Batan Introduces 2 High-yielding Varieties Of Soybean

Jakarta, Dec 2 (Antara) - The National Nuclear Energy Agency (BATAN) has introduced two high-yielding varieties of soybean, known as Gamasugen 1 and Gamasugen 2. "The new types of soybean are a high-yielding variety, which are resistant to pests," the Chief of BATAN`s Radiation and Isotope Technology Application Center, Hendig Winarno, revealed on Monday. He further stated that the new types of soybean had been produced through a radiation mutation technique. Based on the test results of adaptations at 16 locations during two different seasons, namely the rainy and dry seasons, it was found that the Gamasugen type of soybeans could be harvested within 66 to 68 days, with an average production of 2.4 to 2.6 tons per hectare. "The sucrose content in tofu and tempe is higher than that resulting from imported soybean," Hendig pointed out. According to him, each variety of the Gamasugen 1 and Gamasugen 2 type of soybeans respectively contained 37.65 and 37.34 percent of protein and 13.2 percent of fat. Hendig said the new type of soybeans were still under quarantine and would be released during the next few months. He also expressed the hope that the Gamasugen 1 and Gamasugen 2 type of high-yielding varieties of soybean would contribute to boosting Indonesia's overall soybean production and help achieve self sufficiency in 2014.