Biological nitrogen fixation in soybean under water restriction and exposed to 1-methylcyclopropene

Abstract

The objective of this work was to assess the effects of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) on traits related with biological nitrogen fixation on 'BRS 268' soybean (Glycine max) subjected to water restriction. Plants were either exposed to drought between 32 (R2) and 47 (R3) days after sowing (DAS) or kept well-watered, in combination with exposure or not to 1-MCP. On the second day under drought (34 DAS), plants from both water conditions were exposed to 1-MCP in a hermetically sealed chamber for 15 hours. Control plants, dry or well-watered, that were not exposed to 1-MCP were kept in a separate chamber. At 36 (R2) and 47 (R3) DAS, shoot and root dry weights, leaf area index, number and dry weight of nodules, total ureides in sap, and N concentration in leaves were assessed. From 47 DAS on, extra plants were well watered until physiological maturity (R8) and assessed for yield components. Water restriction increased ureides in sap and reduced N in leaves in R2; reduced the number and mass of nodules, shoot dry weight, and leaf area index in R3; and reduced the number of pods and seed mass of plants not exposed to 1-MCP. However, when plants are exposed to 1-MCP, there is an attenuation of water restriction effects.