Triticum Aestivum Research Articles

Cover crops and poultry litter impact on soil structural stability in dryland soybean production in Southeastern United States

AbstractThis study explored the efficacy of soil aggregate indices in quantifying soil structural development, utilizing 5‐year field experiment data from the Southeastern United States. The experiment utilized a split‐plot design with cover crops (native vegetation as control, cereal rye (Secale cereale L.), winter wheat (Triticum aestivum), hairy vetch (Vicia villosa), and mustard (Brassica rapa) plus cereal rye as the main factor and fertilizer source (no fertilizer as control, inorganic fertilizer with phosphorus, potassium, and elemental sulfur, and poultry litter) as the secondary factor. Aggregate size fractions were determined using the wet‐sieving method, and aggregate stability index (ASI), mean weight diameter (MWD), geometric mean diameter (GMD), and fractal dimension (FD) were calculated to assess soil structural stability. Main effects results indicated that cereal rye (55.11%) and poultry litter (50.97%) exhibited the highest ASI values. The highest MWD, GMD, and FD were observed under mustard plus cereal rye (1.187 mm), cereal rye (0.462 mm), and hairy vetch (2.573), respectively. Principal component analysis revealed that cover crops significantly improved soil aggregate structure and stability, overcoming limitations of sole fertilization practices. Regression analysis suggested that ASI, MWD, and GWD positively correlated with soil organic carbon, whereas FD negatively correlated with MWD, GMD, and ASI. Principal component analysis exhibited that FD decreased with increasing soil organic carbon, ASI, MWD, and GMD, demonstrating that lower FD values indicate enhanced soil aggregation and structure. Assessed indices, FD included, effectively gauged soil structural stability. These metrics should be prioritized in managerial decisions to support soil productivity and health in agricultural systems.

Comparative Analysis of Soil Phosphorus Determination Methods and Their Correlation with Plant Phosphorus in Standing Wheat Crops

This study compared the accuracy of various soil phosphorus assessment methods to measure the soil's ability to supply plants with phosphorus over a brief period in the field. Twenty individual soil samples were collected from a standing wheat (Triticum aestivum L) crop at depths ranging from zero to twenty centimeters. An equivalent plant spike sample was also procured from the soil sampling fields. In comparison to the wet acid digestion method used to detect phosphorus in plants, several methods were utilized to assess phosphorus in the soil, including resin extractable phosphorus, AB-DTPA extractable phosphorus, NaHCO3 extractable phosphorus, water-soluble phosphorus in suspension, and paste. The levels of variation and deficiency of phosphorus, which were found by different methods followed different patterns as shown by the fact that, AB-DTPA method finds phosphorus deficiency in 20% of samples while on the other hand, Olsen method finds phosphorus deficiency in 80% of samples. Even with such a small sampling area, none of the procedures showed a significant correlation with any other method that might account for uneven variation among the samples when determined by distinct procedures. However, corrections were observed to a certain degree between ammonium bicarbonate-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (AB-DTPA) extractable and resin, as well as between other procedures and the plant P scale. Both resin and ammonium bicarbonate-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (AB-DTPA) had a strong relationship with plant phosphorus, with the former showing a significant correlation of 0.48 and 0.21, respectively. Hence Resin and AB-DTPA methods are recommended for the determination of phosphorus under certain soil and plant conditions.

Heat-moisture treatment can modulate all-purpose wheat flour for short dough biscuit making: Evidences and mechanism

In view of the merits of all-purpose wheat flour (APWF) to soft wheat flour (SWF) in cost and protein supply, the feasibility of heat-moisture treatment (HMT, 19% moisture for 1 h at 60, 80 and 100 °C, respectively) to modify APWF as a substitute SWF in making short dough biscuits was explored. For underlying mechanisms, on the one hand, HMT reduced the hydration capacity of damaged starch particles by coating them with denatured proteins. On the other hand, HMT at 80 °C and 100 °C significantly denatured gluten proteins to form protein aggregates, highly weakening the gluten network in dough. These two aspects jointly conferred APWF dough with higher deformability and therefore significantly improved the qualities of biscuits. Moreover, the qualities of biscuits from APWF upon HMT-100 °C were largely comparable to that from SWF, even higher values were concluded in spread ratio, volume, specific volume and consumer acceptance.

