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Founded by the North Central Soybean Research Program and funded by the Soybean Checkoff – this website provides information on soybean pests and diseases from checkoff-funded research, and from the university research and Extension programs of all 12 NCSRP partner states.

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Soybean Growth Stages


V2 Two nodes on the main stem with fully developed leaves.	R4 Pod is 3/4" long at one of the four uppermost nodes on the main stem with a fully developed leaf.	R8 Ninety-five percent of the pods have reached their mature pod color.

Vegetative stages

VE	Emergence	Emergence of young plants through the soil surface with cotyledons (seed leaves) above the soil
VC	Cotyledon	The plant has emerged and cotyledons are fully unfolded
V1	first node	The first node appears and the unifoliate leaves are fully developed opposite each other
V2	2 nodes	Two nodes on the main stem with fully developed leaves
V5	5 nodes	Counting the unifoliate node, there are four more nodes with fully developed trifoliolate leaves. Vegetative stages V6, V7... Vn continue until the first flower appears. Some varieties may accumulate as many as 20 nodes during the vegetative growth stage.

Reproductive Stages

R1	Beginning flower	Open flower at any node on the main stem
R2	Full flower	Open flower at one of the two uppermost nodes on the main stem
R3	Beginning pod	Pod is 5 mm (3/16 inch) long at one of the four uppermost nodes on the main stem.
R4	Full pod	Pod is 3/4" long at one of the four uppermost nodes on the main stem with a fully developed leaf.
R5	Beginning seed	Seed is 1/8" long in a pod at one of the four uppermost nodes on the main stem.
R6	Full seed	A pod containing a green seed that fills the pod cavity is located at one of the four uppermost main stem nodes.
R7	Beginning maturity	One normal pod on the main stem has reached its mature pod color.
R8	Full maturity	Ninety-five percent of the pods have reached their mature pod color.

Sources

Stage of development descriptions for soybeans, glycine max. (L). Merrill.
Fehr & Caviness et al. Crop Science 11: 929-931 (1971).

Soybean Growth and Development (ISU PM 1943)
A 28-page publication that explains soybean growth and development through the life cycle of a maturity group II variety. Iowa State University Extension Distribution Center (Tel: 515- 294-5247)

Identifying Soybean Growth Stages. One-page, color illustrations (pdf file). Michigan State University.

Drawings courtesy of Anne E. Dorrance and Patrick E. Lipps.Profitable Soybean Disease Management in Ohio . Bulletin 895. Ohio State University.