Agronomic and Seed Traits of Soybean Lines with Low–Phytate Phosphorus

Abstract

About 75% of the total P in conventional soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] seed is phytate P, which cannot be readily digested by nonruminant livestock, such as swine and poultry. The phytate P in soybean lines homozygous for the recessive alleles pha1 and pha2 is reduced to about 25% of the total P. The objective of this study was to determine the influence of low phytate (LP) on agronomic and seed traits of soybean. Three populations were developed by crossing three cultivars with normal phytate (NP) to the LP line CX1834‐1‐6. From each population, 10 LP and 10 NP lines were selected and grown in replicated tests at three Iowa environments during 2003. The mean total P of the LP and NP lines was not significantly different, but the mean phytate P, inorganic P, and other P were significantly different for the two types of lines in the three populations. The mean seedling emergence of the LP lines was 45% compared with 68% for the NP lines. The mean differences between the LP and NP lines for the other agronomic and seed traits were not significant in one or more of the populations. On the basis of these results, reduced seedling emergence will be a major factor to consider in the development of commercially viable cultivars with the pha1pha1pha2pha2 genotype for LP.