IMPACT OF SOIL STERILIZATION FROM DIFFERENT LOCATIONS, WHEAT SEEDS CLEANING AND THEIR INTERACTIONS ON WEED CONTROL, AND YIELD AND YIELD COMPONENTS

IMPACT OF SOIL STERILIZATION FROM DIFFERENT LOCATIONS, WHEAT SEEDS CLEANING AND THEIR INTERACTIONS ON WEED CONTROL, AND YIELD AND YIELD COMPONENTS

Mapping and characterization of rust resistance genes Lr53 and Yr35 introgressed from Aegilops species

Key messageThe rust resistance genes Lr53 and Yr35 were introgressed into bread wheat from Aegilops longissima or Aegilops sharonensis or their S-genome containing species and mapped to the telomeric region of chromosome arm 6BS.Wheat leaf and stripe rusts are damaging fungal diseases of wheat worldwide. Breeding for resistance is a sustainable approach to control these two foliar diseases. In this study, we used SNP analysis, sequence comparisons, and cytogenetic assays to determine that the chromosomal segment carrying Lr53 and Yr35 was originated from Ae.longissima or Ae. sharonensis or their derived species. In seedling tests, Lr53 conferred strong resistance against all five Chinese Pt races tested, and Yr35 showed effectiveness against Pst race CYR34 but susceptibility to race CYR32. Using a large population (3892 recombinant gametes) derived from plants homozygous for the ph1b mutation obtained from the cross 98M71 × CSph1b, both Lr53 and Yr35 were successfully mapped to a 6.03-Mb telomeric region of chromosome arm 6BS in the Chinese Spring reference genome v1.1. Co-segregation between Lr53 and Yr35 was observed within this large mapping population. Within the candidate region, several nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat genes and protein kinases were identified as candidate genes. Marker pku6B3127 was completely linked to both genes and accurately predicted the absence or presence of alien segment harboring Lr53 and Yr35 in 87 tetraploid and 149 hexaploid wheat genotypes tested. We developed a line with a smaller alien segment (< 6.03 Mb) to reduce any potential linkage drag and demonstrated that it conferred resistance levels similar to those of the original donor parent 98M71. The newly developed introgression line and closely linked PCR markers will accelerate the deployment of Lr53 and Yr35 in wheat breeding programs.

Screening of Bread and Durum Wheat Varieties on Yield and Nutritional Quality for Their Tolerance to Zinc Stress

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

Advancements of Breeding and Genomics in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.): Enhancing Yield and Nutritional Value for Sustainable Agriculture

Advancements in wheat breeding and genomics presently explores the genomic interventions driving focusing on quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping, marker-assisted selection (MAS) and genomic selection (GS). QTL mapping emerges as a pivotal method for pinpointing markers linked with desirable traits, facilitating MAS. Furthermore, genomic selection (GS) holds immense potential for crop improvement. It also delves into the current landscape of MAS and explores various prospects of GS for wheat biofortification. Looking ahead, accelerated mapping studies combined with MAS and GS schemes are poised to further enhance wheat breeding efficiency. Dense molecular maps and a large set of ESTs (Expressed Sequence Tags) have enabled genome-wide identification of gene-rich and gene-poor regions, as well as QTL, including eQTL (Expression quantitative trait loci). Additionally, markers associated with major economic traits have facilitated MAS programs in some countries and enabled map-based cloning of several genes/QTL. Resources for functional genomics, such as TILLING and RNA interference (RNAi), alongside emerging approaches like epigenetics and association mapping, are further enriching wheat genomics research. In this review, we initially present cutting-edge genome-editing technologies in crop plants, with a specific focus on wheat, addressing both functional genomics and genetic enhancement. We subsequently delineate the utilization of additional technologies, including GWAS, high-throughput genotyping and phenotyping, speed breeding, and synthetic biology, within the context of wheat breeding. We assert that integrating genome editing with other molecular breeding strategies will significantly expedite the genetic enhancement of wheat, thus contributing to sustainable global production.

