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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Florence, South Carolina » Coastal Plain Soil, Water and Plant Conservation Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #127336

Title: REFLECTED LIGHT CAN AFFECT SOYBEAN SEED SIZE AND COMPOSITION

Author
item Kasperbauer, Michael

Submitted to: Agronomy Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/21/2001
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Soybean plants respond to both morphogenic and photosynthetic light. Objectives were to examine effects of increased photosynthetic photon flux (PPF) and altered far-red to red photon ratio (FR/R) on plant development, components of yield, and seed composition. Spaced plants were grown from emergence to maturity in trickle irrigated field plots that were covered with black, white, or green soil covers that reflected different PPF and FR/R. Black reflected less than six percent of any wavelength. White soil covers reflected more blue and photosynthetic light but a FR/R similar to that reflected by black. Green reflected little blue or photosynthetic light but a higher FR/R than did either the black or white soil covers. Plants grown over white were shortest and those grown over green were tallest. Components of seed yield were affected by both PPF and FR/R. Concentration of linoleic acid was higher and concentration of oleic acid was lower over green as compared to black or white, suggesting that those fatty acids were affected more by FR/R than by the quantity of blue and PPF during seed development.