Traits of plant morphology, stalk mechanical strength, and biomass accumulation in the selection of lodging-resistant maize cultivars

•There is no correlation in current maize cultivar’s resistance to stalk or root lodging.•Stalk breakage is primarily affected by dry weight per unit length during grain filling.•Vertical root pulling resistance is primarily affected by the ratio of root depth to width.•High ratios of shoot fresh weight to vertical root pulling resistance increase maize root lodging risk.