Number Of Spikes Research Articles

Effect of Combined Urea and Calcium Nitrate Application on Wheat Tiller Development, Nitrogen Use Efficiency, and Grain Yield.

Optimizing nitrogen (N) sources has the potential to improve wheat tillering, nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), and grain yield, yet the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study hypothesizes that combining specific N sources can increase zeatin riboside + zeatin (ZR + ZT) content in tiller nodes and maintain a higher ZR + ZT/gibberellin A7 (GA7) ratio, thereby promoting tiller development, enhancing NUE, and increasing yield. The effects of N source treatments on two wheat cultivars, the multi-spike Shannong 28 (SN28) and the large-spike Tainong 18 (TN18), were investigated. A total of seven N treatments were tested: no nitrogen (N0), urea (N1), calcium nitrate (N2), ammonium chloride (N3), and equal doses of urea and calcium nitrate (N4), urea and ammonium chloride (N5), and calcium nitrate and ammonium chloride (N6). The results showed that treatment N4 significantly increased the levels of ZR and ZT in tiller nodes, while maintaining a higher ZR + ZT to GA7 ratio. This hormonal shift promoted tiller formation and biomass accumulation. Under N4, both cultivars exhibited the highest number of effective spikes and biomass in higher-order tillers. N4 also enhanced N accumulation in the grains, N absorption efficiency, and N translocation, while reducing N loss. Compared to N1, effective spike numbers increased by 7.8% in SN28 and 5.6% in TN18, resulting in a 6.4% increase in grain yield for SN28 and a 2.2% increase for TN18. In conclusion, the combined application of urea and calcium nitrate optimizes hormonal regulation, improves NUE, and significantly enhances wheat tillering and grain yield, providing a promising strategy for enhancing wheat productivity.

Increased Afferent Nerve Firing Is Correlated With the Detection of Bladder Wall Micromotion in a Perfused Ex-Vivo Porcine Model.

Observable autonomous rhythmic changes in intravesical pressure, termed bladder wall micromotion, is a phenomenon that has been linked to urinary urgency, the key symptom in overactive bladder (OAB). However, the mechanism through which micromotion drives urinary urgency is poorly understood. In addition, micromotion is inherently difficult to study in human urodynamics due to challenges distinguishing it from normal cyclic physiologic processes such as pulse rate, breathing, rectal contractions, and ureteral jetting. Therefore, the goal of this study was to create a reproducible model of micromotion using an ex-vivo perfused porcine bladder, as well as to describe the relationship between micromotion and afferent nerve signaling. Porcine bladders were reanimated using ex-vivo perfusion with a physiologic buffer. The pelvic nerve adjacent to the bladder was dissected, grasped with micro-hook electrodes and electroneurogram (ENG) signals were recorded at 20 kHz. Bladders were catheterized and intravesical pressure measurements were taken using a Laborie XT Urodynamics system. Bladders were filled to a fixed volume of 300 mL and control measurements were recorded. The bladders were then washed with 0.001 M carbachol (CCh) solution and refilled to 300 mL to induce micromotion, which was detected as rhythmic changes in intravesical pressure. ENG amplitude was calculated in μV, and nerve firing rate was calculated as number of spikes above baseline threshold per minute. Micromotion was induced by carbachol in 12/25 (48.4%) of trials as rhythmic changes in intravesical pressure after the instillation of carbachol but not in any control period. A fast Fourier transform (FFT) algorithm showed average peak dominant frequency component amplitude was significantly higher during the carbachol period when compared to the control period (0.47 vs. 0.01 cm-H2O, p < 0.0001). Peak waveform frequency (1.13 vs. 1.54 cycles/min, p > 0.05) did not differ between control and carbachol periods. With regard to afferent nerve signaling, normalized average amplitude (0.66 ± 0.24 vs. 0.05 ± 0.08 μV) and firing rate (0.68 ± 0.28 vs. 0.18 ± 0.22 spike/min) for all bladders was significantly greater in the carbachol period when compared to the control period (p < 0.001). Micromotion can be induced using instillation of carbachol in a perfused ex-vivo porcine bladder. Increased afferent nerve firing is observed during periods of micromotion. Thus, micromotion may drive afferent nerve signaling and may potentially contribute to urinary urgency, detrusor overactivity, and OAB. The development of an experimental ex-vivo porcine model for micromotion provides a reproducible method to study bladder micromotion and its potential role in the pathophysiology of urinary urgency and voiding dysfunction.

