Structural Characteristics of Thicker-culms in the High-yield Wheat Cultivars

The culm of the Triticum aestivum L. cv. “Lankao 906_4”, a high_yield cultivar, in comparison with “Jing 411”, a widely_planted cultivar, was studied by means of anatomical technique coupled with mechanical and chemical theory. A anatomical analysis revealed that “Lankao 906_4” possessed thicker mechanical tissue and larger vascular bundle area than those of “Jing 411”. In terms of the resistance to lodging, “Lankao 906_4” had higher culm strength. Furthermore the content of lignin was semiquantitatively analyzed with confocal laser scanning mircoscope (CLSM), and revealed a much higher lignin content in the culm of “Lankao 906_4” than that in the culm of “Jing 411”. All of these indicated that the characteristics of culm were important factors in breeding the super_production wheat cultivar.

Analysis on Absorption,Utilization and Transfer Efficiency of Nitrogen in High-yield Wheat Cultivars at Different Sowing Dates

This study aimed to analyze the absorption, utilization and transfer char- acteristics of nitrogen in high-yield winter wheat （Triticum aestivum） cultivars at dif- ferent sowing dates, so as to determine the optimum sowing dates for different high-yield wheat cultivars. A field experiment was conducted in the Shajiang black soil of Anhui Province with Jimai 22, Wanrnai 52 and Zhoumai 22, and the effects of early sowing （October 3）, optimum sowing （October 12） and late sowing （October 30） on wheat plant N content and accumulation, pre-and post-anthesis N accumula- tion （NA） of total plant, nitrogen remobUization to grain （NR）, N remobilization effi- ciency （NRE）, contribution of N remobilized to grain （NRC）, grain yield, N use effi- ciency （NUE） and N harvest index （NHI） of different wheat cultivar were investigat- ed. The results showed that sowing date had an impact on N content, absorption and utilization in wheat plants at various growth stages. The NA, NR and NRC of aboveground vegetative organs of wheat before anthesis were higher than those af- ter anthesis. Under the condition of late sowing, the grain N accumulation mainly depended on the N absorption by vegetative organs before anthesis. Under the conditions of optimum and early sowing, the absorbed N after anthesis accounted for a large proportion in grain N accumulation. The N uptake intensity and relative cumulative rate differed greatly among different growth stages and different-genotype wheat cultivars, and the pre-anthesis NA, pre-anthesis NR, pre-anthesis NRE, post- anthesis N assimilation amount and post-anthesis NRC showed significant differ- ences among different wheat cultivars. The grain yields of different wheat cultivars under the early and optimum sowing were all higher than those under the late sowing. The NHI and grain N accumulation were highest under the optimum sow- ing, and the latter significantly decreased with the delay of sowing dates. In con- trast, the NUE was highest under the late sowing, reaching 35.95%-41.32%. It indi- cated that under the condition of late sowing, most of the nitrogen was not ab- sorbed by wheat, but the use efficiency of the absorbed nitrogen significantly in- creased. In overall, the three high-yield wheat cultivars were all suitable for early and optimum sowing. Under the condition of late sowing, the yield of Zhoumai 22 showed the smallest differences with those under early and optimum sowing, and its NUE was significantly improved. Therefore, among the three high-yield wheat culti- vars, Zhoumai 22 was most suitable for late sowing.

Agronomic Traits and Utilization of Large-Spike and High-Yield Dwarf Wheat Breeding Parent SW3243

