Production of small-seeded natto soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] has
increased in eastern Canada during the past decade, Improved natto qua
lity characteristics are important for maintaining and increasing this
market. This study was conducted to examine environmental and genotyp
e x environment effects on quality characteristics. Two data sets were
used for statistical analysis: seven lines grown at five locations in
1989 and 1990 (Data Set 1) and fifteen lines grown at the same five l
ocations in 1993 and 1994 (Data Set 2). Quality characteristics import
ant in natto production were measured: small-seed fraction, percentage
of seeds with impermeable seed coats, water uptake, seed shape, and l
evels of the seed constituents, Ca, oil, and sugar, Genotypes were sig
nificantly different for most traits in both data sets, Location effec
ts were not significant for any quality traits, Year effects were sign
ificant only for seed shape and sugar levels in Data Set 2. Year x loc
ation interactions were often significant, but no patterns were appare
nt in these interactions. Genotype x environment interactions were oft
en significant, but these variance components were usually an order of
magnitude smaller than the main effects of genotype, These results in
dicate that it is possible to develop natto soybean cultivars that are
broadly adapted to the short-season areas of eastern Canada.