To elucidate the effects of irrigation amount, sowing method, and seeding rate on the growth, yield, and quality of barley in the Hexi Corridor region, the malting barley cultivar Ganpi 6 was used as the experimental material. A split-plot design was adopted, with irrigation amount as the main plot factor (W₁: 1 800 m³·hm^-2; W₂: 2 250 m³·hm^-2; W₃: 2 700 m³·hm^-2; W₄: 3 150 m³·hm^-2), sowing method as the subplot factor (S₁: Drilling with a sowing width of 3-5 cm and row spacing of 15 cm; S₂: Wide-band uniform sowing with a sowing width of 10 cm and row spacing of 20 cm), and two seeding rates (D₁: 248 kg·hm^-2; D₂: 284 kg·hm^-2). The effects of different irrigation amounts, sowing methods, and seeding rates on yield and quality traits of malting barley were systematically analyzed, and the optimal cultivation pattern was determined using grey relational analysis. The results showed that the highest grain yield of Ganpi 6(7 926.69 kg·hm^-2) was obtained under W₃ (2 700 m³·hm^-2), which was significantly higher than that under W₁ and W₄ by 23.2% and 6.1%, respectively, while showing no significant difference compared with W₂. S₂ significantly increased yield compared with S₁ by 8.2%, and D₁ significantly outperformed D₂ by 3.2%. Grain protein content exhibited a decreasing-then-increasing trend across irrigation levels, following the order W₁>W₂>W₄>W₃, with W₃ recording the lowest protein content (12.23%), which was significantly lower than that under W₁ by 7.8% and showed no significant difference compared with W₂ and W₄. Comprehensive analysis of brewing quality indicated that S₂ was superior to S₁, and D₁ was superior to D₂. Grey relational analysis identified the W₃S₂D₁ treatment combination as the optimal cultivation pattern, which effectively conserved irrigation water while achieving a balanced improvement in yield and quality. This regime is therefore recommended as a high-yield, high-quality, and water-saving cultivation model for malting barley production in the Hexi Corridor region.

To clarify the mechanisms by which cultivation measures affect wheat tiller productivity and the differential responses between varieties, a split-plot experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of nitrogen application rates and planting densities. The study focused on a large-spike variety, Shiluan 02-1, and a multi-spike variety, Taishan 27, analyzing stem-tiller photosynthetic performance, nitrogen metabolism enzyme activity, and grain weight per spike. The results indicated that nitrogen and density regulate population quality by modulating “source-sink” relationships, with significant varietal differences observed. Shiluan 02-1 exhibited higher sensitivity to nitrogen. Following nitrogen application, the increase in glutamine synthetase (GS) activity in its dominant grains (9.6%-30.0%) was significantly greater than that in Taishan 27(1.2%-11.6%). Conversely, Taishan 27 demonstrated more stable photosynthetic performance, maintaining higher absolute flag leaf photosynthetic rates (P_n). Its post-anthesis P_n maintenance rate was significantly higher (77.5%-83.6%) compared to Shiluan 02-1(71.5%-78.3%), indicating that the multi-spike variety can sustain a longer duration of population “source” activity. Increased planting density reduced grain weight per spike for both varieties; however, the reduction was more drastic for high-position tillers (e.g., 3N) in Shiluan 02-1, reaching up to 88.0%. Taishan 27 possessed a stronger tiller-to-spike conversion ability; although individual spike weight decreased under high density, it maintained a higher spike formation rate. In summary, Shiluan 02-1 maximizes yield under “medium-low density and high nitrogen” conditions by fully exploiting its nitrogen response potential. In contrast, Taishan 27 is better suited for “medium-high density and moderate nitrogen” conditions, utilizing its tillering advantage to ensure stable population yield. Therefore, achieving high-yield and high-efficiency wheat cultivation requires differentiated nitrogen and density management strategies tailored to the specific source-sink characteristics of each variety.

