Feng Guo

Wheat is an important global food crop. The peduncle significantly impacts the plant’s height, architecture, and yield, and understanding its genetic mechanisms is crucial not only for improving wheat’s architecture but also for enhancing its yield. In this study, we identified an elongated uppermost internode (eui) mutant in the EMS-induced progeny of Jinmai 90 (JM90). We conducted phenotypic identification, genetic analysis, and cytological observation combined with transcriptome and targeted hormone metabolism analysis and compared the differences between the eui mutant and the wild-type (WT). The results indicated that an incompletely dominant gene mutation caused the eui mutant to display significant elongation of the peduncle and an increase in the plant height. This was attributed to the considerable elongation of parenchyma cells, while no significant differences were noted in other internodes. These traits were accompanied by an increase in the spikelets per spike and grains per spike. Subsequently, transcriptome and targeted hormone metabolome sequencing were performed and identified 15,969 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 27 hormone-related differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs). KEGG enrichment analysis indicated that the DEGs in MS1_VS_WS1 were significantly enriched in two pathways: those related to tryptophan metabolism and diterpenoid biosynthesis. Analysis indicated that the peduncle elongation caused by the eui mutant is primarily regulated by auxin. This study offers a foundation for the exploration and cloning of genes associated with the peduncle, establishing a theoretical basis for understanding the molecular mechanisms behind wheat peduncle elongation and for developing ideal plant types and breeding high-yield varieties.

Premature leaf senescence has a profound influence on crop yield and quality. Here, a stable premature senescence mutant (GSm) was obtained from the common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivar Chang 6878 by mutagenesis with ethyl methanesulfonate. The differences between the GSm mutant and its wild-type (WT) were analyzed in terms of yield characteristics, photosynthetic fluorescence indices, and senescence-related physiological parameters. RNA sequencing was used to reveal gene expression differences between GSm and WT. The results showed that the yield of GSm was considerably lower than that of WT. The net photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, maximum quantum yield, non-photochemical quenching coefficient, photosynthetic electron transport rate, soluble protein, peroxidase activity, and catalase activity all remarkably decreased in flag leaves of GSm, whereas malondialdehyde content distinctively increased compared with those of WT. The analysis of differentially expressed genes indicated blockade of chlorophyll and carotenoid biosynthesis, accelerated degradation of chlorophyll, and diminished photosynthetic capacity in mutant leaves; brassinolide might facilitate chlorophyll breakdown and consequently accelerate leaf senescence. NAC genes positively regulated the senescence process. Compared with NAC genes, expression of WRKY and MYB genes was induced earlier in the mutant possibly due to increased levels of reactive oxygen species and plant hormones (e.g., brassinolide, salicylic acid, and jasmonic acid), thereby accelerating leaf senescence. Furthermore, the antioxidant system played a role in minimizing oxidative damage in the mutant. These results provides novel insight into the molecular mechanisms of premature leaf senescence in crops.