Effects of divergent selection for seed protein content in high‐protein vs. food‐grade populations of early maturity soybean

Due to the growing need for vegetable protein in Central European agriculture, there is interest in producing food‐grade soybeans, which are higher in seed protein and sucrose content and have a larger seed size than conventional soybeans. As protein content of conventional soybean is often below 400 g/kg, either high‐protein or food‐grade donors were crossed with adapted genotypes in order to increase their protein level. After divergent selection for protein content, lines were evaluated for seed quality characters across three environments in Austria. The objectives of this research were to determine the roles of genetic background and the selection for protein content on food‐grade soybean traits. While seed protein content of adapted parents was between 395 and 420 g/kg, its range was from 410 to 490 g/kg for the high‐protein and from 390 to 450 g/kg for the food‐grade lines, respectively. However, food‐grade populations were superior in seed size and sucrose content and revealed different correlation patterns between quality traits as compared to high‐protein populations, which demonstrates their usefulness for developing soybeans with improved quality.     

Environmental Effects on Seed Characteristics of Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)

Sunflower hybrid PARC-92E seed lots produced at Gider, Panjpai, Chilas, Fateh Jang and Dera Ismail Khan were compared for seed quality. 100-seed weight ranged from 5.38 to 7.29 g, oil content from 33.76 to 42.53%, hull–kernel ratio from 0.380 to 0.587, seed–kernel ratio from 1.64 to 2.62, germination potential from 97.50 to 100 %, germination rate index from 11.18 to 20.58, germination index from 13.45 to 17.92, emergence rate index from 51.61 to 145.40, and emergence from 57.96 to 84.82. 100-seed weight had a positive relationship with all the other parameters except oil percentage (−0.087). Seed size was found to be more important than oil content for field emergence of sunflower.     

血细胞浓度对猪血豆腐品质的影响

为探明血细胞浓度对猪血豆腐品质的影响,以生理盐水替代部分血细胞的方法调整原血中血细胞浓度,并分析不同血细胞浓度的猪血制成的猪血豆腐样品的质构、感官、色泽和持水性品质.结果表明:随着血细胞浓度的降低,猪血豆腐的硬度显著降低,破裂力和剪切力先增大后减小,红度a*值和黄度b*值随血细胞浓度减小而降低,持水性随血细胞浓度降低先减小后增大.降低猪血中血细胞浓度能够显著改善猪血豆腐的口感品质,血细胞浓度在0.68×109～2.80×109个/mL时,血豆腐的总体接受度最高.     

Environmental effects on lutein content and relationship of lutein and other seed components in soybean

Lutein is a major carotenoid in soybean [ Glycine max (L.) Merr.] seed, and has been shown to be beneficial for eye health in humans. Development of soybeans high in lutein is a goal of some breeding programmes. Little is known about how different growing environments affect lutein content. The objective of this study was to determine the variation of lutein and its relationship to seed protein, oil and individual fatty acids in soybean seed. Fifteen soybean genotypes were planted at four environments. There was no effect of year and planting date on lutein content in soybean seed. However, genotype × year, genotype × planting date and genotype × year × planting date were significant for lutein content. Although each genotype showed similar response across environments, lutein content varied significantly across the four growing environments in 14 of the 15 genotypes evaluated. Lutein content was not correlated with seed protein or oil and palmitic or stearic acid concentrations. However, lutein was positively correlated with oleic acid content and negatively correlated with linoleic and linolenic acids content.     

Effect of Nitrogen Fertilization and Foliar Application of Plant Growth Retardants and Zinc on Cottonseed, Protein and Oil Yields and Oil Properties of Cotton

Field experiments were conducted in two successive seasons at the Agricultural Research Centre, Giza, Egypt (on a clay loam soil), to determine the effects of N fertilization (added at rates of 107 and 161 kg N ha^–1) and foliar application of plant growth retardants (Pix, Cycocel and Alar; each applied once at 300 p.p.m., 75 days after planting) and zinc (applied at 0.0 and 50 p.p.m., two times, 80 and 95 days after planting) on cottonseed, protein and oil yields and oil properties of the Egyptian cotton cultivar Giza 75. The higher N rate, as well as the application of all growth retardants and zinc, resulted in an increase in cottonseed yield ha^–1, seed index, seed protein content, oil and protein yields ha^–1, seed oil refractive index, unsaponifiable matter and total unsaturated fatty acid content (oleic and linoleic). However, those treatments decreased the oil acid value, saponification value, and total saturated fatty acid content. The seed oil content tended to decrease when the high N rate was applied, but tended to increase with the application of all growth retardants and zinc. There were some differences between Pix, Cycocel and Alar regarding their effects on the studied characters. The highest increase in seed yield ha^–1, seed index, and oil and protein yields ha^–1 was found with Pix, followed by Cycocel. The Cycocel treatment gave the lowest total saturated fatty acid oil content, followed by Alar.     

