Water deficit is a serious constraint to soybean [Glycine max L. (Merr.)] production in rainfed regions of Asia, Africa, and America. This study was conducted to develop a simple and effective screening method for drought tolerance in soybean. Fifteen soybean cultivars, eight identified to be drought-tolerant and seven drought-sensitive in previous studies, were used for the evaluation of drought tolerance under the new screening conditions. The seedling screening method was consisted of a treatment in a PEG solution and drought treatment in parafilm-layered pots. 5-day-old seedlings were treated in a 18% PEG solution for 4 days and their wilting and hypocotyl browning were recorded. Three seedlings grown in a parafilm-layered pot containing peat moss were drought-stressed by withholding water from the third day after seedling emergence, and root and seedling growth were examined. Degree of drought tolerance were rated based on seedling vigor in the PEG solution and drought-stressed parafilm-layered pots, and also on the penetration ability of roots through parafilm layer. Most of seedlings of the drought-tolerant cultivars showed higher vigour and root penetration than those of the drought-sensitive cultivars under the new screening conditions. Our results indicate that the new method can be used as a simple and effective screening procedure for drought tolerance in soybean breeding programs.

아열대 지역에서의 콩생육기간과 수량과의 관계를 구명하고자 1981년 대만 소재 아세아 채소연구개발센터(AVRDC)에서 선발한 콩 482계통을 봄, 여름, 가을 작기에 동일재료를 공시 생산력시험을 실시하여 얻은 결과를 요약하면 다음과 같다. 1. 작기별 평균수량 및 최고수량은 봄작기에서 높았고 가을, 여름 순으로, 낮았으며 가을 작기에서 계통간의 수량차가 제일 적었다. 2. 콩 수량은 작기에 관계없이 생육일수가 증가됨에 따라 증가되었으나 개화일수가 길어짐에 따라 수량은 감소되었다. 3. 100립중은 작기에 관계없이 결실기간이 길수록 무거운 경향을 보였으며 여름과 가을 작기에서 그 관계가 유의적이었다. 4. 다중회귀분석 결과 봄, 여름, 가을 어느 작기에서나 개화일수는 짧고 결실기간이 상대적으로 긴 계통이 고위생산력을 보이는 계통으로 고려되었다.