环境对大豆种子油分的影响

Ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) mutagenesis is a well-established tool used to induce genetic variability in crops such as soybean (Glycine max) for improvement of agronomic traits. This study evaluates the impact of EMS and environmental factors on morphological, physiological, productive, and biochemical traits across to evaluate the improvement of their traits, which are essential for breeding programs. Soybean seeds were treated with three concentrations of EMS (0.1%, 0.2%, and 0.3% v/v) for its mutagenesis. After the first generation (M1) was obtained, seeds of M1 were grown to M2 seeds obtained in three environmentally distinct stations differing in altitude, temperature, humidity, and soil characteristics. Traits evaluated were germination rate, plant height, branch number, flowering period, pod and seed yield, seed biochemical contents (protein, oil, phenolics), and seed protein profiles through SDS-PAGE. Statistical analysis involving ANOVA (one-way and two-way) and correlation tests were conducted for genotype traits with considering of variables (EMS and environmental factors). Seed treatment with EMS (0.1%) induced many plant traits by increasing their measures, and in some cases (0.2)% gave better results. In the second generation, environmental factors affected the studied traits. However, the values differed among plants treated with EMS, such as the increase in germination rate and protein content, and the decrease in the number of leaves, and oil content, in addition to an increase in plant height and total phenolic content in most treatments. The gel electrophoresis results showed the effect of environmental factors (especially temperature), on the other hand main protein fractions typically found in soybean seeds (conglycinin subunits and glycinin subunits) was appeared. The combined effect of EMS mutagenesis and environmental factors is responsible for genetic improvement. Low EMS concentrations favorably affect productivity and seed quality traits, these improvements are heritable, and are further modulated by environment. The study highlights the importance of evaluating for stability of traits across multiple environments, forming the basis for soybean variety breeding, and considering the changes in their characteristics, especially those which promote their economic, nutritional, and medicinal values.

Introduction A key objective of soybean breeding programs is to enhance nutritional quality for human and animal consumption, with improved fatty acid (FA) composition for health benefits, and expand soybean use for industrial applications. Methods We conducted a metabolite genome-wide association study (mGWAS) to identify genomic regions associated with changes in FA composition and FA ratios in soybean seeds influenced by environmental factors. This mGWAS utilized 218 soybean plant introductions (PIs) grown in two field locations in Virginia over two years. Results The mGWAS revealed that 20 SNPs were significantly associated with 21 FA ratios, while additional suggestive SNPs were found for 36 FA ratios, highlighting potential quantitative trait loci linked to FA composition. Discussion Many of these SNPs are located near or within the genes related to phytohormone-mediated biotic and abiotic stress responses, suggesting the involvement of environmental factors in modulating FA composition in soybean seeds. Our findings provide novel insights into the genetic and environmental factors influencing FA composition in oilseeds. This research also lays the foundation for developing stable markers to develop soybean cultivars with tailored FA profiles for different practical applications under variable growth conditions.

Soybean yield potential is strongly impacted by environmental conditions. Soybean yield variability could be explained by climatic variables. Choice of tolerant varieties adapted to different limited environmental conditions could be used as adaptive strategies to sustain the development of soybean areas. Three soybean varieties with high seed and oil content (Balkan, Novosađanka and Vojvođanka) were analyzed in three localities of Vojvodina Province in Serbia: Novi Sad (45°20′00″ S; 19°51′00″), Pančevo (44°52′15″ S; 20°38′51″) and Laćarak (44°59′45″ S; 19°34′03″). The highest yield of the three examined soybean varieties was shown by Vojvođanka (3365.0 kg ha-1), whereas the statistically highest yield was in 2010 (4301.1 kg ha-1) in the investigated period (2006-2011). All three varieties gave the lowest seed yield at the Pančevo locality, due to the deficit of precipitation and lower content of humus in the soil. The oil content in the seeds was also influenced by all three examined factors. The soybean varieties Vojvođanka and Balkan had statistically higher oil content than Novosađanka. The agroecological and soil conditions of Novi Sad were the most suitable for the synthesis of oil in the seeds of all genotypes. Oil content was statistically highest in 2010 (22.31%) compared to all tested years. The analysis has shown that Vojvođanka was the most promising of all soybean’s varieties.

Soybean is one of the major sources of edible protein and oil. Oil content is a quantitative trait that is significantly determined by genetic and environmental factors. Over the past 30 years, a large volume of soybean genetic, genomic, and transcriptomic data have been accumulated. Nevertheless, integrative analyses of such data remain scarce, in spite of their importance for crop improvement. We hypothesized that the co-occurrence of genomic regions for oil-related traits in different studies may reveal more stable regions encompassing important genetic determinants of oil content and quality in soybean. We integrated publicly available data, obtained with distinct techniques, to discover and prioritize candidate genes involved in oil biosynthesis and regulation in soybean. We detected key fatty acid biosynthesis genes (e.g., BCCP and ACCase, FADs, KAS family proteins) and several transcripton factors, which are likely regulators of oil biosynthesis. In addition, we identified new candidates for seed oil accumulation and quality, such as Glyma.03G213300 and Glyma.19G160700, which encode a translocator protein and a histone acetyltransferase, respectively. Further, oil and protein genomic hotspots are strongly associated with breeding and not with domestication, suggesting that soybean domestication prioritized other traits. The genes identified here are promising targets for breeding programs and for the development of soybean lines with increased oil content and quality.

ABSTRACT Soil moisture and amount of fertilizer consumption are among the most important environmental factors determining plant growth and yield. This study was conducted as a split-plot design in randomized complete blocks at three iterations in Hormozgan Province, southern Iran, 2021 and 2022. Irrigation at six levels of no irrigation and supplying 40%, 60%, 80%, 100%, and 120% of water requirement was considered as the main factor, and using nitrogen fertilizer at four levels of 0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 kg/ha was considered as the secondary factor. The interaction effect of irrigation and nitrogen fertilizer on seed yield, number of pods per plant, pod length, plant height, relative leaf water, leaf chlorophyll, stomatal conductance, leaf area index (LAI), water productivity, and grain oil and protein per area was significant at the level of 1%. The interaction effect of irrigation and fertilizer showed that the maximum grain yield was obtained as 3,049 kg/ha in the treatment of supplying 100% water requirement and using 150 kg/ha of nitrogen fertilizer. The maximum seed yield-water productivity (2.28 kg/m3) was observed in the treatment of no irrigation and using 150 kg/ha of nitrogen fertilizer. Increasing irrigation and exceeding plant water requirement as well as high consumption of nitrogen had no upward effect on crop yield. The maximum seed yield was obtained in the full irrigation treatment; indicating exceeding this amount of irrigation could cause water loss and yield reduction. The maximum seed yield was observed in the treatment of supplying 100% water requirement and using 150 kg/ha nitrogen, which is recommended for the study area.

AbstractThis study aimed to evaluate the genetic diversity, growth patterns, yield potential and quality of 40 different soybean genotypes. The experiment was conducted over two years, focusing on a range of key traits. The results confirmed significant genetic variation across all measured characteristics. A key finding was that while environmental factors influenced the traits, several, including the number of pods per plant, plant height and branching, showed high heritability and genetic advance. This means these traits can be effectively improved through direct selection in a breeding programme. The study identified several top-performing genotypes, such as RSC-1172 and AUKS-212, which excelled in yield and related traits. It also found significant variation in protein (37.17 to 52.80%) and oil content (13.42 to 18.89%), allowing breeders to develop varieties for specific market needs. Overall, this research provides valuable genetic information to help breeders create new soybean varieties that are higher-yielding, better adapted to various climates and more tailored for specific commercial purposes.

Enhancing nitrogen‐use efficiency is essential for boosting crop yields and advancing sustainable agriculture, particularly in the absence of synthetic fertilizers. Despite the inherent nitrogen‐fixation capacity of the staple legume crop soybean (Glycine max) by symbiotic rhizobia, improving nitrogen use has been challenging. Here, a role for the auxin‐efflux transporters PIN3a and PIN3b in soybean nitrate acquisition is uncovered. PIN3a/b localizes to the plasma membrane, and high environmental nitrate induces PIN3a degradation and its accumulation at cell junctions. Disrupting PIN3 homologs results in auxin over‐accumulation, impairs pavement‐cell polarity, and enhances signaling via the transcription factors ARF and STF3/4. These transcription factors separately bind to and activate the NPF2.13 promoter, thereby strengthening nitrate uptake. pin3ab and pin3abd mutants have enhanced nitrate acquisition and resistant to high nitrate on pavement‐cell growth. The elevated nitrogen accumulation translates to higher oil contents in pin3ab mutant seeds in an elite cultivar background across multiple years and field locations. The findings shed light on the regulation of nitrate uptake in crop‐plant development and demonstrate the unexpected potential of manipulating auxin transporters to enhance soybean nitrogen‐use efficiency and agronomic performance.

The recent surge in the plant-based protein market has resulted in high demands for soybean genotypes with improved grain yield, seed protein and oil content, and essential amino acids (EAAs). Given the quantitative nature of these traits, complex interactions among seed components, as well as between seed components and environmental factors and management practices, add complexity to the development of desired genotypes. In this study, the across-environment seed protein stability of 449 genetically diverse plant introductions was assessed, revealing that genotypes may display varying sensitivities to such environmental stimuli. The EAAs valine, phenylalanine, and threonine showed the highest variable importance toward the variation in stability, while both seed protein and oil contents were among the explanatory variables with the lowest importance. In addition, 56 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers were significantly associated with various seed components. Despite the strong phenotypic Pearson’s correlation observed among most seed components, many independent genomic regions associated with one or few seed components were identified. These findings provide insights for improving the seed concentration of specific EAAs and reducing the negative correlation between seed protein and oil contents.

