An experiment was conducted to explore the effects of rice straw returning and tillage methods on wheat growth, the wheat variety Yangmai 30 was used as the material. 5 treatments were designed: full amount of rice straw returned to the field followed by deep tillage + shallow rotary tillage (T1), full amount of straw returned to the field followed by shallow rotary tillage (T2), no-tillage with full amount of straw returned to the field (T3), all rice straw baled and removed from the field followed by deep tillage + shallow rotary tillage (T4), and all straw baled and removed from the field followed by shallow rotary tillage (T5). The emergence of wheat seedlings, occurrence of weeds in wheat fields, the entire growth period of wheat, and yield factors under various treatments were determined. The results showed that the emergence rates of the treatments, in descending order, were T4 > T5 > T1 > T2 > T3. The total weed occurrence, in descending order, was T2 > T5 > T4 > T1 > T3. The growth progress was generally consistent, with a full growth period of 199 days for all treatments. In terms of yield, the yields of the treatments ranged from 6 108.8 to 6 603.3 kg/hm², in descending order: T4 > T1 > T2 > T5 > T3. The economic benefits, in descending order, were T3 > T2 > T5 > T4 > T1. Overall, T3 and T2 were associated with higher economic benefits, while T4 achieved the highest wheat yield. Different regions can select suitable straw management methods based on local conditions to enhance wheat yield while improving economic benefits. This article provides a reference for efficient planting of rice stubble and wheat.

After sowing winter wheat, suitable temperatures and sufficient fertilizer can lead to overly vigorous seedling growth, which may negatively affect its lodging resistance and later grain filling ability. Based on practical winter wheat production in the Yellow River Flood Plain, the main factors affecting the control of excessive wheat growth were summarized, and integrated field management measures were analyzed. The factors influencing the control effect included the absence of soil compaction and deep hoeing, improper timing of chemical regulation, excessive nitrogen application or inappropriate fertilization timing, and inadequate pest, disease, and weed control. The integrated field management measures included mechanical compaction, which was carried out on sunny days after the three-leaf stage, with 1 to 4 rounds of compaction depending on the severity of overgrowth. It was noted that compaction should not be applied in waterlogged, compacted, or saline-alkali fields. Deep hoeing to break roots was performed at the end of the tillering stage at a depth of 10-15 cm, followed by leveling and topdressing. Chemical regulation involved the application of agents such as paclobutrazol during the green revival period, with attention paid to concentration of pesticide application. Fertilizer and water management included reducing nitrogen fertilizer, increasing phosphorus and potassium fertilizer application, and adopting delayed nitrogen fertilization techniques. In spring, light and frequent irrigation was applied based on soil moisture conditions, followed by timely intertillage. For disease and pest control, the rotational application strategy was adopted to prioritize the control of diseases such as crown rot and pests including wheat mites. Weed control adhered to the principle of “managing spring weeds in autumn” and appropriate agents were selected based on the weed species. This study provides a reference for controlling excessive growth of wheat seedling growth and promoting healthy crop development.

To screen the suitable herbicides for weed control of grass and broadleaf weeds in spring wheat fields, the Jimai 22 was used as the material, a clear water control was set up, along with the following treatments: treatment 1 (56% 2-methyl-4-chlorosodium at 2 250 g/hm²), treatment 2 (70% flucarbazone-sodium at 60 g/hm²), treatment 3 [56% 2-methyl-4-chlorosodium at 2 250 g/hm² + Zhuliman (synergist) at 180 mL/hm²], treatment 4 [70% flucarbazone-sodium at 60 g/hm² + Zhuliman (synergist) at 180 mL/hm²], and treatment 5 [56% 2-methyl-4-chlorosodium at 2 250 g/hm² + 70% flucarbazone-sodium at 60 g/hm² + Zhuliman (synergist) at 180 mL/hm²]; then, the safety of different treatments on wheat growth was observed, the species of weeds were investigated, and the weed density and control effect were calculated. The results showed that all herbicide treatments were relatively safe for wheat growth under normal dosage and application methods, the dominant weed species in the wheat field mainly belonged to Poaceae, Rubiaceae, and Brassicaceae; the plant height inhibition rates of treatment 5 reached 21.35% and 25.18%, respectively at 7 days and 15 days after herbicide application. The plant control effect of treatment 5 was 64.85% at 7 days after application. Both the fresh weight control effect and plant control effect of treatment 5 exceeded 85% at 15 days after application, compared with treatment 1, treatment 2, treatment 3, and treatment 4, the fresh weight control effect of treatment 5 increased by 22.92, 29.53, 14.24, and 15.51 percentage points, respectively, and the plant control effect increased by 58.27, 43.09, 13.28, and 18.43 percentage points, respectively. Therefore, it is recommended to use the combination of 56% 2-methyl-4-chlorosodium at 2 250 g/hm² + 70% flucarbazone-sodium at 60 g/hm² + Zhuliman (synergist) at 180 mL/hm² for weed control in spring wheat fields. This article provides a reference for selecting suitable pesticides for weed control in wheat fields.

Based on the wheat production practices in Lingbi County, Anhui Province, the causes of Fusarium head blight were analyzed, and integrated management strategies for this disease were explored. The pathogens of wheat Fusarium head blight were primarily spread through air currents, rainwater, insects, seeds, soil, and farming operations. The occurrence and severity of the disease were exacerbated by improper straw return, uneven or shallow land preparation, poor varietal resistance, unsuitable planting patterns, rainy weather during heading and flowering stages, and improper water and fertilizer management. The control of this disease requires an integrated management strategy. Agricultural control measures include the removal or pulverization and incorporation of straw into the field, mechanical deep plowing and land preparation (20–25 cm), crop rotation, sowing at appropriate times, selection of disease-resistant varieties such as Zhongke 166, establishment of an early warning system, and optimization of cultivation practices. Biological control involves the use of beneficial microbial agents such as Bacillus spp. to inhibit the growth and reproduction of pathogens through competition, antagonism, or induction of resistance. For chemical control, efficient compound agents such as cyanacrylame + tebuconazole were applied using machinery such as plant protection drones during the initial heading and flowering stages, with emphasis on rotating chemicals to ensure effectiveness. This study provides a reference for the integrated control of wheat Fusarium head blight.

【Objective】Spike-related traits constitute a key factor influencing wheat yield. This study conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) on wheat spike-related traits to identify significant loci controlling these traits, thereby providing theoretical references for research on genetic improvement of wheat spike-related traits. 【Method】Using a panel of 261 winter wheat varieties (lines), we measured spike-related phenotypic traits and performed genome-wide association studies (GWAS) with the wheat 90K SNP array, employing the Fixed and Random Model Circulating Probability Unification (Farm CPU) model. Stable and significant loci identified through this analysis were further subjected to haplotype analysis. 【Result】Under three environmental conditions, all 11 panicle-related traits exhibited extensive phenotypic variation, with coefficients of variation (CV) ranging from 3.63 to 64.29. The heritability estimates for these traits varied between 0.42 and 0.84. Highly significant differences (P<0.001) were observed among genotype, environment, and genotype × environment interactions. Genome-wide association study (GWAS) identified 171 loci significantly associated with the 11 traits (P<0.001), including 20 pleiotropic loci detected in two or more environments. These loci were associated with eight panicle traits: panicle length (3 loci), peduncle length (7 loci), sterile spikelet number (1 locus), fertile spikelet number (2 loci), total spikelet number (2 loci), grains per panicle (1 locus), grain weight per panicle (2 loci), and thousand-grain weight (2 loci). The phenotypic contribution rates of these loci ranged from 0.95% to 18.54%. A pleiotropic locus (Ra_c10072_677) significantly associated with both grain weight per panicle and grains per panicle was identified on chromosome 7B, demonstrating phenotypic contribution rates ranging from 2.62% to 6.16%. The marker wsnp_Ex_rep_c69639_68590556, which showed consistent association with peduncle length across two or more environmental conditions (explaining 5.94% of the genetic variation), was selected for haplotype analysis. Three haplotypes (Hap1, Hap2, and Hap3) were characterized, with distribution frequencies of 77.40%, 13.70%, and 8.80%, respectively. Phenotypic analysis revealed that 261 winter wheat cultivars (lines) carrying haplotype Hap3 (30.58 cm) exhibited significantly greater peduncle length (P<0.001) compared to those with Hap1 (28.67 cm) and Hap2 (27.49 cm). The haplotype distribution frequencies showed significant geographic divergence: Hap1 predominated in the Northern Winter Wheat Region, Hap2 was more prevalent in the Huang-Huai Winter Wheat Region, while Hap3 displayed no substantial frequency (>5%) across all winter wheat regions. For stably detected loci across three environments, candidate gene mining identified four genes associated with panicle development. These genes, functionally annotated as encoding MYB transcription factors and F-box domain-containing proteins, represent key candidates influencing panicle architecture. 【Conclusion】The spike traits of wheat exhibited significant variation across different genotypes. A total of twenty stably associated loci were identified across two or more environments. Three distinct haplotypes significantly associated with the peduncle length were detected on chromosome 7B, and four candidate genes potentially related to spike traits were screened out.