Summer cover crop and temporary legume-cereal intercrop effects on soil microbial indicators, soil water and cash crop yields in a semi-arid environment

ContextFew studies have investigated summer cover crops as a replacement for bare fallow in semi-arid temperate regions, and summer cover crop impacts on soil biological function, water balances and subsequent winter crop yields in these regions remain largely unknown. ObjectiveThe 4-year field study aimed to determine the consequences of replacing a summer fallow with a summer growing cover crop on soil function, water balances and subsequent winter cash crop yields in a semi-arid region (486 mm mean annual rainfall) of the Australian southern cropping zone. MethodsA canola (Brassica napus)-wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) rotation with summer fallow was compared to the same rotation with either i) a single species (buckwheat, Fagopyrum esculentum L.) summer cover crop; ii) a four-species mixed brassica + cereal summer cover crop or iii) a cropping sequence with a temporary legume intercrop in the wheat phase of the rotation. Cover crop biomass production, soil water to a depth of 90 cm at cash crop sowing, crop yields and soil functional indices were quantified. ResultsCover crops produced 500–700 kg biomass ha−1 in the 2020 and 2021 seasons and 1000–2400 kg biomass ha−1 in 2022. The four-species mixed cover crop significantly lowered soil water (around 30 mm; P < 0.05) at the time of sowing the cash crop compared to the control and resulted in 15% reduction (P = 0.12) in canola seed yield in 2020, but no significant effect of cover crops of soil water and mineral N at sowing, or cash crop yields, were observed in subsequent seasons. In 2021 the temporary vetch intercrop produced > 1000 kg ha−1 biomass over 9 weeks, and led to a (non-significant) 10% wheat yield reduction. There was no significant effect of cover crop or temporary intercrop treatments on soil functions in the 2020 or 2021 seasons, but activities of several soil enzymes (leucine aminopeptidase, arylsulfatase and B-glucosidase; P < 0.05) and water-soluble carbon (P = 0.059) were significantly higher in the summer cover crop plots compared to control and intercrop plots in March 2022 following termination of the cover crops. These changes coincided with a significant increase in saturated hydraulic conductivity in the four-species cover crop plots in March 2022 compared to control plots. ImplicationsThe study did not provide any compelling evidence for benefits of summer cover crops over fallow in the short term (3–4 years). The relatively low cover crop biomass production over the 4-year study suggests summer cover crops are unlikely to substantially improve soil carbon levels in temperate, semi-arid cropping systems.

Comparison of quality, dietary fiber and glycemic index of whole wheat breads using various modern and old wheats and investigate the effect of xylanase

AbstractSix bread wheat varieties (modern wheats) widely grown in Turkey and nine different bread wheat varieties registered prior to 1970 (old wheats) were used in the present study. This study aimed to determine and compare the quality characteristics, dietary fiber contents and in vitro glycemic index of whole wheat breads produced using modern and old bread wheat varieties. The effect of xylanase on the quality, staling and dietary fiber content of whole wheat breads was also investigated. Mean sedimentation and modified sedimentation values, Farinograph development time, stability, quality number of whole wheat flours produced by modern wheats were higher than those of the old varieties. Whole wheat breads of modern varieties had higher mean volume and lower firmness values as compared to old varieties. Whole wheat breads of old wheat varieties had higher mean soluble dietary fiber content as compared to that of modern wheat varieties. Xylanase addition generally had an increasing effect on bread volume and soluble dietary fiber contents and a softening effect on firmness values. There were no significant differences between the mean (in vitro) glycemic index values of whole wheat breads produced from modern and old varieties. The results in the present study indicated that modern bread wheat varieties had better whole wheat bread making quality as compared with old bread wheat varieties. In addition, xylanase usage in whole wheat bread formula had an improving effect on whole wheat bread quality.

