Changes in biochemical characteristics in shade soybean plants

Shade conditions will change the morpho-physiological and biochemical of plants. This study examined the biochemical characteristic changes including four shade soybeans varieties, total leaf sugar, seed protein, and seed fat content. A split-plot factorial design was used in this study with three replications. The treatments consisted of shading level as the main plot with 4 treatment levels, i.e. no shade, 30%, 50%, and 70% shade; soybean varieties as the subplot consisted of four varieties, i.e. Anjasmoro, Pangrango, Tanggamus, and Nanti. Analysis of total leaf sugar was using the total sugar measurement by seed protein and seed fat content measurement was conducted using Proximate Composition Analysis. The results showed an increasement on total leaf sugar in shade condition. The Anjasmoro and Tanggamus varieties produced a lower seed protein and seed fat content compared to the other varieties at all shade levels. In contrast, the Nanti variety showed a high seed protein and seed fat content at all shade level conditions.