Seed priming is a presowing technique in which seeds are moderately hydrated to the point where pregermination metabolic processes begin without actual germination. It is a simple and effective approach for improving stand establishment, economic yields and tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses in various crops. However, it reduces the longevity of high-vigour seeds and improves the longevity of low-vigour seeds. Seed priming techniques are also effective for micronutrient delivery at planting in field crops.

Lodging is a major problem affecting the high and stable yield of winter wheat in the North China Plain. In this study, the lodging resistance of wheat in the field was measured for seven consecutive years, and data regarding lodging-related traits were obtained. The results will be useful in improving the evaluation methods for wheat lodging resistance, and help our understanding of the relationship between wheat stalk characteristics and lodging resistance.

Applying the multi-ovary trait to hybrid wheat can effectively improve the propagation coefficient and potentially promote the development of hybrid wheat. This study investigated the grain developmental process and explored the penetrance and seed vigour of different grains in multi-ovary wheat. This paper lays a theoretical foundation for the practical application of the multi-ovary trait in hybrid wheat, and our results could be implemented in fostering future breeding activities focussed on the development of high yield wheat cultivars.

Barley, used as dual-purpose crop, can provide supplementary grazing during winter. However, the accessibility of carbohydrates for rumen microbial digestion is limited by the presence of lignin. Thus, this study investigated ruminal fermentation traits of the orange lemma (rob1) mutation in barley, which is associated with a lower lignin content. The results confirm a lower lignin content in the mutant line, but the effects on nutrient degradability largely depend on the vegetation stage of harvest.

Flax-leaf alyssum is an important weed of cereals and canola in Iran. Laboratory experiments were conducted to examine the effects of different environmental conditions on seed germination of two populations of this weed. The results of this study indicate that flax-leaf alyssum germinates under a wide range of climatic conditions.

One of the challenges of using silvopastoral system (SPS) is maintaining pasture and animal productivity over time. A joint analysis of experiments conducted over time was done to attain conclusions on pasture and cattle productivity under a long-term SPS. From the 7th year onwards, the increase of shade decreased forage production while weight gain per area was reduced from the 17th year. Signal grass presents a high phenotypic plasticity degree, which gives this specie high potential for use in SPS.