Recurrent selection for increased protein content in yellow mustard (Sinapis alba L.)

Increasing protein content is an important objective in breeding high protein oilseed yellow mustard (Sinapis alba L). The objectives of this research were to increase meal protein content, study population variation during three cycles of selection for increased meal protein content, and quantify the relationships of protein with oil and 1000‐seed weight. Recurrent selection was employed with half‐sib family evaluation in replicated field trials. Meal protein content increased by an average of 1 % per cycle. The correlation between meal protein and seed oil content was negative (r= ‐0.49 to ‐0.58). The population shifts, with selection, reflected successful increase of average meal protein content, and an increased frequency of genotypes with high meal protein content. Furthermore, simultaneous selection for meal protein and seed oil content was possible. The correlation between meal protein content and seed weight was positive (r= 0.29‐0.39) and thus selecting for increased meal protein content posed no risk of decreasing seed weight in this yellow mustard germplasm.     

Unconditional and conditional QTL underlying the genetic interrelationships between soybean seed isoflavone,and protein or oil contents

Selection for soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) rich in isoflavones, protein and oil has been difficult due to negative genetic interrelationships. In this study, genetic interrelationships among seed isoflavones and protein and oil contents were evaluated using both unconditional and conditional QTL mapping. Daidzein (DZ), genistein (GT), glycitein (GC) and total isoflavone (TI) contents were analysed in F_5:6, F_5:7 and F_5:8 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from a cross between ‘Zhongdou 27’(TI 3791 μg/g; protein content 42.84%; oil content 18.73%) and ‘Jiunong 20’ (TI 2061 μg/g; protein content 34.05%; oil content 21.42%). When DZ, GT, GC and TI were analysed for their genetic relationships with protein or oil contents, eight conditional QTL were detected, which included DZ|pro, GC|pro, GT|pro, TI|pro, DZ|oil, GC|oil, GT|oil and TI|oil. Seventeen QTL that had significant genetic associations between seed isoflavone, and seed protein or oil contents were found, including two for DZ conditioned on protein (qDZ|proK‐1, qDZ|proF‐2); one for GC conditioned on protein (qGC|proM‐1); three for GT conditioned on protein (qGT|proM‐1, qGT|proA2‐1, qGT|proL‐1); three for TI conditioned on protein (qTI|proM‐1, qTI|proA2‐1, qTI|proF‐2); one for DZ conditioned on oil (qDZ∣oil K_1); one for GC conditioned on oil (qGC∣oilI_1); four for GT conditioned on oil (qGT∣oil A2_1, qGT∣oil F_1, qGTF_2, qGT∣oilD2_1); three for TI conditioned on oil (qTI∣oilA2‐1, qTI∣oilE‐1, qTI∣oilL‐1). Few epistatic interactions among loci were detected. These loci may be valuable for improving seed isoflavone, protein and oil contents.     

Marker‐assisted backcrossing of a null allele of the α‐subunit of Soybean (Glycine max) β‐conglycinin with a Chinese soybean cultivar (a). The development of improved lines

The development of soybean varieties that lack the β‐conglycinin α‐subunit is an attractive goal because the β‐conglycinin α‐subunit negatively influences the nutrition and gelation of tofu and is a major allergen. To remove this undesirable allergen and simultaneously improve the seed nutritional value and food‐processing quality, marker‐assisted background selection (MABS) was used in backcross breeding to incorporate cgy‐2, a null phenotype version of the gene encoding the β‐conglycinin α‐subunit, from the donor line ‘RiB’ into the genetic background of the Chinese cultivar ‘Dongnong47’ (DN47), a popular high‐oil superfine seed soybean cultivar from Heilongjiang Province, China. In each F₂ (F₂, BC_nF₂) generation of the breeding programme, the offspring that carried the introgressed cgy‐2 were identified by sodium dodecyl sulphate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and rescreened by MABS using simple sequence repeat markers to accelerate recurrent parent genome recovery. Of the 49 advanced backcrossing breeding lines (ABLs), the three best lines, ABL1, ABL2 and ABL3, were selected from the BC₁, BC₂ and BC₃ populations, respectively. The ABLs were evaluated for desirable agronomic characteristics, yield‐related traits, amino acid composition, free amino acid composition and tofu‐processing quality in the mature seeds. All of the ABLs lacked the α‐subunit but grew and reproduced normally without deleterious effects on physiological processes such as seed development and germination. The free amino acid content of ABL1 was significantly higher than that of ‘DN47’, with arginine (Arg) being particularly enriched. Compared to the recurrent parent ‘DN47’, the total protein content of the three ABLs was higher, the amino acid composition of the seed proteins was markedly modified and the yield and hardness of the tofu that was made from the ABLs were significantly increased. MABS combined with stringent phenotypic selection in a backcross breeding programme is a feasible strategy for the genetic engineering of seed protein components to produce allergenic subunit‐deficient variant alleles.     