АНАЛИЗ МЕРОПРИЯТИЙ ПО ПОВЫШЕНИЮ ЭКОНОМИЧЕСКОЙ ЭФФЕКТИВНОСТИ И КАЧЕСТВА ЗЕРНА В ПРОЦЕССЕ ЕГО ПРОИЗВОДСТВА И ХРАНЕНИЯ

The scientific article contains a review of scientific literature on the problems of ensuring the efficiency of grain production by improving its quality. Controlled and uncontrollable factors and conditions for ensuring grain quality are noted. Among the controllable factors and conditions, technical, technological, organizational and economic factors are stated; uncontrollable factors and conditions include solar insolation, daylight hours, temperature, and precipitation. It was revealed that the quality of grain and losses during storage are influenced by: climate, poor-quality grain cleaning, grain injuries, elevated temperature, high humidity, storage processing, technical integrity of the premises. The formation of quality at the stages of grain production is shown: preparation of seed, growing conditions, harvesting conditions, crop transportation, primary processing and storage. It is indicated that spring wheat of soft varieties, cultivated on farms in the Perm region, has a high internal market potential: high technological and baking properties, can be used for the production of flour and baking bread. The consumer properties of zoned varieties of winter and spring soft wheat are shown: the Irgina variety scored the most points (4.7 - 4.9 points), and the Iren variety took second place (4.4 - 4.7 points). The cost of flour obtained from processing grain with a natural weight of 750 g/l was calculated at 700,000 rubles, as well as the cost of flour obtained from processing grain with a natural weight of 760 g/l was calculated at 709,872 rubles; a deviation in the cost for grain quality account in the amount of 9872 rubles.

Genome‑wide identification and expression analysis of the UBC gene family in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

BackgroundUbiquitination is an important regulatory step of selective protein degradation in the plant UPS (ubiquitin–proteasome system), which is involved in various biological processes in eukaryotes. Ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes play an intermediate role in the process of protein ubiquitination reactions and thus play an essential role in regulating plant growth and response to adverse environmental conditions. However, a genome-wide analysis of the UBC gene family in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) has not yet been performed.ResultsIn this study, the number, physiochemical properties, gene structure, collinearity, and phylogenetic relationships of TaUBC family members in wheat were analyzed using bioinformatics methods. The expression pattern of TaUBC genes in different tissues/organs and developmental periods, as well as the transcript levels under abiotic stress treatment, were analyzed using RNA-Seq data and qRT-PCR. Meanwhile, favorable haplotypes of TaUBC25 were investigated based on wheat resequencing data of 681 wheat cultivars from the Wheat Union Database. The analyses identified a total of 93 TaUBC family members containing a UBC domain in wheat genome. These genes were unevenly distributed across 21 chromosomes, and numerous duplication events were observed between gene members. Based on phylogenetic analysis, the TaUBC family was divided into 13 E2 groups and a separate UEV group. We investigated the expression of TaUBC family genes under different tissue/organ and stress conditions by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis. The results showed that some TaUBC genes were specifically expressed in certain tissues/organs and that most TaUBC genes responded to NaCl, PEG6000, and ABA treatment with different levels of expression. In addition, we performed association analysis for the two haplotypes based on key agronomic traits such as thousand-kernel weight (TKW), kernel length (KL), kernel weight (KW), and kernel thickness (KT), examining 122 wheat accessions at three environmental sites. The results showed that TaUBC25-Hap II had significantly higher TKW, KL, KW, and KT than TaUBC25-Hap I. The distribution analysis of haplotypes showed that TaUBC25-Hap II was preferred in the natural population of wheat.ConclusionOur results identified 93 members of the TaUBC family in wheat, and several genes involved in grain development and abiotic stress response. Based on the SNPs detected in the TaUBC sequence, two haplotypes, TaUBC25-Hap I and TaUBC25-Hap II, were identified among wheat cultivars, and their potential value for wheat breeding was validated by association analysis. The above results provide a theoretical basis for elucidating the evolutionary relationships of the TaUBC gene family and lay the foundation for studying the functions of family members in the future.

