Newton Deniz Piovesan

The ER luminal binding protein (BiP) mediates an increase in drought tolerance in soybean and delays drought-induced leaf senescence in soybean and tobacco.

The ER-resident molecular chaperone BiP (binding protein) was overexpressed in soybean. When plants growing in soil were exposed to drought (by reducing or completely withholding watering) the wild-type lines showed a large decrease in leaf water potential and leaf wilting, but the leaves in the transgenic lines did not wilt and exhibited only a small decrease in water potential. During exposure to drought the stomata of the transgenic lines did not close as much as in the wild type, and the rates of photosynthesis and transpiration became less inhibited than in the wild type. These parameters of drought resistance in the BiP overexpressing lines were not associated with a higher level of the osmolytes proline, sucrose, and glucose. It was also not associated with the typical drought-induced increase in root dry weight. Rather, at the end of the drought period, the BiP overexpressing lines had a lower level of the osmolytes and root weight than the wild type. The mRNA abundance of several typical drought-induced genes [NAC2, a seed maturation protein (SMP), a glutathione-S-transferase (GST), antiquitin, and protein disulphide isomerase 3 (PDI-3)] increased in the drought-stressed wild-type plants. Compared with the wild type, the increase in mRNA abundance of these genes was less (in some genes much less) in the BiP overexpressing lines that were exposed to drought. The effect of drought on leaf senescence was investigated in soybean and tobacco. It had previously been reported that tobacco BiP overexpression or repression reduced or accentuated the effects of drought. BiP overexpressing tobacco and soybean showed delayed leaf senescence during drought. BiP antisense tobacco plants, conversely, showed advanced leaf senescence. It is concluded that BiP overexpression confers resistance to drought, through an as yet unknown mechanism that is related to ER functioning. The delay in leaf senescence by BiP overexpression might relate to the absence of the response to drought.

Genetic parameters relating isoflavone and protein content in soybean seeds

Isoflavones are a class of compounds present in high amounts in soybean seeds, which can be used for prevention and treatment of several chronic diseases. Proteins present in soybean seeds are the basis for the high nutritional value and versatility of this leguminous species in animal and human feeding. The main goals of this work were to estimate heritabilities for isoflavone contents in soybean seeds and the correlation between isoflavone and protein contents. Commercial variety IAC-100 (high isoflavone and normal protein contents) and the line BARC-8 (low isoflavone and high protein contents) were crossed, and one single F1 plant derived 97 F2 seeds, which were used to obtain F3 seeds. A sample of F3 seeds from each F2 plant was used for isoflavone determination by HPLC and protein by the Kjeldahl method. Six isoflavone forms were detected: daidzin, genistin, glycitin, malonyldaidzin, malonylgenistin and malonylglycitin. Total isoflavone contents ranged from 427.92 to 965.89 μg per gram of dry seed and the protein content ranged from 45.17 to 34.95% in BARC-8 and IAC-100, respectively. Our results indicate that it is possible to select for high isoflavone content in early breeding generations because the broad sense heritabilities for the contents of the various isoflavone forms were higher than 90%. In addition, high correlation values among the contents of the individual isoflavone forms were observed (between 0.80 and 0.98). However, negative correlation values were obtained between isoflavone and protein contents, ranging from −0.51 to −0.37 for the different isoflavone forms. The correlation value of −0.47 between total isoflavone and protein contents confirmed the negative correlation between these two parameters, as reported by other authors.

Mapeamento de QTL para conteúdos de proteína e óleo em soja

The objective of this study was to detect and map quantitative trait loci (QTL) affecting soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) protein and oil contents. F2 plants, derived from the cross between the CS3032PTA276 line and the variety UFVS2012, were grown in a greenhouse and provided the leaves for DNA extraction and analysis. Forty-eight polymorphic microsatelite markers (SSR) were evaluated in the F2 population. Evaluation of the phenotype was performed in 207 families from F2:3 progenies, in a complete block design with three replicates, carried out in Vicosa, MG, Brazil, in 2006. Four QTL associated with protein content, in linkage groups D1a, G, A1, and I, and three QTL for oil content in groups A1, I and O were identified. Phenotypic variation for protein and oil explained by QTL ranged from 6.24 to 18.94% and 17.26 to 25.93%, respectively. New QTL associated with protein and oil contents were detected, besides those previously reported in other studies. Other regions may be involved in the genetic control of protein and oil contents in soybean besides those already known.

Assisted Selection by Specific DNA Markers for Genetic Elimination of the Kunitz Trypsin Inhibitor and Lectin in Soybean Seeds

SummaryThe antinutritional factors found in soybean, lectin (SBL) and Kunitz trypsin inhibitor (SKTI), are usually inactivated by heat treatment. However, residual activity of these factors can be found in several types of soy-derived products. Heat treatment does not completely eliminate these factors, and in addition it may considerably decrease protein solubility. The genetic elimination of these antinutritional factors could be an alternative to the heat treatment. This study aimed to develop soybean lines devoid of SKTI and SBL in their seeds. The population under study was obtained by crossing the normal cv. Monarca with a soybean line lacking SKTI and SBL. Specific DNA primers were designed for the identification of the recessive alleles that condition the absence of SKTI and SBL. F2 seeds presenting the DNA markers that identify the recessive alleles were selected and the corresponding F2 plants were backcrossed with the recurrent parent (‘Monarca’), producing the BC1F1 generation. The F2 generation was analyzed by SDS-PAGE in order to confirm the genotypes of the F2 selected. The segregation tests confirmed that these traits are governed by two genes that segregate independently.

