1990 Volume 59 Issue 4 Pages 649-660
Appearance and chemical composition of soybean seeds (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) in germplasm collection of Japan (about 4, 400 samples) were surveyed and analysed by near infrared spectroscopy. 1. Exotic collection from Asia, where soybean has been one of traditional crops, accounted for only about 18 percent of all, which suggested the need for further collection. 2. Grain size was classified on The Evaluation Standard of Soybean Cultivars. Frequency distribution among small, medium and large ones was about 16, 63 and 21 percent respectively. In the collection from Asia, grain size tended to get smaller as the latitude of collection site became lower. 3. About 26 percent was so-called coloured seed-coated (green, brown, black or mottled). The remaining 74 percent was pale yellow or yellow seed-coated. 4. The most frequent hilum colour was brown, amounting to 32 percent, followed by yellow, black, dark brown, pale brown, pale black and green in descending order. 5. In the collection from Asia, the protein percentage tended to increase as the latitude of collection site became lower and the lipid percentage vice versa. 6. The protein percentage tended to increase as grain size got smaller and lipid percentage vice versa. Those black seed-coated cultivars of extremely small grain size had the closest chemical composition to that of wild soybeans (Glycine soja Sieb. & Zucc.). 7. Domestic collection was characterized as large seeded, a little lower both in the protein and lipid percentage and higher in the carbohydrate percentage.
