Intensively farmed crops used to experience numerous environmental stresses. Among these, shade and drought significantly influence the morpho-physiological and biochemical attributes of plants. However, the interactive effect of shade and drought on the growth and development of soybean under dense cropping systems has not been reported yet. This study investigated the interactive effect of PEG-induced osmotic stress and shade on soybean seedlings. The soybean cultivar viz., C-103 was subjected to PEG-induced osmotic stress from polyethylene glycol 6000 (PEG-6000) under shading and non-shading conditions. PEG-induced osmotic stress significantly reduced the relative water contents, morphological parameters, carbohydrates and chlorophyll contents under both light environments. A significant increase was observed in osmoprotectants, reactive oxygen species and antioxidant enzymes in soybean seedlings. Henceforth, the findings revealed that, seedlings grown under non-shading conditions produced more malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide contents as compared to the shade-treated plants when subjected to PEG-induced osmotic stress. Likewise, the shaded plants accumulated more sugars and proline than non-shaded ones under drought stress. Moreover, it was found that non-shaded grown plants were more sensitive to PEG-induced osmotic stress than those exposed to shading conditions, which suggested that shade could boost the protective mechanisms against osmotic stress or at least would not exaggerate the adverse effects of PEG-induced osmotic stress in soybean seedlings.

集约化种植的作物曾经经历过许多环境压力。其中，遮荫和干旱显着影响植物的形态生理和生化属性。然而，在密集种植制度下，遮荫和干旱对大豆生长发育的交互作用尚未见报道。本研究调查了 PEG 诱导的渗透胁迫和遮荫对大豆幼苗的交互作用。大豆栽培品种 C-103 在遮荫和非遮荫条件下受到来自聚乙二醇 6000 (PEG-6000) 的 PEG 诱导的渗透胁迫。PEG 诱导的渗透胁迫显着降低了两种光照环境下的相对水含量、形态参数、碳水化合物和叶绿素含量。在渗透保护剂中观察到显着增加，大豆幼苗中的活性氧和抗氧化酶。此后，研究结果表明，在受到 PEG 诱导的渗透胁迫时，与遮荫处理的植物相比，在非遮荫条件下生长的幼苗产生更多的丙二醛和过氧化氢含量。同样，在干旱胁迫下，遮荫的植物比未遮荫的植物积累了更多的糖和脯氨酸。此外，发现未遮荫生长的植物对 PEG 诱导的渗透胁迫比暴露于遮荫条件下的植物更敏感，这表明遮荫可以增强对渗透胁迫的保护机制或至少不会夸大 PEG 的不利影响-诱导大豆幼苗渗透胁迫。当受到 PEG 诱导的渗透胁迫时，与遮荫处理的植物相比，在非遮荫条件下生长的幼苗产生更多的丙二醛和过氧化氢含量。同样，在干旱胁迫下，遮荫的植物比未遮荫的植物积累了更多的糖和脯氨酸。此外，发现未遮荫生长的植物对 PEG 诱导的渗透胁迫比暴露于遮荫条件下的植物更敏感，这表明遮荫可以增强对渗透胁迫的保护机制或至少不会夸大 PEG 的不利影响-诱导大豆幼苗渗透胁迫。当受到 PEG 诱导的渗透胁迫时，与遮荫处理的植物相比，在非遮荫条件下生长的幼苗产生更多的丙二醛和过氧化氢含量。同样，在干旱胁迫下，遮荫的植物比未遮荫的植物积累了更多的糖和脯氨酸。此外，发现未遮荫生长的植物对 PEG 诱导的渗透胁迫比暴露于遮荫条件下的植物更敏感，这表明遮荫可以增强对渗透胁迫的保护机制或至少不会夸大 PEG 的不利影响-诱导大豆幼苗渗透胁迫。在干旱胁迫下，遮荫植物比未遮荫植物积累更多的糖和脯氨酸。此外，发现未遮荫生长的植物对 PEG 诱导的渗透胁迫比暴露于遮荫条件下的植物更敏感，这表明遮荫可以增强对渗透胁迫的保护机制或至少不会夸大 PEG 的不利影响-诱导大豆幼苗渗透胁迫。在干旱胁迫下，遮荫的植物比未遮荫的植物积累更多的糖和脯氨酸。此外，发现未遮荫生长的植物对 PEG 诱导的渗透胁迫比暴露于遮荫条件下的植物更敏感，这表明遮荫可以增强对渗透胁迫的保护机制或至少不会夸大 PEG 的不利影响-诱导大豆幼苗渗透胁迫。