AP2 transcription factors are a large class of transcription factors that play important roles in plant signaling, growth and development, and stress responses. To explore the molecular characteristics of AP2 transcription factors in wild emmer wheat, based on the genomic information of wild emmer wheat, AP2 gene family members were identified using Blast and Hmmer. The identified members were analyzed for protein physicochemical properties, subcellular localization, phylogenetic tree, conserved domains, gene expansion, cis-acting elements, codon usage bias, expression patterns, and genetic diversity. The results showed that a total of 265 AP2 genes were identified in wild emmer wheat, mainly located in the nucleus and chloroplasts. According to phylogenetic analysis, they were grouped into 3 subfamilies, showing both conservation and diversity in conserved domains and gene structures between subfamilies. Predictions of cis-acting elements indicated that AP2 contains multiple elements related to growth, development and abiotic stress. Analysis of codon usage bias revealed that the codon bias of AP2 genes may be subject to selective pressure. The expression pattern analysis of AP2 genes in tissues and under salt stress suggested subfunctionalization within the family and their important role in salt stress response. Analysis of nucleotide diversity and population differentiation indices in different wheat populations indicated that some members of the AP2 gene family exhibit high genetic diversity in wild emmer wheat.

Wheat grain weight is one of the important yield components and a quantitative trait influenced by genetic factors. To clarify the distribution of grain weight genes in Xinjiang wheat and the applicability of related molecular markers in breeding, 253 Xinjiang winter wheat varieties were used as experimental materials. KASP (competitive allele specific PCR) markers were used for genotype detection, and association analysis was conducted with breeding selection traits such as plant height, spike length, grain number per spike, thousand-grain weight, grain length, and grain width in two years. The results showed that the distribution frequencies of excellent alleles TaSus1-7A-Hap1, TaCwi-A1b, TaTGW-7Aa, TaGS5-A1b, TaGS2-A1b, TaGS-D1a, TaSus2-2B-HapH, TaTGW6-A1a, TaGW2-6B-Hap3, and TaSus2-2A-HapA in the test materials were 100%, 100%, 84.98%, 56.92%, 51.78%, 39.13%, 33.20%, 11.07%, 3.16%, and 1.58%, respectively. There were 118 combinations of the 14 alleles in the test materials; GS5-2334-SNP, TaGS2-A1-239IND2, TGW7-986-SNP, and GW2-6B-721SNP can be applied for marker assisted selection of wheat grain weight. The detected linkage genes are significantly correlated with one or more breeding traits. The GS5-2334-SNP linkage gene TaGS5-A1 has 36.65% effect on grain width, followed by 27.76% effect on thousand-grain weight. The GS5-2334-SNP linkage gene TaGS5-A1 has an effect on plant height and grain weight per ear; the GW2-6B-721SNP linkage genes TaGW2-6B and TGW7-986-SNP linkage genes TaTGW7 have an effect on grain length; the Sus2-20-20SNP linkage gene TaSus2-2A has an effect on grain weight per ear, thousand-grain weight, and grain width, and their effects all reach over 10%. This study can lay the foundation for molecular marker assisted breeding for wheat.

The traits of Yr5, Yr9 (1B/1R), and Yr18 genes play an important role in wheat breeding in China, and the molecular markers STS9/10 of Yr5, AF1/4, D15, 20H of Yr9 (1B/1R) and csLV34, cssfr1~cssfr5 of Yr18 were effectively tested by applying near isogenic lines under background of Avocet S and lines with known Yr genes. The results showed that the specific molecular markers of Yr5 gene STS9/10, Yr9 (1B/1R) gene AF1/4, D15 and 20H could accurately identify the corresponding resistance genes in different genetic background materials. Yr18 gene molecular marker cssfr2 could accurately detect the materials not-carrying Yr18, and detect allelic variation of Yr18 in Avocet S*6/Yr5, Avocet S*6/Yr24, and Avocet S*6/Yr27. There fore, the linkage marker STS9/10 of Yr5 gene, the molecular markers AF1/4, D15 and 20H of Yr9 (1B/1R) gene can effectively detect the target gene, and the combination of several molecular markers of Yr18 gene not only effectively detected the target gene but also identified the allelic variation of this site.

