{"title":"High Temperature Disrupts Maize Silk Function Through Metabolic and Oxidative Dysregulation.","authors":"Mayang Liu, Yingda Huang, Zheng Li, Xuanlong Lv, Mingqi Gu, Shuhua Liao, Xin Dong, Yingbo Gao, Zhen Gao, Pu Wang, Shoubing Huang","doi":"10.1111/pce.70201","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/pce.70201","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>High temperature (HT, ≥ 38°C) impairs maize (Zea mays L.) yield by disrupting pollination, yet mechanisms in female reproductive organs remain elusive. Maize silks, the essential tissues for pollen capture and pollen tube growth, are particularly sensitive to HT, are highly vulnerable to HT. Here, we combined phenotypic, physiological, metabolic and transcriptomic analyses under controlled HT (40/30°C) and control (32/22°C) conditions to dissect mechanisms underlying HT-induced silk growth inhibition (SGI) and silk pollination dysfunction (SPD). HT reduced silk emergence by ~20% but decreased seed set by ~50%, indicating SPD dominated kernel loss over SGI. HT significantly downregulated key genes of the silks that encode sucrose transporters, sugars will eventually be exported through transporters and glycolytic enzymes (hexokinase; 6-phosphofructokinase; pyruvate kinase), restricting energy metabolism required for silk elongation and pollen tube growth. Concurrently, HT elevated abscisic acid and indole-3-acetic acid while suppressing zeatin riboside, brassinolide and jasmonic acid levels, collectively driving SGI. SPD was primarily linked to oxidative damage via suppressed flavonoid biosynthesis (chalcone synthase, flavonol synthase and peroxidase) and impaired reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging. Specifically, HT induced a negative correlation between ZmARF1 and ZmSOD3 expression, suggesting compromised ROS clearance that exacerbated silk structural damage. These findings provide new insights into the metabolic, hormonal and transcriptional regulatory networks that govern silk thermotolerance, providing potential molecular targets for breeding heat-resilient maize varieties.</p>","PeriodicalId":222,"journal":{"name":"Plant, Cell & Environment","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.3,"publicationDate":"2025-10-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145211222","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"PlOBP1/PlDAM-PlSOC1 Module Regulates Bud Dormancy Transition in Response to Low Temperature.","authors":"Xiaobin Wang, Xiaoxuan Chen, Kaijing Zhang, Danqing Li, Lingmei Shao, Tong Xu, Ziming Ren, Qiyao Wang, Junhong Guo, Runlong Zhang, Cong Gao, David P Horvath, Yiping Xia, Jiaping Zhang","doi":"10.1111/pce.70218","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/pce.70218","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The transition from bud endodormancy to ecodormancy is triggered by environmental cues, particularly low temperatures. However, the mechanism underlying bud dormancy transition (BDT) is largely unknown. Here, we identified a low-temperature-responsive, MADS-box family SUPPRESSOR OF OVEREXPRESSION OF CO1 (PlSOC1) under both natural and controlled low temperatures, which promotes BDT and confers low chilling requirement trait of herbaceous peony (Paeonia lactiflora). A novel transcription factor, DNA-binding One Zinc Finger (DOF) family OBF BINDING PROTEIN 1 (PlOBP1), was found to bind the AAAAG motif in the PlSOC1 promoter, acting as a negative regulator of BDT. PlOBP1 acts together with Dormancy Associated MADS-box (PlDAM) protein to enhance the transinhibitory effect of PlSOC1. Further gibberellic acid (GA) treatment showed that exogenous GA can replace long-term chilling to promote BDT, likely by inhibiting the expression of PlOBP1 while inducing the expression of PlSOC1. The elevated PlSOC1 forms a complex with PlDAM and inhibits PlDAM activity, further releasing the inhibition on PlSOC1, thereby amplifying PlSOC1 and triggering BDT. Our findings provide mechanistic insights into low-temperature-mediated GA regulation of BDT and reveal a novel role of DOF protein PlOBP1 and its interactions with MADS-box family members in bud dormancy regulation.