转基因抗虫棉种子品质性状的遗传效应及相关性分析

 采用二倍体种子数量性状遗传模型和统计分析方法,分析了陆地棉9个亲本和30个杂交组合的子指、种仁率、仁壳比、蛋白质含量、油分含量和棉酚含量等种子物理性状和营养品质性状的遗传效应、遗传率和遗传相关性。结果表明,所有棉子品质性状均受种子直接遗传效应和母体遗传效应的共同控制,种仁率还受到细胞质效应的影响。子指和仁壳比以母体显性效应为主,蛋白质含量以显性效应为主,油分含量和棉酚含量以母体加性效应为主。遗传相关性分析表明,棉子物理性状和营养品质性状间的显性遗传相关均达到极显著水平,其中子指与蛋白质含量呈极显著显性正相关,子指与油分含量和棉酚含量呈显性负相关。种仁率和仁壳比与3个棉子营养品质性状间的母体遗传相关均达到了极显著水平。     

Seed Composition, Seedling Emergence and Early Seedling Vigour of Red Kidney Bean Seed Produced at Elevated Temperature and Carbon Dioxide

Understanding the influence of growth temperature and carbon dioxide (CO₂) on seed quality in terms of seed composition, subsequent seedling emergence and early seedling vigour is important under present and future climates. The objective of this study was to determine the combined effects of elevated temperature and CO₂ during seed-filling of parent plants on seed composition, subsequent seedling emergence and seedling vigour of red kidney bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris ). Plants of cultivar 'Montcalm', were grown at daytime maximum/nighttime minimum sinusoidal temperature regimes of 28/18 and 34/24 °C at ambient CO₂ (350 μmol mol⁻¹) and at elevated CO₂ (700 μmol mol⁻¹) from emergence to maturity. Seed size and seed composition at maturity and subsequent per cent emergence, early seedling vigour (rate of development) and seedling dry matter production were measured. Elevated CO₂ did not influence seed composition, emergence, or seedling vigour of seeds produced either at 28/18 or 34/24 °C. Seed produced at 34/24 °C had smaller seed size, decreased glucose concentration, but significantly increased concentrations of sucrose and raffinose compared to 28/18 °C. Elevated growth temperatures during seed production decreased the subsequent per cent emergence and seedling vigour of the seeds and seedling dry matter production of seed produced either at ambient or elevated CO₂.     

Some Agronomic Strategies for Organic Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.)

Quinoa is a potential new seed crop for protein feed and human consumption in Europe, with tolerance to a range of abiotic stresses. For this purpose the study was planned to analyse the effect of important agronomic strategies like nitrogen level, N application strategy, row spacing and harvest time on yield and quality of quinoa. The experiments took place in the field of the experimental station of the Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen. Three levels of organic nitrogen from slurry was used (60, 120 and 180 kg N ha^?1), supplied either all at once at sowing, or split between sowing and beginning of the reproductive phase. The effect of row spacing and harvest time was studied by harvesting seeds at seed maturity, which occurred 2–3 weeks prior to the mechanical harvest by threshing, and a couple of months after. Yield increased significantly (P ≤ 0.05) with an application up to 180 kg N ha^?1, reaching 2200 kg ha^?1. Increasing N also caused a significantly increased seed weight (up to 3.3 mg) and protein content (up to 17 %). N level did not affect number and amount of weeds. Split application with part of the N applied at bud formation did not have a significant effect on yield. Delayed harvest had a negative influence on seed weight, whereas protein content was stable after harvesting even a month after seed maturity. A late harvest significantly reduced seed germination, being reduced by 50 % after a 2‐month delay. A conclusion from this study is that both yield and protein content of seed can be manipulated by N level and application strategy. Harvest time is important for securing a high seed quality measured as seed germination, seed weight and protein content. A fast germination of quinoa is an important characteristic demonstrating that the crop has good possibilities for being well‐established in the field when free from weeds at the time of sowing. The choice of row spacing is important and depends on weed control method. Weed control strategy should be developed based on modern precision tools.     

