Plant morphometrics and seed assessment of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.)

This study investigated the morphometric traits and seed characteristics of five soybean (Glycine max L.) accessions (TGM-8519, TGM-8527, TGM-8501, TGM-4022, and TGM-4488) grown in Nasarawa State, Nigeria. The research aimed to assess variations in seed dimensions, water retention capacity, and early growth performance among the accessions. Morphometric parameters, including seed length, width, and thickness, were measured with a vernier caliper, while water retention was assessed by recording seed weight and water volume before and after six hours of soaking. Early growth parameters, such as plant height, leaf number, and stem diameter, were measured at the seedling stage. Results showed no significant variation among the accessions in terms of germination, TGM8527 stood out as the tallest accession (7.79 cm in Week 1 to 38.20 cm by Week 6), TGM4488 consistently produced the highest number of leaves while TGM8519 recorded the lowest number of leaves, seed morphometric traits of the five soybean varieties, showing variations in length, width, and thickness. Seed length ranged from 1.03 ± 0.05 cm in TGM-8527 and TGM-4488 to 1.15 ± 0.06 cm in TGM-8501, with differences not statistically significant (LSD = 0.14ns). Seed weight showed variable responses to soaking.