AquaCrop Model for Evaluation of the Water Productivity of Bread Wheat has Affected Modern Irrigation System and Water Salinity in Sandy Soil

AquaCrop is a very famous model in the world for evaluating the crop water productivity. FAO has developed the AquaCrop model as a leading and powerful scientific tool for simulating the response of different field crops to managing quantitative and qualitative irrigation. Two field experiments were carried out during winter seasons 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 at the Research and Production Station, National Research Centre, El-Nubaria, El-Behira Governorate, Egypt. to evaluate yield and yield component for two bread wheat varieties (Giza 171 and Misr 1) under sprinkler and drip irrigation systems with using four concentrations of water salinity irrigation. A split-plot design with three replications was used. Wheat were randomly distributed in the main plots while, while water salinity treatments occupied the sub-plots in both seasons. Results found that the simulated and observed values of water productivity were rather well in agreement for the salinity water levels treatments SWLT. This means that differences in canopy cover CC, yield and water productivity of bread wheat crop had significant effect on the calibration results. There is an inverse relationship between the water productivity and salinity water levels treatments and bread wheat varieties, while a direct correlation was found between water productivity and irrigation systems. It could be concluded that using sprinkler irrigation systems with S1 and S2 of SWLT and Misr 1 varitey, and drip irrigation system with S1 and S2 of SWLT and Misr 1 varitiey. the maximum of water productivity due to that there is a direct relationship between the study factors, the characteristics of the canopy cover growth and yield of the bread wheat plants, the more measured values will be simulated by the Aquacrop model.

Effect of Organic Manure of Nitrogen Nutrients on Economic Benefits of Wheat (Triticum aestivum)

A field experiment was conducted at crop research center of IFTM University Moradabad (U.P.) field experiment carried out during the Rabi season 2022–2023. The texture of the sandy loam soil in the experimental field was sandy loam. The randomized block design method was used for the statistical analysis, and the ten treatments included three replications of the application of biofertilizers and V.C. FYM. Treatments were T1 (control), T2 (Pressmud @ 10 t ha-1 + PSB + Azotobactor), T3 (Pressmud @ 10 t ha-1 + PSB), T4 (FYM @ 10 t ha-1 + PSB + Azotobactor), T5 (FYM @ 10 t ha-1 + PSB ), T6 (VC @ 5 t ha-1 + PSB) T7 (VC @ 5 t ha-1 +PSB+Azotobactor), T8 (50%N Through FYM+50% Through NPK), T9 (75%N Through FYM+25%Through NPK) T10 (100% NPK 120:60:40) wheat variety DBW90 was sown on during December 2022. The levels of NPK fertilizer were associated with a rise in the economic benefits. The outcome showed that, under the treatment 100% NPK of RDF T10, the highest gross return of Rs. 111061 of ha-1, the highest net return of Rs. 74821 of ha-1, and the maximum benefit of cost ratio 2.06 were all recorded. When it came to economics, the treatment that used 100% NPK of RDF was found to be superior and statistically comparable to T8. It is also possible to maintain soil fertility, which is crucial for sustainable crop production, by applying organic matter and fertilizers in conjunction with inorganic ones.

Distribution Characteristics of Low-Molecular-Weight Organic Acids in Reclaimed Soil Filled with Fly Ash: A Study.

This study aims to assess the contents of different kinds of low-molecular-weight organic acids (LMWOAs) in reclaimed soil filled with fly ash in the Huainan mining area in China using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Using a mobile phase consisting of 0.1% phosphoric acid and acetonitrile in a volume ratio of 98:2, the detection was performed at a wavelength of 210 nm for 15 min. In addition, a cluster analysis was performed on the detected LMWOAs in the reclaimed soil. The correlations between the LMWOA and nutrient contents in the reclaimed soil were also analyzed. In total, eight and seven LMWOAs were detected in the reclaimed soil and filled fly ash, respectively. In contrast, no LMWOAs were detected in the fresh fly ash from a thermal power plant. The order of total LMWOA contents at different sampling points followed the order of farmland control soil > 1# (Triticum aestivum) > 4# (Phragmites australis) > 5# (Vigna radiata) > 2# (Sorghum bicolor) > 3# (Tamarix ramosissima) > fly ash-filled soil. The farmland control soil and fly ash-filled soil exhibited the highest and lowest LMWOA contents of 648.22 and 85.09 μg·g-1, respectively. The LMWOA contents in the reclaimed soil followed the order of oxalic acid > tartaric acid > malonic acid > lactic acid > acetic acid > citric acid > propionic acid > succinic acid. Indeed, oxalic acids exhibited the highest total amount of 1445.79 μg·g-1 and succinic acids exhibited the lowest total amount of 6.50 μg·g-1. The LMWOA contents in the reclaimed soil decreased with increasing soil depth, showing statistically significant differences between the 0-10 and 10-40 cm soil layers (p < 0.05). According to the obtained clustering results, the detected LMWOAs can be divided into two categories. The first category consisted of oxalic acid, while the second category included the remaining LMWOAs. The soil LMWOA contents of 4# (Phragmites australis) and 5# (Vigna radiata) were significantly different from those at the other sampling points. According to the Pearson correlation analysis results, the occurrence and characteristics of the soil LMWOAs can be controlled by regulating the pH values and available nutrient contents in the soil, thereby improving the eco-environmental conditions of the reclaimed rhizosphere.