【Objective】In precision agriculture, the detection of crop seedlings can be interfered with by factors such as soil weeds, occlusion between seedling leaves, and multi-scale datasets. Based on the object detection algorithm, this paper improved the YOLOv8s algorithm and designed the wheat leaf tip detection model YOLO-Wheat to solve problems, such as leaf occlusion of wheat seedlings in the field, interference from soil weeds, and multi-view data with multiple scales, thereby enhancing the accuracy of wheat seedling leaf detection and providing a theoretical basis for wheat seedling detection at the seedling stage in precision agriculture. 【Method】Close-up and distant images of wheat seedlings were collected respectively through mobile phone cameras and on-board RGB cameras during the emergence period to construct a crop image dataset. In the network model, a pyramid structure of multi-scale feature fusion (high-level screening-feature fusion pyramid, HS-FPN) was adopted. This structure used high-level features as weights, filters low-level feature information through the channel attention module, and combined the screened features with the high-level features. Enhancing the feature expression ability of the model could effectively solve the problem of multi-scale data. Integrate the efficient local attention (ELA) local attention mechanism in the network model was used to enable the model to focus on the leaf tip information of wheat and to suppress the interference of soil background factors of weeds. Meanwhile, the loss function of YOLOv8s (complete IoULoss, CIoULoss) was optimized, and the inner-Iou Loss auxiliary bounding box loss function was introduced to enhance the network's attention to small targets and to improve the positioning accuracy of wheat leaf tips. In terms of training strategies, transfer learning was employed. The model was pre-trained using close-up images of wheat leaf tips, and then the parameters of the model were updated and optimized using distant images. 【Result】The YOLO-Wheat model was compared with five object detection models, namely Faster-RCNN, YOLOv5s, YOLOv7, YOLOv8s, and YOLOv9s. The YOLO-Wheat model was the best in wheat leaf tip detection, with a recognition accuracy rate of 92.7% and a recall rate of 85.1%, respectively. The mean Average Precision (mAP) values were 82.9%. Compared with the Faster-RCNN, YOLOv5s, YOLOv7, YOLOv8s and YOLOv9s models, the recognition accuracy mAP values of YOLO-Wheat have increased by 17.1%, 13.6%, 11.0%, 8.7% and 3.8% respectively; the recall rates increased by 13.1%, 6.7%, 4.5%, 1.8% and 1.3%, respectively. Compared with the Faw-RCNN, YOLOv5s, YOLOv7, YOLOv8s and YOLOv9s models, the mAP values of YOLO-Wheat have increased by 16.2%, 9.8%, 5.0%, 5.9% and 0.7%, respectively. 【Conclusion】This method could effectively solve the problem of multi-scale data, achieve precise detection of small targets at the leaf tips of wheat seedlings in complex field environments using unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) images, and provide technical support and theoretical reference for intelligent leaf counting of wheat seedlings in complex fields.

The breeding process of Aihemai No.6 was summarized. Based on its performance in the regional trials of the Wanhuai Wheat Variety Test Consortium in Anhui Province, its agronomic traits, yield, and comprehensive resistance were analyzed, and its high yield cultivation techniques were explored. The variety was developed as a new semi-winter wheat through multiple years of hybridization using the intermediate material of Yannong 19/Zhoumai 22 as the female parent and Bainong 207 as the male parent, followed by pedigree selection. It was approved by the Anhui Crop Variety Approval Committee in 2024, with the approval number Wanshenmai 2024L002. In the regional trials of the Wanhuai Wheat Variety Test Consortium in Anhui Province, the full growth period of this variety was recorded as 222.3 d, and the plant height was measured as 84.3 cm. The average yield was 9 331.5 kg/hm², which represented a 6.34% increase compared to the control variety Jimai 22. The grain bulk density was 824.5 g/L, the wet gluten content was 35.35%, and the crude protein content was 14.22%. The key points of its high yield cultivation techniques included: pre-sowing preparation (seed treatment, deep plowing, land preparation, and scientific fertilization), sowing at the appropriate time (October 10-25), rational dense planting (2.25-2.70 million plants/hm²), and uniform shallow sowing (3-5 cm). Field management focused on split fertilization, timely chemical weeding (before winter and before jointing), and comprehensive prevention and control of diseases and pests such as sheath blight and Fusarium head blight (seed treatment, release of natural enemies, rotation of pesticide application, etc.). The wheat was harvested at the appropriate time (from mid to late wax ripening), and the grains were stored when the moisture content was below 13%. This study provides a reference for further promotion and cultivation of this variety.

The breeding process and characteristics of wheat variety Qinglin 139 were summarized, and its high yield cultivation techniques in the regions along the Huai River and in Huaibei region were analyzed. This variety was developed through systematic breeding, with Jike 32 as the female parent and Zhoumai 26 as the male parent. In the 2019-2021 regional trials of the semi-winter wheat group in Anhui Province, the total growth period was recorded as 224.0-225.2 d, and its agronomic traits were excellent. The yield ranged from 8 004.0 to 8 292.0 kg/hm⊃2;, representing an increase of 0.66%-5.97% compared to Jimai 22. It exhibited moderate resistance to fusarium head blight, good stem elasticity, and strong lodging resistance. The average grain bulk density was 826 g/L, with a protein content (dry basis) of 13.49%, a wet gluten content of 30.0%, and it was classified as medium-gluten wheat. High yield cultivation techniques included fine land preparation, deep plowing to 25-30 cm followed by leveling and compaction, and straw crushing to less than 5 cm. Base fertilization was primarily based on organic fertilizer, supplemented with nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and zinc fertilizers. Additional nitrogen fertilizer was applied during the jointing stage based on seedling conditions. The suitable sowing period in the regions along the Huai River and in Huaibei region was from October 15 to 25, with an appropriate seeding rate of 157.5-187.5 kg/hm⊃2;. Key disease prevention measures targeted sharp eyespot disease, using agents such as tebuconazole for seed dressing or spraying, combined with the application of potassium dihydrogen phosphate to enhance resistance. For mechanical harvesting, the stubble height was kept below 15 cm, and timely sun-drying after harvest was recommended to reduce grain moisture content to below 13%. This study provides a reference for the further promotion and cultivation of this variety.

The occurrence conditions of wheat Fusarium head blight were analyzed in Fengyang, Anhui Province, based on local climatic conditions, and integrated management strategies for the disease were proposed.The study area has an average annual temperature of approximately 14.8 ℃ and an average annual rainfall of 912 mm, with relative humidity ranging between 75% and 80%. The climate is mild with distinct seasonal variations. The soils are predominantly cinnamon, paddy, and sandy loams, characterized by deep layers, good structure, and abundant organic matter, all providing favorable conditions for the occurrence of wheat Fusarium head blight. Furthermore, crop rotation patterns such as maize-wheat and rice-wheat provide suitable overwintering conditions for the pathogen, leading to the annual accumulation of inoculum and increasing the risk of disease outbreaks. In response to the above conditions, the following control measures should be taken: to reduce the accumulation of pathogen sources, the rotation of crops should be adjusted and the treatment of crop residues optimized; to address factors such as temperature, humidity and soil, agricultural measures such as selecting resistant varieties and optimizing water and fertilizer management to reduce field humidity; employing biochemical controls using plant growth regulators and immune inducers; and applying chemical controls, using high efficacy agents like prothioconazole while alternating modes of action to delay resistance development. Post-harvest, rapid drying or sunning of grains to safe moisture levels and enhanced storage management are essential to prevent mold and toxin accumulation, ensuring food safety. Future efforts should focus on leveraging technologies such as gene cloning, functional molecular markers, and remote sensing monitoring to strengthen the breeding of resistant varieties and improve disease surveillance. These advances will enhance the control of wheat scab and promote the sustainable development of the related industry.

The aim is to understand the molecular genetic basis of high quality and high yield of new wheat variety ‘Kexing 3302’. ‘Kexing 3302’ was used as the test material，and molecular markers related to quality, dwarf, growth and development, and disease resistance were used for detection. The results showed that ‘Kexing 3302’contained high molecular weight glutenin subunit combination Ax^1G330E, Bx7+By8, Dx5+Dy10, low molecular weight glutenin Glu-A1a, non-1BL /1RS translocation line, which were the genetic basis of high quality; four dwarf genes Rht1, Rht2, Rht8 and Rht24, which were the genetic basis of lodging resistance and high and stable yield of the dwarf; three recessive vernalization genes Vrn-A1b, Vrn-B1b and Vrn-D1b as well as photopericyclic gene insensitivity gene Ppd-D1a, which were the genetic basis of cold resistance and wide adaptability; and QYm.njau-2D locus and anti-stripe rust gene Yr10, which were the genetic basis of high resistance to yellow Mosaic virus and stripe rust disease. The genes of quality, dwarf, growth and disease resistance in ‘Kexing 3302’ were consistent with the phenotype of high quality and yield, disease resistance, laying a foundation for the efficient utilization of the excellent genes of ‘Kexing 3302’ in molecular breeding.

