Location: Bio-oils Research
2020 Annual Report
Objectives
Develop cutting-edge analytical standards to provide a platform for essential activities to support soybean composition improvement in the U.S., including amino acids, fatty acids, protein, oil, and other important constituents.
Approach
Using new wet chemical methods, improved near infrared calibrations will be performed and compared to calibrations by other NIR users. A wider range of soybean composition will be worked into the calibration. Soxhlet and nitrogen analyses from newly obtained equipment will be used in the calibration. Carbohydrate analyses will be performed on a large number of soybean samples and added to the current calibration.
Progress Report
This is the final report for this project which terminated in April 2020. See the report for the replacement project, 5010-43000-009-00D, "Coordinated Analysis of Soybean Breeding Germplasm" for additional information.
During the life of this project, ARS scientists in Peoria, Illinois, conducted 32,943 near-infrared (NIR) analyses for protein, oil, and moisture content for USDA Northern and Southern Regional Uniform Testing of Soybeans. They also created reports and collated data from a grain analyzer to coordinate a calibration that meets the evolving soybean genome for more accurate protein percentages. In collaboration with ARS researchers in West Lafayette, Indiana, they provided analysis of 491 corn and 301 soybean analysis for protein and oil with respect to nutrients during field production. In collaboration with ARS researchers in Stoneville, Mississippi, completed a study on the accuracy of protein and oil analysis in normal versus high oleic soybeans and demonstrated that the NIR did not have any bias for protein or oil in the NIR calibration curves. This study also demonstrated the variability in the germplasm as well as demonstrated the precision of the NIR calibration for the bulk soybean analysis. In collaboration with ARS researchers in Champaign, Illinois, conducted 600 pulsed NMR total oil and elemental combustion analysis on off-colored seed coats in soybean germplasm.
Accomplishments
1. Chemical analysis support of improved soybean traits. ARS soybean breeders are developing soybean varieties with improved traits for disease resistance and improved oil and protein quality. During these breeding efforts, chemical confirmation of trait improvements or preservation of desired chemical profiles is necessary. In this effort to confirm chemical trait improvement, 32,943 ARS samples submitted by soybean breeders have been analyzed by ARS scientists in Peoria, Illinois, and the results reported to the respective breeders. As a result of this research, we have improved the quality of soybeans for disease resistance and oil/protein content which will benefit farmers by increasing seed yield and improving meal quality for animal feed.
