Soybean germplasm characterization for human consumption aptitude in Uruguay

Abstract

Abstract Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) is a crop of world economic importance; and its grain constitutes a significant source of protein and carbohydrates for human consumption. This work aimed to characterize soybean genotypes available in Uruguay for human consumption regarding protein quantity and quality, carbohydrate composition and oil content in relation to yield, both in genetically modified and conventional genotypes. In this study, 13 genotypes grown in three different environments (two locations, two years), a conventional set (22 genotypes) and a genetically modified set (36 genotypes), grown in a single environment were subject to study. The traits measured were yield, total protein, oil content, soluble protein, glycinin (11S), conglycinin (7S), the 11S/7S ratio, soluble carbohydrates, sucrose and total raffinose family oligosaccharides (RFOs). A significant environmental and genotype effect was detected for most of the parameters. The interaction between genotype and environment was significant for total protein, oil content and sucrose. Soluble protein and the 11S fraction were only affected by environment; soluble carbohydrates and the 7S fraction were only affected by genotype. It was possible to identify genotypes with good characteristics for human consumption (high total protein, sucrose, ratio 11S/7S and low oligosaccharides) across environments, both genetically modified and conventional genotypes. Variability was found among the genotypes available in Uruguay in the parameters studied.

Keywords

• Soybean
• Soy foods
• Genotypes of Uruguay
• Soybean protein
• Soybean carbohydrates
• Soybean composition
• Genotype variability
• Environmental variability