The present study examined whether overexpression of TaATG8 enhanced tolerance of wheat seedlings to NaCl stress. TaATG8-overexpressed seedlings showed higher autophagic activity, decreased ROS production, and improved activities of POD, SOD, and CAT under NaCl stress. TaATG8-mediated autophagy inhibited programmed cell death in wheat leaves at the seedling stage during NaCl treatment.

Fixation of phosphorus is harmful for crop production due to the lower availability of phosphorus, which is greatly affected by the presence of iron and aluminium content in Ultisol and Oxisol. The phosphorus availability is mainly dependent on soil pH, cation exchange capacity, dissolved organic matter, and divalent cations of calcium and magnesium. The combined application of rice straw and its biochar would be a cost-effective approach in increasing phosphorus availability due to changes in the soil mentioned above.

Establishment of true heterotic pattern in maize germplasm can increase the efficiency of hybrid breeding, and therefore, it is useful to compare efficiency of SSRs linked to yield-related traits with that of random SSRs for heterotic grouping. Mean performance of inter-heterotic group crosses generated on the basis of random markers was superior to that of intra-heterotic crosses. Specific combining ability effects did not reveal significant association with genetic distance of random or linked markers.

Common vetch (Vicia sativa) and the closely related but neglected/underutilised V. macrocarpa are potential sources of seed feed in dry regions. In a field study of three accessions of each for two growing seasons, no significant differences in seed weight per plant were found, but they differed significantly in seed protein concentration, potassium, manganese, phenolics and resistance to bruchids. Comparison of larger numbers of accessions is necessary for evaluating the potential of V. macrocarpa as a putative source of seed feed.

The presence of undesirable long chain fatty acids such as erucic acid in the oil of Brassica species makes it unfit for human consumption. This study explored the existence of variation for the oil content and fatty acid composition among Brassica species and genotypes for the creation of new cultivars with an enhanced oil quality. Five promising genotypes were found with low erucic acid and low glucosinolates content (i.e. ‘00’ characteristics).

Lolium rigidum is one of the most problematic weeds of cereal crops in southern Australia. Seed dormancy of different L. rigidum populations was analysed, and genes responsible for the control of seed dormancy were identified. Findings from our research enhance understanding of the genes involved in regulating seed dormancy, their expression over time, and how loss of dormancy is associated with changes in gene expression.

Bromus diandrus is a serious weed of cereal crops in South Australia and is responsible for significant yield decline in wheat. Seed dormancy of different B. diandrus populations analysed for 3 years revealed genetic variation, and genes responsible for the control of seed dormancy were identified. The findings improve understanding of the genes involved in regulating seed dormancy, their expression over time, and how loss of dormancy is associated with changes in the gene expression.

This manuscript contains information regarding the production, agronomic, nutritional and physiological characteristics of hay from forage grasses commonly used in pasture. The rate at which pasture grass genotypes lose water soluble carbohydrates during hay production was low, and the haymaking process did not cause losses in the degradation of dry matter, neutral detergent fibre and crude protein. The evaluated pasture grass genotypes of grasses commonly used as pasture have potential and can be used for haymaking.