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Abstract

SourceURL:file:///home/zlatica/Desktop/Pakistan/Mamlic et al PJB.docx During early developmental stages, soybean (Glycine max L.) exhibits high sensitivity to stress factors that can impair growth, morphological differentiation, and yield formation. Among abiotic stressors, physical injuries caused by hailstorms are particularly destructive in climatically unstable regions, while biotic stress, such as damage from phytophagous insects, further complicates the plant’s physiological response. Consequences include reduced photosynthetic surface, disrupted assimilate transport, and inhibition of meristematic activity. To standardize the assessment of these effects, simulated defoliation was applied as an experimental model that reproduces leaf area loss and enables evaluation of the plant’s regenerative potential under controlled stress conditions. The field experiment was conducted at the Rimski saneevi site (Novi Sad, Serbia), with defoliation applied at the V1 and R1 stages, in three intensities (33%, 67%, 100%), without irrigation and under standard agronomic practices. Physiological, vegetative, and generative traits were monitored, along with seed protein and oil content. Results showed that soybean tolerated leaf area loss more effectively when defoliation was applied during the vegetative stage, while treatments during the reproductive stage — especially at 100% intensity — significantly reduced photosynthetic activity, morphological stability, and yield. Moderate defoliation at R1 (67%) activated compensatory mechanisms and led to increased seed, protein, and oil yield. Multivariate analysis confirmed the association of generative traits with yield, while vegetative parameters contributed secondarily to overall adaptation. In conclusion, the developmental stage and damage intensity are key factors in defining soybean’s adaptive response, supporting the selection of tolerant genotypes and the optimization of agronomic strategies under climate-induced stress conditions. Key words: Glycine max, Regenerative potential, Seed yield, Simulated defoliation, Stress tolerance

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