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Keywords

germination, physiology, genotypic variation, water use efficiency

Abstract

Soybean (Glycine max) is one of the most important agricultural crops in the world due to its value as a major source of protein and oilseed production. Soybean is extremely sensitive to drought and experiences severe reductions in yield when there is a reduction in water availability. Canopy wilting speed is a trait linked with water use efficiency (WUE) in soybeans. Slower wilting canopies indicate greater WUE, while faster wilting canopies indicate lower WUE. Previous studies have explored the variation of plant physiological traits across wilting speeds on a smaller scale, but ultimately, a more extensive assessment is needed. The aim of this study was to examine how plant growth traits vary across 30 soybean genotypes that vary in wilting speeds across two different stages in soybean development. There was variation in physiological traits across soybean genotypes (P < 0.0001). Fast-wilting plants tended to germinate faster than slow-wilting plants early on, but ultimately, there was no difference in total germination (P = 0.9612). In the early-vegetative stage of soybean plants, slow-wilting plants were taller (P = 0.0082) and had a greater chlorophyll content compared to fast-wilting plants (P < 0.0001). Physiological differences between the wilting speeds were clearer in early developmental stages compared to mid-stage plants. Across all plant traits examined, there were differences among all soybean genotypes. While there are differences in physiological traits between wilting speeds, the extreme variation across soybean genotypes can overshadow these interactions, highlighting the importance of continued screening across more genotypes.

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