Identification and Candidate Gene Evaluation of a Large Fast Neutron-Induced Deletion Associated with a High-Oil Phenotype in Soybean Seeds

Authors: SERSON, WILLIAM - Pennsylvania State University; GISHINI, MOHAMMAD - University Of Kentucky; STUPAR, ROBERT - University Of Minnesota; STEC, ADRIAN - University Of Minnesota; Armstrong, Paul; HILDEBRAND, DAVID - University Of Kentucky

Submitted to: Journal of Theoretical and Applied Genetics
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/29/2024
Publication Date: 7/8/2024
Citation: Serson, W., Gishini, M., Stupar, R., Stec, A., Armstrong, P.R., Hildebrand, D. 2024. Identification and Candidate Gene Evaluation of a Large Fast Neutron-Induced Deletion Associated with a High-Oil Phenotype in Soybean Seeds. Journal of Theoretical and Applied Genetics. 15(7). Article 892. https://doi.org/10.3390/genes15070892.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/genes15070892

Interpretive Summary: Since the dawn of agriculture, humans have been selectively breeding crop plants to increase yields, nutritional quality, and utility. In addition to selective breeding, we can utilize mutant populations and biotechnology to identify traits of interest for rapid integration into breeding programs. Increasing the production of plant oils for renewable foods or fuel resources has been a major objective of the soybean industry. However, many soybean varieties that contain higher levels of oils also have reduced protein levels, which is also a valuable seed component. In this study, three soybean mutants with high oil levels and with minimal reductions in protein levels were identified. Further genetic testing led to the identification of the genes that are likely responsible for the increases in oil content. These findings could help breeders to better manipulate oil and protein levels in soybean breeding programs to achieve different nutritional and compositional profiles for different end uses.

Technical Abstract: Since the dawn of agriculture humans have been genetically manipulating crop plants to increase yield, quality and utility. In addition to selective breeding and hybridization, we can utilize mutant populations and biotechnology to have greater control over crop plant modification than ever before. Increasing the production of plant oils such as soybean oil as a renewable resource for food and fuel is valuable. Successful breeding for higher oil levels in soybean, however, usually results in reduced protein, a second valuable seed component. We have screened a soybean fast neutron population derived from genotype M92-220 and found three high oil mutants with minimal reductions in protein levels. From eleven F2 plant populations, we quantitatively pooled the high-oil and normal-oil plants and performed comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) of three of these lines which showed significant phenotypic variation for oil content. A deletion encompassing 20 gene models on chromosome 14 was found to co-segregate with the high oil trait in two of the three populations. Based on bioinformatics and network analyses, it is predicted that unknown proteins Glyma.14G101900 and Glyma.14G102100 in the deletion region may contribute to drought stress and DNA binding, respectively.