Genetius

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.

Introgression of a short arm segment of chromosome 3G from the wheat wild relative Triticum timopheevii into hexaploid wheat confers strong type II Fusarium head blight resistance, improves grain weight retention, and lowers deoxynivalenol accumulation. A similar introgression on chromosome 7At also enhances type II resistance. These findings suggest that Chr3G (and Chr7At) segments can markedly reduce FHB susceptibility in wheat cultivars.

The study examined how a biological nitrification inhibition (BNI) wheat line (Triticum aestivum cv. ROELFS-BNI) responds to elevated CO2 and soil pH variations, finding that it consistently reduced N2O emissions by suppressing specific nitrifying microbes without altering overall soil microbial composition. Elevated CO2 effects on emissions were pH‑dependent, with increased emissions in acidic soils for the control line but not the BNI line, and decreased emissions in alkaline soils for both, especially the BNI line due to higher N2O‑reducing denitrifiers. These results suggest ROELFS‑BNI wheat could be an effective strategy to mitigate nitrogen pollution under diverse soil and future atmospheric conditions.

The study investigates the wheat Pm3 allelic series, revealing that near-identical NLR receptors Pm3d and Pm3e confer broad-spectrum resistance to diverse powdery mildew isolates by recognizing multiple, structurally distinct AVR effectors. Through chimeric NLR analysis, specificity-determining polymorphisms were identified, and engineered Pm3 combinations further expanded the resistance spectrum, highlighting the potential for durable wheat protection via NLR engineering.

MicroRNA-resistant HB-2 alleles were shown to raise grain protein content in wheat without accelerating senescence or reducing grain number or weight, and mutant plants displayed greater tolerance to nitrogen limitation. Field trials with elite Australian spring wheat cultivars confirmed that these alleles improve grain protein content while maintaining grain yield, supporting their use in commercial wheat breeding.

The study examined leaf photosynthetic and respiratory traits of ten Australian wheat cultivars released from 1901 to 2012 under experimentally warmed night temperatures. Despite a decline in photosynthetic capacity in newer cultivars, net CO₂ assimilation at 25 °C remained stable, while dark respiration showed contrasting thermal responses between night and day. The authors suggest that long‑term selection has preserved assimilation efficiency by reducing respiratory costs, highlighting targets for breeding climate‑resilient wheat and improving model parameterization.

The study evaluated the impact of delaying sowing by 15 and 30 days on six high‑yielding spring wheat (Triticum aestivum) cultivars over two years, focusing on heat stress during anthesis and its effect on grain set, thousand‑grain weight, and overall yield. Late sowing intensified heat stress, reducing grain number per spike and yield, but cultivars Sids12 and Misr1 maintained relatively stable yields, while harvest index increased despite lower biological yield. Trait‑yield associations shifted with sowing time, highlighting plant height, tiller number, and biological yield as condition‑specific predictors of grain yield.

A genome-wide association study of 337 soft winter wheat genotypes identified nine marker‑trait associations linked to resistance against Zymoseptoria tritici, with each association specific to either necrosis or pycnidia development and to particular fungal isolates. Some MTAs correspond to known Stb resistance genes, while others on chromosomes 1A, 7A, and 3B appear novel, offering new targets for breeding Z. tritici‑resistant wheat.

The study examined stage‑specific gene expression of the wheat pathogen Zymoseptoria tritici during infection of susceptible and resistant wheat cultivars and the non‑host barley, revealing distinct transcriptional profiles at early (3 dpi) and transition (10 dpi) stages. Early‑expressed candidate effectors were functionally screened in Nicotiana benthamiana, showing subcellular localization patterns that suggest roles in suppressing host immunity and signaling.

The study assessed the impact of various plant growth regulator (PGR) applications on two soft white common spring wheat (Triticum aestivum) varieties under low and high nitrogen regimes across two growing seasons. PGR treatments generally increased stem diameter, reduced plant height, and enhanced stem strength, leading to reduced lodging and occasional yield gains, particularly with specific PGR combinations. The results suggest that 168 kg N ha⁻¹ is sufficient for acceptable grain productivity, though seasonal variability warrants longer‑term evaluation.