Effects of brassinosteroids and gibberellin on water uptake and performance of soya bean seeds under different temperatures

Low temperature has negative effects on seed performance and seedling growth in soya bean, reducing stand establishment. It was hypothesised, that seed treatment with plant hormones could improve seed imbibition and performance at low temperature. Therefore, the effects of 24-epibrassinolide (EBL) and gibberellic acid (GA(3)) on soya bean seed germination were studied. Seeds of 'CM60' and 'CM0701-24' were imbibed with 0.25 or 0.50 ppm EBL, 50 or 100 ppm GA(3), or distilled water at 10, 15, 20 and 25 degrees C. The seed imbibition patterns of the two soya bean varieties followed a similar trend. Low temperature delayed seed imbibition resulting in longer time to reach the end of phases 1 and 2 of seed germination as compared with high temperature. Soya bean seeds treated with 50 or 100 ppm GA(3) showed increased germination index, shoot and root length and reduced mean germination time. Thus, 50-100 ppm GA(3) could be used as a pre-soaking seed treatment to improve soya bean seed and seedling performance under low temperature.