Abscisic acid (ABA) plays a crucial role in plant growth, development, senescence and stress response. The core signal transduction pathway is composed of PYL-PP2CA-SnRK2. In order to explore the protein functional characteristics, expression patterns and evolutionary relationships of PYL, PP2CA and SnRK2 in barley, the HvPYL, HvPP2CA and HvSnRK2 was identified from whole genome by bioinformatics methods. Gene structure and chromosomal localization, protein physicochemical properties, cis-acting elements in promoter region, expression analysis of different tissues and transcriptome expression patterns under salt stress were systematically analyzed. The results showed that 10 HvPYL, 13 HvPP2CA and 9 HvSnRK2 genes were identified from the barley genome. HvPYLs and HvPP2CAs were distributed in 1H-5H and 7H chromosomes, and HvSnRK2s were distributed in 1H-5H chromosomes. HvPYLs and HvPP2CAs were mainly located in chloroplasts, and HvSnRK2s are mainly localized in the cytoplasm. The motifs of the three family genes were highly conserved. The number of amino acids were less than 500, and the promoters contained a large number of plant response hormone elements. Genes of the three families were differentially expressed in roots, stems, inflorescences and seeds. HvPYL2 had the highest expression in root; HvPYL9 had the highest expression in episperm; HvPP2C-A1-10 had the highest expression in inflorescence. HvSnRK2.5, HvSnRK2.7, and HvSnRK2.8 had the highest expression in episperm. Transcriptome data analysis of a pair of near-isogenic lines with significant differences in salt tolerance at 48 h and 60 h under salt stress showed that HvPP2C-A2, HvPP2C-A4, HvPP2C-A6, HvPP2C-A9, HvPP2C-A10, and HvSnRK2.4 were significantly up-regulated by salt stress, while HvPYL6 and HvPYL7 were significantly down-regulated. The results of qPCR were consistent with the transcriptome data. The results showed that the PYL, PP2CA, and SnRK2 family played an important role in the response of barley to salt stress.

In this study, 240 barley varieties (lines) were genotyped using barley 40K SNP microarrays, and eight agronomic traits were characterized at two locations in 2022. Genome-wide association study (GWAS) was performed based on mixed linear model. The results showed that the eight main agronomic traits were normally distributed. The genotypes of 240 barley varieties after quality control were analyzed for population structure using Admixture software, and the 240 materials were roughly divided into 10 subgroups. A total of 118 SNP loci were detected by GWAS, which were significantly correlated with plant height, spike length, awn length, productive tiller number, total tiller number, kernel number, spike grain weight and thousand kernel weight. They are distributed on chromosomes 1H, 2H, 3H, 4H, 5H, 6H, and 7H, of which six SNP loci simultaneously control two agronomic traits and two SNP loci simultaneously control three agronomic traits. One hundred and eighteen SNP loci were identified corresponding to 24 QTLs, including two QTLs controlling plant height, one spike length QTL, two awn length QTLs, two productive tiller number QTLs, one total tiller number QTL, four kernel number QTLs, ten spike grain weight QTLs, and eight thousand-kernel weight QTLs. There was one stable QTL detected in both Huangyang and Yongchang environmental sites. QTLs for plant height, spike length, productive tiller number and total tiller number existed only in one environmental site, while the remaining four agronomic traits existed in different QTLs in two environmental sites. Based on the results of association analysis, a total of 32 genes were identified on chromosomes 1H, 2H, 3H, 4H, 5H, and 6H using the range of 150 kb upstream and downstream of the significant loci as the confidence interval, and a total of two candidate genes were screened based on the previous studies and Blast gene annotation, which were the most likely to be related to the growth and development of barley.

