Volume 1 (2025) 

The effects and mechanisms of individual and combined drought-resistant genes on wheat grain quality

Yongyu Tan, Hong Cheng, Zhiying Zheng, Xuekun Zhang, Guangsheng Zhou

Volume 1 (2025), Article ID: eip1v0207a  

Published: 2025-02-07 (Received:  2024-11-16; Revised: 2025-01-30; Accepted: 2025-02-05) 

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15584111 

Citation

Tan Y, Cheng H, Zheng Z, Zhang X, Zhou G. The effects and mechanisms of individual and combined drought-resistant genes on wheat grain quality. Engineering Innovation and Practice, 2025, 1, eip1v0207a.

Abstract

Wheat is a globally important cereal crop, and its yield and quality are significantly constrained by drought stress. Drought resistance, as a complex trait regulated by multiple genes, exhibits varying effects under different environmental conditions. This study focuses on drought-resistant genes A, B, and C and their combinations, systematically evaluating their effects on wheat grain quality, particularly thousand-kernel weight, under both normal irrigation and drought stress conditions. Using KASP molecular marker technology, precise detection and genotyping of the three drought-resistant genes were conducted. The results indicate that individual drought-resistant genes have limited effects on improving grain quality, whereas gene combinations significantly enhance grain quality. Notably, the A+B and A+C combinations demonstrated stronger positive effects under drought conditions, highlighting the importance of gene interactions in improving grain quality. Based on the findings, a breeding strategy integrating multi-gene pyramiding and marker-assisted selection is proposed to enhance wheat's drought resistance and grain quality. This study not only provides a theoretical basis for drought-resistant breeding and grain quality improvement in wheat but also offers scientific support for ensuring food security and promoting sustainable agriculture in the context of global climate change.

Keywords

wheat drought resistance, grain quality improvement, multi-gene pyramiding, marker-assisted selection, climate-resilient agriculture

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