Key message SlHair5 is a pivotal regulatory node downstream of the H–H4 module that coordinates epidermal differentiation with leaf morphogenesis and plant architecture through a dosage-sensitive transcriptional network and a reciprocal feedback loop. Abstract C2H2-type zinc finger proteins (C2H2 ZFPs) are essential regulators of plant development, yet the mechanisms governing their functional diversification and hierarchical...

Pre-harvest sprouting (PHS) is a major constraint on wheat production in Korea, reducing grain quality and end-use value. To accelerate the development of PHS-resistant cultivars with improved agronomic performance, we employed a marker-assisted backcrossing (MABC) approach using molecular markers previously reported in the literature. For foreground selection, 81 molecular markers (74 KASP and 7 gel-based) targeting key genes...