Canola oil increases in polyunsaturated fatty acids and decreases in oleic acid in drought-stressed Mediterranean-type environments

Seed fatty acid (FA) composition, oil and protein (meal) was assessed on five canola ( Brassica napus ) varieties in 14 cropping environments in southern Australia, including several low rainfall drought-stressed environments. We modelled the relationship between seed quality attributes and growing season rainfall and temperature using a linear mixed model. Variance components for variety and years within locations were relatively large, but variance components for variety × environment interaction were small or insignificant for most seed quality traits. Mean oleic acid content varied from 57% in 'Surpass 300TT' to 62% in 'ATR-Beacon'. As growing season rainfall decreased from 300 mm (moderate) to 150 mm (severe drought stress), mean oleic acid decreased by 3.8%, linoleic acid increased by 2.0%, linolenic acid increased by 1.7%, and saturated FA decreased by 0.4%. Seed oil (% dry weight) decreased by 3.2% and protein in meal (% dry weight) increased by 3.9% across the same rainfall range. High oleic acid composition was associated with higher rainfall and cooler average minimum and maximum temperatures during the growing season.     

Identification of quantitative trait loci underlying seed protein and oil contents of soybean across multi‐genetic backgrounds and environments

Seed protein and oil contents are important quantitative traits in soybean. Previously, quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with seed protein and oil were mostly identified in single genetic background. The objective of this work was to identify QTL and their epistatic effects underlying seed protein and oil contents in three recombinant inbred line populations (two of them used one common female parent) across eight environments by composite interval mapping. Forty QTL underlying protein content and 35 QTL underlying oil content were identified. Among them, nine were universal QTL underlying protein content and four were universal QTL underlying oil content. Epistatic interactions between QTL underlying seed protein/oil and different genetic backgrounds were detected. Different pairs of epistatic interactions were observed in diverse genetic backgrounds across multi‐environments. Common marker intervals were observed to simultaneously underlie seed protein and oil contents with different epistatic interactions. The results in this study suggested that a specific genotype with high oil content and low protein content might significantly affect the selection of soybean lines for high seed protein.     

麻疯树种子含油率与种子大小、粒重的相关性分析

麻疯树是一种理想的进行生物燃油生产的木本油料树种.麻疯树油脂主要储存在种子中,种子油量大小由种子粒重和含油率构成.因此,提高麻疯树种子粒重和含油率可增加麻疯树种子产油量.研究表明,麻疯树种子粒重、含油率存在显著的表型差异,改良空间较大.相关性分析显示,麻疯树种子大小(长、宽、高)与单粒种子重表现出较高相关性(相关系数r=0.69,0.54,0.69),单粒种子重和种子含油率表现出弱的负相关性(r=-0.07),而种仁宽、高与种子含油率表现出一定正相关(r=0.47,0.54),同时种仁宽、高与种子宽、高呈显著正相关.因此,在一定程度上可通过提高种子宽、高来提高种子的单粒重和含油率,从而提高种子的产油量.     

Inheritance in seed size of alfalfa: Quantitative analysis and response to selection

Seed size in alfalfa (Medicago saliva L.) has been positively correlated with seedling vigour and early growth, but there were few published reports on inheritance or selection for this trait. The objective of this research was to estimate components of genetic variance for inheritance of alfalfa seed size and determine the most efficient selection method. Components of genetic variance were estimated on seed and pollen plants of ‘BIC-7-WH’ and their progeny arranged in a North Carolina Design II mating design under controlled environmental conditions. Three selection methods, differing in parental control and selection pressure, were used to determine selection response. The seed parent genotype had a major role in determining alfalfa seed size, but the genotype of the seed had no influence. For genetic studies, pollen and seed parent effects on seed size should be measured on seed harvested from progeny plants. Seed size was controlled by additive and non-additive components of genetic variance. Heritability for seed size was 41.3%. Selection for seed size was effective and a significant shift for larger and smaller seed was attained after one cycle of selection.     

