Studies on Genetic Male-Sterile Soybeans

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Abstract
Soybeans (Glycine max [L.] Merr. cv. NC 69-2774) were used to study the nonstructural carbohydrate and N content of plant tissues, and nitrogenase activity throughout the development of male-sterile and male fertile plants. Male-sterile plants set approximately 85% fewer pods plus seed than the male-fertile siblings and retained green leaves until a killing frost at 145 days after emergence. Reduced pod set caused increased carbohydrate accumulation in the leaf and root systems of male-sterile plants. Total carbohydrate in roots of male-sterile plants increased from 1.7-7.6 times that in the male-fertile roots. A high proportion (60-70%) of the male-sterile root carbohydrate was starch. Apparently, root starch was not metabolized by the male-sterile plants. Late in plant development percent N was higher in the male-sterile soybean tissues. However, no difference was found in the ability of the nodulated root systems from either genotype to fix N.