Overexpression of TaMPK3 enhances freezing tolerance by increasing the expression of ICE-CBF-COR related genes in the Arabidopsis thaliana.

Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) play important roles in plant stress response. As a major member of the MAPK family, MPK3 has been reported to participate in the regulation of chilling stress. However, the regulatory function of wheat (Triticum aestivum ) mitogen-activated protein kinase TaMPK3 in freezing tolerance remains unknown. Dongnongdongmai No.1 (Dn1) is a winter wheat variety with strong freezing tolerance; therefore, it is important to explore the mechanisms underlying this tolerance. In this study, the expression of TaMPK3 in Dn1 was detected under low temperature and hormone treatment. Gene cloning, bioinformatics and subcellular localisation analyses of TaMPK3 in Dn1 were performed. Overexpressed TaMPK3 in Arabidopsis thaliana was obtained, and freezing tolerance phenotype observations, physiological indices and expression levels of ICE-C-repeat binding factor (CBF)-COR -related genes were determined. In addition, the interaction between TaMPK3 and TaICE41 proteins was detected. We found that TaMPK3 expression responds to low temperatures and hormones, and the TaMPK3 protein is localised in the cytoplasm and nucleus. Overexpression of TaMPK3 in Arabidopsis significantly improves freezing tolerance. TaMPK3 interacts with the TaICE41 protein. In conclusion, TaMPK3 is involved in regulating the ICE-CBF-COR cold resistance module through its interaction with TaICE41, thereby improving freezing tolerance in Dn1 wheat.

Molecular and Cytological Identification of Wheat-Thinopyrum intermedium Partial Amphiploid Line 92048 with Resistance to Stripe Rust and Fusarium Head Blight.

Thinopyrum intermedium (2n = 6x = 42, EeEeEbEbStSt or JJJsJsStSt) contains a large number of genes that are highly adaptable to the environment and immune to a variety of wheat diseases, such as powdery mildew, rust, and yellow dwarf, making it an important gene source for the genetic improvement of common wheat. Currently, an important issue plaguing wheat production and breeding is the spread of pests and illnesses. Breeding disease-resistant wheat varieties using disease-resistant genes is currently the most effective measure to solve this problem. Moreover, alien resistance genes often have a stronger disease-resistant effect than the resistance genes found in common wheat. In this study, the wheat-Th. intermedium partial amphiploid line 92048 was developed through hybridization between Th. intermedium and common wheat. The chromosome structure and composition of 92048 were analyzed using ND-FISH and molecular marker analysis. The results showed that the chromosome composition of 92048 (Octoploid Trititrigia) was 56 = 42W + 6J + 4Js + 4St. In addition, we found that 92048 was highly resistant to a mixture of stripe rust races (CYR32, CYR33, and CYR34) during the seedling stage and fusarium head blight (FHB) in the field during the adult plant stage, suggesting that the alien or wheat chromosomes in 92048 had disease-resistant gene(s) to stripe rust and FHB. There is a high probability that the gene(s) for resistance to stripe rust and FHB are from the alien chromosomes. Therefore, 92048 shows promise as a bridge material for transferring superior genes from Th. intermedium to common wheat and improving disease resistance in common wheat.

