Lodging Variability in Sorghum Stalks Is Dependent on the Biomechanical and Chemical Composition of the Stalk Rinds
Stalk lodging contributes to significant crop yield losses. Therefore, understanding the biomechanical strength and structural rigidity of grain stalks can contribute to improving stalk lodging resistance in crops. From the structural constituents of the stalk, the rind provides the principal struct...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Crops |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-7655/4/1/2 |
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| author | Endalkachew Mengistie Norbert Bokros Seth DeBolt Armando G. McDonald |
| author_facet | Endalkachew Mengistie Norbert Bokros Seth DeBolt Armando G. McDonald |
| author_sort | Endalkachew Mengistie |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Stalk lodging contributes to significant crop yield losses. Therefore, understanding the biomechanical strength and structural rigidity of grain stalks can contribute to improving stalk lodging resistance in crops. From the structural constituents of the stalk, the rind provides the principal structure, supporting cells against tension and bending loads. In this work, the biomechanical and viscoelastic behavior of the rind from the internodes of two sweet sorghum varieties (Della and REDforGREEN (RG)), grown in two different growing seasons, were evaluated by three-point micro-bending tests using a dynamic mechanical analyzer (DMA). In addition, the chemical composition of rinds and the microfibril angle (MFA) of the cell wall were determined using XRD. The results revealed that the biomechanical behavior of Della varieties was stiffer and more resistant to loads than that of RG varieties. Two features of the rind biomechanical properties, flexural modulus (FM) and flexural strength (FS), showed a significant reduction for RG. Particularly, a reduction in FS of 16–37% and in FM of 22–41% were detected for RG1. Changes in the stalks’ rind biomechanical properties were attributed to cell wall components. Total lignin and glucan/cellulose contents were positively correlated with the FM and FS of the rind. Subsequently, an increase in the two cell wall components drove an increase in stiffness. Furthermore, the MFA of the rind was also found to influence the rind strength. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T18:24:53Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b38451178ea6408bb9e1814407208e5e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2673-7655 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T18:24:53Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Crops |
| spelling | doaj.art-b38451178ea6408bb9e1814407208e5e2024-03-27T13:32:17ZengMDPI AGCrops2673-76552024-01-014132610.3390/crops4010002Lodging Variability in Sorghum Stalks Is Dependent on the Biomechanical and Chemical Composition of the Stalk RindsEndalkachew Mengistie0Norbert Bokros1Seth DeBolt2Armando G. McDonald3Forest and Sustainable Products Program, College of Natural Resources, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844, USAPlant Physiology, Department of Horticulture, Agricultural Science Center North, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546, USAPlant Physiology, Department of Horticulture, Agricultural Science Center North, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546, USAForest and Sustainable Products Program, College of Natural Resources, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844, USAStalk lodging contributes to significant crop yield losses. Therefore, understanding the biomechanical strength and structural rigidity of grain stalks can contribute to improving stalk lodging resistance in crops. From the structural constituents of the stalk, the rind provides the principal structure, supporting cells against tension and bending loads. In this work, the biomechanical and viscoelastic behavior of the rind from the internodes of two sweet sorghum varieties (Della and REDforGREEN (RG)), grown in two different growing seasons, were evaluated by three-point micro-bending tests using a dynamic mechanical analyzer (DMA). In addition, the chemical composition of rinds and the microfibril angle (MFA) of the cell wall were determined using XRD. The results revealed that the biomechanical behavior of Della varieties was stiffer and more resistant to loads than that of RG varieties. Two features of the rind biomechanical properties, flexural modulus (FM) and flexural strength (FS), showed a significant reduction for RG. Particularly, a reduction in FS of 16–37% and in FM of 22–41% were detected for RG1. Changes in the stalks’ rind biomechanical properties were attributed to cell wall components. Total lignin and glucan/cellulose contents were positively correlated with the FM and FS of the rind. Subsequently, an increase in the two cell wall components drove an increase in stiffness. Furthermore, the MFA of the rind was also found to influence the rind strength.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-7655/4/1/2biomechanical propertiesdynamic mechanical analysisthree-point bendingcompositional analysisviscoelastic propertiesmicrofibril angle |
| spellingShingle | Endalkachew Mengistie Norbert Bokros Seth DeBolt Armando G. McDonald Lodging Variability in Sorghum Stalks Is Dependent on the Biomechanical and Chemical Composition of the Stalk Rinds Crops biomechanical properties dynamic mechanical analysis three-point bending compositional analysis viscoelastic properties microfibril angle |
| title | Lodging Variability in Sorghum Stalks Is Dependent on the Biomechanical and Chemical Composition of the Stalk Rinds |
| title_full | Lodging Variability in Sorghum Stalks Is Dependent on the Biomechanical and Chemical Composition of the Stalk Rinds |
| title_fullStr | Lodging Variability in Sorghum Stalks Is Dependent on the Biomechanical and Chemical Composition of the Stalk Rinds |
| title_full_unstemmed | Lodging Variability in Sorghum Stalks Is Dependent on the Biomechanical and Chemical Composition of the Stalk Rinds |
| title_short | Lodging Variability in Sorghum Stalks Is Dependent on the Biomechanical and Chemical Composition of the Stalk Rinds |
| title_sort | lodging variability in sorghum stalks is dependent on the biomechanical and chemical composition of the stalk rinds |
| topic | biomechanical properties dynamic mechanical analysis three-point bending compositional analysis viscoelastic properties microfibril angle |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-7655/4/1/2 |
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