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TiO2 foliar spray improved late-sown wheat yield and quality

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Research area:biology-geneticsplant-biology

What the study found

The study found that foliar titanium dioxide (TiO2) improved late-sown wheat performance, with the 501 μmol L–1 treatment at the booting stage giving the strongest overall effect. The abstract reports improvements in photosynthetic measures, yield components, and grain quality.

Why the authors say this matters

The authors conclude that this approach may help offset the losses caused by late sowing, which occurs when wheat misses the usual photoperiod and temperature conditions for growth. They present TiO2 application as a way to improve the yield-quality relationship in late-sown wheat.

What the researchers tested

The researchers ran a two-year field experiment on late-sown wheat. They tested TiO2 foliar application at two timings: booting stage (S1) and flowering stage (S2), and four concentrations: 0, 376, 501, and 626 μmol L–1.

What worked and what didn't

TiO2 application increased photosynthetic pigment accumulation, including SPAD and spectroscopic indices such as CHI and PRI, and improved net photosynthetic rate. It also increased antioxidant enzyme activity (SOD and POD) and reduced membrane lipid peroxidation products (MDA), with T2 showing the most pronounced effect. At S1, TiO2 increased florets and spikelets and improved grain setting rate and grain number per spike; at S2, it improved grain filling rate and thousand-grain weight. The abstract says T2 also improved grain quality indicators such as protein content, wet gluten, and sedimentation value.

What to keep in mind

The summary describes results from a two-year field experiment on late-sown wheat, so the findings are limited to that context. The abstract does not provide detailed statistical values, environmental conditions, or information about whether the results would generalize beyond the tested field setting.

Key points

  • Late-sown wheat experienced yield losses because it missed optimal photoperiod and temperature conditions.
  • Foliar TiO2 improved photosynthetic pigments, net photosynthetic rate, and antioxidant enzyme activity.
  • The 501 μmol L–1 treatment (T2) showed the strongest overall effect in the abstract.
  • Applying TiO2 at booting stage increased grain number per spike.
  • Applying TiO2 at flowering stage increased thousand-grain weight.
  • The abstract reports improved grain quality, including protein content, wet gluten, and sedimentation value.

Disclosure

Research title:
TiO2 foliar spray improved late-sown wheat yield and quality
Authors:
Wenqiang Tian, Meilin Hu, Shan Yu, Ji Zhang, Ji Zhang, Xuehui Wang, Guangzhou Chen, Weijun Yang, Shubing Shi, J. Wang, Jinshan Zhang, Jinshan Zhang
Institutions:
China Agricultural University, Tumaini University, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps
Publication date:
2026-03-09
DOI:
10.3390/plants15050840
OpenAlex record:
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AI provenance: This post was generated by gpt-5.4-mini (OpenAI). The original authors did not write or review this post.

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