High plant density is considered a proficient approach to increase maize production in countries with limited agricultural land; however, this creates a high risk of stem lodging and kernel abortion by reducing the ratio of biomass to the development of the stem and ear. Stem lodging and kernel abortion are major constraints in maize yield production for high plant density cropping; therefore, it is very important to overcome stem lodging and kernel abortion in maize. In this review, we discuss various morphophysiological and genetic characteristics of maize that may reduce the risk of stem lodging and kernel abortion, with a focus on carbohydrate metabolism and partitioning in maize. These characteristics illustrate a strong relationship between stem lodging resistance and kernel abortion. Previous studies have focused on targeting lignin and cellulose accumulation to improve lodging resistance. Nonetheless, a critical analysis of the literature showed that considering sugar metabolism and examining its effects on lodging resistance and kernel abortion in maize may provide considerable results to improve maize productivity. A constructive summary of management approaches that could be used to efficiently control the effects of stem lodging and kernel abortion is also included. The preferred management choice is based on the genotype of maize; nevertheless, various genetic and physiological approaches can control stem lodging and kernel abortion. However, plant growth regulators and nutrient application can also help reduce the risk for stem lodging and kernel abortion in maize.

Nitrogen (N) fertilizer application greatly enhances grain yield by improving dry matter accumulation and grain filling in spring maize. However, how N application rates regulate the vascular bundle structure, matter transport and grain filling of spring maize under a high planting density has been poorly understood thus far. In this study, we analyzed the relationship between grain filling, vascular bundle structure and matter transport efficiency (MTE) of spring maize in the field. Zhongdan909 (ZD909) was used as the experimental material in a 2-year field experiment from 2015 to 2016, and it was grown under different N levels (0, 150, and 300 kg N ha–1) applied to the grain-filling stage of plots with planting densities of 67,500 plants ha–1 (ND) and 90,000 plants ha–1 (HD). Nitrogen application significantly optimized the structure of the big and small vascular bundles. In particular, there was an increase in the total number of small vascular bundles in the peduncle and cob of the ear system, i.e., increases of 51.8% and 25.7%, respectively, and the proportions of small vascular bundles to the total number of vascular bundles in the peduncle and cob were significantly increased. The root bleeding sap and MTE of maize were significantly increased by N application under both ND and HD, as indicated by the significant increase in the rate of 13C-photosynthate allocation to grain and amount of postsilking dry matter at maturity. Moreover, N application greatly improved the mean grain-filling rate (Gmean) under ND and HD by 30.0% and 36.1%, respectively, and the grain-filling rate increased, leading to a distinct improvement in the grain sink at the grain-filling stage. We concluded that nitrogen application significantly optimized the vascular bundle structure of the ear system, increased the MTE and improved photosynthate distribution to the grain, ultimately enhancing the filling rate and grain yield.

Increasing plant density is one of the most efficient ways of increasing wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grain production. However, overly dense plant populations have an increased risk of lodging. We examined lignin deposition during wheat stem development and the regulatory effects of plant density using the wheat cultivars shannong23 and weimai8. Plants were cultivated at densities of 75, 225 and 375 plants per m during two growing seasons. Our results showed that decreasing plant density enhanced culm quality, as revealed by increased culm diameter, wall thickness and dry weight per unit length, and improved the structure of sclerenchyma and vascular bundles by increasing lignification. In addition, more lignins were deposited in the secondary cell walls, resulting in strong lodging resistance. The guaiacyl unit was the major component of lignin and there was a higher content of the syringyl unit than that of the hydroxybenzyl unit. Furthermore, we hypothesised that the syringyl unit may correlate with stem stiffness. We describe here, to the best of our knowledge, the systematic study of the mechanism involved in the regulation of stem breaking strength by plant density, particularly the effect of plant density on lignin biosynthesis and its relationship with lodging resistance in wheat.

