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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2026

Genomic insights into end-use grain quality and nutritional traits of an ancient Indian dwarf wheat ( Triticum sphaerococcum Percival) population using a multi-locus genome-wide association study.

BACKGROUND: Triticum sphaerococcum, an ancient hexaploid wheat species, is renowned for its stress resilience and superior nutritional quality. A panel of 116 T. sphaerococcum accessions (the largest known collection at a single site globally), with six bread wheat released varieties, was evaluated for its potential for genetic quality improvement. Field experiments were conducted under standard, heat and moisture-deficit conditions across two cropping seasons for ten grain end-use quality and nutritional traits. RESULTS: Genotypes showed highly significant differences (P ≤ 0.001) for measured traits, with high broad-sense heritability resulting from substantial genotypic variance contributions. Triticum sphaerococcum consistently outperformed T. aestivum across environments, with moisture-deficit stress proving more detrimental to quality parameters than heat stress, while micronutrient content increased under stressed conditions. Trait correlations revealed that the gluten index (GI) correlated negatively with the grain hardness index (GHI), wet gluten (WG), and water-binding capacity (WB), while positively correlating with dry gluten (DG) and protein content (PRO), whereas grain iron (GFE), zinc (GZN), and protein showed consistent positive interrelationships. Two superior accessions, PAUTS10 (WG 35.13%, DG 13.71%, PRO 16.42%, GZN 50.89 ppm) and Sonamoti (WG 33.33%, DG 12.92%, PRO 16.27%, GZN 56.03 ppm), were identified, surpassing the best check variety HD3226 for quality and nutritional parameters. Multi-locus genome-wide association studies identified 30 stable quantitative trait nucleotides across environments, with candidate gene analysis revealing genes involved in transcription regulation, biosynthetic processes, metal ion homeostasis, and transport. CONCLUSIONS: Triticum sphaerococcum demonstrated superior grain quality and micronutrient potential compared with modern wheat, highlighting its value as a genetic resource for biofortification. The identification of elite accessions and stable quantitative trait nucleotides (QTNs) provides useful targets for breeding programs aimed at improving protein and micronutrient content. Integrating ancient germplasm with modern genomic tools can accelerate the development of nutritionally enhanced wheat varieties. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.

Triticum↗
PubMed2026

Climate and soil shape Daqu wheat quality and seed microbiome via rhizosphere taxa and microbial assembly.

The grain quality and seed microbiome of Daqu wheat are fundamental determinants of Daqu fermentation performance; however, the mechanisms by which cultivation environments influence these traits via rhizosphere microbial communities remain unclear. Bacterial and fungal communities across the bulk soil-rhizosphere-seed continuum of three wheat cultivars grown in four ecoregions were characterized using absolute quantitative amplicon sequencing. The rhizosphere microbiome was treated as a central intermediary, while the response variables were seed microbial diversity and grain-quality traits, including starch content, protein content, and grain hardness. Twelve physicochemical properties of soil and 11 climatic factors were integrated into a multidimensional association framework. Environmental conditions exerted stronger influences on both seed quality traits and microbial diversity than cultivar identity. Distinct regional signatures were also evident in rhizosphere microbiomes, with environmental gradients explaining community variation more effectively than geographic distance. Bacterial communities exhibited greater sensitivity to environmental fluctuations than fungi. Mantel analyses identified available nitrogen, precipitation, and atmospheric pressure as significant drivers of core rhizosphere taxa (P&#xa0;<&#xa0;0.05). iCAMP revealed that stochastic processes predominantly governed rhizosphere bacterial assembly, whereas stochastic and deterministic mechanisms jointly shaped fungal assembly. Partial least squares path modeling further uncovered a rhizosphere-mediated environment-seed cascade, wherein sunlight intensity and duration, atmospheric pressure, and soil nitrogen directly or indirectly affected seed wet gluten content, grain hardness, and seed microbial diversity through their influences on rhizosphere microbiota. Rhizosphere bacterial diversity was negatively associated with seed bacterial diversity (path coefficient&#xa0;=&#xa0;-0.118, P&#xa0;<&#xa0;0.05), indicating that rhizosphere communities may shape seed endophytic bacterial assemblages via environmental filtering and competitive interactions. Collectively, these findings elucidate how environments shape the quality and seed microbiomes of Daqu wheat, providing scientific guidance for optimal site selection and the standardized production of high-quality brewing wheat for industrial Baijiu.

