The changes of carnitine levels including nonesterified-carnitine(NEC), acid-soluble acylcarnitine(ASAC) and total carnitine (TC) were investigated in developing soybean sprouts. The concentrations of carnitines were determined in ungerminated and germinated soybean seeds, and in dissected axis segments and cotyledone of the germinated sprouts. Soybean seeds contain 136 nmol of TC per gram dry weight. the contents of NEC, ASAC, and TC were increased during the germination of soybean seeds. The concentrations of NEC and ASAC were highest in cotyledone and inmeristematic tissues, respectively. These data indicate that developmental differences of carnitine levels do exist in plants, and that in delveoping soybean sprouts the levels of NEC and ASAC are highest in the cotyledone and in the youngest meristem, respectively.