The pink stem borer, Sesamia nonagrioides (Lefebvre), is one of the most important insect pests of maize (Zea mays L.) in northwestern Spain. The objectives of this work were to evaluate, at different times during the growth of maize, structural traits related to the entry point and tissues on which larvae feed and to determine the relationship between these structural traits and the stem borer resistance. Six inbred lines with different levels of stem resistance to S. nonagrioides were evaluated in several trials. Potential structural resistance factors included rind and pith puncture resistance (RPR and PPR), rind thickness, length of the meristematic area (LMA), and pith parenchyma interlumen thickness (PPIT). Surprisingly, the inbred lines that showed the strongest stalks, EP42 and EP47, were not stem resistant to pink stem borer attack, while the stem resistant inbreds A509, CM151, and PB130 were among the least resistant to rind puncture. There were no significant differences among resistant and susceptible inbreds for the rind thickness. However, the susceptible inbred EP42 had the softest internode pith, and the resistant inbred PB130 showed the hardest, as was expected. Susceptible inbred lines in general showed higher values for the LMA, while the PPIT was important for individual inbreds. The results suggest that the usefulness of these characters as estimators of pink stem borer resistance is limited to some genotypes. Besides, even among those genotypes, other mechanisms of resistance that do not involve stalk strength could be present. Among the traits considered, the LMA was the most promising as an indicator of resistance to pink stem borer, although further experimentation is necessary.

高温胁迫是影响水稻产量和品质形成的主要环境因素之一。本文概述了高温胁迫对水稻籽粒灌浆和稻米品质形成的影响，并从同化物的积累与转运、碳氮代谢关键酶活性、内源激素以及分子机理等方面综述了其生物学机制；讨论了减轻水稻高温危害的关键技术措施和水稻响应高温胁迫机制的重点研究方向，为水稻抗高温育种和栽培提供一定的理论依据。

【目的】根系是玉米获取水分和养分的重要器官，塑造合理的根系结构是发挥玉米高产潜力的关键，也是目前玉米栽培研究中亟待解决的重要科学问题。乙矮合剂和施氮均会影响玉米根系发育，明确乙矮合剂对不同施氮量夏玉米根系形态构建和产量的影响，可为玉米高产高效栽培管理和合理施肥提供理论和技术依据。【方法】2019年和2020年分别在廊坊市燕郊镇大柳店村和北京市顺义区中国农业科学院顺义试验基地开展田间试验，以玉米单交种豫单9953为试验材料，采用裂区试验设计，设置乙矮合剂处理（ECK）和清水对照（CK）为主区；6个施氮水平0（N0）、96（N96）、132（N132）、168（N168）、204（N204）和240 kg·hm^-2（N240）为副区，研究乙矮合剂对不同施氮量夏玉米根系形态构建和产量的影响。【结果】施氮显著增加了根干重、气生根条数、根长、根表面积和根体积，相比不施氮处理，各施氮量下夏玉米根干重、气生根条数，根长、根表面积和根体积分别平均增加15.0%—25.2%、31.7%—71.7%、15.5%—30.8%、19.0%—40.9%和28.8%—54.0%。ECK处理下夏玉米根干重、根层数、1—2层根和气生根条数相比CK分别增加10.4%—17.0%、5.8%—12.6%、10.8%—3.9%和12.5%—79.6%；在根系形态构建上，相比CK，ECK处理下夏玉米根长、根表面积和根体积分别增加7.5%—21.0%、8.4%—29.3%和14.3%—38.8%，并且在中高氮水平（≥N204）根系直径在1.0 mm以上的根长增幅最大。ECK处理对2019和2020年N0—N168夏玉米单产无显著影响，显著提高了N204和N240夏玉米单产，与CK相比，在N204平均增加6.3%，在N240平均增加3.2%。相关性分析结果表明，夏玉米产量与粒数、千粒重、根长、根表面积和根体积呈极显著正相关，其中产量与根长相关系数最高。【结论】乙矮合剂和施氮协同促进了夏玉米根系发育，并提高了中高氮条件下夏玉米单产，在本试验条件下，6展叶期喷施乙矮合剂配施240 kg·hm^-2氮肥是适用于环京津地区的夏玉米高产高效栽培技术与氮肥管理方案。

