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<p>Maize-soybean intercropping is a key strategy for sustainable intensification, yet systematic understanding of how planting density and crop allocation regulate soybean branching and photosynthetic performance in this system remains limited. This two-year field study (2023–2024) evaluated three soybean planting densities (D1: 10 plants m⁻²; D2: 7.5 plants m⁻²; D3: 5 plants m⁻²) under maize-soybean intercropping (A1) and soybean monocropping (A2) using the branching-type cultivar Tianlong-1. Higher planting density significantly reduced branch number, total biomass, net photosynthetic rate (Pn), chlorophyll content, and yield per plant, reflecting suppressed photosynthetic productivity. Density-dependent changes in key branching-related hormones (IAA, CKs, SLs, BR, GA) and the expression of regulatory genes <i>(GmGA20ox</i>,<i> GmBRC1</i>,<i> GmPIN1</i>,<i> GmD14)</i> further confirmed hormonal and molecular constraints on branch growth. These inhibitory effects were more pronounced in intercropping, where maize-induced shade amplified density responses by elevating SLs levels and enhancing <i>GmBRC1</i>,<i> GmD14</i>, and altering <i>GmPIN1</i> expression, indicating that intercropping fundamentally reshapes classical density-response pathways. Collectively, the results demonstrate that high planting density intensifies shade-driven suppression of branching and photosynthetic efficiency in intercropped soybean, in contrast to monocropping. This highlights the need for system-specific planting-density strategies and the development of shade-tolerant soybean genotypes to maintain branching and improve productivity in maize-soybean intercropping systems.</p> Graphical Abstract <p></p>

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Influence of Planting Density on Shoot Branching Regulated by Photosynthetic Activity and Hormonal Signaling in the Maize-Soybean Intercropping System

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年7月16日

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  • Irshan Ahmad,
  • Jie Chen,
  • Noman Shoaib,
  • Sajad Hussain,
  • Muhammad Arshad,
  • Bin Cheng,
  • Li Wang,
  • Mei Xu,
  • Yali Guo,
  • Wenyan Wang,
  • Yao Zhao,
  • Weiguo Liu

摘要

Maize-soybean intercropping is a key strategy for sustainable intensification, yet systematic understanding of how planting density and crop allocation regulate soybean branching and photosynthetic performance in this system remains limited. This two-year field study (2023–2024) evaluated three soybean planting densities (D1: 10 plants m⁻²; D2: 7.5 plants m⁻²; D3: 5 plants m⁻²) under maize-soybean intercropping (A1) and soybean monocropping (A2) using the branching-type cultivar Tianlong-1. Higher planting density significantly reduced branch number, total biomass, net photosynthetic rate (Pn), chlorophyll content, and yield per plant, reflecting suppressed photosynthetic productivity. Density-dependent changes in key branching-related hormones (IAA, CKs, SLs, BR, GA) and the expression of regulatory genes (GmGA20ox, GmBRC1, GmPIN1, GmD14) further confirmed hormonal and molecular constraints on branch growth. These inhibitory effects were more pronounced in intercropping, where maize-induced shade amplified density responses by elevating SLs levels and enhancing GmBRC1, GmD14, and altering GmPIN1 expression, indicating that intercropping fundamentally reshapes classical density-response pathways. Collectively, the results demonstrate that high planting density intensifies shade-driven suppression of branching and photosynthetic efficiency in intercropped soybean, in contrast to monocropping. This highlights the need for system-specific planting-density strategies and the development of shade-tolerant soybean genotypes to maintain branching and improve productivity in maize-soybean intercropping systems.

Graphical Abstract