Characterization of Italian chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) germplasm by multidisciplinary approach

Characterization of 15 chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) accessions (6 cultivars, 3 selected lines and 6 landraces) was performed using morphological, agronomic, and technological traits, together with biochemical (seed storage proteins) and molecular markers. Field trials, performed in two different geographical areas of Southern Italy, one in a plain area near Tyrrhenian sea and one in an hilly internal area, revealed a high influence of field location on yield. A wide variation was also registered for technological traits and molecular markers. Microsatellite (SSR) markers grouped chickpea accessions in different clusters, providing useful information on genetic variation and relationships among them, with polymorphic fragments useful to discriminate among all accessions. On the contrary, seed storage protein pattern showed scarce variation resulting very similar among all the accessions considered.     

Effect of six decades of selective breeding on soybean protein composition and quality: a biochemical and molecular analysis

To evaluate the extent of the genetic change and its effects on the seed protein composition of soybean cultivars released during the past 60 years, representative ancestral cultivars and those derived from selective breeding were grown in a side-by-side comparison. Total seed protein content, determined by combustion analysis of nitrogen, revealed a decline in the protein content after decades of selection and breeding. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis comparison of protein profiles of the soybean cultivars indicated that relative expression of most of the seed storage proteins had not varied substantially from the ancestral lines to the present commercial cultivars. There was noticeably less beta-subunit of beta-conglycinin, a protein devoid of sulfur amino acids, in the modern cultivars represented by Mustang, Pioneer 93B09, and Asgrow 3602. Comparison of the amino acid profiles of soybean seed, a benchmark of the protein's nutritional quality, revealed that the ancestral progenitor, G. soja, was significantly higher in cysteine, glutamic acid, histidine, and arginine than either the ancestral or the modern cultivars. Selective breeding over the past 60 years minimally affected the overall amino acid composition. The degree of divergence in the DNA sequence of the genes encoding glycinin and beta-conglycinin in the ancestral and modern cultivars was investigated using Southern hybridization and the polymerase chain reaction. Even though some restriction fragment polymorphisms could be detected, overall, the banding patterns were remarkably similar among the ancestral cultivars and those derived from them, suggesting a high degree of conservation of seed-storage protein genes. The results of our study suggest that selection and breeding for yield during the past 60 years had no major influence on the protein composition, ostensibly because of limited genetic diversity among the parental lines.     

beta-Conglycinin and glycinin in high-protein soybean seeds

The agronomic performance and storage proteins of high seed protein lines of soybeans [Glycine max L. (Merr.)] were investigated to determine if the two major storage proteins, beta-conglycinin and glycinin, contribute to the increased protein content of high seed protein lines. Subunits of these two major storage proteins were estimated by scanning SDS-PAGE gels by scanning densitometry. The relative rankings of the lines with respect to seed size and protein content were not different between years in one environment over 5 years, but oil and total protein and oil contents and the ratio of protein to oil differed. The alpha', alpha, and beta subunits of beta-conglycinin were significantly higher in the high-protein lines except CX797-115, CX804-108, CX804-3, D81-8498, and NC-2-62. The acidic A(3) polypeptide of glycinin was significantly higher in high-protein lines except 76-48773, CX804-108, CX804-3, D81-8498, and NC-2-62, whereas the acidic polypeptides A(1,2,4) of glycinin were significantly higher in all of the high-protein lines. The basic polypeptides of glycinin were significantly higher in all high seed protein lines except D81-8259. In conclusion, high-protein lines appear to contain more beta-conglycinin and glycinin than normal-protein soybean lines, and the amounts of subunits and polypeptides differ among lines.     

Positional effect on protein and oil content and composition of soybeans

Soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.) protein and oil qualities, with respect to monogastric nutrition, have been linked to the relative abundance of specific protein subunits and fatty acids, respectively. An analysis of field-grown soybean seeds by near-infrared spectroscopy revealed significant differences in their protein and oil contents as a function of nodal position. Seed proteins from the plant apex were high in protein and low in oil content, while those from the basal region exhibited an opposite pattern of accumulation. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of total seed proteins revealed that the beta-subunit of beta-conglycinin content was 4-fold higher in seeds from the apical nodes than in seeds from basal nodes. The glycinin A3 polypeptide content gradually increased in successively lower nodes from the top of the plant. Its accumulation was drastically reduced when nitrogen was applied at specific growth stages. Exogenous nitrogen did not alter the pattern of beta-subunit accumulation, but accrual of the acidic and basic polypeptides of glycinin was diminished. The remaining seed storage protein components were not influenced by nodal position or nitrogen application. Gas chromatographic analysis of fatty acids indicated that only oleic (18:0) and linoleic (18:2) acids showed variability in accumulation at different nodes. Neither the abundance nor the distribution of the fatty acids was altered by nitrogen application.     

