The red coleoptile in wheat confers antioxidant, photoprotective, and seedling stress-tolerance enhancing physiological functions. To provide key support for clarifying the molecular regulatory mechanism of the red coleoptile in wheat and improving the theory and technical system of morphological marker-assisted breeding, this study used a population of 127 F₁₂ recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from the cross between a common wheat Ning 7840 (white coleoptile, female parent) and Clark (red coleoptile, male parent) as materials. Quantitative trait loci (QTLs) controlling the red coleoptile were mapped using the inclusive composite interval mapping-additive effect (ICIM-ADD) method combined with a high-density genetic map containing 593 SNP and 402 SSR markers. Comparative genomics was used to align the collinear chromosomal regions between wheat and Brachypodium distachyon, sorghum, and rice to screen candidate genes related to anthocyanin regulation. Candidate genes were cloned, and sequence differences between red and white coleoptile lines were analyzed. CAPS markers were developed to verify gene-phenotype associations. The gene characteristics and functions were examined through subcellular localization and transient expression in wheat calli. The results showed that the ratio of red to white coleoptile lines in the RIL population conformed to 1∶1. A major QTL (qRc-7A) was detected on chromosome 7A, located between markers Xsnp7205 and Xsnp5258 (1.69 cM), explaining 66.4% of the phenotypic variation. Collinearity analysis revealed a collinear relationship between this mapped interval and the corresponding regions on chromosome 1 of Brachypodium distachyon, chromosome 10 of Sorghum bicolor, and chromosome 6 of Oryza sativa. Within the collinear regions of Sorghum bicolor and Oryza sativa, anthocyanin regulatory R2R3-MYB transcription factor-encoding genes, namely Sb10g06800 and Os06g10350 (OsC1), were identified, which shared high sequence similarity with the TraesCS7A02G165700 gene on wheat chromosome 7A. It was thus preliminarily inferred that TraesCS7A02G165700 is a key candidate gene regulating anthocyanin biosynthesis in the red coleoptile of wheat, and this gene was designated as TaC1. TaC1a in red coleoptile lines (cDNA length 774 bp, encoding 258 amino acids) contains a complete R2R3 domain and motif 5 domain, while TaC1b in white coleoptile lines has a frameshift mutation due to a 714 bp deletion, resulting in the loss of motif 5. TaC1a is localized in the nucleus and can induce anthocyanin accumulation in transient expression experiments in wheat calli, whereas TaC1b lacks this function. CAPS marker detection showed that TaC1a was significantly associated with the red trait, but 4 red coleoptile materials carried TaC1b. In conclusion, TaC1 is the core gene regulating anthocyanin synthesis in wheat red coleoptiles, and TaC1b loses its function due to base deletion. The CAPS marker based on this variation can be used for molecular identification of red coleoptite, but other regulatory genes may be involved in some red materials, requiring further analysis of multi-gene interaction mechanisms.

