Genistein and Daidzein Concentrations and Contents in Seedling Roots of Three Soybean Cultivars Grown under Three Root Zone Temperatures

Daidzein and genistein are plant-to-bacterium signal compounds involved in soybean nodule formation. They can induce nod gens expression in Bradyrhizobium japonicum. The objective of this study was to determine whether the production of signal molecules was affected by low root zone temperatures (RZTs) in a manner that varied among soybean cultivars. Daidzein and genistein concentrations of soybean seedling roots were measured at three RZTs by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The results indicated that daidzein content and concentration per plant were higher at 15 and 17.5°C than those at 25°C. AC Bravor had higher daidzein contents and concentrations than did Maple Glen and KG20. At 17.5°C. KG20 had higher genistein content and concentration levels than Maple Glen, and no difference existed for the two cultivars at 15 and 25 C. Daidzein contents and concentrations of Maple Glen and AC Bravor increased with harvest time. However, for cultivar KG20, the content and concentration decreased at 19 days after inoculation. Genistein contents and concentrations of the three cultivars increased under each RZT up to the last harvest. There was an interaction between soybean cultivar and RZT for root genistein and daidzein contents and concentrations. The content and concentration of daidzein in soybean seedling roots were much higher (more than five times) than those of genistein.