Plasticity causes overyielding in wheat intercropped with maize

What is it about?

Complementary strategies for resource capture in time and space are regarded as a key factor driving the yield advantage of species-diverse plant communities, including intercropping. However, plant plasticity in optimizing resource capture in heterogeneous environment could be required for realizing such complementary. Here, we tested the hypothesis that mixed cultivation triggers plastic responses of wheat that improve light capture and result in overyielding. Our results indicate the importance of developmental plasticity in overyielding in multi-species cropping systems, and thus point to a previously under-appreciated mechanism driving the relationship between species diversity and overyielding of plant communities.

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Why is it important?

Complementary strategies for resource capture in time and space are regarded as a key factor driving the yield advantage of species-diverse plant communities, including intercropping. However, plant plasticity in optimizing resource capture in heterogeneous environment could be required for realizing such complementary.