The Influence of the Environment on Soybean Seed Nutritional Composition.

Food soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) contain nutritional compounds such as α-tocopherol, lutein, and gamma amino butyric acid (GABA) that may be marketable traits in a health-conscious market place. Seasonal temperature and precipitation, and the stresses associated with them such as cold and heat stress, flooding, and drought can affect nutrient uptake, plant metabolism and the activity of genes responsible for seed stored compounds.  A historical series of soybean cultivars was grown across a ten year period in Ottawa, Canada.  Data were collected on yield, phenology, climate, and seed component composition of selected cultivars.  The data bases they were merged and mined to determine if there were relationships between specific climatic events, occurring during specific growth intervals, and the seed component composition.  The presentation reports the findings of this research and the impact of environmental stability on these seed components.