Abstract
A miniature soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] was grown in field and greenhouse environments in an attempt to find conditions that would favor the development of normal flowers for crossing and for seed production. A growth chamber study was also conducted to examine the effects of night, temperature upon the expression of the miniature trait.When planted in the field in mid‐May, the miniature type grew about 3 cm tall, had cleistogamous flowers, and produced no seed. Planted in a greenhouse in mid‐May, miniature plants grew 21 times as tall as those in the field, had normal flowers and viable pollen, and had relatively good seed production. Average day temperature in the greenhouse was 10 C higher than that in the field, and the average night temperature was 4 C higher. When grown for 3 weeks in a growth chamber at a day temperature of 38 C and night temperatures of either 15, 20, or 24 C, minature plants were 5, 26, and 99% respectively, as tall as the cultivar ‘Hill’. The study showed that the summer greenhouse environment favored seed production in miniature plants, causing their highly cleistogamous flowers to develop, and open normally and permitting their use for crossing.

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