The dynamics of dry matter and lipids accumulation in seeds of ten cultivars of soybeans during the pod filling stage was studied. Samples were taken at intervals of seven days until maturity during 1978/79 and 1979/80, respectively. Seeds were analysed for dry matter, oil and fatty acids content. Resulta showed that the cropping seasons affected accumulation, mainly due to climatic conditions 20 to 40 days bafore maturity. In 1978/79 the average rainfall and temperature during such period were, respectively, 152 mm and 22.2ºC, and 51 mm and 25ºC in 1979/80. The rate of seed dry matter accumulation was higher in 1979/80, although the total dry matter accumulated was lower than in 1978/79. The rate of seed oil accumulation decreased in rainy periods and increased at high temperatures. The seed oil content of cv Santa Rosa, used as reference, reached 22% at the 80 days after flowering (DAF) in 1978/79 and 23% at the 43 DAF in 1979/80, respectively. The fatty acids composition varied during the seed development, when there was a decrease in saturated as opposed to unsaturated fatty acids contents. The linoleic acid content showed positive correlation with oil percentage, whereas linoleic and linolenic acids were negatively correlated with oleic acid content. The highest oil content and the lowest linoleic and linolenic acids content were associated with high temperature and low rainfall.
soybean seeds; Glycine max (L.) Merrill; accumulation of reserve substances; oil; fatty acids; dry matter