Relationship between Color (Instrumental and Visual) and Chlorophyll Contents in Soybean Seeds during Ripening

• Published in: Journal of agricultural and food chemistry Vol. 50; no. 14; pp. 3961 - 3966
• Main Authors: Sinnecker, Patrícia, Gomes, M. Salete O, Arêas, José A. G, Lanfer-Marquez, Ursula M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Chemical Society 03.07.2002
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Chlorophyll - analysis; Color; Food industries; Fruit and vegetable industries; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Glycine max - chemistry; Linear Models; Pigmentation; Quality Control; Seeds - chemistry; Seeds - classification; Seeds - growth & development; Spectrophotometry; Chlorophyll; Correlation; Seeds; Color; Visual observation; Glycine max; Ripening; Grain legume; Leguminosae; Photosynthetic pigment; MEASURING INSTRUMENTS; Dicotyledones; Food industry; Angiospermae; Classification; Quality control; Spermatophyta; Application method; Developmental stage; Measurement method; Drying
• ISSN: 0021-8561; 1520-5118
• DOI: 10.1021/jf0113023

The correlation between chlorophyll content and quantitative color parameters was investigated in order to find an indirect method for predicting green pigment in ripening soybean seeds. Five Brazilian soybean varieties harvested at different maturity stages (R6 to R8 according to the scale of Fehr & Caviness) and dried under two conditions (in oven at 40 °C with circulating air and at ambient temperature around 25 °C) were analyzed in two consecutive years. The slow-dried seeds at 25 °C lost chlorophyll faster, whereas drying at 40 °C did not result in yellowing of seeds. High and significant linear correlations between a* value and total chlorophyll were obtained over the whole maturation period and on both conditions of drying. From an industrial point of view it appears that a* value, obtained by the CIE-L*a*b* method, seems to be a good tool to be applied for quality control and classifying soybean seeds for different purposes. Keywords: Soybean; maturation stages; drying conditions; chlorophyll contents; color correlation