Crop Science最新文献

{"title":"Canopy structure of different cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) cultivars: Studying the distribution patterns of water and light impacting the leaf area index, biomass distribution, and yield components","authors":"Fahmida Sultana, Washu Dev, Babar Iqbal, Yingchun Han, Lu Feng, Beifang Yang, Yaping Lei, Yahui Jiao, Yunzhen Ma, Yabing Li","doi":"10.1002/csc2.70286","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.70286","url":null,"abstract":"This study aimed to elucidate how canopy architecture influences the distribution and utilization of soil moisture and light, with the ultimate goal of improving cotton yield performance under different environmental conditions. This study, conducted over 2 years (2020–2021) at the Institute of Cotton Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Anyang, China, evaluated six <i>Gossypium hirsutum</i> L. (Upland cotton) varieties (T-0, Ji228, SCRC28, TQ-1, CCRI50, and CCRI60) using a randomized complete block design. The investigation focused on patterns of soil moisture and light distribution across different canopy architectures to identify traits associated with high yield performance. Soil moisture was monitored using sensor grids, while light interception (LI) and leaf area index (LAI) were measured throughout the growing season across six cotton cultivars. Loose-type varieties such as Ji228 and SCRC28 exhibited higher LAI values (up to 4.23), greater vegetative biomass (up to 11,063.98 kg hm⁻²), and higher LI (ranging from 0.54 to 0.85). Soil moisture was mainly utilized in the 20- to 60-cm depth, with losses in the 0–20 cm and 60–80 cm layers. Ji228 and SCRC28 achieved the highest seed cotton yields in both years. Canopy structure significantly affects water and light distribution, influencing biomass accumulation and yield. Loose-type varieties, particularly Ji228 and SCRC28, demonstrated superior performance, indicating their adaptability and potential for higher yield under diverse environmental conditions.","PeriodicalId":10849,"journal":{"name":"Crop Science","volume":"26 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-04-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147753438","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Harnessing heterogeneity within soybean cultivars to prioritize loci for quantitative trait improvement","authors":"Anser Mahmood, Elizabeth De Meyer, Mariola Usovsky, Clinton Meinhardt, Michael Dennigmann, Asheesh K. Singh, George Graef, Eliana Monteverde Dominguez, Qijian Song, Trupti Joshi, Jacob D. Washburn, Kristin Bilyeu, Andrew Scaboo","doi":"10.1002/csc2.70283","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.70283","url":null,"abstract":"Soybean [ <jats:italic>Glycine max</jats:italic> (L.) Merr.] cultivars are presumed to be highly homogeneous; however, intra‐cultivar variation has been reported in previous studies. The objective of this study was to characterize intra‐cultivar variation and utilize it to identify sublines that out‐perform source cultivars for agronomic and seed composition traits. Additionally, we aimed to identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and candidate genes underlying these traits. Multiple sublines derived from high‐yielding soybean cultivars outperformed source cultivars for both agronomic and seed composition‐related traits. Across subline populations, protein content QTLs were identified on soybean chromosomes 1, 10, 14, and 19, with the effect sizes ranging from 3 to 7 g kg <jats:sup>−1</jats:sup> . Additionally, two QTLs on chromosomes 10 and 16 were identified for oil content with effect sizes of 5 and 4 g kg <jats:sup>−1</jats:sup> , respectively. These protein and oil QTLs were non‐pleiotropic for seed composition and yield, offering a valuable resource for soybean breeders to improve seed composition without negatively impacting grain yield. An additional QTL located on chromosome 13 was associated with plant height. Through investigating functional impacts of genetic variation, we were able to identify candidate genes underlying QTL. A candidate gene, <jats:italic>Glyma.13G196000</jats:italic> , for plant height was identified containing a ∼40 bp deletion encompassing the stop codon. Overall, this study provides a framework for characterization of genomic regions associated with important quantitative traits in soybean. Furthermore, our results demonstrate the potential of exploiting intra‐cultivar variation for agronomic and seed quality trait improvement.","PeriodicalId":10849,"journal":{"name":"Crop Science","volume":"100 