Skip to main content
ARS Home » Midwest Area » St. Paul, Minnesota » Plant Science Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #156675
Title: QUANTITATIVE TRAIT LOCI ASSOCIATED WITH CELL WALL POLYSACCHARIDES IN SOYBEAN SEED

Author
item STOMBAUGH, S - UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
item ORF, J - UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
item Jung, Hans Joachim
item CHASE, K - UNIVERSITY OF UTAH
item LARK, K - UNIVERSITY OF UTAH
item SOMERS, D - UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA

Submitted to: Crop Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/11/2004
Publication Date: 11/1/2004
Citation: Stombaugh, S.K., Orf, J.H., Jung, H.G., Chase, K., Lark, K.G., Somers, D.A. 2004. Quantitative trait loci associated with cell wall polysaccharides in soybean seed. Crop Science. 44(6):2101-2106.

Interpretive Summary: The major products produced from soybeans are oil for human food and biodiesel, and protein feed for livestock production. While oil and protein account for more than 60% of soybean seeds, the fiber in soybeans represents approximately 18% of the seed and this fiber fraction is of much less value than the oil and protein fractions. Genetic modification of soybeans to reduce the production of fiber may increase oil and protein yields. To identify genes in soybeans that control fiber production, marker DNA sequences known as QTLs (quantitative trait loci) were identified that are located close to the genes of interest on the soybean chromosomes. Three QTLs were found to be strongly associated with the total amount of fiber in 108 soybean lines derived from the Minsoy and Archer soybean varieties. Additional QTLs were identified for the amount of specific sugars that are present in soybean seed fiber. Among these soybean lines, those lines with lower amounts of fiber had greater amounts of oil and protein in the seed indicating that genetic reduction of fiber production would result in higher value soybeans. The QTLs identified in this study can be used by breeders to screen soybean lines for the best parents to use in production of new lower fiber soybean varieties. Molecular biologists can also employ these QTLs to find the actual genes responsible for fiber production. Increasing the oil and protein content of soybeans can improve the economic return of this very important crop.

Technical Abstract: Seed cell wall polysaccharides (CWP) represent a significant portion of seed dry matter in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill]. Quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis is a step toward identifying loci controlling CWP content and composition of soybean seed. The objectives of this study were to identify QTLs associated with CWP variability and investigate the relationships between seed CWP, protein, and oil content. Whole soybean seed from Minsoy, Archer, and 108 Minsoy by Archer recombinant inbred (RI) lines were analyzed for CWP using the Uppsala total dietary fiber method. For a random subsample of 73 RI lines, embryos (seed with the seed coats removed) were analyzed. Three major QTLs were observed on linkage groups U3 (ISU A2), U7 (ISU A1), and U24 (ISU K) that represented most of the variability in CWP content expressed on a dry matter basis in both whole seed and embryos. A QTL for fucose was detected on U3. Linkage group U7 contained multiple QTLs mapping at the same location that were related to galactose as the main monosaccharide including the ratio of arabinose to galactose, pectin, and CWP content. A QTL for arabinose was on U24. These same chromosomal regions also exhibited significant QTLs when the monosaccharide data were expressed on a CWP basis, indicating that most of the variation in CWP was controlled by increases in the incorporation of these three monosaccharides into CWP as the CWP content increased. Negative correlations of protein with oil, and the sum of protein and oil with most monosaccharides, pectin, and CWP were present within the RI population indicating that decreasing seed CWP content will improve seed quality.