Wiley: Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science: Table of Contents

Mitigating Flowering‐Stage Heat Stress for Sustainable Wheat Production: Climate Modelling and Advanced Crop Improvement Tools

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 22:06:29 -0700

ABSTRACT

Heat stress at reproductive stage is a significant concern across wheat-producing countries and affecting its annual production. This review is focusing on the adoption of management techniques, that is, crop and environmental modelling using advanced statistical tools to reduce the adverse effects of flowering-stage heat stress. Further, we aim to provide insights into the morpho-physiological and molecular impacts, tolerance mechanisms, and adaptation strategies to combat heat stress in wheat. Our work indicates that predictive models can integrate variables such as temperature, radiation, and precipitation with crop physiological responses, but require multi-year and multilocation data. Likewise, we included the studies for marker-trait associations, linkage diequilibrium-based haplotypes and selective sweeps, to cope heat stress at this stage but again, the reported information require further validation through gene editing tools. Further, this comprehensive review indicates that a systematic combination of approaches, that is, modelling of climate, physiological breeding, and advanced tools can be helpful to develop heat-resilient wheat genotype.

Moderate Urea Supply Regulates Low‐Temperature Germination Physiology and Reduced Basal Nitrogen Improves Yield Formation in Cold‐Region Direct‐Seeded Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Sun, 07 Jun 2026 21:35:29 -0700

ABSTRACT

The high basal fertilizer model is mismatched with the requirements of direct-seeded rice during the germination stage in cold regions, which exacerbates the combined stress of low temperature and urea hydrolysis products, thereby limiting grain yield and nitrogen use efficiency. Using the low-temperature-tolerant cultivar “Jijing 305” as the experimental material, this study conducted an indoor controlled-temperature culture experiment (16°C/20°C × urea levels of 0 (N0), 29.6 (N1), 59.2 (N2) mg kg⁻¹) and a field nitrogen management experiment (with a total nitrogen application of 150 kg ha⁻¹, four modes were set: basal:tillering:panicle fertilizer = 0:0:0 (N_0:0:0), 2:4:4 (N_2:4:4), 4:3:3 (N_4:3:3), and 6:2:2 (N_6:2:2)) to explore the rules of seed germination, seedling establishment, and yield formation in direct-seeded rice. The results showed that at 16°C, the N1 treatment optimized the GA/ABA balance, promoted α-amylase activity and soluble sugar accumulation, and enhanced the activities of hexokinase (HK), phosphofructokinase (PFK), and pyruvate kinase (PK), thereby significantly increasing the seed vigour index. At 20°C, the germination response exhibited a pattern characterized by the synergistic involvement of energy metabolism and hormonal regulation; however, the N2 treatment, despite a higher nitrogen supply, did not further improve the hormonal balance or vigour index. In the field experiment, compared with the N_4:3:3 and N_6:2:2 treatments, the N_2:4:4 treatment increased the seedling emergence rate by 6.72% and 17.46%, respectively, optimized the root architecture (increased root length, surface area, and dry weight, with decreased root diameter), and significantly increased the dry matter accumulation rate and total amount during the late growth stage. Ultimately, it synergistically increased the panicles, seed-setting rate, and 1000-grain weight, resulting in yield increases of 5.15% and 8.37% compared with N_4:3:3 and N_6:2:2, respectively. In conclusion, under the conditions of this study, the regulatory effect of moderate urea on germination physiology exhibits significant temperature dependence, whereas reducing basal nitrogen and postponing topdressing optimizes root establishment and source-sink relationships, providing a theoretical basis for stress-resistant and stable-yield cultivation of direct-seeded rice in cold regions.

Unravelling the Influence of Various Salinity Sources on the Biochemical and Physiological Traits and N Use Efficiency of Maize (Zea mays L.)

