Search Results (126)

Wheat is an important crop in Rwanda; however, rapid population growth, urbanization, and shifting dietary preferences have driven demand far beyond domestic production capacity, resulting in a steady increase in imports. Closing this gap requires a variety of management strategies that jointly optimise yield, processing quality, and sustainability. This study evaluated ten widely cultivated wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) varieties in Rwanda through an integrated assessment of grain yield, quality traits, and rheological properties. Yields ranged from 4.3 to 6.3 t ha⁻¹, with Nyaruka and Gihundo achieving the highest productivity. Quality attributes, including protein content (PC), wet gluten (WG), gluten index (GI), falling number (FN), and Zeleny sedimentation value (ZSV), varied significantly, with Cyumba and Reberaho showing superior protein levels. Mixolab-based rheological analyses revealed marked diversity in dough development time, torque, and water absorption, with Keza and Nyangufi exhibiting favorable baking profiles. Statistical analyses highlighted trade-offs between yield and quality, as high-yielding varieties such as Nyaruka showed weaker baking characteristics. These findings demonstrate that linking agronomic performance with grain and dough quality traits provides a pathway towards targeted breeding, sustainable intensification, and enhanced food security. Integrating genetic selection with tailored management and processing strategies can improve both productivity and product value, strengthening the resilience and economic viability of Rwanda’s wheat sector. Full article

Egypt, the world’s second-largest wheat importer, has been working hard to narrow the gap between its domestic wheat production and consumption. However, these efforts have been hampered by water scarcity and the negative impact of climate change on wheat production. This study seeks to analyze the influence of climatic and technical factors on wheat production in Egypt over the long and short term. Using Egypt-specific data from 1961 to 2022 and employing the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model and Granger-causality, the study examines the impact of factors such as harvested area, fertilizers, technology, CO₂ emissions, seasonal temperature and precipitation patterns (winter and spring) on wheat production in Egypt. The empirical results indicate that the harvested area, level of technology, and average winter temperature significantly and positively impact wheat production. Precisely, a 1% increase in these factors leads to a 1.08%, 1.49%, and 6.89% increase in wheat production, respectively. Conversely, a 1% rise in CO₂ emissions, average spring temperature, and precipitation reduced wheat production by 1.76%, 0.52%, and 0.054%, respectively. The Granger causality results indicate a bidirectional causal relationship between wheat production and harvested area. Furthermore, the technology level exhibits a significant causal influence on wheat production, cultivated area, and CO₂ emissions, highlighting its pivotal role in both the wheat production process and its environmental impact. In conclusion, this study is crucial for Egypt’s future food security. By identifying the key climatic and non-climatic factors that impact wheat production, policymakers can gain valuable insights to address climate change and resource limitations. Improving domestic production through technological advancements, effective resource utilization, and climate-resilient practices will ensure a sustainable food supply for Egypt’s expanding population in the face of global uncertainties. Full article

This study investigated the functional properties of arabinoxylan (AX) fractions—total (TAX), water-unextractable (WUAX), and water-extractable (WEAX)—isolated from three domestic wheat brans and their impact on flour functionality and noodle quality. WUAX was the predominant AX type, and it exhibited the highest water-absorption capacity, resulting in firmer dough and noodles but reduced visual and structural uniformity. By contrast, WEAX, characterized by a lower molecular weight and higher solubility, produced softer, more ductile dough and improved antioxidant properties, as indicated by elevated total phenolic content and scavenging activity against 2,2′-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid radical. TAX demonstrated an intermediate behavior between that of WUAX and WEAX. AX addition produced no significant effect on gluten quality based on sodium dodecyl sulfate-sedimentation volume but substantially influenced the water solvent-retention capacity, dough development, and noodle texture. Functional differences were also observed among the wheat varieties, suggesting that both AX type and bran source affect performance. These findings demonstrate the potential for the targeted application of AX fractions to enhance the processing quality and nutritional value of wheat-based products, such as noodles, providing a basis for optimizing the use of functional ingredients in cereal food formulations. Full article