In this paper, the effects of reduction levels of nitrogen fertilizer on rhizosphere soil microorganisms and soil enzyme activities were studied, so as to obtain rational application levels and improve resource use efficiency. Under rotary tillage methods, treatments of CK (over-application, 300 kgN/hm²), RF10 (N reduce 10%), RF20 (N reduce 20%), and RF30 (N reduce 30%) were set to conduct experiments in 2017 to 2018 (the first season) and 2018 to 2019 (the second season), respectively. The results showed that compared with CK, RF20 increased the yield, RF10 had a slight decrease in yield, but the difference was not significant. RF30 reduced the yield, with a significant reduction in the first season. The number of bacteria and fungi in the rhizosphere soil of RF20 decreased at the jointing and filling stages, and the number of fungi decreased significantly in the second season, by 21.50% and 20.63% respectively compared with the control. The number of actinomycetes in the rhizosphere soil of RF20 decreased significantly by 27.78% to 39.76% at the filling stage. The number of bacteria and fungi in the rhizosphere soil of RF10 increased at the filling stage, while that of RF30 decreased. The effect of RF10 and RF30 on actinomycetes was irregular. In addition, at the jointing and tillering stage, the urease activity in the rhizosphere soil of RF20 decreased, and the sucrase and urease activities in the rhizosphere soil of RF10 both decreased. At the filling stage, the sucrase activity in the rhizosphere soil of RF20 and the urease activity in the rhizosphere soil of RF30 both increased. In conclusion, under the nitrogen application rate of 300 kgN/hm², reducing the nitrogen supply by 10% and 20% in the wheat season improved the soil microbial quantity and soil enzyme activity, saved fertilizer input, and achieved stable yield and increased efficiency.

【Objective】The TIFY family, a plant-specific group of transcription factors, plays critical roles in regulating growth, development, and stress responses. This study aimed to clone TaTIFY11c-4A in wheat, validate its genetic effects, and provide a theoretical basis for high-yield molecular breeding of wheat.【Method】The wheat cultivar Hanxuan 10 was used to clone TaTIFY11c-4A and allelic variations were detected in germplasms. The tissue-specific expression patterns of TaTIFY11c-4A and its responses to various hormones and stresses were analyzed via quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). The subcellular localization of TaTIFY11c-4A was determined through transient expression in tobacco. A molecular marker targeting the polymorphic site in TaTIFY11c-4A was developed to assess the genotypes in the natural population, and association analysis was performed to evaluate the correlations between the genotypes and phenotypes. Additionally, the spatial and temporal distribution of different genotypes were analyzed. Synergistic effects of TaTIFY11c-4A and TaSRL1-4A haplotypes were explored to identify superior genotype.【Result】TaTIFY11c-4A was successfully cloned, comprising three exons and two introns, encoding a 198-amino acid protein with conserved TIFY and Jas domains. TaTIFY11c-4A is expressed in roots, root bases and leaves at the seedling stage, and highly expressed in roots and leaves at the booting stage. There are multiple cis-acting elements related to hormone responses, stress adaptation, and endosperm development in the promoter of TaTIFY11c-4A. Its expression responds to plant hormones (ABA, IAA, MeJA) and abiotic stresses (drought, high salinity, low and high temperature). A SNP (G/A) was identified in its promoter at -405 bp. A molecular marker was developed based on the SNP and association analysis revealed significant correlations between TaTIFY11c-4A alleles and plant height, thousand grain weight under multiple environments such as drought and high temperature, and root depth at tillering stage. Compared with genotype SNP-G, wheat germplasms carrying the SNP-A allele exhibited shorter plants, higher thousand grain weight, and shallower roots at tillering stage, and have been positively selected in the wheat breeding process. TaTIFY11c-4A-SNP-A and TaSRL1-4A-SNP-C genotypes synergistically reduced plant height and enhanced thousand grain weight.【Conclusion】TaTIFY11c-4A encodes a nuclear-localized JAZ protein. It is expressed in various tissues of wheat and involved in responses to ABA, IAA, MeJA, as well as abiotic stresses such as drought, extreme temperature, and high salinity. The TaTIFY11c-4A-SNP is associated with plant height and thousand grain weight under multiple environments, and root depth. SNP-A allele has been positively selected in the wheat breeding process. The superior genotypes and combinations of TaTIFY11c-4A and TaSRL1-4A provide genetic resources for breeding high-yield and stress-resistant wheat cultivars.

【Objective】Dwarf genes play a crucial role in wheat genetics and breeding. Different ecological zones and wheat varieties have varying requirements for plant height. Therefore, understanding the distribution pattern and characteristics of dwarf genes in Shanxi wheat, as well as identifying novel genetic loci related to plant height will contribute to wheat genetic improvement.【Method】Based on the accurate identification of plant height and component traits, a total of 11 known dwarfing gene types were genotyped in 306 Shanxi wheat samples and integrated with a 16K SNP chip to conduct genome-wide association analysis aimed at identifying new loci controlling plant height.【Result】With the exception of spike length, both of the plant height and component traits of Shanxi wheat exhibited a gradual decline over the years of breeding and the various compositional traits associated with plant height were influenced by distinct selection pressures. The distribution frequency of 11 dwarfing genes in Shanxi wheat from high to low was Rht12, Rht24, Rht8, Rht26, Rht13, Rht25, Rht2, Rht5, Rht4, Rht1, and Rht9, among which Rht1, Rht2, and Rht25 have not been found in landraces. Except for Rht2 and Rht25 is more widely distributed in irrigated cultivars than in dryland cultivars, the distribution of other dwarfing genes is relatively similar in dryland cultivars and irrigated cultivars. A total of 125 different dwarf genes combination were identified, of which the combination with the highest distribution frequency was Rht8+Rht12+Rht24. Combined with association analysis, a total of 26 stable genetic loci were identified to be distributed on 14 chromosomes including 1A, 2A, and 2B. Notably, eight loci such as QPH-6D, QPH-7A, and Q3rd IL-1D have not been reported yet. Among these, QPH-6D mainly reduced plant height by shortening the length of the third and fourth internodes by approximately 13.68 %, while QPH-7A reduced the plant height by 16.87 % via shortening the length of the second and third internodes.【Conclusion】The main dwarf genes in Shanxi wheat were mainly Rht12, Rht24, and Rht8. 26 stable genetic loci were located on chromosomes 1A, 2A, and 2B, among which eight loci such as QPH-6D, QPH-7A, and Q3rd IL-1D may be novel loci related to plant height.

【Objective】This research has been conducted to clarify how exogenous melatonin interacts with stress responsive factors of abscisic acid (ABA) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) to enhance wheat drought resistance of wheat and explore the underlying mechanism.【Method】Wheat varieties Jimai 22 and Hengguan 35 were used as experimental materials, and six treatments were designed: normal water treatment (CK), exogenous melatonin treatment (MT), drought treatment (DS), melatonin treatment under drought stress (DS+MT), melatonin and ABA inhibitor fluoridone treatment under drought stress (DS+MT+Flu), and the treatment of melatonin and H₂O₂ scavenger diphenyl chloride iodide salt (DS+MT+DPI) under drought stress. The key physiological indicators of wheat roots and above-ground plants (chlorophyll, net photosynthetic rate (Pn), ABA, endogenous melatonin, malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide anion (), H₂O₂ and their antioxidant enzyme activities) were studied, focusing on the changes and response relationships in wheat roots and aboveground plants.【Result】Under normal conditions, the application of exogenous MT could significantly increase the endogenous melatonin content in plant leaves and roots, improve the chlorophyll a/b, Pn, and root fresh weight of the two wheat varieties, enhance the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (CAT) in plants, and reduce the content of MDA, , and leaf ABA. Under drought conditions, applying MT treatment (DS+MT) could significantly increase the total chlorophyll content, Pn, transpiration rate (Tr), instantaneous water use efficiency (WUET) of Jimai 22 and Hengguan 35, with the increases compared with the DS treatment being 14.62%, 26.22%, 18.06%, 6.92% and 6.20%, 49.32%, 16.41%, 28.89%, respectively; Additionally, the SOD activity, CAT activity and MT content in the leaves and roots of Jimai 22 increased by 2.66%, 34.40%, 136.72% and 4.80%, 25.96%, 0.48%, respectively, compared with DS treatment. The SOD activity, CAT activity and MT content in the leaves and roots of Hengguan 35 increased by 32.08%, 24.08%, 24.65% and 83.51%, 4.49%, 61.80%, respectively, compared with DS treatment. At the same time, compared with DS treatment, DS+MT treatment showed better effects on Jimai 22 and Hengguan 35, the leaf ABA content significantly decreased by 36.94% and 6.78%, while the MDA, H₂O₂, and , contents in the leaves and roots also significantly decreased. The DS+MT+Flu and DS+MT+DPI treatments further enhanced the improvement effect of MT on the aboveground dry weight and SOD activity of Jimai 22, while significantly reducing the contents of ABA, endogenous MT, and peroxidation product; but it showed a negative regulatory effect on Hengguan 35, such as reducing chlorophyll content, leaf area, and aboveground fresh weight, whereas increasing POD activity and leaf MDA and ABA content. All these demonstrated the differences between the varieties.【Conclusion】Under drought stress, the application of exogenous melatonin could effectively enhance the drought resistance of wheat seedlings, and melatonin had two pathways for drought resistance: ABA-dependent and ABA-independent response factors; ABA and H₂O₂ act as downstream signals of MT. There were both antagonistic and synergistic relationships between ABA and MT, and an antagonistic effect between H₂O₂ and MT. The interaction between ABA and H₂O₂ varied by variety and plant parts.

