Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
6.7
3.4
Journals
Agronomy
Special Issues
Integrated Strategies for Enhancing Lodging Resistance and Yield Performance in...
share announcement

Integrated Strategies for Enhancing Lodging Resistance and Yield Performance in Cereal Crops

A special issue of Agronomy (ISSN 2073-4395). This special issue belongs to the section "Innovative Cropping Systems".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 June 2026 | Viewed by 4184

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Guangyan Li

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Agricultural College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
Interests: crop physiology and chemical regulation
Dr. Peng Yan

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agriculture Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
Interests: green and efficient chemical regulation strategies for sustainable crop production
Dr. Yaliang Wang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
China National Rice Research Institute, Hangzhou 310006, China
Interests: rice high-yield physiology and mechanization research
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The conflict between preventing cereal lodging and obtaining high yields is a prevailing challenge that besets modern agriculture. Lodging directly induces yield losses, reduces the quality of grains and hinders mechanized harvesting. With the growing use of high-yield varieties, higher planting densities and increased application of fertilizer, the risk of lodging has become greater. Furthermore, due to the intensification of climate change, extreme weather conditions such as strong winds and rainfall occur more frequently, further impacting the efficacy of high-yield cultivation models. This Special Issue of Agronomy, “Integrated Strategies for Enhancing Lodging Resistance and Yield Performance in Cereal Crops”, seeks to address these issues.

We aim to highlight integrated, sustainable approaches that bridge crop physiology, genetics, agronomy practice, and precision technologies to establish efficient, lodging-resistant cultivation technology that can be used to acquire high yields.

We encourage to contribute studies on high yield and lodging traits, including ideal plant architecture, optimized agronomic practices (e.g., fertilization, irrigation, growth regulators), and advanced tools like sensor-based monitoring or AI-driven modelling.

Dr. Guangyan Li
Dr. Peng Yan
Dr. Yaliang Wang
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Agronomy is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • cereal yield
  • lodging resistance
  • integrated management strategies

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (4 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

17 pages, 3992 KB  
Article
X-Ray Diffraction Methods for Microfibril Angle Measurement in Maize and Sorghum Stalks
by Yusuf A. Oduntan and Daniel J. Robertson
Agronomy 2026, 16(5), 532; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy16050532 - 28 Feb 2026
Viewed by 327
Abstract
Stalk lodging (the structural failure of plant stems prior to harvest) remains a major constraint to global cereal crop production, reducing yields, impairing grain quality, and increasing harvest losses. Since cellulose microfibrils are the primary load-bearing components in plant cell walls, the microfibril [...] Read more.
Stalk lodging (the structural failure of plant stems prior to harvest) remains a major constraint to global cereal crop production, reducing yields, impairing grain quality, and increasing harvest losses. Since cellulose microfibrils are the primary load-bearing components in plant cell walls, the microfibril angle is widely considered a critical determinant of stalk mechanical properties. X-ray diffraction is a common technique for microfibril angle measurement, yet its applicability to cereal crops has not been fully validated. This study assessed the utility of X-ray diffraction based microfibril angle measurements for maize (Zea mays) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) stalks using the T-parameter method. Rind tissue samples from multiple maize and sorghum genotypes were analyzed using two diffractometers with copper (Cu) and molybdenum (Mo) X-ray sources. Corresponding internodes were also evaluated for rind penetration resistance, material bending stiffness, and bending strength to test whether measured microfibril angles reflected biologically meaningful variation. Across all genotypes and internodes, including preliminary observations from phenotypic extremes in select groups, microfibril angle values were highly uniform, with maize averaging 24.6° (Cu) and 29.1° (Mo) and sorghum averaging 24.3° (Cu) and 29.4° (Mo). microfibril angles exhibited extremely low variability (coefficient of variation < 3.3%), in stark contrast to the much higher variability observed in mechanical properties (CV = 20.5–47.1%). Systematic differences of ~20% between Cu- and Mo-based measurements were consistent across sample groups. Correlations between microfibril angle and mechanical properties were weak or absent; only Cu-derived microfibril angle showed a marginal relationship with bending stiffness, while Mo-derived microfibril angle showed no significant correlations. Pooled analyses further confirmed that microfibril angle remained nearly constant despite a wide range of mechanical property values. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that X-ray diffraction based microfibril angle measurements using the T-parameter method have limited applicability to cereal stalk tissues, as the method failed to capture biologically relevant variation. The uniformity of measured angles, lack of correlation with mechanical properties, and dependence on X-ray source raise concerns about the suitability of this method for maize and sorghum. These results highlight the need for refined or alternative microfibril angle measurement techniques to better understand the role of cellulose microfibril orientation in stalk lodging resistance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrated Strategies for Enhancing Lodging Resistance and Yield Performance in Cereal Crops)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

