Oxalate and Phytate Concentrations in Seeds of Soybean Cultivars [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]

Abstract
This study analyzed soybean seeds from 116 cultivars for total, insoluble, and soluble oxalate (Ox), phytate (InsP6), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg) because of their potential beneficial or harmful effects on human nutrition. These cultivars were divided into four groups (A−D) on the basis of the year and geographic location where they were grown. Oxalate concentration ranged from about 82 to 285 mg/100 g of dry seed. The InsP6 concentration ranged from 0.22 to 2.22 g/100 g of dry seed. There was no correlation between Ox and InsP6 within or among the four groups of cultivars. There was a significant correlation between total Ox and Ca, but not Mg, in group D cultivars (r = 0.3705; p < 0.0005). No significant relationship was found in the group A−C cultivars. Eleven group D cultivars had InsP6 less than 500 mg/100 g, but all had total Ox of 130 mg/100 g or greater. Five cultivars from groups A−C had relatively low InsP6 (group B; ≤1.01 g/100 g) and low Ox (6 concentrations of the cultivars indicate that choosing specific parents could generate seeds in succeeding generations with desirable Ox and InsP6 concentrations. Keywords: Calcium oxalate; cultivar; nutrition; oxalate; phytate; seeds; soybean