【Objective】The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of green manure combined with wheat straw returning application on grain yield and leaf photosynthetic characteristics of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under different nitrogen reduction levels, which could provide theoretical basis and technical support for establishing spring wheat multiple cropping with green manure saving and efficient production pattern.【Method】The experiment was conducted at the Wuwei Oasis Agricultural Experimental Station of Gansu Agricultural University in 2022 and 2023. The split-plot designed experiment was adopted. The main plot was designed with different returning materials at three levels, including green manure and wheat straw combined returning application (W-GS), green manure returning application alone (W-G), and fallowing after wheat harvesting (W-F). The split plot was designed with four nitrogen application levels, including conventional nitrogen application rate (N1, 225 kg N·hm^-2), nitrogen application rate reduced about 15% (N2,190 kg N·hm^-2), about 30% (N3,155 kg N·hm^-2), and about 45% (N4, 120 kg N·hm^-2). The chlorophyll value (SPAD value), photosynthetic characteristics and grain yield of the top expending leaf of spring wheat was measured, and the leaf water use efficiency and light energy utilization efficiency was analyzed.【Result】Negative effect of nitrogen reduced application was observed on the grain yield of spring wheat, however, this effect was compensated even the grain yield of spring wheat was increased by green manure combined with wheat straw returning application. With the same nitrogen application rate, compared with that of W-F, the grain yield of spring wheat under W-GS and W-G increased by 15.3% and 9.4%, respectively, and the grain yield of spring wheat with W-GS was increased by 5.4% than that of W-G. The grain yield of spring wheat under W-F was decreased by the decreasing of nitrogen application rate, while that of W-GS had no significant difference between N3 and N1. The grain yield under W-GSN3 was not reduced compared with that under W-GSN1 and W-FN1. The photosynthetic characteristics of spring wheat leaf with nitrogen reduced application rate was improved by green manure combined with wheat straw returning application. The SPAD value, net photosynthetic rate (P_n), stomatal conductance (G_s), transpiration rate (T_r) and leaf water use efficiency (LWUE) of spring wheat leaf under W-GS were significantly increased, respectively, compared with that of W-G and W-F under the same nitrogen application rate. With the decreasing of nitrogen application rate, the SPAD value, P_n, G_s, T_r and LWUE of spring wheat leaf under W-F was decreased significantly, however, there was no significant difference between N3 and N1 in W-GS. Comparison between combined treatments, there was no significant difference in photosynthetic characteristics of spring wheat under W-GSN3 compared with W-GSN1 and W-FN1. The light use efficiency (LUE) of spring wheat was significantly increased by 5.2% W-GS than that of W-F. The LUE of spring wheat with W-F decreased by the decreasing of nitrogen application rate, however, the LUE of spring wheat with W-GS was not significant difference between N3 and N1. There was no significant difference was observed in the LUE of spring wheat under W-GSN3 compared with that under W-GSN1 and W-FN1. The results of the path analysis indicated that, the grain yield of spring wheat was mainly determined by thousand kernel weight, which was affected by the regulation on net photosynthetic rate and transpiration rate via stomatal conductance of spring wheat leaf.【Conclusion】The green manure and wheat straw combined returning application mainly increased the thousand kernel weight of spring wheat by improving the photosynthetic characteristics of spring wheat leaf, and finally did not reduce the grain yield of spring wheat under 30% nitrogen reduced application rate. Therefore, the green manure and wheat straw combined returning application under nitrogen application rate of 155 kg·hm^-2 was recommended as a nitrogen saving and efficient production pattern of spring wheat multiple cropping with green manure in arid oasis irrigation region.

The distribution characteristics of trace elements in wheat were analyzed in order to provide scientific basis for scientific regulation of trace element content in wheat and cultivation of new wheat varieties. The distribution characteristics of trace elements, including iron ( Fe ), manganese ( Mn ), copper ( Cu ) and zinc ( Zn ) in different organs of wheat at maturity stage were analyzed by using wheat varieties popularized in large area in northern Henan as experimental materials. The content of Fe in wheat plants ranged from 42.31 to 80.66 mg/kg, the content of Mn ranged from 212.11 to 604.89 mg/kg, the content of Cu ranged from 12.31 to 16.35 mg/kg, and the content of Zn ranged from 48.77 to 87.08 mg/kg. The variation coefficients of Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn contents in roots, stems, leaves, glume and grains of wheat plants showed different rules. The order of Mn enrichment ability of different organs of wheat was leaf > root > grain > stem > glume, and the order of Cu and Zn enrichment ability was root > grain > leaf > stem > glume. The order of Fe, Cu and Zn transport capacity of wheat organs was grain > leaf > stem > glume, and the order of Mn transport capacity was leaf > grain > stem > glume. The order of enrichment ability of trace elements in wheat roots, stems, glume and grains was Zn > Cu > Mn > Fe, and the order of enrichment ability of trace elements in leaves was Mn > Zn > Cu > Fe. The transport capacity of trace elements Cu, Mn, Zn in stems, leaves and glume of wheat was greater than that of Fe, and the order of transport capacity of trace elements in grains was Zn > Cu > Fe > Mn. The results of correlation analysis showed that there was a significant interaction between trace elements. The distribution of trace elements in wheat plants in northern Henan showed a vertical distribution pattern. The enrichment ability of trace elements in roots, leaves and grains was strong, and the transport ability of trace elements in leaves and grains was strong.

This study aims to investigate the effects of different irrigation methods and fertilizer treatments on the population dynamics, dry matter accumulation and distribution, and yield of winter wheat. A field experiment was conducted during the 2017-2018 growing season by using the winter wheat variety 'Zimai 28'. The experiment employed a split-plot design, with the main plots consisting of two irrigation methods: traditional furrow irrigation and on-demand supplementary irrigation. The subplots included two fertilizer treatments, including conventional fertilization and reduced fertilization. Growth, development indicators and yield of winter wheat were measured. The results showed that compared with the conventional fertilization treatment, the combination of on-demand supplementary irrigation and reduced fertilization significantly increased the dry matter accumulation of grains and glumes plus rachis at maturity, with increases of 11.98% and 12.47%, respectively. It also enhanced the contribution rate of post-anthesis assimilated dry matter to grain, with an increase of 10.87%, which is conducive to yield formation and ultimately improves overall economic returns. It is recommended that in regions with natural environments and production conditions similar to those of this experiment, adopting on-demand supplementary irrigation and appropriately reducing fertilization levels is an effective approach to balancing yield and economic benefits.

To reveal the characteristics and high-yield stability of the new wheat variety 'Jirumai 20', and to provide theoretical guidance for its promotion and cultivation management, variance analysis, high stability coefficient (HSC), and variety deviation degree were employed to analyze the data on yield, and the yield components, stability and adaptability of it from 2021-2023 regional trials in the North Huang-Huai Region irrigated land. The results showed that the yield of ' Jirumai 20 ' was significantly positively correlated with the number of grains per spike and 1000-grain weight (the correlation coefficients were 0.470 and 0.372, respectively, both reaching extremely significant levels). The HSC values of this variety in the two-year regional trials were 85.62% and 87.38%, The varietal superiority distance values were 2750.3 and 1080.4, showing an average reduction of 52.11% compared to the control. These results demonstrate that 'Jirumai 20' exhibits excellent yield stability, low superiority distance, and high potential for high, stable, and abundant yields, making it suitable for large-scale cultivation in irrigated land of the National Huang-Huai Winter Wheat Region.