26 pages, 3853 KB  
Article
Artificially-Induced Lodging Penalties on Grain Number and Weight at Specific Spike Positions of Three Wheat Genotypes Released in Different Decades in the Huang-Huai-Hai Region of China
by Dianliang Peng, Jingmin Zhang, Xingcui Wang, Wenchao Cao, Yuhai Tang, Haicheng Xu and Tie Cai
Agronomy 2026, 16(5), 529; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy16050529 - 28 Feb 2026
Viewed by 377
Abstract
Lodging is a major constraint limiting wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yield and quality globally. Despite dwarfing genes reducing plant height and mitigating lodging risk and losses, lodging still severely limits wheat yield. Few studies have examined how wheat breeding has altered the [...] Read more.
Lodging is a major constraint limiting wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yield and quality globally. Despite dwarfing genes reducing plant height and mitigating lodging risk and losses, lodging still severely limits wheat yield. Few studies have examined how wheat breeding has altered the sensitivity of yield to lodging, especially its penalties in grain number and grain weight at specific spike positions. Two separate experiments were conducted in the Huang-Huai-Hai region of China: a lodging-period experiment (two genotypes, five periods) during the 2011–2013 growing seasons, and a lodging-angle experiment (three genotypes, five angles) during the 2019–2021 growing seasons. The results showed that grain number per m2 (GNO), average grain weight (AGW), and grain yield (GY) all increased linearly with genotype release year. Lodging significantly reduced GNO and AGW, and consequently GY in all genotypes, but these losses declined linearly with the year of genotype release, indicating that modern genotypes suffer less yield penalty under lodging. Furthermore, lodging at any stage reduced the weight of both superior and inferior grains within the spike, whereas only pre-anthesis lodging decreased grain number per spike. Inferior grains, owing to their higher environmental sensitivity, showed larger reductions in both grain number and grain weight per spike than superior grains. Across all genotypes, lodging decreased grain number and grain weight per spike in the order apical > basal > central, and the relative losses declined linearly with year of genotype release. Moreover, lodging-induced losses in 13C assimilation followed the order old > intermediate > modern across genotype eras; the reduction in 13C assimilation within the spike ranked apical > basal > central, and that in superior grains exhibited the same pattern. Concurrently, the allocation of 13C assimilates to inferior grains was markedly inhibited across all spike positions, with the reduction magnitude significantly exceeding that in superior grains. Lodging-induced differential changes in 13C assimilation among grain positions within each spike layer are associated with the uneven reductions in grain number and average grain weight across the spike. These findings may provide a basis for lodging-resistant wheat production and cultivar breeding. Artificial lodging induction can serve as a reliable strategy to efficiently evaluate yield stability and lodging tolerance. However, its applicability to other wheat regions needs further verification via multi-location and multi-cultivar trials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrated Strategies for Enhancing Lodging Resistance and Yield Performance in Cereal Crops)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 2506 KB  
Article
Chlormequat Chloride and Uniconazole Regulate Lodging Resistance and Yield Formation of Wheat Through Different Strategies
by Huimin Li, Tao Li, Wenan Weng, Gege Cui, Haipeng Zhang, Zhipeng Xing, Luping Fu, Bingliang Liu, Haiyan Wei, Hongcheng Zhang and Guangyan Li
Agronomy 2025, 15(11), 2475; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15112475 - 24 Oct 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1274
Abstract
Lodging is one of the key limiting factors in achieving high wheat yield. The application of plant growth retardants (PGRts) is regarded as an effective practice to prevent lodging. For accurate PGRt selection and the establishment of stable, high-yield production plans, it is [...] Read more.
