Updated October 27, 2017:
The objective of this project is to delineate the molecular basis of high oil content in soybean. The approach is to look at gene expression differences in near-isogenic soybean lines that differ in oil content. Identifying genes that regulate oil content may lead to selection and insertion (via breeding and markers) of targeted alleles of those genes into soybean. Thus far, seven genes have been identified as affecting oil content by high-throughput transcriptome – which is utilizing genome wide sequencing. The cellular location of three of these genes have been identified through an in situ hybridization technique. Constructs for three genes have been made and transformed into soybean tissue for analysis. These genes are labeled as MDH (malate dehydrogenase), MATE (multi-drug toxin efflux), and FRO (ferric reductase enzyme). The phenotype characterization of these constructs is underway – which is determining if manipulating these genes for over-expression actually results in increased oil content as compared to their near-isogenic sister which lacks the inserted gene.

Initial progress has been made to identify several genes responsible for controlling the manufacture of oil content in soybean. Additional work will be required to effectively be able to modify oil content in soybean.