Achieving the objectives
The following achievements were made that address KPI’s 1 and 2:
• Analysis was completed for soluble sugars, insoluble carbohydrates, uronic acids, isoflavones, and saponins of over 600 samples from the 2012 harvest. Two manuscripts are being prepared further documenting this work, one for carbohydrate NIR analysis and another for isoflavone and saponin analysis.
• A set of 24 soybean mixtures were prepared and soluble sugar, insoluble sugars, isoflavone and saponin analysis was performed using both wet chemistry and NIR. Whole bean samples were toasted, ground, measured with NIR, a portion saved for digestibility studies, and another portion defatted and wet chemistry analysis. Of these 24, 10 mixes were chosen for three model digestibility studies and one rooster feeding study based on total soluble sugar analysis.
• With uronic acid analysis, we determined total soluble sugars between 8-12%, and total oligomer sugars (insoluble) at 6-10%, and uronic acids 10-14%, giving us a range of total carbohydrate values of 24-36%.
• The results of the digestibility studies on the toasted samples showed there was no obvious correlation between soluble sugar content and these in vitro digestibility model results.
Not achieving the objectives
• KPI #3 has not been fully met at this time, however significant progress has been made and related work continues through project 1420-832-8274. With the inclusion of fall 2014 data and analysis, USB will be better prepared to carry results to NIR manufacturers and this KPI will be met. We anticipate meeting this objective in the future through the new project.