The study created a system that blocks root‑mediated signaling between wheat varieties in a varietal mixture and used transcriptomic and metabolomic profiling to reveal that root chemical interactions drive reduced susceptibility to Septoria tritici blotch, with phenolic compounds emerging as key mediators. Disruption of these root signals eliminates both the disease resistance phenotype and the associated molecular reprogramming.

A genome‑wide association study of 187 bread wheat genotypes identified 812 significant loci linked to 25 spectral vegetation indices under rainfed drought conditions, revealing a major QTL hotspot on chromosome 2A that accounts for up to 20% of variance in greenness and pigment traits. Candidate gene analysis at this hotspot uncovered stress‑responsive genes, demonstrating that vegetation indices are heritable digital phenotypes useful for selection and genetic analysis of drought resilience.

The study evaluated how stomatal anatomy and physiological efficiency influence wheat heat tolerance across multi‑environment field trials with 200 genotypes, using early versus delayed sowing to impose temperature stress. Findings revealed a decoupling between anatomical capacity (gsmax) and actual conductance (gs, gse) under heat, plastic shifts toward smaller, denser stomata, and identified 125 QTL linked to stomatal traits, suggesting targets for breeding climate‑resilient wheat.

The study used a yeast two-hybrid screen to identify 52 wheat proteins that interact with the inositol pyrophosphate kinase TaVIH2-3B, highlighting the fasciclin‑like arabinogalactan protein TaFLA7 as a key partner involved in cell‑wall functions. Pulldown assays and reporter fusion analyses confirmed the interaction and plasma‑membrane localization of TaFLA7, which is modulated by TaVIH2‑3B activity and shows drought‑responsive and grain‑development expression in wheat.

The study generated wheat (Triticum aestivum) mutants with targeted deletions in the SAL gene family (TaSAL1 and TaSAL2) to assess the impact of chloroplast-to-nucleus retrograde signaling on field performance. Across 15 diverse Australian field trials, TaSAL2 deletions conferred 4–8% higher yields and improved water productivity by maintaining photosynthetic efficiency and dynamic stomatal control under drought, whereas TaSAL1 deletions reduced yields. These results demonstrate that locus‑specific retrograde signaling modifications can simultaneously enhance yield and stress resilience in a major crop.

The study examined how genetic variation among 181 wheat (Triticum aestivum) lines influences root endophytic fungal communities using ITS2 metabarcoding. Heritability estimates and GWAS identified 11 QTLs linked to fungal clade composition, highlighting genetic control of mycobiota, especially for biotrophic AMF. These findings suggest breeding can be used to modulate beneficial root-fungal associations.

This review compiles experimental studies on wheat to assess how elevated CO₂, higher temperatures, and water deficit interact and affect productivity and water use. By calculating plasticity indices, the authors find that despite CO₂‑induced gains, overall yield generally declines under combined stress, while water consumption often decreases. They highlight the need for more data to improve and validate crop models under future climate scenarios.