Genetic variability evaluation in a Moroccan collection of barley, Hordeum vulgare L., by means of storage proteins and RAPDs

The genetic variation existing in a set of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) landrace samples recently collected in Morocco was estimated. Two kinds of genetic markers, seed storage proteins (hordeins) and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD), were used. Only six out of 31 landraces were subjected to RAPD analysis. Both kinds of markers, RAPD and storage proteins, yielded similar results, showing that the level of variation observed in Moroccan barley was high: all landraces showed variability; 808 different storage protein patterns (multilocus associations) were observed among 1897 individuals (2.32 seeds per association, on average) with an average of 43 multilocus associations per accession. In general, genetic variation within accessions was higher than between accessions. The 100 polymorphic RAPD bands generated by 21 effective primers were able to generate enough patterns to differentiate between uniform cultivars and even between individuals in variable accessions. One of the aims of this work was to compare the effectiveness of RAPD versus storage protein techniques in assessing the variability of genetic resource collections. On average hordeins were more polymorphic than RAPDs: they showed more alternatives per band on gels and a higher percentage of polymorphic bands, although RAPDs supply a higher number of bands. Although RAPD is an easy and standard technique, storage protein analysis is technically easier, cheaper and needs less sophisticated equipment. Thus, when resources are a limiting factor and considering the cost of consumables and work time, seed storage proteins must be the technique of choice for a first estimation of genetic variation in plant genetic resource collections.     

Nitrogen lowers the sulfur amino acid content of soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.) by regulating the accumulation of Bowman-Birk protease inhibitor

Soybeans in general contain 35-40% protein. Efforts are underway to increase further this protein content, thus enhancing their nutritive value. Even though higher protein is a desirable characteristic, whether such an increase will be accompanied by enhanced protein quality is not known. Soybean protein quality could be significantly improved by increasing the concentration of the sulfur-containing amino acids, cysteine and methionine. To ascertain if a correlation existed between protein quantity and quality, a comparison of the amino acids of soybeans differing in protein content was made. Soybeans with higher protein content had a significantly lower percentage of sulfur amino acids, while those with lower protein exhibited a higher content of cysteine and methionine. Nitrogen application elevated the protein content but lowered that of the sulfur amino acids. Transmission electron microscopy examination of thin sections of low protein soybean seeds revealed several protein storage vacuoles that were partially filled with storage proteins. Fluorescence two-dimensional difference gel electrophoresis of soybean seed proteins revealed that nitrogen application favored the accumulation of the beta-subunit of beta-conglycinin while decreasing the accumulation of Bowman-Birk protease inhibitor (BBI), a protein rich in cysteine. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of 60% 2-propanol-extracted proteins showed a drastic reduction in the accumulation of BBI with increasing protein content. Northern blot analysis indicated that nitrogen had a negative influence on the expression of the BBI gene. Our results indicate that the negative correlation between total protein and sulfur amino acid content is mostly mediated by the differential accumulation of BBI.     

Characterization of the major proteins of tubers of yam bean (Pachyrhizus ahipa)

Tubers of six accessions of ahipa (Pachyrhizus ahipa) contained between 0.77 and 1.34% nitrogen on a dry weight basis. This corresponds to 4.8 to 8.4% crude protein based on a nitrogen to protein conversion factor of 6.25; but detailed analysis of AC230 showed that although 93% of the total N was extracted with buffer containing 1.0 M NaCl, about a third of this was lost on dialysis. It was calculated, therefore, that salt-soluble proteins comprise about 60% of the total tuber nitrogen, with low-molecular-mass nitrogenous components comprising a further 30%. Electophoretic analysis of the salt-soluble proteins showed similar patterns of components in the six accessions, with none being present in amounts sufficiently high to suggest a role as storage proteins. Furthermore, light microscopy failed to show significant deposits of protein within the tuber cells. Five "major" protein bands, which together accounted for about 19% of the total salt-soluble protein fraction were purified and subjected to N-terminal amino acid sequencing. Comparison of these with sequences in protein databases revealed similarities to alpha-amylases, chitinases and chitin binding proteins, cysteine proteinases (including major components from P. erosus tubers), a tuberization-specific protein from potato, and proteins induced in soybean and pea by stress or the plant hormone abscisic acid, respectively. It was concluded that the primary roles of these proteins are probably in aspects of tuber metabolism and development and/or conferring protection to pests and pathogens, and that true storage proteins are not present. The absence of storage proteins is consistent with the biological role of the tubers as storage organs for carbohydrates (cf cassava tuberous roots) rather than as propagules (cf yam and potato tubers).     