[Objective] The study aimed to investigate the utilization value of parent material SW3243 in wheat breeding,and its pedigree was 1426/4/IR68-77/YAA//ALD＇S＇/3/YAZ//ST2022/983.[Method] The selection,agronomic traits,some quality-related genetic traits,and the application of 1BL/1RS translocation line in breeding were analyzed.[Result] SW3243 had the following characteristics：the SW3243 was high resistant to stripe rust race CYR29 and CYR30,and did not suppress the performance of resistant genes;SW3243 showed lots of advantages such as dwarf,more spike lets,large spike,high yield potential and early maturity even in late planting;the high molecular weight glutenin subunit（HMW-GS）of SW3243 was composed in the form of 1,7 ＋8,2 ＋12,containing 232 bp fragment of PPO allele;Waxy protein subunit was not lost;its grain contains a small amount late maturing α-amylase;SW3243 contained 1BL/1RS translocation line,but it was significantly different from the tested translocation lines;a large number of new lines had been developed from SW3243 in Sichuan,among them,42 derived lines attended provincial and national yield trial respectively,and seven varieties were released in Sichuan Province and three were released in national level;the planting area of SW3243 and its derived varieties were totally extended to 4.33 million hm2 in Sichuan.[Conclusion] The wheat variety SW3243,which had excellent agronomic traits,was the important parent material for wheat breeding in Sichuan.The research will provide reference for the innovation in germplasm resources and high-yield breeding of wheat.

Progress Towards Genetics and Breeding for Minor Genes Based Resistance to Ug99 and Other Rusts in CIMMYT High-Yielding Spring Wheat

Wheat rusts continue to cause significant losses worldwide despite major efforts given to their genetic control. This is due to frequent evolution and selection of virulence in pathogen overcoming the deployed race-specific resistance genes. Although the life of effective race-specific resistance genes can be prolonged by using gene combinations, an alternative approach being implemented at CIMMYT is to deploy varieties that posses adult plant resistance （APR） based on combinations of minor, slow rusting genes. When present alone, the APR genes do not confer adequate resistance especially under high disease pressure; however, combinations of 4 or 5 minor genes usually result in ＂near-immunity＂ or a high level of resistance. Although only a few APR genes are catalogued, various APR QTLs are now known and could lead to further characterization of additional genes. Four characterized genes have pleiotropic effects in conferring partial APR to all 3 rusts and powdery mildew, thus simplifying the task of breeding wheat varieties that are resistant to multiple diseases. Significant progress was made recently in developing high-yielding wheat germplasm that possesses high levels of APR to all three rusts by implementing a Mexico- Kenya shuttle breeding scheme. Parents with APR to Ug99 were hybridized with high-yielding parents that had adequate to high levels of APR to leaf rust and yellow rust. Segregating populations and advanced lines from these crosses were selected under high rust pressures in Mexico （leaf rust and yellow rust） and Kenya （Ug99 stem rust and yellow rust） to identify high- yielding progenies that possess high to adequate APR to all three rusts. International distribution of these high-yielding wheats is underway through CIMMYT intemational yield trials and screening nurseries. It is expected that several wheat varieties with APR to three rusts will be released and grown in various countries in the near-future that will allow determining the durability of resistance.

Comparative analysis of the photosynthetic physiology and transcriptome of a high-yielding wheat variety and its parents

Photosynthesis is the fundamental basis of plant growth and development,and the improvement of photosynthetic efficiency can therefore promote increased crop yields.In this study,a comparative analysis of photosynthetic physiology and transcriptome was conducted between the high photosynthetic efficient variety BN207 and its parents BN64 and ZM16.The higher chlorophyll fluorescence,chlorophyll and carotenoid contents,and Lhcb1 protein accumulation in BN207 improved photosynthetic efficiency by promoting light energy absorption and conversion.Chloroplasts being distributed more closely to the cell membrane and the higher Rubisco enzyme activity of BN207 enhanced carbon assimilation,resulting in more carbohydrate accumulation in BN207.Transcriptome analysis revealed that there were several key genes mediating the high photosynthetic efficiency of BN207:Traes CS5 D02 G364100(chlorophyllase),BGI_novel_G006617(lycopeneε-cyclase),Traes CS4 A02 G034800 and Traes CS4 A02 G035100(Zeaxanthin epoxidase),Traes CS6 B02 G122500(light-harvesting complex II chlorophyll a/b binding protein 1).These genes improved the photosynthetic efficiency of BN207 mainly by reducing chlorophyll degradation,promoting carotenoid synthesis,and increasing Lhcb1 protein accumulation.These findings provide important background information for the cultivation of wheat varieties with high photosynthetic efficiency.

