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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stoneville, Mississippi » Crop Genetics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #222378
Title: Identification of Soybean Accessions with High Germinability in High-temperature Environments

Author
item Smith, James - Rusty
item Mengistu, Alemu
item Nelson, Randall
item PARIS, ROBERT - AMERC. CHESTNUT FOUND.

Submitted to: Crop Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/23/2008
Publication Date: 11/24/2009
Citation: Smith, J.R., Mengistu, A., Nelson, R.L., Paris, R.L. 2008. Identification of Soybean Accessions with High Germinability in High-temperature Environments. Crop Science. 48:2279-2288

Interpretive Summary: The ability to germinate is an essential seed trait of soybeans. Seeds produced in environments of high temperature and high humidity, such as in the tropics, sub-tropics, and midsouthern USA, are prone to poor germination. The purpose of this research was to identify soybean types that germinate well when produced in environments with high temperature. This study identified over 60 new soybean types that had high germination when produced in high-temperature environments. These new types can now be used by soybean breeders to develop improved soybean varieties for high-temperature environments.

Technical Abstract: Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] seed produced in high-temperature, high-humidity production environments is prone to have sub-standard germinations. Hardseededness, wrinkled seed coats, and infection by Phomopsis longicolla Hobbs are all known to affect soybean seed germinability. Genotypic variability exists for germinability, but the ancestors of modern US soybean cultivars may lack the necessary variability to impart high germinability to new cultivars without the introgression of new genetic diversity. The purpose of this research was to identify soybean germplasm possessing positive traits affecting high seed germinability for seed produced under high-temperature environments, such as in the early soybean production system (ESPS) of the midsouthern USA. Seed was produced in the ESPS for 486 US plant introductions (PI), 25 ancestral lines of US cultivars, and four US cultivars at Stoneville, MS in 2002 and 2003. Standard and accelerated-aging germination percentages, hardseededness, seed coat wrinkling, and incidence of P. longicolla were estimated for each line. Based on the 2002 and 2003 field data, 42 PIs were selected for further testing, along with three cultivars, in two greenhouse temperature regimes (36 and 42 C) at Stoneville, MS in 2005. Standard field germinations for the 25 ancestral lines ranged from 26 to 82%. Sixty-three accessions were identified as having a mean standard field germination of greater than or equal to 90%, less than 10% hard seed and P. longicolla, and less than or equal to 10% wrinkled seed coat. Genotypes with excellent seed traits have now been identified for soybean breeders to use in developing improved cultivars with high seed germinability for use in high-temperature production environments.