To investigate the effects of two alternative splicing variants of wheat receptor-like kinase gene TaNAK1 on agronomic and yield-related traits, this study used the winter wheat cultivar Xiaoyan 6, the wild-type spring wheat cultivar Fielder, and its transgenic lines overexpressing TaNAK1.1 (OE1-1, OE1-9, OE1-11） and TaNAK1.2 (OE2-1, OE2-2, OE2-4). The expression patterns of TaNAK1.1 and TaNAK1.2 in wheat were examined using semi-quantitative RT-PCR (sqRT-PCR) and quantitative real-time RT-PCR (qRT-PCR), respectively. Agronomic and yield-related traits of the transgenic lines under field conditions, along with seedling drought tolerance, were evaluated. The results showed that TaNAK1.1 and TaNAK1.2 exhibited distinct spatiotemporal expression profiles across wheat organs and tissues under normal conditions; TaNAK1.1 displayed relatively high expression levels in grains at 10 and 15 days post-anthesis, whereas TaNAK1.2 showed relatively high expression levels in seedling leaves and flag leaves. Under drought and low-temperature stress conditions, TaNAK1.2 was significantly up-regulated, while the expression of TaNAK1.1 was not induced by these abiotic stresses. The overexpression of TaNAK1.1 and TaNAK1.2 differentially affected agronomic and yield-related traits under field conditions. Compared to wild-type wheat Fielder, TaNAK1.1 transgenic lines showed no significant differences in heading and flowering time or flag leaf area. In contrast, heading and flowering time in TaNAK1.2 transgenic lines were delayed by approximately 5 d, and flag leaf area was reduced by 12.50% to 14.45%. Both TaNAK1.1 transgenic and TaNAK1.2 lines exhibited significant reductions in plant height, tiller number, spike length, number of spikelets per spike, grain size, thousand-grain weight, and grain weight per plant; however, the extent of these reductions varied between the two types of overexpressing lines, with TaNAK1.1 transgenic lines showing greater reductions in grain weight per plant and biomass per plant. The effects of TaNAK1.1 and TaNAK1.2 overexpression on wheat seedling drought tolerance were similar, with both significantly enhancing drought tolerance. Specifically, under drought stress, compared to the wild-type wheat Fielder, the leaves of TaNAK1.1 transgenic and TaNAK1.2 transgenic lines showed significantly increased contents of osmotic adjustment solutes (soluble sugars and proline) and relative water content, along with significantly decreased levels of H₂O₂ and the membrane lipid peroxidation product MDA. Furthermore, their survival rate was also significantly enhanced following extreme drought stress treatment. These results not only reveal the important roles of TaNAK1 alternative splicing in regulating growth, development, and adaptation to abiotic stress in wheat, but also provide new genetic resources for molecular breeding of stress-tolerant wheat.

To elucidate the molecular mechanism of the wheat gene TaTPK, which encodes a Pti1-like tyrosine protein kinase, in resistance to stripe rust (Puccinia striiformis West f. sp. tritici), this study used a disease-resistant wheat variety Shumai 126 and a susceptible variety Taichang 29. The function of TaTPK was analyzed using techniques such as qRT-PCR, subcellular localization, virus-induced gene silencing, and histochemical observation. The results showed that after CYR34 infection, the expression level of TaTPK in the resistant variety Shumai 126 was significantly higher than in the susceptible variety Taichang 29. TaTPK encodes a membrane protein, and silencing TaTPK through gene silencing technology weakened the resistance of Shumai 126 to the stripe rust race CYR34, manifested by an increased number of spore pustules, accelerated hyphal growth, decreased H₂O₂ accumulation near infection sites, and a higher percentage of leaf area covered by spores. In summary, TaTPK participates in the wheat resistance response to stripe rust by regulating reactive oxygen accumulation. This study provides a candidate gene resource for durable wheat disease resistance breeding.

Using resistance genes is the most effective measure to control wheat leaf rust. The wheat leaf rust resistance gene Lr15 showed resistance to most Puccinia triticina (Pt) races in China. Further confirmation of the genetic characteristics and position of Lr15 will lay a foundation for marker-assisted breeding and gene cloning. Firstly 13 Pt races were used to test the seedling resistance line RL6052 with Lr15. Furthermore, 257 F₂ plants derived from a cross between RL6052 and the susceptible cultivar Thatcher were inoculated with race PHST for resistance evaluation, and bulked segregant analysis using a 16K SNP array was performed for preliminary mapping of Lr15. Finally, SSR and STS markers were developed within the target region to construct a genetic linkage map for Lr15. The results showed that RL6052 was highly resistant to 12 races. Genetic analysis revealed that the ratio between resistant to susceptible was 192∶65 in the F₂ population, fitting a 3∶1 ratio (=0.012), indicating monogenic dominant inheritance. Lr15 was mapped on a 60.16-87.26 Mb physical interval on chromosome 2DS in the Chinese Spring reference genome (version 1.0) using a 16K SNP array. More markers were developed in this interval and Lr15 was mapped between markers ZBSF63.7 and STS64.4, with a physical interval of 61.27-62.02 Mb, and genetic distances of 0.17 and 0.58 cM, respectively. Two markers ZBSF2D63.9 and ZBSF2D63.92 were co-segregated with Lr15. In this study, the effective resistance gene Lr15 was precisely mapped on chromosome 2DS and closely linked markers were also developed, which laid a foundation for further cloning of this gene, and the closely linked markers can be used for marker-assisted selection for breeding resistant cultivars.

