Triticum Aestivum Research Articles

Histone acetyltransferase Sas3 in Phomopsis liquidambaris promotes spermidine biosynthesis against Fusarium graminearum in wheat.

Spermidine production in the endophytic fungus Phomopsis liquidambaris is regulated by Sas3, and spermidine promotes resistance to Fusarium graminearum by increasing the expression of immune-related indicators in wheat. Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a common wheat disease caused mainly by Fusarium graminearum. The present study showed that overexpression of the histone acetyltransferase Sas3 in Phomopsis liquidambaris regulated the synthesis of spermidine and promoted resistance to F. graminearum in wheat. Sas3 localized in the nucleus plays a key role in acetylating lysines 9 and 14 of histone H3 (H3K9 and H3K14) and clearly promotes the development and growth of P. liquidambaris in the overexpression strain OE-Sas3 and knockout strain Ko-Sas3. The OE-Sas3 strain promoted the growth of wheat seedlings and increased the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) pumps, which increased the activities of the catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD) and the expression levels of genes involved in the jasmonic acid, ethylene, and salicylic acid pathways. Furthermore, OE-Sas3 increased the level of resistance of wheat to F. graminearum through the positive regulation of spermidine biosynthesis, which reduced the incidence of wheat spike disease from 76 to 54% and that of grain disease from 52.35 to 32.68%. This study provides a new perspective for the application of P. liquidambaris as a biocontrol agent via rational design and improved FHB resistance.

Plant Productivity and Leaf Starch During Grain Fill is Linked to QTL Containing Flowering Locus T1 (FT1) in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Plant Productivity and Leaf Starch During Grain Fill is Linked to QTL Containing Flowering Locus T1 (FT1) in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Effects of Different Winter Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Varieties Addressing the Agriculture Climate Interactions in Temperature Regions of Yield

Effects of Different Winter Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Varieties Addressing the Agriculture Climate Interactions in Temperature Regions of Yield

Timing of nitrogen fertilization and shading affect the transition of nitrogen metabolism in senescing leaves of ripening wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

ABSTRACT The grain yield and protein content of wheat is influenced by the transition of nitrogen metabolism in senescing leaves from pre-anthesis to maturity. To characterize the biochemical processes of the transition, we here analyzed the interactions among greenness, soluble protein, amino acid and protease activity in the flag and second leaves of ripening wheat plants. Nitrogen regimes were adjusted by intensive nitrogen applications in the early (IN (E)) or late stages (IN (L)) along with or without top-dressing at anthesis (±TD). The progress of leaf nitrogen metabolism towards terminal senescence appeared to be split into two phases: the first phase (from pre-anthesis to about 15 days after anthesis (DAA), when leaf greenness did not change appreciably) was characterized by a decrease in soluble protein, and the second phase (after 15 DAA) was characterized by drastic increases in the protease activity followed by a rapid decrease in leaf greenness. The decrease in soluble proteins during the first phase was not accompanied by a rise in protease activity. The rise in protease activity during the second phase was most apparent in the IN (E)-TD plants that were likely under the most severe nitrogen starvation among the treatments. The IN (L) and TD were effective to defer the leaf senescence processes. The shading treatment delayed the rise in protease activity and decrease in leaf greenness. This study suggests that the terminal leaf senescence proceeds in two phases, and the transition between these was accelerated by low nitrogen and slowed by mild shading.

Phosphorus and cover crop management practices affect phosphorus speciation in soils and eroded sediments.

