biostudies-literatureLi Mthe project of Shanxi Province key lab constructionNatural Science Foundation of ShanxiShanxi Provincial Special Project for Science and Technology Cooperation and Exchangethe College Students Innovation Training Program of Shanxi Agricultural University153https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12787808biostudies-literatureUnknown15(1)Improving yield and nitrogen-use efficiency (NUE) is essential for dryland winter wheat. We hypothesized that cultivars classified as high-yield and high-efficiency (HH) achieve superior performance through coordinated root-canopy traits that enhance water and nitrogen acquisition, sustain post-anthesis photosynthesis, and maintain assimilate and nitrogen remobilization. A two-year field experiment was conducted using ten regionally representative cultivars, which were grouped into HH, high-yield and low-efficiency (HL), low-yield and high-efficiency (LH), and low-yield and low-efficiency (LL) types based strictly on grain yield and NUE. Measurements included yield components, grain-filling, dry matter accumulation and partitioning, soil water use, nitrogen uptake and remobilization, and rPlants (Basel, Switzerland)Root-Canopy Coordination Drives High Yield and Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Dryland Winter Wheat.PMC12787808202404041101052202203021222157S202410113001Z13505009017-3-10Li YZhang DZhang YCao YLin WGao ZZhang LLi MfalseRoot-Canopy Coordination Drives High Yield and Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Dryland Winter Wheat.Improving yield and nitrogen-use efficiency (NUE) is essential for dryland winter wheat. We hypothesized that cultivars classified as high-yield and high-efficiency (HH) achieve superior performance through coordinated root-canopy traits that enhance water and nitrogen acquisition, sustain post-anthesis photosynthesis, and maintain assimilate and nitrogen remobilization. A two-year field experiment was conducted using ten regionally representative cultivars, which were grouped into HH, high-yield and low-efficiency (HL), low-yield and high-efficiency (LH), and low-yield and low-efficiency (LL) types based strictly on grain yield and NUE. Measurements included yield components, grain-filling, dry matter accumulation and partitioning, soil water use, nitrogen uptake and remobilization, and r2026-01-01T00:00:00Z2026 Jan2026-06-09T03:10:14.333Z2026-06-09T03:07:21.231ZS-EPMC127878084151509910.3390/plants15010153