Integrated strategies for improving lodging resistance in wheat: physiological mechanisms, plant growth regulators and agronomic management
Year: 2026
Type: review
Abstract: Wheat lodging remains a major constraint to sustainable wheat production because it reduces grain yield and quality, increases harvesting losses and lowers production efficiency. The widespread cultivation of high-yielding cultivars, intensive nitrogen fertilization, higher planting densities, expansion of irrigated agriculture, and increasingly frequent extreme weather events have collectively increased lodging susceptibility, making effective management an important priority. Lodging is a complex phenomenon governed by interactions among plant architecture, stem mechanical properties, root anchorage, crop management practices and environmental conditions. Consequently, improving lodging resistance requires an integrated approach that combines physiological understanding with practical agronomic interventions. This review synthesizes recent advances in the structural, physiological, biochemical and agronomic mechanisms underlying lodging resistance in wheat. Particular emphasis is placed on stem biomechanics, basal internode characteristics, cell wall composition, lignin and cellulose deposition, root system architecture, and genetic factors that collectively determine plant stability. The review further examines the influence of major agronomic practices, including nitrogen management, plant population, sowing time, irrigation scheduling and cultivar selection, on lodging risk under diverse production environments. In addition, the physiological responses, field performance, practical applications and limitations of commonly used plant growth regulators, including chlormequat chloride, trinexapac-ethyl, paclobutrazol, uniconazole and ethephon, are critically evaluated in relation to their roles in improving stem strength and reducing lodging. The available evidence indicates that no single strategy provides consistent lodging control across all production systems. Instead, durable improvement in lodging resistance depends on integrating genetic improvement, balanced crop nutrition, optimized agronomic management, and judicious use of plant growth regulators according to local environmental conditions. The review also highlights emerging opportunities offered by precision agriculture, high-throughput phenotyping, advanced spray technologies, and improved understanding of stem biomechanics and root anchorage. Together, these advances provide a framework for developing sustainable, climate-resilient lodging management strategies that enhance wheat productivity, crop stability and resource-use efficiency, while also highlighting key research priorities for future investigation.
Source: Frontiers in Plant Science
Language: English
Subfield: Agronomy and Crop Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,801
OpenAlex ID: W7221517218