Triticum↗
PubMed2026

CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated Editing of Bsr-d1 and Pi21 Enhances Blast Resistance in a High-Quality Rice Maintainer Line.

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is a staple food crop worldwide, and improving disease resistance is a core target in rice breeding. In this study, we employed CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing to modify the coding sequence (CDS) of two susceptibility genes, Bsr-d1 and Pi21, in the elite maintainer line Gengxiang B to enhance its blast resistance. We generated Bsr-d1/Pi21 double homozygous mutants via Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation. Quantitative RT-PCR revealed significantly suppressed transcript accumulation of both target genes in the edited lines compared with the wild type Gengxiang B. Upon inoculation with Magnaporthe oryzae, multiple defense-related marker genes were markedly upregulated in the double mutants. Phenotypic assays demonstrated significantly reduced disease severity for both leaf and panicle blast in the edited lines compared with the wild type. Importantly, no statistically detectable differences were found between the double mutants and wild-type plants for key agronomic or grain quality traits. Collectively, these results demonstrate that CRISPR/Cas9-mediated editing of susceptibility loci generates genetically stable blast-resistant rice germplasm without compromising agronomic traits or grain quality, providing valuable genetic resources for future rice varietal improvement.

Bsr-d1↗
PubMed2026

OsDUF3615 regulates grain size and quality traits by modulating cell proliferation and starch metabolism in rice.

Domains of Unknown Function (DUFs) are widely distributed across diverse genomes and are increasingly recognized as important regulators of plant growth, development, and stress responses. DUF3615 is a highly conserved plant-specific protein motif; however, its biological function remains largely unknown. Previously, the gene OsGAPC3, a key regulator of grain quality, was isolated and functionally characterized in rice. Transcriptome analysis during the dissection of the OsGAPC3-mediated regulatory pathway revealed that OsDUF3615 is significantly upregulated in Osgapc3 mutants, suggesting its potential involvement in rice development and grain traits. In this study, we show that OsDUF3615 is constitutively expressed in rice and encodes a nucleus-localized protein. Functional analysis demonstrated that overexpression of OsDUF3615 significantly promotes cell proliferation and expansion in the lemma along the grain width axis, leading to increased grain width and thousand-grain weight. Moreover, OsDUF3615 modulates grain filling dynamics and alters the accumulation of major storage compounds, including starch and free fatty acids, thereby affecting both nutritional composition and eating quality traits, such as taste value. Collectively, our findings identify OsDUF3615 as a key regulator of rice grain development and quality formation, providing valuable genetic resources for the molecular breeding of high-quality rice varieties.

OsDUF3615↗
PubMed2026

Holistic approaches for improvement of maize resistance against lodging stress: current status and future perspective.

Lodging is a major constraint in maize production, causing significant yield losses, reduced grain quality, and harvesting inefficiencies, thereby posing a serious challenge to global food security and climate-resilient agriculture. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the genetic, physiological, and agronomic determinants of maize lodging resistance and evaluates holistic strategies for improving tolerance to lodging stress. Recent advances in quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping, genome-wide association studies (GWAS), functional gene characterization, genome editing, high-throughput phenotyping, and precision agronomy have provided powerful tools to enhance stalk biomechanics, root anchorage, and adaptive plant architecture. Integrating genomic discovery with advanced phenomics and optimized agronomic management offers a scalable framework for accelerating the development of high-yielding, lodging-resilient maize cultivars. However, critical gaps remain in understanding the genetic coordination between stalk strength and root system architecture, integrating multi-omics approaches to unravel regulatory networks, validating genome-editing interventions across diverse agro-ecologies, and developing environment-responsive predictive breeding models and cost-effective phenotyping tools, particularly for stress-prone regions. Addressing these challenges through coordinated multi-environment trials and integrative molecular-agronomic strategies will facilitate the translation of genomic discoveries into climate-resilient, high-performing maize cultivars. By consolidating molecular insights with applied breeding and management practices, this review provides a comprehensive framework that guides researchers in designing genome-informed and field-validated approaches to improve maize resistance to lodging stress and support sustainable crop production systems.