Wheat domestication and selection for aboveground traits may have influenced belowground traits, reducing genetic diversity critical for adaptation to stress such as drought. However, the impacts on root system architecture and root–endophytic fungal interactions remain unclear. This study evaluated variation in root traits and associations with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and dark septate endophytes (DSE) among nine diploid Aegilops tauschii accessions (wild progenitor), one tetraploid Triticum turgidum cv. ‘Langdon’ (LNG), and one hexaploid Triticum aestivum cv. ‘Norin 61’ (N61). Root traits and fungal colonization varied significantly among genotypes. All Ae. tauschii accessions showed superior root development and lower DSE colonization compared to LNG and N61. AMF colonization was highest in accessions AT76 and KU-2126 (54% and 53%, respectively), while N61 exhibited the highest specific root length (SRL) and DSE colonization. AMF positively correlated with most root traits (except SRL), while DSE showed the opposite trend. Although Ae. tauschii accessions shared broadly favorable root traits, variation in their fungal interactions were more pronounced. A clustering heatmap incorporating both root and biotic traits clustered the genotypes into four groups, clearly separating the Ae. tauschii accessions into two clusters based on their root characteristics and root-fungal associations. These results highlight the hidden interspecific and intraspecific variations in Ae. tauschii and its potential as a genetic resource for optimizing root–endophytic fungal interactions, and improving wheat resilience to biotic and abiotic stress in a changing climate. Full article

Lipases are widely used as biocatalysts in synthetic applications because of their high chemo-, regio-, and enantioselectivities, which play key roles in the synthesis of esters and the resolution of racemates. These biocatalytic steps are essential for the production of various products, including cosmetic ingredients, building blocks in the pharmaceutical and agrochemical industries. In this study, we produced lipases through solid-state fermentation of agricultural by-products and domestic wastes using the fungus Pycnoporus sanguineus. After fermentation, the dried solids containing lipases from P. sanguineus exhibited high catalytic activity. Lipase production was achieved via solid-state fermentation using a substrate composed of wheat bran and sugarcane bagasse supplemented with either residual frying oil or urea, resulting in an enzymatic activity of 24 U mL⁻¹ after 96 h. The resulting P. sanguineus fermentation solids (PSFS) efficiently catalyzed the esterification of capric acid with ethanol, achieving 95% ester conversion within 28 h. Additionally, PSFS proved to be effective in the kinetic resolution of (RS)-1-phenyl-1-ethanol via transesterification with various acyl donors, selectively forming the (R)-enantiomer. This process yielded a 16% conversion to (R)-1-phenylethyl propionate and an enantiomeric ratio (E) exceeding 200 after 72 h. These results demonstrate the potential of PSFS for applications in ester synthesis and resolution of enantiomerically pure sec-alcohols. Full article

The Fabaceae family, the third-largest among flowering plants, is nutritionally vital, providing rich sources of protein, dietary fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Leguminous plants, such as soybeans, peas, and chickpeas, typically contain two to three times more protein than cereals like wheat and rice, with low fat content (primarily unsaturated fats) and no cholesterol, making them essential for cardiovascular health and blood sugar management. Since the release of the soybean genome in 2010, genomic research in Fabaceae has advanced dramatically. High-quality reference genomes have been assembled for key species, including soybeans (Glycine max), common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris), chickpeas (Cicer arietinum), and model legumes like Medicago truncatula and Lotus japonicus, leveraging long-read sequencing, single-cell technologies, and improved assembly algorithms. These advancements have enabled telomere-to-telomere (T2T) assemblies, pan-genome constructions, and the identification of structural variants (SVs) and presence/absence variations (PAVs), enriching our understanding of genetic diversity and domestication history. Functional genomic tools, such as CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing, mutagenesis, and high-throughput omics (transcriptomics, metabolomics), have elucidated regulatory networks controlling critical traits like photoperiod sensitivity (e.g., E1 and Tof16 genes in soybeans), seed development (GmSWEET39 for oil/protein transport), nitrogen fixation efficiency, and stress resilience (e.g., Rpp3 for rust resistance). Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and comparative genomics have further linked genetic variants to agronomic traits, such as pod size in peanuts (PSW1) and flowering time in common beans (COL2). This review synthesizes recent breakthroughs in legume genomics, highlighting the integration of multi-omic approaches to accelerate gene cloning and functional confirmation of the genes cloned. Full article