Optimum Nitrogen and Density Allocation for Trade−Off Between Yield and Lodging Resistance of Winter Wheat

Increasing nitrogen and planting density can enhance crop yield, but it can reduce lodging resistance due to decreased lignin content. There is an urgent need to find feasible measures to balance these conflicting factors. We conducted a two-year field experiment in Tai’an, Shandong Province, China, evaluated SN23 (lodging resistant) and SN16 (lodging sensitive), under three nitrogen applications (120 kg/ha, N1; 240 kg/ha, N2; 360 kg/ha, N3) and four planting densities (75 plants/m2, D1; 225 plants/m2, D2; 375 plants/m2, D3; 525 plants/m2, D4), with N2D2 as the control, and measured lodging resistance related indexes and yield. N2D3 (SN23) increased internode length by 0.40 cm, reduced fresh weight by 0.09 g, resulting in a bending moment reduction of 0.39 g/cm. Lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose decreased by 18.27, 16.48, and 16.22 mg/g DW, while S and G lignin subunits decreased by 118.09 and 127.34 μg/g DW, and H subunit increased by 23.59 μg/g DW. Eventually, the breaking strength was reduced by 1.74 g/cm resulting in a reduction of 0.09 in the lodging resistance index. The yield reached 10.17 t/ha due to an increase in spike number by 100.33 plants/m2, achieving an optimal balance between yield and lodging resistance in this experiment. This study provides a viable solution for balancing lodging resistance and yield in winter wheat.

Overexpression of AtbZIP69 in transgenic wheat confers tolerance to nitrogen and drought stress.

AtbZIP69 overexpression in wheat significantly enhanced drought and low nitrogen tolerance by modulating ABA synthesis, antioxidant activity, nitrogen allocation, and transporter gene expression, boosting yield. In this study, we generated wheat plants with improved low nitrogen (LN) and drought tolerance by introducing AtbZIP69, a gene encoding a basic leucine zipper domain transcription factor, into the wheat cultivar Shi 4056. AtbZIP69 localized to the nucleus and activated transcription. A greenhouse study further revealed that, compared to wild type (WT) wheat, AtbZIP69 transgenic wheat exhibited significantly increased drought and LN stress tolerance. Under drought stress, the H2O2 concentration in transgenic lines decreased, whereas SOD activity and proline content increased, resulting in remarkably enhanced drought resistance. Furthermore, drought stress boosted the expression of critical abscisic acid (ABA) synthesis enzymes as well as the ABA content of transgenic plants, implying that this gene may improve wheat's drought resistance by promoting ABA production. Additionally, during a two-year field test, the yield and the number of spikes of transgenic wheat were significantly higher than those of WT wheat under LN conditions. Mechanistically, the overexpression of AtbZIP69 altered nitrogen distribution by allocating more nitrogen to grains under LN conditions. In addition, the expression of genes encoding nitrogen transporter proteins was higher in AtbZIP69 transgenic wheat than in WT wheat under LN conditions. These findings suggest that the insertion of AtbZIP69 opens up new opportunities for wheat stress resistance breeding.

DC field-biased multibit/analog artificial synapse featuring an additional degree of freedom for performance tuning.

Multibit/analog artificial synapses are in demand for neuromorphic computing systems. A problem hindering the utilization of memristive artificial synapses in commercial neuromorphic systems is the rigidity of their functional parameters, plasticity in particular. Here, we report fabricating polycrystalline rutile-based memristive memory segments with Ti/poly-TiO2/Ti structures featuring multibit/analog storage and the first use of a tunable DC-biasing for synaptic plasticity adjustment from short- to long-term. The unbiased device is of short-term plasticity, positive biasing increases the remanence of the recorded events and the device gains long-term plasticity at a specific biasing level determined from the device geometry. The adjustability of the biasing field provides an additional degree of freedom allowing performance tuning; the paired-pulse facilitation index of the device is tuned by the biasing level adjustment providing further functional versatility. An appropriately biased segment provides more than 10 synaptic weight levels linearly depending on the number and duration of the stimulating spikes. The relationship with spike magnitude is exponential. The experimentally determined nonlinearity coefficient of the biased device for 50 potentiating spikes is comparable to the best published data. The spike-timing-dependent plasticity determined experimentally for the biased device in its long-term plasticity mode fits the mathematical relationship developed for biological synapses. Fabricated on a titanium metal foil, the produced memristors are sturdy and flexible making them suitable for wearable and implantable intelligent electronics. Our findings are anticipated to raise the potential of forming artificial synapses out of polycrystalline metal oxide thin films.

