History of Natto and Its Relatives (1405-2012 - SoyInfo Center

eeding program. In 1963 Owen retired from HRS and was
replaced by R.I. Buzzell. Very early maturing introductions
came from Sven Holmberg of Sweden. “Holmberg’s material
proved to be signifi cant germplasm for Canadian soybeans.
He derived it from crosses involving Manchurian and
northern Japanese germplasm selected under the cool shortseason
environments (58º30’N) of Fiskeby, Sweden (Tanner
1973).”
Harosoy 63 dominated Canadian soybean production
by the late 1960s. During this decade “two Ontario counties
(Essex and Kent) produced nearly two-thirds of the Canadian
soybean crop.”
In 1974 H. Voldeng took over the soybean breeding
program at CEF. In 1976 W. Beversdorf joined the
University of Guelph with split responsibilities in soybean
and fi eld bean breeding and genetics. In 1982 G. Ablett
initiated a soybean breeding program at the Ridgetown
College of Agricultural Technology (RCAT). In 1976 CEF
released Maple Arrow, a milestone cultivar, with parentage
that included a Holmberg line. Maple Arrow, which was
well adapted to the short-season areas of Ontario, combined
with the higher prices of the early 1970s, sparked a soybean
expansion northward and eastward.
The last two sections of this chapter are the longest and
most detailed.
Figures show: (1) Graph of soybean production in
Canada, 1945-1991. (2) Average yield of soybeans in
Canada, 1938-1992.
Tables: (1) Early soybean selections and evaluation
(OAC No. 211, Mandarin, Habaro No. 20405, Early Yellow).
For each is given: Average height (inches), green fodder
production (tons / acre). Yield of grain (lbs / acre). Source:
Zavitz 1927.
(2) Early Canadian soybean cultivars (OAC 211
{released 1923}, A.K. (Harrow) {1933}, Mandarin (Ottawa)
{1934}, Kabott {1937}, Pagoda {1939}, Goldsoy {1938}).
For each is given: Source (pedigree, e.g., Habaro). Institution
(e.g., OAC). Year licensed or released (1923-1939). (3)
Canadian soybean cultivars of 1940-1970 (Harman {released
1943}, Capital {1944}, Manchu (Montreal) {1944}, Harly
{1951}, Harosoy {1951}, Acme {1953}, Comet {1953},
Hardome {1953}, Crest {1957}, Merit {1959}, Portage
{1964}, Altona {1966}, Harwood {1970}, Vansoy {1970}).
For each is given: Pedigree, institution, year.
(3A) Public and private breeding of soybeans, Canada
and USA, 1973-1992. The impact of privately funded
soybean breeding programs has increased steadily since
1973, when the fi rst privately bred variety was registered in
Canada. This “private” variety was bred by N.R. Bradner
in the USA and introduced to Canada by St. Clair Grain
and Feed (a division of Maple Leaf Mills Ltd.). In 1973
in Canada there were 170 acres of privately bred soybean
seed compared with 14,181 acres developed by publicly
funded breeders. In 1982 the fi gures were 6,066 and 27,354
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HISTORY OF NATTO AND ITS RELATIVES 476
respectively. In 1987 the fi gures were 28,148 and 29,960
respectively. And in 1992 the fi gures were 43,004 acres
private and 26,727 acres public. In this 20-year period,
120 private soybean varieties and 51 public varieties were
registered. 27% of the private varieties and 81% of the public
varieties came from U.S. breeding programs.
(4) Typical breeding cycle in the University of Guelph
breeding program. Columns: Year and season, activity,
location. The typical cycle is about 8 years. (5) Canadian
soybean breeding programs (1991): Columns: Organization
(public sector and private sector). Breeder (6 + 5 = 11
breeders in both sectors).
The Ontario Soybean Growers’ Marketing Board
identifi ed export opportunities for both large-seeded yellow
hilum cultivars (for tofu and miso) and small-seeded
cultivars (natto type) in Pacifi c Rim markets. “The fi rst
natto-type emerged from CEF [Central Experimental Farm,
Ottawa] in 1981, six years after D. Durksen of Continental
Grain Company reported the potential export opportunity for
small-seeded soybean to Japan. King Grain (N.R. Bradner)
and CEF (Harvey Voldeng) each released three additional
natto-type cultivars (Nattoking 86, Nattoking 87, Nattoking
88, Canatto, Nattosan and TNS) during the 1980s” (p.
8-9). Address: 1. Ciba Seeds, Greensboro, North Carolina;
2. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Research Station,
Harrow, Ontario; 3. Ridgetown College of Agricultural
Technology, Ridgetown, Ontario; 4. Agriculture and Agri-
Food Canada Research Station, Ottawa, Ontario.
1532. Herbst, Sharon Tyler. ed. 1995. The new food lover’s
companion: Comprehensive defi nitions of over 4000
food, wine, and culinary terms. 2nd ed. Hauppauge, New
York: Barrons. xvi + 715 p. 18 cm. 1st ed. published 1990.
Barron’s Cooking Guide. [325* ref]
• Summary: This carefully researched and well written
dictionary of food terms also contains 21 useful appendixes
and a good bibliography. All enquiries should be directed
to: Barron’s Educational Series Inc., 250 Wireless Blvd.,
Hauppauge, New York 11778.
Soy and related entries can be found under the following
headings: Adzuki bean (also azuki), agedashi, cheese–
imitation cheese (generally includes tofu and lecithin),
fermented black beans (also called Chinese black beans and
salty black beans), fl our–gluten fl our, kecap manis / ketjap
manis, kudzu, milk (see soy milk), miso, natto, okara, queso
fresco (also called queso blanco), quinoa, seitan, shoyu
(Japanese for soy sauce), soybean, soybean oil, soy fl our, soy
milk, soy pea (see soybean), soy sauce (light soy sauce, dark
soy sauce, Chinese black soy, tamari), tempe or tempeh, tofu
(also called soybean curd and bean curd).
1533. Northrup, Christiane. 1995. Heal your symptoms
naturally. Potomac, Maryland: Phillips Publishing Inc. 18 p.
28 cm.