High plant density of maize (Zea mays L.) reduces the stalk quality of the basal internodes and increases stalk lodging. The objective of this experiment was to explore the mechanism by which plant density influences basal internodes. The morphological, mechanical, anatomical, and biochemical characteristics of the third basal internode were compared at three plant densities. High plant density increased internode length due to an increase in the rate of rapid elongation. High plant density decreased the duration of internode thickening and dry matter accumulation, causing the diameter and dry weight per unit length to decline. However, rind penetration strength (RPS) did not increase rapidly until after the termination of rapid morphological growth. The mid‐to‐late stage of dry matter accumulation was critical for RPS formation. The rapid increase in RPS was closely related to cellulose and lignin accumulation. High plant density reduced the rates of cellulose and lignin accumulation, which was adverse to the formation of cortex tissue and RPS. High plant density caused rapid elongation, thickening, and structural carbohydrate accumulation to begin and end earlier. These results indicate that measures should be implemented as early as possible in the growing season to increase lodging resistance at high plant density of maize. These measures need to reduce the rate of rapid internode elongation and increase the rate of rapid cellulose and lignin accumulation.

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