Use of the QTL approach to the study of soybean trait relationships in two populations of recombinant inbred lines at the F7 and F8 generations

This work aimed to identify the quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with photosynthesis and growth and productivity traits of soybean and to study possible associations between these traits by the analysis of coincidence of QTL in linkage groups (LGs). Thus, populations of recombinant inbred lines (RILs) of the F7 and F8 generations derived from the cross between the varieties BARC-8 and Garimpo were used. The traits evaluated were net assimilation rate of CO2 under saturating light (Asat), potential photosynthesis rate (Pmax), leaf area (A), specific leaf area (SLA), specific leaf nitrogen (N); root (WR), nodule (WN), stem (WST), leaf (WL), pod (WP) and plant dry mass (WT); nodule (nN), seed (ns), and pod number (nP); seed fresh mass per plant (WS), one-hundred seed fresh mass (WHS) and seed protein percentage (P%). It was possible to identify the following QTL associated with the following soybean traits: SLA, Asat, N, WR, WST, WL, WT, WP, WHS, ns and nP, indicating that the RIL population has a great potential for mapping loci associated with quantitative traits of the soybean crop. The correlations between the soybean traits were partially confirmed by coincidence of QTL.

Identification of the three genotypic classes for soybean lipoxygenases 1 and 3 based on enzymatic activity

A non-destructive micro-test which allow the identification of homozygous and heterozygous soybean seeds for lipoxygenases (LOX) 1 and 3 has been developed based on determination of their enzymatic activities. Identification of heterozygous seeds will be extremely important in backcross breeding programme to expedite the creation of new soybean lines lacking seed lipoxygenases because no selfings are necessary during the odd numbered generations.

Parentesco na seleção para produtividade e teores de óleo e proteína em soja via modelos mistos

The objective of this work was to evaluate the influence of relationship information for selecting soybean progenies as to their productivity, and oil and protein contents, using mixed models for the prediction of breeding values. Nine hundred F4:6 and 200 F4:7 soybean progenies were evaluated in the seasons 2010/2011 and 2011/2012, respectively. The progenies were obtained from multiple crosses from 57 parents. Data were analyzed using random models (least squares) and mixed models BLUP/REML (best linear unbiased prediction/restricted maximum likelihood). The highest values of predicted gains were obtained by BLUP/REML. The breeding values predicted with the use of BLUP/REML without relationship information were highly correlated with the ones obtained with the random model, and the selected progenies were rather coincident. The inclusion of the relationship matrix resulted in the selection of different progenies and in higher accuracy of breeding values.

Associação de marcadores microssatélites com teores de óleo e proteína em soja

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a associacao de marcadores microssatelites localizados proximos a locos de caracteres quantitativos (QTL) descritos na literatura, com os teores de oleo e proteina de genotipos de soja cultivados no Brasil. Quarenta e nove genotipos de soja foram avaliados em Vicosa, MG (12/2009); Visconde do Rio Branco, MG (2/2010); e Sao Gotardo, MG (2/2010 e 10/2011). Utilizou-se o delineamento de blocos ao acaso, com tres repeticoes. Os teores de oleo e proteina foram determinados por espectrometria do infravermelho. Foi observada ampla variabilidade genetica para esses teores. Dos 65 marcadores microssatelites testados, 35 apresentaram associacao significativa com pelo menos um dos teores, mas poucos foram consistentes com a mudanca de ambiente. Ao se levar em conta a consistencia da associacao em todos os ambientes, os marcadores Satt239, Satt384 e Satt562 destacam-se para a selecao assistida quanto aos teores de oleo e de proteina, enquanto o Satt310 destaca-se para selecao quanto ao teor de oleo, e o Satt567, quanto ao de proteina.

Inheritance of isoflavone contents in soybean seeds

SummaryWe studied the genetic basis of isoflavone content inheritance in soybean seeds. The progenitors BARC-8 (low isoflavone content), IAC-100 (high isoflavone content), the F1 and F2 populations derived from reciprocal crosses, and backcross populations were analyzed for isoflavone content and composition. Six isoflavones were detected: daidzin (DZ), genistin (GT), glycitin (GC), malonyldaidzin (MDZ), malonylgenistin (MGT) and malonylglycitin (MGC). DZ, GT, MDZ and MGT contents were influenced by the cytoplasm and the nuclear genes of the maternal parent. For this reason, a genetic model was considered that included the cytoplasmic effect and epistasis between nuclear and cytoplasmic genes. Except for GT, the additive effect was the most important one. For GT content the cytoplasmic effect was the most important. Except for MDZ, the epistatic effects were significant for all the isoflavone forms. Our data indicate that genetic improvement for these traits should explore the additive genetic variances in superior lines or the cytoplasmic effect and the epistatic interactions between cytoplasmic and nuclear genes to obtain the largest selection gains.

Análise biométrica do conteúdo de proteína e óleo de genótipos de soja em diferentes ambientes

The objective of this work was to identify by biometric analyses the most stable soybean parents, with higher oil or protein contents, cultivated at different seasons and locations of the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Forty-nine genotypes were evaluated in the municipalities of Vicosa, Visconde do Rio Branco, and Sao Gotardo, in the state of Minas Gerais, from 2009 to 2011. Protein and oil contents were analyzed by infrared spectrometry using a FT-NIR analyzer. The effects of genotype, environment, and genotype x environment interaction were significant. The BARC-8 soybean genotype is the best parent to increase protein contents in the progenies, followed by BR 8014887 and CS 3032PTA276-3-4. Selection for high oil content is more efficient when the crossings involve the Suprema, CD 01RR8384, and A7002 genotypes, which show high mean phenotypic values, wide adaptability, and greater stability to environmental variation.