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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #78901
Title: SOLUBLE CARBOHYDRATE CONTENT OF SOYBEAN [GLYCINE MAX (L.) MERR.] SOMATIC AND ZYGOTIC EMBRYOS DURING DEVELOPMENT

Author
item CHANPRAME, SERMSIRI - UNIV OF IL, URBANA, IL
item KUO, TSUNG MIN
item WIDHOLM, J - UNIV OF IL, URBANA, IL

Submitted to: In Vitro Cellular And Developmental Biology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/22/1997
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Mature soybean seeds contain indigestible sugars that can prevent farm animals from using more energy and nutrients in the soybean feed. To solve this problem, we have studied artificial soybean seeds for controlling the formation of indigestible sugars. The artificial seed system has advantages over the normal seeds for less seed variation and short production time. In this study, we found that the artificial seeds were unique in the accumulation of sugars, protein and oil during development. We also found that a major indigestible sugar was accumulated in the late stage of development, much like normal seeds. The result suggests that the artificial soybean seed system can be further developed as a valuable tool for scientists to seek ways to reduce the formation of indigestible sugars and subsequently improve both the nutritional and market value of soybeans.

Technical Abstract: Somatic and zygotic embryos of soybean cv. Jack were analyzed for soluble carbohydrate, oil and protein content during development. Zygotic embryos contained low oil levels up to 50 DAF and then the levels increased to 16% by 55 DAF and 21.3% at 65 DAF. Somatic embryos had low levels of oil with the maximum of only 4.7% throughout development. Soybean zygotic embryos accumulated high levels of protein, near 40% of total dry weight throughout development. Protein accumulation in somatic embryos decreased from 43.5% to 24.2% as maturation approached. Zygotic embryos accumulated trace amounts of fructose, galactose and galactinol, whereas somatic embryos contained only trace amounts of galactose. Somatic embryos accumulated much higher glucose levels than zygotic embryos. Both somatic and zygotic embryos contain low levels of sucrose, myo-inositol and pinitol. Raffinose and stachyose accumulated in the late development stages of zygotic embryos, but only stachyose was found to accumulate in the late stage somatic embryos. These studies demonstrate that the composition of Jack zygotic embryos is similar to that described for other cultivars during development while the composition and size of somatic embryos are markedly different.