Abstract
The embryo and cotyledon compositions of Beeson soybeans grown in Ohio, U.S.A., were examined, and their properties investigated. The embryo and cotyledon lipid compositions were 92-93% neutral lipid, 4.0-4.9% glycolipid and 3.0-3.1% phospholipid, respectively. As for neutral lipid, triacylglycerol showed a ratio as high as 85.4-94.8%, whereas more phosphatidylcholine was present in phospholipid. The contents of major fatty acids in the embryo and cotyledon lipids were C18: 2, C18: 1, C16: 0 and C18: 3. The content of unsaponifiables in the embryo was as high as 5.1%, being approximately 6 times the level present in the cotryledon. The content of 4-desnethylsterol in the embryo was approximately 10 times that of the cotyledon, and was composed of about 70% sitosterol. Total tocopherol in the embryo was larger than that in the cotyledon, and was composed of about 65% γ-tocopherol.