Sun, 31 May 2026 21:56:22 -0700

ABSTRACT

Among abiotic factors, salinity is causing increasingly devastating consequences for crop growth and productivity as it expands globally. The yield of crops is reliant on the types of salts, their severity and the type of plant—whether it is a glycophyte or halophyte—because various salts are present in ionic forms in salt-affected soils. These diverse salts, whether occurring alone or in combination, exert varying effects on plant physiology and the plant's tolerance mechanisms. To comprehensively understand the comparative influences of different salt sources on the physiological and biochemical traits of maize, which are relatively sensitive to salinity, it is essential to examine their threshold levels under saline conditions. A pot experiment was conducted under saline conditions using two different salts, NaCl and Na₂SO₄, applied individually and in combination (NaCl + Na₂SO₄) at a 1:1 ratio across five salinity levels: 0, 7, 10, 13 and 16 dS m⁻¹, including a control that remained untreated. The results depicted that the parameters regarding physiological attributes (relative water contents [RWC], electrolyte leakage [EL] and membrane stability index [MSI]), biochemical attributes (proline and malondialdehyde [MDA]), antioxidant enzymes (catalase [CAT], peroxidase [POD] and superoxide dismutase [SOD]) and N use efficiencies (N use efficiency [NUE], physiological N efficiency [PNE], N yield efficiency [NYE], N harvest index [NHI] and photosynthetic N use efficiency [PNUE]) of maize were affected negatively by increasing the concentrations of salts. However, the severity of these effects was highly pronounced with NaCl at all concentrations from 7 to 16 dSm⁻¹ of salinity stress as compared to Na₂SO₄ and their mixtures. This is primarily due to the buildup of Na⁺ and Cl⁻ ions in high concentrations, particularly at 16 dS m⁻¹. The outcomes highlight the significance of managing naturally existing salt sources in soils worldwide to alleviate their damaging effects on maize cultivation and to enhance crop resilience and productivity.

Drought Tolerance in Lentil: Multi‐Season Phenotyping and Trait Validation Across the Stages

Sun, 31 May 2026 21:55:33 -0700

ABSTRACT

Drought stress is a primary abiotic constraint limiting lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) productivity globally, and identifying genotypes with stable physiological tolerance across multiple growth stages is essential for developing climate-resilient varieties. This study combined multi-season field screening of diverse lentil germplasm panel using seedling vigour derived stress susceptibility index (SSI), a measure of proportional reduction in seedling vigour under stress relative to control adjusted by overall stress intensity followed by physiological and biochemical validation of contrasting genotypes under drought stress at seedling and reproductive stages. Multi-season screening identified 11 tolerant genotypes (IC560051, IC560246, IC560032, IG134349, IC201678, P3227, IC559924,. IC559666, IG130033 and P3208 including check FLIP-96-51) with lower mean SSI rank values. Seedling vigour-derived SSI provided a proxy for selection of stress-tolerant genotypes at an early growth stage. Contrasting genotypes tolerant IC560246 and highly sensitive IC424523 along with their checks FLIP-96-51 (tolerant) and JL3 (sensitive) were evaluated for physiological traits (NDVI, canopy temperature), antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, CAT, POX), lipid peroxidation (TBARS), root system architecture (RSA), biomass, and yield components. Tolerant genotypes maintained superior trait values under drought, with markedly smaller reductions in NDVI, biomass, and root architecture, along with elevated antioxidant enzyme activities and lower lipid peroxidation compared to sensitive genotypes. Principal component analysis indicated that antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, POX) and growth traits were the key contributors to drought-stress-related variance at both stages. Correlation analysis identified traits strongly associated with seed yield (r > 0.80), including shoot and root fresh weight, number of branches, and antioxidant enzyme activities that were correlated to seed yield, while shoot dry weight, total root length, surface area, NDVI, and number of pods had strong correlations at the reproductive stage only. These traits were subsequently integrated into a multi-trait composite drought tolerance index. A promising tolerant genotype, IC560246 was identified with validated tolerance stability across growth stages, offering potential as a donor for developing climate-resilient lentil varieties.

