Pulse Brain · Growing Health Evidence Index
Tier 4 — Narrative / commentaryBook chapter

The phenotype of plants in crop stands: Implications of plant-plant relations for breeding and agronomy

G.Á. Maddonni, Mónica López-Pereira, Víctor O. Sadras

Elsevier eBooks · 2025

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Summary

This review examines the phenotypic expression of plants within crop stands, with particular emphasis on how plant-to-plant relations (competition, resource allocation, light interception) shape individual plant development and performance. The authors synthesise implications for both plant breeding programmes and agronomy, suggesting that breeding for individual plant traits must account for stand-level competitive dynamics to optimise real-world crop performance.

UK applicability

The findings are likely applicable to UK arable cereal production, where stand density and inter-plant competition are standard management considerations. The integration of breeding and agronomic perspectives may inform UK crop improvement programmes and field management practices, particularly under variable growing conditions.

Key measures

Plant phenotype characteristics in relation to stand density, spatial arrangement, and inter-plant competition; breeding and agronomic implications thereof.

Outcomes reported

The paper examines how plant-to-plant interactions within crop stands shape individual plant phenotypes and influence agronomic and breeding outcomes. It considers implications for crop improvement and management strategies.

Theme
Farming systems, soils & land use
Subject
Arable cropping systems
Study type
Narrative Review
Study design
Narrative review
Source type
Book chapter
Status
Published
Geography
International
System type
Arable cereals
DOI
10.1016/b978-0-443-30208-4.00010-1
Catalogue ID
SNmp2b3im7-st2pkf

Topic tags

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