西北春麦区APSIM-Wheat模型作物参数全局敏感性分析与比较

为提高西北春麦区APSIM-Wheat模型的适应性及校准的效率和精度,需要对作物参数进行重新率定,并对参数的取值范围进行标定,设定±10%、±20%、±30%、±40%和±50%五个参数取值范围,采用EFAST法和Morris法比较不同参数取值范围下模型的18个作物参数对春小麦产量和生物量的敏感性,并分析EFAST方法下最适宜的参数取值范围,同时对比两种敏感性分析方法的一致性。结果表明,对产量敏感的参数分别为每克茎籽粒数量(GPGS)、初花期积温(TFI)、灌浆期积温(TSGF)、出苗期到拔节期积温(TEOJ)、开花期积温(TF)、潜在灌浆速率(PGFR);对生物量敏感的参数分别为出苗期到拔节期积温(TEOJ)、灌浆期积温(TSGF)、初花期积温(TFI)、开花期积温(TF)。模型敏感参数和不敏感参数的适宜取值范围分别为±30%和±5%。不同参数取值范围下EFAST法和Morris法得到的敏感性结果一致性较好,在进行参数的敏感性分析时可以互相替代。

Characteristics of lodging resistance of high-yield winter wheat as affected by nitrogen rate and irrigation managements

High yields of wheat are mainly obtained through a high level of nitrogen and irrigation supplementation.However,excessive nitrogen and irrigation supplication increase the risk of lodging.The main objectives of this work were to clarify the capacity of lodging resistance of wheat in response to nitrogen and irrigation,as well as to explore the effective ways of improving lodging resistance in a high-yield wheat cultivar.In this study,field experiments were conducted in the 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 growing seasons.A wheat cultivar Jimai 22(JM22),which is widely planted in the northern of Huang-Huai winter wheat region,was grown at Tai’an,Shandong Province,under three nitrogen rates and four irrigation treatments.The lodging risk was increased with increased nitrogen rate,as indicated by increasing lodging index(LI)and lodging rate across both growing seasons.With nitrogen increasing,the plant height,the basal internode length and the center of gravity height,which were positively correlated with LI,increased significantly.While the density of the basal 2nd internode(for culm and leaf sheath)and cell wall component contents,which were negatively correlated with LI,decreased conspicuous along with nitrogen increased.Increasing irrigation supplementation increased the 2nd internode culm wall thickness,breaking strength and leaf sheath density within limits which increased stem strength.Among the treatments,nitrogen application at a rate of 240 kg ha^(-1) and irrigation application at 600 m^(3)ha^(-1) at both the jointing and anthesis stages resulted in the highest yield and strongest stem.A suitable plant height ensures suffcient biomass for high yield,and higher stem stiffness,which was primarily attributed to thicker culm wall,greater density of the culm and leaf sheaths and higher cell wall component contents are the characteristics that should be taken into account to improving wheat lodging resistance.

Analysis on High-yield Experience and Protective Measures of Wheat and Corn: A Case Study of Jieshou City in Anhui Province

This paper summarized the experience in high yield of wheat and corn in Jieshou City and made a further study on the supporting measures for the high yield of wheat and corn on this basis.

Winter wheat yield improvement by genetic gain across different provinces in China

The replacement of winter wheat varieties has contributed significantly to yield improvement worldwide,with remarkable progress in China.Drawing on two sets of data,production yield from the National Bureau of Statistics of China and experimental yield from literature,this study aims to(1)illustrate the increasing patterns of production yield among different provinces from 1978 to 2018 in China,(2)explore the genetic gain in yield and yield relevant traits through the variety replacement based on experimental yield from 1937 to 2016 in China,and(3)compare the yield gap between experimental yield and production yield.The results show that both the production and experimental yields significantly increased along with the variety replacement.The national annual yield increase ratio for the production yield was 1.67%from 1978 to 2018,varying from 0.96%in Sichuan Province to 2.78%in Hebei Province;such ratio for the experimental yield was 1.13%from 1937 to 2016.The yield gap between experimental and production yields decreased from the 1970s to the 2010s.This study reveals significant increases in some yield components consequent to variety replacement,including thousand-grain weight,kernel number per spike,and grain number per square meter;however,no change is shown in spike number per square meter.The biomass and harvest index consistently and significantly increased,whereas the plant height decreased significantly.

