Project Number: 3640-21000-028-05
Project Type: Reimbursable

Start Date: Jan 01, 2012
End Date: Dec 31, 2012

Objective:
The objective of the research is to characterize two of the genes identified as differentially expressed as candidates for genes involved in regulation of soybean oil content. The long-term goal is to facilitate targeting of regulatory genes that will enhance seed oil content in U.S. soybeans.

Approach:
1. Determine the location of candidate gene expression and action. Prepare two constructs for in situ hybridization and evaluate 30 sections of seed for transcript localization. 2. Create transgenic soybeans for evaluation of candidate gene function. Prepare two RNAi constructs containing the two candidate genes under the control of seed-specific promoters and transform two RNAi constructs into soy to generate T1 soybean seed for evaluation. 3. Evaluate transgenic plants that over-express multidrug toxin efflux (MATE) and malate dehydrogenase (MDH) genes for yield and seed quality. 4. Annotate transcripts encoding transporters, steps in carbon and nitrogen metabolism, signal transduction components, and hormone biosynthesis specific to each of 12 tissues from both NILS lines. 5. Characterize gene sub-functionalization within selected soybean gene families.