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.     

Educational Needs of Precision Agriculture

Reluctance towards implementation of precision agriculture seems to be based upon accessibility to well-trained, knowledgeable people, and the cost and availability to obtain quality education, training, and products. Given that precision agriculture is rapidly changing and the current trend for accelerated information exchange, educators of precision agriculture face the challenge of keeping pace and providing quality educational programs. This paper addresses how precision agriculture educational programs can be improved. Specific barriers to adoption of precision agriculture are discussed. The learning process of precision agriculture technologies and methods are outlined as six sequential steps. These steps represent a process of increased learning and skill proficiency against which those individuals developing precision agriculture education can use to build and target their programs. The optimal value of information for precision agriculture will be best achieved by producers, agribusinesses, and educators as they improve their: 1) agronomic knowledge and skills, 2) computer and information management skills, and 3) understanding of precision agriculture as a system for increasing knowledge.     

Yield components of soybean plants infected with soybean cyst nematode and sprayed with foliar applications of boron and magnesium 1

Investigations into the effect of soybean cyst nematode (SCN, Heterodera glycines, Ichinoe) on the yield components of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] have shown that pod numbers are reduced with increasing SCN initial populations (Pi) present in the soil at planting. The main method by which SCN alters pod numbers is through reductions in the number of branches per plant. Foliar applications of boron (B) and B in combination with magnesium (Mg) (B+Mg) increase yield of soybean not infected with SCN by increasing pod number per plant, especially the number of pods on branches. The objective of this research was to determine if foliar applications of B and B+Mg ameliorates the effect of SCN by increasing yield on branches. Field experiments were conducted in 1993 and 1994 in 1 m² microplots to compare foliar applied B and B+Mg to a control treatment. Foliar applications were made at four intervals spaced throughout soybean reproductive development of Pioneer brand 9391, an SCN susceptible cultivar. There were 12 levels of SCN Pi in 1993 and 11 levels in 1994. For each treatment, including control, grain yield was regressed on SCN Pi. Yield was reduced with increasing SCN Pi in both years, but the rate of decrease did not differ among treatments. In addition, ANOVA of yield components revealed no treatment effects on the number of branches per plant, the number of branch pods per plant, or the total number of pods per plant. Thus, foliar applications of B or B+Mg did not ameliorate the effects of SCN on soybean.     

Effect of planting date and tillage system on soybean root growth

Soil erosion and moisture retention are major concerns of soybean growers. Conservation tillage provides residue cover to reduce soil loss and water evaporation. This study was conducted on a Tiptonville silt loam near Portageville, MO, USA. to determine the effect of tillage system and planting date on soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] root growth and distribution. Tillage systems were conventional (clean) tillage, ridge tillage, and no‐tillage. ‘Essex’ soybean was planted on 14 May, 15 June, and 7 July in 1992 and 12 May, 2 June, and 21 June in 1993. Roots were observed 30 and 60 days after emergence (DAE) using a minirhizotron system. Stand density was not affected by tillage in either year or by planting date in 1992. Tillage did not effect rooting depth in either year. In 1992, rooting depth 30 DAE was greater for the 14 May planting date than for either of the other two planting dates. No other planting date effects on rooting depth were found. Among soil depths, root length density (RLD) was greatest for the 14 to 26 cm depth in 1992 and for the 0 to 13 cm depth in 1993. Neither tillage system nor planting date affected RLD in either year and there was no interaction between these main effects and soil depths. The largest changes in RLD (CRLD) were observed in the 14 to 26 cm and 27 to 39 cm depths in 1992 and the 0 to 13 cm depth in 1993. Tillage did not planting date in 1992 and the 12 May and 2 June planting dates in 1993 produced the highest yields. Tillage did not affect yield and there was no interaction between tillage and planting date.     

Protein quality of corn hybrids differing for endosperm characteristics and the effect of nitrogen fertilization 1

Corn (Zea mays L.) is an important source of protein for humans and animals. Because dent corn is highly responsive to nitrogen (N) fertilization, substantial amounts of N are used for corn production. Application of N fertilizer may reduce protein quality of corn kernels through an increase in zein content. The objective of this study was to determine if corn endosperm characteristics influence the effect of N fertilization on protein quality. In 1988, six corn hybrids differing for endosperm characteristics were grown at two locations in Ohio and with two N rates, 34 and 200 kg/ha. The waxy hybrid had a greater concentration of fraction I protein than the non‐wary hybrid. These two hybrids did not differ for other fractions except fraction III at Columbus. The soft endosperm hybrid had a higher concentration of fraction I protein than the hard endosperms hybrids. Soft and hard endosperm hybrids differed for fraction II protein for the 34 kg N/ha fertilizer rate but not the 200 kg N/ha fertilizer rate. These two classes of hybrids did not differ for fraction III protein. Increasing N fertilizer increased fraction II concentration for all hybrids. Concentrations of the other two protein fractions did not respond to fertilizer rate. The increase in fraction II concentration with N fertilization may result in a decrease of protem quality and feed value. Although all hybrids responded to N fertilizer, some hybrids had bigger increases in fraction II proteins than other hybrids.     

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.     

Influence of varying levels of blood progesterone upon estrous behavior in cattle

The effect of four levels of progesterone on the occurrence and intensity of estrous behavior was determined in ovariectomized cows. Twelve Holsteins were bilaterally ovariectomized at least 2 mo before treatment. Progesterone (P4) was administered im two times/day for 5 d followed 72 h later with 2 mg estradiol (E2) im to induce estrous behavior. Treatments were control = oil, 100 mg P4/d, 300 mg P4/d and 500 mg P4/d. Each animal received all P4 treatments in a 4 X 4 Latin-square design. From d 2 through 6, with d 1 being the first day of P4 treatment, serum P4 concentrations averaged .3, 2.5, 6.1 and 12.3 ng/ml in treatments I to IV, respectively. Progesterone levels at the time of peak E2 (d9) were less than 1 ng/ml for treatments I, II and III and 1.8 ng/ml for treatment IV. Peak E2 levels for all groups averaged 23.9 pg/ml (12 h after E2 injection). Cows were observed continuously for 48 h after E2 injection to quantitate estrous behavior. Behavioral traits measured were: mounts initiated, mounts received, standing when mounted, chin rests initiated and chin rests received. Progesterone treatment caused a decrease in frequency of all five traits measured. As P4 levels increased, there was a linear (P less than .01) decrease in frequency of a behavioral trait. The percentage of the cows that showed each behavioral trait and mean time to first occurrence of each trait were not different after progesterone treatment, with the exception of standing behavior.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)