What happens to soybean plants if the entire above-ground portion is killed by frost in spring?

When soybean plants experience frost that kills off the entire above-ground portion in spring, they will not recover. Soybeans, being a warm-season crop, are sensitive to cold temperatures, and the death of their above-ground parts means that the plants lose their leaves, stems, and any developing flowers or pods that were present. This extensive damage disrupts the plant's ability to photosynthesize, which is essential for their growth and development.

Once the above-ground tissue is lost due to frost, the plant is unable to regenerate new leaves and stems from its root system because the roots also rely on the above-ground presence for energy and nutrient transfer. In essence, while soybean roots can be quite resilient, the complete destruction of the plant's aerial parts affects the overall health and viability of the plant, leading to the conclusion that the plant will not recover from this damage.

Recovery for a plant under these conditions would require some remaining leafy structures and growing points, which means options indicating some level of recovery are not applicable in this scenario. Similarly, the notion that the plants could grow faster than usual does not align with the impacts of frost damage, which would impede growth instead of enhancing it.