Variation in fatty acid composition of soybean oil among Korean and American soybean germplasms

Oil and fatty acid composition of 648 soybean germplasms of different categories including Korean and American source were analyzed by NIRS (Near Infrared Reflectance Spectrophotometer) method at Yeongnam Agricultural Research Institute, Milyang, Korea. A significant variation in fatty acid composition of soybean oil was found. Most of fatty acids in soybean were unsaturated like many other oils of plant origin. The greatest ranges of oil (10.8-24.1%) and linolenic acid (7.2-14.3%) were recognized in KUS9701 while the greatest ranges of oleic acid (13.9-52.1%), linoleic acid (32.6-70.1%) and linoleic to linolenic acid ratio (3.7-7.4) were observed in soybean of American source. The highest average composition of oil (18.7%) and the lowest average composition of linoleic acid (52.2%) and linoleic to linolenic acid ratio (4.8) were recorded in Korean released varieties but the backcross population of KUS9701 showed the highest average composition of linolenic acid (11.7%). Similarly, highest average composition of oleic acid was found in soybean of American source. A crude soybean oil having low saturated fatty acid, mid to high oleic acid and low linoleic to linolenic acid ratio concentration offers competitive market opportunities in numerous edible applications such as salad making, cooking, baking and frying. Three soybean lines of American source (KLG12073, KLG12074 and KLG12072) showed desirable standards for fatty acid composition, linoleic to linolenic acid ratio and all other criteria in soybean for desirable oil quality followed by some cultivars released in Korea. Oil and fatty acid composition of 648 soybean germplasms of different categories including Korean and American source were analyzed by NIRS (Near Infrared Reflectance Spectrophotometer) method at Yeongnam Agricultural Research Institute, Milyang, Korea. A significant variation in fatty acid composition of soybean oil was found. Most of fatty acids in soybean were unsaturated like many other oils of plant origin. The greatest ranges of oil (10.8-24.1%) and linolenic acid (7.2-14.3%) were recognized in KUS9701 while the greatest ranges of oleic acid (13.9-52.1%), linoleic acid (32.6-70.1%) and linoleic to linolenic acid ratio (3.7-7.4) were observed in soybean of American source. The highest average composition of oil (18.7%) and the lowest average composition of linoleic acid (52.2%) and linoleic to linolenic acid ratio (4.8) were recorded in Korean released varieties but the backcross population of KUS9701 showed the highest average composition of linolenic acid (11.7%). Similarly, highest average composition of oleic acid was found in soybean of American source. A crude soybean oil having low saturated fatty acid, mid to high oleic acid and low linoleic to linolenic acid ratio concentration offers competitive market opportunities in numerous edible applications such as salad making, cooking, baking and frying. Three soybean lines of American source (KLG12073, KLG12074 and KLG12072) showed desirable standards for fatty acid composition, linoleic to linolenic acid ratio and all other criteria in soybean for desirable oil quality followed by some cultivars released in Korea.