Phytic acid in soybean: genotypic variability and influence of growing location.

Abstract

Phytic acid, the heat-stable anti-nutritional factor, was determined in 80 cultivars/strains ofIndian soybean to identify genotypes that possess low concentrations of phytic acid. Variation of valuesof 28.6 – 46.4 g kg−1soy flour was observed. Information on the influence of growing locations with widelydiffering soil types on phytic acid content being scarce, phytic acid in the mature dry seeds of eight Indiansoybean cultivars grown over four locations was evaluated. Variation in different varieties at differentlocations was 27.8 – 45.0 g kg−1soy flour. Averaged over eight genotypes, the maximum mean value forphytic acid was observed at Pantnagar and the minimum at Palampur. These differences in locationalmean values for phytic acid can be explained on the basis of characteristics of the soils and environment.The higher mean value at Pantnagar may be attributed to higher soil organic phosphorus, nearlyneutral pH and favorable temperature from flowering to maturity. However, the lower value observedat Palampur can be explained by the acidic nature of its soil, with lower maximum and minimumtemperatures prevailing from flowering to maturity. Locational and genotypic×locational effects werefound to be significant (p<0.01). The results indicated that soil characteristics and soil environment playa significant role in the accumulation of phytic acid in soybean seeds.