Productivity of the soybean seeds stored for various periods

Abstract

The growth characters and productivity of the soybean plants that developed from seeds stored for various periods at 5°C and 40% relative humidity, but having 80% or higher germinability were examined in comparison with those of newly harvested seeds (new seeds). The seedlings at one month after sowing from the very old seeds (stored for 10 years and 7 months) showed morphological characters significantly different from those from the new seeds, but not those from the moderately old seeds (stored for 2 years and 7 months) or the old seeds (stored for 7 years and 7 months). In the plants from the old seeds, the mean emergence date, flowering date, maturing date, length of the main stem, yield components, seed yield, and inspection-grade or protein content of seed were not significantly different from those in the plants from the new seeds. On the other hand, in the plants from the very old seeds, the mean emergence date, length of main stem, yield components and seed yield were significantly different from those in the plants from the new seeds. We concluded that the seeds of soybean stored for 2 years and 7 months, or 7 years and 7 months having a germinability of higher than 80% are practically useful, and show normal growth characters and productivity. However, it should be noted that the seed storage for over 10 years had inferior grain yield.