The stored food energy used for germination in a soybean seed is located in the:

In a soybean seed, the stored food energy used for germination is primarily found in the cotyledon. The cotyledons are the first leaves that appear during seed germination and serve as a key source of nutrients and energy for the developing seedling. They contain starches, proteins, and oils that are broken down during germination to support initial growth until the plant can begin photosynthesis.

While the endosperm is a significant source of nutrients in many seeds, in the case of soybeans, the cotyledons take on this role more prominently. The coleoptile is the protective sheath covering the emerging shoot, and the hypocotyl is the part of the stem that connects the cotyledons to the root. Neither of these structures stores food energy for germination.

Thus, the cotyledons are critical for providing the necessary energy for the seedling to emerge and establish itself.