Canopy light limitation under close planting is associated with reduced wheat basal stem strength, phenylpropanoid attenuation, and lignin monomer remodeling.
6 affiliations
- 1College of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, China.
- 2College of Agriculture, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, 030801, Shanxi, China.
- 3Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China.
- 4College of Agronomy, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong, 271018, China.
- 5Institute of Hybrid Wheat, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing, 100097, China. [email protected].
- 6College of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, China. [email protected].
Abstract
Background
Lodging is a major factor limiting wheat yield improvement under high-density cultivation and is closely associated with canopy low light conditions caused by close planting. Canopy light limitation under close planting can suppress stem lignification and weaken mechanical strength, yet the structural and metabolic basis of this response remains insufficiently resolved. A two-season field-embedded pot experiment compared sparse planting (SP), close planting (CP), and close planting with supplemental lighting (CP + L), integrating physiological, mechanical, biochemical, transcriptomic, and metabolomic analyses.Results
Compared with SP, CP reduced the net photosynthetic rate of the third to fifth leaves by 24.59-26.43%, decreased stem diameter and breaking moment, and increased the lodging index. Total lignin content declined by 36.34%, and the G-type lignin-derived aldehyde showed the greatest reduction, resulting in a 33.82% increase in the S/G ratio. Transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses indicated coordinated attenuation of photosynthetic carbon fixation, secondary cell wall formation, and phenylpropanoid-related processes under CP. These changes were accompanied by lower activities of PAL, 4CL, C4H, and CCR and reduced accumulation of hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives and monolignol-related intermediates. Gene-metabolite and TF-structural gene analyses identified treatment-dependent co-variation patterns within the phenylpropanoid pathway. Supplemental lighting increased leaf photosynthetic rates by 20.56-27.39% and partially restored lignin-related enzyme activities, molecular responses, total lignin content, and stem mechanical performance without changing planting density.Conclusions
Close planting was associated with reduced basal stem strength, lower lignification, and attenuation of phenylpropanoid-lignin metabolism. The partial recovery under CP + L supports an important contribution of within-canopy light availability to these responses. These findings highlight canopy light management as a potential strategy for improving wheat lodging resistance under high-density cultivation.
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BibTeX
@article{wang2026canopy,
title = {{Canopy light limitation under close planting is associated with reduced wheat basal stem strength, phenylpropanoid attenuation, and lignin monomer remodeling.}},
author = {Zhaolin Wang and Xiaoqin Wang and Yajing Tian and Fei Gao and Yingchao Jing and Weina Wang and Yijia Li and Zhikuan Jia and Xiaolong Ren and Peng Zhang and Tiening Liu and Peng Wu and Enke Liu and Zhenlin Wang and Weibing Yang and Tie Cai},
journal = {BMC plant biology},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1186/s12870-026-09755-5},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42963734},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Canopy light limitation under close planting is associated with reduced wheat basal stem strength, phenylpropanoid attenuation, and lignin monomer remodeling.
AU - Zhaolin Wang
AU - Xiaoqin Wang
AU - Yajing Tian
AU - Fei Gao
AU - Yingchao Jing
AU - Weina Wang
AU - Yijia Li
AU - Zhikuan Jia
AU - Xiaolong Ren
AU - Peng Zhang
AU - Tiening Liu
AU - Peng Wu
AU - Enke Liu
AU - Zhenlin Wang
AU - Weibing Yang
AU - Tie Cai
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/30
JO - BMC plant biology
DO - 10.1186/s12870-026-09755-5
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42963734
AB - Background Lodging is a major factor limiting wheat yield improvement under high-density cultivation and is closely associated with canopy low light conditions caused by close planting. Canopy light limitation under close planting can suppress stem lignification and weaken mechanical strength, yet the structural and metabolic basis of this response remains insufficiently resolved. A two-season field-embedded pot experiment compared sparse planting (SP), close planting (CP), and close planting with supplemental lighting (CP + L), integrating physiological, mechanical, biochemical, transcriptomic, and metabolomic analyses.Results Compared with SP, CP reduced the net photosynthetic rate of the third to fifth leaves by 24.59-26.43%, decreased stem diameter and breaking moment, and increased the lodging index. Total lignin content declined by 36.34%, and the G-type lignin-derived aldehyde showed the greatest reduction, resulting in a 33.82% increase in the S/G ratio. Transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses indicated coordinated attenuation of photosynthetic carbon fixation, secondary cell wall formation, and phenylpropanoid-related processes under CP. These changes were accompanied by lower activities of PAL, 4CL, C4H, and CCR and reduced accumulation of hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives and monolignol-related intermediates. Gene-metabolite and TF-structural gene analyses identified treatment-dependent co-variation patterns within the phenylpropanoid pathway. Supplemental lighting increased leaf photosynthetic rates by 20.56-27.39% and partially restored lignin-related enzyme activities, molecular responses, total lignin content, and stem mechanical performance without changing planting density.Conclusions Close planting was associated with reduced basal stem strength, lower lignification, and attenuation of phenylpropanoid-lignin metabolism. The partial recovery under CP + L supports an important contribution of within-canopy light availability to these responses. These findings highlight canopy light management as a potential strategy for improving wheat lodging resistance under high-density cultivation.
SN - 1471-2229
ER -