Wheat powdery mildew, caused by Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici (Bgt), severely influences wheat yield and grain quality. Mining novel powdery mildew resistance (Pm) genes and developing functional markers is of great significance for molecular breeding of disease-resistant wheat. In this study, an F₂ segregating population was first constructed using Hongyoumai as the resistant parent and Ningmaizi 119 as the susceptible parent. By integrating phenotypic data from resistance identification, diagnostic molecular marker development, and recombinant analysis, the wheat powdery mildew resistance gene PmHYM was finely mapped. Subsequently, sequence characteristics of the candidate genes were analyzed through sequence alignment, flow sorting and chromosome sequencing, expression pattern analysis, and copy number variation detection. Finally, KASP markers were developed based on functional SNP, and the breeding potential of the gene was evaluated via backcross breeding. The results showed that PmHYM was fine-mapped to a 0.5 cM genetic interval between markers Xmp1410 and Xmp1396 on chromosome 7BL, corresponding to a 310 kb physical interval in the Chinese Spring reference genome. Two coiled-coil nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat (CNL)-type proteins were predicted within this region. The sequences of these two genes in Hongyoumai were identical to those in Fuzhuang 30. The difference in the resistance spectrum to Bgt isolate B16, between Hongyoumai and Fuzhuang 30 was independent of gene sequence variations or copy number variations. A high-throughput diagnostic KASP marker Xmp1394 for PmHYM was successfully developed, enabling rapid tracking of PmHYM. Backcross-derived lines carrying PmHYM exhibited no significant differences in agronomic traits compared with the recurrent parent, suggesting as high potential for breeding application.

Wheat lines carrying the 1B/1R translocation have been widely utilized in breeding due to their enhanced disease resistance and yield stability. However, its impact on the three-dimensional (3D) chromatin architecture and transcriptional regulation of non-translocated subgenomes remains largely unexplored. Here, we used a 1B/1R translocation line, Wanmai 270, and its corresponding near-isogenic line lacking the 1B/1R segment to investigate chromatin spatial remodeling in the wheat A subgenome and its relationship with gene expression. By integrating Hi-C, RNA-seq, and qRT-PCR, we systematically characterized the effects of the 1B/1R translocation on 3D genome organization. A substantial number of A/B compartment switching regions were identified in the A subgenome, with a predominance of B-to-A transitions. Notably, compartment reorganization exhibited pronounced heterogeneity across chromosomes. To assess the association between compartment switching and transcriptional changes, 20 differentially expressed genes located within translocation regions were selected for qRT-PCR. Genes in A-to-B regions showed reduced expression in Wanmai 270 relative to those in the near-isogenic line, whereas genes in B-to-A regions exhibited increased expression, consistent with the direction of compartment transitions. Subcompartment analysis revealed a genome-wide decrease in A1/A2 proportions and an increase in B1/B2 proportions in the A subgenome of Wanmai 270, with the most prominent reorganization observed on chromosomes 1A and 3A. Topologically associating domains (TAD) analysis showed that the overall TAD framework was largely conserved between the two lines, although local TAD merging and boundary reorganization occurred in specific regions of Wanmai 270. Integration with transcriptome data further indicated that compartment-translocation regions were enriched for differentially expressed genes involved in chromatin organization, DNA replication, carbohydrate metabolism, and amino acid metabolism. GO, KEGG, and GSEA analyses revealed that transcriptional differences in Wanmai 270 were not characterized by global activation of basal metabolic pathways, but rather by fine-tuned regulation within specific pathways. In summary, the 1B/1R translocation preserves the overall 3D chromatin framework of the A subgenome while inducing multiscale spatial remodeling at the levels of compartments, subcompartments, and local TADs, thereby modulating transcriptional responses through changes in the chromatin regulatory landscape.