To understand the compensatory effect of the germination and earing of latent axillary buds in wheat on yield after late spring cold stress, artificial intelligence greenhouses were used to simulate late spring coldness by applying freezing stress of different durations to wheat plants at different panicle development stages. Combined with different topdressing nitrogen levels, the changes in the germination and growth characteristics of wheat axillary buds and their effects on yield after late spring coldness were analyzed. The results showed that freezing stress at both the anther septum formation stage and the tetrad stage promoted the germination and growth of latent axillary buds in wheat, and the number of germinated axillary buds and their growth rate increased with the extension of stress duration and the increase of topdressing nitrogen amount. Compared with the main stem, the growth of regenerated tillers (formed by the germination and elongation of axillary buds) after freezing stress was significantly reduced: plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves, leaf area, and aboveground dry matter at the flowering stage and maturity stage decreased by 40.67%, 24.51%, 54.55%, 54.15%, 67.33%, and 63.69%, respectively. The panicle distribution ratio and post-anthesis dry matter contribution rate of regenerated tillers at the flowering stage and maturity stage increased by 101.59%, 11.06%, and 13.75%, respectively. The regenerated panicles (formed by regenerated tillers) had a smaller panicle shape, with panicle length, number of spikelets per spike, number of grains per panicle, 1 000-grain weight, and yield per panicle decreasing by 22.71%, 14.86%, 49.51%, 20.05%, and 59.50%, respectively. The later the stress occurred, the smaller the growth and panicle shape of regenerated tillers; however, the growth and panicle shape increased with the extension of stress duration and the increase of topdressing nitrogen amount. The earing rate of regenerated tillers under different treatments ranged from 32.52% to 66.35%, and the compensatory effect on yield loss ranged from 12.06% to 70.89%. Overall, the more severe the stress, and the higher the topdressing nitrogen amount, the higher the earing rate of regenerated tillers and their compensatory effect on yield. In conclusion, although the regenerated tillers produced after late spring coldness have small growth, they have a high harvest index and a significant compensatory effect on yield loss, and sufficient nutrient supply is an important guarantee for improving the availability of regenerated tillers.

To investigate the impact of long-term conservation tillage on spring wheat water productivity and evaluate yield stability under different precipitation patterns, this study utilised a long-term conservation tillage plot trial established in 2001 at the Dingxi Dryland Agriculture Comprehensive Experimental Station of Gansu Agricultural University. Four treatments were implemented: conventional tillage (T), no-tillage (NT), conventional tillage with straw incorporation (TS), and no-tillage with straw mulching (NTS). Field data from 2024-2025 were used to calibrate and validate the APSIM model, which was then applied to simulate soil organic carbon and spring wheat water productivity under different tillage practices from 2002 to 2025. The results showed that the APSIM model demonstrated good accuracy and adaptability in the study area, with the normalized root mean square error (NRMSE) between observed and simulated phenological phase values of spring wheatt in 2024-2025 below 15%. Simulated spring wheat yield under different tillage practices showed significantly positive correlations with observed values over the two years, with coefficients of determination of 0.899 and 0.978, respectively. The NRMSE was 4.6% and 2.3%, respectively, and the coefficient of determination exceeded 0.90 in all cases. The NRMSE between model-simulated and observed soil water storage throughout the spring wheat growth period was 6.5% and 7.2%, respectively, indicating the model's capability to accurately simulate indicators related to soil moisture productivity in wheat fields. Long-term simulation results indicated precipitation was the key factor influencing spring wheat production in this region. Farmland productivity stability and sustainability peaked in normal-precipitation years and were lowest in drought years. Spring wheat yield showed no significant difference between wet and normal years but was markedly higher than that in drought years, with an increase rate of 23.2% and 22.4%, respectively. The no-tillage straw mulching (NTS) treatment demonstrated significant advantages under various tillage practices and precipitation patterns. Specifically, it exhibited higher organic carbon storage (0-30 cm), yield, and water use efficiency than other treatments. Moreover, it demonstrated superior yield stability and field sustainability when confronting water shortages. Over all no-tillage straw mulching is an effective tillage practice suitable for achieving high and stable crop yield in the local context.

