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Photoperiod and Planting Date Effects on the Spatial Distribution of Branch Development in Soybean
Author(s) -
Settimi J. R.,
Board J. E.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
crop science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.76
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1435-0653
pISSN - 0011-183X
DOI - 10.2135/cropsci1988.0011183x002800020016x
Subject(s) - sowing , biology , photoperiodism , main stem , loam , agronomy , growing season , yield (engineering) , botany , horticulture , soil water , ecology , metallurgy , materials science
Reduced branch development in late‐planted soybean [ Glycine max (L.) Merr.] is a cause of yield reductions in the southeastern USA. To determine the effects of photoperiod and planting date on the spatial distribution of branches, photoperiod simulations of an optimal (24 May) and a nonoptimal late planting date (24 June) at Baton Rouge, LA (30°N Lat), were imposed on ‘Centennial’ soybean in growth chambers. In a field study, ‘Lee 74’ was planted at optimal (mid‐May) and nonoptimal (early July) planting dates in 1984 and 1985 at Baton Rouge, LA, on an Olivier silt loam (fine‐silty, mixed thermic Aquic Fragiudalf) soil. Plants grown under the May stimulated photoperiod had greater total branch length and concentrated their branches in the lower and middle sections of the plant. Under the June simulation, there was little branch development below the sixth main axis node, with most branches occurring on the middle and upper sections of the plant. Total branch length and branch number were reduced in the July field planting as compared to the May planting. This was related to the failure of branches to form in the axils of the lower main axis nodes and by the lack of upper main stem nodes from which branching could occur. Main stem seed yield was greater in the July compared to May planting date. The photoperiod of a late nonoptimal planting date thus restricts branch development at the lower nodes through a direct influence on the formation of branches and at the upper nodes through indirectly reducing the potential sites for branch development by promotion of early flowering.