Chemical composition and lipoxygenase activity in soybeans as affected by genotype and environment

Environmental and genetic influences on the chemical composition and lipoxygenase activity of 24 soybean genotypes (groups IV‐S and V) were determined. The soybeans were grown at two climatically different locations within the state of Georgia. Oil and protein contents and fatty acid composition of the oil in soybeans were affected by the environment. Five genotypes from group IV‐S has a fatty acid composition of the oil different from the other genotypes in the group. These differences appeared to be genetically controlled. The level of lipoxygenase activity in soybeans also appeared to be genetically controlled and not influenced by the environment. The study indicated that soybean genotypes could be selected for a specific climatic region based on oil fatty acid composition and lipoxygenase activity.