Agricultural runoff often contains P in dissolved and sediment-bound forms, decreasing surface water quality. No-till and cover cropping conservation practices have been recommended for reducing erosion and nutrient loss from cropping systems. The overall aims of this study were to characterize and evaluate the effects of fertilizer (placement and source) and cover crop management on P speciation in surface runoff sediments and source soil. In 2014, a field-scale experiment was established in a no-till, corn (Zea mays L.)-soybean (Glycine max L.) cropping system with two cover crop treatments (with and without a winter crop; winter wheat [Triticum aestivum L.], rapeseed [Brassica napus L.], hairy vetch [Vicia villosa Roth], winter triticale [×Triticosecale Wittm.], and cereal rye [Secale cereale L.]) and three P fertilizer management treatments (no P, fall broadcast diammonium phosphate, and spring subsurface injected ammonium polyphosphate). Phosphorus fractionation in the source soil collected in the fall of 2019 and sediment samples collected throughout 2020 were analyzed using a modified sequential P extraction method to evaluate the cumulative effects of imposing the treatment factors over 5 years. The direct P speciation was done using X-ray absorption near edge structure spectroscopy. The indirect P speciation (fractionation) results showed that the management practices affected the exchangeable, organic matter-associated, and Fe-bound P fractions in sediments and the exchangeable and residual fractions in source soil. Direct P speciation results showed a depletion of Fe-associated P in soil and sediment from cover crop treatment, suggesting that Fe-associated P species were affected by cover crops. Changes in soil and runoff sediment P speciation would change the proportions and forms of soluble and particulate P in runoff sediments and may influence P bioavailability in aquatic ecosystems. Developing P fertilizer and cropping system management options with an understanding of soil P transformations helps maintain environmental sustainability.

The Class III Peroxidase gene TaPRX-2A controls grain number per spike in common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Some peroxidases (PRXs) are involved in abiotic stress response. However, to the best of our knowledge, the effects of PRXs on agronomic traits including grain number per spike (GNS), spikelet number per spike (SNS) and spike length (SL) are also largely unknown. In our study, we cloned a wheat PRX gene TaPRX-2A and identified its function in controlling GNS by generating transgenic overexpression lines. The results showed that TaPRX-2A overexpression displayed lower GNS and shorter SL, compared with the wild-type plants. RNA-seq analysis indicated alterations in various pathways including flavonoid biosynthesis, lignin biosynthesis, phytohormone signaling, as well as sucrose and starch biosynthesis. Co-expression analysis showed that transcription factors, such as bHLH, WRKY, and bZIP may be involved in the regulation of various genes associated with these pathways. Our findings provide insights into the mechanisms by which PRXs regulate agronomic traits, illustrating potential applicability in crop improvement programs.

Corrigendum: Genome-wide linkage mapping of Fusarium crown rot in common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Corrigendum: Genome-wide linkage mapping of Fusarium crown rot in common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Genetic Basis of Seedling Root Traits in Common Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Identified by Genome-Wide Linkage Mapping

Common wheat production is significantly influenced by abiotic stresses. Identifying the genetic loci for seedling root traits and developing the available molecular markers are crucial for breeding high yielding and stable varieties. In this study, five wheat seedling root traits, including root length (RL), root surface area (RA), root volume (RV), number of root tips (RT), and root dry weight (RW), were measured in the Wp-072/Wp-119 recombinant inbred line (RIL) population. Genotyping was conducted for the RIL population and their parents using the wheat 90K single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) chip. In total, three quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for RL (QRL.gau-1DS, QRL.gau-1DL and QRL.gau-4AL), two QTLs for RA (QRA.gau-1D and QRA.gau-2DL), one locus for RV (QRV.gau-6AS), two loci for RW (QRW.gau-2DL and QRW.gau-2AS), and two loci for RT (QRT.gau-3AS and QRT.gau-6DL) were identified, with each explaining 4.5–8.4% of the phenotypic variances, respectively. Among these, QRT.gau-3AS, QRL.gau-4AL, and QRV.gau-6AS overlapped with the previous reports, whereas the other seven QTLs were novel. The favorable alleles of QRL.gau-1DS, QRL.gau-1DL, QRL.gau-4AL, QRA.gau-1D, QRW.gau-2AS, QRV.gau-6AS, QRT.gau-3AS, and QRT.gau-6DL were contributed by Wp-072, whereas the other two loci originated from Wp-119. Additionally, five kompetitive allele-specific PCR (KASP) markers, KASP-RL-1DL for RL, KASP-RA-1D and KASP-RA-2DL for RA, KASP-RW-2AS and KASP-RW-2DL for RW, were developed and validated successfully in 149 wheat accessions. Furthermore, seven candidate genes mainly for plant hormones were selected and validated by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). This study provides new loci, new candidate genes, available KASP markers, and varieties for optimizing wheat root system architecture.

