With the decrease of the photosynthetic rate under stress, non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) in wheat stem become the main carbon source, accounting for 20%~50%, for grain filling. Therefore, it is very important understanding the NSC metabolic regulation and the effect of the cultivation management and the genetic improvement on the NSC metabolism for adequately using the NSC for high or stable yield in wheat under stress conditions. In this review, the fructosan, as the predominant component of the NSC in the wheat stem, is taken as an example to reveal its metabolic pathway, including the structure and the synthesis, as well as the transportation and the degradation. The role of the NSC in the wheat stem is analyzed under stress conditions, especially at low and high temperature, and in drought. The regulation effect of the cultivation managements on the NSC is discussed, such as those related with the cultivar election, the water and the nitrogen management. Finally, the application prospect of the wheat stem NSC in breeding for stress tolerance is discussed.

abiotic stress  /  stress tolerance  /  yield  /  cultivation management  /  genetic improvement