This study aimed to investigate the effect of foliar application of
benzyladenine "BA" , Pix (both at 25, 50 and 100 ppm) and the interaction between
them on flower abscission, yield and yield components, chemical analysis of yielded
seeds (carbohydrate, protein, oil contents and its Iatty acids composition).
The obtained results revealed that there is a marked improvement in flower
number, and yield characteristics via the increase in pod number and decrease in
shedding percentage and consequently seed number, seed yield, seeds weight per
plant and 1 co-eeeds weight as a result of foliar SA and/or Pix application of soybean
plant in the two successive seasons. The interaction treatments were more potent than
the use of each growth regulator alone, especially 50 ppm SA + 50 ppm Pix in most
parameters.
The results of the present investigation revealed also that, the different
treatments increased the element content (nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, calcium
and magnesium) of soybean yielded seeds as compared with control. In addition, total
soluble sugars, polysaccharides as well as total carbohydrate, protein and oil
percentage of the harvested seeds of different treated soybean plants increased
significantly (P<0.05). The most effective treatment including the highest carbohydrate
and oil contents is the mixture of 50 ppm of both 8A and Pix, while the highest protein
content was observed in response to 50 ppm SA + 25 ppm Pix.
The SA and/or Pix treatments improved the fatty acids composition of
soybean seed's oil. A marked increase in the levels of unsaturated fatty acids (oleic,
linolenic, eicosenoic, erucic and nervonic), while linoleic was decreased. In the
meantime, there was an increase in the detectable saturated fatty acids with all
treatments.