To gain an deep understanding of the genetic characteristics of domestic and foreign wheat germplasm and to screen superior resources for rational parental combinations, 490 wheat germplasm resources were used as experimental materials. Genetic diversity analysis, correlation analysis, clustering analysis, principal component analysis, subordinate function analysis and comprehensive evaluation were conducted on 22 major agronomic traits (including flag leaf length, plant height, number of fertile spikelets, thousand-kernel weight, kernels per spike, yield and et al.) and 7 quality traits (including grain crude protein content, wet gluten content, sedimentation value, volume weight and et al.). The results showed that the 490 wheat germplasm resources had abundant phenotypic diversity. The coefficient of variation (CV) for major agronomic traits ranged from 1.65% to 16.75%, being lowest for heading period and highest for kernels per spike. The genetic diversity index ranged from 1.74 to 2.07, with an average of 1.97, being highest for the number of fertile spikelets and lowest for growth period. The CV for grain quality traits ranged from 1.45% to 15.93%, being highest for sedimentation value and lowest for bulk weight. The genetic diversity index of grain quality traits ranged from 2.01 to 2.07, with an average of 2.04. Correlation analysis results indicated that: flag leaf length, plant height, number of fertile spikelets, kernels per spike, and thousand-kernel weight showed highly significant correlations with yield. Grain crude protein content, wet gluten content, and sedimentation value showed highly significantly positive pairwise correlations with extensibility. Principal component analysis (PCA) extracted three principal components, with a cumulative contribution rate of 64.64%. Among these: the first and second principal components mainly reflected information related to yield-related traits, and the first and third principal components mainly reflected information related to quality traits. Through cluster analysis, the 490 wheat germplasm resources were divided into five groups. Group Ⅰ had the highest average yield; Group Ⅱ had the highest average kernels per spike; Group Ⅳ had the shortest average growth period, and Group V exhibited significantly higher crude protein content, wet gluten content, sedimentation value, and extensibility compared to the other groups. Overall, Groups Ⅰ and Ⅳ demonstrated superior yield-related traits, while Group V showed outstanding quality-related traits. Comprehensive evaluation based on subordinative function analysis indicated that 22 wheat germplasms, including xf19200, Xikemai 3, Shannong 71, and Flanders exhibited better comprehensive traits. These can be selectively utilized based on the characteristics of their respective clusters in conjunction with the cluster analysis results.

To explore the evolutionary characteristics of root physiological functions and their correlations with yield traits in wheat varieties from different decades in Henan Province, 28 representative varieties from the 1950s to the 2010s were used as materials. The varieties were grouped into seven decades. The study was conducted using outdoor pot experiments from 2023 to 2025. The root dry weight, root vigor, total nitrogen, and soluble sugar content in roots at different growth stages were systematically determined, and the yield traits were investigated. The results showed that, with the passage of time, the root dry weight of varieties from the 1970s to the 2010s decreased by 13.0% compared with that from 1950s to 1960s, showed a trend of increasing first and then decreasing and eventual stabilization during the growth period. The root-shoot ratio showed the same changing trend as the root dry weight the root-shoot ratios of varieties from the 1970s to the 2010s decreased by an average of 14.0% compared with those of the 1950s to the 1960s, and those of varieties from the 2010s decreased by 20.0% compared with the 1950s. The root vigor of the varieties from 1980 to 2010 was more stable throughout the growth period compared with that of the varieties from 1950s to 1970s, and its decline slowed down in the later growth period remained a high level. The total nitrogen and soluble sugar content in roots continued to increase, both reaching their peaks in the varieties in the 2010s, with increase rate of 25.7% and 25.6% respectively compared with the 1950s, and the peak values for both indicators occurred at the regreening stage. The yield per plant of the varieties in the 2010s increased by 56.2% compared with those in the 1950s, among the yield components, the number of panicles per plant decreased by 29.7%; the thousand-grain weight increased by 52.6%, and the number of grains per panicle increased by 3.9%. The results of the correlation analysis showed that wheat root vigor and total nitrogen concentration at regreening stage were highly significantly positively correlated with the thousand-grain weight, while soluble sugar content was positively correlated with the number of panicles per plant but negatively correlated with the thousand-grain weight during the jointing period. In summary, with the passage of time, the root dry weight and root-shoot ratio of wheat have shown a downward trend in Henan; plant dry matter was allocated more to yield formation; root vigor exhibits a temporal pattern of initial increase followed by decrease, peaking in the 1980s; the total nitrogen and soluble sugar content in roots showed an increasing trend with the advancement of release decades.