Interspecific rice hybrid of Oryza sativa x Oryza nivara reveals a significant increase in seed protein content

Wild species offer a potential reservoir of genetic variation for crop improvement. Besides the valuable genes for disease resistance that the wild species have provided for rice improvement, recent studies have shown that these wild species could also provide favorable alleles for the improvement of yield and yield-related traits. The present study reports yet another potential of wild relatives of rice, which involves the improvement of seed protein content. A significant increase in seed protein content was observed in an interspecific hybrid between Oryza sativa ssp. indica and the wild species Oryza nivara. The hybrid showed a protein content of 12.4%, which was 28 and 18.2% higher than those of the parents O. nivara and IR 64, respectively. The increase in protein content was dependent on the genetic background of the rice variety used in the hybridization. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis of seed storage proteins demonstrated that a significant increase in prolamins and glutelins was mainly responsible for the elevated protein content of the hybrid. Amino acid analysis of seed proteins revealed that the hybrid had net gains of 19.5% in lysine and 19.4% in threonine over the O. nivara parent on a seed dry weight basis. Molecular analysis indicated that the increase in protein content of the hybrid was not a result of chromosomal rearrangements or transposable element activation, at least in the chromosomal regions containing seed storage protein genes. A preliminary genetic analysis of the F 2 segregating population showed that the inheritance of the increased protein content was polygenic in nature. The development of this interspecific hybrid offers a great potential for selecting new rice cultivars that combine the high yield and superior cooking quality of IR 64 with improved seed protein content.     

SSR Diversity of Vegetable Soybean [<Emphasis Type="Italic">Glycine max</Emphasis> (L.) Merr.]

Edamame [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] is a type of soybean selected for fresh or frozen vegetable use at an immature stage. Since edamame has a similar protein content, milder flavor, nuttier texture, and is easier to cook when compared to grain soybean, it is being promoted as a new vegetable for global consumption. Global production will require breeding programs for local adaptation; however, limited research has been published on genetic diversity of edamame varieties for the assessment of genetic resources. Simple sequence repeats (SSRs) were used to study the genetic diversity among 130 accessions, including edamame cultivars and landraces from Japan, China and the US, and also the new breeding lines in the US. Although it is assumed that elite edamame cultivars would have narrow genetic diversity, seventeen SSRs detected polymorphism to distinguish 99 of the 130 accessions. The cluster analysis generated nine clusters and 18 outliers. Genetic diversity within Japanese edamame was lower than that within Chinese vegetable soybean accessions (maodou), even though only 10 Chinese maodou were analyzed compared to 107 Japanese edamame. Cluster analysis revealed that the patterns of SSR diversity in edamame can generally distinguish maturity classes and testa color. We concluded that Japanese edamame have a narrow genetic base different from others and that SSRs can describe the patterns of genetic diversity among the elite vegetable soybean.     

Identification of glycinin and beta-conglycinin subunits that contribute to the increased protein content of high-protein soybean lines

