Prevention of monocarpic senescence in soybeans with auxin and cytokinin: an antidote for self-destruction.

Foliar applications of alpha-naphthaleneacetic acid, together with 6-benzyladenine, prevent the seed-induced degeneration (monocarpic senescence) in soybeans. In addition to halting leaf yellowing and shedding, this treatment prevents the loss of starch and nitrogen that occurs during senescence of these leaves. Although nitrogen and starch are normally redistributed to support pod growth, pod development is not impaired by this treatment, apparently because photosynthesis and nitrogen assimilation continue.