To clarify the effects of different dwarfing genotype combinations on stem traits and individual plant yield in hybrid wheat, seventeen known molecular markers for wheat dwarfing genes were used to screen six male sterile lines and six restorer lines. A total of 36 diallel cross combinations were prepared, and plant height, stem characteristics, and individual plant yield of F₁ hybrids from different combinations were investigated. The results showed that all 12 parental materials contained the Rht1 gene. Rht8 was mainly distributed in the male sterile lines, and Rht24 was predominant in the restorer lines. Rht2, Rht4 and Rht11 presented low distribution frequency among the 12 materials, and Rht3, Rht5 and Rht14 were not detected in any tested materials. The combination of different dwarfing genes carried by the parents significantly affected the combining ability for plant height in the F₁ generation. For instance, restorer line 17ARH41 showed excellent general combining ability for plant height reduction when crossed with male sterile lines Xiaoyan 22A and Jin 11324A. The combinations containing the Rht4 had the highest filling degree of peduncle internode(1.66 mg·cm^-1) and peduncle internode ratio(39.48%), in contrast to 1.65 mg·cm^-1 and 38.5% recorded in combinations without Rht4. F₁ hybrids derived from the crosses between restorer lines 17ARH44, 13AR55 and six male sterile lines displayed obviously heterotic differences in stem breading resistance and puncture resistance. The two restorer lines differed only in the presence of the Rht13 gene in their dwarfing gene constitutions. Stem type index was positively correlated with the second internode ratio and individual plant yield, with correlation coefficients of 0.90 and 0.68 respectively. The optimal F₁ combinations achieving favorable balance between lodging resistance traits and individual plant yield were Xiaoyan 22A×17ARH44 and Jin 11324A×17ARH44.

To explore the quantitative trait loci (QTLs) related to wheat gluten traits, the red-grained wheat Yang 97G59 and the white-grained wheat Sumai 6 and their derived 189 DH lines were used as materials, and the quality parameters such as wet gluten content, dry gluten content, and gluten index were measured in two years, and the high-density genetic linkage map of single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs) was used for QTL mapping. The results showed that a total of 30 QTLs related to gluten traits were detected by complete interval mapping, distributed on 17 chromosomes except 1A, 1B, 3D, and 6B. A single QTL could explain 3.0%—25.0% of the phenotypic variation. Among them, 18 QTL synergistic genes are derived from Sumai 6, and 4 QTL synergistic genes are derived from Yang 97G59. Two stable QTLs controlling wet gluten content, QWGC.Zhjas-2B.1 and QWGC.Zhjas-6A.1, were detected, with an explainable average phenotypic variation of 20.67% and 7.07%, respectively, and three stable QTLs controlling dry gluten content, QDGC.Zhjas-1D.1, QDGC.Zhjas-2B.1, and QDGC.Zhjas-6A.1, with an explainable average phenotypic variation of 5.0%, 19.77%, and 6.17%, respectively. One stable QTL controlling gluten index was detected, QGI.Zhjas-3A.1, with an average value of explainable phenotypic variation of 10.87%.

Wheat is one of the world's important staple crops, and its high and stable yield is of great significance for ensuring food security. Wheat spike length, as a key agronomic trait, determines the grain number per spike and positively correlates with yield. Identifying major-effect genes for spike length and elucidating their molecular mechanisms play an important supportive role in high-yield wheat breeding. This paper reviews the genetic basis, gene mapping, functional research on candidate genes for spike length, molecular marker development and current breeding application of wheat spike length trait, providing a basis for research and genetic improvement of wheat spike length trait.