The content of protein and oil in soybeans is an important trait for evaluating quality and is regulated by genetic and environmental factors, lacking comprehensive identification under a variety of ecological conditions. Therefore, evaluating the stability of soybean quality traits under different environmental conditions has great significance for various applications. In this study, we compare 150 soybean varieties from Northeast China (Group A and Group B) and the Huang-Huai-Hai region (Group C). As the release time progressed, the oil content in the soybean varieties showed an upward trend in both Northeast China and the Huang-Huai-Hai region, while the protein content showed a downward trend. Additionally, the oil contents were negatively correlated with the protein contents and the sum of protein and oil contents, while the protein contents were positively correlated with the sum of protein and oil contents, with the correlation becoming stronger as the latitude decreased. Moreover, there were obvious variations in quality stability among different varieties. Hefeng 45, Jilinxiaolidou 4, and Zhonghuang 19 had relatively high protein contents and exhibited good stability across different environments, while Kenjiandou 25, Changnong 17, Dongnong 46, Kennong 17, Liaodou 14, and GR8836 had relatively high oil contents with good stability performance in varying environments.

No abstract available

No abstract available

Soybean (Glycine max) is a major legume crop worldwide, providing a critical source of protein and oil. The release of the soybean genome fuelled several transcriptome projects comprising multiple developmental stages and environmental conditions. Nevertheless, the global transcriptional patterns of embryonic axes during germination remain unknown. Here we report the analysis of ~1.58 billion RNA-Seq reads from soybean embryonic axes at five germination stages. Our results support the early activation of processes that are critical for germination, such as glycolysis, Krebs cycle and cell wall remodelling. Strikingly, only 3 hours after imbibition there is a preferential up-regulation of protein kinases and transcription factors, particularly from the LOB domain family, implying that transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation play major roles early after imbibition. Lipid mobilization and glyoxylate pathways are also transcriptionally active in the embryonic axes, indicating that the local catabolism of oil reserves in the embryonic axes contributes to energy production during germination. We also present evidence supporting abscisic acid inactivation and the up-regulation of gibberellin, ethylene and brassinosteroid pathways. Further, there is a remarkable differential activation of paralogous genes in these hormone signalling pathways. Taken together, our results provide insights on the regulation and biochemistry of soybean germination.

This systematic review examines the impact of vegetable oil consumption, such as extra virgin olive, olive, soybean, palm olein, corn, and camellia seed oils, on both human and animal health, alongside factors influencing oil quality and safety. A variety of studies were included, such as clinical trials, cohort studies, animal experiments, and reports on production methods and contamination (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heavy metals). The literature search was performed in scientific databases indexed up to September 2025, and risk of bias was assessed using specific tools appropriate for each study design. The findings suggest that, among the oils studied, extra virgin olive oil showed the most consistent benefits, including improvements in endothelial function, lipid profiles, weight management, and reduced mortality in humans. Animal studies corroborate hepatoprotective effects and weight regulation benefits. Oil quality is influenced by genetic, environmental, and technological factors, including cultivar selection, pollination, post-harvest handling, and extraction techniques (cold, hot, DIC, MFA, encapsulation) and refining processes, which can affect both nutritional benefits and contaminant levels. Although contaminants such as PAHs and heavy metals (Cd, Pb, As) are generally below regulatory thresholds, some contexts may present health risks. High-quality vegetable oils confer cardiovascular, metabolic, and hepatic benefits. However, their contribution to public health relies on strict production practices, continuous monitoring of contaminants, and the implementation of technological innovations to ensure both safety and optimal health outcomes.

Temperature is one of the decisive environmental factors that is projected to increase by 1. 5°C over the next two decades due to climate change that may affect various agronomic characteristics, such as biomass production, phenology and physiology, and yield-contributing traits in oilseed crops. Oilseed crops such as soybean, sunflower, canola, peanut, cottonseed, coconut, palm oil, sesame, safflower, olive etc., are widely grown. Specific importance is the vulnerability of oil synthesis in these crops against the rise in climatic temperature, threatening the stability of yield and quality. The natural defense system in these crops cannot withstand the harmful impacts of heat stress, thus causing a considerable loss in seed and oil yield. Therefore, a proper understanding of underlying mechanisms of genotype-environment interactions that could affect oil synthesis pathways is a prime requirement in developing stable cultivars. Heat stress tolerance is a complex quantitative trait controlled by many genes and is challenging to study and characterize. However, heat tolerance studies to date have pointed to several sophisticated mechanisms to deal with the stress of high temperatures, including hormonal signaling pathways for sensing heat stimuli and acquiring tolerance to heat stress, maintaining membrane integrity, production of heat shock proteins (HSPs), removal of reactive oxygen species (ROS), assembly of antioxidants, accumulation of compatible solutes, modified gene expression to enable changes, intelligent agricultural technologies, and several other agronomic techniques for thriving and surviving. Manipulation of multiple genes responsible for thermo-tolerance and exploring their high expressions greatly impacts their potential application using CRISPR/Cas genome editing and OMICS technology. This review highlights the latest outcomes on the response and tolerance to heat stress at the cellular, organelle, and whole plant levels describing numerous approaches applied to enhance thermos-tolerance in oilseed crops. We are attempting to critically analyze the scattered existing approaches to temperature tolerance used in oilseeds as a whole, work toward extending studies into the field, and provide researchers and related parties with useful information to streamline their breeding programs so that they can seek new avenues and develop guidelines that will greatly enhance ongoing efforts to establish heat stress tolerance in oilseeds.

ABSTRACT High temperatures can impede the growth and development of soybean plants, resulting in decreased yield and seed quality. Heat‐induced damage can be mitigated by adjusting sowing date and selecting genotypes that are suitable for cultivation in hot climates. A 2‐year (2017–2018) field experiment was conducted at Safiabad Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, employing a split‐plot design with three replications. The main plots were assigned three different sowing dates (June 22, July 6, and July 21), while the subplots featured eight soybean genotypes (SF1, SF2, SF3, SK93, M13, SG4, SG5, and Salend) belonged to IV to VI maturity groups. Temperature affected the fatty acid composition across all genotypes. Planting soybeans on June 22 and July 6 resulted in a 16% and 8% decrease in seed yield, respectively, compared to planting on July 21 over 2 years of experiments. SK93 exhibited the highest oil content (25.59%) when sown on the third date (July 21), whereas the SF3 genotype planted on June 22 displayed the lowest oil content (18.68%). Based on our findings, a decrease of approximately 0.33% in oil content and a 0.7% increase in protein content were observed with a one‐degree temperature rise from 33°C during the seed‐filling period. When the temperature ranged between 36°C and 38°C, the highest seed yield (2665–3008 kg.ha−1) was obtained, whereas the lowest seed yield (1940 kg.ha−1) occurred at 41.60°C. Delaying planting led to a higher seed yield (19.72%) and enhanced seed oil content (11.54%). The indeterminate growth genotype SK93 consistently showed the highest average seed yield (3231 kg.ha−1) over the 2‐year experiment, exceeding other genotypes.

BACKGROUND Soybean oil is a major dietary source of the essential fatty acids linoleic acid (LA) and α-linolenic acid (ALA); however, high-daytime temperatures during seed development reduce desaturase activity in soybeans. The resultant reduction in LA and ALA levels is a phenomenon well-known to soybean breeders, although the impact of this interaction between plants and environment on human nutrition is poorly understood. OBJECTIVES Using data from the literature, we developed a model for soybean essential fatty acid composition. Combining this model with contemporary agricultural and meteorological data sets, we determined whether insufficiency of essential fatty acids could result from geographic, intrayear, or interyear variability. METHODS We modeled this change using 233 data points from 16 studies that provided fatty acid composition data from plants grown under daytime high temperatures ranging from 15°C to 40°C. RESULTS As temperature increased, LA and ALA concentrations decreased from 55% to 30% and 13% to 3.5%, respectively. Application of the model to daytime high temperatures from 2 growth periods over 6 y showed significant regional, interyear, and intrayear variation in essential fatty acid content (P < 0.05). Using county yield data, we developed oil fatty acid models for the 3 top-producing regions of the United States. From this work, it was determined that soybean oil manufactured from soybeans in the southern United States may contain insufficient ALA to meet human nutritional needs because of high-daytime temperatures. CONCLUSIONS This work suggests that climate-based variation may result in many human populations not achieving an adequate daily intake of ALA.

No abstract available

No abstract available

Soybean (Glycine max L.) is among the most economically important legumes that provide more than 1/4 of food (for man) and animal feed. However, its yield is comparatively low, most especially under drought stress. The aim of this study therefore was to assess the ability of Rhizobium spp. and mycorrhizal fungi to enhance the yield, seed size and fatty acid content of soybean grown under semi-arid environment. Rhizobium sp. strain R1 was found to possess nitrogen-fixing gene coniferyl aldehyde dehydrogenase function while Rhizobium cellulosilyticum strain R3 was found to have nitrogen-fixing genes cysteine desulfurase SufS and cysteine desulfurase IscS activity. Soybean (Glycine max L) seeds inoculated with Rhizobium spp. and mycorrhizal fungi were cultivated in soil exposed to drought stress. Rhizobium spp. inoculation and mycorrhization alleviate drought stress and increase yield, size and fat content of soybean seeds. This increase in the aboveground parameters was accompanied with an increase in belowground mycorrhizal spore number, percentage root mycorrhization and aboveground shoot relative water content (RWC) in the dually inoculated (R1 + R3MY) soybean plants. In particular, the dually inoculated (R1 + R3MY) soybean plants revealed 34.3 g fresh weight, 15.1 g dry weight and soybean plants singly inoculated with Rhizobium sp. strain R1 (R1) produced more large seeds with 12.03 g dry weight. The non-inoculated (control) seeds contained a higher percentage of moisture content compared to the microbially amended seeds while seeds co-inoculated with Rhizobium cellulosilyticum strain R3 and mycorrhizal consortium revealed the highest percent (8.4 %) of fat. Several fatty acids that are of significant health benefits to humans were observed in the soybean seeds. In order to gain insights into the bacterial communities of rhizospheric soil collected at different stages of soybean growth, class-based Heat-map analysis was performed on the Miseq sequenced data. The core bacteria that were found in the rhizospheric soil were Verrumicrobia, Proteobacteria, Gemmatimonadetes, Firmicutes, Cyanobacteria, Chloroflexi, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, Acidobacteria, Planctomycetes, Deinococcus thermus and Nitrospira suggesting that the rhizobia and fungi used in this study can also improve soil microbial diversity.

