Selection of Useful Germplasm Based on the Variation Analysis of Growth and Seed Quality of Soybean Germplasms Grown at Two Different Latitudes

We conducted this study to select useful germplasms for investigating the agricultural performances and content variations of proximate composition, fatty acid, and isoflavone of the soybean germplasms grown at two different latitudes, Suwon (37o16 N) and Yeoncheon (38o12 N), Republic of Korea. The days to flowering of the soybeans grown at Suwon was early by 1 day compared with that at Yeoncheon whereas the days to maturing of the soybeans were not different by latitudes. The Yeoncheon-cultivated soybeans were greater in growth and yield than the Suwon. The crude oil in range of 17.0% to 20.0% had a positive correlation with the yield. There was a strong negative correlation between oleic acid and saturated fatty (palmitic and stearic) acid contents in the seeds producted at Suwon but the Yeoncheon were not significant. The linoleic acid in seeds of the germplasms was contained by 7.3-fold more than the linolenic acid. The malonylgenistin content was the highest among the detected isoflavones and Deapung had the highest total isoflavone content. The content of total isoflavones in the Yeoncheon-producted seeds was high more than that in the Suwon whereas those of Hei nong 44(hou), Tachikogane, and B152 grown at Suwon were significantly lower rather than those at Yeoncheon. However, the difference of latitude seemed to play an important role in the content variations of growth, yield, and fatty acids and isoflavones in the germplasms. Eventually, Tie dou 44 and WIR3722, which were stably outstanding in all the investigated aspects regardless of the growing locations, were selected as useful germplasms.