Previous research has shown that soybean seed yields can be significantly increased by introducing insect pollinators to flowers of soybean plants. While soybean flowers are scentless and not particularly attractive to pollinators, the goal of this project is to increase yield by enhancing flower visitation of insect pollinators using molecular genetic approaches. Work aims to produce transgenic soybean plants with scented flowers using isolated scent-producing genes and field-test these plants, checking for increased yield.
Key Benefactors:
farmers, agronomists, extension agents, soybean breeders, seed companies