Wheat is one of the most critical food crops, and the identification and functional analysis of its key genes are crucial for wheat variety improvement and molecular breeding. The MYB transcription factor family represents one of the largest groups of transcription factor families in plants, playing a pivotal role in plant growth and development, metabolism, and response to both biotic and abiotic stresses. The study of MYB transcription factors has become a research hotspot in wheat functional genomics. However, compared to model plants such as Arabidopsis and rice, research on wheat MYB transcription factors remains relatively limited. With the advancement of high-throughput sequencing technology and improvement of wheat genome data, a total of 719 MYB transcription factors have been identified in the wheat genome, with the R2R3-type MYBs being the most predominant. Previous studies have demonstrated that members of the MYB transcription factor family play significant roles throughout different stages of wheat growth and development, regulating the expression of stress-responsive genes under drought, salinity, nutrient deficiency, and pathogen or pest attacks. Most MYB genes act as positive regulators of stress resistance, while some display negative regulatory effects. These findings suggest that MYB family members contribute to complex regulatory patterns in wheat's stress adaptation mechanisms. This review summarizes recent progress in the identification, classification, and biological functions of wheat MYB transcription factors. Additionally, we suggested that it is necessary to improve the evolutionary classification of MYB family in wheat, explore the target genes regulated by MYB, and identify their function and mechanism in order to apply them in wheat molecular breeding.

To elucidate the variation sites, dwarf gene composition and dwarfing effect of a dwarf mutant Yutong 194, the wild type variety Zhoumai 18 was used as the control. Exome capture sequencing was employed to verify the authenticity of the mutation and mine variation sites. Molecular detection of dwarf gene, gibberellin (GA₃) sensitivity tests at the seedling stage, and analyses of plant height and yield-related traits were conducted. The results showed that a 99.63% genetic identity between Yutong 194 and Zhoumai 18. SNPs were predominantly enriched on chromosomes 2B (52.62%), 5A (11.49%), and 2D (6.25%). On chromosome 2B, 96.93% of the differential loci (253 loci) were concentrated within four regions, spanning a total length of 38.42 Mb. Both lines carried the Rht2, Rht9, and Rht24 genes, while Yutong 194 additionally carried the Rht8. Gibberellin sensitivity tests indicated that both lines are insensitive to exogenous GA₃, consistent with the characteristic response of Rht2+Rht24 gene combination. Under different planting conditions, the plant height of Yutong 194 was significantly lower than Zhoumai 18(9.83% reduction in hill-drop sowing, and 11.98% in plot). The dwarfing primarily resulted from shortening of the basal three internodes and the penultimate internode (12.09% -29.08%). The dwarfing did not negatively affect yield traits such as grains per spike or 1 000-grain weight. Instead, it significantly increased the tiller-to-ear ratio (15.5% increase in tillers per plant and 8.63% increase in spike number under hill-drop sowing), ultimately leading to a yield increase rate of 3.88% . This study confirms that Yutong 194 is a dwarf mutant of Zhoumai 18 and demonstrates its potential for synergistically reducing plant height and enhancing yield.

This study analyzed the changes in yield and quality of the approved weak gluten wheat varieties in China over the past two decades, along with the correlations among key agronomic and quality traits, to clarify the trend of yield and quality during variety replacement. The findings provide references for breeding high yield and high quality weak gluten wheat and innovating cultivation practices. Data on yield and quality were systematically collected from 174 released weak gluten wheat varieties across China's major wheat-producing provinces and municipalities from 2000 to 2024. Based on the winter wheat production zoning, these varieties were classified into those from the Yangtze River winter wheat area and the Southwest winter wheat area. The yield, yield components, and quality traits were evaluated. Results showed that the number of approved weak gluten wheat varieties exhibited a fluctuating upward trend, with 71 and 103 varieties approved in the Yangtze River winter wheat area and Southwest winter wheat area, respectively, averaging 3.55 and 5.15 varieties per year. Yield and quality traits demonstrated areal differences. The varieties in Yangtze River winter wheat area had a higher average yield, though it showed a declining trend over time. In contrast, the varieties in Southwest winter wheat area displayed a consistent annual increase in yield, with an average rise of 0.01 t·hm^-2 each year. In terms of quality, the Yangtze River winter wheat area experienced significant annual reductions in both protein content and wet gluten content, with average decrease rates of 0.06% and 0.20%, respectively. The Southwest winter wheat area showed annual increases of 0.05% and 0.06% in these two indicators. Correlation analysis revealed a significant positive relationship between spike number, thousand-grain weight and yield in both areas. The protein content of weak gluten wheat is significantly positively correlated with the wet gluten content. In the Yangtze River winter wheat area, spike number was identified as a key determinant of high yield. Enhancing the number of grains per spike and thousand-grain weight through breeding and agronomic measures could further increase yield. In the Southwest winter wheat area, efforts should focus on increasing spike number while optimizing crop management practices to improve processing quality, thereby achieving simultaneous improvements in both yield and quality.