Genome-wide association study of grain micronutrient concentrations in bread wheat

Bread wheat(Triticum aestivum)is a staple food crop worldwide.The genetic dissection of important nutrient traits is essential for the biofortification of wheat to meet the nutritional needs of the world's growing population.Here,45,298 single-nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs)from 55K chip arrays were used to genotype a panel of 768 wheat cultivars,and a total of 154 quantitative trait loci(QTLs)were detected for eight traits under three environments by genome-wide association study(GWAS).Three QTLs(qMn-3B.1,qFe-3B.4,and qSe-3B.1/qFe-3B.6)detected repeatedly under different environments or traits were subjected to subsequent analyses based on linkage disequilibrium decay and the P-values of significant SNPs.Significant SNPs in the three QTL regions formed six haplotypes for qMn-3B.1,three haplotypes for qFe-3B.4,and three haplotypes for qSe-3B.1/qFe-3B.6.Phenotypic analysis revealed significant differences among haplotypes.These results indicated that the concentrations of several nutrient elements have been modified during the domestication of landraces to modern wheat.Based on the QTL regions,we identified 15 high-confidence genes,eight of which were stably expressed in different tissues and/or developmental stages.TraesCS3B02G046100 in qMn-3B.1 and TraesCS3B02G199500 in qSe-3B.1/qFe-3B.6 were both inferred to interact with metal ions according to the Gene Ontology(GO)analysis.TraesCS3B02G199000,which belongs to qSe-3B.1/qFe-3B.6,was determined to be a member of the WRKY gene family.Overall,this study provides several reliable QTLs that may significantly affect the concentrations of nutrient elements in wheat grain,and this information will facilitate the breeding of wheat cultivars with improved grain properties.

WPA1 encodes a vWA domain protein that regulates wheat plant architecture

Plant height,spike,leaf,stem and grain morphologies are key components of plant architecture and related to wheat yield.A wheat(Triticum aestivum L.)mutant,wpa1,displaying temperaturedependent pleiotropic developmental anomalies,was isolated.The WPA1 gene,encoding a von Willebrand factor type A(vWA)domain protein,was located on chromosome arm 7DS and isolated by map-based cloning.The functionality of WPA1 was validated by multiple independent EMS-induced mutants and gene editing.Phylogenetic analysis revealed that WPA1 is monocotyledon-specific in higher plants.The identification of WPA1 provides opportunity to study the temperature regulated wheat development and grain yield.

Creating large EMS populations for functional genomics and breeding in wheat

Wheat germplasm is a fundamental resource for basic research,applied studies,and wheat breeding,which can be enriched normally by several paths,such as collecting natural lines,accumulating breeding lines,and introducing mutagenesis materials.Ethyl methane sulfonate(EMS)is an alkylating agent that can effectively introduce genetic variations in a wide variety of plant species.In this study,we created a million-scale EMS population(MEP)that started with the Chinese wheat cultivars‘Luyan 128’,‘Jimai 38’,‘Jimai 44’,and‘Shannong 30’.In the M1 generation,the MEP had numerous phenotypical variations,such as>3,000 chlorophyll-deficient mutants,2,519 compact spikes,and 1,692 male sterile spikes.There were also rare mutations,including 30 independent tillers each with double heads.Some M1 variations of chlorophyll-deficiency and compact spikes were inheritable,appearing in the M2 or M3 generations.To advance the entire MEP to higher generations,we adopted a single-seed descendent(SSD)approach.All other seed composites of M2 were used to screen other agronomically important traits,such as the tolerance to herbicide quizalofop-P-methyl.The MEP is available for collaborative projects,and provides a valuable toolbox for wheat genetics and breeding for sustainable agriculture.