Anesthesia alters complexity of spontaneous and stimulus-related neuronal firing patterns in rat visual cortex

Complexity of neuronal firing patterns may serve as an indicator of sensory information processing across different states of consciousness. Recent studies have shown that spontaneous changes in brain states can occur during general anesthesia, which may influence neuronal complexity and the state of consciousness. In this study, we investigated how the firing patterns of cortical neurons, both at rest and during visual stimulation, are affected by spontaneously changing brain states under varying levels of anesthesia. Extracellular unit activity was measured in the primary visual cortex of unrestrained rats as the inhaled concentration of desflurane was incrementally reduced to 6%, 4%, 2%, and 0%. Using dimensionality reduction and density-based clustering on individual unit activities, we identified five distinct population states, which underwent dynamic transitions independent of the anesthetic level during both resting and stimulus conditions. One population state that occurred mainly in deep anesthesia exhibited a paradoxically increased number of active neurons and asynchronous spiking, suggesting a spontaneous reversal towards an awake-like condition. However, this was contradicted by the observation of low neuronal complexity in both spontaneous and stimulus-related spike activity, which more closely aligns with unconsciousness. Our findings reveal that transient neuronal states with distinct spiking patterns can emerge in visual cortex at constant anesthetic concentrations. The reduced complexity in states associated with deep anesthesia likely indicates a disruption of conscious sensory information processing.

S-Nitrosylation of Dexras1 Controls Post-Stroke Recovery via Regulation of Neuronal Excitability and Dendritic Remodeling.

Stroke is a major public health concern leading to high rates of death and disability worldwide, unfortunately with no effective treatment available for stroke recovery during the repair phase. Photothrombotic stroke was induced in mice. Adeno-associated viruses (AAV) were microinjected into the peri-infarct cortex immediately after photothrombotic stroke. Grid-walking task and cylinder task were used to assess motor function. Western blotting, Golgi staining, and electrophysiology recordings were performed to uncover the mechanisms. The ternary complex of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), carboxy-terminal PDZ ligand of nNOS (CAPON) and dexamethasone-induced ras protein 1 (Dexras1) is structurally beneficial for S-nitrosylation of Dexras1 (SNO-Dexras1). In our previous study, uncoupling nNOS-CAPON interaction by Tat-CAPON-12C promoted functional recovery after stroke. Here, we show that ischemia elevated the levels of nNOS-Dexras1 complex and SNO-Dexras1 in the peri-infarct cortex in the days 4-10 after stroke induction, and as excepted, Tat-CAPON-12C, a peptide disrupting nNOS-CAPON interaction, significantly reversed these changes. The above information implies that repressed SNO-Dexras1 may mediate functional-promoting effects of Tat-CAPON-12C and SNO-Dexras1 could be the vital molecular substrate for post-stroke functional recovery in the repair phage. Inhibiting the ischemia-induced SNO-Dexras1 by AAV vector-mediated knockdown of Dexras1 or over-expression of dominant negative Dexras1 (Dexras1-C11S) produced sustained recovery of motor function from stroke. In contrast, up-regulation of SNO-Dexras1 by over-expressing Dexras1 worsened stroke outcome. Using electrophysiology recordings, we also observed that silence of Dexras1 in the peri-infarct cortex increased the spike number and the miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPSCs) frequency, suggesting enhancement of neuronal excitability. In addition, silence of Dexras1 increased dendritic complexity in cultured neuron and more importantly enhanced dendritic spine density in the peri-infarct cortex, implying dendritic remodeling. Thus, inhibition of SNO-Dexras1 positively regulates post-stroke functional recovery via enhanced neuronal excitability and dendritic remodeling. Our results identify that SNO-Dexras1 may serve as a novel target for promoting motor functional restoration from stroke in the delayed phase, shedding light on stroke treatment.