To evaluate the feasibility of using deep learning for efficient and accurate wheat spike counting, ten major winter wheat cultivars from the Huang-Huai wheat region (Fanmai 8, Zhoumai 36, Zhongmai 895, Malan 1, Xinmai 26, Yumai 49, Jimai 22, Zhongmai 578, Zhengmai 1860, and Zhongmai 255) were selected as materials. Three planting densities (1.2 million, 2.4 million, and 3.6 million plants·hm^-2) were tested, and four deep learning algorithms (YOLO v5, YOLO v6, YOLO v8, and YOLO v10) were employed to construct real-time video-based wheat spike detection and counting models. The models were validated using field-grown Zhongmai 578 populations (3 million plants·hm^-2). The results showed that the initial loss functions and convergence rates varied among models, with all models improving in spike detection performance as iterations increased. In terms of training speed and inference efficiency, YOLO v6 and YOLO v10 were faster but exhibited lower detection accuracy compared to YOLO v5 and YOLO v8. Although YOLO v5 and YOLO v8 required longer processing time, YOLO v8 achieved the best performance in recall (90.90%), F1-score (93.00%), mean average precision (97.20%), and overall accuracy (88.00%). The correlation (r²) between YOLO v8’s spike counts and manual counts decreased with increasing planting density, yielding values of 0.92, 0.81, and 0.79 for the three densities, respectively. Field validation demonstrated that YOLO v8 outperformed other models in stability and precision across different grain-filling stages, with the highest r² (0.90) for real-time video-based spike counting. The model also showed robustness against variations in planting density, cultivar, and spike growth stage, maintaining high performance in complex field environments. These findings suggest that YOLO v8 is a reliable algorithm for wheat spike counting, suitable for yield prediction, breeding, and cultivation management applications.

To clarify the correlation between the diseased spikelet rate, the relative abundance of Fusarium species, and accumulation of DON toxin in Fusarium head blight, 128 wheat ears from naturally occurring wheat fields were collected in 11 environments in 5 provinces of Jiiangsu, Hubei, Anhui, Henan and Shaanxi in 2023. We calculated the diseased spikelet rate in the samples, classified the disease severity, and used high-throughput sequencing and LC/MS technology to determine the relative abundance of Fusarium species and DON toxin content, and analyzed the their correlation. The results showed that there was a significantly positive correlation between the diseased spikelet rate and relative abundance of Fusarium species and DON toxin content (P<0.001). However, the relative abundance of fusarium species in samples with severity level 4 was significantly higher than that of level 0 and level 1; the average content of DON toxin in samples with severity level 4 was significantly higher than that of other levels (P<0.05), and there was no significant difference in the relative abundance of Fusarium species and average content of DON toxin among samples between severity levels 1, 2, and 3; the diseased spikelet rate is more suitable than the disease severity for evaluating the relative abundance of Fusarium species and DON toxin content in wheat spikes. The results of multiple linear regression analysis showed that the combined effect of diseased spikelet rate and relative abundance of Fusarium species on DON toxin accumulation was greater than that of a single factor (R²=0.364), and both factors may play important roles in the construction of DON toxin content prediction model.

