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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stoneville, Mississippi » Crop Genetics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #332789
Title: Evaluation of exotically-derived soybean breeding lines for seed yield, germination, damage, and composition under dryland production in the midsouthern USA

Author
item Bellaloui, Nacer
item Smith, James - Rusty
item Mengistu, Alemu
item Ray, Jeffery - Jeff
item Gillen, Anne

Submitted to: Frontiers in Plant Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/27/2017
Publication Date: 2/27/2017
Citation: Bellaloui, N., Smith, J.R., Mengistu, A., Ray, J.D., Gillen, A.M. 2017. Evaluation of exotically-derived soybean breeding lines for seed yield, germination, damage, and composition under dryland production in the midsouthern USA. Frontiers in Plant Science. 8(176):1-20. doi:10.3389/fpls.2017.00176.

Interpretive Summary: Although the Early Soybean Production System in the Midsouthern USA increased seed yield under irrigated and non-irrigated conditions, heat stress and drought still lead to poor seed quality in heat sensitive soybean cultivars. Therefore, identifying breeding lines that possess high germination, nutritional quality, and yield potential under high heat and dryland production conditions in the Midsouthern USA is critical. ARS scientists at the Delta States Research Center at Stoneville, MS, USA, conducted a two-year field experiment using breeding lines derived from exotic soybean accessions were grown under non-irrigated conditions. Results showed that three exotic breeding lines had consistently superior germination across two years. These high germinability lines had a mean germination percentage of greater than 80%. Two out of the three lines with =80% germination in both years maintained high seed protein, oleic acid, and minerals in both years. A lower content of calcium in the seed of high germinability genotypes may explain the lower rates of hard seed in those lines, which could lead to higher germination. Many of the differences in yield, germination, diseases, and seed composition between years are likely due to heat and rainfall differences between years. The results also showed the potential roles of seed minerals, especially minerals such as potassium, boron, copper, and molybdenum in maintaining high seed quality. The knowledge gained from this research will help breeders to select for soybean with high seed nutritional qualities and high germinability.

Technical Abstract: Although the Early Soybean Production System (ESPS) in the Midsouthern USA increased seed yield under irrigated and non-irrigated conditions, heat stress and drought still lead to poor seed quality in heat sensitive soybean cultivars. Our goal was to identify breeding lines that possess high germination, nutritional quality, and yield potential under high heat and dryland production conditions in the Midsouthern USA. Our hypothesis was that breeding lines derived from exotic germplasm might possess physiological and genetic traits allowing for higher seed quality and yield under high heat conditions. In a two-year field experiment, breeding lines derived from exotic soybean accessions, previously selected for adaptability to the ESPS in maturity groups (MG) III and IV, were grown under non-irrigated conditions. Results showed that three exotic breeding lines had consistently superior germination across two years. These high germinability lines had a mean germination percentage of greater than 80%. Two out of the three lines with =80% germination in both years maintained high seed protein, oleic acid, N, P, K, B, Cu, and Mo in both years. Significant (P < 0.05) positive correlations were found between germination and oleic acid as well as with minerals such as K and Cu in both years. Significant negative correlations were found between germination and linoleic acid, Ca, and hard seed in both years. There were positive correlations between germination and N, P, B, Mo, and palmitic acids only in 2013. A negative correlation was found between germination and green seed damage and linolenic acid in 2013 only. Seed wrinkling was significantly correlated with germination in 2012 only. A lower content of Ca in the seed of high germinability genotypes may explain the lower rates of hard seed in those lines, which could lead to higher germination. Many of the differences in yield, germination, diseases, and seed composition between years are likely due to heat and rainfall differences between years. The results also showed the potential roles of seed minerals, especially K, Ca, B, Cu, and Mo, in maintaining high seed quality. The knowledge gained from this research will help breeders to select for soybean with high seed nutritional qualities and high germinability.