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-04-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147739517","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Seed coat color stability and its genetic associations in green lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.)","authors":"Matt D. Remenda, Robert Stonehouse, Kirstin E. Bett","doi":"10.1002/csc2.70278","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.70278","url":null,"abstract":"Green lentil (<i>Lens culinaris</i> Medik.) is typically consumed whole; consequently, the color of the seed coat is an important factor in determining its market value. However, green seed coat color is not stable and tends to deteriorate toward dark brown over time. This reduces the desirability of the lentil seed and results in a lower market value. The purpose of this project was to generate information to assist breeders in developing strategies for improving seed coat color stability in green lentil. The population used in this study (LR-06) consists of 160 recombinant inbred lentil lines and was grown in three replications, in two locations, during the summers of 2019, 2021, and 2022. Approximately 200 individual seeds from each plot were imaged using a high-throughput imaging device at different time points, post-harvest. Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage (CIE) L*a*b* scores were extracted from images using BELT's accompanying software, PhenoSEED. Mixed linear models were used to evaluate the predictability of seed coat color quality following aging based on the initial screenings. The results of this study provide evidence that lentil seed coat color quality following aging is predictable based on these initial screenings. Genotyping was performed using a legume single nucleotide polymorphism chip, and the genotypic data, combined with CIE L*a*b* scores, were used to perform quantitative trait locus analysis. The results of this analysis provide evidence that seed coat color quality is genetic and specific regions of the genome can be targeted during selection.","PeriodicalId":10849,"journal":{"name":"Crop Science","volume":"19 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-04-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147735920","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"An energy dispersive x‐ray fluorescence method for screening grain calcium, zinc, iron, manganese, and copper in wheat","authors":"Emily F. Klarquist, Jessica L. Braden, Sean M. Finnie, Kevin M. Murphy, Kimberly Garland‐Campbell","doi":"10.1002/csc2.70284","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.70284","url":null,"abstract":"Biofortification is a sustainable and cost‐effective strategy that uses plant breeding and agronomic approaches to improve the nutrient content of staple crops consumed by vulnerable populations. The approach requires high‐throughput phenotyping to effectively identify and develop nutrient‐rich genotypes. This study aimed to develop a multielement, nondestructive method to quantify calcium (Ca), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) in whole seed wheat ( <jats:italic>Triticum aestivum</jats:italic> L.) samples using a benchtop energy dispersive x‐ray fluorescence (EDXRF) spectrometer. Grain samples from 29 and 41 wheat genotypes were used for the EDXRF calibration and validation, respectively. A microwave plasma–atomic emission spectrometer (MP‐AES) provided the analyte reference values for each sample. The EDXRF calibration showed moderate to high correlation with MP‐AES values for Ca, Mn, Cu, and Zn, while Fe exhibited a weak correlation. The limits of quantification (mg kg <jats:sup>−1</jats:sup> ) were 103.9 for Ca, 8.5 for Mn, 3.5 for Fe, 4.7 for Zn, and 1.0 for Cu—all below the observed analyte range in wheat grain. The method is suitable for use in early generation selection, as indicated by standard errors of prediction (mg kg <jats:sup>−1</jats:sup> ) of 36.4 for Ca, 3.3 for Mn, 2.5 for Fe, 0.3 for Cu, and 1.5 for Zn. This study builds upon previous nondestructive EDXRF methods by introducing additional elements that can be reliably phenotyped in wheat, supporting broader use in biofortification programs.","PeriodicalId":10849,"journal":{"name":"Crop Science","volume":"8 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-04-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147655926","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Short‐stature maize hybrids reduce the number of locations with wind damage by 64% in the US Midwest","authors":"Byron Evers, Frank G. Dohleman, Kevin R. Kosola, Ty J. Barten, Jiarui Li, Jonathan W. Reneau, Erin E. Sparks, Magen Eller, Lillian Brzostowski, Timothy