Response of Different Phosphorus Levels on Growth and Productivity of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), Under Agro- Climatic Conditions in Kabul

Agriculture is a major contributor to the national economy and food security of developing countries especially in Afghanistan. Wheat is a crucial crop for ensuring food security. It is among the most significant crops grown in Afghanistan. It is the leading source of carbohydrates for humans. To fine the effect of fertilizer especially (P) on enhancing this crop productivity, the study was conducted at the agricultural research farm of agriculture faculty of Kabul University over two years (March 17, 2020, and March 4, 2021). The experimental design was a simple randomized complete block (RCB) design with three replications and five phosphorus levels (0, 30, 60, 90, and 120 kg P ha-1) and a constant dose of 120 kg N ha-1. Each sub-plot measured 3m x 2m. The row spacing was maintained at 30 cm, and the Maqawim-09 wheat variety was sown at a seed rate of 140 kg ha-1. Di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) was used as the phosphorus source and urea for nitrogen. Agronomical practices were uniform across all plots. Data were collected on various parameters during the study, including plant height (cm), stem number per m2, leaf number per plant, spike number per m2, spike length (cm), grain number per spike, spikelet number per spike, grain number per spikelet, grain yield (ton/ha), thousand grain weight, and dry matter (ton/ha). The results indicated that applying phosphorus in the form of DAP at a rate of 90 kg ha-1, along with 120 kg ha-1 of nitrogen, significantly improved the growth and productivity of the Maqawim-09 wheat variety. All parameters were significantly affected by the phosphorus rates. Thus, it is recommended that phosphorus in the form of DAP at a rate of 90 kg ha-1 and nitrogen in the form of urea at a rate of 120 kg ha-1 should be applied to maximize wheat crop yield.

Increasing Planting Density with Reduced Topdressing Nitrogen Inputs Increased Nitrogen Use Efficiency and Improved Grain Quality While Maintaining Yields in Weak-Gluten Wheat

Increasing nitrogen fertilizer will increase wheat grain yield and grain quality at the same time, but the goal of high quality and stable yield in weak-gluten wheat production is to reduce grain protein content and increase grain yield. Our research goal is to reduce nitrogen input while increasing planting density to maintain high quality and stable yield. Field studies were conducted during two successive seasons using a widely planted cultivar, Yangmai 15. We studied the effects of reduced nitrogen topdressing and increased planting density on yield, quality and nitrogen agronomic efficiency. The field experiment was conducted with four nitrogen (N) levels for topdressing at jointing stage: 37.8 (N1), 43.2 (N2), 48.6 (N3) and 54 kg N ha−1 (N4). Moreover, there were three planting densities: 180, 240 and 300 × 104 plants ha−1 (D1, D2 and D3, respectively). When the amount of nitrogen topdressing was reduced, the number of tillers and spikes in each growth period of wheat decreased significantly, and the yield increased first and then decreased, with the highest yield at the level of 48.6 kg N ha−1. When the planting density was increased, the number of tillers and spikes in each growth period of wheat increased significantly, the yield increased significantly, and the yield was the highest at the level of 180 × 104 plants ha−1. Under the same density level, the flag leaf chlorophyll content, leaf area index, nitrogen production efficiency and nitrogen use efficiency decreased with a decrease in the nitrogen application rate. Under the same nitrogen topdressing amount, the nitrogen fertilizer production efficiency and nitrogen fertilizer utilization efficiency increased with the increase in density. The relative chlorophyll content, leaf area index, nitrogen partial factor productivity, nitrogen use efficiency, grain accumulation, grain distribution ratio and grain yield of wheat were the highest under the treatment of a planting density of 300 × 104 plants ha−1 and nitrogen topdressing amount of 48.6 kg N ha−1. The combined decrease in nitrogen recovery and increase in planting density decreased protein content, sedimentation value and wet gluten content. Increasing density significantly improved dry matter accumulation in the population, partially compensating for the yield loss due to nitrogen reduction by increasing the effective number of spikes, thereby further improving grain quality and nitrogen use efficiency. Therefore, agronomic approaches combining low nitrogen and high planting densities may be effective in simultaneously increasing grain yield and nitrogen use efficiency and stabilizing grain processing quality in weakly reinforced wheat.

Phosphogypsum as Fertilizer: Impacts on Soil Fertility, Barley Yield Components, and Heavy Metals Contents.