To clarify the effects of crop stubble and fertilizer application on wheat yield and quality, field experiments were conducted with three crop stubble types of maize-soybean intercropping (MS), maize monoculture (M), and soybean monoculture (S), as well as three fertilization levels: no fertilization (NF), 20% reduced fertilization (RF), and conventional fertilization (CF). The differences in wheat yield and quality under different treatments were analyzed. The results showed that fertilization significantly increased wheat yield, with the MRF treatment having the highest yield of 6 322.82 kg·hm^-2, which was not significantly different from the SRF treatment (5 860.32 kg·hm^-2), and increased by 190.7% and 105.1% respectively compared to the unfertilized treatment for the two crops. At the same fertilization level, the yield of monoculture crop was generally higher than that of intercropping crop, and the yield of SNF treatment was 61.37% higher than that of MSNF treatment. In terms of yield components, the number of spikes was significantly affected by the interaction between crop stubble and fertilization. The number of spikes in monoculture crop stubble was higher than that in intercropping crop stubble, and the number of grains per spike was only significantly regulated by fertilization. The number of grains per spike in RF was generally higher than that in CF. MRF treatment showed the best performance in grain morphology traits such as grain length and width, but there was no significant difference compared to SRF treatment. In terms of nutritional quality, fertilization significantly improved the protein and wet gluten content of grains. Under fertilization conditions, the protein content of grains from MS, M, S crops increased by 3.69-4.88, 2.21-2.26 and 3.83-3.93 percentage points, respectively, compared to no fertilization. The wet gluten content increased by 10.23-12.58, 5.64-5.69 and 9.09-9.53 percentage points, respectively. The gelatinization characteristics are synergistically regulated by crop stubble and fertilization, and the gelatinization index of RF is the best. Among them, the peak viscosity (1 338.33 cP) and final viscosity (1 633.33 cP) of SRF treatment are significantly increased by 14.6% and 4.8%, respectively compared to SCF treatment. In terms of rheological properties, intercropping has a significant advantage, with MSRF treatment having longer stability time (2.30 min) and higher quality index (45.55) than other combinations. However, the water absorption rate of soybean stubble (59.00%-61.30%) was not significantly different from that of maize crop. Under the present experimental conditions, soybean monoculture with a 20% reduction in fertilization can achieve high wheat yield, ensuring grain protein and wet gluten content, and optimizing flour gelatinization characteristics, which is the optimal cultivation combination for green, high-yield, and high-quality wheat production.

Selenium-enriched wheat is a viable strategy to address dietary selenium deficiencies in selenium-deficient regions. To explore the selenium uptake, translocation, and distribution patterns in various wheat tissues, a wheat line Chuanwen 2401 was used as the material. Four foliar spraying treatments were set up: three nano-selenium application rates of 7.5 g·hm^-2 (C₁), 15.0 g·hm^-2 (C₂) and 30.0 g·hm^-2 (C₃), with clean water as the control (CK), to analyze the effects on selenium absorption and translocation, selenium speciation in grains forms, nutrient element contents, ecological risks, dietary selenium intake, yield and yield components. The results showed that, foliar nano-selenium spraying significantly increased selenium content in various wheat tissues, and selenium content in wheat grain significantly increased by 25.5-126.8 fold. Compared with CK, selenium translocation coefficients showed significant changes, for example, TF of flag leaf and the 1st stem node, the 2nd leaf and 2nd stem node, the 3rd leaf and 3rd stem node, and the 4th leaf and 4th stem node were significantly reduced by 85.5%-91.3%, 64.7%-82.4%, 75.0%-75.0%, and 50.0%-83.3%, respectively. TF of rachis and glume, rachis and grain were significantly increased by 209.4%-718.8% and 111.4%-640.0%, respectively. Only selenocysteine (SeCys) and selenomethionine (SeMet) were detected in CK grains, with SeCys accounting for the higher proportion. An additional selenium speciation, methylselenocysteine (MeSeCys), was identified in grains under C₁, C₂, and C₃ treatments, with SeMet being the dominant selenium form. Compared with CK, contents of Mn, Zn, Cu, and grain protein significantly decreased by 12.7%-15.6%, 4.1%-18.2%, 6.8%-16.1%, and 6.9%-22.7%, respectively. Fe content significantly increased by 46.4%-111.1%. The ecological risk index (Er) of the C₁ treatment was 51.6, which was closest to the safety threshold (40.0), and the estimation of daily selenium intake (EDI) was 297.2 μg, falling within the recommended range (60-400 μg). The Er value of CK was within the safety threshold, but its EDI was far below the lower limit of the recommended range. Both Er and EDI values of C₂ and C₃ treatments exceeded the safety/recommended ranges. Compared with CK, yield thous and graiin weight of C₁, C₂, and C₃ treatments significantly increased by 3.5%-8.5% and 2.8%-4.4%, respectively. Effective spikes and grains per spike showed no significant changes. In conclusion, foliar nano-selenium spraying significantly increased the selenium content and yield of wheat grains, and improved the wheat grains quality by regulating the selenium speciation, proportion, and nutrient element content. Among them, C₁ treatment (7.5 g·hm^-2) was the optimal foliar nano-selenium spraying concentration.