Based on the occurrence of wheat scab in Chaohu, Anhui, in 2024, an analysis was conducted on the causes of its severe outbreak. Additionally, a “1+2” chemical control demonstration was carried out in affected wheat fields, and its effectiveness was summarized. In 2024, wheat scab in the study area was characterized by early maturation of ascocarps on rice stubbles, a high pathogen carrier rate, and severe field disease severity. The main reasons for the severe outbreak of wheat scab in the study area were identified as abundant pathogen sources, favorable weather conditions from April to May (daily average temperature >15 °C, more than 11 days with precipitation >0.1 mm), weak resistance (or tolerance) of wheat varieties, and the development of fungicide resistance in the scab pathogens. The “1+2” chemical control model involved an additional third application (during the wheat booting stage in mid-to-late March, combined with the control of sharp eyespot) on the basis of the conventional two applications (the first at the initial wheat flowering stage and the second 7-10 days later). The experimental results showed that the relative control efficacy of diseased panicle rate and disease index of wheat scab by the “1+2” chemical control model was 92.14% and 95.94%, respectively, demonstrating good prevention effects. This study provides a reference for selecting an appropriate chemical control strategy for wheat scab.

The intensified kernel position effect is a common phenomenon in maize production under higher plant density, which limits crop productivity.  Subsoiling is an effective agronomic practice for improving crop productivity.  To clarify the effect of subsoiling before winter wheat on the kernel position effect of densely grown summer maize and its regulatory mechanism, field experiments were conducted during the 2020–2021 and 2021–2022 growing seasons using a split-plot design.  The main plots included two tillage practices: conventional tillage practice (CT) and subsoiling before the sowing of winter wheat (SS); and the subplots consisted of three plant densities (D1–D3 at 6.0×10⁴, 7.5×10⁴, and 9.0×10⁴ plants ha^–1).  Compared with CT, SS alleviated the kernel position effect by increasing the weight ratio of inferior to superior kernels (WR) in the D2 and D3 treated plants.  The higher WR of SS treated plants contributed largely to the improved filling of inferior kernels.  Under the same plant density, SS significantly improved the root dry matter accumulation (DMA) and antioxidant enzyme activities (superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD)), and it reduced the malondialdehyde (MDA) content, especially for the plants grown under higher plant densities.  These results indicated that SS delayed the root senescence, which is associated with the reduced soil bulk density.  In addition, compared with CT, SS increased the leaf chlorophyll content from 20 days after silking to physiological maturity and the post-silking leaf area duration, and it reduced the post-silking leaf chlorophyll reduction rate and leaf area reduction rate, indicating that the post-silking leaf senescence had been alleviated.   Under the same plant density, the post-silking DMA of SS was obviously higher than that of CT, which was probably related to the improved leaf area duration and photosynthetic enzyme activities (phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) and Rubisco).   The correlation analysis revealed that the main mechanism of SS in alleviating the kernel position effect of densely grown summer maize is as follows: SS delays the post-silking root–shoot senescence by regulating soil physical properties, and further improves the post-silking DMA and filling of inferior kernels, which ultimately alleviates the kernel position effect and improves grain yield.  The results of this study provide new theoretical support for the promotion of summer maize yield by subsoiling before winter wheat. 

Drought is becoming a common threat to crop production.  Identifying and utilizing excellent drought-resistant genes is crucial to combating this stress and ensuring global food security by developing drought-resistant crop varieties.  Although sugar transporters are involved in stress tolerance in many plants, the sugar transporter gene family of Tartary buckwheat has yet to be systematically analyzed.  This study identified 140 sugar transporter genes from the ‘Pinku’ Tartary buckwheat genome and classified them into 10 subfamilies.  Structural analysis showed that subfamily SGB/pGlcT had the highest number of introns compared to other subfamilies, and abundant abiotic stress-related cis-acting elements existed in the promoter region.  Collinear analysis revealed relatively ancient genes FtSUT7, FtSTP28, FtPLT1, and FtINT2.  The expression of sugar transporter genes was screened under various abiotic stresses, which revealed the association of stress tolerance with different sugar transporter genes, i.e., FtERD23, FtINT2, FtpGlcT2, and FtSTP27.  Further, we observed that the overexpression of FtERD23 maintains osmotic pressure through glucose transport, which may enhance drought stress tolerance.  Moreover, gene co-expression analyses using weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and fuzzy c-means algorithm (FCMA) identified six transcription factors that may regulate FtERD23 expression and are involved in plant drought tolerance.  Our systematic analysis provides a theoretical basis for the further functional characterization of sugar transporter genes to improve drought tolerance in Tartary buckwheat and its related species.

Excellent nitrogen (N) management techniques can improve crop yields while mitigating reactive N (Nr) losses.  The synergistic effects of applying paired N management techniques have important implications for designing excellent N management strategies, but the interaction effects remain poorly known.  Here, a meta-analysis was conducted to quantify the effects of optimized N management techniques (optimized N application rate, optimized topdressing, and applying enhanced-efficiency fertilizers) on wheat yield, N use efficiency (NUE), and Nr losses, as well as the interactive effects of paired N management techniques (combining an optimized N rate with topdressing or enhanced-efficiency fertilizers).  The results demonstrated that an optimized N fertilizer rate reduced Nr losses by 28–31% while the wheat yield declined by 2%; however, the wheat yield increased by 2% when the reduction of N fertilizer was less than 20%.  The adoption of topdressing and enhanced-efficiency fertilizers significantly increased wheat yields by 4–8% and NUE by 8–14%, while reducing Nr losses by 28–40%, and high topdressing frequency and nitrification inhibitors showed stronger positive effects on wheat yield.  Paired N management techniques increased wheat yields by 3–4% and NUE by 37–38%, with additive or synergistic effects; and they also reduced Nr losses by 5–66% but showed an antagonistic effect.  Such non-additive interactions amplified the positive effects on wheat production, but the benefits in terms of environmental risk reduction were weakened.  Overall, this study highlights the importance of synergistic effects in innovative N management to address the trade-off between crop yield and Nr losses.

【Objective】Thinopyrum intermedium, a tertiary gene pool of wheat, harbors valuable genetic resources for wheat improvement. This study aimed to develop novel wheat germplasms by transferring elite chromosomes from Thinopyrum intermedium into wheat via distant hybridization, investigating their impacts on disease resistance and agronomic traits to establish a theoretical foundation for wheat breeding. 【Method】A wheat-Thinopyrum intermedium disomic addition line, CH71 (2n=44), was developed from the BC₁F₆ progeny of a cross between common wheat cultivar Yannong 999 and the partial amphidiploid TAI8047 (2n=58). Non-denaturing fluorescence in situ hybridization (ND-FISH) with oligonucleotide probes (Oligo-pSc119.2, Oligo-pTa535, Oligo-B11, Oligo-pDb12H) was employed for karyotype analysis. Synteny-based (Synt) Oligo-FISH painting and Th. intermedium-specific STS markers were utilized to identify the homologous group and validate the origin of the alien chromosome. Disease resistance to powdery mildew (race E09) and stripe rust (mixed races CYR32, CYR33, CYR34) was evaluated under artificial inoculation. Agronomic traits, including plant height, spike length, spikelet number, thousand-grain weight, grain length, and grain width, were systematically measured.【Result】The wheat parent Yannong 999 exhibited a standard karyotype of 21 wheat chromosome pairs. TAI8047 contained 58 chromosomes (21 wheat pairs + 8 alien pairs), while CH71 harbored 44 chromosomes (21 wheat pairs + 1 alien pair, J^S-1). Synt-FISH and PCR amplification using 183 STS primers specific to Th. intermedium chromosome 7J^S confirmed J^S-1 as a 7J^S-derived chromosome. Twelve STS markers consistently amplified diagnostic bands in Th. intermedium, TAI8047, and CH71. CH71 displayed moderate resistance to powdery mildew and immunity to stripe rust, with genetic analysis indicating both resistances were conferred by the 7J^S chromosome. Compared to Yannong 999, CH71 exhibited significant increases in plant height (+24.0 cm), spike length (+3.44 cm), spikelet number (+1.6), and grain length (+0.68 mm), but reductions in thousand-grain weight (-6.78%) and grain width (-2.70%). 【Conclusion】The novel disomic addition line CH71 (wheat-Th. intermedium 7J^S) demonstrates dual resistance to powdery mildew and stripe rust, serving as a valuable germplasm resource for disease-resistant breeding and the cloning of alien resistance genes. The 12 STS markers identified herein provide an efficient molecular tool for rapid tracking of the 7J^S chromosome in wheat backgrounds.

