The impermeable seed‐coat trait in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.) is of interest to researchers because impermeable seeds retain viability better than permeable seeds. The objective of this study was to determine how water stress during seedfllling may influence impermeable seed expression. A 2‐yr experiment was conducted outdoors with potted plants of two soybean genotypes that carried the impermeable seed‐coat trait. Starting at the R6 growth stage, one‐half of the plants were water stressed by imposing successive wilting cycles that consisted of withholding water until all plants in the treatment were wilted and then immediately rewatering until the soil was saturated. The control plants were watered daily. At maturity, seeds from water‐stressed plants were 15 to 33% smaller by weight, 8 to 22% smaller by volume, had a lower percentage of ruptured seed coats, a higher percentage seed coat, and 6 to 37% more impermeable seed (after 72 h of soaking) than well‐watered control plants over both years. The higher impermeable seed percentage (after 72 h of soaking) in the water‐stressed treatment was significantly correlated (r = −0.92**, significant at the 0.01 probability level) with the incidence of ruptured seed coats when data were combined over genotypes and years. Scanning electron microscopy suggested that ruptured seed coats were caused by the cotyledons expanding against the seed coat. The incidence of ruptured seed coat was positively associated with seed weight (r = 0.73*, significant at the 0.05 probability level), seed volume (r = 0.83*), and seed width (r = 0.92**). These data indicate that high soil moisture availability during seedfill will reduce impermeable seed expression by disrupting seed‐coat integrity.
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