To explore and establish a method for rapid analysis of genetic structure and genetic basis of important traits based on 0.1K prospect and 16K background arrays, a new wheat line Xinong 302 and its parents Xinong 865 and Bainong Aikang 58 were subjected to disease resistance identification during seedling stage and adult stage, respectively. The resistance characteristics of Xinong 302 and its parents to stripe rust were analyzed, and the wheat 16K background array was used to genotype Xinong 302 and its parents. Based on the differential SNP loci of 16K array genotypes between parents, the genomic segments of Xinong 302 from both parents were counted to determine its genome structure. Xinong 302 and its parental lines were genotyped by wheat 0.1K prospect selection array, and the genetic loci of stripe rust resistance inherited by Xinong 302 were determined, and the genetic basis of stripe rust resistance of Xinong 302 and the important trait-related genes/QTL loci contained in Xinong 302 were clarified. Xinong 302 showed weak resistance to CYR32 and CYR34 at seedling stage (IT=6), and highly resistance at adult stage under field conditions (IT=1, DS<5). The genetic contribution rates of Xinong 865 and Bainong AK58 to Xinong 302 were 64.28% and 30.22%, respectively. Xinong 302 aggregates multiple excellent genes/QTL loci from both parents, including multi resistance genes Lr27/Yr30/Sr2/Pbc1 and their epistatic interaction genes YrFDC12/PbcFDC12, resistance loci QYrak58.nwafu-7BL and QYrqin.nwafu-2AL[KG-1.5mm], resistance loci QFhb.hbaas-5AS and QFhb.hbaas-5AL[KG-1.5mm], dwarf genes Rht-2, Rht-8 and QPht/Slcau-2D.1, and thousand-grain weight locus QGl-4A[KG-1.5mm], among other important trait related genes/QTLs. This indicates that 0.1K prospect selection and 16K background arrays can be applied to analyze the genomic structure and genetic basis of important traits in new wheat varieties (lines). There is a significant difference in the genetic contribution rate between Xinong 865 and Bainong Aikang 58 to Xinong 302, with the genetic contribution rate of Xinong 865 being about twice of Bainong Aikang 58. Xinong 302 aggregates multiple excellent genes/QTLs related to important traits such as resistance to stripe rust, scab, dwarfism, and thousand-grain weight from both parents.

In order to explore the effects and mechanism of climate warming on the growth and yield of strong-gluten and high-quality wheat variety, Jimai 229 was used as the experimental material, and the effects of whole-growth warming on the growth and development, flag leaf senescence characteristics, and yield of Jimai 229 were investigated with the wheat grown at natural temperature in the field as control. The results showed that warming during the whole growth period increased the number of tillers, plant height, leaf area of the top leaf, SPAD value and above ground dry matter accumulation of Jimai 229 during the vegetative growth stage. However, it accelerated the decrease rate of leaf area and SPAD value of flag leaves after anthesis, and reduced dry matter translocation to spike. Warming had little effect on SOD, POD and CAT activities of flag leaves of Jimai 229 at the booting stage and anthesis stages, and MDA content and Pro content in flag leaves were at low level, which resulted in significant increase in the SOD activity of flag leaves, and reduced the POD and CAT activities to different degrees after anthesis, leading to the increase in MDA and Pro contents and the relative electrolytic leakage. Warming reduced the number of spikes and the thousand-grain weight of Jimai 229 by 20.3% and 10.0%, and the yield by 24.1%, with insignificant effect on the number of grains per spike. In conclusion, warming during the whole growth period can promote the vegetative growth of Jimai 229, which is not conductive to the photosynthesis and antioxidant action of wheat flag leaves during the reproductive growth stage, leading to accelerated senescence of the flag leaves and lower yield.

