Composition of forage and grain from second-generation insect-protected corn MON 89034 is equivalent to that of conventional corn (Zea mays L.)

Insect-protected corn hybrids containing Cry insecticidal proteins derived from Bacillus thuringiensis have protection from target pests and provide effective management of insect resistance. MON 89034 hybrids have been developed that produce both the Cry1A.105 and Cry2Ab2 proteins, which provide two independent modes of insecticidal action against the European corn borer ( Ostrinia nubilalis ) and other lepidopteran insect pests of corn. The composition of MON 89034 corn was compared to conventional corn by measuring proximates, fiber, and minerals in forage and by measuring proximates, fiber, amino acids, fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, antinutrients, and secondary metabolites in grain collected from 10 replicated field sites across the United States and Argentina during the 2004-2005 growing seasons. Analyses established that the forage and grain from MON 89034 are compositionally comparable to the control corn hybrid and conventional corn reference hybrids. These findings support the conclusion that MON 89034 is compositionally equivalent to conventional corn hybrids.     

Chemical composition of glyphosate-tolerant soybean 40-3-2 grown in Europe remains equivalent with that of conventional soybean (Glycine max L.)

The composition of glyphosate-tolerant (Roundup Ready) soybean 40-3-2 was compared with that of conventional soybean grown in Romania in 2005 as part of a comparative safety assessment program. Samples were collected from replicated field trials, and compositional analyses were performed to measure proximates (moisture, fat, ash, protein, and carbohydrates by calculation), fiber, amino acids, fatty acids, isoflavones, raffinose, stachyose, phytic acid, trypsin inhibitor, and lectin in grain as well as proximates and fiber in forage. The mean values for all biochemical components assessed for Roundup Ready soybean 40-30-2 were similar to those of the conventional control and were within the published range observed for commercial soybean. The compositional profile of Roundup Ready soybean 40-3-2 was also compared to that of conventional soybean varieties grown in Romania by calculating a 99% tolerance interval to describe compositional variability in the population of traditional soybean varieties already on the marketplace. These comparisons, together with the history of the safe use of soybean as a common component of animal feed and human food, lead to the conclusion that Roundup Ready soybean 40-3-2 is compositionally equivalent to and as safe and nutritious as conventional soybean varieties grown commercially.     

Composition of grain and forage from corn rootworm-protected corn event MON 863 is equivalent to that of conventional corn (Zea mays l.)

Insect-protected corn hybrids containing event MON 863 protect corn plants against feeding damage from corn rootworm (Diabrotica), a major North American insect pest. Corn event MON 863 contains a gene that expresses an amino acid sequence variant of the wild-type Cry3Bb1 insecticidal protein from Bacillus thuringiensis. The purpose of this study was to compare the composition of corn containing event MON 863 with that of conventional nontransgenic corn. Compositional analyses were conducted to measure proximates, fiber, amino acids, fatty acids, minerals, folic acid, thiamin, riboflavin, vitamin E, antinutrients, and certain secondary metabolites in grain and proximates and fiber content in forage collected from a total of eight field sites in the U.S. and Argentina. Compositional analyses demonstrated that the grain and forage of event MON 863 are comparable in their nutritional content to the control corn hybrid and conventional corn. These comparisons, together with the history of the safe use of corn as a common component of animal feed and human food, support the conclusion that corn event MON 863 is compositionally equivalent to, and as safe and nutritious as, conventional corn hybrids grown commercially today.     

The composition of grain and forage from glyphosate tolerant wheat MON 71800 is equivalent to that of conventional wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Glyphosate tolerant wheat MON 71800, simply referred to as MON 71800, contains a 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS) protein from Agrobacterium sp. strain CP4 (CP4 EPSPS) that has a reduced affinity for glyphosate as compared to the endogenous plant EPSPS enzyme. The purpose of this work was to evaluate the compositional equivalence of MON 71800 to its nontransgenic parent as well as to conventional wheat varieties. The compositional assessment evaluated the levels of proximates, amino acids, fatty acids, minerals, vitamins, secondary metabolites, and antinutrients in wheat forage and grain grown during two field seasons across a total of eight sites in the United States and Canada. These data demonstrated that with respect to these important nutritional components, the forage and grain from MON 71800 were equivalent to those of its nontransgenic parent and commercial wheat varieties. These data, together with the previously established safety of the CP4 EPSPS protein, support the conclusion that glyphosate tolerant wheat MON 71800 is as safe and nutritious as commercial wheat varieties.     

