Effect of drought level in parent plant of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] cultivars on seed germination and seedling field emergence

In order to study the effect of drought stress on parent plant of soybean commercial cultivars on seed germination and seedling field emergence, field and laboratory experiments were conducted during 2014-2015. Seeds of six soybean commercial cultivars including Williams, M-11, M-9, Saba (L-17), Clarke, and Zane were produced at three drought stress levels on parent plant including irrigation after 50 (optimum irrigation), 100 (medium stress), and 150(sever stress) mm evaporation from Class A pan. After harvest, normal seedlings percent were determined by standard germination, cold and accelerated ageing tests in laboratory. Also, field emergence index was calculated. Results revealed that by increasing drought stress on parent plant intensity, normal seedlings’ percentage and field emergence index of studied cultivars at laboratory and field increased. The most normal seedlings’ percentage was related to the produced seeds of Zane and Saba (L-17) cultivars under 100 mm and Clark cultivar seeds produced at 150 mm drought stress of evaporation from Class A pan. Also, Zane cultivar seeds produced at 150 mm drought stress of evaporation from Class A pan had the most field emergence index. Normal seedlings’ percentage after accelerated ageing test had the most correlation with seedling field emergence and therefore this test could provide us with a more precious estimation of seedling field emergence.