Maize breeding enhances lodging resistance through vertical allocation changes of stem dry matter and nitrogen.

ABSTRACT: The maize stem provides structural support to other plant organs and stores carbohydrates and nitrogen (N) that can be remobilized to grain. Yet it remains unknown whether breeding programs have indirectly affected vertical stem dry matter and N allocation. Our objectives were to i) determine the dry matter and N allocations across different stem portions in maize hybrids released from 1980 to 2020 at the start (R2) and end of grain-filling period (R6), and ii) investigate the dry matter and N remobilization patterns by stem portion. We studied 23 Bayer Crop Science hybrids (release year 1980 to 2020) of different relative maturities (short and long maturity) in 2021 and 2022. Stem dry weight, N concentration, and N content by stem portion (four equal-length sections) were measured at R2 a

SUBMITTER: Ruiz A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11949881 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature