Variation of β-carotene Concentration in Soybean Seed and Sprout

In this study, β-carotene concentrations was determined in soybean cultivar according to seed size, usage, seed coat color and cotyledon color as well as the process of seed germination. The total average concentration of β-carotene was 6.6 ㎍/g in soybean seed, 33.3 ㎍/g in soybean sprout. According to seed size, the total β-carotene concent-ration of soybean was 6.9 ㎍/g in large soybean seed, 6.7 ㎍/g in medium soybean seed, and 6.31 ㎍/g in small soybean seed. In soybean sprout, the total β-carotene concentration was 21.4 ㎍/g in large soybean sprout, 30.5 ㎍/g in medium soybean sprout, and 43.5 ㎍/g in small soybean sprout. According to the utilization of seed, the total β-carotene concentration of soybean seed was 7.2 ㎍/g in cooked with rice soybean seed, 6.1 ㎍/g in paste and curd soybean seed, and 6.3 ㎍/g in sprout soybean seed. In soybean sprout, the total β-carotene concentration was 25.9 ㎍/g in cooked with rice soybean sprout, 32.4 ㎍/g in paste and curd soybean sprout, and 41.9 ㎍/g in sprout soybean sprout. When comparison with seed coat color, the total β-carotene concentration of soybean with brown seed coat (8.8 ㎍/g) was slightly higher than those of soybean with yellow (6.1 ㎍/g). In soybean sprout, the total β-carotene concentration was 21.8 ㎍/g in black seed coat sprout, 38.7 ㎍/g in brown seed coat sprout, 34.1 ㎍/g in green seed coat sprout, 39.5 ㎍/g in yellow seed coat sprout, and 30.5 ㎍/g in mottle seed coat sprout. The results of this study suggested the functional characteristics of soybean through quantitative analysis of β-carotene.