The best-known species in Glycine is the cultivated soybean, G. max, which was domesticated in Central and East Asia. The majority of the species in the genus are found only in Australia, while a few species extend from Australia to East Asia.
NCBI taxonomy ID: 3847
Since the release of the first full soybean genome assembly in 2010, assemblies have been generated for more than 50 accessions, including multiple assemblies for the first reference, Williams 82 (Wm82).
There are several nomenclature patterns for the assemblies and annotations. The pattern used by the DOE-JGI and SoyBase has generally taken the form Wm82.a4.v1, with the middle field ("a4") indicating assembly version and the last field (v1) indicating the annotation version. Within the SoyBase and LegumeInfo Data Store, the pattern takes the form Wm82.gnm4.ann1 -- again, with the middle field ("gnm4") indicating assembly version and the last field (ann1) indicating the annotation version.
Access the genome and annotation data for download via the DATA COLLECTIONS tab.
Access the genome and annotation via JBrowse the GENOMICS tab.
See additional details about the main reference assemblies at the Genome Assembly page.
To examine statistics about all genome assemblies and annotations held at SoyBase, use these two links:Soybean (Glycine max), the predominant oil-seed legume worldwide, was likely domesticated in East Asia, ~6000-9000 years ago (Sedivy et al., 2017; https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.14418). It has many culinary and industrial uses. Some of the culinary uses include: for direct consumption of the green seed (i.e. edamame) and leaves (cooked, much like spinach); for tofu, soymilk, textured vegetable protein, soy sauce, tempeh, natto, and vegetable oil. Industrial uses include: oils, soap, cosmetics, and biodiesel. Soybean is also used as a high-protein forage, and can be prepared for fish- and animal-feed.
NCBI taxonomy ID: 3847
Glycine soja is the closest wild relative of soybean, Glycine max. Populations of G. soja exist in the wild in China, Japan, Korea, and Russia. Analysis of genetic differences between the two species suggests that the two separated approximately 200 thousand years ago. The species remain interfertile, and G. soja accessions are used in breeding projects in order to introgress traits such as tolerance to particular diseases or environmental stresses.
NCBI taxonomy ID: 3848
G. cyrotoloba (Tind) is a perennial plant with twining and stiff stems. G. cyrotoloba pods are curved and somewhat mottled in appearance containing 3-9 seeds that and are dark brown to black in color (Tindale, MD et al., 1984). G. cyrotoloba is a diploid (2n=40) member of the C-genome of Glycine. It is found along the coast of Queensland and Northern New South Wales (Ratnaparkhe et al 2011 ; Gonzalez-Orozco et al., 2012).
NCBI taxonomy ID: 45689
Glycine dolichocarpa (Tateishi & Ohashi) is a twining plant with long straight dark brown pods with 5-7 seeds. Seeds are square and dark brown in color. G. dolichocarpa is an allotetraploid (2n = 4x = 80) formed by hybridizatoin between G. syndetika and G. tomentella D3 (both 2n = 40). (This species was formerly part of the Glycine tomentella species complex and was referred to as G. tomentella T2.) It has a limited Australian range in Queensland, but like several other Glycine allopolyploids, has colonized islands of the Pacific Ocean (in this case Taiwan) where no perennial diploid Glycine species have been found ( Ratnaparkhe et al 2011; Harbert et al 2014).
NCBI taxonomy ID: 82538
Glycine falcata (Benth.) is unique among perennial Glycine species in that it does not form a vine but rather short, erect stems from a fibrous woody root system instead of the more common taproot. Seeds are round and smooth similar to the annual species. G. falcata is a diploid (2n = 40) and is the sole member of the F-genome. It is sister to the remainder of subgenus Glycine, and is distinctive ecologically, characteristically growing in the black soil region of Queensland and possessing both chasmogamous and below- ground cleistogamous flowers, the latter producing geocarpic fruits (Ratnaparkhe et al 2011; Gonzalez-Orozco et al., 2012).
NCBI taxonomy ID: 45690
Glycine stenophita (B.E. Pfeil & Tind.) is a scrambling or climbing perennial that is glabrous or with sparse white hairs covering the stems. Pods are 4 to 6 seeded and seeds are generally barrel shaped with some variation in shape from elliptical to square. G. stenophita is a diploid (2n = 40) member of the B-genome group. It occurs in the Australian states of Queensland and New South Wales (Ratnaparkhe et al 2011; Gonzalez-Orozco et al., 2012).
NCBI taxonomy ID: 96944
Glycine syndetika (B.E. Pfeil & Craven) is a twining perennial plant with three leathery, often persistent leaflets. Flowers are somewhat clustered towards to the top of the inflorescences and pods contain 4-9 relatively large square seeds (Pfeil. BE et al., 2006). G. syndetika is diploid (2n = 40) member of the A-genome clade. (This species was formerly part of the Glycine tomentella species complex and was referred to as G. tomentella D4. ) It is has a restricted range in the Eastern Queensland region of Australia (Ratnaparkhe et al 2011; Gonzalez-Orozco et al., 2012).
NCBI taxonomy ID: 713886
A complex of diploid and tetraploid taxa are lumped under the name "G. tomentella" but are each reproductively isolated species, e.g. G. tomentella D3 belongs to the D-genome, whereas D1 G. tomentella belongs to the E-genome.
NCBI taxonomy ID: 2908013