An Overview of Aegilops tauschii-Associated Wheat Damage and Generic Resources

Abstract

A. tauschii is the wild progenitor that contributed the D genome to common wheat. Since the 1990s, however, it has progressively become a destructive weed in northern China, posing a serious threat to wheat production. This review systematically summarizes current knowledge of A. tauschii, including its taxonomy, population differentiation, mechanisms underlying infestation and crop damage, environmentally sustainable management strategies, and the exploitation of its genetic resources. Two ecotypes have been identified in China: the wild-type and the weed-type. The weed-type spreads rapidly through pathways such as contaminated seed lots. Owing to its highly synchronized life cycle with winter wheat, strong environmental adaptability, prolific reproductive capacity, and superior competitive ability for ecological niches, A. tauschii can rapidly establish populations within wheat fields, resulting in substantial yield losses. Current management strategies emphasize an integrated control system combining primary agronomic practices, chemical control for rapid intervention, and smart agricultural technologies to enhance monitoring and precision management. A. tauschii represents an invaluable reservoir of genes associated with abiotic stress tolerance, disease resistance, and yield-related traits. Future research should integrate advances across multiple disciplines to simultaneously improve weed management and maximize the utilization of this important genetic resource.