Soybean is a major source of protein and is the second largest source of oil worldwide. Developing soybean lines with high levels of stearic acid is a primary goal of the soybean industry. Unlike other polyunsaturated fatty acids, the saturated stearic acid is desirable for nutrition because it does not exhibit cholesterolemic effects on human health. Most developed high stearic acid soybeans carry different GmSACPD-C mutated alleles. However, due to its dual role in both seeds and nodule development, all derived deleterious GmSACPD-C mutant alleles are of extremely poor agronomic value as a result of defective nodulation. The soybean Stearoyl-acyl carrier protein desaturase (GmSACPD) gene family is composed of five members. Comparative genomics analysis indicated that SACPD genes were duplicated and derived from a common ancestor that is still present in chlorophytic algae. Synteny analysis shows the presence of segment duplications between GmSACPD-A/GmSACPD-B, and GmSACPD-C/GmSACPD-D. However, GmSACPD-E was not contained in any duplicated segment and may be the result of tandem duplication. In the present study, we developed a TILLING by Target Capture Sequencing (Tilling-by-Sequencing +) technology, a versatile extension of the conventional TILLING by sequencing, and successfully identified 12, 14, and 18 EMS mutants at the GmSACPD-A, GmSACPD-B, and GmSACPD-D genes, respectively. Functional analysis of all identified mutants reveals an unprecedented role of the three GmSACPD-A, GmSACPD-B, and GmSACPD-D members in unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis without affecting nodule development and structure. This new discovery will positively impact the development of high stearic acid lines to enhance soybean nutritional value without potential developmental tradeoffs.

Soybeans are low in saturated fat and a rich source of protein, dietary fiber, and isoflavone; however, their nutritional shelf life is yet to be established. This study evaluated the change in the stability and quality of fatty acids in raw and roasted soybean flour under different storage temperatures and durations. In both types of soybean flour, the fatty-acid content was the highest in the order of linoleic acid (18-carbon chain with two double bonds; C18:2), oleic acid (C18:1), palmitic acid (C16:0), linolenic acid (18:3), and stearic acid (C18:0), which represented 47%, 26%, 12%, 9%, and 4% of the total fatty-acid content, respectively. The major unsaturated fatty acids of raw soybean flour—oleic acid, linoleic acid, and linolenic acid—decreased by 30.0%, 94.4%, and 97.7%, and 38.0%, 94.8%, and 98.0% when stored in polyethylene and polypropylene film, respectively, after 48 weeks of storage under high-temperature conditions. These values were later increased due to hydrolysis. This study presents the changes in composition and content of two soybean flour types and the changes in quality and stability of fatty acids in response to storage temperature and duration. This study shows the influence of storage conditions and temperature on the nutritional quality which is least affected by packing material.

No abstract available

Test weight (TW) is a unit of bulk density that is influenced by several factors, including both genetics and environment. A subset of the trials in the Uniform Soybean Tests—Southern States was used to correlate seed composition traits of oil and protein percentages, and seed weight (SW) with TW to investigate the interaction of these traits in multi‐environments for four different maturity group (MG) tests. The results indicate that environment (location and year combination) had a larger impact on TW than genetic effect in all MG tests. This difference was greater in the earlier MGs, compared to MG VI and MG VII. In all tests across four MGs, the genotype interaction with environment effect was significant, but practically was not as important as genotype or environment effects. Significant negative correlations between TW and SW (MG V, VI, and VII tests), and TW and oil (MG V and VI tests) were observed but not consistent in all environments within these tests. TW and protein correlations were inconsistent with a negative relationship in MG V but a positive relationship in MG VII. As anticipated, the inconsistencies in the relationships across MGs for TW and seed composition traits suggest that selection strategies for improving TW will differ across soybean breeding programs. In the future, a similar study using a diverse panel of cultivars that do not change from year to year may shed more light on the influence of seed composition and environmental conditions on TW.

Heike 88, a new soybean variety developed through strategic hybridization of Heijiao 08-1611 × Heihe 43 followed by pedigree selection, was evaluated across seven locations in Heilongjiang Province from 2019 to 2022. The variety demonstrated stable performance with a 10.3% average yield advantage over regional check varieties and mean yields of 3188 kg ha−1. Principal component analysis revealed that genetic variation accounted for 43.4% and 32.6% of performance variance in the first two components, indicating successful transgressive segregation where the pure line exceeded both parental lines through complementary gene action. Performance relative to parental averages ranged from −20% to +40% across the temperature gradient, demonstrating strong genotype-environment interaction effects. Machine learning analysis identified year effect (13% importance), accumulated temperature (7.6% importance), and oil content (4% importance) as primary yield drivers. Complete resistance to soybean mosaic virous (SMV) and cyst nematode attack was observed across all locations, with excellent gray leaf spot resistance (grades 0–1) maintained under natural pathogen pressure. Seed quality parameters remained stable across environments, with protein content ranging from 41.69% to 42.25% and oil content from 19.74% to 20.13%, indicating minimal environmental effects on compositional traits. Yield stability improved progressively over the evaluation period, with the coefficient of variation decreasing from 18.7% in 2019 to 6.7% in 2022, while absolute yields increased from 2550 to 3200 kg ha−1. These results demonstrate successful exploitation of transgressive segregation for regional adaptation through strategic parent selection and pedigree breeding, supporting commercial deployment in northern China’s challenging production environments while providing methodological guidance for future breeding programs targeting environmental specificity.

No abstract available

Given high animal protein costs, protein deficiency is a prevalent form of malnutrition in sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA). Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] can provide a cheaper high‐quality protein source and fortify lysine‐limited cereal‐based diets. Breeding soybean for seed composition in SSA requires understanding genotype by environment interactions (G × E). African breeding programs submit cultivars for evaluation in the Pan‐African Soybean Variety Trials (PATs), providing the opportunity to examine G × E across diverse environments. With PAT data, we conducted additive main effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) and genotype plus genotype‐by‐environment (GGE) biplot analyses on seed protein and oil content of 17 cultivars grown with two replications in nine environments across Zimbabwe. Across environments, protein ranged from 322.8 to 445.1 g kg−1 and oil ranged from 164.8 to 242.7 g kg−1. For protein AMMI analysis, MAKWACHA performed best for both stability and a combination of stability plus content. For oil AMMI analysis, SC SPIKE performed best for stability and KALEYA performed best for a combination of stability plus content. GGE biplot analyses identified three different mega‐environments for protein and oil, with SC EXPT2, KALEYA, and SC EXPT1 having highest protein content and TGX 2002‐9FM, LUKANGA, and SC EXPT3 having highest oil content. We also evaluated genetic diversity of 19 PAT cultivars through phylogenetic analyses with 1059 USDA Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN) diversity panel accessions. We recommend stable and adaptable PAT cultivars to breeders and producers while highlighting genetically distinct accessions with valuable traits as a resource for breeding programs.

The soybean crop (Glycine max) is known for its high oil and protein content, making it a valuable resource for animal feed and a crucial ingredient in vegan and vegetarian food products. Soybean is a thermophilic short-day plant, demanding specific climatic conditions for successful cultivation. In an effort to expand soybean cultivation to northern regions, a variety of trials were conducted. The aim of this study was to determine the most suitable soybean varieties for cultivation in Northern Poland. The field trials were conducted in nine locations, in the years 2020–2022. Yield, fat content, and protein content were the observed characteristics. Results for 13 varieties had been collected and were analysed using the AMMI model. The genotype–environment interaction provides information that supports estimations of the stability of certain varieties. AMMI-adjusted means, WTOP3, WAAS and GSI indices were calculated in order to assess the suitability of those varieties for cultivation in Northern Poland. It was shown that the Amiata variety had the highest mean yield among the tested varieties, whilst the Erica variety was the most stable. The Abelina variety had the lowest value of the GSI index. For fat content, the Ambella variety had the highest mean and the lowest values of the GSI index, whereas the ES Comandor variety was the most stable. For protein content, the Nessie PZO variety had the highest mean, the Aurelina variety was the most stable and had the lowest values of the GSI index. Thus, the Abelina, Ambella, and Aurelina varieties are the most favourable varieties for cultivation in that region.

Obtaining soybean genotypes that combine better nutrient uptake, higher oil and protein levels in the grains, and high grain yield is one of the major challenges for current breeding programs. To avoid the development of unpromising populations, selecting parents for crossbreeding is a crucial step in the breeding pipeline. Therefore, our objective was to estimate the combining ability of soybean cultivars based on the F_2 generation, aiming to identify superior segregating parents and populations for agronomic, nutritional and industrial traits. Field experiments were carried out in two locations in the 2020/2021 crop season. Leaf contents of the following nutrients were evaluated: phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sulfur, copper, iron, manganese, and zinc. Agronomic traits assessed were days to maturity (DM) and grain yield (GY), while the industrial traits protein, oil, fiber and ash contents were also measured in the populations studied. There was a significant genotype × environment (G × A) interaction for all nutritional traits, except for P content, DM and all industrial traits. The parent G3 and the segregating populations P20 and P27 can be used aiming to obtain higher nutritional efficiency in new soybean cultivars. The segregating populations P11 and P26 show higher potential for selecting soybean genotypes that combine earliness and higher grain yield. The parent G5 and segregant population P6 are promising for selection seeking improvement of industrial traits in soybean.

