Waterlogging Effects on Nitrogen Accumulation and $N_2$ Fixation of Supernodulating Soybean Mutants

Soybean is sensitive to waterlogging stress, leading to reduce their growth and yield significantly. The objective of this study was to characterize the relative sensitivities of biomass accumulation and specific nodule activity under waterlogging stress between supernoduating mutants, 'SS2-2' and 'Sakukei 4' and their wild-type soybeans, 'Sinpaldalkong 2' and 'Enrei', respectively. Flooding treatment was performed to soybean plants grown in a pot by waterlogging for 15 days from the beginning bloom(R1) stage under natural light. The nodule number and weight were considerably decreased by waterlogging stress. The bleeding sap rate of waterlogging soybean plants was decreased by 78-80% in supernodulating mutants and 65-74% in their wild types compared to control plants. The relative ureide-N content was also decreased by waterlogging and the reduction was high in supernodulating mutants. This may cause the massive reduction of shoot and root dry weight and leaf area in waterlogged soybean plants. There was a varietal difference in response to the waterlogging stress. During the waterlogging, supernodulating mutants maintained higher spad value than their wild types. Particularly, the difference between soybean varieties was clear in low rank leaves from the top. Also, supernodulating mutants showed a weak waterlogging tolerance than their wild types. Under waterlogging conditions, massive nodules were considerably destroyed and specific nodule activity after waterlogging may not be recovered when compared to their wild-type soybeans. Supernodulating mutants showed lower seed yield than their wild types in waterlogging conditions.