Wertin, Connie Davis, Mike Hall, Lyle Ralston, Alex Renaud","doi":"10.1002/csc2.70281","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.70281","url":null,"abstract":"Future agricultural systems must become more resilient as the impacts of climate change increase. One expected outcome of climate change is an increase in severe thunderstorms with high velocity straight line winds, with deleterious impacts on crops. We collected in‐season standability data from short‐stature maize ( <jats:italic>Zea mays</jats:italic> L.) hybrids derived from both conventional breeding and biotechnology approaches and tall comparators from 444 site‐years on standability between 2019 and 2021. This large dataset provides us with an overview of the frequency of crop damage from storms, as well as a comparison of short‐stature and tall hybrid performance when exposed to damaging winds. Looking at data across locations and germplasm, 10.6% of tall hybrid plots sustained some level of wind damage, while 3.8% of short‐stature hybrid plots sustained damage, a 64% reduction. Root lodging observations comprise the largest standability dataset, with 39 site‐years. Stalk lodging and greensnap were less common, with 9 and 8 site‐years, respectively. Yield data from 41 locations with plant damage show a range of yield loss from 28 to 75 kg ha <jats:sup>−1</jats:sup> per unit of plant damage, depending on the type of damage, with an average loss of 34 kg ha <jats:sup>−1</jats:sup> per unit of total plant damage. Reduced root lodging in short‐stature hybrids can be partially explained by a reduction in height combined with a reduction in the stiffness of the root system. The reduction of plant damage for short‐stature maize hybrids will provide risk mitigation for growers under more variable climate conditions in the future.","PeriodicalId":10849,"journal":{"name":"Crop Science","volume":"63 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-04-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147655938","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Remain thou as thou art: The bargain of vegetabling","authors":"Irwin L. Goldman","doi":"10.1002/csc2.70280","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.70280","url":null,"abstract":"Vegetabling resulted in the development of a unique food source comprised of highly immature plant organs that delivers desirable textures, flavors, and nutritional diversity to human diets. In contrast to some dry‐seeded crops, perishable vegetables require enormous inputs of energy and technology during the postharvest period to preserve their quality. A vast cold chain to preserve fresh produce and myriad technologies designed to dry, salt, freeze‐dry, can, pickle, freeze, juice, and irradiate vegetables consumes enormous financial and human resources that must be deployed quickly before vegetables rot. This gave us purpose. But despite our efforts, estimates indicate up to 45% of vegetables are wasted due to spoilage. While perhaps unanticipated during domestication efforts, the consequences of vegetabling have resulted in far‐reaching technological, energetic, and societal complexities that extend to the ability to control microbial growth, significantly reduce water activity in moisture‐filled plant tissues, and stop time by producing a shelf‐stable vegetable product that can last for years. Successfully processing perishable plant products represents a triumphal consequence of the vegetabling project for at least two primary reasons: a dramatic increase in both food security and economic value. Yet vegetabling can only continue as long as humans are willing to consistently provide efforts to preserve vegetable tissues, a situation that is not required for dry‐seeded crops. By creating them, humans have entered into a bargain with vegetables that is Sisyphean in nature. Vegetables without us would revert to non‐perishable, mature plant organs and limit our dietary diversity; vegetables with us require Herculean efforts at preservation, providing us with purpose, but not allowing us to rest.","PeriodicalId":10849,"journal":{"name":"Crop Science","volume":"19 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147598820","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"N‐terminal Rht‐A1 mutations modify spring wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) plant height","authors":"Caleb O. Hale, Josey M. Ugrin, McKenna M. Volkman, Emma M. Tracy, John M. Martin, Andrew C. Hogg, Michael J. Giroux","doi":"10.1002/csc2.70279","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.70279","url":null,"abstract":"The <jats:italic>Reduced