Abstract
Crops frequently encounter diverse stressors, and plants have evolved a range of phenotypic, physiological, genetic, and biochemical mechanisms to cope. One such response, known as plant memory, allows plants to "store and recall" past stress experiences, potentially enhancing performance across generations. While this adaptive response has been examined in plant-pathogen interactions, its role in crop-weed competition remains underexplored. This research investigates multigenerational priming stress memory in wheat under repeated weed competition, focusing on growth and phenotypic plasticity, the role of plant growth regulators, and gene expression changes. Wheat (Triticum aestivum) serves as an ideal model due to its global importance and use in crop rotation systems to manage weed pressure. Weeds such as kochia (Bassia scoparia) and Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) are major competitors, significantly impacting wheat yields and showing resistance to multiple herbicides. This study hypothesizes that wheat exposed to multigenerational weed competition will show enhanced competitive ability, driven by adaptive epigenetic responses. The research aims to assess the growth and physiological responses of wheat, examine the influence of plant growth regulators, and identify gene expression changes associated with multigenerational stress exposure. Findings could offer insights for breeding more competitive crops and inform sustainable management practices to mitigate yield losses from weed competition. This study has the potential to advance our understanding of crop-weed interactions and contribute to strategies that enhance agricultural resilience.