As a unique and important germplasm resource in China, the Taigu male-sterile wheat has made significant contributions to wheat breeding. To further explore its potential application, this study aimed to establish an effective seed-stage identification system for the Taigu genic male sterility trait (Ms2) using molecular biology techniques, employing DsRed (encoding red fluorescent protein) and RUBY (a pigment biosynthesis-related gene) as reporter systems. Additionally, the single-copy semi-dwarf gene Rht-D1b was introduced to develop semi-dwarf, visually identifiable male sterile wheat. Through characterization of transgenic wheat plants and their progeny, the red fluorescent protein was efficiently expressed and stably inherited in wheat embryos. Although RUBY expression was undetected, effective identification of male sterility could still be achieved through red fluorescence. Sterile seeds with red fluorescence and fertile seeds without fluorescence exhibited a 1∶1 segregation ratio. T₁ plants derived from red fluorescent seeds were all semi-dwarf and sterile, while those from non-fluorescent seeds were non-dwarf and fertile, indicating tight linkage among DsRed, Ms2, and Rht-D1b. The constructed reporter system not only enables fertility sorting at the seed stage via fluorescence but also addresses the excessive dwarfing issue in current dwarf-sterile wheat lines by incorporating the semi-dwarfing gene. This approach offers a novel tool for hybrid wheat production and recurrent selection breeding.

To investigate the effectiveness of natural/chemical inhibitors in the drip-irrigated wheat field, six treatments were set up to study the effects of nitrogen (N) fertilizer applied with natural or chemical inhibitors on photosynthetic performance, biomass, nutrient uptake and yield of wheat. It were no N application (CK), N fertilizer applied alone (U), N fertilizer applied with chemical nitrification inhibitor (U+CP), N fertilizer applied with natural nitrification inhibitor (U+MHPP), N fertilizer applied with chemical nitrification and urease inhibitors (U+CP+NBPT), and N fertilizer applied with natural nitrification and urease inhibitors (U+MHPP+DATS). The results showed that SPAD value of wheat leaves, biomass of various organs, and uptake of N, phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) of wheat plants were increased under the inhibitor treatments compared with the U treatment, and especially in nutrient accumulation of the cob+glumes+grains. Nutrients uptake rate by cob+glumes+grains at maturity of wheat plants were significantly increased 13.17%-19.38% and 11.59%-15.68% for N uptake, 14.26%-21.95% and 9.84%-18.74% for P uptake , and 12.92%-24.61% and 9.91%-22.41% for K uptake in 2022 and 2023 years respectively. Wheat yield was increased but not significant and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) was significantly increased by 20.10%-36.14% under all inhibitor treatments as compared to the U treatment. Photosynthetic capacity, biomass, nutrient uptake, and yield under the natural inhibitor treatments (U+MHPP and U+MHPP+DATS) were slightly lower than that under the chemical inhibitor treatments (U+CP and U+CP+NBPT) with no significance. In conclusion, the addition of natural or chemical inhibitors to N fertilizer can promote the accumulation of photosynthetic products and nutrient uptake in wheat plants, and significantly improve NUE in wheat fields; the application effect natural of inhibitors was weaker than that of chemical inhibitors but the difference was not significant, and the effect of combined application of either chemical or natural inhibitors was better than that of applying an individual inhibitor.