No abstract available

No abstract available

Soybean is the most important legumes crop and source of protein for Indonesia society. The aim of the research was to evaluate the morpho-chemical characters of soybean genotypes across environments. A total of 16 soybean genotypes were evaluated in four different agro-ecosystems from February to May 2015. The experiment at each agro-ecosystem was arranged in a randomized block design with 16 treatments and four replicates. . The result showed that the morpho-chemical characters of 16 genotypes were significantly affected by genotype by environment interaction. The average of protein contents in four locations were 39.30%, 38.76%, 39.06%, and 38.14%, respectively; and the oil contents were 19.52%, 19.66%, 19.15%, and 20.54%, respectively. There was an indication that a higher protein content resulted in a lower oil content. The highest protein content was GRRR-12-15 (39.96%), and followed by Anjasmoro (39.84%) and GA-1-4 (39.46%). Genotypes with high oil content were GAAA-6-3 (21.36%), GAA-5-1 (20.72%), and GRRRR-19-7 (20.38%). A drier agro-ecosystem affected to the decrease in protein content. Stability analysis of protein content showed that GA-1-6 as the most stable genotype, followed by Anjasmoro and GA-1-4. Meanwhile, the most stable genotype for its oil content was Grobogan, and followed by GAAA-6-3 and GA-1-6. The high yield productivities were showed by GAAA-6-7 (3.06 t/ha), GA-1-4-2 (2.91 t/ha), and GA-1-4 (2.82 t/ha). The two top yielding genotypes, GAAA-6-7 and GA-1-4, were showed specific adaption, hence they can be recommended to be developed at relatively dry environment to obtain high yield, protein and oil contents.

A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the performance of three genotypes of soybean Iman, Taqa and Lee74 planted on lines with three different spacing 40, 50 and 60 cm and two plant spacings on each row 5 and 10 cm. The experiment was carried out according to the randomize complete block design as a factorial experiment with three replicates to study the number of nodes on the main stem, length of internodes, weight of pods.plant−1, pod weight, number of seeds.plant−1, seed weight.pod−1, weight 1000 seed, seed net weight, seed yield g.plant−1, oil yield, and protein yield. The results showed significant differences between the studied factors of the distances between and within lines, genotypes double interaction and triple interactions in all the studied traits except length of inter nodes (cm) of the genotypes as well as of the double interaction intra row spacing * genotypes. The genotype Iman was superior to the seed yield 41.93 g.plant−1 and distance 60 cm in seed yield 50.62 g.plant−1and the distance 10 cm between the plants in the seed yield 43.48 g.plant−1.

No abstract available

No abstract available

No abstract available

The leading role in the economy of Ukraine's agro-industrial complex belongs to the production of oilseed crops, which not only provide stable profits for producers but also positively impact the state's food security as a whole. Oilseed plants, particularly sunflowers, are highly liquid and enjoy stable demand in both domestic and foreign markets, increasing the area cultivated with these crops. However, in recent decades, the most significant growth has been observed in sunflower cultivation, which has led to a deterioration in the phytosanitary condition of fields, water regime issues, soil compaction, drying out, weed infestation, reduced yields of subsequent crops, climate change, and so on. The article analyzes the dynamics of oilseed crop cultivation in the Mykolaiv region from 2013 to 2023. State statistics indicate an increase in the area allocated for oilseed crops from 407.3 thousand hectares in 2013 to 476.2 thousand hectares in 2023. Most sown areas are occupied by sunflowers, whose share fluctuates between 70.1 % and 90.1 %. At the same time, the area under soybeans has decreased; however, a recovery was observed in 2023. Rapeseed, the second most important crop, shows fluctuations in area, reaching 117.6 thousand hectares in 2023. The yield of oilseed crops varies depending on climatic conditions and cultivation technologies; rapeseed demonstrates stable results (1.77–2.36 tons per hectare). The article also discusses the results of cultivating flaxseed, safflower, and brown mustard. In particular, despite its low yield, flax has growth potential due to its drought resistance and export opportunities to EU countries. The purchase prices for flax indicate high demand for this niche crop. The article emphasizes the importance of adapting technologies and varieties to ensure stable yields and increase the profitability of oilseed crop production in the region. Thanks to modern cultivation technologies, the yield of oilseed crops has increased from 23.6–28.8 % to 51.6 %. Introducing new elements will contribute to further yield increases without expanding cultivated areas. This will allow for the redistribution of oilseed crop sowing areas and partially diversify them, ensuring the adaptation of agroecosystems to climate change and the preservation of soil fertility. Additionally, the range of quality oils will increase. Research in this direction should continue as new varieties, substances, and fertilizers emerge.  

Soybean is a globally significant legume crop, providing essential protein and oil for human and livestock nutrition. Improving oil and protein content simultaneously without compromising yield has been challenging due to the quantitative nature of these traits and their interrelationships. This study aims to deepen our understanding of the molecular basis soybean of seed weight, protein, and oil content to facilitate marker-assisted breeding to enhance these traits. In this research, a Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS) was conducted utilizing 285 diverse soybean accessions from maturity group V, employing genotyping through the SoySNP50K platform. These accessions were tested in three environmental conditions of the southeast US for three traits: 100-seed weight, protein, and oil content. The study identified 18, 23, and 26 SNPs significantly associated with 100-seed weight, seed oil, and protein content. Colocalized protein and oil content regions were discovered on chromosomes 15, 16, and 20. Chromosomes 15 and 20 are well documented to have pleiotropic but opposite effects on oil and protein content, but both regions contain genes that affect individual traits, such as FAD2-1 and nodulin MtN21. A 1.92 Mb region on chromosome 11 exhibits a target region to improve oil and seed weight without affecting protein content. This study highlights key genomic regions and candidate genes influencing seed weight, protein, and oil content, with some regions affecting multiple traits. Hence, these findings provide a valuable foundation for marker-assisted selection to optimize seed weight and simultaneously enhance oil and protein content in soybean breeding programs.

Previous reports indicate variable soybean quality parameters exported from different geographic regions. This review compares soybean and soybean co‐products grown under diverse environmental conditions. While numerous studies have been conducted on whole soybean and soybean meal (SBM) composition by origin, similar analysis of soybean oil is lacking. This review has two objectives: 1) summarize soybean and SBM quality by origin using a meta‐analysis approach, and 2) analyze collected crude degummed soybean oil samples that originate from the US, Brazil and Argentina for key quality attributes. Soybeans from Brazil have higher levels of protein (P < 0.05) than US soybeans, but US soybeans have lower heat damage (P < 0.05) and total damage (P < 0.05) than soybeans from Brazil. US and Brazil SBM have higher crude protein (CP) (P < 0.05) than SBM from Argentina. At equal CP content, US SBM had less fiber (P < 0.0001), more sucrose (P < 0.0001) and lysine (P < 0.0001) and better protein quality than South American SBMs. Methionine, threonine, and cysteine levels were similar in soybean protein from US and Argentina and higher than that in soybean protein from Brazil. Crude degummed soybean oil from Brazil had more (P < 0.05) free fatty acids, neutral oil loss, phosphorus, calcium and magnesium than crude degummed soybean oil from the US or Argentina. Our analysis suggests that environmental conditions under which soybeans are grown, stored, and handled can have a large impact on chemical composition and nutrient quality of soybean meal and soybean oil.

Soybean is a crucial crop globally, serving as a significant source of unsaturated fatty acids and protein in the human diet. However, further enhancements are required for the related genes that regulate soybean oil synthesis. In this study, 155 soybean germplasms were cultivated under three different environmental conditions, followed by phenotypic identification and genome-wide association analysis using simplified sequencing data. Genome-wide association analysis was performed using SLAF-seq data. A total of 36 QTLs were significantly associated with oil content (−log10(p) > 3). Out of the 36 QTLs associated with oil content, 27 exhibited genetic overlap with previously reported QTLs related to oil traits. Further transcriptome sequencing was performed on extreme high–low oil soybean varieties. Combined with transcriptome expression data, 22 candidate genes were identified (|log2FC| ≥ 3). Further haplotype analysis of the potential candidate genes showed that three potential candidate genes had excellent haplotypes, including Glyma.03G186200, Glyma.09G099500, and Glyma.18G248900. The identified loci harboring beneficial alleles and candidate genes likely contribute significantly to the molecular network’s underlying marker-assisted selection (MAS) and oil content.

Soybean (Glycine max) is an important source of plant-based protein and oil, but its cultivation is highly sensitive to climate conditions. In Poland, interest in soybean is growing due to climate change and increasing demand for protein-rich crops. However, cultivation of photophilic crops is still limited. This study presents results from field trials conducted in Northern Poland from 2017 to 2019, involving 13 registered soybean cultivars tested at 10 locations. The aim of the study was to evaluate seed yield, protein and fat content and protein yield under varying environmental conditions. Weather variability, particularly temperature and rainfall, had a greater influence on results than the cultivar tested. Advanced statistical analyses showed that, of all 13 tested cultivars, Moravians (mid-late) had the most favorable WAAS and GSI values in terms of protein yield. According to WTOP3 score, the Kofu (late) cultivar had the highest adaptability for seeds yield and protein yield. Protein yield is the most important indicator of the profitablility of soybean cultivation in countries with a deficit of feed plant protein. The study supports targeted cultivar selection to improve soybean production under changing climate conditions in countries located at higher latitudes, such as Poland.

The study aims to identify varieties with better grain quality indicators for cultivation under the conditions of the northeastern forest-steppe of Ukraine. The study aims to optimize the formation of soybean quality indicators according to varietal characteristics and weather conditions. The survey subject is 26 soybean varieties of domestic and foreign selection, the weight of 1000 seeds, the quality of seeds, and weather conditions. During the experiment, among the studied varieties, the highest weight indicators of 1,000 seeds (190.4–202.4 g) were formed by varieties such as Asuka, Diadema Podillya, Tenor, and Millennium, significantly higher than the weighted average value for the group of studied varieties (Duncan test = 15.3 g). The largest seed was formed under the conditions of 2020 (180.7 g). During the 2019–2021 study period, varieties such as Titan, Paradis, Tenor, and Kyoto (40.5–41.0%) had the highest protein content on average. In terms of the years studied, 2020 was marked as the most favorable; under its weather conditions, the varieties formed an average of 40.1% of the protein in the grain. The Vinni, Navigator, Alaska, Knyazhna, Amadea, Oriana, Triada, Merlin, and Arisa varieties showed significantly higher fat content than the average (19.8–20.7%). Seeds harvested in 2019 had the maximum oil content on average (20.0%). The study of the amino acid profile of different soybean varieties revealed significant variations in essential and non-essential amino acids. The Tytan variety is characterized by the highest levels of lysine (2.99 g/100 g), leucine (3.42 g/100 g) and alanine (1.83 g/100 g). In contrast, the Tenor and Cordoba varieties show the lowest levels of these amino acids (1.70–1.71 g/100 g lysine, 2.26–2.43 g/100 g leucine, and 1.33–1.40 g/100 g alanine, respectively). High levels of threonine are also observed in the Vinni and Tytan varieties (1.80–1.88 g/100 g). The maximum concentration of methionine was noted in the varieties of Favor and Tenor (0.08–0.09 g/100 g), while in most other varieties, the content of this amino acid did not exceed 0.03–0.04 g/100 g. Tenor, Arisa, Tytan, Vezha, and Vinni are the leaders in the content of valine, isoleucine, phenylalanine, proline, glutamic, and aspartic acids, respectively. In contrast, the varieties of Alaska, Diadema Podillya, and Cordoba are characterized by the lowest content of these amino acids. The highest histidine content (1.90 g/100 g) was recorded in the variety of Samorodok, and the lowest (1.21–1.27 g/100 g) was recorded in the varieties of Tenor and Cordoba.