Wheat is an important agricultural crop grown under various conditions on five continents. The ability to promptly detect and defeat fungal diseases has a significant impact on the volume of the obtained harvest. One of the most significant threats to human and domestic animal health is metabolites produced by Fusarium genus fungi. In this regard, this work is devoted to the possibility of the rapid differentiation between healthy grains and grains simultaneously infected with several species of Fusarium genus fungi (Fusarium graminearum Schwabe FG-30, Fusarium poae Kr-20-14, Fusarium roseum (sambucinum) St-20-3) for practical reasons. An approach based on obtaining hyperspectral data with their subsequent processing using the principal component analysis (PCA) method and determining statistically important spectral regions sensitive for grain infection at different stages (5 and 40 days) was proposed. The effects of the grain orientation and data dimensionality on the classification result were studied. For further practical application in devices for the rapid identification of wheat grains infected with Fusarium, a method based on the use of reflection at wavelengths of 400, 451, 708, 783, 801, and 863 nm, together with normalization [0, 1] and the subsequent projection of spectral data onto the first three principal components (PCs), was proposed, regardless of the grain orientation. Full article

Modern wheat breeding has largely emphasized aboveground traits, often at the expense of belowground characteristics such as root biomass, architecture, and beneficial microbial associations. This has narrowed genetic diversity, impacting traits essential for stress resilience and efficient nutrient and water acquisition—factors expected to become increasingly critical under climate change. In this study, we evaluated 36 primary synthetic (PS) hexaploid wheat lines developed by crossing Aegilops tauschii with the durum wheat cultivar Langdon (LNG) and compared them with LNG and the hexaploid variety Norin 61 (N61). We observed significant variation in root length, biomass, and associations with fungal endophytes, including beneficial Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) and Serendipita indica, and pathogenic Alternaria sp. Clustering analysis based on these traits identified three distinct PS groups: (1) lines with greater root length and biomass, high AMF and S. indica colonization, and low Alternaria infection; (2) lines with intermediate traits; and (3) lines with reduced root traits and high Alternaria susceptibility. Notably, these phenotypic patterns corresponded closely with the soil classification of the Ae. tauschii progenitors’ origin, such as Cambisols (supportive of root growth), and Gleysols and Calcisols (restrictive of root growth). This highlights the soil microenvironment as a key determinant of belowground trait expression. By comparing PS lines with domesticated tetraploid and hexaploid wheat, we identified and selected PS lines derived from diverse Ae. tauschii with enhanced root traits. Our study emphasizes the potential of wild D-genome diversity to restore critical root traits for breeding resilient wheat. Full article

N¹-methyladenosine (m¹A) serves as a critical regulatory modification in plant mRNA. In Arabidopsis, the TRM61/TRM6 complex functions as m¹A58 methyltransferase writers essential for organogenesis, reproduction, and hormonal signaling. However, the evolutionary dynamics of the TRM61/TRM6 complex across plant lineages remain poorly understood. In this study, we systematically identified TRM6 and TRM61 homologs across 306 plant species and uncovered the conserved evolutionary trajectories between them. These two methyltransferase subunits retain conserved structural motifs, respectively, and exhibit coordinated expression patterns in plants. In wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and its progenitors, TRM6 and TRM61 proteins demonstrate polyploidization-associated evolutionary coordination. Their promoters harbor stress-, light-, and hormone-responsive cis-elements. Furthermore, the TRM6 and TRM61 genes in wheat exhibit diverse expression profiles across developmental tissues and under abiotic stress conditions. The differences in allelic frequency among TRM6 and TRM61 variants between wild and domesticated wheat populations suggest that they may have undergone selection during wheat domestication and improvement. This study provides an evolutionary framework for the TRM61/TRM6 complex. Full article

While the differences between domesticated crops and their wild relatives have been extensively studied, less is known about their rhizosphere microbiomes, which hold potential for breeding stress-resistant traits. We compared the rhizosphere microbiomes of domesticated wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and its wild ancestor (Triticum turgidum ssp. dicoccoides) in a typical agricultural field using 16S rRNA and ITS gene sequencing. Our results revealed a high level of conservation in the rhizosphere microbiomes between wild and domesticated wheat, with minimal divergence in community composition and microbial network structure. However, domesticated wheat exhibited a higher prevalence of fungal pathogens and increased functional redundancy, with significant enrichment of genes involved in carbon and nitrogen cycling. The microbial community assemblies in both wheats were predominantly governed by deterministic processes. This suggests that long-term conventional agricultural practices have imposed minor effects on the compositional differences between the microbiomes of wild and domesticated wheat. Nonetheless, the lower abundance of apparent pathogens in the rhizosphere of the wild wheat suggests greater natural biota or innate host plant resistance against pathogenic fungi. This study may provide valuable insights into the host selection, assembly patterns, and functional potential of microbial communities in wild versus domesticated wheat, with implications for manipulating microbial communities in future crop breeding. Full article

