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Effects of high temperature on dry matter accumulation and sugar metabolism in different soybean varieties

Zhao Xiang,Li Jia-Yi,Li Shuang,Han Wen-Hui,Huang Jun-Xia,Yao Xing-Dong,Zhang Hui-Jun,Wang Hai-Ying,Xie Fu-Ti*   

  1. College of Agronomy, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110161, Liaoning, China
  • Received:2025-08-09 Revised:2025-11-18 Accepted:2025-11-18 Published:2025-12-10
  • Supported by:
    This study was supported by National Key Research and Development Program of China (2021YFD1201102).

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Abstract: High temperature is one of the major environmental factors limiting soybean growth and development. Investigating the effects of high temperature at different growth stages on dry matter accumulation and sugar metabolism can help elucidate the physiological mechanisms underlying heat-induced yield loss, thereby providing a theoretical foundation for breeding heat-tolerant soybean varieties. In this study, two soybean varieties—Liaodou 24 (heat-insensitive) and SN22-15 (heat-sensitive)—were grown under pot conditions and subjected to high-temperature treatments at different developmental stages. Dry matter accumulation, photosynthetic parameters, and sugar content were measured. Under high-temperature conditions, Liaodou 24 exhibited significantly higher leaf color index, net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, intercellular CO? concentration, transpiration rate, and dry matter weight of stems, leaves, petioles, and pods compared to SN22-15. During the R1 and R3 stages, Liaodou 24 also showed significantly higher levels of soluble sugar content, sucrose content, and starch content in various plant parts. In the V4, R1, and R3 stages, Liaodou 24 produced more pods per plant, more seeds per pod, and greater seed weight per pod than SN22-15. Notably, high-temperature stress during the R3 stage caused a marked yield reduction in SN22-15. Excessive heat impairs photosynthesis in soybean leaves, inhibits the synthesis of photosynthetic products, reduces dry matter and sugar accumulation, and ultimately leads to yield decline. Liaodou 24, being relatively heat-tolerant, showed only moderate reductions in dry matter accumulation, sugar metabolism, and yield under high temperatures, particularly at the R3 stage. In contrast, SN22-15, as a heat-sensitive variety, experienced significant reductions in these traits across all growth stages, with the most severe impact occurring during the R3 stage. These findings suggest that in soybean breeding programs, developing varieties with appropriate maturity periods can help avoid yield loss due to high temperatures during the early podding stage.

Key words: high-temperature diapause, dry matter accumulation, photosynthesis, sugar metabolism, yield traits

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