High-yield and High-efficiency Standardized Cultivation Technique for Wheat Interplanting with Peanuts

Through wheat interplanting with peanuts,it is able to make full use of the light and heat resources in the growing season to achieve high yield of both wheat and peanuts in two seasons of one year.Wheat interplanting with peanuts is one of the main cultivation methods of wheat and oil crop double cropping system,and has very broad development prospects in the Huang-Huai-Hai region.This paper summarized high-yield the high-efficiency and standardized cultivation techniques for wheat interplanting with peanuts,including crop rotation,proper deep ploughing,balanced fertilization,rational matching of fine varieties,interplanting at suitable time,sowing according to certain specification,and enhancing the field management.This can be used as reference for high-yield and high-efficiency standardized cultivation technique for wheat interplanting with peanuts.

The first factor affecting dryland winter wheat grain yield under various mulching measures: Spike number

Water is the key factor limiting dryland wheat grain yield.Mulching affects crop yield and yield components by affecting soil moisture.Further research is needed to determine the relationships between yield components and soil moisture with yield,and to identify the most important factor affecting grain yield under various mulching measures.A long-term 9-yearifeld experiment in the Loess Plateau of Northwest China was carried out with three treatments:no mulch (CK),plastic mulch (M_(P)) and straw mulch (M_(S)).Yield factors and soil moisture were measured,and the relationships between them were explored by correlation analysis,structural equation modeling and significance analysis.The results showed that compared with CK,the average grain yields of M_(P) and M_(S) increased by 13.0and 10.6%,respectively.The average annual grain yield of the M_(P) treatment was 134 kg ha^(–1) higher than the M_(S) treatment.There were no significant differences in yield components among the three treatments (P<0.05).Soil water storage of the M_(S) treatment was greater than the M_(P) treatment,although the differences were not statistically signifiant.Soil water storage during the summer fallow period (SWSSF) and soil water storage before sowing (SWSS) of M_(S) were significantly higher than in CK,which increased by 38.5 and 13.6%,respectively.The relationship between M_(P) and CK was not statistically significant for SWSSF,but the SWSS in M_(P) was significantly higher than in CK.In terms of soil water storage after harvest (SWSH) and water consumption in the growth period(ET),there were no signi?cant differences among the three treatments.Based on the three analysis methods,we found that spike number and ET were positively correlated with grain yield.However,the relative importance of spike number to yield was the greatest in the M_(P )and M_(S) treatments,while that of ET was the greatest in CK.Suifcient SWSSF could indirectly increase spike number and ET in the three treatments.Based on these results,mulch can improve yield and soil water storage.The most important factor affecting the grain yield of dryland wheat was spike number under mulching,and ET with CK.These findings may help us to understand the main factors influencing dryland wheat grain yield under mulching conditions compared to CK.

Plastic mulch increases dryland wheat yield and water-use productivity,while straw mulch increases soil water storage

Amplifying drought stress and high precipitation variability impair dryland wheat production.These problems can potentially be minimized by using plastic mulch(PM)or straw mulch(SM).Therefore,wheat grain yield,soil water storage,soil temperature and water-use productivity of PM and SM treatments were compared with no mulch(CK)treatment on dryland wheat over a period of eight seasons.Compared to the CK treatment,PM and SM treatments on average significantly increased grain yield by 12.6 and 10.5%,respectively.Compared to the CK treatment,SM treatment significantly decreased soil daily temperature by 0.57,0.60 and 0.48℃ for the whole seasons,growing periods and summer fallow periods,respectively.In contrast,compared to the CK treatment,PM treatment increased soil daily temperature by 0.44,0.51 and 0.27℃ for the whole seasons,growing periods and summer fallow periods,respectively.Lower soil temperature under SM allowed greater soil water storage than under PM.Soil water storage pre-seeding was 17%greater under the SM than under the PM treatment.Soil water storage post-harvest was similar for the PM and SM treatments,but evapotranspiration was 4.5%higher in the SM than in the PM treatment.Consequently,water-use productivity was 6.6%greater under PM than under the SM treatment.Therefore,PM treatment increased dryland wheat yield and water-use productivity,while straw mulch increased soil water storage.

