Abstract
In order to develop soybean (Glycine max (L.)Merr.) cultivars res.istant to seed coat cracking, efficient and reliable selection methods were examined. The incidence of seed coat cracking is strongly influenced by environmental factors, consequently it. is difficult. to est.imate the gonetic components of resis tance under natural conditions. Pod removal treatment has been applied to evaluate seed coat cracking. This method results in enlarged seeds of remaining pods and increases the incidence of sccd coat cracking Consoquently, cultivar differenccs are enhanced, which improves the evaluation of t.he characteristic. But the method is t.edious and restricts the number of cultivars or lines that can be t.ested if it. is done b.v hand. We attempted to develop a more cfficient testing method using a growth regulator.
