Soybean genetics, genomics, and breeding for improving nutritional value and reducing antinutritional traits in food and feed.

Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] is a globally important crop due to its valuable seed composition, versatile feed, food, and industrial end-uses, and consistent genetic gain. Successful genetic gain in soybean has led to widespread adaptation and increased value for producers, processors, and consumers. Specific focus on the nutritional quality of soybean seed composition for food and feed has further elucidated genetic knowledge and bolstered breeding progress. Seed components are historical and current targets for soybean breeders seeking to improve nutritional quality of soybean. This article reviews genetic and genomic foundations for improvement of nutritionally important traits, such as protein and amino acids, oil and fatty acids, carbohydrates, and specific food-grade considerations; discusses the application of advanced breeding technology such as CRISPR/Cas9 in creating seed composition variations; and provides future directions and breeding recommendations regarding soybean seed composition traits.

Mapping and identification of QTL in 5601T × U99-310255 RIL population using SNP genotyping: soybean seed quality traits.

BACKGROUND: Molecular markers have played and will continue to play a major role in the genetic characterization and improvement of soybeans. They have helped identify major loci for tolerance to abiotic stressors, disease resistance, herbicide resistance, soybean seed quality traits, and yield. However, most yield quantitative trait loci (QTL) are specific to a certain population, and the genetic variation found in the specific bi-parental population is not always shared in other populations. A major objective in soybean breeding is to develop high yielding cultivars. Unfortunately, soybean seed yield, as well as protein and oil content, are complex quantitative traits to characterize from the phenotypic and genotypic perspectives. The objectives of this study are to detect soybean genomic regions that increase protein content, while maintaining oil content and seed yield and to successfully identify soybean QTL associated with these seed quality traits. METHODS AND RESULTS: To achieve these objectives, data from the 138 recombinant inbred lines grown in six environments were used to perform QTL detection analyses in search of significant genomic regions affecting soybean seed protein, oil, and yield. CONCLUSIONS: A total of 21 QTL were successfully identified for yield, protein, oil, methionine, threonine, lodging, maturity, and meal. Knowledge of their locations and flanking markers will aid in marker assisted selection for plant breeders. This will lead to a more valuable soybean for farmers, processors, and animal nutritionists.