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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Urbana, Illinois » Soybean/maize Germplasm, Pathology, and Genetics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #228364

Title: Environmental Effects on Lutein Concent and Relationship of Lutein and Other Seed Components in Soybean

Author
item LEE, J - UNIV OF MO - DELTA CENTER
item SHANNON, J - UNIV OF MO - DELTA CENTER
item SO, Y - IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY
item SLEPER, D - UNIVERSITY OF MO-COLUMBIA
item Nelson, Randall
item LEE, J - University Of Missouri
item CHOUNG, M - Kangwon National University

Submitted to: Plant Breeding
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/1/2008
Publication Date: 8/1/2009
Citation: Lee, J.D., Shannon, J.G., So, Y.S., Sleper, D.A., Nelson, R.L., Lee, J.H., Choung, M.G. 2009. Environmental Effects on Lutein Concent and Relationship of Lutein and Other Seed Components in Soybean. Plant Breeding. 128:97-100.

Interpretive Summary: Lutein is a bioactive compound in soybean seed that has been shown to be beneficial for eye health in humans. There has been little research done on the effects of the environment on lutein concentration or on differences among soybean varieties. Our objectives were to determine the variation in lutein concentration and the relationships of lutein to other seed constituents. By analyzing lutein concentration in 15 diverse soybean varieties grown in four environments, we found large differences among the varieties but small differences among the environments. Lutein concentration was not related to either oil or protein concentration. These data show that it would be possible to increase lutein concentration in future soybean varieties and will be useful to soybean breeders and other scientists interested in the health benefits of soybean products.

Technical Abstract: Lutein is a major carotenoid in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr. ] seed, and has been shown to be beneficial for eye health in humans. Development of soybeans high in lutein is a goal of some breeding programs. Little is known about how different growing environments affect lutein concentration. Objective of this study was to determine the variation of lutein and its relationship to seed protein, oil and individual fatty acids in soybean seed. Fifteen soybean genotypes were planted at four environments. There were significant differences in lutein concentration among genotypes, but there was no effect of year and planting date on lutein concentration in soybean seed. However, genotype x year, genotype x planting date, and genotype x year x planting date were significant for lutein concentration. Although each genotype showed similar response across environments, lutein concentration varied significantly across the four growing environments in 14 of the 15 genotypes evaluated. Lutein concentration was not correlated with seed protein or oil and palmitic or stearic acid concentrations. However, lutein was positively correlated with oleic acid concentration and negatively correlated with linoleic and linolenic acids concentration.