Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a fundamental crop essential for both human and animal consumption. Addressing the challenge of enhancing wheat yield involves sophisticated applications of molecular genetics and genomic techniques. This review synthesizes current research identifying and characterizing pivotal genes that impact traits such as grain size, number, and weight, critical factors influencing overall yield. Key genes including TaSPL17, ABP7, TaGNI, TaCKX6, TaGS5, TaDA1, WAPO1, TaRht1, TaTGW-7A, TaGW2, TaGS5-3A, TaSus2-2A, TaSus2-2B, TaSus1-7A, and TaSus1-7B are examined for their roles in these traits. The review also explores genes responsive to environmental changes, which are increasingly significant under current climate variability. Multi-trait regulatory genes and quantitative trait loci (QTLs) that contribute to these traits are discussed, highlighting their dual influences on grain size and yield. Furthermore, the paper underscores the utility of emerging technologies such as CRISPR/Cas9, Case13, and multi-omics approaches. These innovations are instrumental for future discoveries and are poised to revolutionize wheat breeding by enabling precise genetic enhancements. Facing unprecedented challenges from climate change, the identification and utilization of these candidates is crucial. This review aims to be a comprehensive resource for researchers, providing an integrative understanding of complex traits in wheat and proposing new avenues for research and crop improvement strategies.

Cadmium is a toxic, carcinogenic element that threatens food safety due to its tendency to be absorbed by plants along with essential nutrients. This study conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) using SNP genotyping data from 170 natural maize populations to analyze cadmium content in maize grains across three environments. The MLM_Q+Kinship and MLM_PCA+Kinship models identified 6424 (HN), 991 (JMO), and 1358 (JMT) SNPs linked to cadmium accumulation in the MLM_Q+Kinship model, with 121 SNPs common across all environments. Additionally, the MLM_PCA+Kinship model detected 824 (HN), 950 (JMO), and 910 (JMT) SNPs, with 14 shared loci. In total, 126 reliable SNP loci, representing 14 QTLs, were identified, highlighting 12 superior haplotypes and 2 favorable alleles. A negative correlation between these loci and cadmium content was observed. Within 100 kbp of the QTLs, 45 candidate genes were identified, associated with 11 GO terms and 5 KEGG pathways. Analysis revealed 12 maize lines with at least one stable locus, all of which showed reduced Cd levels. Key hybrids, such as CAU95×CAU65 and CAU95×CAU266, demonstrated the potential for low Cd accumulation. This study provides valuable insights for breeding maize with reduced Cd uptake using stable gene loci discovered through GWAS.

Grain traits, including kernel dimensions and weight, are key determinants of maize yield and quality. To dissect their genetic basis, we evaluated kernel