Inheritance study of soybean seed storability using an accelerated aging test

The inheritance of seed storability in soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) was studied in two crosses, Bragg X T-49 and Kalitur X Alankar. Among the parental cultivars, Kalitur and T-49 (both indigenous strains) had better storability than Bragg and Alankar. None of the parental strains was hard seeded. Fifty seeds from individual plants of parents, F1, F2 and F3 were aged by keeping them at 40°C and 100% RH for 96 h. Aged seeds were subjected to a laboratory germination test to evaluate seed storability. Crossed and selfed seeds of a Bragg X T-49 cross were also evaluated for seed storability to find out the maternal influence. The results showed primarily a maternal influence on the seed storability and, therefore, segregation for this trait was delayed for one generation. Seed genotype had little effect on seed storability. Seeds from F1 plants showed better storability indicating the dominance of better storability over poor storability. Segregation patterns for F2 and F3 (bulk) generations of 3:1 and 5:3 (superior versus poor storability respectively), suggested that as few as one major gene may control seed storability. The back-cross breeding procedure can be used to transfer the high storability trait of indigenous strains to other high yielding American yellow soybeans such as Bragg, Hardee, Lee etc., and this will lead to better prospects for soybean cultivation in the tropics.