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Abscission probability for positions within a soybean [Glycine max(L.) Merr.] raceme may not be equal. The influence of the two most proximal pods on abscission probability and growth of remaining pods within a raceme was studied using the soybean cultivar ‘Williams’. Plants were field grown (1982, Beltsville silt loam, Typic Fragiudult; 1983, Mattapeake silt loam, Typic Hapludult). Treatment consisted of removing or not removing the two most proximal (raceme Positions 1 and 2) pods. More flowers were produced at Node 8 than at either Node 10 or 12. Abscission probabilities for Positions 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 of untreated racemes were 4, 10, 56, 77, and 99%. Removal of proximal pods decreased the abscission probability at Position 3 in five out of six instances (Nodes 8, 10, 1982; Nodes 8,10, and 12,1983) and at Position 4 in four of six instances (Node 8, 1982; Nodes 8, 10, and 12, 1983), but usually did not increase individual pod or seed weights. In most instances, individual pod and seed weights were smaller at Position 4 than at Position 1. The presence of proximal pods on soybean racemes interfered with the development of distal pods and increased the abscission probability of reproductive structures borne at distal positions.

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