The mean grain yield of Brazilian soybean cultivars has demonstrated a progressive increase
over time, attributable in part to enhanced resistance to lodging. This investigation aims to
ascertain whether (i) the absence of lodging has an impact on the yield of susceptible soybean
cultivars, and (ii) the vulnerability to breakage in the lower, middle, and upper segments of
the stem is correlated with the predisposition to lodging in both old and modern soybean
cultivars. Two distinct experiments were conducted, one in a field setting and another within a
greenhouse environment, utilizing both old (lodging-susceptible) and modern (lodgingresistant) soybean cultivars. The field experiment was in a randomized block design in a splitplot arrangement (cultivars and staking) with three replications. Meanwhile, the greenhouse
experiment was in a completely randomized design, involving seven cultivars and five
replications. Evaluations encompassed biometric attributes (conducted in both greenhouse and
field settings) and yield components (conducted exclusively in the field). Old soybean
cultivars exhibited a decline in yield attributed to height susceptibility to lodging, resulting in
diminished grain production per plant and per pod. On the other hand, modern cultivars,
characterized by lodging resistance, manifested increased resistance to stem breakage and
augmented stem diameter, particularly in the middle third, when compared to their older
counterparts. The practice of staking vulnerable plants prone to lodging demonstrated a
positive impact on the number of grains per unit area, consequently contributing to an yield
increase by 36%. Furthermore, the soybean lodging was associated with decreased resistance
to breakage in the middle third of the stem within susceptible cultivars (old cultivars). Ver menos