Responses of Soybeans to Water Stress During Germination n. Water Uptake and Osmotic Potential of Soybeans During Germination

Laboratory experiements were conducted to evaluate water uptake and osmotic potential of soybean seeds associated with germinability. Bonus, Wayne, Essex and Pickett were selected for this study. Large and small seeds from the four varieties were included in water uptake measurements at There were significant differences in water uptake during germination due to seed size and cultivars at optimum moisture condition, -6 and -15 bars soil moisture. As water stress increased, the water uptake of Pickett and Essex were superior to Bonus and Wayne, and small seeds were superior to large seeds. The seed moisture content at germination was 60.8% on a fresh weight basis under optimum moisture condition. The minimum moisture contents necessary for the germination were 50.2% at -6 bars and 50.9% at -15 bars. There were significant differences among varieties in seed osmotic potential during germination, although these differences depended on imbibition time. The average osmotic potential ranged from -32.0 bars after 4 hours imbibition to -11.2 bars at the beginning of germination. The correlation coefficient between seedling length and osmotic potential was not significant after any period of imbibition, suggesting that osmotic potential is not directly associated with seedling growth. However, osmotic potential is closely related to water uptake capacity of soybean seed.