A novel AgNPs/MOF substrate-based SERS sensor for high-sensitive on-site detection of wheat gluten

Gluten,known as the major allergen in wheat,has gained increasing concerns in industrialized countries,resulting in an urgent need for accurate,high-sensitive,and on-site detection of wheat gluten in complex food systems.Herein,we proposed a silver nanoparticles(AgNPs)/metal-organic framework(MOF)substrate-based surface-enhanced Raman scattering(SERS)sensor for the high-sensitive on-site detection of wheat gluten.The detection occurred on the newly in-situ synthesized AgNPs/MOF-modified SERS substrate,providing an enhancement factor(EF)of 1.89×10^(5).Benefitting from the signal amplification function of AgNPs/MOF and the superiority of SERS,this sensor represented high sensitivity performance and a wide detection range from 1×10^(-15)mol/L to 2×10^(-6)mol/L with a detection limit of 1.16×10^(-16)mol/L,which allowed monitoring the trace of wheat gluten in complex food system without matrix interference.This reliable sandwich SERS sensor may provide a promising platform for high-sensitive,accurate,and on-site detection of allergens in the field of food safety.

In situ measurements of winter wheat diurnal changes in photosynthesis and environmental factors reveal new insight into photosynthesis improvement by super-high-yield cultivation

In past 30 years, the wheat yield per unit area of China has increased by 79%. The super-high-yield(SH) cultivation played an important role in improving the wheat photosynthesis and yield. In order to find the ecophysiological mechanism underneath the high photosynthesis of SH cultivation, in situ diurnal changes in the photosynthetic gas exchange and chlorophyll(Chl) a fluorescence of field-grown wheat plants during the grain-filling stage and environmental factors were investigated. During the late grain-filling stage at 24 days after anthesis(DAA), the diurnal changes in net CO_(2) assimilation rate were higher under SH treatment than under high-yield(H) treatment. From 8 to 24 DAA, the actual quantum yield of photosystem II(PSII) electron transport in the light-adapted state(ΦPSII) in the flag leaves at noon under SH treatment were significantly higher than those under H treatment. The leaf temperature, soil temperature and soil moisture were better suited for higher rates of leaf photosynthesis under SH treatment than those under H treatment at noon. Such diurnal changes in environmental factors in wheat fields could be one of the mechanisms for the higher biomass and yield under SH cultivation than those under H cultivation. ΦPSII and CO_(2) exchange rate in wheat flag leaves under SH and H treatments had a linear correlation which could provide new insight to evaluate the wheat photosynthesis performance under different conditions.

Spectral purification improves monitoring accuracy of the comprehensive growth evaluation index for film-mulched winter wheat

In order to further improve the utility of unmanned aerial vehicle(UAV)remote-sensing for quickly and accurately monitoring the growth of winter wheat under film mulching, this study examined the treatments of ridge mulching,ridge–furrow full mulching, and flat cropping full mulching in winter wheat.Based on the fuzzy comprehensive evaluation (FCE) method, four agronomic parameters (leaf area index, above-ground biomass, plant height, and leaf chlorophyll content) were used to calculate the comprehensive growth evaluation index (CGEI) of the winter wheat, and 14 visible and near-infrared spectral indices were calculated using spectral purification technology to process the remote-sensing image data of winter wheat obtained by multispectral UAV.Four machine learning algorithms, partial least squares, support vector machines, random forests, and artificial neural network networks(ANN), were used to build the winter wheat growth monitoring model under film mulching, and accuracy evaluation and mapping of the spatial and temporal distribution of winter wheat growth status were carried out.The results showed that the CGEI of winter wheat under film mulching constructed using the FCE method could objectively and comprehensively evaluate the crop growth status.The accuracy of remote-sensing inversion of the CGEI based on the ANN model was higher than for the individual agronomic parameters, with a coefficient of determination of 0.75,a root mean square error of 8.40, and a mean absolute value error of 6.53.Spectral purification could eliminate the interference of background effects caused by mulching and soil, effectively improving the accuracy of the remotesensing inversion of winter wheat under film mulching, with the best inversion effect achieved on the ridge–furrow full mulching area after spectral purification.The results of this study provide a theoretical reference for the use of UAV remote-sensing to monitor the growth status of winter wheat with film mulching.

