Heavy rainfalls or strong winds during that
stage further increase the possibility of plant lodging due to insufficient
support by the wet soil. Susceptibility to lodging often depends on complex
interactions between the mechanical properties of the stems and the soil-root
system, the shape of the upper sections of the plant that capture wind gusts
and the amount of rainfall (Sposaro et al., 2010). Short sunflower plants
with increased resistance to lodging may have advantages under adverse
growth conditions and are often preferred by farmers for reasons of ease of
harvest (Fick and Miller, 1997).