Vol. 13, Issue 4 (2024)

Author(s):
Ukey BN, Dr. VR Shelar, Dr. MP Deshmukh and Dr. MT Bhingarde

Abstract:
Soybean, scientifically known as Glycine max (L.). Merr., is recognized as a drought sensitive crop. It responds to varying soil moisture stress through morphological, anatomical, physiological, and biochemical adaptations. The extent of damage to the plant depends on the specific cultivar, the stress duration and intensity, and the growth stage when the moisture stress occurs. This stress can lead to significant negative impacts on plant development, productivity, and seed quality. The field experiment was laid out Rainout shelter PGI. Farm Mahatma Phule Krushi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri, District Ahmednagar to evaluate the effects of moisture stress on the seed quality and seed morphometry parameters of soybean cultivars. Eleven soybean cultivars KDS-753, KDS-980, NRC-130, NRC-131, JS-335, DS-228, KDS-726, JS-9305, KDS-344, NRC- 132 and NRC-129 were subjected to water stress by withholding for three different moisture regimes viz., controlled moisture (5 irrigation), terminal moisture (3 irrigation) and severe moisture stress (3 irrigation). The experiment was designed as a Factorial Randomized Block Design (FRBD) and laboratory data were analyzed Factorial Completely Randomized Block Design (FCRD). All treatment combinations were replicated three times. Seed quality characters such as seed germination (%), seedling length, seedling dry weight, seed vigour index-I, seed vigour index-II, electrical conductivity, seed moisture (%) and seed morphometry viz., seed length, seed width, seed area, seed diameter, seed perimeter, and seed roundness were measured. The study revealed that certain cultivars, such as KDS-726, KDS-753, and JS-9305, maintained superior seed quality and morphometry parameters even under water stress conditions. Conversely, NRC-132 and NRC-131 exhibited the least desirable performance for these traits under the same circumstances.