VITAMIN CONTENT OF SOME MATURE AND GERMINATED LEGUME SEEDS

Abstract

Microbiol. assays were made for thiamine, riboflavin, pyridoxine, niacin, pantothenic acid, inositol, vitamin Bc, biotin, and ascorbic acid in mature and sprouted seeds of Pisum sativum, Phaseolus aureus, and 7 vars. of Soja max. On a dry wt. basis, niacin, riboflavin, and ascorbic acid increase greatly during germination. Certain other vitamins show small gains, thiamine generally remains unchanged, and vitamin Bc appears to decrease. Possible significance of the results for studies on growth processes of plants and in relation to the use of sprouted seeds for preparing high quality processed foods is discussed briefly.