</p>","PeriodicalId":222,"journal":{"name":"Plant, Cell & Environment","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.3,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145197713","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Plant-Mediated RNAi of Non-ATPase Regulatory Subunit Confers Soybean Resistance Against Bean Bug, Riptortus pedestris.","authors":"Manru Xu, Yuanyu Zhang, Jin Zhao, Xiangdong Yang, Huajuan Li, Biao Hu, Jianping Chen, Zongtao Sun, Zhongyan Wei","doi":"10.1111/pce.70227","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/pce.70227","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Riptortus pedestris, is a major pest threatening soybeans and cause the soybean staygreen syndrome, which has recently become a significant and widespread issue in soybean production. Currently, chemical control remains the primary method for managing R. pedestris in the field, but it contributes to environmental pollution and increases the resistance risk. Plant-mediated RNA interference (RNAi) offers a target-specific and eco-friendly alternative for pest control. While RNAi has been shown to effectively control certain Coleoptera, its effects on piercing-sucking insects, such as R. pedestris, remain poorly understood. In this study, we characterized a non-ATPase regulatory subunit 6 (RPN6) from R. pedestris and demonstrated that downregulation of RPN6 expression significantly increased mortality and reduced oviposition. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that while RPN6 is highly conserved across Hemiptera, the double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) targeting RPN6 is species-specific. We subsequently developed dsRPN6-transgenic soybean lines, and feeding bioassays revealed these transgenic soybean lines exhibited high resistance to R. pedestris, with significantly reduced survival and oviposition rates in the pest. Importantly, the transgenic soybeans displayed moderate staygreen symptoms following infestation by R. pedestris, demonstrating that plant-mediated RNAi targeting of RPN6 confers effective resistance against R. pedestris, providing a promising strategy for bean bug management in agricultural practices.</p>","PeriodicalId":222,"journal":{"name":"Plant, Cell & Environment","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.3,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145197669","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Cailin Luo, Lihaitian Wang, Yuqin Wu, Jun Cai, Bin Peng, Jia Chen, Feng Yu, Dousheng Wu
{"title":"One Primer Pair for All: A Standardized Vector Toolbox for Protein-Protein Interactions and Protein Localization in Plants.","authors":"Cailin Luo, Lihaitian Wang, Yuqin Wu, Jun Cai, Bin Peng, Jia Chen, Feng Yu, Dousheng Wu","doi":"10.1111/pce.70219","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/pce.70219","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Understanding protein-protein interactions (PPIs) is crucial for elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying plant growth, development, and stress responses. While techniques for analyzing PPIs have been well developed, validating a PPI typically requires a combination of four to five techniques. For each technique, specific primers are designed to clone the gene of interest (GOI) into a given vector. As a result, validating a PPI requires the synthesis of four to five primer pairs, making the process both complex and costly. To overcome these limitations, we have optimized and functionally validated an In-Fusion-based vector toolbox for the flexible construction of PPI vectors in plants. The standardized toolbox facilitates the cloning of a GOI into different PPI vectors using only one primer pair. Furthermore, we extended one of the standardized vectors for protein expression and localization studies. With the same primer pair, a GOI can be easily cloned into vectors with different tags or fluorophores. Our optimized vector toolbox will significantly simplify the assembly of PPI vectors as well as other plant expression vectors for subcellular localization and protein expression.</p>","PeriodicalId":222,"journal":{"name":"Plant, Cell & Environment","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.3,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145197737","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Bingxin Han, Zhaoguo Wang, Di Liu, J Julio Camarero, Maurizio Mencuccini, Binqing Zhao, Yuan Liu, Yushuang Xie, Xiaochun Wang