Fine-mapping of PmHHM, a broad-spectrum allele from a wheat landrace conferring both seedling and adult resistance to powdery mildew

IntroductionCommon wheat is a leading global food crop that impacts food security. Wheat powdery mildew (PM), caused by Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici (Bgt), poses a significant threat to grain yield and flour quality. The identification and utilization of broad-spectrum resistance genes against PM are essential for effective disease control.MethodsThe resistance spectrum test during the seedling stage and the identification of resistance during the adult stage were conducted to evaluate the wheat landrace Honghuamai (HHM). Five segregating populations were investigated to assess the inheritance of PM resistance in HHM. To map its PM resitance gene, bulked segregant analysis, molecular mapping and comparative genomic analysis were also used in the present study.ResultsHHM shows remarkable adult resistance in the field and is nearly immune to all 25 Bgt isolates used in seedling tests, making it an excellent source of PM resistance. PM resistance in HHM was determined by a single dominant gene, temporarily named PmHHM. It was then fine-mapped to an interval with a genetic distance of 0.0031 cM and a physical distance of 187.4 kb on chromosome 4AL of the Chinese Spring reference sequence v.2.1. Four genes were identified in the target region, three of which encode nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat (NLR) proteins. Comparative genomic analysis revealed presence/absence variations (PAVs) of the PmHHM locus among common wheat varieties.DiscussionThese closely linked molecular markers will not only benefit the cloning of the gene underlying PmHHM but also facilitate the efficient utilization of the gene in breeding programs.

ДИНАМИКА СОДЕРЖАНИЯ БЕЛКА В ЗЕРНЕ ЯРОВОЙ МЯГКОЙ ПШЕНИЦЫ

The purpose of research is to study the dynamics of protein content in the grain of spring wheat of Siberian selection in the forest-steppe conditions of the Krasnoyarsk Region and to determine the most stable varieties in terms of its accumulation. The experiments were carried out in 2016–2022. The objects of the study are five varieties of soft spring wheat, zoned in the Krasnoyarsk Region: Novosibirskaya 29, Novosibirskaya 31, Krasnoyarskaya 12, Pamyati Vavenkova and Altayskaya 75, according to the quality group belonging to valuable and strong wheat. Among the varieties studied, the Novosibirskaya 29 variety had the highest average protein content in grain. The lowest grain protein content was noted in the Krasnoyarskaya 12 variety. In general, the protein content varied predominantly weakly over the years (V = 8 %), with the exception of the varieties Krasnoyarskaya 12 and Pamyati Vavenkova (V = 11–13 %), which indicates the stability of the indicator under the conditions of the forest-steppe zone of the Krasnoyarsk Region. Analysis of variance showed that the protein content in spring wheat grain statistically significantly (p < 0.001) depends on the variety and year conditions. The indicator of the strength of influence of the factor “variety” on protein content is 17.6 %, the strength of influence of the factor “year” is 59.2 %. Of the studied varieties, for the stable production of grain with the highest protein content in the forest-steppe of the Krasnoyarsk Region, the Novosibirskaya 29 variety is recommended, since it forms high-protein grain regardless of the weather conditions of the growing season and is the most environmentally stable.

НАСЛЕДУЕМОСТЬ ПРОДОЛЖИТЕЛЬНОСТИ ВЕГЕТАЦИОННОГО ПЕРИОДА ГИБРИДАМИ F2 ЧЕЧЕВИЦЫ В УСЛОВИЯХ ОМСКОЙ ОБЛАСТИ

The purpose of research is to identify the spectrum of genetic diversity of early ripening in hybrid combinations of the second generation of lentils to accelerate the selection of valuable genotypes and create varieties adapted to the climatic conditions of the region. Research was carried out from 2020 to 2022 at the experimental site of the educational and experimental farm of the Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education Omsk Civil Aviation in the southern forest-steppe of the Omsk Region. The value of the hydrothermal coefficient indicates very dry conditions in 2020 (HTC = 0.62) and 2021 (HTC = 0.68), slightly dry conditions in 2022 (HTC = 1.02). The soil of the experimental plot is medium-deep meadow-chernozemic (45 cm), low-humus (3.95 % humus), medium-loamy (35 % physical clay) with a soil solution reaction close to neutral (pH – 6.5). The predecessor is spring soft wheat. Four collection samples of lentils with a complex of economically valuable traits of different ecological and geographical origin were subject to study: k-2888 (Moldova), k-2849 (Russia, Altai Region), Rauza (Russia, Oryol Region), Vehovskaya (Russia, Saratov Region) – and four F2 hybrids obtained as a result of intraspecific crossing: k-2888 × Rauza, k-2888 × Vehovskaya, k-2849 × Rauza, k-2849 × Vehovskaya. Analysis of the data obtained showed that the duration of the growing season is characterized by low heredity (H2 = 19.0 %). This means that the phenotypic variability of the trait is determined by the natural and climatic conditions of the environment. It is advisable to select valuable early ripening genotypes in later generations of hybrids under favorable conditions. Hybrid combinations that are promising in practical selection of lentils for early ripening are: k-2849 × Vehovskaya and k-2888 × Vehovskaya.