According to the FAO, 828 million people were facing acute food insecurity in 2021. Fertilization is a critical input factor in crop production and food security achievement. Therefore, fertilization is a critical input factor in crop production and food security achievement. However, there is room for improvement in the application of fertilizers in certain regions. Thus, new fertilizers with a relatively low cost could enhance farmers' access to these essential inputs. Phosphogypsum (PG) is used as fertilizer because it contains many nutrients essential for plant growth, including calcium, sulfur, and phosphorus. A two-year field experiment was conducted using two Moroccan PG products (PG1 and PG2, obtained from two different industrial sites), applied at four rates (0, 1.5, 3, and 4.5 t/ha). The aim was to assess the impact of PG source and rate on barley crops, including yield component, nutrients uptake, and heavy metals content. The study's findings revealed that as the rate of PG application increased, there were significant enhancements in the number of spikes, tillers, grains, total biomass, grain yield, and thousand-grain weight. In fact, when compared to the control, the application of 1.5, 3, and 4.5 t/ha of PG led to a remarkable increase in grain yield by 21%, 34%, and 39%, respectively. Furthermore, the uptake of nutrients (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, and S) by the shoots and grains was significantly influenced by the PG application rates, with higher rates resulting in greater nutrient uptake. Notably, the application of PG had no discernible impact on the heavy metal content in shoots, grains, or soil.

Yield Responses to Total Water Input from Irrigation and Rainfall in Six Wheat Cultivars Under Different Climatic Zones in Egypt

In Egypt, wheat is the most consumed cereal grain, and its availability and affordability are important for social stability. Irrigation plays a vital role in wheat cultivation, despite intense competition for water resources from the River Nile across various societal sectors. To explore how grain and above-ground biomass yields respond to total seasonal water input from sowing to maturity in six bread wheat cultivars, eight field irrigation experiments were performed at four locations representative of three agro-climatic zones in two consecutive cropping seasons. A three-replicate strip-plot design was used with cultivars nested within the main plots featuring five irrigation treatments, ranging from six to two applications. Overall, irrigation treatment significantly affected nine agronomic traits. Compared with the six irrigation applications treatment (T1), the two irrigation applications treatment (T5) decreased the times to heading and maturity by 6.6 (7.3%) and 8.6 (6.3%) days, respectively. Similarly, T5 reduced the plant height by 14.9 cm (14.3%), flag leaf area by 12.0 cm2 (27.2%), number of spikes per square metre by 77.7 (20.1%), number of kernels per spike by 13.9 (25.2%) and thousand grain weight by 10.0 g (19.6%). T5 also decreased the overall mean grain yield and above-ground biomass yield by 2834.9 (32.0%) and 7910.4 (32.86%) kg/ha, respectively. The grain yield and above-ground biomass production were consistently greater for all six cultivars at Al Mataenah and Sids than at Nubaria and Ismailia in the two cropping seasons. All six cultivars showed significantly greater responses to total seasonal water input for the grain yield and above-ground biomass at Al Mataenah and Ismailia. These results emphasise the necessity for choosing regions with favourable soil and climatic conditions to grow wheat cultivars that respond better to irrigation to enhance the large-scale production of wheat in Egypt. The grain and above-ground biomass yields were mostly linearly and positively associated with the total seasonal water input for all six cultivars at all four locations. This suggests that maintaining the current irrigation schedule of six irrigations is valid and should be practised to maximise productivity, particularly in areas similar to the three representative agro-climatic zones in Egypt.

Single- and multi-locus genome-wide association study reveals genomic regions of thirteen yield-related traits in common wheat

Genetic dissection of yield-related traits can be used to improve wheat yield through molecular design breeding. In this study, we genotyped 245 wheat varieties and measured 13 yield-related plant height-, grain-, and spike-related traits, in seven environments, and identified 778 loci for these traits by genome-wide association study (GWAS) using single- and multi-locus models. Among these loci, nine were major, of which seven were novel, including Qph/lph.ahau-7A for plant height (PH) and leaf pillow height (LPH), Qngps/sps.ahau-1A for number of grains per spike (NGPS) and spikelet number per spike (SPS), Qsd.ahau-2B.1 and Qsd.ahau-5A.2 for spikelet density (SD), Qlph.ahau-7B.2 for LPH, Qgl.ahau-7B.3 for grain length (GL), and Qsl.ahau-3A.3 for spike length (SL). Through marker development, re-GWAS, gene annotation and cloning, and sequence variation, haplotype, and expression analyses, we confirmed two novel major loci and identified potential candidate genes, TraesCS7A02G118000 (named TaF-box-7A) and TraesCS1A02G190200 (named TaBSK2-1A) underlying Qph/lph.ahau-7A for PH-related traits and Qngps/sps.ahau-1A for spike-related traits. We also reported two favorable haplotypes, including TaF-box-Hap1 associated with low PH and LPH and TaBSK2-Hap3 associated with high NGPS and SPS. In summary, these findings can be applied to improve wheat yield and enrich our understanding of the complex genetic mechanisms of yield-related traits.