Seed protein concentration of commercial soybean cultivars calculated on a dry weight basis ranges from approximately 37 to 42% depending on genotype and location. A concerted research effort is ongoing to further increase protein concentration. Several soybean plant introductions (PI) are known to contain greater than 50% protein. These PIs are exploited by breeders to incorporate the high-protein trait into commercial North American cultivars. Currently, limited information is available on the biochemical and genetic mechanisms that regulate high-proteins. In this study, we have carried out proteomic and molecular analysis of seed proteins of LG00-13260 and its parental high-protein lines PI 427138 and BARC-6. Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis revealed that the high-protein lines accumulated increased amounts of beta-conglycinin and glycinins, when compared with Williams 82. High-resolution two-dimensional electrophoresis utilizing pH 4-7 and pH 6-11 ampholytes enabled improved resolution of soybean seed proteins. A total of 38 protein spots, representing the different subunits of beta-conglycinin and glycinin, were identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. High-protein was correlated with an increase in the accumulation of most of the subunits representing beta-conglycinin and glycinin. Comparisons of the amino acid profiles of high-protein soybean lines revealed that the concentration of sulfur amino acids, a reflection of protein quality, was not influenced by the protein concentration. Southern blot analysis showed the presence of genotypic variation at the DNA level between PI 427138 and BARC-6 for the genes encoding group1 glycinin, beta-conglycinin, Bowman-Birk inhibitor (BBI), and the Kunitz trypsin inhibitor (KTI). LG00-13260 inherited the allelic variants of the parental line PI 427138 for glycinin, beta-conglycinin, and KTI, while BBI was inherited from the parental line BARC-6. The results of our study indicate that high-seed protein concentration is attributed to greater accumulation of specific components of beta-conglycinin and glycinin subunits presumably mediated by preferential expression of these genes during seed development.     

Seed storage protein electrophoresis in Arachis pintoi and A. repens (Leguminosae) for evaluating genetic diversity

Seed storage protein profiles were studied to evaluate the genetic diversity of a germplasm collection of the Caulorrhizae section of genus Arachis. Total seed storage protein of 28 accessions of Arachis pintoi and one of A. repens, collected in the Paranã, São Francisco and Jequitinhonha river basins, was compared by native-PAGE and SDS-PAGE. Significant variation was detected among the protein profiles of different accessions of Arachis pintoi, and three major protein profiles A, B, C were revealed in native-PAGE. Protein variation was much higher between accessions than within accessions. Nevertheless an exceptional case of intra-accession variation was observed in accession W 34b. In SDS-PAGE major variation between the accessions was confined to the region of arachin (basic group), which corresponds to region III in native-PAGE. There was no correlation between seed protein profiles and geographic distribution. However, protein polymorphism is predominantly in accessions of the São Francisco (A, B and C phenotypes) and Paranã (A and B phenotypes) basins, with the B phenotype predominating in the São Francisco basin. A specific protein profile to differentiate between the typical forms of A. pintoi and A. repens was not found.     

Genetic variation in common and runner bean of the Northern Meseta in Spain

The genetic variation within and between Spanish landraces or varieties of Phaseolus vulgaris L. (common bean) and P. coccineus L. (runner bean) has been estimated by means of isozymes and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analyses. Likewise, storage protein and amino acid content in dry seeds have been estimated. Fifteen landraces (60 accessions) of P. vulgaris and six of P. coccineus (six accessions) have been studied. Of the seven isozymatic systems analyzed only three systems and three loci showed variability in each species. Isozyme analyses revealed that genetic variability within and between landraces exist in both species. Even variability within accession was detected in some P. vulgaris landraces. Comparison of isozyme data indicated that Spanish landraces have a lower level of genetic variability than wild American materials and probably also lower than American landraces. RAPD analysis allowed for the uniquely distinguishing of all landraces. Genetic similarity among landraces, estimated by both isozymes and RAPDs, were not related with the seed morphological characters (color, size and shape) which define each variety or landrace. Variation in protein and amino acid content among landraces was also detected. The average protein content in common bean (20.48%) was similar to values previously reported in this species and higher than the average in the runner bean landraces (16.33%). In relation to the amino acid content methionine and cysteine showed the lowest values in all samples, although the content of these two amino acids varied widely among landraces.     

Genetic structure of the Japanese soybean population

The genetic structure of the Japanese soybean population was evaluated based on the variation at 16 isozyme and seed protein loci for 781 landraces and pure line selections. A relatively high diversity was found in the Japanese population, compared with 158 Korean accessions and 94 Chinese accessions that were tested for comparison. The average gene diversity in the Japanese population was 0.248, being comparable to the estimate obtained for the Chinese population (0.249) but higher than that for the Korean population (0.209). There were a number of alleles that differentiated the Japanese population from either of the Korean or Chinese populations or both. The presence of the alleles which are characteristic of the Japanese population suggests that the Japanese population is not solely a part of the population of China, which is considered as the place of origin of soybean. Only 11% of the total variation was attributable to the differences among seven regional groups, which occurred mainly between Hokkaido or Okinawa and the other regions. A test of two-locus associations revealed that the variation was itself highly structured despite the high level of variation at each of the polymorphic loci. In addition, Aco1, Aco4, Dia1, Enp and Idh1 varied with maturity or seed size. The Japanese soybean population may consist of different cultivar groups that had been established independently as the result of adaptation to different environmental conditions and/or diversification of food culture. The origins of the cultivar groups are discussed.     