The high protein content in soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) necessitates maximizing the nitrogen (N) absorption capacity and the biological N fixation process. This study aimed to evaluate whether foliar application of molybdenum (Mo) combined with cobalt (Co) enhances the productivity, yield components, N content, and protein and oil contents of soybeans. The experiment consisted of randomized blocks with a split‐plot arrangement, with two soybean cultivars (BRS 399 Roundup Ready [RR] and BRS 284) as a main plot and the presence or absence of foliar application of Co + Mo as a subplot, during two seasons and eight replications. Foliar application was performed during the vegetative stages V3 and V5. The results revealed that foliar fertilization with Co + Mo increased the grain yield by 9.8% for BRS 399 RR in the first season and by 15.4% for BRS 284 in the second season. For BRS 399 RR, the N concentration in the leaves, protein yield, and oil content were also positively affected by the Co + Mo application. For BRS 284, only the N concentration in leaves increased in the first season, whereas the protein yield improved in the second season. However, compared with the control, the protein and N concentrations in the grains of both cultivars and seasons were not significantly influenced by Co + Mo application. The foliar application of Co + Mo had both positive and neutral effects on grain yield, protein yield, and leaf N concentration, depending on weather conditions and the soybean cultivar used, thus impacting N use efficiency.

Background. Promising soybean breeding material was evaluated for a number of agronomic traits and adaptability to the conditions of Primorsky Territory. The effect of local weather and climate factors on the accumulation of protein and oil in soybean seeds is discussed.Materials and methods. Thirty-two promising soybean cultivars were tested at the Federal Scientific Center of Agricultural Biotechnology of the Far East named after A.K. Chaika in 2021–2023. Cv. ‘Primorskaya 4’ served as the reference.Results. The best soybean cultivars were selected on the basis of the trials for high yields, high protein and oil content in seeds, and resistance to unfavorable growing conditions. Soybean cvs. Primorskaya 1690 and Primorskaya 1693 exceeded the reference in yield by 32.4% and 38.6%, respectively. The highest oil content in seeds (24.8–25.2%) was observed in Primorskaya 1674, Primorskaya 1685, Primorskaya 1687, and Primorskaya 1690. The highest protein content (over 40.0%) was found in the seeds of Primorskaya 1659, Primorskaya 1675, and Primorskaya 1691. Resistance to stressful growing conditions was demonstrated by Primorskaya 1674, Primorskaya 1679, Primorskaya 1684, Primorskaya 1692, Primorskaya 1702, and Primorskaya 1705. Low environmental plasticity was manifested by 40.6% of the genotypes. Primorskaya 1697, Primorskaya 1698, Primorskaya 1690, and Primorskaya 1693 stood out for their high adaptability. The effect of local weather and climate factors on the accumulation of nutrients in soybean seeds was confirmed. Short-term precipitation combined with high temperatures resulted in higher protein content. Oil accumulation was facilitated by high temperatures accompanied by either deficient or excessive moisture content in soil.

Soybean (Glycine max) and sesame (Sesamum indicum) are globally significant oilseed crops known for their nutritional and economic value. The objective of this paper was to assess the genetic variability in seed germination parameters and oil content of some soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] and sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) accessions. Germination percentage (GP), germination rate (GR), mean germination time (MGT), and seed oil content (SOC) were analysed. For soybean, significant genetic variation was observed in SOC (F = 1906.62, p < 0.001), with values ranging from 18.60% to 27.15%, while germination traits showed limited variability. Genotypes like SC-Signal and TGX2020-4E demonstrated superior performance in germination and oil yield, with SC-Signal recording the highest oil content (27.15%) making it a promising candidate for oil production. In sesame, germination parameters varied moderately, with GP ranging from 60.95% to 85.72%, while SOC showed substantial genetic diversity (38.90–51.00%). Genotype T3 recorded the highest oil content (51.00%), while T6 showed the best germination metrics. The study revealed that SOC is a highly heritable trait in both crops, with minimal environmental influence, whereas germination traits were more affected by experimental conditions. These findings underscore the importance of genetic selection for improving oil yield and germination performance in soybean and sesame. The identified genotypes, SC-Signal and T3, provide valuable genetic resources for future breeding programs aimed at enhancing crop productivity and nutritional quality.

Drought stress during the reproductive stage and declining soybean yield potential raise concerns about yield loss and economic return. In this study, ten cultivars were characterized for 20 traits to identify reproductive stage (R1–R6) drought-tolerant soybean. Drought stress resulted in a marked reduction (17%) in pollen germination. The reduced stomatal conductance coupled with high canopy temperature resulted in reduced seed number (45%) and seed weight (35%). Drought stress followed by rehydration increased the hundred seed weight at the compensation of seed number. Further, soybean oil decreased, protein increased, and cultivars responded differently under drought compared to control. In general, cultivars with high tolerance scores for yield displayed lower tolerance scores for quality content and vice versa. Among ten cultivars, LS5009XS and G4620RX showed maximum stress tolerance scores for seed number and seed weight. The observed variability in leaf reflectance properties and their relationship with physiological or yield components suggested that leaf-level sensing information can be used for differentiating drought-sensitive soybean cultivars from tolerant ones. The study led to the identification of drought-resilient cultivars/promising traits which can be exploited in breeding to develop multi-stress tolerant cultivars.

BackgroundSoybean oil constitutes an important source of vegetable oil and biofuel. However, high temperature and humidity adversely impacts soybean seed development, yield, and quality during plant development and after harvest. Genetic improvement of soybean tolerance to stress environments is highly desirable.ResultsTransgenic soybean lines with knockdown of phospholipase Dα1 (PLDα1KD) were generated to study PLDα1′s effects on lipid metabolism and seed vigor under high temperature and humidity conditions. Under such stress, as compared with normal growth conditions, PLDα1KD lines showed an attenuated stress-induced deterioration during soybean seed development, which was associated with elevated expression of reactive oxygen species-scavenging genes when compared with wild-type control. The developing seeds of PLDα1KD had higher levels of unsaturation in triacylglycerol (TAG) and major membrane phospholipids, but lower levels of phosphatidic acid and lysophospholipids compared with control cultivar. Lipid metabolite and gene expression profiling indicates that the increased unsaturation on phosphatidylcholine (PC) and enhanced conversion between PC and diacylglycerol (DAG) by PC:DAG acyltransferase underlie a basis for increased TAG unsaturation in PLDα1KD seeds. Meanwhile, the turnover of PC and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) into lysoPC and lysoPE was suppressed in PLDα1KD seeds under high temperature and humidity conditions. PLDα1KD developing seeds suffered lighter oxidative stresses than did wild-type developing seeds in the stressful environments. PLDα1KD seeds contain higher oil contents and maintained higher germination rates than the wild-type seeds.ConclusionsThe study provides insights into the roles of PLDα1 in developing soybean seeds under high temperature and humidity stress. PLDα1KD decreases pre-harvest deterioration and enhances acyl editing in phospholipids and TAGs. The results indicate a way towards improving production of quality soybean seeds as foods and biofuels under increasing environmental stress.

No abstract available

Late or early sowing subjecting crop plants to stress conditions, this is simulating the climatic change effects. The global warming and climate change are critical issues in agriculture since progressive rise in temperature leads to exposure the crops to heat stress, hence low productivity. Since weather conditions are uncontrollable, it is impossible to modulate their negative impacts against crop growth and development. However, scientists should not be handcuffed about this serious problem. So, in open field conditions, the performance of some soybean genotypes was evaluated under different sowing dates. Along the two seasons of 2019 and 2020, field experiments were designed in a split-plot design using three replicates to evaluate the performance of four soybean genotypes (Giza-21, Giza-35, Giza-111, and Crawford) under four sowing dates (15th April, 30th April, 15th May, and 30th May). Various physiological and growth traits, yield attributes, seed nutrient contents, and oil and protein contents were estimated. Sowing Crawford (in both seasons) and Giza-35 (in the first season) on 15th April as well as Giza-111 either on 30th April or 15th May produced the highest catalase activity. In plots sown on 30th April, Crawford and Giza-21 (in the first season) and Giza-111 (in both seasons) exhibited the highest leaves area plant−1. Plots sown by Giza-111 on 30th April was the potent interaction for enhancing seed yield in both seasons. Under any sowing date in the second season and the sowing date of 30th April in the first season, Giza-111 was the effective genotype for recording the maximum seed oil content. For adopting a specific stress condition scenario, it is advisable to insert Giza-111 as an effective gene pool to improve soybean genotypes under unfavorable conditions, expressed in sowing dates.

