ARS | Publication request: Characterization of the Linkage Group I seed protein QTL in soybean

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: January 31, 2012
Publication Date: March 1, 2012
Citation: Bolon, Y.E., Vance, C.P. 2012. Characterization of the Linkage Group I seed protein QTL in soybean. In: Wilson, R.F., editor. Designing Soybeans for 21st Century Markets. Urbana, Illinois: American Oil Chemists' Society. p. 175-195.

Technical Abstract: Soybeans are highly valued for seed protein and oil content. The soybean seed is composed of approximately 40% protein and 20% oil. Protein from the soybean seed is an important source of nutrition worldwide and provides a large percentage of the protein content in livestock feed. Oil from the soybean seed is extracted for many purposes ranging from vegetable oil to plastics and biodiesel fuel, and soybean is the major oilseed cultivated and produced in the world. The economic importance of protein and oil has led to increasing efforts to increase and improve these quality characteristics of the soybean seed. In order to understand the complex genetic factors and mechanisms in the developing seed that contribute to final seed protein and oil content, we conducted high-throughput RNA sequencing on two near isogenic lines of soybean differing in protein and oil. Gene expression differences were detected and many of these occurred in the region of Linkage Group I. Changes in gene sequence in some of the differentially expressed genes allowed us to map the region contributing to oil and protein differences to chromosome 20. The promoters of genes showing differential expression in Linkage Group I on chromosome 20 were analyzed for sequences that contribute to regulation of expression. Some 12 motifs were found. These may be candidates for use in breeding to improve oil and protein.