ИЗМЕНЕНИЕ ПОКАЗАТЕЛЕЙ КАЧЕСТВА ЗЕРНА ЯРОВОЙ МЯГКОЙ ПШЕНИЦЫ В АЛТАЙСКОМ КРАЕ ВО ВРЕМЕННОМ ЛАГЕ

The purpose of research is to study the time dynamics of grain quality indicators of spring soft wheat of different reproductions of zoned varieties in industrial crops in the subzones of the Altai Region for the period from 2016 to 2021. Objectives: to study the hydrothermal conditions of the growing seasons of the studied time log and show the variability of grain quality indicators of spring soft wheat. The object of the study is a grain sample taken to determine grain quality indicators (gluten quantity and quality, falling number, glassiness, natural weight) in agricultural organizations of the Altai Region in 2016–2021, located in all subzones. The general population consisted of 300 samples. The samples were analyzed in a certified laboratory in accordance with accepted GOST standards; the results of the analyzes were documented in the form of an approved protocol form. The work also used well-known scientific methods: experimental, geographical, analysis and synthesis, retrospective, systemic. When processing analytical information, statistical processing methods were used; information and logical analysis was used to identify relationships between quality indicators and weather conditions changing during the experimental period. Hydrothermal conditions by subzone in the period 2016–2021 varied from extremely dry (HTC = 0.02 in May 2021 in the arid steppe) to very wet (HTC = 8.72 in May 2019 in the middle forest-steppe). The time log under study was characterized by significant dynamics of hydrothermal conditions over years, months and decades, which affected the quality of spring wheat grain. We determined polygons for the distribution of the share of values across grouping intervals for the amount of gluten, gluten quality, falling number, glassiness and volumetric weight of grain, as well as the relationship between the grain quality indicators of spring wheat for the studied time log, by comparing the coefficients of information content and the efficiency of the communication channel. It has been established that the time log has the greatest impact on the natural weight and quality of gluten.

Assessment of the Effectiveness of Vermicomposts Derived from Agri-Food Sector Waste in Wheat Cultivation (Triticum aestivum L.)

Purpose of the study: The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of vermicomposts derived from agri-food sector waste in wheat cultivation (Triticum aestivum L.). The research focused on the impact of various types of vermicompost on plant growth, development, yield, and root system structure. Methodology: The research was conducted under controlled laboratory conditions. Vermicomposts were obtained through the biological processing of organic waste using earthworms (Dendrobaena veneta). The experiment involved six substrate variants with varying proportions of garden soil, rapeseed meal (DMRE), and cattle manure (DCE). The effectiveness of the substrates was assessed based on wheat germination rates, biomass, and root system development. Main findings: Vermicomposts enriched with cattle manure, particularly at a 25% DMRE proportion, provided the best conditions for wheat growth, enhancing germination rates, biomass, and root system development. Pure rapeseed meal (DMRE) was the least effective, highlighting its limited utility as a standalone fertilizer. The results suggest that moderate use of vermicomposts combined with cattle manure benefits yield and plant health. Application of the study: The findings can be applied in agricultural practices to develop effective wheat fertilization strategies while ensuring sustainable organic waste management. The use of vermicomposts may increase agrarian production efficiency and promote sustainable farming. Originality/Novelty of the study: This study contributes significantly to research on using vermicomposts derived from agri-food waste as eco-friendly and efficient fertilizers, offering innovative solutions for sustainable wheat production.