Shaping the canopy architecture and delaying leaf senescence in maize are pivotal strategies for extending the crop’s photosynthetic period and improving yield. The application of plant growth regulators (PGRs) is a critical cultivation measure, with the timing of application being of paramount importance. To explore the effects of PGR application time on maize canopy structure, leaf senescence characteristics and yield, a comparative two-year field study was undertaken during the 2019–2020 growing seasons at the Gongzhuling Experimental Station of the Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, utilizing a PGR containing ethephon as the active ingredient. The experiment was structured with two plant densities of 60,000 and 90,000 plants ha−1, and three distinct PGR application protocols: T10 (application of PGR at the 10th leaf stage), T15 (application at the 15th leaf stage), and CK (control group sprayed with water). The result indicated that the yield increased by 5.62% following T15 treatment compared to the CK under high density (90,000 plants ha−1). Furthermore, the kernel per ear and the 1000-kernel weight increased by 3.93% and 5.62% respectively, while the abortion rate decreased. Correlation analysis showed that yield and yield components were correlated with plant morphology, physiology, and aging characteristics under 90,000 plants ha−1. Pollen density was also positively correlated with the top leaf area and the top leaf angle (p < 0.01). Furthermore, relative green leaf area at maturity (RGLAM) showed positive correlations with chlorophyll b, superoxide dismutase activity (SOD), peroxidase activity (POD), catalase activity (CAT), and soluble protein content (p < 0.01), while displaying a negative correlation with malondialdehyde content (MDA) (p < 0.01). Spraying plant growth regulators at the 15-leaf stage under high density can effectively enhance the top canopy structure of the maize and reduce the upper leaf area and angle, increase pollen density, and boost the number of grains. Furthermore, it delayed the senescence of leaves, prolonged the functional period of the leaves, increased kernel weight, optimized light resource utilization, and ultimately enhanced the maize yield.

Leaf angle, as one of the important agronomic traits of maize, can directly affect the planting density of maize, thereby affecting its yield. Here we used the ZmLPA1 gene mutant lpa1 to study maize leaf angle and found that the lpa1 leaf angle changed significantly under exogenous brassinosteroid (BR) treatment compared with WT (inbred line B73). Transcriptome sequencing of WT and lpa1 treated with different concentrations of exogenous BR showed that the differentially expressed genes were upregulated with auxin, cytokinin and brassinosteroid; Genes associated with abscisic acid are down-regulated. The differentially expressed genes in WT and lpa1 by weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) yielded two gene modules associated with maize leaf angle change under exogenous BR treatment. The results provide a new theory for the regulation of maize leaf angle by lpa1 and exogenous BR.

【目的】研究滴灌条件下不同用量腐植酸对新疆棉田土壤养分及棉花生长发育的影响,为新疆棉花生产中腐植酸的应用提供理论依据。【方法】采用田间小区试验,设置CK(0 L/hm²,不施腐植酸),T₁(腐植酸225 L/hm²),T₂(腐植酸450 L/hm²),T₃(腐植酸675 L/hm²)4个处理,分析其对棉田土壤养分、棉花生长发育、产量与品质的影响。【结果】腐植酸显著增加了土壤养分有效性,施用量675 L/hm²时土壤碱解氮含量增加了16.36%~25.66%,有效磷含量增加了23.85%~32.22%,速效钾含量增加了20.15%~29.95%,提高了棉花的光合特性,同一生育期棉花干重和单株叶面积随着腐植酸用量的增加而逐渐增加,在施用量为450 L/hm²时对提升棉花株高和茎粗的效果最佳。棉花产量分别增加了18.60%、27.44%、10.61%。提高了棉花品质,施用量450 L/hm²提高了棉花马克隆值等级。【结论】施用腐植酸提高了土壤养分有效性,增加了土壤速效养分含量,提高了棉花产量和品质,以施用量为450 L/hm²效果最佳。

为探究植物生长调节剂对优质粳稻光合特性、产量与品质的影响,以绥粳18、垦稻12和三江6为试验材料,研究剑叶展开期喷施脱落酸(ABA)、6-苄氨基腺嘌呤(6-BA)、己酸二乙氨基乙醇酯(DA-6)、亚精胺(Spd)、3-吲哚丁酸(IBA)、3,5-二硝基水杨酸(SA)、油菜素内酯(BL)、玉米素(ZT)、三十烷醇(TRIA)、茉莉酸甲酯(MeJA)和N6-呋喃甲基腺嘌呤(KT)对水稻产量、品质和光合特性的影响。结果表明:与对照(CK)相比,喷施BL提高了抽穗后水稻干物质积累和茎鞘物质转运能力,增加了每穗粒重、千粒重、结实率和粒叶比,两年平均增产7.61%;喷施6-BA有利于延长抽穗期至蜡熟期绿叶面积持续期,改善抽穗后光合特性,增加每穗粒数、每穗粒重、千粒重和粒叶比,两年平均增产6.40%;而喷施DA-6、ZT、ABA、Spd、IBA、SA和KT的增产效果存在品种和年份间稳定性差异。在品质上,喷施DA-6和ZT提高了精米率和整精米率,改善了稻米外观品质。综上,剑叶展开期喷施BL和6-BA有利于供试品种增产,而喷施DA-6和ZT则更有利于稳产或增产前提下提质。

