The goal of this project is to increase protein and oil levels in seeds, which reach their highest point before the seed is mature, by blocking enzymes that may lead to the degradation of these components later in seed development.

Updated January 12, 2021:
September 15, 2020 Report
Soybean is an economically important crop plant, used significantly in the food and fodder industry because of its seed oil and protein content. One caveat is that, at seed maturity unlike during the course of development, there occurs a decline in the lipid and protein levels. The overarching goal of this project is to develop soybean plant with elevated seed oil and protein levels, by using genetic and biochemical approaches to manipulate the activity of enzymes that are responsible for this loss. In addition, at maturity soybean seed also contain a greater proportion of cell wall carbohydrates. As a part of this project, we also attempt to develop state of the art methodologies to study soybean cell wall carbohydrates.

Updated December 7, 2021:
December 15, 2020 Report
Soybean is an economically important crop plant, used significantly in the food and fodder industry because of its seed oil and protein content. One caveat is that, at seed maturity unlike during the course of development, there occurs a decline in the lipid and protein levels. The overarching goal of this project is to develop soybean plants producing seed with elevated oil and protein levels, by using genetic and biochemical approaches to manipulate the activity of enzymes that are responsible for this loss. In addition, at maturity soybean seed also contain a greater proportion of cell wall carbohydrates so we are exploring better characterization of this fraction.

Updated December 7, 2021:
Soybean is an economically important crop plant, used significantly in the food and fodder industry because of its seed oil and protein content. The overarching goal of this project is to develop soybean plants producing seeds elevated in protein and oil reserves, using genetic and biochemical approaches that include new strategies to examine the intermediates of biosynthetic pathways that can affect composition. Our studies are distinct from others because they focus on insights over the entire course of seed-filling, during the plant life cycle not just maturity, but which ultimately result in the final seed composition. Frequently other studies only examine final composition, but by studying development we are able to learn about the events in carbon partitioning that are responsible for the differences in final seed biomass composition that can contribute the value of soybeans. Our insights will guide breeding and industrial efforts for new commercial varieties with added value for the farm.