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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Griffin, Georgia » Plant Genetic Resources Conservation Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #189875
Title: VARIABILITY OF FLAVONOID CONTENT AND SEED-COAT COLOR IN DIFFERENT LEGUMES

Author
item Wang, Ming
item Gillaspie, Athey - Graves
item Morris, John - Brad
item Pittman, Roy
item DAVIS, J. - UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
item Pederson, Gary

Submitted to: Plant Genetic Resources Newsletter
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/21/2007
Publication Date: 6/30/2007
Citation: Wang, M.L., Gillaspie Jr, A.G., Morris, J.B., Pittman, R.N., Davis, J., Pederson, G.A. 2007. Variability of flavonoid content and seed-coat color in different legumes. Plant Genetic Resources Newsletter. 6(1):300-325

Interpretive Summary: Flavonoids are natural products in the plant kingdom. Isoflavones (e.g. daidzein and genistein) and flavonols (e.g. kaempferol, myricetin and quercetin) as secondary metabolites have beneficial effects to human health due to their antioxidant, antiestrogenic and antiproliferative activities. Legume flavonoids have received considerable attention due to their beneficial effects on human health. Various results have been reported on soybean but little research work has been conducted on other legumes. In this report, flavonoids in different legume seeds (peanut, lablab, cowpea, mung bean and soybean with different seed-coat colors) were quantified by HPLC. On average, soybean seeds contained significantly higher amounts of daidzein (335 ug/g), genistein (448 ug/g) and kaempferol (52 ug/g) while cowpea seeds contained a significantly higher amount of myricetin (86 ug/g) than the other four legumes. Cowpea and peanut seeds contained significantly higher amounts of quercetin (247 ug/g and 211 ug/g) than the other three legumes. Association of seed-coat color with flavonoid content in the seeds across species was difficult due to complexity of seed-coat color classification except that seeds with a black seed-coat contained a higher amount of myricetin. Daidzein was significantly correlated with genistein and kaempferol, respectively. Genistein was also significantly correlated with kaempferol. The variation in the flavonoid content detected and seed-coat color observed in this study would be useful for legume breeders and consumers.

Technical Abstract: Legume flavonoids have received considerable attention due to their beneficial effects to human health. Various results have been reported on soybean, but little research work has been conducted on other legumes. In this report, flavonoids (including daidzein, genistein, kaempferol, myricetin, and quercetin) in different legume seeds (peanut, lablab, cowpea, mung bean and soybean with different seed-coat colors) were quantified by HPLC. The flavonoid content with each accession was compared by statistical analysis. On average, soybean seeds contained significantly higher amounts of daidzein (335 ug/g) genistein (448 ug/g) and kaempferol (52 ug/g) while cowpea seeds contained a significantly higher amount of myricetin (86 ug/g) than the other four legumes. Cowpea and peanut seeds contained significantly higher amounts of quercetin (247 ug/g and 211 ug/g) than the other three legumes. Within the same species, the difference in quantity of a specific flavonoid among accessions varied greatly (from 2-285 fold). Association of seed-coat color with flavonoid content in the seeds across species was difficult due to complexity of seed-coat color classification, except that seeds with a black seed-coat contained a higher amount of myricetin. Daidzein was significantly correlated with genistein and kaempferol (r=0.93248, P<0.0001;r =0.58246, P<0.0001), respectively. Genistein was also significantly correlated with kaempferol (r=0.72547, P<0.0001). The variatioin in the flavonoid content detected and seed-coat color observed in this study would be useful for legume breeders and consumers.