Neuronal Electrical Activity in Neuronal Networks Induced by a Focused Femtosecond Laser.

The spatial propagation of neuronal activity within neuronal circuits, which is associated with brain functions, such as memory and learning, is regulated by external stimuli. Conventional external stimuli, such as electrical inputs, pharmacological treatments, and optogenetic modifications, have been used to modify neuronal activity. However, these methods are tissue invasive, have insufficient spatial resolution, and cause irreversible gene modifications. To establish neuronal stimulation with less invasiveness and higher spatial resolution, we propose and demonstrate single-neuron stimulation using a focused femtosecond laser. Fluorescence Ca2+ imaging and microelectrode array recordings of extracellular potentials revealed Ca2+ influx into the target neuron and high-frequency electrical responses after laser irradiation. These results indicate that femtosecond laser-induced neuronal electrical activity has a greater number of electrical spikes, lasts longer after stimulation, and propagates to a region more distant from the target neuron compared with the properties evoked by electrical stimulation. Focused femtosecond laser-induced stimulation can be a promising tool for stimulating single neurons in neuronal networks.

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF EARLY ESTABLISHMENT PERFORMANCES OF PERENNIAL WHEAT GENOTYPES

Perennial wheat (Triticum aestivum L. × Thinopyrum spp.) presents a promising alternative to conventional annual wheat for sustainable agriculture, offering advantages such as enhanced soil health and reduced environmental impact. This study evaluated the early establishment performances of 20 perennial wheat genotypes sourced from diverse donors alongside two commercial wheat varieties under rain-fed conditions in Bornova, Izmir, Türkiye. Two separate field trials were conducted over two growing seasons (2018/19 and 2020/21), assessed key yield components, including plant height (PH), spike number (SN), spike length (SL), thousand grain weight (TGW), and overall grain yield (GY). Results showed that perennial wheat genotypes exhibited higher plant height and spike length compared to common wheat but had lower grain numbers per spike and TGW. On average, perennial wheat achieved 40% of the grain yield of commercial wheat varieties, with significant variability among genotypes. Notably, the genotype Pw18 demonstrated satisfactory grain yield performance, achieving 5.21 tons ha-1, close to common wheat yields evaluated in the study. These findings highlight the potential of specific perennial wheat genotypes for further development in sustainable cropping systems. However, further investigation is needed to assess the quality characteristics of these genotypes, which will be crucial for their potential use.

Development of Biodegradable Substrates and Synaptic Transistors for Next‐Generation Transient Electronics

AbstractUbiquitous electronic gadgets in lives have led to an increase in electronic waste (e‐waste), posing a threat to the environment and ecology that must be addressed. This work demonstrates the use of gelatin, a natural protein, for development of flexible biodegradable substrates and synaptic transistors using the same material as gate dielectric. The fabricated p‐channel transistors exhibit high electrical stability and exceptional synaptic characteristics through spike timing dependent plasticity (STDP), spike voltage dependent plasticity (SVDP), and spike number dependent plasticity (SNDP), respectively upon variation of post‐synaptic current (PSC) with time, amplitude, and number of stimuli. These devices exhibit pulse paired facilitation (PPF) with relaxation time constants in the range of ≈10 ms and regulating modulation amplitude of 1 greatly resembling a biological synapse. Study on the variability among distinct devices and over multiple cycles demonstrate outstanding repeatability of synaptic plasticity. The devices showcase significant PSC values with almost linear SNDP, while consuming an ultralow power of ≈11.7 fJ. Excellent stability is observed when subjected to multiple bending sequences. Complete dissolution of these devices in aqueous environments in an hour without any alteration to temperature or pH confirms excellent biodegradability of these devices leading toward transient neuromorphic circuits and systems that adhere to the concepts of circular economy.