{"title":"Nighttime Warming Enhances Tree Growth in Temperate Tree Species.","authors":"Bingxin Han, Zhaoguo Wang, Di Liu, J Julio Camarero, Maurizio Mencuccini, Binqing Zhao, Yuan Liu, Yushuang Xie, Xiaochun Wang","doi":"10.1111/pce.70221","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/pce.70221","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Asymmetric warming in temperate regions differentially impacts tree growth depending on whether daytime or nighttime temperatures increase. To elucidate the underlying mechanisms and species-specific responses, we investigated five temperate broadleaf tree species (Juglans mandshurica, Phellodendron amurense, Fraxinus mandshurica, Betula platyphylla and Tilia amurensis) exhibiting contrasting water status regulation strategies and differing in mycorrhizal types. Seedlings of the five species were subjected to five temperature treatments: ambient control, daytime warming (+2°C, DT+2 and +4°C, DT+4) and nighttime warming (+2°C, NT+2 and +4°C, NT+4). Radial growth and xylogenesis were monitored throughout the growing season. Notably, only NT+2 significantly increased ring width (+99.42%) and theoretical hydraulic conductivity (+260.58%) across all species. Nighttime warming enhanced radial growth by increasing the number of cambium and radially enlarging cells, while daytime warming extended the xylem formation period. Furthermore, mean ring width (MRW) increased significantly with radially enlarging cells (maxEC) under nighttime warming. This response pattern was particularly pronounced in arbuscular mycorrhizal and isohydric species, contrasting with ectomycorrhizal and anisohydric species. Collectively, our results demonstrate that the effects of asymmetric warming on tree growth are contingent upon both the amplitude and timing of temperature increases. These findings provide critical mechanistic insights into how asymmetric warming influences tree growth and forest productivity, aiding predictions of carbon sequestration potential under climate change.</p>","PeriodicalId":222,"journal":{"name":"Plant, Cell & Environment","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145190494","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
J Julio Camarero, Michele Colangelo, Cristina Valeriano, Antonio Gazol, Ester González de Andrés, David Alonso-Forn, Jordi Voltas, José M Torres-Ruiz, Sylvain Delzon, Eric Badel, Eustaquio Gil-Pelegrín
{"title":"Xylem Pit Anatomy and Minimum Leaf Conductance Drive Drought Mortality in Pinus pinaster.","authors":"J Julio Camarero, Michele Colangelo, Cristina Valeriano, Antonio Gazol, Ester González de Andrés, David Alonso-Forn, Jordi Voltas, José M Torres-Ruiz, Sylvain Delzon, Eric Badel, Eustaquio Gil-Pelegrín","doi":"10.1111/pce.70211","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/pce.70211","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Drought-triggered forest die-off events are commonly attributed to hydraulic failure, carbon starvation, or a combination of the two. Nevertheless, the anatomical and physiological traits that make trees vulnerable to drought in the field are often unknown, hindering predictive efforts. To identify these traits, we compared coexisting declining (D, heavily defoliated) and non-declining (ND, lightly defoliated) trees. We studied a recent die-off event affecting maritime pine (Pinus pinaster) in north-eastern Spain that started after the severe 2017 drought. We compared the depth of soil water uptake, estimated using δ<sup>18</sup>O and δ<sup>2</sup>H in soil and xylem water samples, as well as field measurements. We also measured anatomical and physiological wood and leaf variables, paying particular attention to pit anatomy and minimum leaf conductance (g<sub>min</sub>). The D trees were smaller in terms of diameter and height, and exhibited lower growth rates. They also formed tracheids with smaller lumen diameters and thinner cell walls than the ND trees. The measured soil depth was greater for ND than for D trees. Isotope data also indicated that ND trees used water from deeper soil layers than D trees during the late summer period of peak drought severity. No differences in the sapwood concentrations of non-structural carbohydrates were found between the two tree types. The D trees had lower midday water potentials than ND trees, and the pressure inducing 50% loss of hydraulic conductance (P<sub>50</sub>) and g<sub>min</sub> were higher in D trees. The D trees also exhibited lower torus overlap, margo flexibility and valve effect than ND trees. However, these differences in pit anatomy were observed in the 2010s when ND trees exhibited higher δ<sup>13</sup>C-derived intrinsic water-use efficiency. A combination of traits, such as a large pit aperture and a high g<sub>min</sub> makes trees vulnerable to drought stress.