**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** WHEAT IS AN IMPORTANT CROP FOR GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY. MODERN BREEDING AND MANAGEMENT PRACTICES HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVED THEIR GENETIC GAIN OVER THE LAST 40 YEARS. HOWEVER, IT IS NOT SUFFICIENT TO KEEP UP WITH FOOD DEMANDS FOR THE PROJECTED GLOBAL POPULATION IN 2050.TO KEEP PACE WITH EMERGENT CHALLENGES DUE TO CHANGING CLIMATIC CONDITIONS, DISEASES, AND PESTS, BROADENING ITS GENETIC BASE WITH NOVEL GENES/ALLELES AGAINST THESE STRESSES IS CRITICAL FOR GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY. INTEGRATION OF GERMPLASM, GENETICS, AND GENOMIC RESOURCES WITH NEW BREEDING METHODOLOGIES WILL BE REQUIRED TO SUSTAINABLY PRODUCE ENOUGH FOOD TO MEET THE 2050 CHALLENGE.THIS PROPOSAL INTEGRATES GERMPLASM, GENETICS, AND GENOMICS RESOURCES AS THE BASE FOR OUR GERMPLASM DEVELOPMENT PIPELINE THAT WILL GENERATE IMPROVED WHEAT CULTIVARS ADAPTED TO MARYLAND AND THE BROADER MID-ATLANTIC REGION.IN THIS PROPOSAL, WE WILL INCREASE THE SEEDS OF TARGETED LINES FOR THEIR LARGE-SCALE TESTING FOR DISEASES, YIELD, AND QUALITY TRAITS, AND TOP-PERFORMING LINES WILL BE RELEASED FOR THE FARMER'S WELFARE IN MD.