Climate change has become one of the significant limiting factors to the productivity of agriculture across the world with developing nations bearing inequality risks. Being a country with arid and semi-arid agroecological conditions, a high level of climatic variability makes Pakistan especially susceptible to the warming of the climate. Edible oil seed crops, such as rapeseed -mustard, sunflower, groundnut, sesame, soybean, and canola, are important national food security and livelihood crops yet domestic production does not match the consumption demand, making the country highly dependent on imports. Pakistani climatic tendencies over the recent years show that there is steady increase in mean annual temperature, increasing heat waves, changing monsoon patterns, and repetitive occurrence of drought and flood. The direct impact of these changes on oilseeds cropping systems is in changing the sowing date, reducing the growth period, and increasing abiotic stress in sensitive reproductive stages. During flowering, heat stress has the potential to reduce the viability of pollen and seed set, whereas drought stress decreases the leaf area development, photosynthetic efficiency, biomass accumulation, and eventual seed yield and oil content. Combined heat and drought stress has been shown to have more acute effects than the other stresses as it hastens senescence and interrupts the processes of carbon assimilation and oil biosynthesis. Along with physiological disturbances, climate variability also affects the accessibility of soil moisture, the rate of evapotranspiration, and nutrient dynamics, further limiting productivity in irrigated areas and rainfed areas. To overcome these challenges, there should be coupled adaptation measures such as development of climate resistant cultivars, maximization of sowing time, better practices of water management, and enhanced extension services.

No abstract available

Global climate changes, such as elevated CO2 concentrations (eCO2) and rising temperatures, trigger complex interactions that collectively affect soybean growth and seed quality. To investigate the effects of eCO2 and elevated temperature on carbon and lipid metabolism in soybeans, the high-oil Zhonghuang35 (ZH35) and the low-oil soybean Jindazaohuang2 (JZ2) were used in this study. Four treatments were set up in the controlled air chambers. They were CK (ambient [CO2] and temperature), EC (ambient [CO2] +200 μmol mol-1 and ambient temperature), ET (ambient [CO2] and ambient temperature +2 °C), and ECT (ambient [CO2] +200 μmol mol-1 and ambient temperature +2 °C). Photosynthetic parameters, chlorophyll content, and indicators of glucose metabolism and lipid metabolism were assessed in soybean at the R4 growth stage. ECT significantly increased plant height, biomass and grain weight in both varieties (p < 0.05), with ZH35 showing slightly greater increases. Conversely, ECT significantly reduced main stem node number by 12.7 % in JZ2 (p < 0.05). Chlorophyll (Chl) content decreased significantly in JZ2 under EC and ECT, and in ZH35 under ET and ECT. Rubisco activity (+116.1 %) and net photosynthetic rate (Pn, +29.1 %) increased in ZH35 under ECT compared with CK (p < 0.05), but Pn declined in JZ2 (-23.5 %). ECT significantly enhanced water-use efficiency by 66.5 % in JZ2. Isocitrate dehydrogenase (ICDH) activity decreased in both JZ2 (-49.2 %) and ZH35 (-66.9 %) under ECT, suggesting a weakened tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle. However, sucrose metabolism was enhanced under EC in both cultivars as indicated by increased sucrose content (+43.8 % in JZ2 and +68.8 % in ZH35). ECT significantly upregulated diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT) gene expression by 19.3 % in JZ2 and 158.3 % in ZH35 (both p < 0.05). Concurrently, DGAT activity increased by 1199.4 % in JZ2 and 111.8 % in ZH35 (both p < 0.05).These changes were accompanied by increased oil content by 12.6 % in JZ2 and 10.8 % in ZH35 compared with CK (both p < 0.05). The co-elevation of [CO2] and temperature enhanced lipid metabolism in both cultivars. Enhanced carbon assimilation and lipid metabolism in ZH35 suggest that high-oil soybean varieties may exhibit greater resilience under climate change scenarios.

Legumes are sensitive to drought stress, which adversely affects their seed yield, protein and oil content. This was investigated in a two-year field experiment conducted using a split-plot design with three replications in the Mughan plain, Ardabil. The experimental factors included drought stress as the main plot at three levels (60, 100, and 140 mm of evaporation from a class A pan) and the co-inoculation of soybean symbiotic bacteria and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus species across eight treatments (Bradyrhizobium japonicum, Funneliformis mosseae, Rhizophagus irregularis, Glomus fasciculatum, B. japonicum + F. mosseae, B. japonicum + R. irregularis, B. japonicum + G. fasciculatum, and control) as the subplot. The results revealed that heightened drought stress led to a reduction in plant dry weight, pod number, seed number per plant, and seed yield in all treatments in both study years. However, this reduction was less pronounced in some treatments, especially those involving co-inoculation with B. japonicum + R. irregularis and B. japonicum + G. fasciculatum. Conversely, all treatments exhibited an increase in stomatal resistance, chlorophyll a concentration, soluble sugars, malondialdehyde (MDA), peroxidase (POD), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) under drought conditions (100 and 140 mm) compared to the normal irrigation conditions (I60). The saturated fatty acids (palmitic and stearic acids) declined in inoculated plants compared to the control, while the trend was the opposite for unsaturated fatty acids (linoleic, linoneic, and oleic acids). Drought stress increased palmitic acid content by up to 32.4% and reduced linolenic acid content by up to 13.4%. Among the treatments, co-inoculation with B. japonicum + R. irregularis and B. japonicum + G. fasciculatum demonstrated a more significant improvement in the soybean’s drought tolerance compared to the others. Given these results, inoculating soybean plants with rhizobial bacteria and R. irregularis mycorrhizae can be recommended as a strategy to enhance their drought resistance and improve their seed yield and oil quality.

Drought stress is one of the most important environmental stresses that affects the quantity and quality of soybean production. This study was conducted to explore the role of iron oxide nanoparticles (NPs) application and Piriformospora indica inoculation in alleviating the adversities of drought stress on fatty acid composition and oil production in soybean. The results showed that seed oil synthesis was considerably reduced by drought stress, whereas the membrane lipid peroxidation was accelerated under drought stress condition. The applied NPs (especially 0.75g L-1 ) and P. indica enhanced the activities of enzymatic antioxidants (SOD, CAT, PPO and APX) with simultaneous decrease in malondialdehyde. Under drought stress, an inverse relationship between protein and seed oil was observed, as by increasing protein content, seed oil decreased linearly. In addition, the main oil constituents, oleic and stearic acids increased, while linoleic, linolenic and palmitic acids reached to the lowest level in severe drought stress (FC 20%). Interestingly, the beneficial effects of NPs and P. indica led to improvement in grain weight, fatty acid composition and oil content under drought stress. During drought stress, oleic, linoleic, linolenic and palmitic acids increased and stearic acid decreased considerably in P. indica and NPs treatments. However, combined NPs and P. indica was generally more effective in alleviation of drought stress deleterious effects than individual treatments.

Abiotic stress is one of the most important factors reducing soybean yield. It is essential to identify regulatory factors contributing to stress responses. A previous study found that the tandem CCCH zinc-finger protein GmZF351 is an oil level regulator. In this study, we discovered that the GmZF351 gene is induced by stress and that the overexpression of GmZF351 confers stress tolerance to transgenic soybean. GmZF351 directly regulates the expression of GmCIPK9 and GmSnRK, leading to stomata closing, by binding to their promoter regions, which carry two CT(G/C)(T/A)AA elements. Stress induction of GmZF351 is mediated through reduction in the H3K27me3 level at the GmZF351 locus. Two JMJ30-demethylase-like genes, GmJMJ30-1 and GmJMJ30-2, are involved in this demethylation process. Overexpression of GmJMJ30-1/2 in transgenic hairy roots enhances GmZF351 expression mediated by histone demethylation and confers stress tolerance to soybean. Yield-related agronomic traits were evaluated in stable GmZF351-transgenic plants under mild drought stress conditions. Our study reveals a new mode of GmJMJ30-GmZF351 action in stress tolerance, in addition to that of GmZF351 in oil accumulation. Manipulation of the components in this pathway is expected to improve soybean traits and adaptation under unfavorable environments. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens and/or Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) as natural biofertilizers on biomass, yield and seed nutritive quality of soybean (Giza 111). The conditions investigated include a well-watered (WW) control and irrigation withholding at the seed development stage (R5, after 90 days from sowing) (DS). Co-inoculation with B. amyloliquefaciens and AMF, resulted in the highest plant biomass and yield under WW and DS conditions. The nuclear DNA content analysis suggested that co-inoculation with B. amyloliquefaciens and AMF decreased the inhibition of drought stress on both the size and granularity of seed cells, which were comparable to the normal level. The single or co-inoculation with B. amyloliquefaciens and AMF increased the primary metabolites content and alleviated the drought-induced reduction in soluble sugars, lipids, protein and oil contents. Plant inoculation induced the expression of genes involved in lipid and protein biosynthesis, whereas an opposite trend was observed for genes involved in lipid and protein degradation, supporting the observed increase in lipid and protein content. Plant inoculated with B. amyloliquefaciens showed the highest α-amylase and β-amylase activities, indicating improved osmolyte (soluble sugar) synthesis, particularly under drought. Interestingly, single or co-inoculation further strengthen the positive effect of drought on the antioxidant and osmoprotectant levels, i.e. phenol, flavonoid, glycine betaine contents, and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activity. As a result of stress release, there was a decrease in the level of stress hormones (abscisic acid, ABA) and an increase in gibberellin (GA), trans-zeatin-riboside (ZR), and indole acetic acid (IAA) in the seeds of inoculated plants. Additionally, the ATP content, hydrolytic activities of plasma membrane H+ -ATPase, Ca2+ -ATPase, and Mg2+ -ATPase were also increased by the inoculation. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Soybeans with modified fatty acid compositions are widely used to improve oil quality and develop functional food products; however, physiological responses to drought stress during early growth stages remain insufficiently understood. This study compared shoot and root responses of three soybean cultivars with contrasting fatty acid profiles: Osoy (elevated linolenic acid; OS), PE529 (elevated oleic acid; PE), and Pungsannamul (PS) under drought stress conditions. Drought significantly reduced plant height, shoot biomass, and leaf area in all cultivars, although the magnitude of reduction differed among genotypes. PS exhibited the greatest decreases in plant height (39%), shoot dry weight (47%), and leaf area (78%) compared with well-watered conditions. In addition, PS showed relatively higher net carbon assimilation rate and stomatal conductance during the early phase of drought, but significantly lower values than OS and PE after 7–8 days of treatment, indicating a relatively higher sensitivity to drought stress. Root trait responses varied among cultivars. Total root length was largely maintained under drought conditions; however, all cultivars exhibited increased root distribution in deeper soil layers. Notably, PE showed a relatively higher proportion of roots at 40 cm depth. Whole-plant water use efficiency (wWUE) did not differ among cultivars under drought conditions; however, Pearson correlation analysis revealed strong associations between wWUE and root traits in PE, including total root length (r = 0.72), average root diameter (r = −0.77), and root volume (r = 0.65). Overall, PE exhibited relatively stable morphological and physiological responses under drought stress, suggesting a comparatively higher adaptive potential during early growth stages.