Root Spatiotemporal Distribution, Soil Properties and Grain Yield Responses of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) to 22 Years of Conservation Tillage and Short‐Term Compaction

Fri, 29 May 2026 22:31:54 -0700

ABSTRACT

Effective long-term tillage practices are crucial for maintaining winter wheat production under traffic-induced soil compaction on the North China Plain. This study aimed to explore how 22 years of long-term tillage history influences soil conditions, root spatial and temporal distributions, and yield responses to short-term compaction. A 2-year sub-plot field experiment was carried out under long-term conservation tillage practices: moldboard ploughing with maize residues incorporated (MC) and no-tillage with maize residues covered (NC). Short-term soil compaction (STC) was applied once, 29 days after sowing, during the 2023–2024 season to create CMC (compaction on MC) and CNC (compaction on NC), whereas no compaction was applied in 2024–2025. In 2023–2024, NC revealed slightly higher surface soil bulk density (SBD) and soil penetration resistance (SPR) than MC, even without short-term compaction, whereas CMC increased mean SBD by 3%–6% and reduced total porosity by 4%–8% in the 0–20 cm layer compared with MC. CNC showed the greatest deterioration in soil physical properties, with the highest SBD, SPR and lowest porosity in the surface soil. Soil moisture was generally higher under NC but declined under compaction, particularly in CNC. Compaction also reduced microbial biomass carbon while increasing dissolved organic carbon, especially in the 0–20 cm layer. MC had the most extensive rooting (to 40 cm), whereas NC had moderately but substantially reduced rooting. CMC caused roots to shift upwards and decrease root length density, surface area, weight density, and volume below 20–30 cm, and CNC resulted in the most significant confinement of roots to the surface layer and the most significant repression of root morphological features and antioxidant enzyme functions. Root traits and nutrient availability partially recovered during the absence of further compaction in 2024–2025, but previous CNC plots still showed some constraints. Grain yield was a result of these soil-root reactions: MC had the greatest mean (2023–2025) yield (8189 kg ha⁻¹). The STC yield fell below MC, and the CMC yield was about 18% below MC, indicating evident yield penalties due to traffic. NC performed better than CNC, and compaction led to an additional yield reduction of approximately 14% relative to NC. Overall, the intermediate yields of NC (6713 kg ha⁻¹) and CMC (6669 kg ha⁻¹) were statistically similar, whereas CNC exhibited the lowest yield (5751 kg ha⁻¹). We conclude that long-term tillage history is a major determinant of wheat responses to short-term compaction. Therefore, selecting an appropriate long-term tillage system is essential to reduce yield losses caused by traffic-induced soil compaction.

Evaluation of Driving Factors of Triticum aestivum (Wheat) Yield Change in Huang‐Huai‐Hai Plain Under Climate Change

Fri, 29 May 2026 21:56:42 -0700

ABSTRACT

As climate change intensifies and the demand for food increases, food security has become a focal point of research. The Huang-Huai-Hai Plain (HHHP), a major production region for winter wheat in China, plays a crucial role in ensuring regional and national food security through its wheat yield. However, there was no systematic analysis of the driving factors of winter wheat yield change in the HHHP under climate change, in order to quantify the contributions of different factors to winter wheat yield change in HHHP. This study utilized the localized Agricultural Production System sIMulator (APSIM) model to analyze the drivers of winter wheat yield change during historical (1981–2010) and future climate scenarios (2021–2050 and 2051–2080, under SSP126, SSP370 and SSP585 scenarios). The results indicated that under future climate scenarios, drought during the wheat growth season in the HHHP was alleviated, but there was an intensifying trend during the flowering (F) and start of grain filling (SGF) stage, and heat also showed an increasing trend during the SGF stage. Nevertheless, drought led to a 26.09% reduction in winter wheat yield, which was significantly greater than the negative impact of heat. Without considering extreme weather events and assuming no changes in wheat varieties or field management practices, the impact of climate change on winter wheat yield showed a positive feedback, with an increase of 8.97%. Therefore, to ensure a steady increase in future winter wheat yield in the HHHP, more attention should be paid to preventing future drought occurrences, which could be managed through appropriate irrigation and the cultivation of drought-resistant varieties, thus safeguarding food security in the HHHP.

