Genome size variation and maturity group in the soybean, Glycine max

Recent literature data indicate a 1.15-fold difference in genome size between certain cultivars of soybean and a positive correlation of genome size and maturity group. The present analysis aims at a reinvestigation of these cultivars using DAPI and ethidium bromide flow cytometry and Feulgen densitometry. No reproducible genome size differences were found between these cultivars with either technique, and no correlation with maturity group was stated. The previously claimed statistical significance of such a correlation was found to result from only one exceedingly low DNA value of an early maturing cultivar, which according to our data is not different from the others.