To determine the suitable sowing date for winter wheat in Anhui Province, the spatio-temporal variation characteristics of accumulated temperature from October to December were analyzed using observation data from 50 meteorological stations distributed in the wheat areas of Huaibei, Jianghuai, and along the Yangtze River from 1971 to 2021. Based on accumulated temperature requirements for different pre-winter leaf ages, the sowing dates for winter wheat in the first 30 years (1971-2000) and the recent 21 years (2001-2021) were analyzed corresponding to different leaf ages. The results showed that from 1971 to 2021, the monthly and total accumulated temperature from October to December in Anhui Province and its wheat areas showed a significant linear increase trend. The increase rates of monthly and total accumulated temperature in Anhui Province from October to December were 8.6, 9.6, 7.8, and 26.1 ℃ per decade, respectively. The increase rate of monthly accumulated temperature in Anhui Province and its wheat areas from October to December showed a pattern ranking as November>October>December. The increase rate of accumalated temperature in the wheat area along the Yangtze River in December (6.5 ℃ per decade) was significantly lower than that in the Huaibei (8.4 ℃ per decade) and Jianghuai (8.3 ℃ per decade) wheat areas. The increase rate of total accumulated temperature from October to December in the Huaibei and Jianghuai wheat areas was 26.6 ℃ per decade, while the wheat area along the Yangtze River was slightly lower (24.9 ℃ per decade). When Anhui winter wheat grows to the same leaf age before winter, the sowing date in the past 21 years was generally delayed by 1-4 days compared to the first 30 years. The suitable sowing dates for wheat in the Huaibei, Jianghuai, and along the Yangtze River areas were delayed by an average of 2.61, 2.86, and 2.07 days in the past 21 years, compared to the first 30 years, respectively. The suitable sowing dates for semi-winter and weak winter varieties in the Huaibei wheat area in the past 21 years were October 16-21 and October 12-16, respectively. The suitable sowing dates for spring and semi-winter varieties in the Jianghuai wheat area are October 25-30 and October 21-25, respectively. The suitable sowing dates for spring wheat varieties in the wheat area along the Yangtze River are October 30-November 4.

To study the effects of different cultivation modes and ecological conditions on the grain quality of weak gluten wheat, 8 Yangmai series and Ningmai series weak gluten wheat varieties and 2 medium gluten wheat varieties were used as materials to analyze the stability and differences of grain bulk weight, protein content, and starch content of weak gluten wheat under different cultivation modes and ecological conditions. The results showed that the quality of wheat grains is not only controlled by genetic factors of the variety, but also influenced by cultivation modes and ecological conditions. Under different ecological conditions, the high-quality cultivation mode of weak gluten wheat was based on a basic seedling of 2.40×10⁶plants·hm^-2, pure nitrogen of 180 kg·hm^-2, and phosphorus and potassium fertilizers mainly based on basal and seedling fertilizer. The nitrogen fertilizer was based on basal fertilizer:seedling fertilizer:jointing fertilizer (before 3.5 leaves)=7∶1∶2. Under this cultivation mode, weak gluten wheat showed low protein content, good grain bulk weight, and high starch quality. Medium-gluten varieties Yangmai 25 and Yangmai 28 could also meet the requirements of high-quality weak gluten. The high-yield cultivation mode was based on a basic seedling rate of 1.80×10⁶plants·hm^-2, with pure nitrogen of 240 kg·hm^-2. Phosphorus and potassium fertilizers were mainly based on basal and seedling fertilizer, and nitrogen fertilizer was based on basal fertilizer: seedling fertilizer: jointing and booting fertilizer=5∶2∶3. The tested varieties showed high protein content in their grains under this cultivation mode, and most varieties can not meet the standards of weak gluten wheat. To ensure the quality of weak gluten wheat, suitable varieties should be selected, and the first cultivation mode should be adopted based on conventional field cultivation measures, and appropriate adjustments should be made according to the local climate and ecological conditions of the year.

