Abstract：The effects of heat stress(HS) on HSP70 gene expression, energy supply in abscission zone of flower-pod and the abscission rate of flowers-pods in soybean (Glycine max) cultivars were analyzed by Northern blot and physiological and biochemical assay. The results showed that HS could lead to the increases of HSP70 gene expression level, mitochondria and their protein contents, and cytochrome oxidase content in abscission zone of flowers-pods, but the decrease of the abscission rate of flowers-pods in all six soybean cultivars comparison with their control groups with normal temperature treatment. The results suggested that the overexpression of HSP70 gene caused the increases of mitochondria and their protein contents and cytochrome oxidase content, which improved enhancement of energy supply in abscission zone of flowers-pods so that this inhibited the abscission of flowers-pods of soybean plants. This will be of importance for reducing abscission rate of flowers-pods and increasing seed yield in soybean by genetic engineering approach.
