title: Studies on Genetic Male-Sterile Soybeans: I. Distribution of Plant Carbohydrate and Nitrogen during Development.
abstract: Soybeans (Glycine max [L.] Merr. cv. NC 69-2774) were used to study the nonstructural carbohydrate and nitrogen 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 to 7.6 times that in the male-fertile roots. A high proportion (60 to 70%) of the male-sterile root carbohydrate was starch. Apparently, root starch was not metabolized by the male-sterile plants. Late in plant development per cent nitrogen 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 nitrogen.
authors: United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Department of Crop Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27607.
authors: R F
authors: RF
authors: Wilson
authors: J W
authors: JW
authors: Burton
authors: J A
authors: JA
authors: Buck
authors: C A
authors: CA
authors: Brim