Height‐1</jats:italic> ( <jats:italic>Rht‐1</jats:italic> ) gene in wheat ( <jats:italic>Triticum aestivum</jats:italic> L.) has been well studied since the introgression of semidwarfing alleles <jats:italic>Rht</jats:italic> ‐ <jats:italic>B1b</jats:italic> and <jats:italic>Rht</jats:italic> ‐ <jats:italic>D1b</jats:italic> into many wheat varieties in the mid‐20th century. <jats:italic>Rht‐B1b</jats:italic> and <jats:italic>Rht‐D1b</jats:italic> increase plant productivity but also reduce single grain weight and protein content. Other alleles of <jats:italic>Rht‐1</jats:italic> as well as other height‐affecting genes have been studied to provide breeders with alternative ways to modify plant height. To find <jats:italic>Rht‐A1</jats:italic> alleles that could be used to fine tune plant height and other phenotypic traits that are affected by <jats:italic>Rht‐1</jats:italic> , an ethyl methanesulfonate mutagenized Alpowa spring wheat population was screened for <jats:italic>Rht‐A1</jats:italic> N‐terminal mutations. Nine mutations were identified and characterized through yeast two‐hybrid experiments to measure the impact each mutation had upon interaction with the gibberellin receptor GID1. Near isogenic lines were created by backcrossing the nine alleles into the cultivars Vida and Duclair, both with and without the semidwarfing allele <jats:italic>Rht‐B1b</jats:italic> , and tested in preliminary spaced‐plant trials. Five of these <jats:italic>Rht‐A1</jats:italic> alleles (including a nonsense mutation allele, <jats:italic>Rht‐A1</jats:italic> ‐Q6*) were selected for inclusion in full density yield trials. Only one mutant allele, <jats:italic>Rht‐A1‐</jats:italic> E63K, consistently decreased height across tested backgrounds. This included a height decrease of 6 cm and a yield increase of 12% in a “tall” background when no other height reducing alleles were present. The <jats:italic>Rht‐A1</jats:italic> ‐E63K mutation occurs within the LExLE motif where <jats:italic>Rht</jats:italic> ‐ <jats:italic>B1b</jats:italic> and <jats:italic>Rht</jats:italic> ‐ <jats:italic>D1b</jats:italic> mutations also occur, emphasizing the importance of this locus to the function of <jats:italic>Rht‐1</jats:italic> .","PeriodicalId":10849,"journal":{"name":"Crop Science","volume":"19 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147598819","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Identification of candidate genes regulating maize leaf angle based on GWAS","authors":"Jialei Ou, Xian Dong, Shiya Zhang, Dong Wang, Fanli Yang, Shuaishuai Zhang, Yalan Li, Caihui Zhang, Jiahao Tie, Junnan Li, Congnian Ding, Longxiang Guan, Xiangyang Guo, Pengshuai Yan","doi":"10.1002/csc2.70282","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.70282","url":null,"abstract":"Leaf angle (LA) is a key determinant of maize plant architecture, affecting light capture, canopy efficiency, and yield in dense cropping systems. We assessed LA in 368 maize ( <jats:italic>Zea mays</jats:italic> L.) hybrids across six environments and performed genome‐wide association studies using 359,809 high‐quality single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). This revealed 94 significant LA‐associated loci, including two co‐localized SNPs (rs_2_201960860 and rs_2_201960877) consistently identified across environments. Eight candidate genes were linked to this region, among which <jats:italic>Zm00001d006212</jats:italic> displayed high leaf tissue expression. Haplotype analysis revealed that the LA values associated with Hap1, Hap2, and Hap3 of Zm00001d006212 were significantly lower than those associated with Hap4, further supporting its contribution to LA variation. A molecular marker was designed based on Zm00001d006212 sequence variants. This marker demonstrated that plants with the target band had significantly larger LA than those without. These findings offer new insights into the genetic regulation of LA and present molecular tools for optimizing maize plant architecture via marker‐assisted breeding.","PeriodicalId":10849,"journal":{"name":"Crop Science","volume":"25 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147586427","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Screening strategies and heritability estimation for allelopathy in cereal rye ( Secale cereale L.)","authors":"Aliyah W. Jackson, James B. Holland, Virginia M. Moore, Chris Reberg‐Horton, Steven B. Mirsky, Ramon Leon‐Gonzalez","doi":"10.1002/csc2.70275","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.70275","url":null,"abstract":"The demand for cereal rye ( <jats:italic>Secale cereale</jats:italic> L.) as a cover crop is rising in organic