Brachypodium distachyon has emerged as a pivotal model system for deciphering the complex agronomic traits of temperate grasses, owing to its compact genome, short life cycle, and high phylogenetic affinity with Triticeae crops. This article systematically reviews the core advances in Brachypodium functional genomics over the past years and their applications in cereal breeding. First, we elucidate the evolution from a single reference genome to a pangenome atlas, alongside innovations in efficient genetic transformation and multiplex CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing toolkits. These breakthroughs have laid a robust foundation for high-throughput gene function analysis. Second, we highlight key mechanistic discoveries in three core areas: (1)dissecting the ferulic acid cross-linking network of the unique grass Type II cell wall to guide biomass energy improvement; (2)revealing the CBF-dependent cold acclimation and ABA-mediated drought signaling pathways to elucidate the environmental adaptation mechanisms of “cool-season” grasses; and (3)serving as a plant pathology model to decipher defense networks against fungal diseases such as wheat rust and Fusarium head blight. Finally, we discuss the potential and pathways for utilizing Brachypodium as a “rapid prototyping platform” to accelerate precision design breeding in crops like wheat and barley, in the context of integrating synthetic biology and artificial intelligence.

Drought is the main cause of crop yield reductions, and its impact is greater than all other stresses combined. Therefore, the selection of wheat germplasm with excellent drought resistance is of great significance to ensure China's food security. In this study, 140 wheat varieties (lines) at home and abroad were used as research materials, and 10 morphological indices such as plant height, stem nodes traits, and flag leaves traits were measured under two treatments, control and drought in the field. Correlation analysis, principal component analysis, membership function method, and cluster analysis were used to comprehensively evaluate the drought resistance of wheat varieties (lines). The results of correlation analysis showed that there was no significant correlation between the drought resistance coefficient and the length of each node, but it was significantly positively correlated with plant height and flag leaf length and width. Principal component analysis was carried out on the drought resistance values of each index, and a total of five principal components were extracted, which explained 78.450% of the total variance. Based on the weights and membership function of each index, the comprehensive drought resistance evaluation index(D value) of the 140 wheat varieties (lines) was calculated, and the cluster analysis was carried out by R studio software. The results showed that the wheat varieties were divided into five drought resistance grades:highly drought resistant type, relatively drought resistant type, moderately drought resistant type, more sensitive type, and highly sensitive type. Among them, the three wheat varieties with high drought resistant type were Xiaoyan 6, Lunxuan 715 and Lantian 10, and their D values were 0.548, 0.520, and 0.493, respectively.

To screen oat (Avena sativa L.) germplasm resources suitable for cultivation in saline-alkali soil and to establish a scientific and efficient salt tolerance evaluation system, 70 oat germplasm resources were used as test materials. NaCl solution was employed to simulate the salt stress environment. Six indices related to germination and seedling growth including relative germination potential, relative germination rate, and relative vigor index were systematically measured. The salt tolerance of the oat germplasms was comprehensively evaluated through principal component analysis and cluster analysis. The results indicated that salt stress significantly affected the seed germination and seeding growth of the 70 tested oat materials, with the coefficient of variation for each index ranging from 26.04% to 68.66%. Principal component analysis(PCA) transformed the six individual indices into two comprehensive factors with a cumulative contribution rate of 86.66%. The first principal component showed high loadings on relative germination potential, relative germination rate, and relative germination index, reflecting the germination potential of seeds under salt stress; the second principal component was correlated with relative root length and relative seedling length, reflecting the growth tolerance of seedlings to salt stress. Based on the cluster analysis of weighted membership function values(D values), the 70 oat germplasm resources were classified into five categories: 6 with highly salt-tolerance(Zishouziyuan 3, Zishouziyuan 14, Wuyou 1, Zishouziyuan 25, Bayan 4 and Pinyan 4), 23 with salt-tolerance, 12 with moderate salt-tolerance, 21 with salt-sensitivity, and 8 with highly salt-sensitivity. Through the optimal regression equation established, relative germination rate and relative vitality index were identified as the key indicators for evaluating oat salt tolerance at the germination stage. Comparative analysis revealed that hulled oat(Avena sativa L.) generally exhibited greater salt tolerance than hulless oat(Avena nuda L.).