Dissecting culm strength in wheat: anatomical, biochemical, and genetic insights into lodging tolerance

Ronak Majid; Jajati Keshari Nayak; Sofora Jan; Sadaf Salam; Amir Nazir; Mohd Anwar Khan; Neeraj Pal; Raju Ratan Yadav; Santvana Tyagi; Pooja Joshi; Narendra Singh Dhaka; Vinay Kumar Singh; Parvaze Ahmad Sofi; Sundip Kumar; Manish K Vishwakarma; Pradeep Bhati; Uttam Kumar; Rajeev Kumar Varshney; Reyazul Rouf Mir

doi:10.1038/s41598-026-57468-4

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Dissecting culm strength in wheat: anatomical, biochemical, and genetic insights into lodging tolerance

Journal article

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Dissecting culm strength in wheat: anatomical, biochemical, and genetic insights into lodging tolerance

Ronak Majid, Jajati Keshari Nayak, Sofora Jan, Sadaf Salam, Amir Nazir, Mohd Anwar Khan, Neeraj Pal, Raju Ratan Yadav, Santvana Tyagi, Pooja Joshi, …

Scientific reports

2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-57468-4

PMID: 42336957

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Abstract

Culm anatomy

Internode strength

Marker-assisted selection

Wheat

SSR markers

Lodging tolerance

Lodging is a major constraint in wheat production, often resulting in substantial yield losses. Resistance to lodging is influenced by various morphological, biochemical, and anatomical traits of the stem, and the relative contribution of different stem parts, particularly individual internodes, to lodging tolerance remains unclear. In this study, key culm-related morphological internode length (IL), internode weight (IW), stem diameter (SD), culm wall thickness (CWT), pith diameter (PD), the stem diameter to culm wall thickness ratio (SD/CWT) and the internode length to internode weight ratio (IL/IW), biochemical (cellulose), and anatomical traits were evaluated across the first three internodes in diverse wheat genotypes. The results revealed that the second internode played the most critical role in lodging tolerance. Lodging-resistant genotypes presented higher PD, CWT, IW, and cellulose content in the second internode, whereas susceptible genotypes presented increased IL and IL/IW ratios. Anatomical analyses revealed that resistant genotypes possessed more vascular bundles, thicker sclerenchyma, well-developed parenchyma, and enhanced lignin deposition in the second internode, collectively contributing to superior mechanical stability. Furthermore, single-marker analysis using SSR markers revealed 12 significant loci associated with 16 culm strength traits, with Gwm337 and Wmc273 explaining the greatest percentage of the phenotypic variance (24.40% and 23.01%, respectively). These findings underscore the pivotal role of the second internode in lodging tolerance and provide valuable molecular markers to support marker-assisted breeding for enhanced culm strength in wheat.

Details

Title: Dissecting culm strength in wheat: anatomical, biochemical, and genetic insights into lodging tolerance
Authors/Creators: Ronak Majid - Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir
Jajati Keshari Nayak - Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology
Sofora Jan - Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir
Sadaf Salam - Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir
Amir Nazir - Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir
Mohd Anwar Khan - Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir
Neeraj Pal - Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology
Raju Ratan Yadav - Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology
Santvana Tyagi - Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology
Pooja Joshi - Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology
Narendra Singh Dhaka - Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology
Vinay Kumar Singh - Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology
Parvaze Ahmad Sofi - Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir
Sundip Kumar - Department of Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering, College of Basic Sciences & Humanities, G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, Uttrakhand, 263145, India
Manish K Vishwakarma - Borlaug Institute for South Asia
Pradeep Bhati - Borlaug Institute for South Asia
Uttam Kumar - Borlaug Institute for South Asia
Rajeev Kumar Varshney - Murdoch University
Reyazul Rouf Mir - Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir
Publication Details: Scientific reports
Grant note: BT/Ag/Network/Wheat/2019-20 / Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, India
Identifiers: 991005897388207891
Murdoch Affiliation: Food Futures Institute
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

#12 Responsible Consumption & Production

Source: SDGs in the Output

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