Subsoil tillage enhances wheat productivity,soil organic carbon and available nutrient status in dryland fields

Tillage practices during the fallow period benefit water storage and yield in dryland wheat crops.However,there is currently no clarity on the responses of soil organic carbon(SOC),total nitrogen(TN),and available nutrients to tillage practices within the growing season.This study evaluated the effects of three tillage practices(NT,no tillage;SS,subsoil tillage;DT,deep tillage)over five years on soil physicochemical properties.Soil samples at harvest stage from the fifth year were analyzed to determine the soil aggregate and aggregate-associated C and N fractions.The results indicated that SS and DT improved grain yield,straw biomass and straw carbon return of wheat compared with NT.In contrast to DT and NT,SS favored SOC and TN concentrations and stocks by increasing the soil organic carbon sequestration rate(SOCSR)and soil nitrogen sequestration rate(TNSR)in the 0-40 cm layer.Higher SOC levels under SS and NT were associated with greater aggregate-associated C fractions,while TN was positively associated with soluble organic nitrogen(SON).Compared with DT,the NT and SS treatments improved soil available nutrients in the 0-20 cm layer.These findings suggest that SS is an excellent practice for increasing soil carbon,nitrogen and nutrient availability in dryland wheat fields in North China.

Involvement of the ABA-and H_(2)O_(2)-Mediated Ascorbate-Glutathione Cycle in the Drought Stress Responses of Wheat Roots

Abscisic acid(ABA),hydrogen peroxide(H_(2)O_(2)) and ascorbate(AsA)–glutathione(GSH)cycle are widely known for their participation in various stresses.However,the relationship between ABA and H_(2)O_(2) levels and the AsA–GSH cycle under drought stress in wheat has not been studied.In this study,a hydroponic experiment was conducted in wheat seedlings subjected to 15%polyethylene glycol(PEG)6000–induced dehydration.Drought stress caused the rapid accumulation of endogenous ABA and H_(2)O_(2) and significantly decreased the number of root tips compared with the control.The application of ABA significantly increased the number of root tips,whereas the application of H_(2)O_(2) markedly reduced the number of root tips,compared with that under 15%PEG-6000.In addition,drought stress markedly increased the DHA,GSH and GSSG levels,but decreased the AsA levels,AsA/DHA and GSH/GSSG ratios compared with those in the control.The activities of the four enzymes in the AsA–GSH cycle were also markedly increased under drought stress,including glutathione reductase(GR),ascorbate peroxidase(APX),monodehydroascorbate reductase(MDHAR)and dehydroascorbate reductase(DHAR),compared with those in the control.However,the application of an ABA inhibitor significantly inhibited GR,DHAR and APX activities,whereas the application of an H_(2)O_(2) inhibitor significantly inhibited DHAR and MDHAR activities.Furthermore,the application of ABA inhibitor significantly promoted the increases of H_(2)O_(2) and the application of H_(2)O_(2) inhibitor significantly blocked the increases of ABA,compared with those under 15% PEG-6000.Taken together,the results indicated that ABA and H_(2)O_(2) probably interact under drought stress in wheat;and both of them can mediate drought stress by modulating the enzymes in AsA–GSH cycle,where ABA acts as the main regulator of GR,DHAR,and APX activities,and H_(2)O_(2) acts as the main regulator of DHAR and MDHAR activities.