【目的】研究并明确种植密度和植物生长调节剂对玉米茎秆性状的影响,可为合理密植、构建适宜群体结构、实现玉米高产抗逆栽培提供理论依据和技术支撑。【方法】以JK968为试验材料,设置6.0×10 ⁴株/hm ²（D1）、7.5×10 ⁴株/hm ²（D2）和9.0×10 ⁴株/hm ²（D3）3个密度水平,以及乙烯利矮壮素复配剂（EC）和喷施清水为对照（CK）2个处理,研究种植密度对玉米茎秆性状的影响以及茎秆性状对化学调控的响应。 【结果】（1）倒伏率随种植密度增加呈升高趋势,其中在D1密度条件下,JK968的倒伏率分别比D2和D3低69.1%和83.4%;EC处理可显著降低倒伏率,在D1、D2和D3密度条件下分别比对照降低了5.0%、19.8%和41.0%。（2）株高、穗位高、穗位系数和重心高度在不同种植密度和化控处理间均存在极显著差异,具体表现为随种植密度增加呈升高趋势;EC处理后显著降低了地上部第6节以下的节间长度,增加了地上部第7节以上的节间长度,株高和穗位系数略降低,而穗位高和重心高度显著降低。（3）茎秆抗折力和茎秆外皮穿刺强度在不同处理间均存在极显著差异。大喇叭口期至成熟期呈先升高后降低趋势,在乳熟期达最大值。随种植密度增加,地上部第3、4和5节茎秆抗折力和茎秆外皮穿刺强度呈降低趋势;不同节间茎秆抗折力和茎秆外皮穿刺强度表现为地上部第3节>第4节>第5节;EC处理后显著增加了地上部第3、4和5节茎秆抗折力和茎秆外皮穿刺强度。（4）穗粒数和百粒重随种植密度增加呈降低趋势;EC处理后,穗粒数、百粒重和产量均较对照增加。在D1、D2和D3密度条件下,EC处理后产量分别较对照高438.8 kg·hm ^-2、1041.3 kg·hm ^-2和3376.5 kg·hm ^-2,增幅分别为3.6%、8.2%和27.8%。 【结论】随种植密度增加,玉米株高增加、重心高度上移、基部节间伸长、基部节间充实度和抗折力下降。EC处理显著降低了地上部第6节以下的节间长度,显著增加了地上部第7节以上的节间长度,株高略降低,重心高度和穗位高显著降低,基部节间长度缩短、基部节间充实度提高,从而提高了茎秆的抗倒伏能力。由此可见,在风灾倒伏频发地区以及种植密度过大等倒伏风险较大条件下,喷施植物生长调节剂可显著增加玉米茎秆的抗折力和茎秆外皮穿刺强度,显著降低穗位高、重心高度和倒伏率,有利于玉米高产稳产。

为明确水分和腐植酸协同作用对燕麦的增产提质效应, 本试验以蒙农大燕1号和内燕5号燕麦品种为研究对象, 分别设置旱作和有限灌溉2个水分处理, 分析喷施腐植酸对燕麦叶片光合特性、籽粒产量和β-葡聚糖含量的影响。结果表明: 孕穗和开花期喷施腐植酸后可以显著提高燕麦叶片的光合特性, 与灌水条件下相比, 蒙农大燕1号叶片的光合速率在旱作条件下的提高幅度更大, 提高了31.78%~123.72%, 而内燕5号在旱作和灌水条件下增幅基本一致; 在旱作条件下喷施腐植酸后两品种籽粒产量和β-葡聚糖含量均显著提高, 尤其以内燕5号的提高幅度更大, 分别提高了5.60%~74.68%和11.24%~19.56%; 与旱作处理相比, 在灌水条件下喷施HA, 两品种籽粒β-葡聚糖含量提高幅度更大, 分别提高了11.30%~33.29%和7.76%~43.81%。通过各指标之间的相关性分析, 蒙农大燕1号品种叶片的光合速率与籽粒β-葡聚糖含量、穗长、单穗小穗数、单穗粒重、千粒重及籽粒产量呈显著正相关关系, 籽粒产量与穗长、单穗小穗数、单穗粒重、千粒重呈显著正相关关系, 籽粒β-葡聚糖与单穗小穗数、千粒重和籽粒产量呈显著正相关关系(P<0.05), 而内燕5号品种籽粒β-葡聚糖含量与各产量构成因子正相关, 但未达到显著水平。综上说明, 水分和腐植酸协同作用可有效改善燕麦叶片的光合性能, 并且协同提高籽粒产量和β-葡聚糖含量。