2023
Characterizing the impact of nitrogen transporter genes on soybean yield, seed protein concentration, and amino acid composition
Contributor/Checkoff:
Category:
Sustainable Production
Keywords:
Amino acidsSoy protein
Parent Project:
This is the first year of this project.
Lead Principal Investigator:
Felix Fritschi, University of Missouri
Co-Principal Investigators:
Project Code:
23-203-S-C-2-A
Contributing Organization (Checkoff):
Institution Funded:
Brief Project Summary:
The Objective of this project is to characterize the seed yield, protein concentration, and amino acid makeup of soybean lines overexpressing AAP1, MMP1, and AAP1+MMP1, and compare them with the wild type control and UPS1 overexpressing lines as reference. This research will provide insights for breeders and geneticists as it will deliver critical information and direction for future efforts with respect to the value of selecting for or modulating of transporter genes to enhance soybean yield and meal quality.
Information And Results
Project Summary

Project Objectives

Project Deliverables

Progress Of Work

Final Project Results

Throughout this project we advanced transgenic plants for two generations to T5 seeds. Along the way, we have characterized the growth and the seed amino acid and total crude protein concentrations in two independent events of each of our four constructs. Our analyses revealed impressive increases in crude protein content for all four constructs and all independent events, with increases ranging from 11 to 22% relative to the control. The concentrations of individual amino acids also were altered with particularly large relative increases observed for Arginine and Hydroxyproline whereas relative Cysteine and Methionine concentrations were reduced. These results are very intriguing in that all constructs mediated changes in the amino acid composition and increased seed crude protein. However, the way the constructs caused the observed differences needs to be further investigated as the modification in the amino acid concentrations were unexpected. To end, we have planted another set of plants to: i) generate sufficient seeds for more detailed studies of processes that modulate the seed amino acid concentration, and ii) further scale up the amount of seed available for field studies which are needed to establish whether the transgenic events result in the same increases in crude protein and changes in amino acid concentrations under field conditions as the due under controlled conditions.

Benefit To Soybean Farmers

Seed protein / meal protein concentration and the amino acid composition is critically important for the nutritional value of soybean protein. The plants generated as part of this project exhibit increases of >10% in seed crude protein concentrations and modulated seed amino acid composition, revealing the potential of using transport proteins to enhance soybean seed protein and its amino acid composition.

The United Soybean Research Retention policy will display final reports with the project once completed but working files will be purged after three years. And financial information after seven years. All pertinent information is in the final report or if you want more information, please contact the project lead at your state soybean organization or principal investigator listed on the project.