Accumulation of genistein and daidzein, soybean isoflavones implicated in promoting human health, is significantly elevated by irrigation

To circumvent drought conditions persisting during seed fill in the mid-south U.S. soybean production region, researchers have developed the early soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.) production system (ESPS), which entails early planting of short-season varieties. Because soybean supplies a preponderance of the world's protein and oil and consumption of soy-based foods has been associated with multiple health benefits, the effects of this agronomic practice on seed quality traits such as protein, oil, and isoflavones should be investigated. Four cultivars of soybean, two from maturity group IV and two from maturity group V, were planted in April (ESPS) and May (traditional) in a two-year study at Stoneville, MS. Near-infrared analysis of soybean seed was utilized to determine the percentages of protein and oil. Dependent upon variety, the oil content of the early-planted crop was increased by 3-8%, whereas protein was not significantly changed. Visualization of protein extracts fractionated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide electrophoresis and fluorescence two-dimensional difference gel electrophoresis revealed that early planting did not affect the relative accumulation of the major seed-storage proteins; thus, protein composition was equal to that of traditionally cultivated soybeans. Maturity group IV cultivars contained a higher percentage of oil and a lower percentage of protein than did the maturity group V cultivars, regardless of planting date. Gas chromatographic separation of fatty acids revealed that the percentages of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids were not significantly altered by planting date. Methanol extracts of seed harvested from different planting dates when analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography showed striking differences in isoflavone content. Dependent upon the variety, total isoflavone content was increased as much as 1.3-fold in early-planted soybeans. Irrigation enhanced the isoflavone content of both early- and late-planted soybeans as much as 2.5-fold. Accumulation of individual isoflavones, daidzein and genistein, was also elevated by irrigation. Because this cultural practice improves the quality traits of seeds, ESPS provides an opportunity for enhancing the quality of soybean.     

Identification of several gy4 nulls from the USDA soybean germplasm collection provides new genetic resources for the development of high-quality tofu cultivars

Tofu, a cheese-like food made by curdling soy milk, is a major dietary staple of Asian countries. Consumption of tofu and other soy products is steadily increasing in North America due to its well-known health benefits. Soybean A(5), A(4), and B(3) peptide null lines 'Enrei' and 'Raiden' are commonly utilized in breeding programs to develop high-quality tofu cultivars. To expand the genetic diversity it is desirable to identify and utilize other A(5), A(4), and B(3) null genotypes in the development of improved tofu cultivars that are adapted to North American conditions. In this study were screened diverse soybean accessions from the USDA Soybean Germplasm Collection to identify Gy4 mutants, the locus that controls A(5), A(4), and B(3) peptide production. Analysis of total seed proteins from 485 soybean lines by SDS-PAGE enabled the identification of 38 accessions that lacked the A(5), A(4), and B(3) peptides. These accessions showed marked differences in seed size and seed coat color and represented different maturity groups ranging from 0 to IX. To ascertain the molecular basis for the lack of A(5), A(4), and B(3) peptides in the newly identified Gy4 mutants, the nucleotide sequence of a portion of the Gy4 gene was determined from eight soybean accessions representing different maturity groups. These eight Gy4 mutants revealed a single point mutation that changed the translation initiation codon ATG to ATA, resulting in the A(5), A(4), and B(3) null phenotype. The newly identified Gy4 mutants from this study will enable plant breeders to expand the genetic diversity of North American food-quality soybeans and also aid in the development of hypoallergenic soybeans.     