The water state is closely related to the quality of the flour product, but the relationship between water state and the quality characteristics of noodles is unclear. Additionally, the use of water state as a research method for noodle quality characteristics has rarely been reported in wheat quality breeding. This study used 12 wheat varieties as raw materials, measured the quality characteristics of wheat flour, analyzed the texture, cooking characteristics, and sensory properties of the noodles, and used low-field nuclear magnetic resonance to measure the water state of fresh and cooked noodles. Statistical analysis showed that there were significant differences in the water state of noodles made from different wheat varieties (P<0.05). The T₂₃ and A₂₃ of fresh noodles are significantly correlated with the tensile energy, tensile resistance, and maximum tensile resistance, while A₂₁ and A₂₂ are significantly correlated with the water absorption rate, trough viscosity, and setback value; the T₂₃ of cooked noodles is significantly negatively correlated with the protein content, peak viscosity, and final viscosity (P<0.05). The T₂₃ of fresh noodles is significantly correlated with textural adhesiveness and fracture distance, while A₂₃ is significantly negatively correlated with textural adhesiveness and fracture force; the T₂₃ of cooked noodles is significantly negatively correlated with textural elasticity and chewiness. The T₂₃ of fresh noodles is significantly negatively correlated with the boiled water absorption rate, and A₂₃ is significantly negatively correlated with the sensory elasticity score; the T₂₁ of cooked noodles is significantly negatively correlated with the dry matter loss rate; the T₂₂ is significantly negatively correlated with the sensory elasticity score, and the A₂₃ is significantly negatively correlated with the dry matter loss rate. The results showed that the water state parameters can better reflect the quality characteristics of wheat flour and the quality characteristics of the fresh noodles. This result had important reference value for the breeding and identification of wheat varieties special for noodles and the development of special flour for fresh noodles.

Fusarium species is the main pathogen causing wheat Fusarium head blight (FHB). To monitor the composition and pathogenicity of wheat FHB species in Yunnan and Guizhou regions, spike samples of FHB were collected as materials from summer wheat and self-growing wheat in 9 counties of 4 cities in Yunnan and Guizhou Regions in September 2023. The FHB strains were isolated using histopathology and identified by the specific primers F16F/R amplification combined with EF-1α gene sequence. Representative strains of different Fusarium species were selected for mycelial growth rate, spore production and field pathogenicity testing. The identification results of pathogenic species revealed that there were relatively abundant pathogenic species causing FHB in Yunnan and Guizhou Regions. Totally, 95Fusarium strains were isolated, belonging to seven Fusarium species, of which 33 strains were identified as F. meridionale, accounting for 34.7% of the total number of isolated strains. F. meridionale is the dominant species of wheat FHB in the Yunnan and Guizhou Regions, followed by 22 strains of F. asiaticum and 22 strains of F. graminearum, individually accounting for 23.2% of the total number of isolated strains. Nine strains of F. boothii were identified, accounting for 9.5% of the total number of isolated strains. Six strains of F. equiseti, two strains of F. avenaceum and one strain of F. cortaderiae were also detected. The pathogenicity test results showed that there were differences in mycelial growth rate and spore production among different species of FHB. The mycelial growth rate of F. avenaceum was the lowest, but the spore production was the highest. F. meridiane and F. graminearum showed the strongest pathogenicity, while F. avenaceum showed the weakest pathogenicity. There was also differentiation in Fusarium among different strains of the same disease species. The F. meridiane was the dominant pathogenic species of wheat FHB and there was a high proportion of F. boothii (9.5%) in the Yunnan and Guizhou wheat regions, which is the first report in China.

In order to explore the suitable nitrogen application rate for high-yield wheat in Huang-Huai-Hai region, the wheat variety Yannong 1212 was used as the test material. Four nitrogen application rates (0 kg·hm^-2 (N0), 150 kg·hm^-2 (N150), 210 kg·hm^-2 (N210), and 270 kg·hm^-2 (N270)) were set up in the field, and the effects of nitrogen application rate on the photosynthetic characteristics of flag leaves and grain filling of wheat under supplemental irrigation were analyzed. The results showed that the SPAD value of flag leaf at 14-28 days after anthesis under N210 treatment was significantly higher than that under N0 and N150 treatments, but not significantly different from that under N270 treatment. The photosynthetic gas parameters and photosynthetic enzyme activities of flag leaves under N210 treatment were significantly higher than those under N0 and N150 treatments at 14-28 days after anthesis, yet there was no significant change in photosynthetic parameters and photosynthetic enzyme activities of flag leaves when the nitrogen application rate increased to N270. The average grain filling rate and maximum grain filling rate under N210 treatment were significantly higher than those under other treatments, which was beneficial to the increase of grain weight. Compared with N0, N150 and N270, the 1 000-grain weight and grain yield under N210 treatment were the highest, and the yield increased 43.93%, 12.35% and 4.36%, respectively. In summary, the nitrogen application rate of 210 kg·hm^-2 is the best nitrogen application rate for high yield under the conditions of this experiment.

