Location: Global Change and Photosynthesis Research
Project Number: 5012-21000-032-033-A
Project Type: Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Apr 1, 2024
End Date: Feb 28, 2025
Objective:
Add biochemical detail to a soybean nitrogen uptake and distribution model with the ultimate purpose of identifying approaches to increase soybean seed protein concentration.
Approach:
ARS has previously developed a basic nitrogen uptake and distribution model trained using data from a hydroponics experiment and coupled that model with a crop growth model. This model will be extended to included details about the biochemical pathways that breakdown chlorophyll and move nitrogen associated with that metabolite to the seeds. Biochemical reaction equations will be collected from scientific literature and programmed into a mathematical simulation. Two soybean lines, one with low and one with high protein concentration, will be grown in the field. Biomass and tissue samples will be collected to parameterize and validate the models. Sensitivity analysis will be used to identify the most influential biochemical processes. Cooperator will provide access to students who will collaborate with ARS to plan experiments and collect and analyze data. Cooperator will also provide access to HCN analysis equipment.