controls stem strength by positively regulating the biosynthesis of cell wall components in L.

Lodging presents a significant challenge in cultivating high-yield crops with extensive above-ground biomass, yet the molecular mechanisms underlying this phenomenon in the family remain largely unexplored. In this study, we identified a gene, (), which encodes a MYELOBLASTOSIS (MYB) family transcription factor, from a lodging-affected EMS mutant. The suppression of expression in pepper led to notable stem lodging, reduced thickness of the secondary cell wall, and decreased stem strength. A similar phenotype was observed in tomato with the knockdown of , the orthologous gene to . Further investigations demonstrated that , a gene involved in secondary cell wall (SCW) formation, is co-expressed with and acts as a positive regulator of its expression, as confirmed through yeast one-hybrid, dual-luciferase reporter assays, and electrophoretic mobility shift assays. These findings elucidate the NAC6-SLR1 module that contributes to lodging resistance, emphasizing the critical role of in the lodging resistance regulatory network.