This study systematically reviews the scientific and technological advancements in wheat breeding for saline-alkali farmland in China, analyzes current technical bottlenecks, and provides theoretical support for enhancing wheat productivity in saline-alkali soils. Through literature review and empirical analysis, we integrated research achievements in salt-alkali-tolerant germplasm development, gene discovery, variety breeding, and demonstration promotion, while considering regional saline-alkali soil characteristics and policy orientations. The results demonstrate significant progress in salt-alkali-tolerant wheat breeding innovations in China. A series of novel salt-alkali-tolerant germplasms have been developed, with key functional genes such as TaSRO1 and TaHKT1;5-D being identified. Ten nationally certified salt-alkali-tolerant wheat varieties, including 'Jingmai 189', have been bred, achieving an average yield of 7410 kg/hm² in regional trials with a 7.3% yield increase. Two major saline-alkali tolerance testing systems have been established in the Bohai Rim and Southern Xinjiang, with demonstration and promotion areas exceeding 18700 hm². However, the study also reveals existing challenges, including suboptimal breeding efficiency, incomplete technical systems, and inadequate promotion efforts. Therefore, future efforts should focus on enhancing gene discovery and molecular design breeding, establishing an efficient technical system, and promoting large-scale application of salt-alkali-tolerant varieties to provide scientific and technological support for China's food security strategy in saline-alkali regions.

This paper delineated the integrated technological work process (encompassing cultivar selection, soil amelioration and cultivation management) developed for drought-alkali wheat expansion on saline soils in Cangzhou. It reviewed the consecutive growth trajectory in which the cropped area rose from 5.9×10⁴ hm² in 2020 to 1.2×10⁵ hm² in 2024, and the grain yield increased from 3.1×10³ to 4.3×10³ kg/hm². The inhibitory effects exerted by drought, high salinity-alkalinity and low temperature-low light stresses during the growing season on seed germination, tiller formation and grain filling were summarized. The latest mechanisms of exogenous abscisic acid (ABA), silicon formulations and cerium oxide nanoparticles in enhancing root Na⁺ exclusion, maintaining foliar K⁺ homeostasis and scavenging reactive oxygen species were analyzed. A full-cycle, targeted green-regulation technical system centered on a framework of ‘seed treatment for stress-resilient germination and tillering stem-strengthening chemical regulation at jointing; culm-strengthening chemical regulation at jointing to improve lodging resistance and stress resilience; flag-leaf-sustaining and grain-filling-promoting regulation during the grain-filling stage’ was proposed, offering a replicable technological route for yield enhancement and green, efficient production of drought-alkali wheat.

Wheat powdery mildew, caused by Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici (Bgt), is a destructive fungal disease that significantly reduces wheat yield and grain quality worldwide. This study aimed to evaluate powdery mildew resistance in Sichuan wheat varieties (lines) and characterize their resistance genes, which will provide an important theoretical basis and practical guidance for disease-resistant wheat breeding. A total of 168 Sichuan wheat varieties (lines) were screened for seedling powdery mildew resistance under artificial climate chamber, which were inoculated with Bgt isolate E09, and the resistance gene was analyzed by molecular marker detection and genomic in situ hybridization (GISH). The result showed that 35 wheat materials (20.8%) were resistant. Molecular marker analysis showed that 34 materials carries the Pm21 gene, and ‘Shumai 2352’ carries Pm56. GISH analysis further confirmed that wheat cultivar ‘Mianmai 367’ carries a whole-arm chromosomal translocation of V chromosome (6VS·6AL) harboring Pm21, and ‘Shumai 2352’ possesses a whole-arm translocation of R chromosome (6RS·6AL) containing Pm56. The study highlights the limited genetic diversity of powdery mildew resistance in Sichuan wheat germplasm which are mainly relying on the Pm21 resistance gene, and emphasizes the urgent need to diversify resistance sources by introducing more Pm genes to broaden the genetic basis of disease resistance sources.

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a cornerstone of global food security, feeding over a third of the world’s population and functioning as a critical economic crop across diverse agroecological zones (FAO 2022).  However, wheat production faces mounting challenges from climate volatility, resource depletion, and the pressing demand for sustainable intensification.  This special issue presents seven cutting-edge studies that bridge scales from molecular mechanisms to field-level management, offering integrative solutions to enhance wheat’s resilience, productivity, and sustainability.  Structured into three thematic sections, these contributions advance both fundamental understanding and practical applications for the future of wheat cultivation.

 

I. Stress priming for drought resilience

 

Drought stress during critical reproductive stages remains a primary constraint to global wheat productivity, often causing significant yield losses and quality deterioration (Simane et al. 1993).  Emerging research on stress priming - where controlled pre-exposure to moderate stress enhances subsequent stress tolerance - has opened promising avenues for crop improvement (Wang et al. 2014; Li et al. 2023).  The current issue presents two pivotal studies that substantially advance the fundamental understanding and practical application of priming technology in wheat systems.  Li et al. (2025a) decode the molecular basis of drought priming, identifying 416 differentially expressed genes and 27 transcription factors governing hormone signaling, osmoprotection, and cuticular wax biosynthesis.  These findings establish the molecular architecture of stress memory in wheat, explaining how priming induces a persistent state of enhanced drought readiness.

Li et al. (2025b) further demonstrate that priming benefits extend beyond yield protection to safeguard grain quality parameters.  Primed plants maintain starch functionality, preserve protein composition balance, and minimize quality deterioration under stress conditions.

These discoveries transform priming from a physiological curiosity into a practical field solution, though challenges persist in developing cost-effective delivery systems suitable for diverse farming contexts.

 

II. Precision agronomy for enhanced resource efficiency

 

Achieving sustainable yield gains in wheat systems necessitates innovative approaches to optimizing critical resources, particularly nitrogen and water, as current approaches remain key constraints to productivity (Chen et al. 2023).  Recent studies in this issue demonstrate significant advances in precision management strategies that address these challenges while maintaining yield potential.

Liang et al. (2025) elucidate the role of 24-epibras-sinolide in improving nitrogen use efficiency under limited nitrogen conditions.  Their work reveals how this plant growth regulator fine-tunes fructan metabolism, reducing floret abortion and maintaining yields with less nitrogen input.  This hormonal approach represents a novel pathway to overcome one of the most persistent challenges in wheat production.  Complementing these findings, Guo et al. (2025) present compelling evidence through a 13-year field study that integrated soil–crop management systems can simultaneously boost yields and increase soil organic carbon annually while improving nitrogen recovery efficiency.  Their detailed soil fractionation analysis yields critical insights into the microbial mechanisms underlying these improvements, offering a scientific foundation for sustainable intensification strategies.

Water scarcity, particularly in semi-arid wheat-growing regions, demands innovative irrigation solutions that maximize efficiency without compromising yield (Wasson et al. 2012).  Che et al. (2025) demonstrate that deficit irrigation can reduce water use by 25%, extending photosynthetic activity and improving yield stability under water stress conditions.  Similarly, Li et al. (2025c) validate the effectiveness of micro-sprinkler irrigation technology, which enhances water productivity through precise synchronization of water delivery with critical growth stages, outperforming conventional flood irrigation methods.  

These studies illustrate how precision agronomy - whether hormonal regulation, soil health management, or optimized irrigation - can successfully decouple input reduction from yield penalties.  The findings provide actionable insights for reducing the environmental footprint of wheat production while maintaining productivity under increasingly constrained resource availability.

 

III. Climate adaptation through systems modeling

 

The impact of climate change on wheat production systems is escalating, manifested through shifting temperature regimes, altered precipitation patterns, and changing atmospheric CO₂ concentrations (Lesk et al. 2021).  Traditional static models of agronomic management are increasingly ineffective under dynamic climate conditions.  Preparing wheat systems for future climates demands immediate attention through adaptive strategies grounded in robust data and predictive modeling.  

By integrating 10 years of comprehensive field data with robust crop simulation models, Liu et al. (2025) provide critical insights into future yield constraints under projected climate scenarios.  Their analysis reveals two notable findings.  First, growing degree days and solar radiation will emerge as primary yield-limiting factors in many current production regions.  Second, the potential benefits of elevated CO₂ concentrations are highly contingent on complementary management interventions.  These results challenge simplistic assumptions about climate change impacts and underscore the need for nuanced, context-specific adaptation strategies.  

The study’s most valuable contribution lies in its development and validation of a genotype×environment× management (G×E×M) framework for climate adaptation.  This integrated approach transcends conventional breeding or agronomic solutions considered in isolation, emphasizing instead their synergistic interactions.

This collection exemplifies how multidisciplinary science can reconcile productivity with sustainability.  Integrating discoveries from molecular biology to systems modeling generates the knowledge and tools needed to transform wheat production.  The path forward demands continued innovation coupled with effective translation, ensuring that scientific breakthroughs are transformed into practical solutions for farmers worldwide.  In this era of global change, such integrative approaches will define the future of sustainable agriculture.