To investigate the dynamics of dry matter accumulation and translocation, nitrogen uptake and utilization, and grain yield of spring wheat under different mulching practices, a field experiment was conducted in 2024 in the rainfed region of Northwestern China. Four treatments were applied: plastic film mulching (PM), straw strip mulching (SM), crushed straw mulching (CM), and a non-mulching control (CK). The effects of these mulching practices on dry matter and nitrogen accumulation, distribution, translocation, nitrogen use efficiency, and yield formation were analyzed. The results showed that mulching promoted aboveground growth and nitrogen accumulation in spring wheat, with the magnitude of increase ranking as PM>SM>CM. Dry matter and nitrogen allocation responded synchronously to mulching practices. Compared with CK, PM significantly reduced the dry matter and nitrogen distribution proportions in leaves at anthesis by 6.73% and 16.55%, respectively. Meanwhile, SM significantly increased the dry matter and nitrogen distribution proportions in grains at maturity by 5.39% and 6.63%, respectively, compared with PM. Mulching markedly influenced dry matter translocation. Compared with CK, PM significantly increased pre-anthesis dry matter translocation by 84.04%, while CM significantly enhanced post-anthesis dry matter assimilation by 48.46%, with SM exhibiting intermediate values. All mulching treatments significantly increased both pre-anthesis nitrogen translocation and post-anthesis nitrogen assimilation, with increase rate of 35.22% (SM), 32.43% (PM), and 21.26% (CM) for the former, and 34.51% (PM), 17.07% (CM), and 8.95% (SM) for the latter. Mulching also differentially affected nitrogen utilization. PM exhibited the highest nitrogen uptake efficiency, whereas SM and CM showed significantly higher nitrogen harvest indices than PM and CK. Furthermore, all mulching treatments significantly increased grain yield compared with CK, with yield increase rate of 33.10% (PM), 16.09% (SM), and 12.98% (CM). These findings indicate that mulching enhances grain yield by optimizing dry matter and nitrogen accumulation, allocation, and translocation in spring wheat. Taking yield, resource use efficiency, and sustainability into consideration, straw strip mulching (SM) is a highly promising mulching technology in spring wheat production in the rain-fed areas of Northwestern China.