</p>","PeriodicalId":222,"journal":{"name":"Plant, Cell & Environment","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145190484","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Genetic and Environmental Determinants Underlying the Dynamics of Soybean Flowering Time.","authors":"Guo Xiong, Liwei Wang, Mahmoud Naser, Mingchao Zhao, Jundan Chen, Bingjun Jiang, Shan Yuan, Chao Qin, Tianfu Han, Shi Sun, Tingting Wu","doi":"10.1111/pce.70212","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/pce.70212","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Flowering time, determined by genetic loci and environmental cues, is crucial for soybeans' geographic distribution and regional adaptability. This study aimed to generate a workflow of genetic and environmental analysis for determinants of soybean flowering time. By investigating flowering time in both natural populations and recombinant inbred lines (RIL) across eight environments spanning from 18°15'10″ N to 43°49'02″ N across two years, we found that photothermal ratio (PTR) strongly correlated with early- and mid-pre-flowering stages (16-23 days after planting). We detected 298 Quantitative Trait Locus (QTLs) in the natural population and 20 QTLs in the RIL for trait mean and 6 plasticity indicators, with 6 QTLs and 58 QTLs overlapping. Notably, seven quantitative trait nucleotide (QTNs) and eight QTN by environment interactions were colocalised with the above plasticity QTLs. By integrating 82 main-effect, plasticity and genotype-by-environment (G×E) interaction loci and environmental index PTR<sub>16-23</sub>, we proposed a simplified and stable prediction model with an average 4.40% and 2.42% increase in accuracy for flowering time in a single environment and across environments over that of 1726 genome-wide flowering time loci, respectively. This study propels the field of adapting diverse genotypes to dynamic environments and addressing the challenges posed by climate change.</p>","PeriodicalId":222,"journal":{"name":"Plant, Cell & Environment","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145190504","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Maik Geers-Lucas, Andrey Guber, Alexandra Kravchenko
{"title":"Root-Pore Interactions, the Underestimated Driver for Rhizosphere Structure and Rhizosheath Development.","authors":"Maik Geers-Lucas, Andrey Guber, Alexandra Kravchenko","doi":"10.1111/pce.70215","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/pce.70215","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Physical characteristics of rhizosphere and rhizosheath, that is, root-adhering soil, are crucial for plant performance. Yet, the drivers of the rhizosphere's structural properties and their relationships with rhizosheath development remain unclear. We used X-ray computed micro-tomography (i) to explore two drivers of rhizosphere porosity: root-induced changes vs. preferential root growth into soil with certain pore characteristics and (ii) to estimate their contributions to rhizosphere macroporosity gradients and rhizosheath formation. Rhizosheath development was assessed in relation to rhizosphere macroporosity and rhizodeposition after ¹⁴C labeling. Our results confirmed that both root-induced changes and growth preferences shape rhizosphere structure, with their relative significance depending on the inherent macropore availability. In intact soils, growth preferences were the dominant factor, while in sieved soils the root-induced changes became equally important. Rhizosheath formation was associated with roots compacting their surrounding and releasing carbon. However, no correlation was found between rhizosheath formation and the actual rhizosphere, that is, the volume of soil adjacent to the roots. The study offers new process-level understanding of rhizosphere porosity gradients, while emphasizing caution in interpreting root growth data from sieved soil studies. Similarly, traditional destructively sampled rhizosheath may not fully capture the true characteristics of the actual rhizosphere, underscoring importance of intact-soil analyses.