Lodging resistance and yield potential of winter wheat: effect of planting density and genotype

Abstract

Improved lodging resistance is important for achieving high yield in irrigated environments. This study was conducted to determine genotypic variation in lodging resistance and related morphological traits among winter wheat cultivars planted at two densities, and to identify key traits associated with lodging resistance. Lodging performance of 28 genotypes, including 24 released cultivars and four advanced lines, was evaluated at 250 plants per square meter and 500 plants per square meter in Shandong province during the 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 crop seasons. At the higher density, the average grain yield was 2.6% higher, even though lodging score rose by as much as 136%. The higher planting density increased lodging through increased leaf area index (LAI), plant height, center of gravity and length of basal internodes, and reduced grain weight per spike and diameter of the lower two stem internodes. LAI, center of gravity and diameter of first internodes, as the important indicators for lodging resistance, were significantly correlated with lodging score, with R = 0.62, 0.59 and -0.52 (P < 0.01), respectively. Plant pushing resistance was significantly associated with diameter and length of the first internodes (R = 0.71-0.77, P < 0.01), indicating it could be used to assess the strength of the lower stem. Higher planting density could be used to select genotypes with lodging resistance in irrigated environments. Cultivars carrying high plant density tolerance and high yield potential, such as Jimai 22 and Liangxing 66, were recommended as leading cultivars for production as well as elite crossing parents for further increasing yield potential in the Yellow and Huai Valleys Winter Wheat Zone in China.

Lodging markedly reduced the biomass of sweet sorghum via decreasing photosynthesis in saline-alkali field

“…Lodging had a consistently negative effect on crop growth [17], sugar accumulation [11] and seed yield [18]. In the present paper, for the first time, the effect of lodging on the plant growth, sugar accumulation and photosynthetic parameter of sweet sorghum when cultivated in the saline-alkali soil was investigated.…”

The Effects of Planting Density on Lodging Resistance, Related Enzyme Activities, and Grain Yield in Different Genotypes of Oilseed Flax

“…Another investigation showed that decreasing plant density improved the structure of sclerenchyma and vascular bundles by increasing lignification, thus resulting in more lignin deposited in the secondary cell walls and stronger lodging resistances (Zheng et al, 2017). The mechanical strength of winter wheat stems can be modified by the lignin content (Xiao et al, 2015). Transcriptomic analyses in Brassica napus L. of lodging resistance traits showed that the upregulated genes were mainly involved in glycoside catabolic processes (especially glucosinolate catabolism) and cell wall biogenesis, whereas downregulated genes were involved in glucosinolate biosynthesis, indicating that crosstalk exists between glucosinolate metabolic processes and lignin biosynthesis.…”

Field‐based mechanical phenotyping of cereal crops to assess lodging resistance

“…4D, Table 2). This approach has been applied to winter wheat (Xiao et al, 2015), canola (Wu and Ma, 2016), and rice (Kashiwagi and Ishimaru, 2004). Interestingly, this approach is very similar to the bending tests used to assess stalk lodging, varying only in the placement of the device lower on the stem and closer to the soil surface.…”

“…Interestingly, this approach is very similar to the bending tests used to assess stalk lodging, varying only in the placement of the device lower on the stem and closer to the soil surface. Although this approach is often presented as a measure of root anchorage, one study notes that it is difficult to separate this measure as indicative of root lodging distinct from stalk lodging (Xiao et al, 2015). For example, in rice the bending moment calculated from prostrate testing of the lowest internodes was highly predictive of Blaster‐induced stalk lodging (Shrestha et al, 2020).…”