The SEVEN IN Absentia (SINA), a typical member of the RING E3 ligase family, plays a crucial role in plant growth, development and response to abiotic stress. However, its biological functions in oil crops are still unknown. Previously, we reported that overexpression of AtSINA2 in Arabidopsis positively regulated the drought tolerance of transgenic plants. In this work, we demonstrate that ectopic expression of AtSINA2 in soybean improved the shoot growth, grain yield, drought tolerance and seed oil content in transgenic plants. Compared to wild type, transgenic soybean produced greater shoot biomass and grain yield, and showed improved seed oil and drought tolerance. Physiological analyses exhibited that the increased drought tolerance of transgenic plants was accompanied with a higher chlorophyll content, and a lower malondialdehyde accumulation and water loss during drought stress. Further transcriptomic analyses revealed that the expressions of genes related to plant growth, flowering and stress response were up- or down-regulated in transgenic soybean under both normal and drought stress conditions. Our findings imply that AtSINA2 improved both agricultural production and drought tolerance, and it can be used as a candidate gene for the genetic engineering of new soybean cultivars with improved grain yield and drought resistance.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of silica application on the protein, oil, fatty acid, phenol and isoflavone content in soybean seeds that experience water deficiency stress. This study used a factorial completely randomized design. The first factor was the watering interval (3, 6 and 9 day intervals). The second factor was the dosage of silica application (0; 31.25 and 62.50 SiO2/polybag or equivalent doses of 0, 125 and 250 kg SiO2/ha). This study concluded that the higher and longer duration of drought stress was reflected in the longer watering interval caused a decreased the number of filled pods, number and yield of seeds, and oil content, but increased content of protein, total of phenolic and isoflavan of soybean seeds. Application of silica under drought stress conditions reduced the reduction in the number of filled pods, seed quantity and yield, and oil content compared to without silica application. The content of oil, total of phenolic and isoflavones of soybean seeds can be inducted through the application of silica. The application of silica improves the quality of soybeans as a functional food.

: Soybean, as an important oil crop, is one of the main sources of high-quality protein and edible oil. Soybean yield and seed quality are closely related to growth-period traits, which are mainly controlled by a series of genes associated with the growth period. In this study, 16 near-isogenic lines (NILs) of E1  E4 were developed using Harosoy as the genetic background and were planted in experimental fields in Shijiazhuang and Hefei. The growth period, seed quality, and yield traits were investigated to understand the adaptability of different combinations of E1  E4 mutants to mid-latitude planting areas. The results showed that the 16 NILs had different photoperiod sensitivities and flowering times. WT and e4 NILs were unsuitable for planting in Shijiazhuang due to late flowering and low yield, while all NILs matured normally when planted in Hefei. Different allelic combinations of E1  E4 also affected plant height, node length, yield per plant, and seed quality. We found that e3 or e4 mutations could lead to early flowering under long-day conditions and simultaneously induce a shading response, resulting in taller plants and longer node lengths. We measured the protein, oil, and sucrose content of the seeds and found that the seeds of WT could not mature normally, exhibiting the lowest oil content and the highest sucrose content. Overall, seeds from the other NILs, when planted in Shijiazhuang, showed higher oil and sucrose content compared to those planted in Hefei but lower protein content. Therefore, to evaluate the latitude adaptability of soybean cultivars, it is necessary to comprehensively examine the effects of growth-period genes on photoperiod sensitivity, seed quality, and yield.

Meeting the growing demand for vegetable oil while promoting agricultural sustainability in Northeast China requires developing high-yield, high-oil-content soybean varieties. We present the comprehensive development and evaluation of Heinong 551, an innovative soybean variety created through an integrated approach of conventional breeding methods and radiation-induced mutation techniques. The breeding program began with hybridization between Heinong 44 (the maternal parent) and Hefeng 47 (the paternal parent), followed by targeted exposure to 60Co gamma radiation at 130 Gy to induce beneficial mutations. Using systematic selection protocols over five generations from 2012 to 2016, we identified superior lines that underwent rigorous multi-location testing across seven sites in Heilongjiang Province during 2020–2021. Field evaluation results showed consistent performance, with Heinong 551 achieving average yields of 2901 kg/ha and 3142 kg/ha in those years, representing significant gains of 10. 6% and 11.0. 0% compared to standard control varieties. The cultivar maintained stable phenological traits with a reliable 120-day maturation period and demonstrated strong environmental adaptability across different growing conditions. Biochemical analysis revealed excellent nutritional value, with 39.45% crude protein and 21.69% crude fat, reaching a combined protein–fat percentage of 61.14%. Quality tests confirmed superior seed integrity, with sound seed rates over 97% and minimal pest or disease damage. Disease resistance assessments showed moderate tolerance to gray leaf spot while maintaining excellent overall plant health, with no signs of viral infections or nematode infestations during testing. Heinong 551 has received official approval for cultivation in Heilongjiang Province’ s second accumulated temperature zone, characterized by thermal units ≥2550 °C above a 10 °C threshold. This represents significant progress in high-oil soybean variety development, illustrating the success of combining traditional breeding methods with modern mutation technology.

No abstract available

Accurate in-season prediction of seed yield and seed composition traits such as oil and protein are useful for gaining accuracy and efficiency in soybean breeding. These predictions can also inform farmers, enabling them to improve their field management practices, and guide their market decisions. We report a Transformer-based deep learning framework built on 30 years of multi-environment performance data from the Northern and Southern Uniform Soybean Tests (UST) across North America. Unlike earlier studies on seed yield, oil and protein prediction that focus on limited years, regions, single modalities, we utilized a comprehensive dataset that includes weather, genotype, and management factors, ensuring a more holistic approach to soybean yield, oil, and protein prediction. Our model integrates multivariate time-series weather data with genotypic relationship information, maturity group, and geographic location, to predict variety performance in diverse environments. Our model captures complex temporal patterns associated with trait variability; showing high predictive accuracy (R2) of 77.6 ± 0.2%, 63.9 ± 4.7%, and 79.3 ± 2.3% for seed yield, oil, and protein, respectively. Additionally, for seed yield, we also evaluated multiple interpretability methods to assess feature importance for predictor variables and critical growing timepoints, and solar radiation and temperature were noted as the key predictors. Overall, these results demonstrate the usefulness of a Transformer-based model in trait predictions, and the utility of large cooperative datasets from breeding programs.

Planting date and cultivar maturity group (MG) are major management factors affecting soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] yield, but their effect on seed oil and protein concentration, and in particular meal protein concentration, is less understood. We quantified changes in seed oil and protein, and estimated meal protein concentration, and total oil and protein yield in response to planting date and cultivar MG ranging from 3 to 6 and across locations comprising a 8.3° range in latitude in the U.S. Midsouth. Our results show that delayed planting date and later cultivar maturity reduced oil concentration, and this was partially associated with a decrease in temperature during the seed fill phase. Thus, optimum cultivar MG recommendations to maximize total oil yield (in kg ha–1) for planting dates in May and June required relatively earlier cultivar MGs than those recommended to maximize seed yield. For planting dates in April, short-season MG 3 cultivars did not increase oil yield compared to full-season MG 4 or 5 cultivars due to a quadratic yield response to planting date at most locations. Planting date and cultivar maturity effects on seed protein concentration were not always consistent with the effects on estimated meal protein concentration after oil extraction. Meal protein concentration decreased with lower temperatures during seed fill, and when the start of seed fill occurred after August 15, but relatively short-season cultivar MGs reduced the risk of low meal protein concentration. Meal protein concentration is a trait of interest for the feed industry that would be beneficial to report in future studies evaluating genetic, management, and environmental effects on seed protein concentration.

This study's objective was to analyse the oil contents and composition of fatty acids (linolenic, stearic, oleic, palmitic and linoleic acids) of 20 distinct soybean (Glycine max L. Merrill) cultivars cultivated as the second crop in Cukurova Delta in the Mediterranean region of Turkiye. Soybean cultivars Ilksoy, Traksoy maturity group II (MG: II), Atakisi, Arısoy, Cinsoy, Atem-7, Sa 88, Altınay, Asya, Bravo, Gapsoy, Kocatürk, Mitchell, Samsoy, Kristal, Umut-2002 (MG: III), Adasoy, ANP 2018, Nazlıcan, Lider (MG:3.8) were used. Field tests of this study were carried out in a randomized complete block design with three replications at the Eastern Mediterranean Agricultural Research Institute's Dogankent-Adana location in 2020-2021. Years, genotypes, and year x genotype interactions were all determined as significant in the variance analysis of the experiment's data. The fatty acid content of soybean cultivars varied between 10.00 and 12.64% for palmitic acid, 4.15 and 5.17% for stearic acid, 25.75 and 33.90% for oleic acid, 43.22 and 51.59% for linoleic acid, and 4.85 and 5.98% for linolenic acid, according to a 2-years average. Soybean cultivars' oil content ranged from 23.12 to 24.78 percent.

