Transcriptome, Metabolome, and Physiological Analysis Provide New Insights into the Mechanism of Prostrate/Erect Growth Habits in the Wheat Overwintering Period

Plant architecture is a key agronomic trait affecting the crop yield. Distinct growth habits markedly influence the above-ground morphological structure, photosynthetic efficiency, and yield. Therefore, this study investigated the mechanisms underlying distinct wheat growth habits during overwintering at physiological, transcriptional, and metabolic levels to provide a theoretical foundation for breeding environmentally adaptable wheat varieties. The results showed that wheat with an erect growth habit exhibited higher levels of soluble sugars, starch, cellulose, lignin, and SPAD content compared with those with a prostrate growth habit. Transcriptomics and nontargeted metabolomics analyses revealed that lignin biosynthesis, ABC transporters, starch and sucrose metabolism, and glycerolipid and glycerophospholipid metabolism were key pathways underlying the differentiation of erect and prostrate growth habits in the wheat overwintering period. These findings elucidate the genetic and metabolic regulation of wheat growth habits and identify breeding targets to optimize plant architecture for enhanced environmental adaptation and productivity.