199500 in qSe-3B.1/qFe-3B.6 were both inferred to interact with metal ions according to the Gene Ontology (GO) analysis. TraesCS3B02G199000, which belongs to qSe-3B.1/qFe-3B.6, was determined to be a member of the WRKY gene family. Overall, this study provides several reliable QTLs that may significantly affect the concentrations of nutrient elements in wheat grain, and this information will facilitate the breeding of wheat cultivars with improved grain properties.

Numerous studies have shown that under a limited water supply, a larger root biomass is associated with an increased above-ground biomass. Root biomass, while genetically controlled, is also greatly affected by the environment with varying plasticity levels. In this context, understanding the relationship between the biomass of shoots and roots appears prudent. In this study, we analyze this relationship in a large dataset collected from multiple experiments conducted up to different growth stages in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and its wild relatives. Four bread wheat mapping populations as well as wild and domesticated members of the Triticeae tribe were evaluated for the root and shoot biomass allocation patterns. In the analyzed dataset the root and shoot biomasses were directly related to each other, and to the heading date, and the correlation values increased in proportion to the length of an experiment. On average, 84.1% of the observed variation was explained by a positive correlation between shoot and root biomass. Scatter plots generated from 6353 data points from numerous experiments with different wheats suggest that at some point, further increases in root biomass negatively impact the shoot biomass. Based on these results, a preliminary study with different water availability scenarios and growth conditions was designed with two cultivars, Pavon 76 and Yecora Rojo. The duration of drought and water level significantly affected the root/shoot biomass allocation patterns. However, the responses of the two cultivars were quite different, suggesting that the point of diminishing returns in increasing root biomass may be different for different wheats, reinforcing the need to breed wheats for specific environmental challenges.

When cultivating calli generated from mature germs of spring bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), variety Fisht, spontaneous regeneration of chlorophyll-containing green roots sometimes occurred. When isolated from callus, these roots were capable of unlimited growth on hormone-free nutrient media, similar to cultures of hairy roots of dicotyledonous plants. Ordinary wheat roots did not grow under these conditions, while green roots continued to grow even when exposed to 100 mM NaCl. Typical chloroplasts were found in the parenchyma cells of green wheat roots. Approximately equal amounts of chlorophyll a and b were found in green wheat roots; however, their total content was tens of times less than in the leaves. Green roots were characterized by a higher proline content and higher activity of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and peroxidase than ordinary wheat roots, both under normal and under salinity conditions. Green roots may provide an alternative to hairy roots, which are very difficult to generate from grasses and other monocots, for use in both basic research and applied applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main ingredient of flour is processed wheat. Wheat is an agricultural product that is harvested once a year. It may be necessary to choose the variety of wheat for growing wheat and efficient harvesting. The variety of wheat is important for its economic value, taste, and crop yield. Although there are many varieties of wheat, they are very similar in colour, size, and shape, and it requires expertise to distinguish them by eye. This is very time consuming and can lead to human error. Using computer vision and artificial intelligence, such problems can be solved more quickly and objectively. In this study, an attempt was made to classify five bread wheat varieties belonging to different cultivars using Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) models. Three approaches have been proposed for classification. First, pre-trained CNN models (ResNet18, ResNet50, and ResNet101) were trained for bread wheat cultivars. Second, the features extracted from the fc1000 layer of the pre-trained CNN models ResNet18, ResNet50, and ResNet101 were classified using a support vector machine (SVM) classifier with different kernel features from machine learning techniques for classification with different variants. Finally, SVM methods were used in the second stage to classify the features obtained from the fc1000 layer of the pre-trained CNN models with an optimal set of features that can represent all features using the minimum redundancy maximum relevance (mRMR) feature selection algorithm.The accuracies obtained in the first, second, and last phases are as follows. In the first phase, the most successful method in classifying wheat grains was the ResNet18 model with 97.57%. In the second phase, the ResNet18 + ResNet50 + ResNet101 + Quadratic