The effects of elevated temperature, carbon dioxide, and water stress on the isoflavone content ofseed from a dwarf soybean line [
Glycine max (L.) Merrill] were determined, using controlled environment chambers. Increasing the temperature from 18
C during seed development to 23
C decreasedtotal isoflavone content by about 65%. A further 5
C increase to 28
C decreased the total isoflavonecontent by about 90%. Combining treatments at elevated temperature with elevated CO
2 (700 ppm)and water stress to determine the possible consequences of global climate change on soybean seedisoflavone content indicated that elevated CO
2 at elevated temperatures could partially reverse theeffects of temperature on soybean seed isoflavone content. The addition of drought stress to plantsgrown at 23
C and elevated CO
2 returned the total isoflavone levels to the control values obtainedat 18
C and 400 ppm CO
2. The promotive effects of drought and elevated CO
2 at 23
C on the6' '-O-malonygenistin and genistin levels were additive. The individual isoflavones often had differentresponses to the various growth conditions during seed maturation, modifying the proportions of theprincipal isoflavones. Therefore, subtle changes in certain environmental factors may change theisoflavone content of commercially grown soybean, altering the nutritional values of soy products.Keywords: Carbon dioxide; drought; global climate change;
Glycine max (L.) Merrill; isoflavone;soybean