Junfeng
Pan^1,2,4, JunliangZhao^1,2,4, Yanzhuo Liu^1,2,
Nongrong Huang^1,2, KaTian^1,2, Farooq Shah³,
Kaiming Liang^1,2, XuhuaZhong^1,2* & Bin Liu^1,2*

Scientific
Reports

Abstract

Increasing
evidence shows that improved nitrogen management can enhance lodging resistance
 and lower internodes play a key role in
the lodging resistance of rice. However, little is known about  the cellular and molecular mechanisms
underlying the enhanced lodging resistance under improved  nitrogen management. In the present study, two
rice varieties, with contrasting lodging resistance,  were grown under optimized N management (OPT)
and farmers’ fertilizer practices. Under OPT, the  lower internodes of both cultivars were
shorter but the upper internodes were longer, while both culm  diameter and wall thickness of lower
internodes were dramatically increased. Microscopic examination  showed that the culm wall of lower internodes
under OPT contained more sclerenchyma cells beneath  epidermis and vascular bundle sheath. The
genome-wide gene expression profling revealed that  transcription of genes encoding cell wall
loosening factors was down-regulated while transcription of  genes participating in lignin and starch
synthesis was up-regulated under OPT, resulting in inhibition of  longitudinal growth, promotion in transverse
growth of lower internodes and enhancement of lodging  resistance. This is the frst comprehensive
report on the morpho-anatomical, mechanical, and molecular mechanisms of lodging resistance of rice under
optimized N management.

附件：Optimized nitrogen management enhances lodging resistance of rice and its morpho-anatomical, mechanical, and molecular mechanisms