To investigate the differences in grain yield and nitrogen use efficiency among different wheat varieties and their physiological mechanisms, this study was conducted at the experimental station of Henan Agricultural University in Yuanyang County, Xinxiang City, Henan Province, during the 2023—2024 wheat growing season. Forty approved wheat varieties were used as experimental materials. Principal component analysis and comprehensive scoring were performed on four key nitrogen efficiency indices: nitrogen recovery efficiency, partial factor productivity of nitrogen, physiological nitrogen use efficiency, and agronomic nitrogen use efficiency. Combined with grain yield, wheat varieties were screened for yield and nitrogen efficiency levels, and physiological indices of different yield-nitrogen efficiency types were further compared to reveal the physiological basis underlying the differences in yield and nitrogen use efficiency. The results showed that grain yield and the four nitrogen efficiency indices varied significantly among varieties, with coefficients of variation ranging from 11.61% to 46.73%. Based on principal component analysis, comprehensive scores of nitrogen use efficiency indices, and yield levels, the 40 wheat varieties were classified into four types: high-yield and high-efficiency (11 varieties), high-yield and low-efficiency (5 varieties), low-yield and high-efficiency (10 varieties), and low-yield and low-efficiency (14 varieties). Analysis of dry matter accumulation and translocation revealed that high-yield and high-efficiency varieties had significantly higher aboveground dry matter and nitrogen accumulation at anthesis and maturity than other types. Compared with high-yield and low-efficiency varieties, they also exhibited greater preanthesis nitrogen accumulation and preanthesis nitrogen translocation. In addition, the leaf area index (LAI) attenuation rate from anthesis to grain filling was lower in high-yield and high-efficiency varieties (18.77%) than in high-yield and low-efficiency varieties (22.67%). Meanwhile, high-yield types maintained significantly higher SPAD values during grain filling. Under the experimental cultivation conditions, high-yield and high-efficiency varieties maintained high dry matter and nitrogen accumulation at anthesis. By optimizing leaf spatial distribution and prolonging functional leaf longevity, they sustained dry matter production during grain filling, thereby achieving higher grain yield and nitrogen use efficiency.

To investigate the effects of a self-developed compound agricultural probiotic inoculant on wheat growth, yield and grain quality, a field experiment was conducted using a new wheat line Dunmai 99-1 during the 2023—2024 and 2024—2025 growing seasons. Under a spraying volume of 250 L per plot (area 85.8 m²) each time, five compound inoculant application levels of 0, 25, 5, 25 ahd 50 L were set, and represented by CK, T1, T2, T3 and T4, respectively. The inoculant was applied five times through drip irrigation from the seedling stage to the grain-filling stage. Agronomic traits, aboveground fresh weight, antioxidant enzyme activities and malondialdehyde content were determined at different growth stages, and yield components, grain yield, and grain quality traits were measured at maturity. The results showed that the compound inoculant significantly promoted wheat growth at the tillering, jointing and booting stages, and exhibited significant yield increasing effects. Compared with the control, the yield increase ranked as T3>T4>T2>T1. Among them, T3 showed the greatest yield advantage, with grain yields of 11 258.56 and 12 046.48 kg·hm^-2 in the two growing seasons, increased by 25.59% and 23.63%, respectively, compared to the control. In terms of grain quality, except that the starch content under T1 was slightly lower than that of CK in the 2024—2025 season, the starch content, crude protein content, wet gluten content, and test weight under the other treatments were generally higher than those of CK. Most grain quality traits showed an increasing trend with increasing inoculant application within a certain range, and T4 showed the best overall performance. In conclusion, the self-developed compound agricultural probiotic inoculant showed good potential for promoting wheat growth, increasing yield, and improving grain quality.

To investigate the occurrence of autumn wheat stripe rust and the transmission pathways of pathogen sources in the over-summering areas of Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici in Qinghai, systematic field disease surveys were conducted on the main over-summering host wheat in eastern Qinghai from August to November in 2023 and 2024. The results showed that overlapping host growth stages occurred in the eastern wheat-growing regions of Qinghai from August to October, allowing the pathogen to complete infection across different hosts. Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici in Qinghai is unaffected by summer high temperatures and can successfully survive over summer in nearly all wheat-growing areas, with pathogen reproduction lasting until December. From August to October, abundant precipitation in eastern Qinghai led to severe disease occurrence in autumn-sown wheat seedlings. The average diseased leaf rate showed a linear positive correlation with precipitation, and a significant positive correlation was observed with precipitation in September of 2023 (P≤0.05). Based on airflow trajectory simulations, it is inferred that during the occurrence of stripe rust on autumn-sown wheat seedlings in the eastern wheat-growing areas of Qinghai, the disease can directly impact autumn seedling infections in Gansu and Ningxia. Moreover, through a single long-distance dispersal event, the pathogen can reach the Guanzhong Plain and even the wheat-growing regions of southern Henan, with the potential to threaten northwestern Hubei.