Usability of 'Pink Pearl' 'Aiolos' and 'Blue Jacket' Hyacinth (Hyacinthus orientalis L.) varieties with Pre- and Postharvest Boric Acid Application as Cut Flowers

The study aimed to investigate the effect of boric acid (BA) treatments on availability of 'Pink Pearl' 'Aiolos' and 'Blue Jacket' hyacinth varieties as cut flower. For this purpose, 0, 50, 100 and 150 ppm boric acid doses were applied to hyacinths in pre- and post- harvest period. Boric acid (BA) was sprayed to leaves before harvest, while mixed into vase solution after harvest. The potted hyacinth plants were placed in a high plastic tunnel after stratification. The temperature in plastic tunnel kept at 18-20 oC during the cultivation. Pre-harvest treatments were performed as spraying prepared BA solutions to the leaves when the leaves reached to full size. During the vegetation period, the qualitative and quantitative parameters such as total leaf number, spike stalk length, leaf color (L* and hue (ho)), leaf chlorophyll (SPAD) value, total floret number, leaf length, total plant length, and total blooming spike number were measured. After harvest, hyacinth plants were placed in vase solution and monitored for post-harvest strength under 12 hours light/12 hours dark photoperiod conditions. Water uptake, the spike stalk length, and the vase longevity of the spike were observed during the vase life period. The BA treatments did not show any significant effect on the vase life of the hyacinth spike. The 150-ppm BA, however, improved leaf quality by increasing leaf chlorophyll and ho values while decreasing L* values. In conclusion, it can be suggested that the ‘Aiolos’ cultivar has a potential as cut flower due to its longer plants and flower stems both in pre- and post-harvest period, as well as its longer vase life. Among the BA applications, it was concluded that the 100 ppm application is a viable option for increasing water uptake and reducing weight loss during the vase period.

Grain yield, grain quality and weed infestation of winter wheat after various previous crops

Grain yield and quality as well as the weed infestation of winter wheat grown after potatoes, peas and winter wheat were evaluated in the study. The experiment was established in a system of randomized blocks, in three replications. The experimental results were statistically processed via the analysis of variance method. Coefficients of Pearson’s linear correlation between grain yield and its components, grain quality parameters, and the number and air-dry weight of weeds were also calculated. Grain yields of winter wheat were higher when it was grown after potato and pea than after winter wheat. In addition, winter wheat grains harvested from plots with potato and pea as previous crops had a higher total protein content and a higher sedimentation index than those harvested from plots with winter wheat as the previous crop. However, the study years affected the protein, gluten and starch contents of winter wheat grain to a greater extent than the previous crops did. A higher number of weeds with a higher air-dry weight was recorded on the post-winter wheat than on the post-potato and post-pea plots. Negative values of correlation coefficients were computed between the number of weeds and their air-dry weight and grain yield, number of spikes, grain weight per spike, 1000 grain weight, total protein content of the grain, and the value of sedimentation index as well as between weed number and wet gluten content of the grain.

A comparison of drought responses in wild wheat relatives and domesticated wheat grown under irrigated and rainfed field conditions

ContextDomestication and breeding processes for developing modern wheat plants from diverse wild relatives and landraces have had unintended effects of loss of genetic diversity. This reduction in genetic variation undermines the ability of modern wheat cultivars to tolerate environmental stresses such as drought. Wheat wild relatives possess untapped genetic potential for tolerating abiotic stress, especially drought. Yet, their morpho-physiological adaptation and drought stress resilience mechanisms remain underexplored. ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the adaptive responses of plants within the Triticum spp. genepool, encompassing wheat wild relatives, landraces, and modern cultivars to drought stress under rainfed and irrigated field conditions. MethodsFrom an initial pool of 110 genotypes screened during the first growing season in 2022, 20 best performing genotypes, including modern cultivars for comparison, were selected for a second growing season in 2023 based on their relative yield performance. Two different treatment conditions, irrigated and rainfed, were applied during both growing seasons. This experiment observed single plants per replicate. Multiple parameters, including days to heading and flowering, plant height, number of spikes per plant, spike length, spike weight per plant, straw weight per plant, aboveground biomass per plant, grain yield per plant, thousand kernel weight, harvest index, stomatal conductance, and vegetation indices, were assessed on the selected genotypes. ResultsTaking averages measured across both growing seasons, we observed significant genotypic variation across several parameters: days to heading and flowering, plant height, number of spikes per plant, spike length, spike and straw weight per plant, aboveground biomass per plant, grain yield per plant, thousand kernel weight, harvest index, stomatal conductance, and vegetation indices. Water stress during the rainfed treatment significantly reduced grain yield (by 21 %) and stomatal conductance (by 45 %). Stomatal conductance was associated with grain yield and yield-related traits under rainfed conditions. Diverse physiological drought tolerance mechanisms associated with stomatal regulation were identified, revealing genotype-specific responses to drought stress. Genotypes such as T. dicoccoides (G242), T. urartu (G45), T. boeoticum (G27) and T. araraticum (G221) exhibited isohydric adaptation, whereas T. monococcum sinskajae (G89) and T. durum cv. Sambadur (G41) exhibited anisohydric adaptation. ConclusionSome genotypes of T. dicoccoides, T. urartu, T. boeoticum and T. araraticum exhibited isohydric adaptation, while T. monococcum sinskajae and T. durum cv. Sambadur exhibited anisohydric adaptation under drought stress which needs further verification. These genotypes can serve as donors for introducing drought tolerance traits within wheat improvement programs. ImplicationsThese findings holds great significance in improving drought tolerance in modern wheat breeding programs.