Genetic Diversity of Traditional Chinese Mustard Crops Brassica juncea as Revealed by Phenotypic differences and RAPD Markers

This investigation was aimed at exploring the genetic diversity among nine typical accessions of Chinese mustard crops using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers and morphological comparison. Totally, 111 reproducible DNA bands were generated by 16 arbitrary primers, of which 91 bands were proved to be polymorphic. Based on pair-wise comparisons of the amplified bands, genetic similarities were obtained using Nei & Li's similarity coefficients and a dendrogram reflecting their relationships was made using the unweighted pair–group method with arithmetic averages (UPGMA). The result of cluster analysis indicated that the nine accessions were capable of being classified into two primary groups, one including accession 2 with expanded root (root mustard), accession 3 with entirely expanded whole stem (long-stem mustard), accession 6 with edible leaves (leaf mustard), accession 8 with edible seed stalk (seed stalk mustard) and another one including accession 4 with expanded basal stem (short-stem mustard), accession 5 with bulgy petiole (leafy bulgy mustard), and accession 9 with mustard-rich seed (seed mustard). Besides, accession 1 with expanded root (root mustard) and accession 7 with edible leaves and seed stalk (seed stalk mustard) were independent of other accessions in the dendrogram. Additionally, by cluster analysis based on highly reproducible RAPD markers, the accessions with similar edible parts of leaves or roots were not actually in the same phylogenetic groups. This implied that they were probably derived from different geographical origins with dissimilar genetic background and possessed higher genetic diversification. Furthermore, the results indicated that the traditional method for classifying Chinese mustard crops was not much reliable as it was largely dependent on phenotypic behaviors. Meanwhile, the phenotypic differences among individuals did not necessarily mean they must have sharp difference in genetic background as they met in the same group. Undoubtedly, these results aforementioned make this crop quite interesting to researchers for further investigating the molecular evolution of this special AABB group.     

Assessment of the protein quality of nine northern adapted yellow and brown seed coated soybean cultivars by amino acid analysis

Accurate and detailed amino acid determinations were carried out on nine northern adapted soybean cultivars to ascertain whether their amino acid profiles could be used as potentially useful indices for assessing their protein quality. The cultivars were Maple Amber, Maple Donovan, Maple Glen, Maple Isle, Maple Presto, Maple Ridge, and three brown seed coat near-isogenic lines, Maple Presto Brown, Maple Ridge Brown, and Maple Arrow Brown. Their total protein and amino acid composition were compared with those of an established cultivar, Maple Arrow. Mean protein values for the new cultivars ranged from 30.1 to 33.1% compared to Maple Arrow, which was 33.2%. The total nitrogen content was also variable among these cultivars, ranging from 5.0 to 5.4%. All nine Maple series soybean cultivars were higher in their essential amino acid (EAA) content, that is, EAA(9) = 45.2-46.5%, than the FAO/WHO reference protein pattern value of EAA(9) = 33.9%, for a 2-5-year-old child. Each of the nine new soybean cultivars was limited only in methionine and to a lesser extent in valine and isoleucine and had a protein digestibility corrected amino acid score of 91% for all cultivars, compared to the value of egg protein (97%). These results suggest that the most accurate evaluation of protein quality in soybeans, and possibly other legumes and cereals, is by the protein digestibility-corrected amino acid score.     

大豆籽粒的化学-力学特性灰色关联度及本构模拟

为研究大豆籽粒在不同受载情况下的力学特性,探索其化学-力学特性之间的关系,该文选择11种大豆籽粒在含水率为8.65%下对其进行化学组分、针尖压入、剪切、压缩试验,并借助Abaqus软件建立本构模型,对压缩试验过程进行模拟仿真。力学试验和模拟结果表明:所测大豆籽粒硬度为18.39~52.58 N/mm,大豆籽粒破损强度为3.65~15.32 MPa,大豆籽粒极限剪切力为12.70~52.33 N,纵轴的抗剪能力明显高于横轴;不同压缩形式和剪切方向分别对大豆籽粒破损强度和极限剪切力影响极显著;试验与仿真的载荷-变形曲线拟合良好,说明所建立的大豆本构模型能够分析研究其抗挤压特性。灰色关联度分析结果表明:与化学组分含量最为密切的力学指标是硬度与接触刚度,其中硬度与粗蛋白质、粗脂肪、粗淀粉、粗纤维含量的关联度分别为0.309 4、0.327 8、0.171 9、0.191 8,接触刚度与其关联度分别为0.220 6、0.283 7、0.186 9、0.133 4,粗蛋白质和粗脂肪含量对硬度与接触刚度的影响最大,其次是粗纤维素,粗淀粉含量。研究结果可为品质预测和品种鉴别提供新的方法和依据。