Be sure to visit the Soybean Knowledge Base (SoyKB): http://soykb.org


The overall goal of the National Center for Soybean Biotechnology (NCSB) is to integrate genomics and breeding research leading to the development of superior soybean cultivars for U.S. farmers to maintain their global competitiveness and expand utilization of the soybean crop. The Center will develop and utilize new technologies from a broad range of laboratory and field research studies. The Soybean Genomics and Biotechnology program will develop genomic maps and focus on seed quality, understanding the genetic control of yield, environmental stress tolerance, and pest resistance in soybean crops.

A key goal of this group is the development of value-added soybeans with improved functionality (e.g., improved oil content, increased health benefits, modified proteins) for broader use in food, feed, biofuels and industrial products. The Soybean Breeding program will utilize molecular biology (e.g., marker assisted selection, MAS) and genomic technologies (e.g., transcriptome, proteome and metabolome) to enhance the soybean germplasm base which will be useful for developing superior cultivars for soybean producers. Research is expected to maximize production efficiency, enhance nutritional values, and develop new industrial uses of soybean. Key points among these technologies are the development and refinement of the breeder’s toolbox for soybean improvement.

Biotic stress: The NCSB has a large program devoted to development of new tools for use in plant breeding and gene discovery, particularly related to breeding for disease resistance. There are over 100 diseases of soybeans but there are 10 major diseases which are very damaging to soybeans. For example, the soybean cyst nematode (SCN) (Heterodera glycines) is the number one disease for yield reduction in the US and the world. Current SCN research has focused on the discovery of new genes to this pest to complement plant breeding research that will incorporate SCN genes into productive varieties. We will apply similar approaches to discover new quantitative trait loci to other diseases such as root knot nematode [Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid & White) Chitwood], reniform nematode (Rotylenculus reniformis), soybean rust (Phakospora pachyrhizi Sydow and Phakospora meibomiae Arthur) frogeye leaf spot (Cercospora sojina K. Hara) and Charcoal rot (Macrophomina phaseolina) The above diseases are some of the major biotic factors that significantly affect soybeans.

Abiotic stress: Abiotic stresses such as drought, flooding, salinity, temperature stress and factors associated with climate change have received significant attention of scientists at the NCSB. Development of soybean germplasm with tolerance to an array of factors is very important because significant yield losses from abiotic stress occur in soybean annually. Breeding for increased abiotic stress tolerance in soybean is long-term and difficult due, in part, to the multigenic nature of improved tolerance. Scientists at the NCSB are identifying new sources of tolerance to abiotic stresses and have  developed mapping populations for the purpose of identifying major abiotic stress resistance genes and QTLs. Specific DNA markers can pinpoint the location of these genes and assist in sequencing and cloning genes of economic significance as well as for use in marker assisted breeding.  Ultimately, incorporation of new alleles for tolerance to drought, flooding and alkaline soil conditions will lead to the development of productive soybeans to reduce losses from these stresses.

Seed composition: Another goal of scientists at the NCSB is to improve the functionality of soybean protein and oil for greater utility in food, feed and industrial markets. For example, modifying the fatty acid profile in soybean oil will lead to greater use of soy oil in more products.  We currently have experimental germplasm lines low in saturated (palmitic and stearic fatty acids) and the poly unsaturated linolenic fatty acid.  Low saturate oil is associated with reduced risk of heart disease. Low linolenic concentration improves the oxidative stability and shelf life of the oil. Recently, we discovered new alleles that increase the monounsaturated fatty acid oleic acid in soy oil from 23% to about 80%.  This will make soybean oil more like olive oil in which the oil will have improved health benefits, greater heat and oxidative stability for improved use in frying, biofuels and lubricants.  NCSB scientists are also working to improve anti-nutritional factors in soybeans by lowering seed content of indigestible carbohydrates stachyose and raffinose and to understand the genetic regulation of health related compounds in soybean seeds such as isoflavones, sapponins, and phytosterols.