Study Reveals Gene that Reduces Wheat Grain Weight

Mar 13, 2025

Wheat, a vital global crop for food security, faces challenges from climate change and a growing population, making yield improvement crucial for future production. A study published in the Plant Biotechnology Journal highlights the gene affecting wheat grain weight and filling.

The Wox gene family encodes transcription factors essential for plant growth and development. However, the role of Wox genes in cereal crops remains unclear, particularly with yield traits like thousand kernel weight (TKW). Since starch comprises up to 85% of wheat grain dry weight, sucrose metabolism plays a crucial role in determining TKW and overall yield. In this study, scientists used CRISPR to understand the effect of TaWUS-like-5D on the grain yield of wheat.

The study revealed that the edited single and double knockout mutants (AABBdd and AAbbdd) showed significantly larger grains and higher TKW, with yield increasing by 10%.

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Video: Dr. Emerson Nafziger: Nitrogen Fertilizer Rates for Corn

The Crop Science Podcast Show, Dr. Emerson Nafziger from the University of Illinois breaks down decades of nitrogen research. From the evolution of N rate guidelines to how soil health and hybrid genetics influence nitrogen use efficiency, this conversation unpacks the science behind smarter fertilization. Improving how we set nitrogen fertilizer rates for rainfed corn is a key focus. Discover why the MRTN model matters more than ever, and how shifting mindsets and better data can boost yields and environmental outcomes. Tune in now on all major platforms!

"The nitrogen that comes from soil mineralization is the first nitrogen the plant sees, and its role is underestimated."

Meet the guest:

Dr. Emerson Nafziger is Professor Emeritus of Crop Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, with degrees in agronomy from Ohio State, Purdue, and Illinois. His research has focused on nitrogen rate strategies and crop productivity. He co-developed the Maximum Return to Nitrogen (MRTN) model, which is widely used across the Midwest. His research spans N response trials, hybrid interactions, crop rotation effects, and yield stability.