Multiscale Mechanics of Maize Stalk Failure Near the Node

Extreme weather often causes maize stalk lodging (the structural failure of stalks near the ear or node) producing major yield losses. Although stalk strength has been widely studied, less is known about how failure initiates and propagates at the tissue level. We analyzed failure patterns using imaging (SEM, x-ray CT, time-lapse photography), three-point bending with surface strain measurements and ovalization tracking, and computational models of stalk mechanics. Ovalization preceded failure and was generally correlated with the onset of Brazier buckling, yet it did not reliably predict collapse. Buckling features appeared across scales, from organ to cell wall, indicating a multiscale process. Based on these observations, we propose a conceptual model in which tissue fracture and geometric buckling are tightly coupled: increases in one rapidly trigger the other, driving a cascading loss of stiffness and strength. The results suggest that breeding or design strategies must jointly enhance tissue properties and resistance to local buckling to reduce lodging.