Changes in Biological Soil Health Properties in Response to Increased Crop Diversity in a Dryland Wheat-Based Cropping System

ABSTRACT Diversifying wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)-based cropping systems is important for the sustainability of dryland agriculture. Research has focused on the agronomic benefits of increased crop diversity in semi-arid environments, but less is known about the impacts of increased crop diversity on the soil microbial community. This work compared soil health parameters between a continuous wheat crop sequence to a diverse sequence that included pea (Pisum sativum L.), proso millet (Panicum miliaceum L.), safflower (Carthamus tinctorius, L.), and spring wheat. Respiration was higher (p < .005) in the diverse sequence while activity of N-acetyl-β-d-glucosaminidase was lower (p < .05) with a mean rate of 26.3 and 16.3 mg ρ-nitrophenol kg−1 soil h−1 for the continuous wheat and diverse sequences, respectively. The mean net nitrogen mineralized during the growing season was 33.2 ± 2.5 kg ha−1 and was not different between treatments (p > .05). No difference was observed in bacterial alpha diversity, while fungal community diversity was 52% lower in the diverse rotation. The results of this work suggest that specific crops in a rotation may impact microbial processes related to nitrogen mineralization and that the soil fungal community may be more sensitive to changes in crop sequence than the soil bacterial community.

Promoting Seed Germination of Some Plant Species by Rhamnolipid Produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

With growing environmental concerns and a growing world population, there is an interest in developing cheap, efficient, and environmentally friendly substances that benefit humanity. Microbial surfactants are nontoxic, biodegradable bioproducts that provide sustainable solutions in agricultural applications due to their many benefits over their synthetic counterparts. Hence the crucial importance of scientific research to understand the effect of microbial surfactants on plant development. The present study aimed to assess the effect of rhamnolipid produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa on seed germination of wheat (Triticum aestivum), barley (Hordeum vulgare), okra (Abelmoschus esculentus), onion (Allium cepa), and lettuce (Lactuca sativa) under laboratory conditions. The results showed that P. aeruginosa was capable of producing 3.83 g/L of viscous, honey-colored rhamnolipid, which was capable of lowering the surface tension to 30 ± 0.33 mN/m. Different concentrations of rhamnolipid ranging from 0.25 to 1.00 g/L were assessed, with distilled water acting as a control. After treatment of seeds, results showed that applying 0.25 g/L of rhamnolipid can significantly increase seed germination to 100% on the fourth day of sowing okra and lettuce, and on the fifth day of sowing onion seeds, compared to control groups that recorded 60%, 50%, and 55%, respectively. In wheat and barley seeds, applying rhamnolipid can protect seeds from pathogenic fungi while delaying their germination to 60% and 70% on the third day of sowing, while 90% and 100% have been reported in the control groups. Thus, this biological molecule demonstrates promising results in enhancing seed germination of the studied species by protecting them from phytopathogens and then aiding plant growth.

Characterization of Bread Wheat Genotypes for Drought Stress Adaptation

Characterization of Bread Wheat Genotypes for Drought Stress Adaptation

New Insights into Aggregation Behaviors of the UV-Irradiated Dissolved Biochars (DBioCs) in Aqueous Environments: Effects of Water Chemistries and Variation in the Hamaker Constant.

The aggregation behavior of ubiquitous dissolved black carbon (DBC) largely affects the fate and transport of its own contaminants and the attached contaminants. However, the photoaging processes and resulting effects on its colloidal stability remain yet unknown. Herein, dissolved biochars (DBioCs) were extracted from common wheat straw biochar as a proxy for an anthropogenic DBC. The influences of UV radiation on their aggregation kinetics were systematically investigated under various water chemistries (pH, electrolytes, and protein). The environmental stability of the DBioCs before and after radiation was further verified in two natural water samples. Hamaker constants of pristine and photoaged DBioCs were derived according to Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (DLVO) prediction, and its attenuation (3.19 ± 0.15 × 10-21 J to 1.55 ± 0.07 × 10-21 J after 7 days of radiation) was described with decay kinetic models. Pearson correlation analysis revealed that the surface properties and aggregation behaviors of DBioCs were significantly correlated with radiation time (p < 0.05), indicating its profound effects. Based on characterization and experimental results, we proposed a three-stage mechanism (contended by photodecarboxylation, photo-oxidation, and mineral exposure) that DBioCs might experience under UV radiation. These findings would provide an important reference for potential phototransformation processes and relevant behavioral changes that DBC may encounter.