Soybean seed quality response to drought stress and pod position

(...) Determinate soybean plants were grown near Ames, IA, to ascertain the influences of the timing and frequency of drought stress and pod position on seed quality (as measured by germination, seedling dry weight, and seed leachate current). Plants were well-watered (high reproductive load) or drought-stressed at flowering (R2) to decrease potential seed number (low reproductive load). Subsequent drought stresses were implemented at the full pod (R4), seed formation (R5), and full seed (R6) stages, in addition to a nonstressed treatment. The harvested pods were grouped into the top main stem, bottom main stem, and branch positions for seed quality testing (...)