Plant Growth Regulators Reduce Flower and Pod Shedding and Optimize Pod Distribution in Soybean in Northwest China
The soybean yield per unit area in Xinjiang has reached a high level, with the crop maturing quickly because of the higher temperatures and levels of mechanization. However, environmental factors cause flowers and pods to shed easily, limiting yield potential. Efficient plant growth regulators (PGRs...
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MDPI AG
2025-04-01
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| author | Hao Cheng Qinglan Xu Chenfang Ding Ziyi Meng Feifei Zhao Yuchen Gan Xinghu Song Qiang Zhao |
| author_facet | Hao Cheng Qinglan Xu Chenfang Ding Ziyi Meng Feifei Zhao Yuchen Gan Xinghu Song Qiang Zhao |
| author_sort | Hao Cheng |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The soybean yield per unit area in Xinjiang has reached a high level, with the crop maturing quickly because of the higher temperatures and levels of mechanization. However, environmental factors cause flowers and pods to shed easily, limiting yield potential. Efficient plant growth regulators (PGRs) used to increase crop yields have gained popularity, but their effectiveness in reducing flower and pod shedding, considering factors such as environment, crop variety, and time of spraying, remains unclear. This study investigated whether spraying several PGRs could reduce soybean flower and pod shedding. Field experiments were conducted from 2022 to 2024 in Ili, Xinjiang, China, using <i>α</i>-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), prohexadione-calcium (Pro-Ca), and iron chlorine e6 (ICE6) with foliar applications of 300, 450, and 45 g ha<sup>−1</sup> at the four-node stage (V4) and full pod stage (R4). All PGR treatments reduced flower and pod shedding over the years and resulted in an increase in the average flower and pod numbers compared to normal-growth-treated (CK) soybeans. The effective slowing of flower and pod shedding during the critical pod formation stage (R4) ensured a stable yield potential. The flower-to-pod conversion rate was higher after spraying plants with PGRs than for the CK group, and pod retention was higher at the beginning of maturity (R7). Our results demonstrated that spraying PGRs (NAA, Pro-Ca, and ICE6) effectively reduced soybean flower and pod shedding, optimized pod distribution, and increased soybean yield potential. The study findings provide a useful reference for global soybean growers to optimize planting methods. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4b0358f868014e68abb20ac1d9cdeae0 |
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| issn | 2073-4395 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agronomy |
| spelling | doaj-art-4b0358f868014e68abb20ac1d9cdeae02025-08-20T02:28:16ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952025-04-0115492410.3390/agronomy15040924Plant Growth Regulators Reduce Flower and Pod Shedding and Optimize Pod Distribution in Soybean in Northwest ChinaHao Cheng0Qinglan Xu1Chenfang Ding2Ziyi Meng3Feifei Zhao4Yuchen Gan5Xinghu Song6Qiang Zhao7College of Agronomy, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, ChinaCollege of Agronomy, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, ChinaCollege of Agronomy, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, ChinaCollege of Agronomy, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, ChinaCollege of Agronomy, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, ChinaCollege of Agronomy, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, ChinaCollege of Agronomy, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, ChinaCollege of Agronomy, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, ChinaThe soybean yield per unit area in Xinjiang has reached a high level, with the crop maturing quickly because of the higher temperatures and levels of mechanization. However, environmental factors cause flowers and pods to shed easily, limiting yield potential. Efficient plant growth regulators (PGRs) used to increase crop yields have gained popularity, but their effectiveness in reducing flower and pod shedding, considering factors such as environment, crop variety, and time of spraying, remains unclear. This study investigated whether spraying several PGRs could reduce soybean flower and pod shedding. Field experiments were conducted from 2022 to 2024 in Ili, Xinjiang, China, using <i>α</i>-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), prohexadione-calcium (Pro-Ca), and iron chlorine e6 (ICE6) with foliar applications of 300, 450, and 45 g ha<sup>−1</sup> at the four-node stage (V4) and full pod stage (R4). All PGR treatments reduced flower and pod shedding over the years and resulted in an increase in the average flower and pod numbers compared to normal-growth-treated (CK) soybeans. The effective slowing of flower and pod shedding during the critical pod formation stage (R4) ensured a stable yield potential. The flower-to-pod conversion rate was higher after spraying plants with PGRs than for the CK group, and pod retention was higher at the beginning of maturity (R7). Our results demonstrated that spraying PGRs (NAA, Pro-Ca, and ICE6) effectively reduced soybean flower and pod shedding, optimized pod distribution, and increased soybean yield potential. The study findings provide a useful reference for global soybean growers to optimize planting methods.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/4/924soybeangrowth regulatorspod sheddingpod distributionpath analysis |
| spellingShingle | Hao Cheng Qinglan Xu Chenfang Ding Ziyi Meng Feifei Zhao Yuchen Gan Xinghu Song Qiang Zhao Plant Growth Regulators Reduce Flower and Pod Shedding and Optimize Pod Distribution in Soybean in Northwest China Agronomy soybean growth regulators pod shedding pod distribution path analysis |
| title | Plant Growth Regulators Reduce Flower and Pod Shedding and Optimize Pod Distribution in Soybean in Northwest China |
| title_full | Plant Growth Regulators Reduce Flower and Pod Shedding and Optimize Pod Distribution in Soybean in Northwest China |
| title_fullStr | Plant Growth Regulators Reduce Flower and Pod Shedding and Optimize Pod Distribution in Soybean in Northwest China |
| title_full_unstemmed | Plant Growth Regulators Reduce Flower and Pod Shedding and Optimize Pod Distribution in Soybean in Northwest China |
| title_short | Plant Growth Regulators Reduce Flower and Pod Shedding and Optimize Pod Distribution in Soybean in Northwest China |
| title_sort | plant growth regulators reduce flower and pod shedding and optimize pod distribution in soybean in northwest china |
| topic | soybean growth regulators pod shedding pod distribution path analysis |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/4/924 |
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