Abstract
During germination at low temperatures, seeds rich in proteins may experience damage to their cytoplasmic membranes. The study aimed to investigate the influence of the germination temperature on growth, development, and yield of four cultivars of soybean, a typical thermophilic species. The seeds were germinated at 10, 15, and 25 °C in the dark. After 48 h, one part of the seeds was analyzed for their amylase and dehydrogenase activity, cell membrane permeability, and germination vigor. The other part was transferred into soil and cultivated up to yielding. Chlorophyll fluorescence, fresh (FW) and dry weight (DW) of shoots, pod and seed number, and seed DW were analyzed. The plants of cvs. ‘Abelina’, ‘Malaga’, and ‘Merlin’, germinating at low temperature, produced the highest number of seeds. Seed number negatively correlated with their DW and positively with the number of active reaction centers (RC/CSm) in all cultivars. In cvs. ‘Abelina’ and ‘Malaga’, the number of seeds also positively correlated with the index performance of photosystem II (PSII), which was the highest in all plants germinating at low temperature. We suggest cultivating cv. ‘Abelina’ in cooler regions, while cvs. ‘Petrina’ and ‘Malaga’ in warmer areas.
Highlights
Legumes are an important economic crop group and play a crucial role in the nutrition of humans and animals [1]
We showed long-term effects of cold occurring during seed germination on the first weeks of growth and development of narrow-leaf lupine plants, which were inhibited at several development stages [19]
When planning the cultivation of soybean, it is important to analyze the properties of the available cultivars in terms of the length of the vegetation season and the ability to germinate at a lower temperature
Summary
Legumes are an important economic crop group and play a crucial role in the nutrition of humans and animals [1]. Soybean occupies an important position on the list of plants sourced for vegetable oils. It is widely used as a feed product for farm animals [4]. Photoperiodic requirements and sensitivity to temperature limit the growing season and geographic distribution of soybean. It is, necessary to select cultivars with a shorter vegetation season, which is associated with an earlier sowing date. The selection of cultivars with greater tolerance to cold can reduce the economic risk of soybean cultivation and convince farmers to increase the acreage allocated to this species [14].
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