Flowering and podding characteristics on the main stem of soybean grown on varying levels of phosphate nutrition 1

Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) plants normally abort a high percentage of flowers and pods. This study was conducted to determine the effect of P nutrition on flower and pod abscission in soybean. Williams 82 soybeans were established in hydroponic culture in the greenhouse at four levels of P (0.45 mM, 0.20 mM, 0.10 mM or 0.05 mM), and main stem flowers and pods were counted every two days from flowering to maturity. The two highest P treatments had similar flower production, pod production, pod abortion, seed weight and seeds per pod, but the 0.20 mM P treatment had 20% lower dry matter production and 19% lower seed yield. At P supplies of 0.10 or 0.05 mM, flower production, pod production, flowers per node, pods per node, seed yield, seed number and weight per seed were less (P < 0.05) than at 0.20 mM. Flowers produced per main stem node and seeds per pod were largely unaffected by limited P. Plants supplied 0.10 or 0.05 mM P aborted more flowers and pods than did those supplied 0.45 or 0.20 mM P. At P supply of 0.05 mM, flower, pod and total abortion was 80%, 49% and 90%, respectively. Flower and pod production were 50% and 78% less, while plant dry weight, seed yield and weight per seed were 83%, 90% and 23% less, respectively for the 0.05 mM P treatment compared to control. The data indicate that the primary effect of limited P on reproductive growth of soybean is to increase flower and pod abortion.