To explore the response patterns of dry matter accumulation, yield, and water use efficiency of ultra-late-sowing winter wheat Xindong 18 to drip irrigation amount, from 2021 to 2023, a randomized block design was employed in the field to study the differences of soil moisture content, leaf area index (LAI), dry matter accumulation, water use efficiency, and yield of ultra-late-sowing winter wheat unde the five drip irrigation treatments of W₁ (1 800 m³·hm^-2), W₂ (2 250 m³·hm^-2), W₃ (2 700 m³·hm^-2), W₄ (3 150 m³·h m^-2), and W₅ (3 600 m³·hm^-2). The results showed that increasing drip irrigation mainly enhanced soil moisture content in the 0-40 cm soil layer, decreased soil water consumption in the 40-100 cm soil layer, reduced soil water consumption, increased total field water consumption, and decreased the ratio of soil water consumption and precipitation to total water consumption. Increasing drip irrigation enhanced the LAI, total photosynthetic capacity, dry matter accumulation, post-flowering dry matter accumulation, contribution to yield, and water use efficiency, while reduced irrigation water use efficiency. Compared to W₁, W₅ exhibited increases in maximum LAI, total photosynthetic capacity, dry matter accumulation, post-flowering dry matter accumulation, and yield by 18.65%, 55.2%, 28.6%, 27.2%, and 51.6%, respectively. The yield and water use efficiency were higher under the treatments with drip irrigation amounts of 3 150 and 3 600 m³·hm^-2 over the two years. Considering both yield and water use efficiency, the suitable drip irrigation amount for ultra-late-sowing winter wheat Xindong 18 is 2700-3 150 m³·hm^-2 in the Ta’er Basin.

To explore the immobilization effects of soil amendments on cadmium (Cd)-contaminated calcareous cinnamon soil, a pot experiment was conducted with no soil amendment application as the control (CK). Four types of soil amendments (inorganic amendment, organic-inorganic composite amendment, iron-modified organic amendment, and thiol-modified clay mineral amendment, designated as SF, GF, IMP, and SGP, respectively) were selected, with two application dose levels for each amendment (SF: 0.75% and 1.5%; GF: 1.5% and 3.0%; IMP: 1.5% and 3.0%; SGP: 0.75% and 1.5%). The effects of amendment type and application dose on the dry weight and Cd content of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) organs, grain trace elements and Si content, soil available Cd content, and soil chemical properties were analyzed. The results showed that compared with CK, the dry weight of wheat roots, stems, leaves, and glumes, as well as the Fe and Cu contents in wheat grains, did not change significantly after soil amendment application. However, the grain dry weight under IMP and SGP treatments increased significantly. All soil amendment treatments significantly reduced the Cd content in wheat organs, with high-dose treatments showing better effects than low-dose treatments. The 1.5%SGP treatment resulted in the largest reduction in grain Cd content (90.25%). Except for the 3.0%IMP treatment, all other soil amendment treatments significantly reduced the Zn content in wheat grains. IMP and SF treatments significantly reduced the Mn content in wheat grains. The 3.0%IMP, 1.5%SF, GF, and SGP treatments significantly increased the Si content in wheat grains. SF, GF, and SGP treatments significantly reduced the soil available Cd content (reduction range: 24.71%-92.37%), with the 0.75%SGP treatment showing the best effect. SF, GF, and 3.0% IMP treatments significantly increased soil pH (0.27-2.24). Except for the SF treatment, all other soil amendment treatments significantly increased soil organic matter content. The 0.75%SF treatment had no significant effect on soil electrical conductivity, but significantly reduced the content of available zinc, manganese, copper, and iron while significantly increasing available Si content. Considering the effects of soil amendments on soil chemical properties, Cd immobilization, Cd uptake in wheat grains, and wheat yield, the 0.75%SGP treatment is recommended as the optimal soil amendment for Cd-contaminated calcareous cinnamon soil.