SVM model was the most successful model in classification using the features obtained from the ResNet CNN models with 94.08%.The accuracy for classification with the 1000 most effective features selected by the feature selection algorithm was 94.51%. Although the classification with features is slightly lower than deep learning, the classification time is much shorter and is 93%. This result confirms the great effectiveness of CNN models for wheat grain classification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To ensure nutritional security of rapidly increasing population, research interest has revitalized in determining the nutritional quality traits of staple food crops, especially wheat. Besides higher yield potential, research gaps exist regarding nutritional quality assessment of promising wheat genotypes grown under the Mediterranean climate. A field study was conducted to determine the relationship between yield components and quality characteristics of 22 bread wheat genotypes using the SPAD meter, GreenSeeker (NDVI), and CM-1000 chlorophyll meter at different growing stages (Stem elongation, Heading, Anthesis and Milk stage). The recorded findings revealed that G-41 genotype surpassed the rest of bread wheat genotypes by recording the maximum grain yield, whereas G-60 genotype exhibited the highest protein and wet gluten content. Among response variables, SPAD and NDVI values at the heading stage and CM-1000 values at the milk stage were found to be statistically insignificant. According to the correlation and biplot analysis, a significant positive correlation was found between the SPAD values measured for the stem elongation, anthesis and milk stage and yield and quality characteristics. Significant positive correlations were found between the NDVI values at the stem elongation, anthesis, and milk stages and the yield components, and between the CM-1000 value at the heading stage and the grain yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheat stem rust, which is caused by Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici (Pgt), is a highly destructive disease that affects wheat crops on a global scale. In this study, the reactions of 150 bread wheat varieties were evaluated for natural Pgt infection at the adult-plant stage in the 2019–2020 and 2020–2021 growing seasons, and they were analyzed using specific molecular markers to detect stem rust resistance genes (Sr22, Sr24, Sr25, Sr26, Sr31, Sr38, Sr50, and Sr57). Based on phenotypic data, the majority of the varieties (62%) were resistant or moderately resistant to natural Pgt infection. According to molecular results, it was identified that Sr57 was present in 103 varieties, Sr50 in nine varieties, Sr25 in six varieties, and Sr22, Sr31, and Sr38 in one variety each. Additionally, their combinations Sr25 + Sr50, Sr31 + Sr57, Sr38 + Sr50, and Sr38 + Sr57 were detected in these varieties. On the other hand, Sr24 and Sr26 were not identified. In addition, many varieties had low stem rust scores, including a large minority that lacked Sr57. These varieties must have useful resistance to stem rust and could be the basis for selecting greater, possibly durable resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study "Identification of heat tolerant bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)" genotypes through heat susceptibility index (HSI) and SSR markers" was undertaken by growing 52 genotypes during rabi 2019–20 and rabi 2020–21 in two different sowing conditions (timely sowing and late sowing). Based on pooled results of two years for heat susceptibility index (HSI) and yield stability ratio (YSR), eight genotypes, viz. AKAW 4901, UAS 375, K 1317, WH 1127, HTW 11, WH 1105, HIKK 09 and DBW 14 were identified as heat tolerant genotypes, as these genotypes had heat susceptibility index less than 0.50 and high yield stability ratio (> 83%) with less reduction in grain yield. The screening of all the genotypes was also carried out based on 14 heat tolerant specific SSR markers. Out of the total 14 SSR primers, 6 primers represented the A genome, 4 represented the B genome and the rest of the 4 were from the D genome of wheat. These primers detected 30 polymorphic alleles among the 52 wheat genotypes. The polymorphic information content (PIC) varied greatly between SSR primers and their value varied from 0.20 to 0.49. Cluster analysis using SSR data was determined for each pair of 52 genotypes by Jaccard's similarity coefficient, which revealed that the lowest similarity of 5 per cent was noticed between AKAW 4901 and DBW 246, while the highest of 88 per cent was noticed between DBW 179 and WH 1105 genotypes. Based on the HSI and molecular data analysis 6 genotypes, namely AKAW 4901, UAS 375, K 1317, HTW 11, WH 1105 and HIKK 09 were identified to be heat tolerant and are recommended for cultivation under late sown and rainfed environment. Furthermore, the result of molecular analysis coincides with the result of HSI, and hence in the future only molecular markers can be used to identify the tolerant genotypes rather than going for phenotyping in different environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]