Michigan State University Extension
Michigan Soybean Information - 00000008
11/16/00
Soybean Growth & Development - Growth Stages
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It is important for anyone involved in diagnosing
problems to understand and use the same growth stage
terminology. The method accepted across the country
divides soybean plant development into vegetative (V)
stages and reproductive (R) stages.* To distinguish the
various vegetative and reproductive stages requires the
ability to identify plant nodes. (Vis. 1)
A node is the part of the stem where the leaf develops.
When a leaf drops from the stem, the node can be
identified by the small scar that remains. Leaf scars for
trifoliolate leaves appear singularly and alternately on
the stem, and identify nodes positions where trifoliolate
leaves have grown. This is why nodes, which are permanent,
are used instead of leaves for stage determination.
The following sections describe the commonly accepted
soybean growth and reproductive stages and provide
illustrations to help correctly identify them with causal
inspection of the plant.
* See Fehr & Caviness et al. 1971. Stage of development
descriptions for soybeans, glycine max. (L). Merrill.
Crop Science 11:929-931.
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to commercial products or trade names does not imply
endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not
mentioned. This information becomes public property upon
publication and may be printed verbatim with credit to MSU
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a commercial product or company.
This file was generated from data base S1 on 11/16/00.
Data base S1 was last revised on 11/16/00.
For more information about this data base or its contents please contact
reinholt@michigansoybean.org . Please read our
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