Zea mays↗
PubMed2026

Powering Genome Editing in Rice by Harnessing Promising Gene Resources: A Comprehensive Roadmap.

The imprecise breeding methods including recombination breeding, physical/chemical mutagenesis, and marker-assisted breeding have been extensively utilized for trait improvement of rice crop. Despite tremendous progress made through these breeding methods, the critical issues, such as linkage drag, unintended phenotype, and longer duration of time required to breed a cultivar, have been the major limitations. Among the new breeding technologies, genome editing (GE) has become the most promising approach because of its specificity, precision, and speed. Despite its transformative potential, genome editing continues to face several limitations in crop improvement. These include well-recognized policy challenges, such as biosafety regulations and intellectual property constraints, alongside technical barriers like inefficient tissue culture and transformation systems. Additionally, researchers remain constrained by the limited availability of precise gene information necessary for accurate targeted editing and effective trait enhancement. This review presents an analysis of genes that regulate abiotic and biotic stresses, yield, grain quality and nutrition, plant architecture, nutrient absorption and use efficiency, and other agronomically important traits of rice. The trait-wise probable target genes for genome editing have been discussed in detail. This review will serve as a ready reckoner for rice researchers and funding agencies.

Oryza↗
PubMed2026

Heat stress impact on rice reproductive processes: challenges and new approaches.

Heat stress represents one of the most severe abiotic constraints to rice (Oryza sativa L.) productivity and is expected to intensify under ongoing climate change, particularly affecting the reproductive phase and leading to substantial yield and grain quality losses. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the impacts of heat stress on rice reproduction, with a focus on both male and female reproductive structures and their interactions. Evidence from anatomical, physiological, transcriptomic, and metabolomic studies to describe how elevated temperatures disrupt key reproductive processes, including microsporogenesis, anther dehiscence, pollen viability, pollen-pistil interactions, fertilisation, and embryo sac development were integrated in this review. It further discusses the genotype-dependent differences in reproductive thermotolerance; and key genes, metabolites, and pathways associated with heat stress perception, signalling, and tolerance are highlighted. Finally, it is briefly discussed how recent advances in breeding strategies, functional genomics and genome-editing technologies, particularly CRISPR-based approaches, are providing new opportunities to enhance reproductive resilience to heat stress and how it is essential to close the existing molecular knowledge gaps in the development of heat-tolerant rice varieties capable of sustaining productivity in a warming climate.

Oryza sativa (L.)↗
PubMed1979

Evaluation of the protein quality of wheat grains (Grizza 155) and eight related products by the dose-response bioassay.

The amino acid analysis revealed that wheat grains, white and dark flour, baladi bread prepared from white or dark flour, bread prepared from formulae enriched with gluten and biscuits are poor in lysine with chemical scores ranging between 20 and 49. The assessment of the protein quality of wheat and related products was done by slope ratio bioassay. Results based on slopes relative to those of reference casein + methionine ranked bread prepared from dark flour and cooked wheat (belila) as the highest in their protein quality, followed by their parent; wheat (RNV = 44). Dietetic bread with gluten had RNV = 20-24; owing to its high protein content (38%), its utilizable protein approached that of good proteins (8%). Very high significant correlation existed between the two measures of response; gain in weight and net increase in body water as response of nitrogen intake.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed2025

Enriched grain minerals in Aegilops tauschii-derived common wheat population under heat-stress environments.

In wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), an important source of dietary minerals, heat stress during the grain filling stage negatively affects grain yield and quality. Wheat grain mineral content has been primarily evaluated under optimum conditions; little information is available on the genetic variations and loci involved in mineral accumulation under heat stress. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the variation in 13-grain mineral concentrations and thousand kernel weight of 145 wheat multiple synthetic derivatives (MSD) genotypes harboring genes from the wild relative Aegilops tauschii Coss., evaluated under heat-stress field conditions in Sudan for two seasons, and to dissect the genomic regions associated with these mineral contents using GWAS. Our results showed sufficient variations in mineral concentrations among the MSD lines. Some MSD lines had 30-50% more minerals than the recurrent parent Norin 61. We detected 188 significant marker-trait associations (MTAs), 44 MTAs in season 2018/19, one in season 2019/20, and 143 based on BLUE. The highly significant, stable, and promising MTAs were related to Mg, Mn, P, and Ba. We identified putative candidate genes potentially involved in mineral movement (TraesCS5D03G0728800) and response to heat stress (TraesCS5D03G0723300). The findings in this study help to enhance mineral concentration and resilience in wheat under heat.