Pi-efficient wheat cultivars screened by using both functional marker CAPS-799 and field experiment

ContextIn our previous study, we identified TaPHT1;9–4B as a critical high-affinity phosphate (Pi) transporter that plays a significant role in Pi acquisition and transport. Subsequently, we developed the functional marker CAPS-799 to facilitate the identification of its Pi-efficient elite haplotype. ObjectiveThis study aimed to screen a variety of wheat cultivars using the CAPS-799 marker to identify those exhibiting Pi-efficient elite haplotypes. Additionally, we sought to elucidate the physiological mechanisms underlying these traits through both field and hydroponic experiments. MethodsField experiments over two successive years without phosphorus (P) fertilizer, along with a hydroponic experiment using low Pi (10 μM) were conducted. P concentration, biomass, grain yield, yield components, root growth parameters, and transcript levels of TaPHT1;9–4B were measured. Total P accumulation, P transport and utilization efficiency, and relative parameters were also calculated. ResultsEight Pi-efficient wheat cultivars with the Hap3 haplotype were identified using CAPS-799 from a group of 80 modern major cultivars. In two-year field experiments without P fertilizer, these Hap3 cultivars exhibited significantly higher grain yield, spike number, P uptake, and transport efficiency compared to Non-Hap3 haplotypes (Hap1, Hap2, and Hap4). As a result, these eight cultivars were classified as Pi-efficient elite haplotypes. In field experiments, TaPHT1;9–4B transcript levels in the roots during the early grain-filling stage, as well as root surface area, volume, and mean root diameter in hydroponic experiments, were significantly greater in Hap3 cultivars than in Non-Hap3 cultivars. ConclusionsOur field and hydroponic experiments demonstrated that CAPS-799 is a valuable functional marker for identifying Pi-efficient wheat cultivars. These Pi-efficient cultivars were characterized by higher TaPHT1;9–4B transcript levels and increased root growth. ImplicationsCAPS-799 can be used to screen or develop Pi-efficient wheat cultivars.

Automatic detection and counting of wheat spike based on DMseg-Count

The automatic detection and counting of wheat spike images are of great significance for yield prediction and variety evaluation. Therefore, accurate and timely estimation of spike numbers is crucial for wheat production. However, in actual production, due to the susceptibility of wheat spike images to factors such as lighting conditions, shooting angles, occlusion, and overlap, the contour and features of wheat spike is unclear, which affects the accuracy of automatic detection and counting of wheat spike. In order to solve the above problems and further improve the accuracy of wheat spike counting, an improved wheat spike counting model DMseg-Count was proposed by enhancing local contextual supervision information based on existing target object counting model DM-Count. Firstly, wheat spike local segmentation branch was introduced to improve the network architecture of DM-Count, so as to extract the local contextual supervision information of wheat spike. Secondly, an element-by-element point multiplication mechanism was designed to fuse global and local contextual supervision information of wheat spike. Finally, the total loss function was constructed to optimize the model. The test results showed that the mean absolute error (MAE) and root mean square error (RMSE) of the proposed DMseg-Count model were 5.79 and 7.54, respectively, which were 9.76 and 10.91 higher than the standard distribution matching for crowd counting (DM-Count) model. Compared with other deep learning models, the proposed DMseg-Count model can detect wheat spike image in challenging situations, and has better computer vision processing capabilities and performance evaluation detection effect. In summary, the proposed DMseg-Count model can effectively detect wheat spike and has good counting performance, which provides a new method for automatic counting of wheat spike and yield prediction in complex field environments.