</p>","PeriodicalId":222,"journal":{"name":"Plant, Cell & Environment","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145190520","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Carbon Dioxide Release During Photosynthesis: Connecting Gas Exchange Behavior With Biochemistry.","authors":"Thomas D Sharkey, Yuan Xu","doi":"10.1111/pce.70216","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/pce.70216","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>During photosynthesis, CO₂ uptake is counterbalanced by concurrent CO₂-releasing processes, complicating the interpretation of gas exchange measurements. While photorespiration accounts for a significant portion of this CO₂ release, emerging evidence indicates that there are additional metabolic pathways that release CO<sub>2</sub> during photosynthesis. This metabolism-termed day respiration (often R<sub>d</sub>) or respiration in the light (R<sub>L</sub>)-is now recognized as an independent and significant source of CO<sub>2</sub> emission during photosynthesis. Here we revisit classical models of photosynthesis and incorporate new insights from isotopic labeling and metabolic flux analysis (MFA) to investigate the biochemical basis of R<sub>L</sub>. We identified the cytosolic glucose-6-phosphate (G6P) shunt through the oxidative pentose phosphate pathway (OPPP) as the predominant contributor to R<sub>L</sub>. This shunt explains some long-standing anomalies in Calvin-Benson-Bassham (CBB) cycle labeling. Under non-stressed conditions, R<sub>L</sub> remains stable across varying CO₂ concentrations and light intensities. Under heat stress, R<sub>L</sub> shifts toward a plastidial source. Together, these findings resolve longstanding questions about carbon flux during photosynthesis and improve our understanding of R<sub>L</sub> by explaining its metabolic origin, physiological significance in carbon balance during photosynthesis, and regulation under varying environmental conditions.</p>","PeriodicalId":222,"journal":{"name":"Plant, Cell & Environment","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145190550","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Soybean Variety Improves Canopy Architecture and Light Distribution to Promote Yield Formation in Maize-Soybean Strip Intercropping.","authors":"Kai Luo, Xiaoting Yuan, Kejing Zhang, Zhidan Fu, Ping Lin, Yiling Li, Yuze Li, Tian Pu, Xiaochun Wang, Wenyu Yang, Taiwen Yong","doi":"10.1111/pce.70214","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/pce.70214","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In maize-soybean strip intercropping (MSI) and maize-soybean relay strip intercropping (MSR) systems, shading by maize reduces soybean leaf photosynthetic capacity and dry matter accumulation, threatening soybean yield. Selecting appropriate soybean varieties is effective for minimising the yield loss caused by shading and achieving stable soybean production. Field experiments were conducted during 2021-2022 to evaluate the effects of sole soybean (SS), MSI and MSR planting patterns on the growth and yield of four soybean cultivars (GQ8, GX7, ND25 and NN996). Soybeans in the MSI and MSR systems exhibited compensatory growth after maize harvest, driven by recovery of the light environment. Compared to SS, MSR sustained the yield of later-maturing and highly branching cultivars (ND25 and GQ8), whereas yields of all varieties in the MSI system decreased by 24.2%-37.1%. Although the MSR system reduced whole-canopy photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) transmittance and biomass accumulation during the vegetative stage, maize harvest at the flowering stage significantly improved light conditions. The PAR transmittance of MSR in the middle and lower soybean canopies increased to > 70%, enhancing photosynthetic rates by 5.1%-19.0% and 3.9%-55.6%, respectively, compared to SS. Compared to MSI, MSR promoted soybean branching and branch leaf formation, increasing leaf number by 17.4%-63.1%, resulting in a comparable leaf area index to SS during the grain filling stage. MSR increased biomass in medium- and late-maturing cultivars by 5.6%-21.3%, but reduced that of the early-maturing NN996 by 8.8%-14.7%. Therefore, medium- and late-maturing soybean cultivars with strong branching capacities are suitable for relay intercropping systems. Their extended growth duration and abundant branching help optimise canopy structure, enhance light interception efficiency and duration, and compensate for early biomass loss, contributing to yield stability or improvement. Our results offer valuable guidance for optimising cultivar selection and planting strategies in maize-soybean intercropping systems.</p>","PeriodicalId":222,"journal":{"name":"Plant, Cell & Environment","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145184400","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}