Genome-wide association analysis and KASP markers development for protein quality traits in winter wheat

BackgroundWheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a significant cereal crop that plays a vital role in global food production. To expedite the breeding of wheat cultivars with high protein quality, it is necessary to genetically analyze the traits related to quality. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) was conducted to identify the genomic regions responsible for protein quality traits in winter wheat.ResultsSix protein quality traits were evaluated across two locations and two years for a total of 341 wheat accessions. Utilizing the wheat 40 K SNP array, GWAS identified 97 significantly stable SNPs at 43 loci for five out of six protein quality traits using a linear mixed model. The 43 loci distribution was four for grain protein content, two for flour protein content, one for wet gluten content, four for gluten index, and thirty-two for Zeleny sedimentation value. The most significant associations were identified on chromosomes 1 A, 1B, and 1D. Haplotype analysis of loci associated with the gluten index in the 412–416 Mb interval on chromosome 1D identified three blocks. Accessions with superior haplotypes showed a significantly higher gluten index than those with inferior haplotypes. Six KASP markers were successfully developed for the gluten index, while five KASP markers were developed for the Zeleny sedimentation value. Additionally, eight candidate genes were identified that may affect protein accumulation during grain development.ConclusionsOur study identified 97 SNPs significantly associated with protein quality traits; developed 6 KASP markers for gluten index, and 5 KASP markers for Zeleny sedimentation values; screened 8 candidate genes that may be related to protein quality during grain development. Thise research will offer valuable insights for wheat breeding programs in China and globally.

Mapping of the QTLs governing stem-specific weight for stem reserve mobilisation in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under combined heat and drought stress

Mapping of the QTLs governing stem-specific weight for stem reserve mobilisation in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under combined heat and drought stress

IMPACT OF PATHOGENS ON THE GERMINATION AND INITIAL GROWTH OF WHEAT CULTIVARS: EVALUATION OF THE SEED DISINFESTATION METHOD

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production faces challenges caused by abiotic and biotic factors, with diseases transmitted by contaminated seeds being a risk for pathogen-free areas. This study assessed the presence of pathogens in five wheat cultivars: Tbio Sinuelo, Tbio Toruk, ORS Madreperola, Tbio Ponteiro and LG Cromo. The “blotter test” method was used to assess the influence of these pathogens using the Hiltner test. The following variables were analyzed in seeds disinfected and not disinfected with 1% hypochlorite: germination (%), seed-to-seedling transmission, mean root length (MRL), mean shoot length (SPL), root fresh mass (RRM), root dry mass (RSM), shoot fresh mass (SPF) and shoot dry mass (SPD). The experiment, conducted at the Plant Physiology Laboratory of the Federal University of the Southern Frontier, followed a completely randomized design in a 5x2 factorial scheme. The sanitary analysis revealed the presence of the genera Fusarium, Aspergillus, Penicillium, Rhizopus and Alternaria. Although germination and seed-to-seedling transmission showed no significant difference between disinfected and non-disinfected seeds, there were statistical differences in the ARL, SPL, FRM, DRM, FRM and DSM components, with disinfected seeds showing higher averages.

Pregnane derivatives in wheat (Triticum aestivum) and their potential role in generative development.

Pregnane derivatives such as pregnenolone or progesterone and many other metabolites are important in mammals where many of them act as hormones including sexual hormones. Much less is known about the presence and functions of pregnane derivatives in plants. The main objectives of this work were (1) to determine the presence of pregnane derivatives in winter wheat (2) verify if there are changes of concentration of pregnane derivatives during wheat growth/development with special attention to vernalisation process (3) to answer the question of whether selected pregnane derivatives are stimulators of wheat development and whether the potential stimulation of this development is accompanied by the expression of the Vrn1 (Vernalisation1) gene. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report that demonstrates the presence of pregnenolone and 5α-dihydroprogesterone in the leaves and intact crowns of winter wheat. The levels of some of the pregnane derivatives changed during plant growth/development, it was demonstrated that pregnenolone, pregnanolone and 17α-hydroxypregnenolone stimulated wheat development. The changes in the Vrn1 expression are discussed in light of the stimulation of generative development by the pregnane derivatives.

