2017
Evaluating Seed Composition Stability Under Environmental Stress
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Contributor/Checkoff:
North Carolina Soybean Producers Association
Category:
Sustainable Production
Keywords:
GeneticsGenomicsSeed quality
Parent Project:
This is the first year of this project.
Lead Principal Investigator:
Anna Locke, North Carolina State University
Co-Principal Investigators:
Project Code:
17-041
Contributing Organization (Checkoff):
North Carolina Soybean Producers Association
$2,500
Institution Funded:
North Carolina State University
$2,500
Brief Project Summary:

Although seed composition is largely determined by plant genetics, environmental factors such as temperature and soil moisture availability also play a significant role. Soybean buyers are increasingly seeking specific compositions, particularly high protein and high oleic. Growers may be more likely to choose seed with final composition in mind. To ensure profitability, growers need to be able to depend on high quality seed composition, regardless of unpredictable growing-season weather. This project examines the dependability of seed composition in several genotypes to assist growers’ seed decisions and breeders’ continuing germplasm development. It tests the seed composition stability of high-protein and high-oleic soybean genotypes under drought and heat stress and shares results.

Key Benefactors:
farmers, agronomists, extension agents

Information And Results
Final Project Results

Taken together, the results of these studies suggest that drought and temperature responses in seed composition vary among genotypes, and genetic improvements could be made to stabilize seed composition under weather stress. Seed protein responses to drought were was found to be less stable among genotypes than oil, and thus protein stability might be a more critical focus for drought stress improvement. The information from this study can help growers understand the risks of planting high-protein or high oil content soybean genotypes when there is a large risk of weather stress. We plan to continue this research in 2018-2020 field seasons, with the goal of identifying genotypes that can be used to breed for stable seed composition and also that can be used in mechanistic, physiological analyses to understand seed composition responses to stress.

The United Soybean Research Retention policy will display final reports with the project once completed but working files will be purged after three years. And financial information after seven years. All pertinent information is in the final report or if you want more information, please contact the project lead at your state soybean organization or principal investigator listed on the project.