A new wavy-canopy architecture shaped by interlaced application of EDAH increases maize yield and lodging resistance at high density

High-density planting increases maize yield but also canopy crowding and stalk lodging. Aiming this contradiction, a wavy canopy was created using interlaced chemical application (IC) of a plant growth retardant at the V14 stage with three densities (6, 7.5, and 9 plants m −2 , indicated by D1, D2, and D3, respectively) for two seasons. The results showed that the IC-treated wavy canopy featuring both natural height (IC-H) and dwarfed (IC-L) plants, improved light transmission by 8.54 %, 8.49 %, and 16.49 % on average than the corresponding controls (CK) at D1, D2, and D3, respectively. The alleviation of canopy crowding stimulated leaf photosynthesis, sugar availability, basal-internode strength, and decreased plant lodging ratios in both IC-H and IC-L, particularly under higher densities. Meanwhile, the IC populations produced significantly higher yields than CK, with an average increase of 3.38 %, 16.70 %, and 15.28 % at D1, D2, and D3, respectively. Collectively, this study proposed a new wavy canopy strategy using plant growth retardant to simultaneously increase yield performance and lodging resistance, thus offering a sustainable solution for further development of high-density maize production.