Comparison of the forage and grain composition from insect-protected and glyphosate-tolerant MON 88017 corn to conventional corn (Zea mays L.)

The next generation of biotechnology-derived products with the combined benefit of herbicide tolerance and insect protection (MON 88017) was developed to withstand feeding damage caused by the coleopteran pest corn rootworm and over-the-top applications of glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup herbicides. As a part of a larger safety and characterization assessment, MON 88017 was grown under field conditions at geographically diverse locations within the United States and Argentina during the 2002 and 2003-2004 field seasons, respectively, along with a near-isogenic control and other conventional corn hybrids for compositional assessment. Field trials were conducted using a randomized complete block design with three replication blocks at each site. Corn forage samples were harvested at the late dough/early dent stage, ground, and analyzed for the concentration of proximate constituents, fibers, and minerals. Samples of mature grain were harvested, ground, and analyzed for the concentration of proximate constituents, fiber, minerals, amino acids, fatty acids, vitamins, antinutrients, and secondary metabolites. The results showed that the forage and grain from MON 88017 are compositionally equivalent to forage and grain from control and conventional corn hybrids.     

Compositional variability in conventional and glyphosate-tolerant soybean (Glycine max L.) varieties grown in different regions in Brazil

The compositions of a diverse range of commercially available conventional and genetically modified (GM; glyphosate-tolerant) soybean varieties from maturity groups 8 and 5, respectively, grown in the northern and southern soybean regions of Brazil during the 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 growing seasons were compared. Compositional analyses included measurement of essential macro- and micronutrients, antinutrients, and selected secondary metabolites in harvested seed as well as measurement of proximates in both forage and harvested seed. Statistical comparisons utilized a mixed analysis of variance model to evaluate the relative contributions of growing season, soybean growing region, production site, phenotype (GM or conventional), and variety. The study highlighted extensive variability in the overall data set particularly for components such as fatty acids, vitamin E, and isoflavones. There were few differences between the GM and non-GM populations, and most of the variability in the data set could be attributed to regional and variety differences. Overall, the results were consistent with the expanding literature on the lack of any meaningful impact of transgene insertion on crop composition.     

Glyphosate-tolerant corn: the composition and feeding value of grain from glyphosate-tolerant corn is equivalent to that of conventional corn (Zea mays L.)

Glyphosate-tolerant (Roundup Ready) corn line GA21 has been developed by genetic modification to tolerate glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup herbicide. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the compositional and nutritional safety of corn line GA21 compared to that of conventional corn. Compositional analyses were conducted to measure proximate, fiber, amino acid, fatty acid, and mineral contents of grain and proximate, fiber, and mineral contents of forage collected from 16 field sites over two growing seasons. The nutritional safety of corn line GA21 was evaluated in a poultry feeding study conducted with 2-day old, rapidly growing broiler chickens, at a dietary concentration of 50-60% w/w. Compositional analysis results showed that, except for a few minor differences that are unlikely to be of biological significance, the grain and forage of GA21 corn were comparable in their composition to that of the control corn line and to conventional corn. Results from the poultry feeding study showed that there were no differences in growth, feed efficiency, adjusted feed efficiency, and fat pad weights between chickens fed with GA21 grain or with parental control grain. These data taken together demonstrate that Roundup Ready corn is as safe and nutritious as conventional corn for food and feed use.     

Glyphosate-tolerant soybeans remain compositionally equivalent to conventional soybeans (Glycine max L.) during three years of field testing

Previous studies have shown that the composition of glyphosate-tolerant soybeans (GTS) and selected processed fractions was substantially equivalent to that of conventional soybeans over a wide range of analytes. This study was designed to determine if the composition of GTS remains substantially equivalent to conventional soybeans over the course of several years and when introduced into multiple genetic backgrounds. Soybean seed samples of both GTS and conventional varieties were harvested during 2000, 2001, and 2002 and analyzed for the levels of proximates, lectin, trypsin inhibitor, and isoflavones. The measured analytes are representative of the basic nutritional and biologically active components in soybeans. Results show a similar range of natural variability for the GTS soybeans as well as conventional soybeans. It was concluded that the composition of commercial GTS over the three years of breeding into multiple varieties remains equivalent to that of conventional soybeans.     

Accumulation of carbohydrates and proline in water-stressed soybean (Glycine max L.)

Abstract

A wide range of metabolites accumulates under water stress depending on certain metabolic alterations. For example, free amino acids, especially free proline, accumulate in response to water stress ((l)). Proline accumulation is closely connected with carbohydrate metabolism. Thus, a carbohydrate requirement for proline accumulation in water-stressed leaves has been reported (2, 3).     