Influence of organic inputs on the grain quality of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Wheat grain quality is a major concern as it feed a large population of the world and it is also a chief source of nutrition in developing countries. Extensive research has been carried out to enhance its nutritional value and quality and nutrient supply is one of the most favorable procedures. The present study also focusses on improving and analysing grain quality traits through addition of organic inputs such as FYM, vermicompost and biofertilizers and was conducted at Trans-Gangetic regions (Punjab) in a loamy sand soil with medium levels of available nitrogen. The experiment consisted of different levels of FYM, vermicompost, inorganic fertilizers (to supply N) and biofertilizer inoculation and unfertilized control. Among various organic treatments, higher FYM level, FYM250+Biof had the highest GAS (5.93 and 5.63), SDS-sedimentation value (49.7 and 35.3 cc) and protein content (12.4 and 12.3%) during both the years. Significantly lower phenol reaction score was also observed with FYM250+Biof (3.3 and 4.2 for the year 2016-17 and 2017-18). Also, the micro-nutrient content (Cu, Fe, Zn and Mn) was significantly higher with organic inputs indicating wide range of nutrient supply and improved status of soil. Protein being a chief factor to influence various quality parameters had strong correlation with grain hardness (r = 0.946 and 0.961), hectolitre weight (r = 0.943 and 0.846), SDS (r = 0.979 and 0.963) and gluten. PRS, an undesirable factor, had negative correlation with all the other factors. Micronutrients, such as Cu, Fe Zn and Mn also had variable correlation with different parameters.

Development and Application of a qPCR-Based Method Coupled with Spore Trapping to Monitor Airborne Pathogens of Wheat Causing Stripe Rust, Powdery Mildew, and Fusarium Head Blight.

Common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production in China is challenged by stripe (yellow) rust, powdery mildew, and Fusarium head blight. Airborne inoculum of these pathogens is the causative driver of disease epidemics. Thus, monitoring of airborne inoculum on such fungal diseases is expected to provide some reliable estimations of disease development, especially by targeting multiple diseases simultaneously. This paper reports the development of a new practical qPCR-based method coupled with spore trapping to quantify simultaneously airborne inoculum of Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst), Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici (Bgt), as well as Fusarium graminearum (Fg) and F. asiaticum and discusses its potential use in disease-risk warnings. The technique can detect DNA of Pst and Bgt at quantities as low as 0.2 pg, and 2 pg for Fg (i.e., representing 0.65 urediniospores, 1.18 conidia, and 10 macroconidia, respectively), and neither T. aestivum DNA nor DNA of other common wheat pathogens were amplified. Linear relationships were produced between the number of spores on tapes determined by qPCR and conventional microscopy, with a small variation (R2 value 0.97 to 0.99 depending on pathogen species). The daily concentrations of spores of the three pathogens were monitored using a Burkard 7-day recording spore trap, and the airborne spores were collected from a field near Langfang City, Hebei Province, China. The patterns of spore concentration dynamics in the air determined by triplex qPCR were close to those counted by conventional microscopy in a duplicated subsample. The developed assay can be an alternative to conventional microscopy to process large samples. This will improve monitoring power by providing timely risk warning information to growers regarding the timing of fungicide applications.

Effect of Bacteria from the Genus Azospirillum on Oxidative Stress Levels in Wheat Triticum aestivum L. in the Presence of Copper, Nickel, and Lead

Heavy metals (HMs) exert a negative impact on physiological processes in plants, which can adversely affect the productivity of agricultural crops. In this experiment, we assessed the potential to mitigate the toxic effects of HMs on soft wheat through the use of rhizospheric microorganisms from the genus Azospirillum. In the initial phase of the experiment, we identified the most resistant Azospirillum strains to Cu (from 1.5 to 15 mg/L), Ni (from 2 to 20 mg/L), and Pb (from 15.9 to 159.4 mg/L). Both Ni and Pb significantly inhibited bacterial growth and induced substantial oxidative stress in the majority of the studied strains. The strain A. picis B-2897T exhibited the highest resistance to all HMs. The cultivation of wheat in soil supplemented with Cu led to an increased growth rate and enhanced wheat productivity. Conversely, Ni and Pb reduced wheat productivity by 65% and 27%, respectively. This was accompanied by chlorophyll depletion and a decrease in the expression of genes NDOR and GST, which are involved in xenobiotic detoxification. Pre-inoculation of seeds with Azospirillum led to a decrease in HM concentration in the plant seedlings; in particular, A. picis B-2897T reduced the level of Ni from 0.005% to a concentration below the detectable level (i.e., below 0.001%), and Pb from 0.014% to 0.008%. The bacteria stimulated the expression of genes responsible for xenobiotic detoxification and contributed to the increased growth and productivity of wheat. Thus, Azospirillum can be utilized as a bioproduct to alleviate the toxic effects of HMs.