Lodging is one of the key limiting factors in achieving high wheat yield. The application of plant growth retardants (PGRts) is regarded as an effective practice to prevent lodging. For accurate PGRt selection and the establishment of stable, high-yield production plans, it is essential to make clear the regulation strategies for lodging resistance and yield in PGRts. Field experiments were conducted at two test sites. At the initial jointing stage of wheat, Chlormequat Chloride (CCC) or Uniconazole (S3307) was sprayed. Compared with the control (CK), spraying CCC or S3307 significantly reduced the culm lodging index (CLI) and decreased the lodging rate from 7.1% to 15.6%. CCC was more capable of adjusting plant morphology (reducing plant height and second internode length and increasing stem diameter), while S3307 was more effective in enhancing breaking strength. The contents of GA, IAA, and zeatin nucleoside (ZR) and the activities of lignin-related enzymes (TAL and CAD) were significantly correlated with different stem indicators and CLI. Compared with CK, the yield after spraying CCC or S3307 increased by 6.5% and 6.0%, respectively. CCC mainly enhanced the yield by increasing grain weight per spike and the SPAD value of leaves, while S3307 mainly did so by increasing the number of spikes and the effective leaf area. Moreover, carbon metabolism-related enzymes (Rubisco, SS, and SPS) were significantly positively correlated with the yield. The enzyme activity of CCC was higher at the heading stage, while that of S3307 was higher at the filling stage. Hence, spraying CCC or S3307 can significantly enhance lodging resistance and yield. The optimal PGRts should be selected based on the climate and the growth stage of the wheat. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrated Strategies for Enhancing Lodging Resistance and Yield Performance in Cereal Crops)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 2361 KB  
Article
Regulation of Nitrogen Utilization and Lodging Resistance of Rice in Northeast China Through Continuous Straw Return and Nitrogen Fertilizer Application
by Zixian Jiang, Meikang Wu, Zilin Wang, Liqun Yao, Dongchao Wang, Xintong Ma, Guangxin Zhao, Xiaoshuang Wei and Zhihai Wu
Agronomy 2025, 15(9), 2043; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15092043 - 26 Aug 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1231
Abstract
Combining straw return with nitrogen fertilizer application is an effective strategy to enhance farmland productivity, improve soil structure, and mitigate climate change. Although straw return practices are widely recommended in agricultural ecosystems targeting sustainable agriculture, few studies have investigated the combined effects of [...] Read more.
Combining straw return with nitrogen fertilizer application is an effective strategy to enhance farmland productivity, improve soil structure, and mitigate climate change. Although straw return practices are widely recommended in agricultural ecosystems targeting sustainable agriculture, few studies have investigated the combined effects of consecutive years of straw return and nitrogen-fertilizer interactions on rice yield, nitrogen use, and lodging resistance, as well as the potential interactions among these variables. To investigate the effects of consecutive years of rice straw return and nitrogen fertilizer inputs on rice growth, a straw return experiment was conducted in 2021–2022 in Northeast China. The test crop was rice (cv. Jinongda No. 667), with four nitrogen fertilizer levels: 0 kg/ha (N0), 125 kg/ha (N1), 150 kg/ha (N2), and 175 kg/ha (N3). Five straw-return treatments were applied: no straw (S0), straw return to the field for one year (S1), continuous straw return to the field for two years (S2), continuous straw return to the field for three years (S3), and continuous straw return to the field for four years (S4). Results indicated that under the same straw return year, the N3 yield, nitrogen accumulation, nitrogen use efficiency, and apparent utilization were the highest. Under the same nitrogen treatment condition, S1 significantly reduced yield, nitrogen accumulation, nitrogen use efficiency, apparent nitrogen utilization, and lodging index compared to S0. However, under N3 conditions, S3 did not significantly differ from S0. Both S3 and N3 enhanced nitrogen uptake, translocation, and accumulation in rice. Their significant interactive effect increased yield while simultaneously enhancing the lodging resistance and stem strength. The study findings highlighted the effects of years of straw return and nitrogen fertilizer application on crop yield and resistance traits. They further demonstrated that the combination of straw return and optimized nitrogen fertilizer inputs could improve resource utilization and result in a high-yielding and efficient crop population. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrated Strategies for Enhancing Lodging Resistance and Yield Performance in Cereal Crops)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-4
Back to TopTop