RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GENOME SIZE AND MATURITY GROUP IN SOYBEAN

Previous studies have reported a correlation between genome size and r elative maturity among plant species. The objective of this study was to determine whether such a relationship exists in soybean. Twenty cul tivars, representing maturity groups ranging from 000 to IX, were anal yzed using flow cytometric procedures. A 15% difference in genome size was observed ranging from 'BSR 201' at 2.88 pg to 'Maple Presto' at 2 .51 pg. A highly significant correlation (r = 0.55) was observed betwe en maturity and the genome size of the 20 cultivars.