Wild emmer wheat (Triticum turgidum ssp. dicoccoides) is the ancestral species of cultivated tetraploid wheat with BBAA genomes. Because of its full interfertility with domesticated emmer wheat, this wild species can serve as one of the most important genetic resources to improve durum and bread wheat. To clarify the magnitude of genetic diversity between and within populations of Turkish wild emmer wheat, 169 genotypes of ssp. dicoccoides selected from the 38 populations collected from the three sub-regions (East-1, West-1, and West-2) of the Southeast Anatolia Region of Turkey were molecularly and morphologically characterized. The populations showed significant variation in plant height, heading date, flag leaf area, spike length and number, spikelet, peduncle, lemma, palea, glume and anther lengths, glume hull thickness, anther width, and days to maturity. According to the results of nuclear-SSR analysis, the populations collected from the sub-regions East-1 and West-2 were the most genetically distant (0.539), while the populations collected from the sub-regions West-1 and West-2 were the most genetically similar (0.788) populations. According to the results of AMOVA, there was 84% similarity within the populations studied, while the variation between the populations of the three sub-regions was 16%. In the dendrogram obtained by using nuclear-SSR data, the populations formed two main groups. The populations from the sub-region East-1 were in the first group, and the populations from the sub-regions West-1 and West-2 were in the second group. From the dendrogram, it appears that the populations from the sub-region East-1 were genetically distant from the populations from the sub-regions West-1 and West-2. The results highlight the potential diversity in Southeast Anatolia for wild emmer discovery and utilization. Full article

The domestication and breeding of wheat genotypes through the years has led to the loss in their genetic variation, making them more prone to different abiotic stresses. Boron (B) toxicity is one of the stresses decreasing the wheat cultivars’ yield in arid and semi-arid regions around the world. Wild wheat progenitors, such as Triticum urartu Thumanian ex Gandilyan, possess a broader gene pool that harbors several genes conferring tolerance to various biotic and abiotic stresses. Unfortunately, T. urartu is not well-explored at the molecular level for its tolerance towards B toxicity in soil. In this study, for the first time, we compared the transcriptomic changes in the leaves of a high B-tolerant T. urartu genotype, PI662222, grown in highly toxic B (10 mM B in the form of boric acid) with the ones grown in the control (3.1 μM B) treatment in hydroponic conditions. The obtained results suggest that several mechanisms are involved in regulating the response of the studied T. urartu genotype toward B toxicity. All the growth parameters of T. urartu genotype, including root–shoot length, root fresh weight, and root–shoot dry weight, were less affected by high boron (10 mM) as compared to the boron-tolerant bread wheat cultivar. With a significant differential expression of 654 genes, 441 and 213 genes of T. urartu genotype were down- and upregulated, respectively, in the PI662222 leaves in high B in comparison to the control treatment. While key upregulated genes included those encoding RNA polymerase beta subunit (chloroplast), ATP synthase subunit gamma, chloroplastic, 60S ribosomal protein, and RNA-binding protein 12-like, the main downregulated genes included those encoding photosystem II protein D, ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase small subunit, and peroxidase 2-like. Interestingly, both Gene Ontology enrichment and KEGG pathways emphasized the possible involvement of the genes related to the photosynthetic process and apparatus in the high B tolerance of the T. urartu genotype. The further functional characterization of the identified potential T. urartu genes will facilitate their utilization in crop improvement programs for B toxicity stress. Full article