Disrupted Source–Sink Balance Under Whole‐Season Warming (1°C–5°C) Alters Photosynthesis, Biomass Allocation, and Yield in Rice

Jingwei Wu, Yanchao Zhao, Jing Wang, Qisen Zhang — Fri, 29 May 2026 21:46:06 -0700

ABSTRACT

Global warming poses a significant threat to rice (Oryza sativa L.) production by altering physiological processes and yield formation. Global air temperature is projected to increase by 1.0°C–5.7°C by 2100. However, studies investigating the effects of sustained warming above 2°C over the whole-season of rice remain limited. In this study, four warming treatments of ambient, +1°C, +2°C, and +5°C were implemented in the natural light chambers to assess the responses of net photosynthetic rate, dry matter accumulation and partitioning, and yield components in medium-season rice. Prior to heading, elevated air temperature reduced net photosynthetic rate, while prolonged exposure to supra-optimal air temperature suppressed dry matter accumulation. Especially under the +5°C treatment, dry matter in leaves and stems decreased by 8.35% and 21.39%, respectively. After heading, elevated air temperature disrupted the source-sink relationship by diminishing grain sink capacity, reallocating assimilates to vegetative organs. Consequently, both the chlorophyll content index and leaf area index increased, indirectly enhancing net photosynthetic rate during the later growth stages. Nevertheless, yield formation was ultimately constrained, and grain yields decreased by 3.89%, 14.30%, and 71.92% under warming treatments of +1°C, +2°C, and +5°C, respectively. This study provides quantitative evidence that whole-season warming within the IPCC AR6 projected range affects rice growth and yield through physiological mechanisms, particularly when air temperature increases up to 5°C. These findings offer insights for developing climate-resilient rice cultivars and informing adaptive agricultural strategies under future warming scenarios.

What Is the Impact of Soil Amendment With Biochar‐Filled Hydrogel on the Molecular Characteristics of Wheat (Triticum aestivum) Seedlings in Drought Stress Conditions?

Fri, 29 May 2026 05:12:55 -0700

ABSTRACT

Elucidation of plant responses to innovative soil conditioners is necessary to introduce these agents into real crops as part of agrotechnical treatments of sustainable agriculture. In this study, the effect of a newly developed hybrid hydrogel synthesized based on alginate and filled with straw-derived biochar on the molecular response of wheat plants in drought conditions was investigated. Quantitative molecular analysis of structural components, determination of protein molecular weight, SEM elemental mapping and immunolabelling for in situ observations were employed. The addition of the hydrogel significantly changed the adaptive behaviour of the plant. During drought, plant organs exhibited a less pronounced decrease in protein content relative to well-watered controls. In plants grown without the hydrogel, a rapid increase in arabinoxylan and RG-I content was observed, contrasting with the stable levels maintained in plants cultivated with the hydrogel. Anatomical analyses supported these observations—changes in leaves appeared after 20 days of drought in hydrogel-treated plants, whereas such changes manifested as early as 5 days in plants grown without the hydrogel. Furthermore, roots from the drought-stressed plants grown without the hydrogel exhibited the presence of a polysaccharide capsule layer, which was absent in roots from the hydrogel treatment. These findings suggest several hypotheses: hydrogel physically coats the root, thereby acting as a filter for soil solution solutes. The structural biology analyses presented here revealed for the first time that hydrogel influences the cell architecture.

Issue Information

Fri, 29 May 2026 05:05:57 -0700

Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science, Volume 212, Issue 4, July 2026.