Genetius

The study introduces a hybrid modeling framework that integrates a logistic ordinary differential equation with a Long Short-Term Memory neural network to form a Physics-Informed Neural Network (PINN) for predicting wheat plant height. Using only time and temperature as inputs, the PINN outperformed other longitudinal growth models, achieving the lowest average RMSE and reduced variability across multiple random initializations. The results suggest that embedding biological growth constraints within data‑driven models can substantially improve prediction accuracy for plant traits.

The study cloned the resistance genes Rmo2 and Rwt7 from barley and wheat, revealing them as orthologous tandem kinase proteins (TKPs) with an N‑terminal heavy metal‑associated (HMA) domain. Domain‑swapping experiments indicated that the HMA domain dictates effector specificity, supporting a model of TKP diversification into paralogs and orthologs that recognize distinct pathogen effectors.

Mutations in the plastid division gene PARC6 and the granule initiation gene BGC1 were combined to generate wheat plants with dramatically enlarged A-type starch granules, some exceeding 50 µm, without affecting plant growth, grain size, or overall starch content. The parc6 bgc1 double mutant was evaluated in both glasshouse and field trials, and the giant granules displayed altered viscosity and pasting temperature, offering novel functional properties for food and industrial applications.

The researchers performed a large‑scale field trial with 105 wheat (Triticum aestivum) genotypes inoculated by Fusarium culmorum, combining quantitative deoxynivalenol (DON) profiling and untargeted metabolomics to uncover molecular signatures of infection. Sesquiterpene‑derived metabolites tracked toxin accumulation, whereas glycosylated diterpene conjugates were enriched in low‑DON samples, indicating a potential defensive metabolic pathway.

The study characterizes the triple pistil (TP) phenotype in wheat, identifying two tightly linked mutations (TraesCS2D02G490900 and TraesCS2D02G491600) that co‑segregate with the trait and developing functional markers for early‑generation selection. CRISPR‑Cas9 editing of one candidate gene altered grain set, and field evaluation showed TP wheat increases grains per spike without reducing grain weight, highlighting its value for hybrid wheat breeding.

The study investigates the wheat Pm3 NLR allelic series, revealing that near-identical Pm3d and Pm3e alleles confer broad-spectrum resistance by recognizing multiple, structurally diverse powdery mildew effectors. Using chimeric NLR constructs, the authors pinpoint specificity-determining polymorphisms and demonstrate that engineered combinations of Pm3d and Pm3e further expand effector recognition, showcasing the potential for durable wheat protection through NLR engineering.

The researchers optimized Agrobacterium‑mediated transformation parameters for immature embryo, callus, and in‑planta methods in wheat, achieving efficiencies of up to 66.84% and shortening the callus induction stage by about one month. Validation with CRISPR/Cas9 knockout of the negative regulator TaARE1‑D produced mutants showing increased grain number, spike length, grain size, thousand‑grain weight, and a stay‑green phenotype, demonstrating the protocol’s potential to accelerate yield‑enhancing gene editing.

The study used spatial transcriptomics to map gene expression dynamics in wheat inflorescences, revealing two distinct regions— a primordium region with RAMOSA2 activity and a boundary region expressing ALOG1 and bract‑suppression regulators—that govern spikelet architecture. Developmental assays linked meristematic differentiation to vascular formation in the rachis, identifying key regulators and potential targets for enhancing spikelet number and yield.

The study examined wheat seedling cell‑wall remodeling under drought, targeting hydroxyproline‑rich glycoproteins, xylan and pectic compounds. Within five days of water deficit, organ‑specific changes included polymer aggregation and degradation, deposition of un‑esterified homogalacturonans and AGPs, and calcium cross‑linking that increases wall rigidity and aids intracellular water preservation.

The winter wheat variety G1 emits the aphid‑repellent volatile 2‑tridecanone, limiting phloem access by viruliferous Rhopalosiphum padi and reducing Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus (BYDV) transmission compared with resistant (RGT Wolverine) and susceptible (RGT Illustrious) cultivars. While G1 curtails virus spread via aphid resistance, RGT Wolverine restricts systemic BYDV infection despite high transmission, indicating distinct defense mechanisms that could be combined in breeding programs.