Triticum↗
PubMed2026

Heat stress in cereal crops: reproductive development and grain filling.

Increasingly frequent extreme heat events threaten cereal production and food security under a changing climate. The reproductive-to-grain formation continuum of cereals is particularly vulnerable to elevated temperatures, as heat stress disrupts developmental processes from inflorescence formation and fertilization to grain filling and quality establishment. These disruptions reduce reproductive success, impair yield formation, and compromise grain quality. A comprehensive understanding of the developmental, physiological, molecular, and genetic basis of cereal heat tolerance is therefore essential for developing climate-adapted crops. This review summarizes recent advances in understanding heat stress during cereal reproduction and grain filling across major cereal crops. We first discuss how heat stress affects sequential developmental processes, including inflorescence development, gametophyte development, flowering and pollination, fertilization, and grain filling. We then integrate emerging evidence on cross-cutting mechanisms that connect stage-specific heat responses, focusing on hormonal and redox homeostasis, carbohydrate metabolism and source-sink coordination, proteostasis and endomembrane organization, and genome stability and multilayered gene regulation. Finally, we summarize the genetic basis of cereal heat tolerance by highlighting genetic determinants, favorable alleles, and their potential applications in breeding. We further discuss current bottlenecks and future opportunities for breeding heat-tolerant cereals.

Cereals↗
PubMed2026

Phosphorus modulates starch granule development and metabolic partitioning in wheat grain: Insights from SGAP proteomics and nutrition and processing quality.

This study investigates how phosphorus (P) levels are associated with carbon-nitrogen metabolism in wheat grains. Optimal P application (105&#x202f;kg&#x202f;P&#x2082;O&#x2085; ha&#x207b;&#xb9;) was associated with enhanced pericarp-endosperm coordination, increased carbon allocation to the endosperm, and early B&#x2011;type starch granule formation. Starch granule&#x2011;associated protein (SGAP) proteomics showed that optimal P upregulated cytoskeletal and starch&#x2011;synthesis proteins bound to starch granules in the endosperm, while reducing storage protein degradation&#x2011;related SGAPs in the pericarp. These metabolic adjustments were correlated with increased grain&#x2011;filling intensity and duration, and were associated with the highest theoretical grain weight (50.70&#x202f;mg). Furthermore, optimal P was associated with enrichment of amino acid biosynthesis pathways and with higher levels of essential amino acids (e.g., lysine and threonine by 17.0--26.8%) and an improved essential amino acid profile without altering total protein content. In contrast, excessive P (210&#x202f;kg&#x202f;P&#x2082;O&#x2085; ha&#x207b;&#xb9;) was associated with disrupted inter&#x2011;tissue coordination but did not simply impair grain filling; instead, HP corresponded to a unique developmental program: it was linked to an early burst of C&#x2011;type starch granules (0&#x223c;5&#x202f;&#xb5;m) at 7 DPA, yet by maturity achieved the highest proportion of large A&#x2011;type granules (56.8%) and the highest total starch content (63.5%), together with elevated endosperm phosphorus at 14 DPA and enrichment of spliceosome&#x2011;related pathways. HP also showed higher levels of several functional amino acids (glutamate, cysteine, histidine, proline) compared to P0. However, HP was associated with a higher gliadin/globulin ratio and did not improve grain yield. These findings suggest that phosphorus supply is associated with grain quality through tissue&#x2011;specific metabolic reprogramming, and that precision management-rather than maximized application-warrants consideration for optimizing both yield and processing quality.

Triticum↗
PubMed2026

Intron editing of RISBZ1 confers thermotolerance for grain filling in rice.