In order to effectively reduce the impact of Fusarium head blight (FHB) on wheat production in southwestern China and explore resistance germplasm resources and genes against FHB, the study was conducted from 2022 to 2024 on agronomic traits such as thousand grain weight, plant height and grain number per ear of 80 wheat varieties (lines) grown in Guizhou. Single flower drip inoculation method was used to identify the phenotype resistance of FHB in the field, combined with 11 pairs of molecular markers closely linked to Fhb1, Fhb2, Fhb4, Fhb5, Fhb7 and QFhs.crc-2DL for detection. The molecular detection results showed that 59 varieties (lines) carried disease resistance genes, among which the frequencies of Fhb1, Fhb2, Fhb4, Fhb5, Fhb7 and QFhs.crc-2DL were 37.50%, 28.75%, 22.50%, 40.00%, 2.50% and 23.75%, respectively. A total of 37 varieties (lines) simultaneously carried 2 to 4 disease resistance genes, with the combinations of Fhb1+Fhb2+Fhb5 and Fhb1+Fhb5 exhibiting detection frequencies of 8.75% and 6.25%, respectively. After two years of resistance identification, a total of 11 resistant varieties (lines) were screened. Comprehensive analysis revealed that three varieties (lines), namely Qian 0938-3, Qian 15168 and Qian 13 Xia 163F₈-5, performed good disease resistance and excellent agronomic traits, which can be used as germplasm resources for genetic improvement of wheat resistance to FHB.

In order to clarify the effects of post-flowering spraying of sulfur fertilizer on the formation of glutenin macro-polymer (GMP) and flour milling quality of strong-gluten wheat in Eastern of Hebei Province, the strong-gluten wheat varieties Zhongmai 886 and Jinnong 7 were selected in the present study, and the treatments of spraying of water (CK) and spraying of methanethionine (Met) and ammonium sulfate (S) were set up to analyze the changes of grain yield, protein content, GMP content and grain size distribution, and flour milling quality of strong-gluten wheat after post-flowering spraying of Met and ammonium sulfate (S). The results showed that compared with CK, the protein content of Zhongmai 886 was enhanced by 0.63 and 0.25 percentage points, and that of Jinnong 7 was increased by 0.64 and 0.27 percentage points after spraying Met and S, respectively. The GMP content of Zhongmai 886 kernels was increased by 0.37 and 0.15 percentage points under Met and S treatments, respectively, while that of Jinnong 7 was increased by 0.48 and 0.18 percentage points, respectively. However, Met treatment resulted in a 2.5% and 1.9% decrease in yield for Zhongmai 886 and Jinnong 7, respectively, while S treatment reduced yield by 8.6% and 9.2%. Post-flowering spraying of sulfur fertilizer promoted the increase in the volume, surface area and number ratio of large-size GMP particles in strong-gluten wheat kernels. Met treatment significantly increased the content of high-molecular-weight glutenin subunits, disulfide bonds and free sulfhydryl groups in strong-gluten wheat proteins, while S treatment mainly increased the content of low-molecular-weight glutenin subunits, disulfide bonds and free sulfhydryl groups. Met treatment optimized the rheological properties of strong-gluten wheat doughs across the board, while S treatment enhanced only the wet gluten of Zhongmai 886 and the water absorption of Jinnong 7. In conclusion, the post-flowering spraying of sulfur fertilizer reduced the yield slightly, but it improved the processing quality by regulating the glutenin polymerization composition, in which the spraying of Met had a more prominent improvement effect.

To investigate the effects of late spring coldness on wheat plant morphology and yield traits, 18 wheat varieties (lines), including C112-8, Aikang 58, and Bainong 207, were used as experimental materials. During the anther interval formation stage, low temperature stress was simulated using a low-temperature incubator to mimic late spring coldness. The study analyzed changes in leaf and spike frost damage, plant height, and yield after the occurrence of late spring coldness, as well as the cold resistance of different wheat materials. The results showed that wheat leaf yellowed, leaf area decreased, plant height decreased, and spike type decreased after low temperature stress treatment. Low temperature stress resulted in the decrease of panicle number, grain number per spike and 1 000-grain weight, and finally decreased the yield. Through principal component analysis of 13 traits three principal components with characteristic values greater than 1 were extracted, and their cumulative contribution rate reached 82.954%. Cluster analysis was conducted on the 18 wheat materials based on the comprehensive value of membership functions (D value), where Aikang 58, Baoyan 12, and Hemai 918 exhibited strong resistance to late spring coldness. Hengmai H195105, Nongda 1980, Zhengmai 366, Xinong 529, Shaanmai 139, Taikemai 0311, Xinong 20, Yingbo 700, and Bainong 207 showed medium resistance to late spring coldness, while the remaining wheat materials had weaker resistance.