Variation of beta-amylase in Korean land races and wild soybeans

A total 2,415 accession of soybeans(G. max) and 228 wild soybean(G. soja) were examined for β-amylase variation by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The Amy3 1-1 was a most common phenotype in both G. max and G. soja. The frequency of the Amye 1 allele was found to higher in cultivar(0.7830±0.0059) than in wilds(0.6285±0.0285) of Korea. This data means more cultuvars in G. max are fixed for the Amy3 1 allele at the β-amylase locus. Amy3 1 and Amy3 2 alleles are evenly distributed in wild soybean of Korea. The Amy3 2 allele of wilds was found to be highest in japanese soybean(0.5833±0.0636) than in Korea(0.3175±0.0258) and Chinese soybeans(0.1579±0.0481) (p＜0.001). Early maturity group contains Amy3 1-1 phenotype in higher frequency, while Amy3 2-2 phenotype appeared in higher frequency in late maturity group. A significant positive association was found between Amy3 2-2 phenotype and tawny pubescence color.