Soybean seed physical characteristics are crucial for quality assessment, but the link between these characteristics and biochemical composition across different maturity groups (MGs) remains unclear. This study examined the relationships between seed physical characteristics (color and weight) and biochemical constituents, including oil content (OC), protein content (PC), and fatty acid (FA) composition in 191 diverse soybean accessions across eight MGs (0-VII) at three locations over two years. The results indicated that black-seeded accessions demonstrated a notably higher average of PC (47.33%) and a lower average of OC (15.78%) in contrast to yellow-seeded varieties, which had an average PC and OC of 42.52% and 19.12%, respectively. In addition, larger seeds exhibited increased OC (19.15%) and OA levels (23.27%), whereas smaller seeds revealed higher concentrations of PC (44.23%), LA (55.06%), and LNA (8.53%). Multivariate analyses, including principal component analysis, clustering heatmap, and radar plot, demonstrated distinct clustering patterns, exhibiting unique compositional profiles closely linked to seed physical characteristics. Furthermore, MGs exhibited notable correlations with LNA (R² = 0.238) and OC (R² = 0.233), especially in black-seeded and large-seeded accessions. These findings elucidate the complex interaction between seed physical traits and biochemical composition, presenting significant implications for soybean breeding programs aimed at specific quality attributes.

Soybean is one of the most economically important crops in the United States. Produced for its oil and protein concentration, it is readily utilized in food products for both human and livestock consumption. Since soybean was first cultivated in the United States, increased yield has been the driving factor in breeding efforts. Though yield and oil have been observed to be positively correlated, protein concentration is negatively correlated with both. An increased effort has been underway recently to produce high‐yielding cultivars that have both elevated oil and protein concentration. This has been accomplished utilizing molecular markers associated with quantitative trait loci (QTL) for both traits. To assist in this effort, more information on QTL associated with quality traits is required. In this study, 180 F4:6 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) segregating for protein, oil, and fatty acids were produced from a cross between TN12‐4098 and TN13‐4303. These lines were grown across three locations in Tennessee: Research and Education Center at Milan (RECM), Highland Rim Research and Education Center (HRREC), and East Tennessee Research and Education Center (ETREC) in 2018 and 2019. Sixteen QTL were found for protein, oil, linolenic acid, and meal protein concentration. Of these identified QTL, six were novel. Developing molecular markers associated with these QTL will assist in breeding efforts to produce high‐quality elite soybean cultivars that meet the demands of both farmers and consumers.

No abstract available

Soybean is grown primarily for the protein and oil extracted from its seed and its value is influenced by these components. The objective of this study was to map marker‐trait associations (MTAs) for the concentration of seed protein, oil, and meal protein using the soybean nested association mapping (SoyNAM) population. The composition traits were evaluated on seed harvested from over 5000 inbred lines of the SoyNAM population grown in 10 field locations across 3 years. Estimated heritabilities were at least 0.85 for all three traits. The genotyping of lines with single nucleotide polymorphism markers resulted in the identification of 107 MTAs for the three traits. When MTAs for the three traits that mapped within 5 cM intervals were binned together, the MTAs were mapped to 64 intervals on 19 of the 20 soybean chromosomes. The majority of the MTA effects were small and of the 107 MTAs, 37 were for protein content, 39 for meal protein, and 31 for oil content. For cases where a protein and oil MTAs mapped to the same interval, most (94%) significant effects were opposite for the two traits, consistent with the negative correlation between these traits. A coexpression analysis identified candidate genes linked to MTAs and 18 candidate genes were identified. The large number of small effect MTAs for the composition traits suggest that genomic prediction would be more effective in improving these traits than marker‐assisted selection.

No abstract available

Abstract Improving soybean (Glycine max) seed composition by increasing the protein and oil components will add significant value to the crop and enhance environmental sustainability. Diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT) catalyzes the final rate-limiting step in triacylglycerol biosynthesis and has a major impact on seed oil accumulation. We previously identified a soybean DGAT1b variant modified with 14 amino acid substitutions (GmDGAT1b-MOD) that increases total oil content by 3 percentage points when overexpressed in soybean seeds. In the present study, additional GmDGAT1b variants were generated to further increase oil with a reduced number of substitutions. Variants with one to four amino acid substitutions were screened in the model systems Saccharomyces cerevisiae and transient Nicotiana benthamiana leaf. Promising GmDGAT1b variants resulting in high oil accumulation in the model systems were selected for overexpression in soybeans. One GmDGAT1b variant with three novel amino acid substitutions (GmDGAT1b-3aa) increased total soybean oil to levels near the previously discovered GmDGAT1b-MOD variant. In a multiple location field trial, GmDGAT1b-3aa transgenic events had significantly increased oil and protein by up to 2.3 and 0.6 percentage points, respectively. The modeling of the GmDGAT1b-3aa protein structure provided insights into the potential function of the three substitutions. These findings will guide efforts to improve soybean oil content and overall seed composition by CRISPR editing.

Continued economic relevancy of soybean is a function of seed quality. The objectives of this study were to: (i) assess the spatial association between soybean yield and quality across major US soybean producing regions, (ii) investigate the relationship between protein, oil, and yield with amino acids (AAs) composition, and (iii) study interrelationship among essential AAs in soybean seed. Data from soybean testing programs conducted across 14 US states from 2012 to 2016 period (n = 35,101 data points) were analyzed. Results indicate that for each Mg ha−1 yield increase, protein yield increased by 0.35 Mg protein ha−1 and oil yield improved by 0.20 Mg oil ha−1. Essential AA concentrations exhibit a spatial autocorrelation and there was a negative relationship between concentration of AA, protein, and oil, with latitude. There was a positive interrelationship with different degree of strength among all AAs, and the correlation between Isoleucine and Valine was the strongest (r = 0.93) followed by the correlation among Arginine, Leucine, Lysine, and Threonine (0.71 < r < 0.88). We concluded that the variability in genotype (G) x management (M) x environment (E) across latitudes influencing yield also affected soybean quality; AA, protein, and oil content in a similar manner.

Soybean producers in North Carolina have shifted from later to early‐maturing varieties (MG II‐IV) to increase yield. This shift has coincided with more frequent seed damage and purple seed stain, sometimes resulting in dockage at the elevator. Weather is a major driving factor in seed quality issues, but management strategies may play a role to minimize these seed quality issues; these have not been investigated in North Carolina. To better understand the impact of pest management on seed quality, field trials were conducted over two growing seasons (2021–2022) in three environments across North Carolina. Soybean yield, seed damage, purple seed stain, protein, and oil were collected. Moreover, non‐treated controls were scouted at R3 and R5 for each planting date and maturity group combination to determine pest dynamics at each location. While fungicide applications improved yield, pesticide applications did not significantly protect seed quality compared to the untreated control. Continuous scouting and as needed pesticide application can help producers improve soybean yield and protect seed quality.

Identification of marker trait associations (MTAs) for agronomic traits of soybean ( Glycine max L. Merr.) can often be limited by confounding genotype by environment interactions. In this study, phenotypic data was derived from the calculation of genotypic principal component scores (gPCs) by GGEbiplot from a multiple year and location agronomic dataset to assess the validity and feasibility of using gPC scores in genome-wide association analysis (GWAS) in comparison with traditional phenotypes. Important quantitative trait loci (QTL) were discovered for maturity, seed oil content, yield, and plant height that were not detected using the traditional phenotypes. MTAs were detected by GWAS analysis with PC1, PC2, and PC4 phenotypes. QTL for maturity associated with the E1 and E3 soybean maturity loci demonstrate the validity of this approach by detecting these well studied regions. Epistatic analysis revealed QTL controlling both oil and protein content but did not uncover significant interactions associated with other traits. This result further contributes to the understanding of complex gene networks controlling pleiotropic traits such as seed oil and seed protein content. QTL for the studied traits are reported across six Glycine max chromosomes with 15 genes and one gene cluster proposed as candidates controlling agronomic traits.

Soy in Ukraine is a strategic crop in improving agricultural culture, soil fertility and solving the food problem. One of the scientific directions of modern soybean breeding is the creation of soybean varieties capable of maximally realizing the genetic potential of crop productivity in specific natura l and climatic conditions. Mostly, most modern varieties are characterized by narrow ecological adaptability and suitability for cultivation in soil and climatic conditions of a certain geographical latitude. In order to form a collection, the Institute of Oil Crops of the National Academy of Sciences is introducing and studying soybean samples that enrich the genetic diversity of the culture's gene pool in Ukraine and are sources of valuable economic traits. The purpose of this work was the formation of a characteristic collection of soybeans based on economic and value characteristics for use in selection work. The work was carried out at the Institute of Oil Crops of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine in the selective crop rotation located on the territory of the Zaporizhzhia region, Zaporizhzhia district. Predecessor - winter barley, winter wheat. Sowing was carried out in well - warmed soil (10 - 12 °С at the depth of seeding), in a wide - row method and with a width of 70 cm between rows. Care for se lection crops included two inter-row cultivations and manual weeding when weeds grew. Harvesting in the experimental areas was carried out by direct harvesting with a "Winfersteiqer" harvester at standard humidity (14%). Varieties of other scientific institutions and foreign selection were sown in the collection nursery. Observations and descriptions of samples were carried out during the growing season. according to the classification of the National Center of Plant Genetic Resources of Ukraine). The main indicators of economic and

Temperature is the main environmental determinant of seed oil fatty acid Q9 composition. There are no models describing common responses of main seed oil fatty acids to temperature in plants. The aim of thus work was to investigate common responses of seed oil fatty acids to minimum temperature during grain filling across species and genotypes. A database consisted of 164 genotypes of 9 species, sunflower, rapeseed, soybean, maize, flax, chia, safflower, olive and camelia, grown under a wide range of environmental conditions, was created and analyzed applying meta phenomics tools. Four widely sown species of the database was used to develop several common seed fatty acid responses and validate some models, and the other species were used to validate the General Model. The minimum temperature during grain filling responses of fatty acids in the General Model were close to responses found in genotypes of five independent species used to validate the model. Dissections of the general model by selecting the appropriate data allowed unraveling previously unknown features of the response of fatty acid to the minimum temperature during grain filling. The response of fatty acids to temperature for any species was unaffected by experimental conditions (field or controlled conditions) during the oil synthesis stage. The oleic acid trait did not affect the response to temperature of fatty acids synthesized downstream and upstream of it. Traits such as high stearic or high linoleic did not affect the response of fatty acids synthesized upstream or downstream of the trait. The established models and new knowledge could be applied to design cost effective and timely experiments to assess the potential responses of seed oil fatty acids to temperature of previously untested genotypes.

No abstract available