ARS | Publication request: Genetic diversity for seed mineral composition in Teramnus labialis, a wild relative of soybean

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: June 10, 2008
Publication Date: July 21, 2008
Citation: Grusak, M.A. 2008. Genetic diversity for seed mineral composition in Teramnus labialis, a wild relative of soybean [abstract]. Proceedings, 12th Biennial Cellular and Molecular Biology of Soybean Conference, July 20-23, 2008, Indianapolis, Indiana. p. 37.

Technical Abstract: Teramnus labialis (L.) Spreng. is a wild relative of soybean whose seeds are collected and used as a food source by tribal populations in Asia. In order to assess the potential of this legume to provide dietary minerals for humans, fourteen diverse accessions were grown under controlled, nutrient-replete conditions, and seeds were harvested for mineral analysis. The germplasm originated from Indonesia, Africa, the Caribbean, and South America. Seed concentrations of phosphorus (P), potassium (K), sodium (Na), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), and zinc (Zn) were found to fall within the range of published values for several cultivated grain legumes (including soybean), while calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) were higher in Teramnus labialis seeds. Mineral concentrations across the diverse accessions showed ranges of 1.3- to 2.3-fold for the macronutrient minerals (Ca, Mg, P, K) and 1.8- to 15.9-fold for the micronutrient minerals (Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn, and Na). The existing genetic diversity in this wild legume, especially for the essential minerals Ca and Mg, could be exploited to develop Teramnus labialis as a new cultivated legume for tropical regions of the world. Furthermore, this species could serve as a model for understanding the mechanisms controlling Ca, Mg, or K transport from vegetative tissues to developing seeds. Interestingly, T. labialis is closely aligned with soybean, as both are members of the Glycineae subtribe, and thus the molecular resources developed for soybean are likely transferable to and could be used to study mineral transport and partitioning in this wild relative.