To investigate the alleviating effect of exogenous proline on drought stress in wheat seedlings, wheat variety Jimai 22 was used as the experimental material, with CK and blank control set up; T1，15% PEG-6000； T2, 15% PEG-6000+10 mmol/L proline; T3, 15% PEG-6000+30 mmol/L proline; T4, 15% PEG-6000+60 mmol/L proline, 5 treatments were used to study the effects of different concentrations of proline on photosynthetic pigments, photosynthetic characteristics, and protective enzyme systems of wheat seedlings under drought stress. The results showed that drought stress reduced the chlorophyll content, net photosynthetic rate, and protective enzyme activity of wheat seedling leaves; the content of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, chlorophyll a+b, and carotenoids in wheat leaves treated with T3 was the highest, increasing by 63.95%, 74.42%, 67.44%, and 51.35% respectively compared to T1 treatment. The net photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, and stomatal conductance of leaves treated with T3 were the highest, with increases of 38.16%, 27.50%, and 19.63% compared to T1 treatment. The activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and peroxidase in the leaves treated with T3 were the highest, increasing by 47.01%, 55.15%, and 54.87% respectively compared to T1 treatment. It can be seen that exogenous proline can effectively alleviate the inhibitory effects of drought stress on photosynthetic pigments, net photosynthetic rate, and protective enzyme activity in wheat seedlings, with the best effect observed at a proline concentration of 30 mmol/L.

【Objective】 To provide high-quality parental materials for broadening the genetic foundation of Xinjiang wheat resources as well as parental selection and cultivar development in breeding programs, the genetic diversity and relationships of protein quality traits and storage protein components in Xinjiang wheat germplasm resources were analyzed in this study. 【Method】 A total of 303 Xinjiang wheat accessions were evaluated for variation, correlation, and cluster analysis of protein quality traits and storage protein component contents. Genetic diversity indices (H') and membership function values were calculated to comprehensively assess the materials.【Result】 The coefficients of variation (CV) for protein quality traits and storage protein component contents in Xinjiang wheat resources ranged from 5.52% to 60.99% and 9.17% to 23.69%, respectively. The highest CV for protein quality traits was observed in 8-minute width (60.99%), while the highest CV for storage protein components was found in unextractable polymeric protein (UPP, 23.69%). Genetic diversity indices ranged from 1.06 to 2.15 with an average of 1.78. In addition, the gluten index (GI) exhibiting the highest value (2.15) and peak time (PT) the lowest (1.06). Correlation and multiple regression analyses demonstrated that the comprehensive evaluation value (F₁₅) effectively assessed protein quality (gluten quality). Key traits for protein quality evaluation included gluten index (GI), peak time (PT), 8 minute width, sedimentation value (SV), and unextractable polymeric protein (UPP), which are applicable for future breeding applications. Cluster analysis classified the 303 accessions into three groups (15.84%, 43.23%, and 40.92%, respectively). Group I exhibited the highest comprehensive evaluation value (F₁₅) and optimal quality indices, with significantly superior means for seven parameters, including percentage of unextractable polymeric protein (%UPP), unextractable polymeric protein (UPP), gluten index (GI), peak time (PT), 8 minute width, 8 minute area, and sedimentation value (SV). This confirmed the reliability of F₁₅ in evaluating gluten quality. 【Conclusion】 The genetic diversity distribution patterns and relationships of protein quality traits and storage protein components in Xinjiang winter wheat resources were elucidated. Critical traits for protein quality evaluation were identified, and a set of accessions with superior comprehensive performance in storage protein components and protein quality traits were selected based on F₁₅. These resources hold significant potential for utilization in future wheat breeding programs of Xinjiang.

【Objective】 Based on varying climate, soil, tillage, and field management conditions in different wheat-producing regions of China, this study aimed to investigate the impacts of soil-applied selenium (Se) fertilizer on Se enrichment in wheat and the available Se content in soil. Furthermore, the regional factors contributing to differences in the enhancement of Se content in wheat grain across these diverse areas were analyzed. These findings would provide a foundation for the efficient utilization of Se fertilizer and the scientific advancement of biofortified Se in wheat grain. 【Method】 The experiment was conducted from 2022 to 2024 in four representative wheat-producing regions of China, including Yongshou County of Shaanxi Province, Baixiang County of Hebei Province, Zitong County of Sichuan Province, and Shucheng County of Anhui Province. Five different levels of selenite fertilizer were applied: 0 (Se0), 100 (Se100), 200 (Se200), 300 (Se300), and 400 (Se400) g·hm^-2. At the flowering and maturity stages of wheat, wheat plant and soil samples in each plot were collected. The wheat biomass, grain yield, Se content of different wheat organs, Se uptake and soil available Se content in different wheat-producing regions were determined and analyzed. 【Result】 Soil-applied Se fertilizer had no significant effect on wheat yield and aboveground biomass. Selenium content and accumulation in wheat organs were significantly increased with the increase of Se application rate. There was a linear positive correlation between Se content and Se application rate, and the selenium enrichment effect was in the order of Baixiang of Hebei Province > Yongshou of Shaanxi Province > Shucheng of Anhui Province > Zitong of Sichuan Province, and the Se content of grain was increased by 1.03, 0.57, 0.35, and 0.33 μg·kg^-1, respectively with each application of 1 g·hm^-2 selenium. Under the same Se application level, TF_{spike/stem and leaf} value at flowering stage was higher than TF_{stem and leaf/root} value, and TF_{grain/stem and leaf} value at maturity stage was increased with the increase of Se application rate, indicating that selenite was not easily transferred from root to stem and leaf, but easily transferred from stem and leaf to ear. The soil available Se content was significantly increased with the increase of Se application rate and the increasing effect was in the order of Yongshou of Shaanxi Province > Baixiang of Hebei Province > Shucheng of Anhui Province > Zitong of Sichuan Province, and the soil available Se content at the four sites was increased by 1.141, 0.077, 0.008, and 0.008 μg·kg^-1, respectively with a rate of 1 g·hm^-2 selenium application. The Se fertilizer application rate to meet the enrichment of grain selenium (150 μg·kg^-1) in Yongshou of Shaanxi Province, Baixiang of Hebei Province, Zitong of Sichuan Province and Shucheng of Anhui Province were 232, 0, 376, and 354 g·hm^-2, respectively. 【Conclusion】 In the wheat fields with low soil Se content, the application of Se fertilizer could lead to the production of Se-enriched wheat grain and an increase in the soil Se content in various wheat-producing regions of China. However, in alkaline soils, the enrichment of Se in wheat grain was more effective and the enhancement of soil available Se content was greater. The input rate of Se fertilizer for selenium enrichment requirement of wheat (>150 μg·kg^-1) was lower in the alkaline soil than that in the acid soils.

To investigate the utilization efficiency of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) fertilizers for wheat in the lime-concretion black soil region of Northern Anhui, a field experiment was conducted using the wheat cultivar Houde Mai 981. Five treatments were established: NPK (combined N, P, and K fertilization), PK (N-deficient), NK (P-deficient), NP (K-deficient), and CK (no fertilizer). The wheat agronomic traits, yield and yield components, nutrient uptake, fertilizer use efficiency, and output-input ratio were measured.The results showed that the NPK treatment exhibited superior performance in plant height (78.7 cm), stem diameter (0.69 cm), spike length (9.2 cm), and spike diameter (5.0 cm). Additionally, the NPK treatment achieved the highest values in spike number (5.775 1 million spikes/hm²), grains per spike (33.42 grains per spike), 1 000-grain weight (45.61 g), and grain yield (8 790 kg/hm²). Nutrient uptake in grains, straw, and whole plants was also highest under NPK fertilization, with N, P, and K use efficiencies reaching 42.57%, 19.67%, and 44.13%, respectively. Furthermore, the NPK treatment demonstrated the highest output-input ratio (4.79). These findings indicate that balanced N, P, and K fertilization significantly enhances wheat yield and nutrient use efficiency in the study region, making it a recommended practice for sustainable wheat production in lime-concretion black soils of Northern Anhui.

Random sampling, typical field investigation, and monitoring station monitoring methods were used to conduct wheat seedling condition and soil moisture status in Funan County, Anhui Province from December 24, 2024 to January 3, 2025. The survey found that the overall wheat seedling condition in the study area was good, with first, second, and thrid type seedling areas of 4.40 million, 3.03 million, and 1.10 million hm², respectively, accounting for 51.6%, 35.5%, and 12.9% of the total wheat sowing area. The overall soil moisture in the research area was moderately deficit. The relative moisture content of the 0-20 cm cultivated layer soil at monitoring points A and F was 67.12% and 60.70%, the soil moisture is slightly low. Other monitoring points were moderately deficit. Based on this, field management measures such as controlling excessive growth and strengthening seedlings (mechanical suppression, combing seedlings, and spraying foliar fertilizers and chemical control regulators), supplementing soil moisture for seedlings (irrigating overwintering water to supplement soil moisture), preventing and controlling diseases, pests and weeds (monitoring and timely applying targeted pesticides to prevent wheat sheath blight, etc.), and preventing cold and freezing (spraying potassium dihydrogen phosphate+aminoethyl ester+humic acid water-soluble fertilizer 1-2 days before the arrival of cold waves) were proposed to ensure the safe overwintering of wheat. This article provides references for improving wheat yield and quality in similar regions.

