Changes of Chemical Components During Seed Development in Black Soybean (Glycine max L.)

Changes in the level of metabolites in leaves and pods were examined with respect to the seed chemical composition in black soybean. There was no further increase in pod length after 42 days after flowering (DAF). Pod weight, however, persistently increase until 73 DAF, thereafter the weight was slightly lowered. The seed storage protein, however, increased drastically as the increasing rate of pod weight was lessened at 61 DAF. The accumulation of seed storage proteins was occurred conspicuously as the increasing rate of pod weight was slowed down. The chlorophyll content both in leaves and pods was drastically decreased after 50 DAF. The beginning of drastic reduction in chlorophyll content was occurred concomitantly with the reduction of soluble protein content in leaves. The sugar content in leaves showed similar tendency with chlorophyll and soluble protein content. The starch level in leaves, however, showed different changing pattern during seed development. The starch content in leaves was increased persistently until 66 DAF, thereafter the content was decreased drastically to about 55% of maximal value at 66 DAF. Total phenolics content in leaves and the anthocyanins content in seeds were stable without noticeable increase until 66 DAF. The contents were increased dramatically after 66 DAF showing the synchronized pattern with the decrease in starch level in leaves. The levels of the selected metabolites in leaf and seed suggested that the accumulation of chemical components of black soybean seed is launched actively at 66 DAF. The profile of storage proteins was nearly completed at 61 DAF because there was no large difference in densitometric intensity among protein subunits after 61 DAF. In soybean, chemical maturation of seed begins around 61 to 66 DAF at which most metabolites in vegetative parts are decreased and remobilized into maturing seeds.