The Genetic Basis of Wheat Spike Architecture

Zhen Ji, Xin Liu, Fei Yan, Shouqing Wu and Yanfang Du ()
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Zhen Ji: State Key Laboratory of Wheat Improvement, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
Xin Liu: State Key Laboratory of Wheat Improvement, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
Fei Yan: State Key Laboratory of Wheat Improvement, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
Shouqing Wu: State Key Laboratory of Wheat Improvement, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China
Yanfang Du: State Key Laboratory of Wheat Improvement, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an 271018, China

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 15, 1-20

Abstract: Wheat is one of the three major staple crops globally. The wheat spike serves as the primary structure bearing wheat grains. Spike architectures of wheat have a direct impact on the number of grains per spike, and thus the grain yield per spike. The development of wheat spike morphology is conserved to some extent in cereal crops, yet also exhibits differences, being strictly regulated by photoperiod and temperature. This paper compiles QTLs and genes related to wheat spike traits that have been published over the past two decades, summarizes the photoperiod and vernalization pathways influencing the transition from vegetative to reproductive growth, and organizes the key regulatory networks controlling spikelet and floret development. Additionally, it anticipates advancements in wheat gene cloning methods, challenges in optimizing wheat spike architecture for high yield and future directions in wheat spike trait research.

Keywords: Triticum aestivum L.; inflorescence architecture; spike-yield related traits; QTLs; regulatory network (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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