1990 Volume 59 Issue 4 Pages 661-666
Chemical composition of soybean seeds (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) in germplasm collection of Japan (about 4, 400 samples) was analysed by near infrared spectroscopy to get the following information on the correlation among protein, lipid and carbohydrate percentages. 1. Protein and lipid had hightly negative correlation (r=-0.594**, n=4, 404) regardless of carbohydrate or protein percentage. 2. Carbohydrate and lipid had also a highly negative correlation (r=-0. 561**, n=4, 404) regardless of protein percentage. But the correlation was not significant in lower-lipid·higher-carbohydrate area. 3. Carbohydrate and protein had a negative correlation (r=-0.117**, n=4, 404). But the correlation coefficient was far lower than the other two correlations observed between protein and lipid, and between carbohydrate and lipid. 4. Correlations were different depending on grain size. Protein-lipid correlation was higher in smaller seeded varieties or lines. Carbohydrate-lipid correlation was higher in medium or large seeded ones and lower in small seeded ones. Carbohydrate-protein correlation was moderately high in large seeded ones, but it was fairly low or non-significant in small or medium seeded ones. 5. Some suggestions were made on the method of chemical breeding of soybeans better suited for processing.
