Pan-omics and modern biotechnology driven dissection of wheat stress adaptation: Integrative strategies for climate-smart crop improvement

Wheat serves as a fundamental pillar of global food security, functioning as a primary source of dietary energy and protein for a substantial proportion of the world’s population. Recent progress in wheat science has driven notable gains in productivity, largely attributable to advances in breeding technologies, genomics and molecular biology. In this review, we synthesize key developments in wheat research, with particular emphasis on the convergence of modern biotechnological tools and an increasingly refined understanding of wheat genetic architecture and physiology. We highlight the transition from conventional multi-omics frameworks, which typically analyze individual datasets in isolation to integrative pan-omics paradigms that unify diverse omics layers across pangenomic scales to shift from simple data integration to context-driven causal inference. This shift has markedly improved the resolution at which genome organization, allelic variation, and complex regulatory networks are characterized, thereby facilitating the dissection of multifactorial agronomic traits. By incorporating genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, phenomics, and epigenomics into unified analytical platforms, pan-omics enables a systems-level interpretation of genotype–phenotype relationships, particularly under complex and combined abiotic stress environments. Furthermore, the integration of pan-omics with advanced methodologies including genome editing, high-throughput phenotyping, and artificial intelligence provides a robust foundation for predictive breeding and precision crop design. We also highlight critical knowledge gaps, emerging research priorities, and strategic technological interventions required to accelerate wheat improvement over the coming decade. Given projections that global wheat demand will rise by approximately 60% by 2050, sustained innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the deployment of integrative pan-omics-driven approaches will be indispensable. Such efforts are essential to enhance yield potential, nutritional quality, and resilience to climate variability, thereby ensuring sustainable wheat production systems for future generations.