The ability to access soil water deep in the soil profile is beneficial for crops under drought conditions. Therefore varieties that are able to maintain their root growth and development under osmotic stress are better able sustain productivity under drought conditions. As soil water availability is often a primary limitation to crop yield in the soybean producing regions of Ontario, the knowledge of whether there is genetic variation for root growth under osmotic stress would be beneficial for the improvement of drought tolerance in soybean varieties adapted to this region. Using a hydroponic system the variation for root elongation rate under osmotic stress and the recovery of the root elongation rate once the stress has been removed were measured on 53 soybean varieties adapted to Ontario, Canada. Seven soybean varieties from other growing regions were also measured for comparison with the Ontario varieties. Soybean seedlings were grown for 24 hours in a growth solution. At the end of this time, osmotic stress was produced using an 18.75% polyethylglycol (PEG) solution which was pumped into the hydroponic boxes. After another 24 hours the PEG solution was removed and the growth solution was returned to the boxes. The recovery of the root elongation rate was then measured. The genetic variation found amongst Ontario soybean varieties for root elongation rate under osmotic stress and during recovery from the osmotic stress will be presented.