Starch Metabolism in Developing and Germinating Soya Bean Seeds is Independent of β-Amylase Activity

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Abstract
Developing seeds of soya bean cultivars Chestnut and Altona have only trace amounts of β-amylase activity. Compared to a standard variety, Wells, β-amylase activities were 200–300 times lower in Chestnut and Altona. Nevertheless, Chestnut and Altona accumulate starch as a transient reserve material which is utilized later in development. Seeds of Chestnut and Altona also produce starch early in germination which subsequently declines after the 4th day of germination. Throughout germination β-amylase levels in these cultivars are about 300-fold lower than that observed in Wells, which has a similar pattern of starch metabolism. Widely varying levels of β-amylase in both developing and germinating seeds appear to be unrelated to starch metabolism which is very similar in all cultivars studied. Consequently, β-amylase activity seems irrelevant to starch metabolism in the soya bean seed.