Growth Characteristics and Seed Yield of Medicinal Soybeans Collected in Korea

Seeds of medicinal soybean [Glycine max(L.) Merill] are characterized by a black seed coat, white stripe at hilum border, yellow cotyledon, and very small seed weight. Production of this medicinal soybean has recently increased as a consumption increased. The objective of this study was to evaluate the growth characteristics and seed yield of collected medicinal soybeans and to obtain basic information on production practices and breeding materials. The collected medicinal soybean lines were cultivated at three locations for two years. Twenty-seven lines were planted at the Research Farm, Korea University, Namyangju city, on May 23, and at the Research Farm, Kyungpook National University, Taegu, on May 20, 1995. In 1996 field experiments, forty-four lines were planted on May 25, at Research Farm, Korea University, and twenty-seven lines among those were planted on June 7 at the Research Farm of National Yeongnam Agricultural Experiment Station, Milyang city. The investigated lines had purple or white flower. Flowering and maturing dates were similar or later than those of the control cultivars. Branch number was greater for the investigated lines. One hundred-seed weight of the lines ranged from 8.5 to 15.0 g. Mean seed yields ranged from 1.54 to 2.89 MT/ha. Nine lines of the investigated medicinal soybeans showed higher yield capacity than the control cultivars. Further research should be done on the improvement of the production system and breeding program of medicinal soybeans.