To investigate the effects of deep tillage combined with biochar and sheep manure application under straw returning on the improvement of saline-alkali soil and the enhancement of salt tolerance in winter wheat in the inland plain of Hebei Province, a field experiment was conducted with five treatments: deep tillage + straw returning (T1), deep tillage + biochar 15 t·hm^-2 + straw returning (T2), deep tillage + sheep manure 15 t·hm^-2 + straw returning (T3), rotary tillage + no straw returning (T4), and rotary tillage + straw returning (T5). The soil physicochemical properties and wheat salt tolerance under different treatments were analyzed. The results showed that compared with T4 and T5 treatments, T2 treatment significantly reduced soil bulk density and increased soil porosity in the 0-20 cm soil layer, with an increase rate of 11.51%-12.51% for soil porosity. T3 treatment significantly increased the contents of soil nitrate nitrogen, available phosphorus, and available potassium, while there were no significant differences between T1 and T4 or T5 treatments. Under the T3 treatment, the accumulation of superoxide anion radicals in flag leaves during the early, middle, and late grain-filling stages of wheat was significantly reduced by 17.57%-28.30% compared with T4 and T5 treatments, while the activities of SOD and POD were significantly increased. The NBT and DAB staining results confirmed the optimal reduction effect of reactive oxygen species accumulation. The contents of soluble protein and soluble sugar were significantly increased by 12.15%-25.51% and 15.85%-31.81%, respectively. The content of free amino acids was significantly increased during the early and late grain-filling stages by 9.15%-22.81%. T3 treatment significantly increased the total accumulation of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in the aboveground parts of winter wheat compared with T4 and T5 treatments. The yield of winter wheat under the T3 treatment was increased by 6.91%, 15.44%, and 10.13% compared with T1, T4, and T5 treatments, respectively, while there was no significant difference between T2 and T3 treatments. Considering both ecological effects and productivity improvement, deep tillage + sheep manure + straw returning is recommended as a key technology for expanding soil capacity, increasing carbon sequestration, and improving winter wheat yield in the inland saline-alkali soil of the low plain in Hebei Province.

In order to understand the variability and stability of grain protein content in two-rowed hulled barley, 334 varieties (lines) from different sources were used as materials to determine the grain protein content under six environments. The results showed that there were significant differences in grain protein content among varieties (lines), environments, and the interaction between trial sites and varieties (lines). According to the 10-class frequency distribution rule, the protein content of grains in each environment was mainly distributed in grades 3-8, which tended to be normally distributed. By calculating the BILPs value of grain protein content and analyzing the D_i value of AMMI model, two stability varieties (lines) with high protein content were selected: Zhejiang 96-6, and Huadamai 8; two stability varieties (lines) with medium protein content were selected: Chuan 52209 and Nasonijo; and two stability varieties (lines) with low protein content were selected: Qu 146V025W and 9919 (Xinjiang, China).

In order to explore the effects of different planting patterns on the agronomic traits and yield of barley varieties, and to select excellent barley varieties for intercropping with potatoes, 64 Yunnan barley varieties were used to intercropped with one purple potato variety, with mono-cropped barley serving as the control group for comparisons. The variation, genetic diversity, and correlation of agronomic traits and yields in different planting patterns and row-typed barley, and the clustering and principal component analysis of 64 barley varieties were analyzed. Based on the principal component analysis, a comprehensive evaluation was conducted to select barley varieties with better performance in intercropping with potatoes. The results showed that the 64 barley varieties exhibited high genetic diversity in agronomic traits, with high variation coefficients in grain weight per plant, spike weight per plant, stalk weight per plant under two planting patterns; the traits such as plant height, stem diameter, and flag leaf length under intercropping showed high Shannon diversity indices (greater than 2.0). Under both monocropping and intercropping, the two-rowed barley had higher effective spike number, spike length, seed setting rate, spike density, and thousand-grain weight, compared to the multi-rowed barley; conversely, the multi-rowed barley exhibited greater internode length, stem diameter, flag leaf width, stalk weight per plant, spike weight per plant, and grain weight per plant than those of the two-rowed barley. Compared with mono-cropping, the effective spike number, internode length, stem diameter, seed setting rate, stalk weight per plant, spike weight per plant, grain weight per plant, thousand-grain weight, and yield of barley varieties under intercropping were decreased. However, the land equivalent ratio (LER) was greater than 1, indicating an advantage of the barley-potato intercropping system, and the intercropping between multi-rowed barley and potato was more advantageous than two-rowed barley and potato. Under both monocropping and intercropping, correlation analysis showed that barley yield was significantly related to spike weight per plant and grain weight per plant. Clustering analysis was used to classify 64 barley varieties under intercropping, which were divided into four types, including short-stem with moderate-yield, medium-stem with low-yield, tall-stem with low-yield, and short-stem with high-yield. Among these, the fourth category was considered as promising germplasm, which is suitable for intercropping with potatoes. Principal component analysis and comprehensive evaluation identified five barley varieties with better comprehensive traits under intercropping: Aisi 82-1, MF 21-30, Yunke1, MF 20-16, and Yunsi 16, which can be considered as the most suitable barley varieties for intercropping with potatoes.