Physiological and Biochemical Responses of Soybean to Drought As Represented by the Fraction of Transpirable Soil Water

The influence of water deficit on plant physiological and biochemical responses as measured by the fraction of transpirable soil water (FTSW) has not been investigated in cultivars developed by the world's largest soybean producer. This information can help obtain plants with improved tolerance to the abiotic stress that most affects soybean production in Brazil, enabling adaptation to edaphoclimatic conditions to enhance the crop's yield potential. We aim to determine the FTSW threshold for transpiration and evaluate changes in the growth, physiological activities, and biochemical and antioxidant responses of soybean cultivars. Three trials were sown on 11/19/2018 (T1), 12/28/2018 (T2), and 9/9/2019 (T3), representing almost the entire soybean sowing window in Brazil. The estimated FTSW threshold values were 0.33, 0.29, and 0.31 in T1; 0.35, 0.41, and 0.43 in T2; and 0.31, 0.49, and 0.45 in T3 for cultivars BMX GARRA IPRO, DM 66I68 RSF IPRO, and NA 5909 RG, respectively. In the three trials, NA 5909 RG showed the greatest height. The POD enzyme was activated in non-irrigated plants in T2 only in cvs. DM 66I68 RSF IPRO and NA 5909 RG. We conclude that cvs. DM 66I68 RSF IPRO and NA 5909 RG showed a more efficient stomatal control, conserving soil water for a longer time, which indicates greater tolerance to water deficit.