Occurrence and inheritance of linolenic and linoleic acids in soybean seeds

The range of linolenic acid in the oil from 251 field‐grown varieties and introductions of soybeans was 4.89 to 9.28% and that of linoleic, 35.8 to 53.4%. Crosses of varieties and introductions “high” and “low” linolenic acid indicated that inheritance of both acids was quantitative rather than qualitative. Transgressive segregation, particularly to low values, was observed occasionally. However 3.35% was the lowest linolenic acid value observed. Environmental effects markedly influenced the quantity of both acids. F 2 plants from one cross (P.I.80476×P.I.85671), grown in the greenhouse, showed a dissimilar type of frequency distribution for the two acids but a significant positive correlation (P<1%) between their percentages. A similar relation was not detected for field‐grown plants.