Greenpeace stated that the findings indicated further testing of GM crops were needed. Drought during flowering decreases flower and then seed number per unit area. Corn reacts by a delay in silk emergence relative to pollen shed and an increase in seed abortion. Soybeans will increase pod abortion. In corn, the shorter filling period is caused by premature water loss from the seed.
Drought stresses in later pod-filling stages in soybean result in a decrease in maximum seed volume.
Temperatures at 95F with low humidity and the onset of droughty soil conditions can limit yields in fields. Soybeans grown in dry soils can reduce nodule formation, development and later nitrogen-fixation early in plant growth and these symptoms can also appear later when soil temperatures reach greater than 90F for several days. In corn, selecting hybrids with rapid ear growth, tolerance to high population densities and prolific hybrids can improve performance under drought conditions. The dry matter is accumulated at a rate of about 1 to 1.5 bushels per day during R6 to R8. Thus, stress during seed filling in soybeans can affect yields up to that 1.5 bushel per day, depending on how the temperature and drought ultimately affect the rate and the length of time dry matter accumulation can occur.