Responses to sequential exposure to SO2 and salinity in soybean (Glycine max L.)

Soybean plants (Glycine max L. cv. Buchanan) were subjected to one of three levels of salinity preteatment (with electrical conductivities of 0.7, 4.4 and 6.5 dS m^?1) and then exposed to one of three concentrations of SO₂ (1, 145 and 300 bl l ^?1 for 5 h d^?1), or vice versa. Each stress episode lasted 3 weeks. Both salinity and SO₂ deecreased leaf area, root and shoot dry weight and the fresh weight of root nodules. SO₂ induced an increase in the shoot: root ratio and leaf chlorophyll concentrations. Low salinity pretreatment protected plant growth from SO₂ injury, probably by decreasing SO₂ uptake by increasing stomatal resistance. However, high salinity-treated plants, despite also showing stomatal closure, were severely injured by subsequent SO₂ exposure. Prior exposure to SO₂ caused plants to become more vulnerable to salt injury. Plants pretreated with high SO₂ were killed after 12 days of high salt stress. These data suggest that the compensatory mechanisms and predisposition characteristics of salinity and SO₂ largely depend upon the stress levels used.     

LDL-antioxidant pterocarpans from roots of Glycine max (L.) Merr

The methanolic root extract of Glycine max (L.) Merr. was chromatographed, which yielded 10 flavonoids, including three isoflavones 1-3, five pterocarpans 4-8, one flavonol 9, and one anthocyanidin 10. All isolated compounds were examined for LDL-antioxidant activities using four different assay systems on the basis of Cu2+-mediated oxidation. Among them, seven compounds showed potent LDL-antioxidant activities in the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) assay, the lag time of conjugated diene formation, relative electrophoretic mobility (REM), and fragmentation of apoB-100 on copper-mediated LDL oxidation. Three pterocarpans 4, 6, and 7, never reported as LDL-antioxidant, showed potent activities with IC50 values of 19.8, 0.9, 45.0 microM, respectively, in comparison with probucol (IC50 = 5.6 microM) as positive control. Interestingly, coumestrol 6 (IC50 = 0.9 microM) showed 20 times more activity in the TBARS assay than genistein (IC50 = 30.1 microM) and daidzein (IC50 = 21.6 microM), representative antioxidants in soybean. Moreover, coumestrol 6 had an extended lag time of 190 min at 3.0 microM in measuring conjugated diene formation, while both genistein (120 min) and daidzein (93 min) lag times were extended to less than 120 min at the same concentration.     

Growth characteristics,phytate contents,and coagulation properties of soymilk from a low-phytate Japanese soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) line

The phytic acid (myo-inositol hexakisphosphate or InsP₆) content of seed crops is important to their nutritional quality. Since it represents 75?±?10% of the total seed phosphorus (P), phytic acid is also important regarding the management of P in agricultural production. A low-phytate F5 line, No. T-2-250-4-20, was selected from the progeny of a cross between the low-phytate soybean line CX1834 and the Japanese commercial cultivar Tanbakuro. This line and its parents were grown in a field nursery, and the growth characteristics, phytate accumulation, and processing suitability for tofu were evaluated. At full maturity, the weight of seeds per plant of line T-2-250-4-20 was 5.2- and 1.3-fold higher than that of CX1834 and Tanbakuro, respectively. The amount of phytate-phosphorus as a percentage of the total P content in seeds was 23% in line T-2-250-4-20-34, 30% in CX1834, and 69% in Tanbakuro. No significant difference was observed among the three cultivars/lines in their seed magnesium (Mg), potassium (K), crude protein, and sugar. However, the calcium (Ca), crude fat and ash contents in seeds of line T-2-250-4-20-34 and Tanbakuro was lowered compared to that of CX1834. The breaking stress of tofu was estimated employing a rheometer with a decreasing concentration of the coagulant magnesium chloride (MgCl₂), starting at 15.7?mmol?L^?1. In tofu made from Tanbakuro, the concentration of MgCl₂ required to achieve the maximum breaking stress was 12.6?mmol?L^?1; however, it was 9.5?mmol?L^?1 for tofu made from T-2-250-4-20-34 and CX1834. The tofu made from Tanbakuro was soft and broke at 6.3?mmol?L^?1 MgCl₂, but, in line T-2-250-4-20-34, harder tofu was made with lower MgCl₂ concentrations. No difference was observed among the cultivars/lines in the SDS-PAGE patterns of protein in soymilk. These results indicate that we have developed a low-phytate soybean with adequate productivity, and confirmed that tofu made from the low-phytate T-2-250-4-20-34 soybean becomes coagulated and harder at a lower MgCl₂ concentration than that from high-phytate soybean cultivars.     

