Abstract

In order to investigate the geographical variation of Glycine soja distributed in southern area of Korean peninsula, 8 local populations(Sokcho, Wonju, Mt. Chiak, Cheongju, Andong, Taegu, Ulsan, Sacheon), which located from 34˚50´00"N to 38˚12´00"N, were selected according to their latitudes and geographical distances. The seeds of these populations were collected and their contents of mannose and galactose were investigated. Mannose contents in the seeds were variable in the range between the highest 460.00 mg/g (Andong) and the lowest 55.23 mg/g(Sacheon). The contents of galactose were represented remarkable differences from 67.17 mg/g(Sacheon) to 387.50 mg/g(Ulsan) also. The local populations were classified into 3 types such as the middle southern inland type (Andong, Taegu), the middle northern type(Wonju, Mt. Chiak, Cheongju) and the coastal type(Sokcho, Ulsan, Sacheon) according to the ratio of mannose and galactose, which indicate the hardness of seeds in Leguminosae, ranged from 0.41 to 1.73. Particularly, those of middle southern inland populations represented the high values compared with those of other populations.