Using humic acid water-soluble fertilizer produced by Zhongcheng Guolian (Henan) Biotechnology Co., Ltd. as the test material, this study investigated the impact of foliar application of humic acid water-soluble fertilizers on the yield and yield factors of wheat and summer maize under different soil texture types in Shangqiu City. The paired test design was used, and the effects on economic benefits were also analyzed. The results showed that with foliar spraying of humic acid water-soluble fertilizer, the number of grains per ear, 1000-grain weight and both yield and economic benefits significantly increased. Statistical analysis revealed a highly significant increase in yield for both wheat and summer maize. The increase in yield and economic benefit varied across different soil texture types. For wheat, the highest yield increase and lowest yield increase rate occurred on silty soil. The highest increase rate and smallest yield increase were found on sandy soil. The order of net increase in economic benefit was silty soil> loamy soil> sandy soil. For summer maize, the yield increase ranking was silty soil> sandy soil> loamy soil, while the orders of increase rate and net increase in economic benefit were loamy soil> silty soil> sandy soil.

Increasing grain yield (GY) and water use efficiency (WUE) of winter wheat in the Huaibei Plain (HP) is essential.  However, the effects of micro-sprinkler irrigation and topsoil compaction after wheat seeds sowing on the GY and WUE are unclear.  Therefore, a two-year field experiment was conducted during the 2021–2023 winter wheat growing seasons with a total six treatments: rain-fed (RF), conventional irrigation (CI) and micro-sprinkler irrigation (MI), as well as topsoil compaction after seeds sowing under three irrigation methods (RFC, CIC, and MIC).  The two years’ results indicated that MI significantly increased GY compared to CI and RF, which averagely increased by 17.9 and 42.1%, respectively.  The increase in GY of MI was due to its significant increase in the number of spikes, kernels per spike, and grain weight.  Chlorophyll concentration in flag leaves of MI after anthesis stage was maintained higher levels than CI and RF, RF was the lowest.  This was due to the dramatically enhanced catalase and peroxidase activity and lower malondialdehyde content under MI.  Compared with RF and CI, MI significantly promoted dry matter remobilization and production after anthesis as well as its contribution to GY.  In addition, MI significantly boosted root growth, and root activity during grain filling stage was remarkably enhanced than CI and RF.  In 2021–2022, there was no significant difference in WUE between MI and RF, but the WUE of RF was significantly lower than MI in 2022–2023.  However, WUE in MI was significantly improved compared to CI, that averagely increased by 15.1 and 17.6% for the two years.  Topsoil compaction significantly increased GY and WUE under rain-fed conditions due to improved spike numbers and dry matter production.  Overall, topsoil compaction is advisable for enhancing GY and WUE in rain-fed conditions, whereas micro-sprinkler irrigation can be adopted to achieve high GY and WUE simultaneously in the HP.

Integrated agronomic optimization (IAO) adopts suitable crop varieties, sowing dates, planting density and advanced nutrient management to redesign the entire production system according to the local environment, which can achieve synergistic improvements in crop yields and resource utilization.  However, the intensity and magnitude of the impacts of IAO on soil quality under long-term intensive production and high nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) require further clarification.  Based on a 13-year field experiment conducted in Dawenkou, Tai’an, China, we investigated the effects of four cultivation modes on the grain yield, NUE, soil aggregate structure, as well as the fraction of organic matter (SOM) and soil quality, reflected by integrated fertility index (IFI) during the winter wheat maturation period in 2020–2022.  The four cultivation modes were traditional local farming (T1), farmer-based improvement (T2), increased yield regardless of production cost (T3), and integrated soil–crop system management (T4).  As IAO modes, T2 and T4 were characterized by denser planting, reduced nitrogen (N) fertilizer application rates, and delayed sowing compared to T1 and T3, respectively.  In this long-term experiment, IAO was found to maintain aggregate stability, increase SOM content (by increasing organic carbon and total nitrogen of the light fraction (LF) and the particulate organic matter fraction (POM)), and improve SOM quality by increasing the proportions of LF and POM and the ratio of organic carbon to total nitrogen in SOM.  Compared to T1, the IFI of T2, T3, and T4 increased by 10.91, 23.38, 25.55%, and by 17.78, 6.41, 28.94% in the 0–20 and 20–40 cm soil layers, respectively.  The grain yield of T4 was 22.52% higher than that of T1, reaching 95.98% of that in T3.  Furthermore, NUE of T4 was 35.61% higher than that of T1 and T3.  In conclusion, our results suggest that T4 synergistically increases grain yield and NUE in winter wheat, while maximizing soil quality.

The impact of drought stress on crop yield and quality is substantial.  Drought priming during the early growth stage of plants has been shown to improve tolerance to drought stress during the reproductive stage, although its effects on grain quality remains elusive.  This study aimed to investigate the influence of drought priming on starch and protein levels in grains under drought stress during grain filling.  Our results reveal that drought stress results in a reduction in starch content and its constituents, while simultaneously increasing glutenin macropolymers and protein fractons.  Notably,, drought primed plants under drought stress (PD) exhibit mitigated declines in starch content and its components, leading to improvements in starch swelling power and pasting properties.  Additionally, PD results in a slight increase in protein fractions, limiting the overall rise in total protein content compared to drought stress alone.  Collectively, our study underscores the efficacyof drought priming as a strategy to counteract the negative effects of drought stress on grain quality, particularly by minimizing starch losses and restraining protein content elevation.

Frequent drought events especially those occur in the reproductive stages severely restrict global crop productivity.  Moderate drought priming during the earlier growth stages is a promising strategy for plants to resist to recurrent severe drought stress.  However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear.  Here, we subjected wheat plants to drought priming during the vegetative growth stage and to severe drought stress at 10 days after anthesis.  We then collected leaf samples at the ends of the drought priming, recovery periods, and at the ends of drought stress for transcriptome sequencing in combination with phenotypic and physiological determination.  The drought-primed wheat plant maintained a lower plant temperature, with higher stomatal openness and photosynthesis, thereby resulting in much less 1,000-grain weight and grain yield losses under the later drought stress than the non-primed plants.  Interestingly, 416 genes of which 27 transcription factors (e.g., MYB, NAC, HSF) seemed to be closely related to the improved drought tolerance as indicated by the dynamic transcriptome analysis.  Moreover, the candidate genes showed six temporal expression patterns and significantly enriched in several stress response related pathways such as plant hormone signal transduction, starch and sucrose metabolism, arginine and proline metabolism, inositol phosphate metabolism, and wax synthesis.  These findings illustrate new insights into physiological and molecular mechanisms of the long-term effects of early drought priming to effectively improve drought tolerance in wheat, which proved potential approaches to challenge the increasing abiotic stresses and secure food safety under global warming scenarios.

Reducing nitrogen application rates can mitigate issues such as environmental degradation and resource wastage.  However, it can also exacerbate problems such as wheat floret degeneration, leading to reduced yields.  Therefore, investigating wheat floret degeneration mechanisms under low nitrogen stress and identifying mitigation measures are conducive to achieving high yields and sustainable development.  To investigate the physiological mechanism of low nitrogen stress affecting wheat floret degradation and whether exogenous brassinosteroids can alleviate this stress, three nitrogen application rates (N0, no nitrogen application; N1, 120 kg ha^-1 pure nitrogen; and N2, 240 kg ha^-1 pure nitrogen) and exogenous spraying experiments (N0CK, no nitrogen with water spraying; N0BR, no nitrogen with 24-epibrassinolide (an active brassinosteroids) spraying; and N1, 120 kg ha^-1 pure nitrogen with water spraying) were designed.  The results indicated that low nitrogen stress induced a large amount of reactive oxygen species generation.  Although wheat spikes synthesized flavonoids to combat oxidative stress, their energy metabolism (glycolysis and tricarboxylic acid cycle) and ascorbate-glutathione cycle were inhibited, keeping reactive oxygen levels elevated within the spike, inducing cell death and exacerbating floret degeneration.  Furthermore, brassinosteroids played a role in regulating wheat floret degeneration under low-nitrogen stress.  Exogenous foliar spraying of 24-epibrassinolide promoted energy metabolism and the ascorbate-glutathione cycle within the spike, enhancing energy charge and effectively mitigating a portion of reactive oxygen induced by low nitrogen stress, thereby alleviating floret degeneration caused by low nitrogen stress.  In summary, low-nitrogen stress disrupts the redox homeostasis of wheat spikes, leading to floret degeneration.  Brassinosteroids alleviate floret degeneration by improving the redox state of wheat spikes.  This research provides theoretical support for balancing the contradiction between high yields and sustainable development and is beneficial for the application of low nitrogen in production.