Identification of soybean cultivars by the surface relief of the seed coat.

The relief of the outer surface of the seed coat of 16 diverse cultivars of soybeans, Glycine max (L.) Merrill, was compared on the basis of pattern, mound number and mound height in both air and water media. Significant differences among cultivars were found indicating that surface relief characteristics were cultivar-specific and could be used to describe and distinguish cultivars.