and conventional farming systems due to its benefits to soil conservation and health as well as for weed suppression. Cereal rye produces allelochemicals that reduce weed emergence and growth. However, breeding programs for cover cropping have focused on biomass production, and little attention has been paid to breeding for increased allelopathy. In this study, 38 crosses derived from lines previously identified as highly allelopathic accessions and commercial cereal rye varieties ND Gardner and Aroostook were screened for allelopathic activity using the in vitro, equal‐compartment‐agar method with lettuce as the bioindicator. After in vitro phenotyping, allelopathic activity was also assessed in a loam soil under greenhouse conditions. Lettuce growth suppression was used as a surrogate of weed suppression, and vegetative growth of lettuce was characterized. Fourteen lines demonstrated high allelopathic activity causing &gt;50% lettuce growth reduction. In vitro, broad‐sense heritability ( <jats:italic>H</jats:italic> ) estimates were 0.82 and 0.57, for lettuce injury and root reduction, respectively. In soil, <jats:italic>H</jats:italic> for lettuce injury 7 days after planting and shoot biomass reduction was 0.17 and 0, respectively. Cereal rye allelopathic activity in vitro was strongly genetically correlated ( <jats:italic> r <jats:sub>G</jats:sub> </jats:italic> = 0.73–0.94) with plant height, leaf area, tiller number, and dry biomass. The <jats:italic>H</jats:italic> estimates in vitro indicate that allelopathy has a genetic component large enough to justify breeding for increased allelopathy in cereal rye, and that vegetative growth traits can be part of the selection criteria for this trait.","PeriodicalId":10849,"journal":{"name":"Crop Science","volume":"18 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147536121","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Maintaining good leaf water status, but not intrinsic biological nitrogen fixation, is a key factor for drought tolerance in US peanut cultivars","authors":"Qiong Zhang, Phat Dang, Xiaoxing Zhen, Yucheng Feng, William Batchelor, Marshall Lamb, Charles Y. Chen, Alvaro Sanz‐Saez","doi":"10.1002/csc2.70271","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.70271","url":null,"abstract":"Peanut ( <jats:italic>Arachis hypogaea</jats:italic> L.) is an important oil crop for its nutritional benefits and its ability for biological nitrogen fixation (BNF). However, peanut faces significant challenges from drought, which reduces BNF efficiency and leads to yield loss. Understanding the relationship between BNF‐related physiological traits and yield in peanut under drought is crucial for breeding drought‐tolerant peanut genotypes. In this study, we examined multiple peanut genotypes for yield, δ <jats:sup>15</jats:sup> N (a BNF indicator), N concentration, photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, and leaf water status‐related traits with drought and well‐water treatments in rainout shelters. There were significant correlations between yield and photosynthesis, leaf relative water content (RWC), seed δ <jats:sup>15</jats:sup> N, and plant nitrogen (N) uptake. Genotypic variations were observed in yield, seed δ <jats:sup>15</jats:sup> N, seed and shoot N%, seed and shoot N uptake, and specific leaf area in both 2019 and 2020, with RWC observed only in 2019. Drought‐tolerant genotypes having higher yield showed BNF was included in this group (as indicated by its lower δ <jats:sup>15</jats:sup> N). This suggests that maintaining effective BNF contributes to higher yields under drought. Interestingly, plants characterized as “water spenders” (having high stomatal conductance) also had high BNF levels, thus corresponding to contrasting characteristics of being “water savers.” This observation can be attributed to the maintenance of favorable leaf water status in drought‐tolerant genotypes, regardless of their stomatal conductance. Overall, sustaining adequate leaf water status during drought is foundational for efficient BNF, thereby contributing to improved yields, particularly in drought‐tolerant peanut genotypes. In this study we did not find cultivars with intrinsic BNF that are tolerant to drought even though the plant has a bad leaf water status. This could be an opportunity to find such types of cultivars that exist in other collection and introgress them in US lines to provide another layer of protection against drought.","PeriodicalId":10849,"journal":{"name":"Crop Science","volume":"106 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147536120","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}