Glyphosate-tolerant alfalfa is compositionally equivalent to conventional alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.)

Glyphosate-tolerant alfalfa (GTA) was developed to withstand over-the-top applications of glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup agricultural herbicides. As a part of the safety assessment, GTA (designated J101 x J163) was grown under controlled field conditions at geographically diverse locations within the United States during the 2001 and 2003 field seasons along with control and other conventional alfalfa varieties for compositional assessment. Field trials were conducted using a randomized complete block design with four replication blocks at each site. Alfalfa forage was harvested at the late bud to early bloom stage from each plot at five field sites in 2001 (establishment year) and from four field sites in 2003 (third year of stand). The concentration of proximate constituents, fibers, amino acids, coumestrol, and minerals in the forage was measured. The results showed that the forage from GTA J101 x J163 is compositionally equivalent to forage from the control and conventional alfalfa varieties.     

Rhizobial inoculation improves drought tolerance,biomass and grain yields of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and soybean (Glycine max L.) at Halaba and Boricha in Southern Ethiopia

ABSTRACT

While pulses are staple food-legumes in Ethiopia, their productivity is low due to low soil fertility. Elite rhizobial strains that significantly increased shoot dry weight and nitrogen (N) contents of common beans and soybeans in greenhouse were selected for two-year field trials to evaluate their effect on yields of the pulses in the field. Each pulse had six treatments, namely four rhizobial inoculants, uninoculated control, and synthetic N fertilizer. In the drought-affected year 2015, inoculated pulses tolerated moisture stress better than non-inoculated controls. Inoculation was conducive to higher or equivalent yields compared to synthetic N fertilizer. At Halaba, bean inoculated with strain HAMBI3562 gave the highest grain yield (1500 ± 81 kg ha^?1; mean±SE) while the control yielded only 653 ± 22 kg ha^?1. At Boricha, HAMBI3570 gave a grain yield (640 ± 35 kg ha^?1) comparable to synthetic N. When rainfall was optimal in 2016, inoculation with HAMBI3562 and HAMBI3570 gave grain yields (around 4300 kg ha^?1) equivalent to synthetic N. With soybean, strain HAMBI3513 produced consistently higher or comparable biomass and grain yields compared to synthetic N. In conclusion, HAMBI3562 and HAMBI3570 for beans and HAMBI3513 for soybeans can serve as inoculants for areas having similar conditions as the test areas.     

Oxalate and phytate concentrations in seeds of soybean cultivars [Glycine max (L.) Merr.

This study analyzed soybean seeds from 116 cultivars for total, insoluble, and soluble oxalate (Ox), phytate (InsP6), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg) because of their potential beneficial or harmful effects on human nutrition. These cultivars were divided into four groups (A-D) on the basis of the year and geographic location where they were grown. Oxalate concentration ranged from about 82 to 285 mg/100 g of dry seed. The InsP6 concentration ranged from 0.22 to 2.22 g/100 g of dry seed. There was no correlation between Ox and InsP6 within or among the four groups of cultivars. There was a significant correlation between total Ox and Ca, but not Mg, in group D cultivars (r = 0.3705; p < 0.0005). No significant relationship was found in the group A-C cultivars. Eleven group D cultivars had InsP6 less than 500 mg/100 g, but all had total Ox of 130 mg/100 g or greater. Five cultivars from groups A-C had relatively low InsP6 (group B; < or =1.01 g/100 g) and low Ox (<140 mg/100 g). These cultivars could be useful for producing soy foods beneficial to populations at risk for kidney stones and for improved mineral bioavailability. The Ox and InsP6 concentrations of the cultivars indicate that choosing specific parents could generate seeds in succeeding generations with desirable Ox and InsP6 concentrations.     

Effects of Rhizobium inoculation and magnesium application on growth and nodulation of soybean (Glycine max L.)

Abstract

Magnesium (Mg) deficiency is one of the major nutritional problems in tropic and subtropic areas, where the most soils are acidic. In this study, the effects of Mg application and Bradyrhizobium inoculation on growth, nodulation, symbiotic nitrogen (N) fixation as well as N nutrition status in soybean (Glycine max L.) were investigated in hydroponics under greenhouse conditions. With the increase of Mg up to 0.75?mM at low N and up to 0.5?mM at high N solutions, the dry weights of shoots, roots, and pod grain yield in soybean were increased, while further increase in Mg supply inhibited soybean growth. The availability of Mg was found to entail an improved uptake of N by plants and nodulation process in the root by Bradyrhizobium. Inoculation with rhizobial inoculants not only formed many nodules, but also increased soybean shoot, root biomass and yield, as well as plant N nutrient status.     

