“高大的”遮挡阳光“矮小的”受光不足，大豆和玉米间套种“双丰收”难题被攻克

Core Insights - The research team from Yangzhou University has successfully addressed the challenge of achieving "double harvests" in corn-soybean intercropping, which is crucial for food security [1][5] - The study's findings have been published in the international journal "Plant, Cell & Environment," highlighting the significance of this agricultural advancement [1] Group 1: Research Findings - The team conducted extensive field trials comparing four sowing periods and three planting densities, identifying the optimal combination of "delayed sowing + low density" to significantly enhance the relative yield of the corn-soybean intercropping system [3] - The research identified three "key yield-increasing substances" from 1,029 metabolites in soybeans: phthalic acid (PA), vanillic acid (VA), and rhein-8-glucoside, which play critical roles in promoting root development and enhancing resistance to shading [5] Group 2: Practical Applications - The identified metabolites can be used for early prediction of soybean yield potential and guide targeted breeding for new soybean varieties better suited for intercropping with corn [5] - This research not only resolves the long-standing issue of low soybean yields due to shading from corn but also provides farmers with actionable planting strategies, thereby enhancing agricultural productivity [5]