Novel genetic loci regulate flowering time in the northeast soybean germplasm of China
June 2026
Flowering time is a crucial agronomic trait that affects the adaptability and yield of soybeans. Despite extensive research aimed at uncovering the genetic basis of flowering time in soybean germplasm,...
CRISPR/Cas9 multiplex editing of four TaSK41 genes increases grain size and weight and reveals a TaSK41–TaSnRK1β1 module associated with carbohydrate metabolism in wheat
June 2026
Grain size and weight contribute to wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yield, yet how Glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3)/SHAGGY-like kinase signaling interfaces with carbohydrate metabolism during grain development...
CRISPR/Cas9 knockout of BnaA01.AP2 increases seed oil content with no yield penalty in Brassica napus L.
June 2026
The oil yield of Brassica napus is determined by both seed yield and oil content. A previous study showed that strong RNA interference, designed to simultaneously knock down all four BnAP2 paralogs,...
A haplotype-resolved genome assembly for Centella asiatica provides insights into its genome evolution and ursane-type triterpene accumulation
June 2026
Centella asiatica is a medicinal plant containing various ursane-type saponins that serve as a model system for studying triterpenoid accumulation. We assembled a haplotype-resolved genome for C. asiatica,...
Impacts of controlled-release fertilizer application on maize yield stability, soil quality and carbon footprint in Huang-Huai-Hai Plain
June 2026
Although controlled-release urea (CRU) has demonstrated higher nitrogen use efficiency compared to conventional urea, comprehensive evaluations of its multi-year continuous application on yield stability...
LesionDiff: Synthetic data via lesion information transfer diffusion model facilitates plant disease diagnosis
June 2026
Training software models for crop disease diagnosis requires large image datasets to achieve high accuracy. We describe a lesion information transfer diffusion model, LesionDiff, for generating image...
An intracellular Ras-group related leucine-rich repeat protein IbPIRL8 increases soft rot and root rot resistance in sweet potato
June 2026
The plant intracellular Ras-group related leucine-rich repeat proteins (PIRLs) play important roles in pollen tube growth and development. However, the role of PIRLs in modulating defense responses...
Identification of two major QTL associated with Fusarium crown rot resistance in wheat
June 2026
Fusarium crown rot (FCR), caused by the fungal genus Fusarium, is a severe soil-borne disease of wheat (Triticum aestivum) worldwide. In this study, we identified five quantitative trait loci (QTL)...
A missense mutation in TaBGLU1-5D confers early heading in wheat
June 2026
Heading date (HD) in wheat determines geographic adaptation, seasonal performance, and ultimately affects yield and quality. However, the genetic regulation of HD remains unclear. Here, we identified...
Planting density affects the yield and quality of indica-japonica hybrid rice by regulating grain filling characteristics
June 2026
Planting density and grain filling are important cultivation practices and physiological processes that affect the yield and quality of indica-japonica hybrid rice. Elucidating how planting density...
OsARF9 integrates auxin-BR-ABA signaling to regulate plant architecture and seed germination in rice
June 2026
Optimizing rice (Oryza sativa L.) plant architecture and seed germination is critical for improving agronomic performance. Here, we investigated the role of OsARF9, a class B auxin response factor,...
Phenological reorganization and increased assimilate allocation jointly promote spike differentiation and grain number formation in dryland wheat of Northwest China
Available online 23 June 2026
Optimizing phenology and dry matter partitioning will increase wheat yield in dryland regions. The objective of this study was to determine how high-yielding dryland wheat cultivars achieve greater...
Characterization of Pm72, a new powdery mildew resistance gene on chromosome 6AL of Triticum boeoticum accession PI 427741
Available online 23 June 2026
Triticum monococcum ssp. aegilopoides (syn. T. boeoticum) is a wild diploid species that harbors the AbAb genome containing many disease resistance genes useful for wheat improvement. Genetic analysis...
Chewing insect-induced activation of NtNAC29 and NtNAC94 enhances plant defense via NtCPI8 in tobacco
Available online 4 June 2026
The cotton bollworm Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a major pest of numerous crops. Plant responses to cotton bollworm attack are generally attributed to two primary factors: physical...
Population-scale evidence for the association of stem diameter with soybean yield in the maize–soybean intercropping system
Available online 4 June 2026
Intercropping maize (Zea mays) and soybean (Glycine max) is an appealing strategy for improving land-use efficiency. However, the shade stress imposed by maize severely constrains soybean growth and...
GS11 encodes a microtubule-associated protein that modulates grain shape in rice
Available online 3 June 2026
Grain shape is a key agronomic trait for grain yield and quality in crops. Studies on rice have revealed several complex signaling pathways governing cell proliferation and cell expansion during grain...
Engineering the CatI intron creates a broadly applicable cis-element for crop breeding and plant research
Available online 29 May 2026
Some introns can act as cis-elements to enhance gene expression without altering promoter specificity. Here, we engineered the castor bean catalase 1 first intron (CatI) by mutagenesis and identified...
Integrative multi-omics reveals regulators of oil accumulation in soybean seed
Available online 29 May 2026
Integrated multi-omics analyses were conducted on nine soybean cultivars throughout seed maturation. Representative metabolic biomarkers covering six metabolite classes effectively differentiated oil-contrasting...
Using male sterility for random intercrossing to increase QTL mapping resolution in self-pollinated plants
Available online 28 May 2026
The purpose of this study was to develop a method for producing high-resolution mapping populations without the disadvantages of rare alleles and population structure, combining the advantages of biparental...
Monitoring of overwintering leaf age by integrating phenological, temporal, and thermal data: An indicator for assessing winter wheat seedling condition
Available online 28 May 2026
Leaf age is one of the important parameters for describing crop growth stages. In actual production, cultivation methods can be adjusted in a timely manner according to leaf age, which can promote rapid...
Development of wheat-tetraploid Thinopyrum elongatum 1E translocation lines and mapping of the adult-plant resistance gene Yr1EL to stripe rust
Available online 28 May 2026
Thinopyrum elongatum (2n = 4x = 28) harbors multiple valuable resistance genes and serves as a valuable genetic resource for wheat improvement. Yr1EL was primarily identified on chromosome arm 1EL of...
GWAS-based identification of heterosis-associated genes for yield traits in maize testcross populations
Available online 25 May 2026
Heterosis is central to breeding high-yielding maize (Zea mays L.). To dissect the genetic basis of heterosis for yield-related traits, we constructed four testcross populations using four diverse inbred...
Gene-edited staple crops: Global research and development and industrial prospects
Available online 18 May 2026
Gene-editing methods have significantly advanced genetic improvement and variety development in major food crops and have potential to make further major contributions to food security and human health....
The BM-SZ gene encoding an α/β hydrolase is essential for wax accumulation in sorghum
Available online 14 May 2026
Plant cuticular wax forms a hydrophobic barrier that protects plants against various biotic and abiotic stresses, including drought, UV radiation, and pathogen infections. Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.)...
