Abstract
Flooding is an abiotic stress that impacts soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] growth and reduces seed germination. Effect of flooding on soybean plant grown at different growth stage has been previously conducted and reported. However, soybean seed germination responses to flood stress are largely unknown. The objective of this study was to elucidate flooding influence on soybean seed germination after planting in the field. The research showed that seed germination rate (SGR) of each genotype, without flood stress, was significantly different and ranged between 64.7% to 84.0% and 69.0% to 90.7% while using untreated and fungicide-treated seed (P < 0.0001), respectively. Results indicated that fungicide treatment improved soybean seed survival and germination in the field. The average of SGR of high-yielding soybean group was significantly higher than those of non-high-yielding soybean (P < 0.0001). The results indicated that high-yielding trait of each genotype was correlated with seed germination and survival. Under flood stress in the field, SGR means of untreated and fungicide-treated seed significantly decreased over eight flooding treatment times (P < 0.0001). Flooding effect on germination between untreated and fungicide-treated seed was not significantly different (P = 0.1559). Furthermore, comparing the high-yielding and flood-tolerant soybean groups showed no difference in their SGR means over eight flooding treatment times (P = 0.7687 and P = 0.8490), indicating that soybean seed germination did not depend on genotype, yield, and flood tolerance trait, and seed treated by fungicide did not increase its germination in the field under the flood stress. Hence, it is necessary to develop new soybean seed pelleting to improve seed germination in the field under flooding conditions.
Highlights
Flooding is one of the most hazardous natural occurrences caused by heavy rains, excessive irrigation, and low infiltration rate of soils, and its prolonged appearance severely reduces productivity of crops in major growing regions in the world
Comparing the high-yielding and floodtolerant soybean groups showed no difference in their seed germination rate (SGR) means over eight flooding treatment times (P = 0.7687 and P = 0.8490), indicating that soybean seed germination did not depend on genotype, yield, and flood tolerance trait, and seed treated by fungicide did not increase its germination in the field under the flood stress
Shannon et al [26] revealed 40% yield reduction in a soybean flood-tolerant group versus 80% reduction in a flood-susceptible group. These previous studies demonstrated that soybean yield losses were the result of plant death due to occurrence of diseases, physiological stress mostly caused by hypoxia, reduced root and shoot growth, nodulation and nitrogen fixation, photosynthesis, biomass accumulation, and stomatal conductance [16] [17] [23] [27]
Summary
Flooding is one of the most hazardous natural occurrences caused by heavy rains, excessive irrigation, and low infiltration rate of soils, and its prolonged appearance severely reduces productivity of crops in major growing regions in the world. Most soybean cultivars are sensitive to flood stress causing chlorosis, necrosis, stunting, defoliation, reduction of nitrogen fixation, and plant death [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] All of these symptoms occur at various vegetative (V) and reproductive (R) stages of the plant growth causing various level of yield deterioration [14] [16] [17] [18] [19]. Shannon et al [26] revealed 40% yield reduction in a soybean flood-tolerant group versus 80% reduction in a flood-susceptible group These previous studies demonstrated that soybean yield losses were the result of plant death due to occurrence of diseases, physiological stress mostly caused by hypoxia, reduced root and shoot growth, nodulation and nitrogen fixation, photosynthesis, biomass accumulation, and stomatal conductance [16] [17] [23] [27]. It is useful to investigate soybean plant growth, and understand seed germination response to flood stress
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