In order to explore the effects of late sowing on plant traits, grain yield and quality of strong gluten wheat in eastern Hebei Province, two strong gluten wheat varieties Jinnong 7 and Zhongmai 998 were selected as experimental materials. Five sowing dates suah as normal sowing dat (D1), late sowing 7 d (D2), late sowing 14 d (D3), late sowing 21 d (D4) and late sowing 28 d (D5) were set up. Effects of dry matter accumulation and transport, grain yield and flour processing quality of strong gluten wheat late sowing were analyzed, and the relationship between accumulated temperature before winter and wheat yield and quality traits was analyzed. The results showed that late sowing increased flag leaf area and tiller earing rate, reduced the plant height, dry matter accumulation and transport to grains leading to decreased the spike number per hectare, 1 000-grain weight and yield of strong gluten wheat. Jinnong 7 and Zhongmai 998 showed significantly decreased yield under D2 and D3, respectively. With the delay of sowing date, the grain protein content, wet gluten content, stability time and maximum tensile resistance of flour showed a trend of increasing first and then decreasing. The protein content was the largest at D3 and D4, wet gluten content and gluten index of the two varieties were the largest at D3, the stability time and tensile area were the largest at D4, and the maximum tensile resistance was the largest at D4 and D2, respectively. Correlation analysis showed that the accumulated temperature before winter was significantly positively correlated with plant height and spike number of strong gluten wheat at 0.01 level, significantly positively correlated with 1 000-grain weight and yield at 0.05 level, but significantly negatively correlated with flag leaf area, gluten index and stability time at 0.01 or 0.05 levels. Under the conditions of this experiment, the best sowing date for Jinnong 7 to achieve high yield and high quality is normal sowing date, and the best sowing date for Zhongmai 998 is late sowing 7 d. In summary, late sowing is not conducive to high yield of strong gluten wheat, but appropriately delaying sowing date can increase the content of protein and wet gluten in wheat grains, thereby improving nutrition and processing quality.

Wheat is one of the primary staple crops for human beings, and wheat grain is an important raw materials for green organic food and nutritional health food. Endosperm tissue of wheat grain can be divided into endosperm transport cells and storage cells; the former is the key channel for nutrients to enter endosperm and embryo, and the latter is the bulk for grain nutrient accumulation. The developmental state of both is closely related to grain nutritional quality. In this paper, the developmental regularity and their functional mechanisms of endosperm transport cells and storage cells were reviewed, and the endosperm development and its relationship with nutrient quality in wheat grain were summarized, providing the theoretical basis for the cultivation of high yield and quality wheat varieties.

In order to optimize the management decision-making scheme for high and stable yield of spring wheat and efficient utilization of water and nitrogen resources under different precipitation year types, the key parameters for wheat growth and development in the APSIM-wheat model based on the experimental data of spring wheat (Neimai 19) at the Shangkulini Farm Experimental Station and the Labudalin Farm Experimental Station in Eerguna City of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region from 2009 to 2012 were determined. Using the calibrated APSIM-wheat model, the growth and development process of spring wheat under rain-fed conditions from 1967 to 2017 was simulated and analyzed. Three precipitation types (dry, normal, and wet) were identified based on precipitation, and the optimal water management periods were determined using the soil water deficit on photosynthesis (SWD_ef). Scenario models were designed with eight irrigation gradients (15, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120, 150, and 180mm) and thirteen N fertilization gradients (30, 45, 60, 75, 90, 105, 120, 150, 180, 210, 240, 270, and 300 kg·hm^-2), and combined with key indicators for water and nitrogen management decision-making (water use efficiency, nitrogen use efficiency, and yield), the optimal water and nitrogen management modes for spring wheat under different precipitation types were explored. The results showed that: (1)The root mean square error (RMSE) of the simulated values of the spring wheat development stage module (emergence, heading, and maturation) in the calibrated APSIM-wheat model ranged from 1.17 to 3.64 days, and the normalized root mean square error (NRMSE) ranged from 0.82% to 1.90%. The RMSE and NRMSE between the simulated and observed values of the yield module were 371.50 kg·hm^-2 and 8.54%, respectively, indicating that the APSIM-wheat model can well reflect the dynamic growth and development process of wheat under different precipitation types. (2)The SWD_ef during spring wheat tillering stage to jointing stage, jointing stage to heading stage, and heading stage to anthesis stages under rain-fed conditions were relatively lower, and under the premise of only one irrigation during the growth stage, irrigation during the jointing stage could alleviate drought stress and significantly improve yield. (3)The optimal water and nitrogen management modes during the jointing stage for spring wheat under wet, normal, and dry precipitation types were irrigation of 60 mm and N fertilization of 105 kg·hm^-2, irrigation of 60 mm and N fertilization of 120 kg·hm^-2, and irrigation of 30 mm and N fertilization of 150 kg·hm^-2, respectively. The corresponding yields were 4 810.96±551.43 kg·hm^-2, 5 378.06±768.86 kg·hm^-2, and 6 421.33±454.09 kg·hm^-2.