Soybean
seeds have an amino acid profile that provides excellent viability as a food and feed protein source. However, low concentrations of an essential amino acid, methionine, limit the ...nutritional utility of soybean protein. The objectives of this study were to identify genomic associations and evaluate the potential for genomic selection (GS) for methionine content in soybean seeds. We performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) that utilized 311 soybean accessions from maturity groups IV and V grown in three locations in 2018 and 2019. A total of 35,570 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were used to identify genomic associations with proteinogenic methionine content that was quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Across four environments, 23 novel SNPs were identified as being associated with methionine content. The strongest associations were found on chromosomes 3 (ss715586112, ss715586120, ss715586126, ss715586203, and ss715586204), 8 (ss715599541 and ss715599547) and 16 (ss715625009). Several gene models were recognized within proximity to these SNPs, such as a leucine-rich repeat protein kinase and a serine/threonine protein kinase. Identification of these linked SNPs should help soybean breeders to improve protein quality in soybean seeds. GS was evaluated using k-fold cross validation within each environment with two SNP sets, the complete 35,570 set and a subset of 248 SNPs determined to be associated with methionine through GWAS. Average prediction accuracy (
) was highest using the SNP subset ranging from 0.45 to 0.62, which was a significant improvement from the complete set accuracy that ranged from 0.03 to 0.27. This indicated that GS utilizing a significant subset of SNPs may be a viable tool for soybean breeders seeking to improve methionine content.
The global demand for sustainable and nutritious food sources has catalyzed interest in legumes, known for their rich repertoire of health-promoting compounds. This review delves into the diverse ...array of bioactive peptides, protein subunits, isoflavones, antinutritional factors, and saponins found in the primary legume protein sources-soybeans, peas, chickpeas, and mung beans. The current state of research on these compounds is critically evaluated, with an emphasis on the potential health benefits, ranging from antioxidant and anticancer properties to the management of chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. The extensively studied soybean is highlighted and the relatively unexplored potential of other legumes is also included, pointing to a significant, underutilized resource for developing health-enhancing foods. The review advocates for future interdisciplinary research to further unravel the mechanisms of action of these bioactive compounds and to explore their synergistic effects. The ultimate goal is to leverage the full spectrum of benefits offered by legumes, not only to advance human health but also to contribute to the sustainability of food systems. By providing a comprehensive overview of the nutraceutical potential of legumes, this manuscript sets a foundation for future investigations aimed at optimizing the use of legumes in the global pursuit of health and nutritional security.
Test weight, one of the primary indicators of soybean seed quality, is measured as the amount of soybean seeds in kilograms that can fit into one hectoliter. The price that growers receive for their ...soybean is dependent on test weight. Over the past 50 years, growers have observed a decreasing trend in test weight. Therefore, it is imperative to understand better the relationship between soybean test weight and other traits to enable breeders to select parental lines with high test weights in breeding programs to ensure the grower’s profitability. The objectives of the study were to identify genetic markers associated with high test weight in soybean and to determine the correlation between high test weight and five important seed composition traits (protein, oil, sucrose, raffinose, and stachyose content). Maturity group IV and V germplasms from the USDA soybean germplasm collection were grown in Blacksburg and Warsaw in Virginia from 2019 to 2021 and were measured for all of the above traits. Results show that test weight values ranged from 62–77 kg/hL over the three years. Multiple single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) significantly associated with high test weight were found on chromosome (Chr.) 15 along with a couple on chromosome 14, and 11 candidate genes were found near these SNPs. Test weight was found to be significantly negatively correlated with oil content, inconsistently correlated with protein content in all environments, and negatively correlated but not significantly with all three sugars except for raffinose in Blacksburg 2019. We concluded that the genes that underlie test weight might be on chromosome 15, and the validated associated SNPs might be used to assist breeding selection of test weight. Breeders should pay special attention to test weight while selecting for high oil content in soybean due to their negative correlation.
Soybean Glycine max (L.) Merr. is a globally important crop due to its valuable seed composition, versatile feed, food, and industrial end‐uses, and consistent genetic gain. Successful genetic gain ...in soybean has led to widespread adaptation and increased value for producers, processors, and consumers. Specific focus on the nutritional quality of soybean seed composition for food and feed has further elucidated genetic knowledge and bolstered breeding progress. Seed components are historical and current targets for soybean breeders seeking to improve nutritional quality of soybean. This article reviews genetic and genomic foundations for improvement of nutritionally important traits, such as protein and amino acids, oil and fatty acids, carbohydrates, and specific food‐grade considerations; discusses the application of advanced breeding technology such as CRISPR/Cas9 in creating seed composition variations; and provides future directions and breeding recommendations regarding soybean seed composition traits.
Core Ideas
Soybean genetics are the foundation for improving nutritional composition.
Soybean genomics can be harnessed to improve nutritional composition.
Soybean breeding has and will continue to improve nutritional composition.
Let Psbe the mod-2 cohomology of the elementary abelian group (Z/2Z) × ⋯ × (Z/2Z) (s factors). The mod-2 Steenrod algebra A acts on Psaccording to well-known rules. If$\mathbf{A} \subset A$denotes ...the augmentation ideal, then we are interested in determining the image of the action A ⊗ Ps→ Ps: the space of elements in Psthat are hit by positive dimensional Steenrod squares. The problem is motivated by applications to cobordism theory P1 and the homology of the Steenrod algebra S. Our main result, which generalizes work of Wood W, identifies a new class of hit monomials.
In his thesis (Mem. Amer. Math. Soc. 42 (1962)) A. Liulevicius defined Steenrod squaring operations $Sq^k$ on the cohomology ring of any cocommutative Hopf algebra over $Z/2$. Later, J. P. May showed ...that these operations satisfy Adem relations, interpreted so that $Sq^0$ is not the unit but an independent operation. Thus, these Adem relations are homogeneous of length two in the generators. This paper is concerned with the bigraded algebra $\cal {B}$ that is generated by elements $Sq^k$ and subject to Adem relations; it shows that the Cartan formula gives a well-defined coproduct on $\cal {B}$. Also, it is shown that $\cal {B}$ with both multiplication and comultiplication should be considered neither a Hopf algebra nor a bialgebra, but another kind of structure, for which the name ‘algebra with coproducts’ is proposed in the paper.
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