Isolation and determination of anthocyanins in seed coats of black soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.).

Anthocyanin pigments in seed coats of black soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) were extracted with 1% HCl-CH(3)OH, and the crude anthocyanin extract was purified by Shepadex LH-20 and Lichroprep RP-18 open-column chromatography. Three major anthocyanins were isolated, and their chemical structures were identified by spectroscopic methods (UV-visible, FABMS, (1)H and (13)C NMR, and by TLC). The complete structures of these anthocyanins were elucidated as delphinidin-3-glucoside, cyanidin-3-glucoside, and petunidin-3-glucoside. Among them, petunidin-3-glucoside was identified as a new anthocyanin in black soybeans. On the basis of RP-HPLC with a UV-vis detector, the contents of delphinidin-3-glucoside, cyanidin-3-glucoside, petunidin-3-glucoside, and total anthocyanins in seed coats of 10 black soybeans were found in the ranges of 0-3.71, 0.94-15.98, 0-1.41, and 1.58-20.18 mg/g, respectively. The results obtained in this study imply that the seed coats of black soybean can be used as a good source for cyanidin-3-glucoside and delphinidin-3-glucoside.     

Variation of nitrogen accumulation and yield in response to phosphorus nutrition of soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.)

Phosphorus (P) is essential macronutrient for soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] growth and function. The objective of this study was to determine effect of phosphorus nutrition (including phosphorus nutrition level and interruption of phosphorus supply) on nitrogen accumulation, nodule nitrogen fixation and yield of soybean plants by ¹⁵N labeling with sand culture. The results showed that they all presented a single peak curve with improvement of phosphorus nutrition level, when phosphorus concentration of nutrient solution was about 31 mg/L, they all reached the maximum and effect of phosphorus nutrition level on nodule nitrogen fixation was lower than that on yield formation level. Interruption of phosphorus supply during soybean growth period, nitrogen accumulation and nodule nitrogen fixation were seriously inhibited, and yield was decreased significantly when interruption of phosphorus supply during V₃-R₁ and R₁-R₅ period, while interruption of phosphorus supply during R₅-R₇ period had no significant effect on nitrogen accumulation, nodule nitrogen fixation and yield. So soybean nitrogen metabolism and yield were sensitive to phosphorus nutrition in the V₃-R₅ period, those were not sensitive to phosphorus nutrition after R₅ period.     

Field performance of three Bradyrhizobium japonicum strains with two soybean (Glycine max. L.) cultivars

Summary A field experiment was condutced in a clay loam soil to study the performance of three Bradyrhizobium japonicum strains; USDA 110, USDA 138 and TAL 379, in relation to their N₂-fixing potential and competitiveness on two soybean cultivars (Clark and Calland). Inoculation of soybean cultivars with these strains, either singly or in combination, induced significant increases in plant dry weight, N₂ fixation and seed yields. However, no significant differences were found between the rhizobial strains and/or their mixtures in N₂ fixation and increased seed yield for both cultivars. The two soybean cultivars gave similar responses to inoculation. No significant differences in seed yield were observed between Clark and Calland cultivars. The interaction between inoculant strain and soybean cultivar was not significant. The competition between strains for nodulation was assessed. Strain USDA 110 was the most competitive, followed by USDA 138. Strain TAL 379 was always less competitive on both cultivars. The incidence of double-strain occupancy of nodules varied from 8% to 40%.     

Correlations of oil and protein with isoflavone concentration in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.

Twelve isoflavones were detected by high-performance liquid chromatography in seeds of 17 soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] cultivars grown at three locations. 6' '-O-Malonyldaidzin and 6' '-O-malonylgenistin together constituted 71-81% of total isoflavones, which ranged in concentration from 2038 to 9514 microg/g and averaged 5644 microg/g across locations and cultivars. The total as well as several individual isoflavones had a moderate negative correlation with oil across locations and cultivars. Six cultivars had a moderate or strong negative correlation of total isoflavones with oil. Five cultivars had a moderate or strong positive correlation of total isoflavones with protein. These results suggest that judicious selection of germplasm for soybean breeding may facilitate development of soybean lines with desirable isoflavone concentrations.