soybean

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• soybean
• soy
• soya-bean
• soybean
• Soyabean
• edamame

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Soja max
• Phaseolus max

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Glycine max, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Fabales and the family Fabaceae. Ultimately, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Glycine.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a widespread presence across several key regions of the European continent. In Northern Europe, its distribution includes the territories of Great Britain and Ireland. Moving into Middle Europe, the species can be found throughout Germany as well as the Czechia-Slovakia region. Its range further extends into Eastern Europe, specifically within Belarus. Together, these locations highlight the diverse geographical footprint of Glycine max across various European landscapes.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Glycine max is primarily defined by its cultivation within anthropogenic environments, specifically thriving in crop fields where soil conditions are managed for optimal growth. This species occupies a specific altitudinal niche, typically found at elevations ranging from a minimum of 500 m AMSL to a maximum of 1900 m AMSL. Within this vertical distribution, the plant adapts to the varying environmental pressures associated with different mountain or plateau heights, relying on the stable, nutrient-rich settings provided by agricultural landscapes to sustain its life cycle.

Elevational range max:

1900 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

500 m AMSL

Habitat :

crop fields

Life history

The life history of Glycine max is characterized by an annual lifecycle, meaning the plant completes its entire developmental process—from germination and vegetative growth to flowering and seed production—within a single growing season. In terms of its biological structure and survival strategy, it is classified as a therophyte, a life form that survives unfavorable environmental conditions by persisting in the form of seeds, which remain dormant until the onset of favorable growing conditions.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Glycine max is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, specifically classified as a forb. It is a terrestrial plant that exists as an independent organism, showing no parasitic or epiphytic behavior. The plant maintains an erect shoot orientation and is self-supporting rather than acting as a liana, vine, or climber. In terms of physical dimensions, the plant exhibits a variable height, with a minimum measurement of 0.3 m, a mean height of 1.17 m, and a maximum potential height reaching up to 2 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

2 m

Plant height mean:

1.17 m

Plant height min:

0.3 m

Shoot orientation :

erect

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Glycine max is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and environmental adaptations. The plant features rhomboid-shaped leaves with entire margins, which lack both thorns and spines, contributing to its specific structural morphology. As a non-carnivorous species, it relies on traditional nutrient uptake through its root system rather than the capture of prey. Notably, it functions as a nitrogen fixer, utilizing a symbiotic relationship with soil bacteria to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a usable form, a vital physiological trait for its nutrient acquisition and growth.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf form :

rhomboid

Leaf margin :

entire

Leaf spines :

no

Leaf thorns :

no

Nitrogen fixer :

yes

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Glycine max is a sexually driven process, as asexual reproduction is notably absent. The flowering period typically begins in July and concludes in August, though timing can be variable. The plant utilizes biotic pollination syndromes, specifically relying on insects such as butterflies to facilitate the transfer of pollen. Once pollinated, self-fertilization is present, ensuring reproductive success. The resulting fruit is classified as a capsule, which contains the seeds. These seeds exhibit a significant range in mass, with a minimum weight of 0.0518 g, a mean mass of approximately 0.1098 g, and a maximum mass reaching up to 0.385 g. Regarding the movement of offspring, the plant exhibits an unspecialized dispersal syndrome, though it is also characterized by anthropochorous dispersal, meaning it is frequently spread by human activity.

Dispersal syndrome :

unspecialized

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Aug

Fruit type :

capsule

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

butterfly

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed mass max:

0.385 g

Seed mass mean:

0.109805797 g

Seed mass min:

0.0518 g

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Glycine max has 1 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include seed.

Seed

1. Journal of chromatographic science
2. Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry

Chemicals

Glycine max has 559 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include genistein, daidzein, Isoflavones, Flavonoids, Lectin.

genistein

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry
4. Journal of the science of food and agriculture
5. The Journal of biological chemistry

daidzein

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Journal of the science of food and agriculture
4. International journal of biological sciences
5. Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP

Isoflavones

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
3. Molecular nutrition & food research
4. The American journal of clinical nutrition
5. Food & function

Flavonoids

1. Molecular nutrition & food research
2. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin
3. Saudi journal of biological sciences
4. Cancer biotherapy & radiopharmaceuticals
5. Heliyon

Lectin

1. Dr. Duke
2. The British journal of nutrition
3. Journal of chromatographic science
4. The Biochemical journal
5. Biochimica et biophysica acta

Soy isoflavones

1. Food & function
2. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Frontiers in nutrition
4. Journal of bone and mineral research : the official journal of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research
5. Nutrients

Phytoestrogens

1. Menopause international
2. Chemico-biological interactions
3. Recent patents on cardiovascular drug discovery
4. Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine. Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine (New York, N.Y.)
5. Frontiers in pharmacology

indole-3-acetic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecular and cellular biology
3. In vitro cellular & developmental biology. Plant : journal of the Tissue Culture Association
4. Plant physiology
5. BMC plant biology

methionine

1. Dr. Duke
2. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry
4. Advances in experimental medicine and biology
5. Frontiers in plant science

2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid

1. Molecular and cellular biology
2. In vitro cellular & developmental biology. Plant : journal of the Tissue Culture Association
3. Plant physiology
4. Molecular and cellular biochemistry
5. Biochimica et biophysica acta

Activities

Glycine max has 880 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Anticancer, Antimicrobial, Anticarcinogenic, Estrogenic.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Food & function
3. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
4. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS
5. International journal of tissue reactions

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
3. International journal of biological sciences
4. Molecular nutrition & food research
5. Food chemistry

Antimicrobial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS
3. Nature chemical biology
4. Saudi journal of biological sciences

Anticarcinogenic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association
3. International journal of preventive medicine

Estrogenic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Planta medica
3. Frontiers in pharmacology

Neuroprotective

1. Dr. Duke
2. Food & function
3. Nutrients

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Antiangiogenic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecular nutrition & food research

Antiestrogenic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecular nutrition & food research

Antiinflammatory

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Medicinal Uses

Glycine max has 101 reported medicinal uses identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include cancer, breast cancer, osteoporosis, obesity, oxidative stress.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations