Mechanistic insights into soil compaction tolerance in sugarcane: Jasmonate signaling and root structural adaptation underpin compaction resilience

Soil compaction from mechanical harvesting is a major constraint in sugarcane production, limiting crop establishment and yield. While its agronomic impacts are well-documented, the biological mechanisms underlying varietal tolerance remain unknown. In this study, we combined multi-year field trials, controlled-environment experiments, and molecular analyses to investigate the genetic variation for soil compaction tolerance and its biological basis in popular varieties in China.