Abstract
Average seed protein, oil, fatty acid contents and weight of seed from (subgenus Glycine) Glycine clandestina, G. falcata, G. tabacina G. tomentella (subgenus Bracteata) G. wightii and (subgenus Soja) G. ussuriensis were determined and compared with those of seed from (subgenus Soja) G. max, the soya bean. Seeds of species in the subgenera Glycine and Bracteata weighed about 1g per 100 seeds. Seeds in the subgenus Glycine averaged about 30 per cent protein, while those of G. ussuriensis and G. wightii contained about the same amount of protein (41 per cent) as U.S. soya bean cultivars. Seeds of G. wightii had the lowest oil content in the genus, about six per cent; those of the other wild species averaged about 12 per cent. Seeds of all species analysed had the same five fatty acids: palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic and linolenic. Seeds of G. max were proportionately higher in oleic and linoleic acids than other species. The implications of these findings relative to breeding programme are discussed.
