TRANSLOCATION OF FOOD RESERVES FROM SOYBEAN COTYLEDONS AND THEIR INFLUENCE ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PLANT

Abstract

The changes occuring in the cotyledons of Earlyana and Lincoln soybeans were followed during germination and early development of the seedling under greenhouse and field conditions. At emergence 1/3 of the P, 2/3 of the K, 1/2 of the ether-extractable substances, 1/3 of the protein, and nearly all of the sugars had been transferred to the seedling. Very little of the Mg and none of the Ca left the cotyledons. Removal of the coytledons from the seedlings of either of the vars. at the emergence or 2 days later resulted in a decreased plant size throughout the growing season. Plant development was not permanently affected by cotyledon removal at later stages. No significant differences were noted between the 2 vars.