Abstract: The seed deterioration of spring soybean in South China has been a great obstacle to the development of the spring soybean production in the region. The seed deterioration resistance germplasm needed to be used in the study of the resistance mechanism, and the development of the new cultivars. The main aim of the research was to evaluate the seed deterioration resistance of 92 spring soybean landraces and cultivars from South China by the methanol treatment and incubating weathering treatment, and to screen the seed deterioration resistance accessions. The results showed that no consistency between the resistant degrees of the before-harvesting and after-harvesting seed deterioration was found in 92 spring soybean germplasm of South China, and the former was generally great than the latter. The germplasm resisting the before-harvesting seed deterioration was more abundant in the spring soybean resource of South China. Significant positive correlations among the germinative percentage, germinative energy, vigor index and simple vigor index were found. The combination of the germinative percentage, vigor index and simple vigor index should be used as the evaluation index of the seed deterioration. 5 accessions resisting before-harvesting seed deterioration with the germinating percentage ≥80%, vigor index ≥1.00, and simple vigor index ≥8.61 were identified. 4 accessions resisting after-harvesting seed deterioration with the germinating percentage ≥80%, vigor index ≥2.64 and simple vigor index ≥7.03 were identified. One both resisting before-harvesting and after-harvesting seed deterioration, and one both unresisting before-harvesting and after-harvesting seed deterioration, were screening out.

Key words: Spring soybean in South China, Seed deterioration, Methanol treatment, Incubating