Germination responses to seed-rhizosphere hypoxia in relation to waterlogging tolerance of soybean

Soybean cultivation in many regions of the world with high rainfall is severely impacted by soil waterlogging. One of the primary factors that contribute to this damage is soil hypoxia resulting from waterlogging. The germination responses of soybean to seed-rhizosphere hypoxia in relation to waterlogging stress remains unclear. To understand the germination responses of soybean genotypes to hypoxia conditions, the seeds of 19 soybean genotypes were treated by soaking for 36 h. Gemination responses of selected genotypes were also evaluated in waterlogging conditions. The obtained results showed that variation in the germination responses was observed among soybean genotypes under both hypoxia and waterlogging experiments. Tolerant indexes for germination rate in hydroponic and soil cultures were significantly correlated. In this study, we identified some genetic resources such as DT2008, HSB0059, and LSB 17-1-12-15 that have a high ability to germinate under hypoxia and waterlogging. These resources will provide insights into the mechanisms of waterlogging adaptation and resources to improve the waterlogging tolerance of modern cultivars at the germination stage.