Water is a crucial and fundamental resource. It is well known that agricultural cultivation, industrial production, and human daily life are not possible without water. Efficiently utilizing water resources is of great significance for achieving global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In order to improve water use efficiency in various industries and promote water-saving development, China has been implementing water-saving society construction since 2002. Henan Province is the main grain-producing area in China, with wheat production accounting for a quarter of the country’s total. As the core area of “Central Plains Agricultural Valley” in Henan Province, Xinxiang City plays an important role in agricultural technology innovation and agricultural production. However, Xinxiang City is facing problems of water scarcity and pollution, which constrain the sustainability of agricultural production. Therefore, building a water-saving society can solve the current water problems faced by Xinxiang City and ensure the sustainable development of the economy and society. This study built an evaluation index system for water-saving society construction in Xinxiang, Henan Province, China. The proposed evaluation index system includes 20 evaluation indices from six aspects—integrated, agricultural water, industrial water, domestic water, water ecology and environment, and water-saving management—and then divides its development level into several stages. The Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) was adopted to calculate the index weight. Then, a comprehensive evaluation model for water-saving society construction in Xinxiang City was established by combining it with grey relative analysis (GRA). The results showed that the overall level of water-saving society construction in Xinxiang City is in the excellent stage, whereas water consumption per CNY 10,000 of GDP, the effective utilization coefficient of irrigation water, the reuse rate of industrial water, and the leakage rate of urban water supply network are all in the good stage. However, the urban recycled water utilization rate is still in the poor stage. These research results can effectively and reasonably reflect the development level of water-saving society construction in Xinxiang City and guide the continued implementation of water-saving society construction. At the same time, the comprehensive evaluation of water-saving society construction helps to formulate and adjust water resource management policies and measures; it also holds significant value for sustainable water management and combating water scarcity. Full article

Heritage encompasses features integral to the culture of a particular society, such as traditional foods that have historical significance and continue to be part of the community’s identity. These culinary traditions must be preserved to sustain cultural identity and community well-being. This study aims to document the role of qarasiña, along with other ancestral foods, in establishing quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) as a cultural keystone species in the Jach’a Puni community. Primary data were gathered through in-depth interviews with local experts and community observations, supplemented by a comprehensive literature review. Findings reveal that in Jach’a Puni, all food is considered sacred. Three main types of qarasiña are identified: jupha qarasiña, ajara qarasiña, and kita qarasiña. The primary ingredients are domesticated quinoa (jupha) flour (Chenopodium quinoa var. quinoa) and wild quinoa (ajara) flour (Chenopodium quinoa var. melanospermum and C. hircinum). Qarasiña is integral to community banquets and social events. Although quinoa is celebrated globally as the “golden grain”, there is a risk that qarasiña may disappear and quinoa could be replaced by wheat or maize, threatening its status as a cornerstone species in the Bolivian Altiplano. Full article

During the domestication of crops, seed dormancy has been reduced or eliminated to encourage faster and more consistent germination. This alteration makes cultivated crops particularly vulnerable to pre-harvest sprouting, which occurs when mature crops are subjected to adverse environmental conditions, such as excessive rainfall or high humidity. Consequently, some seeds may bypass the normal dormancy period and begin to germinate while still attached to the mother plant before harvest. Grains affected by pre-harvest sprouting are characterized by increased levels of α-amylase activity, resulting in poor processing quality and immediate grain downgrading. In the agriculture industry, pre-harvest sprouting causes annual economic losses exceeding USD 1 billion worldwide. This premature germination is influenced by a complex interplay of genetic, biochemical, and molecular factors closely linked to environmental conditions like rainfall. However, the exact mechanism behind this process is still unclear. Unlike pre-harvest sprouting, vivipary refers to the germination process and the activation of α-amylase during the soft dough stage, when the grains are still immature. Mature seeds with reduced levels of ABA or impaired ABA signaling (weak dormancy) are more susceptible to pre-harvest sprouting. While high seed dormancy can enhance resistance to pre-harvest sprouting, it can lead to undesirable outcomes for most crops, such as non-uniform seedling establishment after sowing. Thus, resistance to pre-harvest sprouting is crucial to ensuring productivity and sustainability and is an agronomically important trait affecting yield and grain quality. On the other hand, seed color is linked to sprouting resistance; however, the genetic relationship between both characteristics remains unresolved. The identification of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase-3 (MKK3) as the gene responsible for pre-harvest sprouting-1 (Phs-1) represents a significant advancement in our understanding of how sprouting in wheat is controlled at the molecular and genetic levels. In seed maturation, Viviparous-1 (Vp-1) plays a crucial role in managing pre-harvest sprouting by regulating seed maturation and inhibiting germination through the suppression of α-amylase and proteases. Vp-1 is a key player in ABA signaling and is essential for the activation of the seed maturation program. Mutants of Vp-1 exhibit an unpigmented aleurone cell layer and exhibit precocious germination due to decreased sensitivity to ABA. Recent research has also revealed that TaSRO-1 interacts with TaVp-1, contributing to the regulation of seed dormancy and resistance to pre-harvest sprouting in wheat. The goal of this review is to emphasize the latest research on pre-harvest sprouting in crops and to suggest possible directions for future studies. Full article