Amino Acid Composition Changes in Soybean Sprouts during Cultivation

We examined changes in the amino acid composition of soybean sprouts of four different Korean soybean cultivars (Yutae, Jinunee, Subaktae, and Baktae). Total amino acids levels in all samples 1 day after cultivation were lower than those in soybeans but increased at cultivation times greater then 3 days. Glutamic and aspartic acids, the most abundant amino acids in all soybean cultivars studied at day 0 of sprouting, constituted more than 30% of all amino acids. Aspartic acid content of hypocotyls markedly increased, but glutamic acid levels decreased 5-day-old sprouts of Jinunee and 3-day-old sprouts of the other cultivars. Moreover, compositions of aspartic acid decreased in the order hypocotyl > root > cotyledon and Yutae > Baktae > Jinunee > Subaktae.