RISBZ1 encodes the transcription factor bZIP58, which regulates grain filling; intron editing of RISBZ1 to eliminate aberrant alternatively spliced transcripts increased grain weight without compromising key agronomic traits under normal conditions, and enhanced grain weight and quality under heat stress conditions.

Oryza↗
PubMed2025

Development of PCR-based markers for the identification of wheat HMW glutenin subunit alleles at the GLU-A1 and GLU-D1 loci.

The allelic variations of high-molecular-weight glutenin subunit locus in common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) markedly influence grain end-use quality. GLU-A1, GLU-B1, and GLU-D1, which encode high-molecular-weight glutenin subunits, are located on the long arms of chromosomes 1A, 1B, and 1D, respectively. However, existing markers for distinguishing alleles at the GLU-A1 and GLU-D1 are limited with regard to both number and resolution. In the present study, we enhanced the utility of PCR-based allele detection by developing seven new agarose gel-based markers capable of differentiating four Glu-A1x, four Glu-D1x, and two Glu-D1y alleles. These new markers, in combination with previously published PCR markers, were used to successfully identify the Glu-A1&#x2009;&#xd7;&#x2009;1, Glu-A1&#x2009;x&#x2009;2*, Glu-A1&#x2009;x&#x2009;2.1*, and Glu-A1x-null alleles and the Glu-D1&#x2009;x&#x2009;5, Glu-D1&#x2009;x&#x2009;2, Glu-D1&#x2009;x&#x2009;2.1, and Glu-D1&#x2009;x&#x2009;2.2 alleles across 25 wheat resources. Additionally, we developed a novel marker that enables us to distinguish between the Glu-D1y10 and Glu-D1y12 alleles more clearly than conventional markers. These improved PCR markers represent a reliable and efficient tool for detecting allelic variations at the GLU-A1 and GLU-D1 loci. They are expected to serve as valuable resources for marker-assisted selection and marker-assisted backcrossing aimed at improving the processing quality of wheat.

Triticum↗
PubMed1978

Grain dust and the lungs.

Grain dust is composed of a large number of materials, including various types of grain and their disintegration products, silica, fungi, insects and mites. The clinical syndromes described in relation to exposure to grain dust are chronic bronchitis, grain dust asthma, extrinsic allergic alveolitis, grain fever and silo-filler's lung. Rhinitis and conjunctivitis are also common in grain workers. While the concentration and the quality of dust influence the frequency and the type of clinical syndrome in grain workers, host factors are also important. Of the latter, smoking is the most important factor influencing the frequency of chronic bronchitis. The role of atopy and of bronchial hyperreactivity in grain dust asthma has yet to be assessed. Several well designed studies are currently being carried out in North America not only to delineate the frequency of the respiratory abnormalities, the pathogenetic mechanisms and the host factors, but also to establish a meaningful threshold limit concentration for grain dust.

Asthma↗
PubMed2026

Integrating GWAS and Transcriptome Analysis Identifies Candidate Genes for Kernel Starch Quality Traits in Maize.

Maize (Zea mays L.) starch quality is a complex trait with significant implications for grain processing and industrial applications. However, the genetic basis underlying starch quality, particularly for gelatinization and thermodynamic properties, remains poorly understood. In this study, we evaluated 12 starch quality traits, including seven gelatinization characteristics, four thermodynamic traits, and kernel starch content (KSC) in a diverse panel of 335 maize inbred lines. Considerable phenotypic variation was observed for all traits. A total of 228 quantitative trait loci (QTLs) were significantly associated with 12 starch quality traits through genome-wide association studies (GWAS). By integrating a dynamic transcriptome analysis of two maize inbred lines with contrasting starch quality, we identified 60 candidate genes. One gene, waxy1, encoding a starch synthase, was found to be associated with enthalpy of gelatinization (&#x394;Hgel) and pasting temperature (Ptemp). Six variants in waxy1 contributed to natural variation in &#x394;Hgel and Ptemp, and a cost-effective InDel and two PARMS-based molecular markers were developed and validated in 144 maize inbred lines, enabling efficient marker-assisted selection. Our findings provide key genes and molecular markers for high-quality maize breeding with improved starch properties.

Zea mays↗