Seed colour, seed weight and seed oil content in Linum usitatissimum accessions held by Plant Gene Resources of Canada

The purpose of this study was to investigate variation of and relationships among seed colour, seed weight and seed oil content in cultivated flax (Linum usitatissimum L. ssp. usitatissimum). Seed from 2934 flax genebank accessions recently grown at Saskatoon, SK, Canada, originating from 72 countries was used to describe the variation of the seed characters. The dominant seed colour of the accessions was medium brown (2730 accessions, 93.0%), followed by yellow (126 accessions, 4.3%). Based on single observations for all accessions, the overall mean and standard deviation was 5.95 ± 1.22 mg/seed for seed weight and 38.3 ± 1.74% for oil concentration. Within three infraspecific groups of flax, seed weight, oil concentration and oil amount per seed increased in the following order: fibre flax (convar. elongatum), intermediate flax (convar. usitatissimum), large‐seeded flax (convar. mediterraneum). The world collection exceeded the range of variation of seed weight and oil concentration found in 52 North American cultivars. There was a weak, positive association of higher oil concentration with higher seed weight (r² = 0.32; P < 0.001). Yellow‐seeded flax had a higher seed weight (6.31 vs. 5.92 mg/seed) and oil concentration (39.4% vs. 38.3%) than brown‐seeded flax. There was a tendency for yellow seed colour to be associated with higher oil concentration in all seed weight classes. The results suggested that indirect selection for increased seed oil concentration in flax is possible by selection for higher seed weight and yellow seed colour.     

杭白芍结实性状及籽油品质分析

分析杭白芍结实性状及其籽油品质,为芍药籽油专用品种培育及籽油开发利用提供理论参考。对杭白芍的结实性状相关性和籽油理化性质进行测试和分析,结果表明：（1）单心皮种子数和心皮长均与单株产量呈极显著正相关,蓇葖果数与单株产量呈显著正相关,分株数与单株产量呈显著负相关;主成分分析表明,前4个主成分累计贡献率达88.8768%。（2）籽油测试结果表明,种子含油率21.31%,油酸40.56%,亚油酸29.16%,亚麻酸22.11%,籽油不饱和脂肪酸91.83%,维生素E含量79.64 mg/100 g。因此,在选育高产品系时要重点关注单心皮种子数、心皮长和蓇葖果数等性状指标。杭白芍籽油具有较高的食用价值,可以作为一种新型的油料作物,具备深入研究推广的价值。     

大豆籽粒蛋白质和磷含量及凝固剂浓度对豆腐加工品质的影响

对6个大豆品种的种子蛋白质含量、磷含量及凝固剂MgCl2浓度（0.25%、0.30%、0.35%、0.40%、0.45%）对豆腐加工品质（豆奶蛋白质浓度、豆腐硬度）的影响进行了研究。结果表明,豆奶蛋白质浓度与大豆种子蛋白质含量显著相关（r=0.93）;种子蛋白质含量与0.25% MgCl2时豆腐断裂应力的相关不显著（r=－0.11）,而与最大断裂应力极     

西瓜种质资源种子性状的遗传多样性和相关性分析

以102份西瓜种质资源为试验材料,对单瓜种子数、种子千粒重、种子长度和种子宽度等11项性状进行遗传多样性分析和相关性分析。结果表明：果实重量、单瓜种子数、千粒重、种子厚度、种子长度、种子宽度、种形指数和种皮底色等11个性状都表现出较高的多样性,多样性指数介于0.69～2.05之间,参试材料中,种皮底色为灰黄色的品种居多,种子表面光滑的品种居多;相关性分析结果表明：果实重量与单瓜种子数、种子长度和种子宽度极显著正相关。单瓜种子数与种子厚度显著负相关,千粒重与种子厚度、种子长度和种子宽度极显著正相关,种子厚度与种子长度和种子宽度极显著正相关。     

Quantitative trait locus analysis for soybean (Glycine max) seed protein and oil concentrations using selected breeding populations

Soybean seed protein and oil concentrations are important traits that directly affect the quality of soyfoods. Many studies and breeding programmes have been conducted to find major quantitative trait loci (QTL) that regulate protein and oil concentrations and to develop soybean cultivars with high protein and/or oil content. The purpose of this study was to identify these QTL using a selected breeding population. The population was tested in field conditions over a period of 3 years. Seed protein and oil concentrations were measured each year. Single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were used to construct genetic map using a 180K SoyaSNP array, which identified 1,570 SNPs. We identified 12 QTL for seed protein, 11 for seed oil concentration and four for both traits. Among these, 17 QTL were closely mapped to previously reported QTL, whereas ten sites were novel. Several QTL were detected across at least two experimental years. These loci are good candidate QTL for optimal seed protein and oil concentrations. Our results demonstrate that favourable target QTL can be successfully identified using selected breeding populations.