Breeding Studies on Soybean

Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merril] is the most important annual grain legume crop in the world. The cultivated form is used for human food and livestock feeds. The seed contains approximately 21% oil and 40% protein, calculated on a dry weight basis and vitamin E are well known antioxidants, important for preventing atherosclerosis. Vitamin E is extracted from soy oil and there is a wealth of data indicating that as a lipid soluble antioxidant it is involved in stalling the lipoperoxidative cas code leading to atherosclerosis, potentially involved in cancer risk reduction, especially colon cancer. It produces the highest protein yield per unit of area of any crop. Soybean is expected to be used as a weapon against world hunger.